Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1654

Li Xiao was so engrossed in the murals that he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "These brushstrokes from thousands of years ago have depicted such a lively and vivid world. The artistic attainments of the ancients are simply unfathomable." Zhang Yuedong focused on the historical stories behind the murals and asked questions to the tour guide from time to time, his thirst for knowledge overflowing.

After leaving Mogao Grottoes, I was thirsty and went to a donkey meat noodle restaurant on the street. When the steaming hot noodles were served, the bright yellow noodles were chewy and smooth, with rich donkey meat sauce poured on them and sprinkled with some chopped green onions and coriander. Lin Yifei picked up a chopstick and ate it with relish: "This noodle is so solid, very chewy, and the donkey meat is very fragrant. One bowl makes me feel full!"

The night market of Dunhuang was bustling and brightly lit. Folk artists demonstrated the craftsmanship of Dunhuang colored sculptures. In their hands, balls of colored clay gradually transformed into exquisite Buddha statues and lively figures. Li Xiao squatted aside and watched with great interest. He even paid for two small colored sculptures as souvenirs. There were also performances of playing the pipa in the streets and alleys. The dancers were graceful and reproduced the classics in the murals, which made everyone intoxicated.

The colorful Danxia in Zhangye is even more stunning. When the rolling, colorful mountains came into view, everyone was speechless. Zhang Yuedong widened his eyes and managed to utter a sentence after a long while: "This... This is nature overturning the palette, it's so dreamy!" They walked along the viewing trail, showing different color effects from different angles, orange, purple, and vermilion intertwined. Li Xiao held up his mobile phone to take a 360-degree panoramic shot, muttering: "Such a beautiful place must be recorded in all directions."

As evening approached, we found a small beef noodle restaurant near the scenic spot. The beef slices were thick and the noodles were evenly thick and smooth. Lin Yifei added some chili oil to the soup, and the aroma instantly filled the air. He said as he ate, "Don't underestimate this simple noodle. The taste is not compromised at all. It's very fragrant!"

Leaving Zhangye, we headed for Xining. The Dongguan Mosque in Xining is solemn and dignified, and the temple is quiet and peaceful. Li Xiao took off his shoes and entered the hall, feeling the power of faith, and remained silent. After visiting the mosque, we came to taste the local specialty - hand-pulled lamb. A large plate of tender lamb was served on the table, with only a small dish of pepper and salt. Zhang Yuedong imitated the locals, tore off a piece of meat, dipped it in pepper and salt, and put it in his mouth to chew: "The original flavor is the true meaning, this lamb is so tender that it melts on the tip of the tongue!"

On the way back, the train traveled through the vast northwest land, and outside the window was the ever-changing Gobi, grasslands and mountains. Lin Yifei was filled with emotion: "The grandeur and exquisite humanities of the Northwest are engraved in our hearts. Every trip is a baptism." Li Xiao continued: "Yes, the memories we have accumulated along the way are more precious than treasures. Next time, there will definitely be more exciting places waiting for us!" Zhang Yuedong smiled and nodded. Everyone was looking forward to the next unknown journey, as if it was a never-ending fantasy adventure. Returning to the daily trivial life, the magnificence of the Northwest flashed back in my mind from time to time, becoming the spiritual nourishment for the three people to fight against mediocrity. A few months later, Li Xiao could no longer sit still and shouted in the chat group: "Brothers, we haven't experienced the scenery of Lingnan yet. I heard that Guangdong is full of delicious and fun things, such as Chaoshan cuisine, Foshan martial arts, and the romantic Zhuhai coast. It's better to act than to be tempted!" Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei were inspired and decided to start their trip to Lingnan immediately.

As soon as we landed in Guangzhou, the hot and humid air with the city's fireworks hit us in the face. The three of them went straight to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street, where there were many arcades and time-honored shops on both sides of the street. Li Xiao's eyes lit up all of a sudden, like a child who had entered a treasure trove, looking here and there. They walked into a rice noodle roll shop. The rice noodle rolls steamed with rice milk were as thin as cicada wings, wrapped with fresh shrimps and barbecued pork, and then drizzled with soy sauce and sesame sauce. Zhang Yuedong carefully picked up a piece, and the melt-in-the-mouth texture made him praise it: "This rice noodle roll is so smooth, and the sauce is the finishing touch, it's very appetizing!"

After shopping, we came to Chen Clan Academy. The Lingnan-style buildings were decorated with carved beams and painted rafters, and the exquisite brick, wood and stone carvings were dazzling. Lin Yifei looked up at the intricate patterns and sighed: "Every cut seems to have been made with the painstaking efforts of the craftsmen, carving the Lingnan culture into the stone and wood." After leaving Chen Clan Academy, Cantonese opera excerpts were being performed in the streets and alleys. The graceful singing and gorgeous costumes attracted many passers-by to watch. Li Xiao stood in the crowd, listening attentively, and even hummed a few lines along. In the end, he bought a few Cantonese opera masks as souvenirs.

