Eating melons

What they don’t know is that there are many more ways to play waiting for them, and this trip will definitely open their eyes.

After all, this kind of special forces-style travel is quite shocking even in the 21st century, let alone in this era.

Leaving the Jiangnan water town and entering the southern Anhui mountainous area, the style of painting suddenly changes.

Taking a long train from Hangzhou to southern Anhui, the Hui-style villages with white walls and black tiles, the reflection of Hongcun Moon Pond, and the vicissitudes of the Xidi archway group all became the protagonists in their cameras.

The two chose to go up the mountain and followed the fashion by taking the cable car which was relatively new at that time. To be honest, they really didn't expect that there would be cable cars in that era.

The cable car has just been built, so not many people come to ride it. Mainly because they are a little scared, and also because there are not many tourists nowadays.

For many locals, taking this bus up the mountain is not only dangerous but also not worth it.

Wei Wei and Jiang Qi were very brave and dared to sit on it as soon as they arrived.

Of course, Wei Wei and Jiang Qi didn’t know that this place had just been built, but they wouldn’t be scared even if they knew.

In the words of Wei Wei and Jiang Qi, since they built it, it should be safe and can definitely survive.

It's just a pity for the people following behind. They are really worried about the safety of this thing, afraid that something might go wrong and Wei Wei would fall down.

If this thing falls down, it will become a meat patty. How can they protect it?

They really didn't expect that Wei Wei and Jiang Qi were so brave that they dared to sit on such a small thing tied to it.

Even though they were complaining in their hearts, they had no choice but to keep up, because their climbing speed would definitely not be able to catch up with the speed of the cable car.

I just prayed silently in my heart that nothing would happen to the cable car that Wei Wei and Jiang Qi were riding in.

Wei Wei and Jiang Qi felt that taking the cable car was a very correct choice and it saved a lot of energy.

But after getting off the cable car, there is still a long mountain road to the top of the mountain, and the stone steps are steep.

Porters walked past them shouting slogans. They climbed up step by step, leaning on bamboo sticks they had bought at the foot of the mountain, their clothes soaked with sweat.

The Welcoming Pine, Penglai Three Islands and other scenic spots along the way became reasons for them to stop, take a breath and take pictures.

The people following behind just thought it was outrageous. They didn't know whether Wei Wei and Jiang Qi were out for fun or to invite punishment.

Even though my clothes were soaked with sweat, I still had to climb up because I knew I would have to come down again soon.

As the saying goes, it is easy to go up the mountain but difficult to go down. I wonder if the two of them can hold on for a while.

It was dusk when Wei Wei and Jiang Qi gritted their teeth and climbed to Guangmingding, which was 1840 meters above sea level.

The view suddenly opens up, the sea of ​​clouds rolls under my feet, and the distant mountains appear and disappear in the clouds, like a fairyland.

The setting sun dyed the sea of ​​clouds and the strange peaks into golden red, which was so magnificent that it took your breath away.

Wei Wei and Jiang Qi were wrapped in rented heavy military coats, not caring about their image, and kept pressing the shutter button to capture the ever-changing scenery.

Wei Wei pointed the camera at Jiang Qi and said, "Jiang Qi, take off your coat quickly. It will only take a few seconds. The scenery is so beautiful right now. It will be very photogenic."

Hearing this, Jiang Qi immediately took off his heavy military coat.

After the photo shoot was over, I put it on immediately, shivering. It was almost evening, the sun was setting, and the wind on the top of the mountain was still quite cold.

Jiang Qi pointed the camera at Wei Wei and said, "Come on, it's your turn. Look here, look here. The light is better here."

Hearing this, Wei Wei immediately took off her military coat.

Seeing this scene, the people following behind were very confused. They just took a photo. Is it necessary? It was so windy and they were wearing so little clothes. They all felt cold.

Besides, this military coat is not ugly, why take it off for taking pictures?

We stayed in a simple hotel on the top of the mountain at night. The conditions were difficult and hot water was limited, but when we thought of the starry sky outside the window and tomorrow's sunrise, it all seemed worth it.

In the evening, the two of them used two more papers to submit.

The next day, before dawn, Wei Wei and Jiang Qi, two people who had difficulty getting up, got up to watch the sunrise.

Even in this day and age, when there aren't many people traveling, there are still quite a few people gathered on the top of the mountain.

When the sun burst out from the clouds and thousands of golden rays of light sprinkled on the sea of ​​clouds, all the fatigue turned into amazement.

