Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

The three of them bought tickets and walked into the scenic area. As soon as they entered the scenic area, it was like entering a paradise. It was surrounded by mountains on three sides, with deep forests and lush trees, gurgling water, and a quiet and elegant rhythm. The trees on the mountain were lush and green, covering the sky, and the sun shone through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled light and shadows. The stream in the mountain was clear and the water meandered down the mountain, making a crisp and pleasant sound, as if playing a beautiful piece of music.

Zhang Yuedong took a deep breath and said, "The air here is so fresh. It feels like every breath I take makes me feel refreshed."

Lin Yifei also said: "Yes, the scenery is so beautiful. Zhuge Liang was very wise to choose to live in seclusion here."

Li Xiao said: "Ancient Longzhong not only has beautiful scenery, but also has many historical sites. Let's go to the Wuhou Temple first."

The three of them walked along the mountain path, enjoying the beautiful scenery all the way. The wild flowers and grasses on the roadside grew wildly, colorful and gorgeous. Occasionally, they could see a few butterflies dancing among the flowers, as if welcoming their arrival. As they walked, they arrived at the Wuhou Temple.

Wuhou Temple was built to commemorate Zhuge Liang. It was first built in the Jin Dynasty and has undergone many renovations and expansions. The current Wuhou Temple is in the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty. The temple faces east and sits west. It has three entrances and three courtyards, with layers of terraces and pavilions, and is magnificent. The temple enshrines statues of Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and other civil and military ministers who have made outstanding contributions in the Shu Han regime. These statues are majestic and lifelike, as if telling the glorious history of the year.

When you enter the Wuhou Temple, the first thing that comes into view is a tall statue of Zhuge Liang. In the statue, Zhuge Liang is wearing a Bagua robe and holding a feather fan. He looks calm and has a deep gaze, as if he is thinking about world affairs. In front of the statue, there are incense burners and offerings. The incense is very popular and there is an endless stream of tourists coming to worship.

Zhang Yuedong walked to the statue, bowed respectfully and said: "Zhuge Liang is one of the people I admire most. His wisdom and loyalty are truly admirable."

Lin Yifei also said: "Yes, his Longzhong Strategy pointed out the direction for Liu Bei. The strategic conception of dividing the world into three parts is simply amazing."

Li Xiao said: "Zhuge Liang was not only an outstanding politician and military strategist, but also a writer and inventor. His "The Memorial to the Emperor on Leaving the Capital" is sincere and touching, and his phrase 'devoting all my energy to the cause until my death' has become a famous saying throughout the ages. His inventions such as the wooden ox and horse and the Kongming lantern also demonstrate his intelligence and wisdom."

The three of them visited the temple, admiring various cultural relics, plaques and couplets. Among them, a couplet caught their attention: "He visited the emperor three times to ask for advice on state affairs, and helped the old ministers in two dynasties." This couplet highly summarizes Zhuge Liang's life and expresses people's admiration for him.

Zhang Yuedong said: "This couplet is really well written. It describes Zhuge Liang's achievements and spirit. Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang three times before he invited him out. Zhuge Liang really worked hard for the Shu Han regime until his death."

Lin Yifei said: "Yes, Zhuge Liang's loyalty and dedication are worth learning for each of us. He was willing to pay any price to realize his ideals, and this spirit is also very rare in today's society."

Li Xiao said: "In addition to Longzhong Plan and Chushi Biao, Zhuge Liang has many other stories and legends, such as borrowing arrows from straw boats, the empty city plan, and the seven captures of Meng Huo, each of which is full of wisdom and legendary colors. These stories not only show his military talents, but also reflect his personal charm."

As the three of them visited, they exchanged their knowledge and understanding of Zhuge Liang. They talked about Zhuge Liang's political talents, military strategies, his literary achievements, inventions, and his loyalty and personality. The more they talked, the more excited they became, as if they had traveled through time and space and had an in-depth conversation with Zhuge Liang.

After leaving Wuhou Temple, they came to Sangu Hall, which is a memorial hall for Liu Bei's three visits to Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage and Zhuge Liang's Longzhong Plan. The hall displays statues of Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei during the three visits to Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage, as well as some cultural relics and pictures related to this period of history.

Walking into the Sangu Hall, Zhang Yuedong looked at the statue and said, "Liu Bei was really sincere in inviting Zhuge Liang to come out of retirement. He came to visit him three times in person. This kind of thirst for talent is really rare."