Leaving Guangzhou, we headed for Chaoshan. In the ancient city of Chaoshan, ancient memorial archways stand in rows, revealing a heavy sense of history. They walked into a beef hotpot restaurant at random, and the restaurant was bustling with people. Freshly cut beef slices were neatly stacked on a plate, with bright colors. Zhang Yuedong put the beef into the boiling beef bone soup pot, picked it up after a few seconds, and dipped it in the shacha sauce. The tenderness of the beef and the mellowness of the shacha were perfectly blended. He exclaimed: "This beef is so delicious, no wonder people say that Chaoshan people are obsessed with beef!"

At night, the streets of Chaoshan were brightly lit, and the folk parade began. The dragon and lion dance teams were full of energy, the hydrangeas jumped flexibly in the hands of the dancers, and the lions followed the hydrangeas. Lin Yifei excitedly squeezed to the front to take pictures, and was invited to touch the lion's head for good luck. After the parade, they bought a few packs of Chaoshan Gongfu tea and special rice cakes, planning to take them back to share with relatives and friends.

When we arrived in Zhuhai, the sun was shining on the sparkling sea, and Lovers' Road was winding along the coast. Li Xiao rented a bicycle and rode along Lovers' Road. The sea breeze blew gently, and he said comfortably: "It's so comfortable to ride along the coast. Zhuhai is really a romantic city." Passing by a seafood restaurant, he ordered a table of fresh seafood, steamed grouper, boiled shrimp, and steamed scallops with black bean sauce. Lin Yifei tasted the steamed grouper, and the tender fish meat spread on the tip of his tongue. He praised: "The freshness of this seafood is beyond words, and steaming can best reflect its original taste!" At the Zhuhai Grand Theater, a modern dance performance integrated Lingnan elements, and the dancers interpreted the regional customs with their agile postures. After reading it, Zhang Yuedong said thoughtfully: "Lingnan culture is really inclusive and diverse. Tradition and modernity collide here to create such beautiful sparks." Before leaving Zhuhai, several boxes of exquisite Zhuhai shell crafts were put into the suitcase. With the customs and enthusiasm of Lingnan, they embarked on the return journey, and their minds have already begun to conceive the next journey to travel all over the mountains, rivers, lakes and seas. Continuing to end the trip to Lingnan, the hustle and bustle of the city quickly enveloped them, but the little flames in the hearts of the three people ignited by the travel burned more and more vigorously. Li Xiao looked at the unchanging street scene outside the window and took the lead in throwing out the topic in the group: "We have tasted the coastal customs all the way south, but we haven't set foot in the mysterious Xiangxi inland. I heard that the mountains and rivers there are spiritual and the folk customs are strange. Are you interested in exploring it?" Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei were instantly aroused by curiosity and responded one after another. The plan for the trip to Xiangxi was born.

Stepping into the land of western Hunan, the mist lingers in the mountains, as if covering the earth with a layer of gauze. Their first stop was the ancient city of Fenghuang. The Tuojiang River runs through the city, and the stilt houses are built along the river, one layer upon another. Li Xiao stood on the Rainbow Bridge, overlooking the leisurely flow of the river, and exclaimed sincerely: "This ancient city is as beautiful as a poem, no wonder so many people yearn for it." Strolling along the bluestone road, there are a variety of silver jewelry shops on the street. The silver bracelets and silver necklaces skillfully made by the Miao girls sparkle with a cool luster under the lights. Lin Yifei picked up a carved silver bracelet, stroked the delicate lines on it, and said with emotion: "This handwork must have taken a lot of effort."

Near noon, we went into a sour fish restaurant. The steaming hot sour soup was served, and the strong sour smell instantly stimulated the nose. The tender fish meat in the pot rolled. Zhang Yuedong couldn't wait to get a bowl of soup. The sour and spicy soup was appetizing, and the fish meat melted in his mouth. He said while drinking: "This sour soup is amazing. A bowl in winter will warm you up!" In the afternoon, the Miao flower drum performance in the ancient city started lively. The drummers had a strong sense of rhythm, and the passionate drum beats echoed over the ancient city. Li Xiao swayed his body to the rhythm and bought a few small flower drum models as souvenirs.

Leaving Fenghuang, we headed for Zhangjiajie. The strange peaks and rocks in Zhangjiajie tower into the clouds, resembling humans and animals, and are all kinds of strange and bizarre. Li Xiao looked up at the "Hallelujah Mountain" in Yuanjiajie and was shocked: "This is simply the real version of the Avatar world, nature is so amazing!" They shuttled through the mountains and forests, and clouds and mist floated by from time to time, as if they were in a fairyland. Lin Yifei was exhausted and panting, but still excited: "It's tiring to climb up the hills all the way, but seeing this scenery is worth it!"

