Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1688

The sun shines through the window onto Li Xiao's face. He slowly wakes up from his sleep, his mouth curled up unconsciously. Today is the day he has been looking forward to for the trip. He quickly gets up, walks to the window, takes a deep breath of the fresh morning air, and is filled with longing for the journey that is about to begin.

"It's finally about to begin. This time I must experience the beautiful rivers and mountains of my motherland." Li Xiao whispered to himself.

At this time, the cell phone rang. It was Zhang Yuedong calling.

"Hello, Li Xiao, are you ready? I can't wait. I feel like every second of today is going so slowly!" Zhang Yuedong's voice was full of excitement on the other end of the phone.

Li Xiao smiled and replied, "We've already prepared everything and are just waiting to set off. Don't get too excited and be careful not to forget to bring anything."

"How is that possible? I checked it several times last night and it's absolutely foolproof. By the way, have you contacted Lin Yifei?"

"I've contacted him, and he's ready. We'll meet at the high-speed rail station later."

After hanging up the phone, Li Xiao checked his luggage again to make sure he hadn't left any important items behind. He picked up the travel guide on the table, which was densely marked with the cities and attractions they were about to visit, each carrying his expectations for the trip.

The high-speed railway station was bustling with people, full of the atmosphere of travel. Li Xiao saw Zhang Yuedong from a distance. He was carrying a large backpack, looking around, his face filled with irrepressible excitement.

"Hey, here you are!" Li Xiao walked over quickly and patted Zhang Yuedong on the shoulder.

Zhang Yuedong turned around and said with a smile: "I finally waited for you. Is Lin Yifei not here yet?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a familiar voice: "I'm here, sorry, there's a traffic jam on the road." Lin Yifei came hurriedly, dragging a suitcase.

"You're finally here. We've been waiting for you. Let's go check the tickets." Zhang Yuedong urged.

The three of them passed the ticket inspection smoothly and boarded the high-speed train. After finding their seats and sitting down, Zhang Yuedong excitedly took out his mobile phone and began to look through the travel plan they had made before.

"Our first stop is Xi'an. I heard that the Terracotta Warriors there are spectacular, as well as the ancient city wall. We must go and have a good look around." Zhang Yuedong said while looking at his phone.

Lin Yifei nodded and said, "Yes, Xi'an is the ancient capital of 13 dynasties, with a profound historical and cultural heritage. It will definitely be a feast for our eyes. And I also heard that there are many delicious foods in Xi'an, such as roujiamo and mutton soup steamed bun. I am drooling just thinking about it."

Li Xiao said with a smile: "On this trip, we not only enjoy the beautiful scenery and taste the delicious food, but also have a deep understanding of the folk culture of various places. This is the true meaning of travel."

As the high-speed train slowly started, the scenery outside the window gradually receded, and their journey officially began. The three people's faces were filled with smiles, full of anticipation for the future journey. They knew that this would be a journey full of surprises and memories.

After several hours of high-speed rail travel, the three finally arrived at Chengdu East Station. As soon as they exited the station, a unique city atmosphere hit them in the face. The streets were filled with the smell of spicy and fresh food. The teahouses on the street were full of people drinking tea and chatting leisurely. Not far away came the crisp sound of mahjong colliding, which made people instantly feel the leisure and comfort of this city.

"Wow, this is Chengdu. It feels exactly like what I imagined. It's full of life!" Zhang Yuedong opened his arms excitedly, as if he wanted to embrace the city.

Lin Yifei took a deep breath and said with a smile: "Yes, the air is filled with the smell of hot pot, and my stomach is already starting to feel itchy."

Li Xiao looked at the bustling scene around him and couldn't help but sigh: "Chengdu is indeed worthy of its reputation. We will have a lot to explore in the next few days."

They took the subway to their accommodation according to the hotel address they had booked in advance. Along the way, through the window, they saw the prosperous street scene of Chengdu, where high-rise buildings and ancient buildings complemented each other, and modernity and tradition were perfectly integrated here.

2. Visit Wuhou Temple
After a short rest, the three of them went to Wuhou Temple, which is a temple dedicated to Zhuge Liang, the Prime Minister of Shu during the Three Kingdoms period. It is also the only temple in China that worships both the emperor and his ministers, and is full of a strong historical and cultural atmosphere.

Walking into the Wuhou Temple, the simple and elegant architectural style immediately attracted their attention. Red walls, green tiles, carved beams and painted buildings, every detail shows the charm of history. The ancient cypresses and green trees in the courtyard give people a sense of tranquility and solemnity.