Lin Yifei said: "Yes, it was Liu Bei's sincerity that moved Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang did not disappoint Liu Bei's expectations, and gave him advice and assisted him in establishing the Shu Han regime."

Li Xiao said: "The story of the three visits to the thatched cottage not only reflects Liu Bei's ability to identify people and his thirst for talent, but also shows Zhuge Liang's integrity and prudence. He was reluctant to leave the mountain until he met someone who was truly worthy of his assistance. This also tells us that we must be cautious when choosing our life path and partners."

The three stayed in the Sangu Hall for a while, feeling the scene when Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang met. They seemed to see Liu Bei's sincere eyes and hear Zhuge Liang's passionate words, and they had a deeper understanding of this period of history.

After leaving Sangutang, they visited Caolu Pavilion, Liujiaojing, Gonggengtian and other scenic spots. Each scenic spot has a unique historical background and cultural connotation, which made them linger.

In Caolu Pavilion, they imagined the scene of Zhuge Liang studying and thinking here in the past; at Hexagonal Well, they touched the ancient well fence and felt the vicissitudes of time; in Gonggengtian, they looked at the fertile land and seemed to see Zhuge Liang working hard here in the past.

Zhang Yuedong said with emotion: "Zhuge Liang spent ten years in Longzhong. This was not only his place of seclusion, but also the place where he grew up and became a talent. He accumulated knowledge here, made friends with famous people, and laid the foundation for his later achievements."

Lin Yifei said: "Yes, this land of ancient Longzhong gave birth to outstanding figures like Zhuge Liang, and also witnessed the changes during the Three Kingdoms period. Every blade of grass and every tree here seems to be telling the story of that magnificent history."

Li Xiao said: "We came to Gulongzhong not only to enjoy the beautiful scenery, but also to understand the history and experience the culture. I hope that through this trip, we can learn something from Zhuge Liang and be inspired by our lives."

Unconsciously, the sun has gradually set in the west, and the sky is covered with gorgeous sunset glow. The three of them have been playing in the ancient Longzhong scenic area for a whole day. Although they are a little tired, they are in a very good mood. They not only enjoy the beautiful scenery of ancient Longzhong, but also have a deep understanding of the Three Kingdoms culture and Zhuge Liang's wisdom, and have gained a lot.

Zhang Yuedong looked at the time and said, "It's so late, we should go back. We had so much fun in Gulongzhong today, it was really worth the trip."

Lin Yifei said: "Yes, everything here impressed me deeply. I must write down these experiences when I go back and share them with my friends."

Li Xiao said, "Okay, let's go back to the hotel to rest first, and then go to other places tomorrow. There are still many fun places in Xiangyang waiting for us to explore." So the three of them left the scenic area with good memories of Gu Longzhong and expectations for tomorrow. The unique history and culture and beautiful natural scenery of Gu Longzhong will always remain in their hearts.

As night falls and the lights come on, Xiangyang's streets and alleys gradually become lively, and the air is filled with the aroma of various delicacies. Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei came out of the hotel and prepared to explore Xiangyang's night market delicacies. They strolled along the street and admired the beautiful scenery of Xiangyang at night. The shops on the street were brightly lit, and under the neon lights, people were either strolling leisurely or sitting in front of roadside snack stalls, enjoying the food and the tranquility of the night.

Zhang Yuedong said excitedly: "The night in Xiangyang is so lively, it feels more energetic than during the day."

Lin Yifei also smiled and said, "Yes, Xiangyang at night has a unique flavor. I wonder what delicious snacks we can taste tonight."

Li Xiao said: "Let's go and try the Yicheng prawns today. Yicheng prawns are one of Xiangyang's specialties. In summer, you can see shops selling Yicheng prawns everywhere in the streets and alleys of Xiangyang."

Zhang Yuedong's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Yicheng prawns? That sounds very tempting. I've heard that Yicheng prawns are very famous, and I've always wanted to try them."

The three of them came to the famous "prawn street" in Xiangyang - Zhakou 1nd Road. It is only 60 kilometer long, but there are nearly restaurants and restaurants on both sides of the street. Most of the merchants sell crayfish specialties in summer. As soon as you enter this street, you can smell the rich shrimp aroma, mixed with the taste of various seasonings, which makes people salivate. The street is crowded with people, and diners are sitting inside or outside the store, enjoying the food. The waiters are busy shuttling among the crowd with pots of steaming prawns.

