Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1750

Li Xiao was shocked by the beautiful scenery and exclaimed: "This is Baotu Spring, it's so spectacular! It really deserves to be the 'No. 1 Spring in the World'." Zhang Yuedong was also amazed: "Look at this spring water, it keeps bubbling up, as if it will never stop, nature is really magical." Lin Yifei walked to the spring, squatted down, reached out to touch the cool spring water, and said with emotion: "This spring water is icy and cool, so comfortable. How pleasant it would be if I could drink such spring water every day."

The three of them stayed by the spring for a long time, admiring the magical natural landscape and sharing their feelings from time to time. Afterwards, they strolled along the path beside the spring, admiring the surrounding pavilions, towers, flowers, plants and trees. Along the way, they also saw many famous springs such as Shuyu Spring and Mapao Spring. Each spring has its own characteristics, which makes people dazzled.

After coming out of Baotu Spring, they came to Daming Lake. The water of Daming Lake was rippling, and the lake was vast, with no end in sight. Willows were weeping by the lake, and their slender branches fluttered in the wind, like a girl's hair. On the lake, a number of cruise ships slowly passed by, creating ripples. In the distance, the Thousand Buddha Mountain was clearly outlined under the sunlight, and it contrasted with Daming Lake, forming a beautiful landscape painting.

Zhang Yuedong said excitedly: "This Daming Lake is so beautiful, even more beautiful than I imagined." Li Xiao replied with a smile: "Yes, the scenery of the lake and the mountains is really intoxicating. No wonder the ancients said, 'There are lotus flowers on four sides, willows on three sides, one city is mountains and half of the city is lake'." Lin Yifei suggested: "Let's rent a boat and go to the center of the lake to feel the beauty of Daming Lake." Everyone agreed.

So, they rented a boat and rowed slowly to the center of the lake. The breeze gently brushed their cheeks, bringing the smell of the lake, making people feel extremely comfortable. While rowing, they admired the beautiful scenery around them and took out their cameras from time to time to take pictures. In the center of the lake, they saw the Lixia Pavilion. This quaint pavilion stood on a small island in the lake, which looked particularly quiet. They rowed the boat to the side of the Lixia Pavilion, climbed onto the island, walked into the Lixia Pavilion, and felt the rich historical and cultural atmosphere here.

After a day of sightseeing, the night gradually fell and the three people's stomachs began to growl. They decided to try the special food of Jinan. After some inquiries, they came to a well-known local restaurant.

As soon as they entered the restaurant, they could smell the rich aroma of food. They ordered several Jinan specialties such as sweet and sour carp, nine-turn large intestine, and oil twist. After a while, the dishes were served one after another. The sweet and sour carp was bright red in color, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and was poured with a layer of sweet and sour sauce, which made people salivate at the sight. Li Xiao picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth, praising it: "This sweet and sour carp is so delicious, with moderate sweet and sour taste, and the fish meat is extremely tender." Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, this taste is simply amazing, better than the sweet and sour carp I have eaten before." Lin Yifei ate the nine-turn large intestine with big mouthfuls, and said with satisfaction: "This nine-turn large intestine is also good, fat but not greasy, crispy and delicious." They also tasted oil twist, a kind of pasta with crispy skin and tender inside, with a fragrant onion, which makes people have endless aftertaste.

After dinner, they heard that there was a Shandong Kuaishu performance nearby, so they decided to go and join in the fun. When they arrived at the performance venue, they saw that the audience was already full. They found an empty seat and sat down, quietly waiting for the performance to begin.

The performance began. An actor in traditional costume walked onto the stage, holding a pair of mandarin duck boards in his hands, beating them rhythmically, making clear and pleasant sounds. His performance was lively and interesting, with humorous language, telling wonderful stories one after another, which often drew laughter and applause from the audience. Li Xiao was attracted by the wonderful performance of the actors and watched intently. He smiled and said to Zhang Yuedong next to him: "This Shandong Kuaishu is really interesting. The actors are so eloquent, speaking quickly and clearly." Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, this is my first time watching a Shandong Kuaishu performance. I didn't expect it to be so wonderful." Lin Yifei smiled and said: "This performance is not only interesting, but also allows us to learn a lot about Shandong's traditional culture and historical stories."

After watching the performance, they came to Jinan's characteristic commercial street to buy some local specialties. The goods here are dazzling and have everything. They stopped in a shop selling Lu embroidery. Lu embroidery is a traditional embroidery craft in Shandong with a long history and exquisite craftsmanship. The embroidery is elegant and lifelike. They saw a series of exquisite Lu embroidery works, including flowers, birds, fish, insects, landscapes, portraits, etc. Each one is lifelike and makes people love it. Li Xiao chose a Lu embroidered handkerchief embroidered with lotus as a gift for her mother. Zhang Yuedong bought a Lu embroidered landscape painting to hang at home for decoration. Lin Yifei also selected some small Lu embroidery accessories to give to his friends.