In the evening, we found a local restaurant near the scenic spot. We ordered a three-pot stew, which was filled with bacon, pork intestines, tofu and other ingredients, and the aroma was overflowing. Zhang Yuedong picked up a piece of bacon, which was fat and lean, and had a strong smoky flavor. He praised it highly: "This bacon is so authentic, with the aroma of firewood, it's a great dish to go with rice!" After dinner, the folk bonfire party was performed enthusiastically. The Tujia hand-waving dance was cheerful and unrestrained. The dancers formed a circle, swung their arms, and moved their feet. Lin Yifei was pulled into the dance circle by the enthusiastic villagers and danced to his heart's content. When he left, he also received a Tujia Xilankapu brocade.

On the way back, the mountains and rivers of Xiangxi gradually faded away, but those mysterious and charming memories were deeply imprinted in their hearts. Zhang Yuedong broke the silence: "Xiangxi is a place with rhyme and soul. It really hides a lot of surprises." Li Xiao nodded and agreed: "Yes, every time you go to a new place, it's like opening a brand new book. The more you turn, the more interesting it becomes." Lin Yifei looked out the window with expectation in his eyes: "I wonder what wonderful chapter will be opened next time." The car sped along the winding mountain road, carrying the agility and simplicity of Xiangxi, driving towards the familiar home, and also towards the infinite longing for the next journey. After returning home, life seemed to have pressed the loop button, but the mysterious color left by the trip to Xiangxi always lingered in the minds of the three people. Li Xiao couldn't wait any longer and sent a voice message in the WeChat group: "My old friends, we have been traveling around the country and haven't really experienced the island style. How about heading to Hainan for the next stop? Sunshine, beaches, coconut groves, it's so pleasant just thinking about it." Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei replied almost immediately, their words full of agreement, and a journey to Hainan began.

As soon as they got off the plane, the warm tropical atmosphere enveloped them tightly. On the streets of Haikou, coconut trees towered into the sky, and the sun shone through the gaps between the leaves. They couldn't wait to run to the Qilou Old Street, where Nanyang-style buildings were scattered in an orderly manner, and the street was filled with the aroma of coffee and Laoba Tea. Li Xiao walked into an old teahouse, asked for a pot of partridge tea, took a sip, and said with a smile: "This tea has a light fruity aroma, which is perfect for spending time here." Zhang Yuedong was attracted by the Qiong-style mooncakes on the street and bought a few different flavors, intending to taste them while walking.

Driving along the coastline, there is an endless blue sea and sky outside the window. Arriving in Boao, the venue of the Asian Forum is solemn and modern. But what attracted them more was the fine sand on the beach. Lin Yifei took off his shoes, stepped onto the beach barefoot, felt the sand sliding through his toes, and shouted excitedly: "This beach is so comfortable, soft, just like stepping on cotton candy." In the evening, they found a seafood stall and ordered a table full of fresh seafood: shrimp, grouper, and flower crab. As soon as the steamed grouper was served on the table, the fish body was glowing with an attractive luster. Zhang Yuedong picked up a piece of fish meat, which was tender and smooth in his mouth. He couldn't help but praise: "This sea fish is fresh, and the steaming method can best highlight its original flavor."

Leaving Boao, we headed for Sanya. Sanya's Yalong Bay is like a palette overturned by God, with distinct layers of blue water and white sand as white as snow. Li Xiao rented a surfboard and dived into the sea. Although he was knocked down by the waves again and again, he always had a happy smile on his face: "It's so exciting, the feeling of conquering the waves is so great!" In the Li village by the sea, a traditional Li brocade weaving performance is in progress. The Li grandmas are skilled in their techniques, and the colorful silk threads gradually interweave into gorgeous patterns in their hands. Lin Yifei was fascinated by the show and bought a small piece of Li brocade as a souvenir, saying: "This is the crystallization of national wisdom, it is very precious."

Sanya Bay was bustling at night, with a beach barbecue party in full swing. Zhang Yuedong took the grilled squid skewers and ate them with relish, saying, "Eating barbecue on the beach, feeling the sea breeze, this is what a vacation should be like." After the barbecue, they went to the night market, picked up a few unique coconut carvings, and set off on their return journey with the enthusiasm and leisure of the island.

On the way back, Li Xiao stretched and said, "This trip to Hainan warmed up our bodies and minds, and also allowed us to experience a different tropical style." Lin Yifei nodded and responded, "Yes, every scenery is unique. I don't know what new experiences I will gain on the next trip." Zhang Yuedong looked at the coconut groves gradually disappearing outside the car window, with a smile on his face, "Then I look forward to the next departure. Life is about constantly unlocking new journeys." The car drove steadily on the road, heading towards home with the aftertaste of past journeys and the anticipation of future journeys.