When going down the mountain, the two chose the back mountain, where the scenery was more tranquil, but their legs were no longer under their control and they almost trembled as they moved down.

When I returned to the hotel at the foot of the mountain, the first thing I did was to soak my feet in hot water. Soaking my feet in hot water really felt like the happiest thing in the world.

It was a cloudy day when we arrived at Hongcun, which actually added a unique charm to it.

The lotus flowers in Nanhu Lake are still blooming, reflecting the Leigang Mountain in the distance and the Hui-style buildings nearby.

Walking into the village along the canal, the core is Yuezhao, a pool of clear water surrounded by pink walls, black tiles and horse-head walls, like a still ink painting.

The two found the best spot by the lake and took photos of each other, trying to get the perfect reflection.

Looking at the beautiful scenery, Jiang Qi came up with an idea, "Weiwei, pretend to fall and I'll take a picture of you."

Although Wei Wei didn't understand how this could be a good way to make a film, she still did what Jiang Qi said.

But this action scared the people following behind, as they did not hear the conversation between Wei Wei and Jiang Qi.

Because Wei Wei and Jiang Qi were very close, the sound was not loud, so the people behind them could not hear the sound or see the lip movements. They thought Wei Shou was really going to fall into the lake and were scared to death.

Only when they approached did they realize it was a fake fall. Seeing this scene, they really didn't know what to say.

Before, they thought that secretly protecting Wei Wei and Jiang Qi was too easy.

Because Wei Wei and Jiang Qi have a very regular life, they only go home and work, and rarely even go shopping. It can be said that they only live between the three points and a straight line, making them very easy to protect.

But now it seems that it was just to give them time to adapt.

They really didn't expect Wei Wei and Jiang Qi to be like this after they came out. It was so different from when they were in Beijing.

Fortunately, both of them are teachers, so they can only hang out like this during holidays.

Otherwise, they really can't bear doing this every day. Not only is the amount of exercise difficult to handle, but the funds are also wasted.

There were eight people secretly protecting Wei Wei and Jiang Qi, six of them were protecting Wei Wei and two were keeping an eye on Jiang Qi.

For eight people traveling to so many places, the bicycle fees, accommodation fees and food expenses are not cheap, not to mention that these attractions also cost money.

At night, Wei Wei and Jiang Qi stayed in the village, in a simple hotel converted from a fellow villager's house.

The wooden house has poor sound insulation, but you can still hear the chirping of insects and frogs clearly.

Eat authentic food and write down your experiences in your diary under the dim light at night.

Here, the two slowed down their pace a little and took a breather for this special forces-style trip.

But it only took one night, and we left the next day and arrived at the new station.

The Xidi Archway is more ancient and solemn, and the Governor Hu Wenguang Archway stands at the entrance of the village, proclaiming the glory of the past.

They followed the tour guide, walked through the bluestone alleys, visited the exquisitely carved houses, and listened to the tour guide tell the stories of Hui merchants and the history of their families.

In the embroidered building of "Daifudi", Jiang Qi pretended to be a lady from a noble family and looked out from the railing. Wei Wei captured the scene and teased her that she was "possessed by the spirit of drama".

Jiang Qi is like this. He can be quite dramatic even when he is relaxed, but this only happened after he traveled through time for several years.

In Huizhou, Wei Wei and Jiang Qi tasted authentic stinky mandarin fish and hairy tofu.

When Wei Wei first smelled the food, she frowned. Jiang Qi mustered up the courage to take a bite and was immediately conquered by the unique fermented aroma and delicious meat.

I thought he still couldn't stand it. He could accept stinky tofu but not Wei Wen. He still couldn't stand it.

She can accept hairy tofu because she likes stinky tofu, but cannot accept stinky mandarin fish.

The hairy tofu is fried until golden brown and dipped in chili sauce. It is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside with a unique flavor.

These "strange-tasting" foods have become a highlight in their travel memories.

After playing, they did not rest. Instead, they boarded the river boat from Anqing to Wuhan without stopping. It was another brand new experience.

Although the second-class cabin is small, it is clean and tidy and has independent portholes.

They spent most of the day on deck, watching the muddy and yellow river water, the rolling waves, and the towns, fields, and mountains on both sides slowly receding.

The river wind was very strong, ruffling my hair but also blowing away all my worries.

Occasionally you can see a large fleet or a lonely fishing boat.

In Wuhan, the two felt an urban atmosphere that was completely different from Jiangnan and Huizhou.

Wei Wei is quite familiar with Wuhan and has been there many times.

However, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar streets, Wei Wei felt a little confused.