"I didn't expect the Wuhou Temple to be so majestic. Zhuge Liang is one of the people I admire most. His wisdom and loyalty are admirable." Zhang Yuedong said as he walked, his eyes full of admiration.

Lin Yifei nodded and continued, "Yes, I can still recite his "The Memorial to the Emperor on Leaving the Capital" by heart. 'Devote all my energy to the cause and never give up until my death', this spirit is really worth learning from."

Li Xiao looked at the buildings and inscriptions in front of him and said with emotion: "Wuhou Temple is not only a place to commemorate Zhuge Liang, but also an important carrier of the Three Kingdoms culture. Here, we can feel the charm of that era when heroes emerged in large numbers."

They visited the main gate, the second gate, the Han Zhaolie Temple, the hall, the Wuhou Temple and other buildings along the central axis. In the Liu Bei Hall, they saw the tall and solemn statue of Liu Bei, with statues of famous Shu Han generals such as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei standing on both sides, as if they could see the scene of the Shu Han monarch and his ministers working together for great cause.

Arriving at Zhuge Liang Hall, a plaque with the words "Famous in the Universe" hangs high in the hall, and a statue of Zhuge Liang sits in it, with a feather fan and a long scarf, looking calm, as if he is planning and winning a battle thousands of miles away. In front of the statue, flowers and offerings are placed, expressing the respect and remembrance for this embodiment of wisdom.

In the stele area of ​​Wuhou Temple, they stopped and carefully admired these precious historical relics. Among them, the most famous one is the "Three Wonders Stele". The inscription was written by Tang Dynasty Prime Minister Pei Du, written by calligrapher Liu Gongchuo, and engraved by craftsman Lu Jian. It is called "Three Wonders" because of its exquisite writing, calligraphy and engraving skills. The inscription highly praised Zhuge Liang's achievements and virtues, allowing them to have a deeper understanding of Zhuge Liang's life.

"These inscriptions are not only treasures of calligraphy art, but also witnesses of history. They allow us to travel through time and space and have a dialogue with the ancients." Li Xiao gently stroked the inscriptions, as if he could feel the warmth of history. Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei also nodded in agreement. They read the contents of the inscriptions carefully and sighed from time to time.

After visiting the Wuhou Temple, the three people were in a state of excitement for a long time. The magnificent history of the Three Kingdoms period seemed to reappear before their eyes. With awe of history and admiration for Zhuge Liang, they left the Wuhou Temple and prepared to go to the next destination.

Not far from the Wuhou Temple is Jinli Ancient Street. At night, Jinli Ancient Street is brightly lit and bustling. On both sides of the quaint street, there are many shops, various special snacks and handicrafts, which are dazzling.

"Wow, this is simply a paradise for food!" As soon as Zhang Yuedong walked into Jinli Ancient Street, he was attracted by the food stalls in front of him. He couldn't wait to pull Li Xiao and Lin Yifei towards a stall selling dandan noodles.

"Boss, give me three bowls of dandan noodles!" Zhang Yuedong shouted.

Soon, the steaming hot Dandan noodles were served. The thin noodles were covered with a layer of fragrant marinade, dotted with green chopped green onions and fresh sprouts, making people salivate at the sight.

"Mm, this taste is so authentic! The noodles are smooth and chewy, the sauce is salty, fresh and slightly spicy, and it smells so good!" Zhang Yuedong took a bite and a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

Lin Yifei also tasted it and nodded in praise, "It's really delicious. This is the taste of Chengdu Dandan noodles. I think it's better than what I've had in other places before."

While eating, Li Xiao smiled and said, "Chengdu's food is indeed well-deserved. I can feel the atmosphere of this city's fireworks with every bite."

After eating Dandan noodles, they came to a stall selling long wonton. Long wonton is a traditional snack in Chengdu, with thin skin, large fillings and delicious soup. The three ordered a bowl of red oil wonton and a bowl of clear soup wonton, wanting to taste different flavors of long wonton.

"Wow, the red oil in this wonton is so fragrant, the skin is very thin, and the stuffing is very delicious. One bite makes me feel so happy." Zhang Yuedong was eating the wonton. He exhaled because of the spiciness, but his face was filled with a satisfied smile.

Lin Yifei prefers the wonton with clear soup. He said: "The soup of the wonton with clear soup is very delicious, the taste of the wonton is very pure, and it tastes very refreshing."