Zhang Yuedong looked at the scene in front of him and exclaimed: "It's really lively here. It feels like everyone in Xiangyang comes here to eat prawns."

Lin Yifei smiled and said, "It seems that Yicheng prawns are really attractive. Let's find a place to sit down and taste them."

The three of them walked into a busy shrimp restaurant. The restaurant was full of diners, eating prawns and chatting, with laughter and joy. They found an empty seat and sat down, and the waiter came over soon. Li Xiao ordered a pot of braised prawns and a pot of garlic prawns, and ordered a few bottles of beer.

Soon, two pots of prawns were served. The braised prawns were bright red in color, fragrant, and the strong spicy flavor instantly spread; the garlic prawns exuded a light garlic aroma, and the shrimp meat was covered with a layer of golden garlic, which made people's appetite increase.

Zhang Yuedong couldn't wait to put on his gloves, picked up a braised prawn, and followed the others' example. He first sucked the soup on the shrimp shell. The soup was rich and mellow, full of spicy flavor, stimulating his taste buds, making him exclaim that it was so delicious. Then he pried open the shrimp head with force, revealing the full shrimp roe inside. He sucked it down, and the delicious shrimp roe spread in his mouth, with a rich and fragrant aroma. Then, he dug out the shrimp meat and put it in his mouth. The shrimp meat was firm and elastic, tender and juicy, with a hint of sweetness, and paired with the spicy soup, the taste was just right.

While eating, Zhang Yuedong praised: "This Yicheng prawn is so delicious, better than the crayfish I have eaten before. The taste is absolutely amazing."

Lin Yifei also tried a garlic prawn with a satisfied expression on his face. He said, "This garlic prawn is also very good. It has a strong garlic flavor and the shrimp meat is sweet. The taste of the garlic not only does not cover up the deliciousness of the shrimp meat, but it also enhances the freshness, making the shrimp meat more delicious."

Li Xiao smiled and said: "Yicheng prawns have many flavors, in addition to braised in oil and garlic, there are also steamed, spicy, peppercorns, etc. Everyone can choose according to their own taste. And eating Yicheng prawns must be accompanied by ice beer, so that it is refreshing enough." As he said, he opened a bottle of beer, took a big sip, and an expression of enjoyment appeared on his face.

The three of them ate prawns, drank beer and chatted. Zhang Yuedong said: "I think the charm of Yicheng prawns lies not only in their taste, but also in the atmosphere of eating prawns. Everyone sat together, eating prawns and chatting, feeling very relaxed and happy."

Lin Yifei also said: "Yes, this kind of atmosphere makes people feel very friendly and full of life. And when eating shrimp, everyone doesn't have to be too restrained. They can just get started and enjoy the food. This feeling is really rare."

Li Xiao said: "Yicheng prawns have become a food name card of Xiangyang and a part of Xiangyang people's life. On a summer night, eating prawns, drinking beer and chatting about the trivialities of life with friends is a very pleasant thing."

The three of them ate with gusto. Soon, they had eaten all the prawns in the two pots. Zhang Yuedong patted his stomach and said, "I am so satisfied with this meal that I feel like my stomach is going to burst."

Lin Yifei smiled and said, "Yes, this Yicheng prawn is really delicious. I think I can eat another pot."

Li Xiao said: "Let's stop here for today. There are many other delicacies waiting for us to taste in Xiangyang. We can come back tomorrow to eat."

The three of them paid the bill and walked out of the shrimp shop. At this time, there were still many people in the night market, and the streets were brightly lit and bustling. They strolled along the street, enjoying the beautiful scenery of Xiangyang at night and feeling the unique charm of this city.

Zhang Yuedong said: "Today's trip to Xiangyang was really wonderful. Not only did I visit the ancient Longzhong and feel the charm of the Three Kingdoms culture, but I also tasted the delicious Xiangyang beef noodles and Yicheng prawns. I think Xiangyang is really a city with great charm."

Lin Yifei also said: "Yes, Xiangyang has a long history and culture, as well as rich and diverse food. Everything here impressed me deeply. I think this trip will definitely become a wonderful memory in my life."

Li Xiao smiled and said: "There are still many interesting places and delicious food in Xiangyang. We still have a few days to explore slowly. I believe the journey ahead will be even more exciting."

So, the three of them continued to stroll in the night market of Xiangyang with anticipation for tomorrow, enjoying this beautiful night. And the deliciousness of Yicheng prawns will remain in their memory forever. (End of this chapter)