I don’t know if it’s because the market has developed too fast, but these places have all been rectified, so although these places have a sense of familiarity, they are still very unfamiliar.

Although Wei Wei felt a little strange, she didn't think much about it.

Climb up the recently rebuilt, magnificent Yellow Crane Tower and gaze into the distance.

This feeling is somewhat different from that of later generations. It has less modern commercial atmosphere and more ancient atmosphere, and there are also fewer people.

For foodies, the main purpose of going out is to eat. After visiting a few scenic spots, the two of them headed straight into Hubu Lane.

Hot dry noodles, three-fresh bean curd, steamed buns, rice wine...all kinds of snacks are fragrant.

Like the locals, they hold paper bowls, stand on the roadside or squeeze into small shops to eat heartily, feeling the enthusiasm and vitality of Wuhan's breakfast.

When visiting Wuhan, the Yangtze River Bridge is an essential check-in spot, so the two of them deliberately walked a section of the Yangtze River Bridge.

The bridge is majestic, the river is rushing under the feet, and the train roars past on the lower railway bridge. The vibration makes people feel the pulse of this country.

The train left Wuhan and continued south. The scenery outside the window gradually transitioned from the vastness of the Jianghan Plain to the undulating hilly areas.

Wei Wei leaned against the car window, looking at the familiar red soil and lush vegetation belonging to the south, and her heart beat inexplicably faster.

"Next stop, Changsha."

Jiang Qi flipped through the atlas and lightly drew a line on it with a pencil.

'Your old home.'

However, Jiang Qi did not say this out loud. This was the first goal they set when they came out to play.

The previous tour was just a side trip for a while, the most important thing is to come to this place.

Wei Wei hummed softly, her eyes still fixed on the window.

Homesick? No, this is not her hometown. No, it is also her hometown, because although the original owner is not from Changsha, she is also from Hunan Province.

However, Wei Wei had already prepared herself mentally, because Jiang Qi had told her that many things in Shanghai seemed a little different from the Shanghai where she lived in her previous life.

But she wasn't so sure, wondering if it was because of commercialization and many things had been changed.

Because she didn't grow up in Shanghai, she went there after college and didn't know what those places were like before.

So for Wei Wei, this place is just a complex attraction buried deep in her soul, a quest for a place that "once existed".

After getting off the train at Changsha Station, compared with the gracefulness of Hangzhou, the exquisiteness of Suzhou, the uniqueness of Huangshan, and the simplicity of Huizhou, Changsha's first impression is bustling.

A kind of bustling, straightforward and spicy atmosphere with the flavor of the city life, and the air seems to be filled with the burnt aroma of peppers and oil.

The two of them still stayed in the best local hotel. After putting down their luggage, Wei Wei became a little impatient.

"I want to go somewhere first."

Wei Wei said to Jiang Qi, with a barely perceptible nervousness in her tone.

Based on the memory in my mind that has been vague for more than ten years but has never been truly forgotten.

She guided the chartered car driver through the not-so-wide city streets.

The coordinates in her memory should be near the intersection of the later prosperous Wuyi Avenue and a certain road.

The car stopped, Wei Wei pushed open the door, stood on the street, stunned.

What lies before us is a slightly old urban area, consisting mostly of three- or four-story tube-shaped buildings with mottled walls and densely packed windows.

Pedestrians on the street were wearing the blue-gray uniforms common in the 1980s, and the sound of bicycle bells filled the air.

Occasionally there are a few taller buildings, which also bear the distinct marks of the times.

There were no towering glass-walled office buildings in her memory, no huge shopping mall with flashing neon lights, and no snack street where she had visited and eaten countless times.

"is it here?"

Jiang Qi asked softly in Wei Wei's ear. She looked at Wei Wei's face which was a mixture of confusion, loss and a hint of understanding, and understood about 70% of it.

Wei Wei shook her head slowly, a weak smile forming at the corner of her mouth.

"The location... is probably correct, but the appearance has completely changed. No, it has never been the same as I remember it."

She tried to find some familiar trace among the low buildings, the crooked electric poles and the grocery store at the corner of the alley.

Even an old tree or a stone of special shape.

No, nothing. The Changsha of this time and space has developed along its own historical trajectory and has become something completely different from what she remembered.

Even though I was mentally prepared, I still couldn't help feeling disappointed.

Although she was born in the 2000s, her parents moved here later.

But she knew that some things in this place had existed after liberation.

But there was no trace of those things here. Everything was unfamiliar and didn't look like what I remembered at all.