Li Xiao also felt that the two flavors of Long Chao Shou had their own merits. He smiled and said, "It seems that we are going to have a feast today. With so many delicious foods, we would be sorry if we don't try them all."

Then, they tasted various Chengdu special snacks such as Zhong dumplings, sugar-coated fruits, and Yeerba, etc. Each snack brought them a different taste experience, making them immersed in the world of food.

While tasting the food, they also chatted with the stall owners and learned about the production methods and stories behind these snacks. The stall owners were warm and hospitable, not only introducing the characteristics of the snacks in detail, but also sharing some interesting stories about life in Chengdu, which gave them a deeper understanding of the city.

After eating and drinking, the three of them came to a Sichuan opera teahouse to watch a wonderful Sichuan opera face-changing performance. The teahouse was full of spectators, and everyone was looking forward to the performance.

As the exciting music sounded, the performance officially began. The first to appear were several Sichuan opera actors, who were dressed in gorgeous costumes and danced lightly on the stage. The actors' movements were graceful and smooth, and their expressions were vivid and delicate, showing the unique charm of Sichuan opera to the fullest.

Next, it was the long-awaited face-changing performance. An actor walked onto the stage, wearing a colorful mask on his face. Following the rhythm of the music, he quickly changed the fan in his hand, and each movement was neat and tidy. Suddenly, he turned around, and the mask on his face changed instantly, from red to black, and then from black to white, which was a feast for the eyes.

"Wow, this is amazing! How is this done?" Zhang Yuedong opened his mouth in surprise, his eyes fixed on the stage, afraid to miss any wonderful moment.

Lin Yifei was also shocked by the performance in front of him. He kept clapping and cheering, and kept saying: "It's amazing, this is simply magic!"

Li Xiao was more interested in the skills and cultural connotations behind the face-changing performance. He whispered to Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei: "Face-changing is one of the special skills of Sichuan opera. It uses the actors' quick movements and clever techniques to achieve instant changes in facial makeup. This requires not only superb skills, but also a deep understanding and grasp of Sichuan opera culture."

During the performance, the actor walked off the stage from time to time to interact with the audience. He invited several audience members to the stage and personally demonstrated the face-changing process, allowing the audience to experience the magical charm of Sichuan Opera face-changing up close.

In addition to the face-changing performance, there were also other exciting stunts such as fire-breathing and fire-spitting. The flames spewed out of the actors' mouths, instantly pushing the atmosphere to a climax. The audience took out their mobile phones to record this wonderful moment, and applause and cheers rose one after another.

After the performance, the three of them couldn't calm down for a long time. They were deeply attracted by the unique charm of Sichuan Opera. Zhang Yuedong said excitedly: "This Sichuan Opera face-changing performance is so wonderful. It really opened my eyes. I didn't expect that Sichuan Opera has so many unique skills. It's really great!"

Lin Yifei also said with emotion: "Yes, Sichuan Opera is not only an artistic performance, but also a cultural heritage. Through this performance, I have a deeper understanding and love for Sichuan Opera."

Li Xiao smiled and said: "Yes, watching the Sichuan Opera face-changing performance this time has given us a more intuitive feeling of Chengdu's culture. Chengdu is indeed a famous historical and cultural city with such a rich and colorful cultural heritage."

After leaving the Sichuan Opera Teahouse, the three of them came to a specialty store, ready to buy some Chengdu specialties to bring back to their relatives and friends. The specialty store was filled with a variety of specialties, including Zhang Fei beef, Dengying beef shreds, Shu embroidery, Sichuan tea, etc., which made people dazzled.

"Wow, there are so many local specialties here. What should we buy?" Zhang Yuedong looked at the room full of local specialties, feeling a little overwhelmed.

Lin Yifei picked up a pack of Zhang Fei beef, looked at it carefully, and said, "I think Zhang Fei beef is good. It is a specialty of Chengdu. It tastes great and the packaging is also very beautiful. It is suitable as a gift."

Li Xiao also picked up a bag of Dengying beef shreds and said, "Dengying beef shreds are also good. They are crispy, spicy and fragrant. They are a traditional snack in Chengdu. And its production process is very sophisticated. It has been included in the list of intangible cultural heritage of SC Province."

So they decided to buy a few packs of Zhang Fei beef and Dengying beef shreds. During the selection process, they also learned from the store clerk about the production methods and preservation techniques of these specialties.