On the first day in Jinan, they fully enjoyed the ancient charm and new sounds of the city, tasted delicious food, watched performances, and bought local specialties. They are looking forward to the next journey to discover more surprises in this beautiful province of Shandong.

Bidding farewell to Jinan, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei set off on a journey to Qingdao. When they stepped into this coastal city, they were greeted by a salty and humid sea breeze. The azure sky and the endless sea set off each other. High-rise buildings were scattered along the coastline, full of the vitality and romance of a modern city. Li Xiao opened his arms excitedly and shouted, "Qingdao, we are here! We can finally see the sea we have always dreamed of." Zhang Yuedong looked at the sea view in the distance and said with emotion, "This is Qingdao. It is really as beautiful as its reputation." Lin Yifei also smiled and said, "There will be fun next. Let's go to Badaguan first." They came to Badaguan, where there are many buildings of different styles, including Gothic, Romanesque, Byzantine, etc., like a museum of world architectural art. Walking on the streets of Badaguan, the trees on both sides of the road are lush and leafy, and the sun shines through the gaps in the leaves, forming patches of golden light. Each building is carefully cared for. The exterior of the buildings is colorful, and some walls are covered with green vines, adding a touch of simplicity and mystery.

Li Xiao looked at the buildings in front of him and asked curiously: "These buildings are so distinctive, what is their historical background?" Zhang Yuedong is a history enthusiast. He introduced enthusiastically: "Most of the buildings in Badaguan were built in the 20s and s. At that time, many foreigners built villas here, so they integrated the architectural styles of different countries. These buildings have witnessed the historical changes of Qingdao and also reflected the cultural exchanges at that time." Lin Yifei nodded in agreement: "Yes, walking among these buildings, it seems that you can feel the atmosphere of that era." While admiring the buildings, they took photos and walked into some open buildings from time to time to feel the unique charm of different buildings.

After exiting Badaguan, they arrived at the May Fourth Square. On the square stands the iconic red sculpture "The Wind of May". The sculpture, with its spiraling wind shape and fiery red color, fully reflects the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal patriotic tone of the "May Fourth Movement" and the rising national power. Standing on the square, in front of them is the vast sea, with waves hitting the shore, making pleasant sounds. On the sea in the distance, ships come and go, shuttling under the blue sky and white clouds.

Zhang Yuedong looked at the sculpture and said excitedly, "This 'May Wind' is so majestic. Seeing it reminds me of that turbulent history." Li Xiao also said with emotion, "Yes, the May Fourth Movement had a profound impact on China. This sculpture also reminds us to remember history." Lin Yifei walked to the beach, felt the sea breeze, and said, "The sea view here is so beautiful. It makes people feel particularly comfortable." They strolled in the square, admiring the sea view, and saw many citizens and tourists flying kites, taking walks, and taking pictures here. It was a happy and peaceful scene.

Then, they came to the Golden Beach. The sand on the Golden Beach was fine and soft. Under the sunshine, it sparkled with golden light, like a piece of golden silk spread on the seashore. The sea water was clear and presented a charming blue color. Waves came one after another, hitting the beach and splashing layers of white waves. On the beach, some people were basking in the sun, some were playing with sand, and some were playing in the water, full of laughter and joy.

Li Xiao excitedly took off his shoes, stepped on the beach, felt the warmth and fineness of the sand, and said with a smile: "This sand is so comfortable, it feels like stepping on cotton." Zhang Yuedong also took off his shoes, rushed to the beach, and shouted: "Come and play in the water, the sea water is so cool." Lin Yifei set up a camera on the side, ready to record this beautiful moment. They played on the beach to their heart's content, sometimes building sand castles, sometimes chasing the waves, and had a lot of fun. When they were tired, they lay on the beach, enjoying the sun bath, and feeling the tranquility and beauty of the sea.

In the evening, their stomachs began to growl, so they decided to try Qingdao's specialties. They came to a seafood restaurant by the sea. As soon as they entered the door, they could see all kinds of fresh seafood on the display stand, including crabs, shrimps, shellfish, fish, etc., which were dazzling and mouth-watering. They ordered several Qingdao specialties such as spicy fried clams, Spanish mackerel dumplings, and seaweed jelly. After a while, the dishes were served one after another. The spicy fried clams were bright red in color, the clam meat was tender and juicy, and the spicy taste was endless. Li Xiao picked up a clam, put it in his mouth, and praised it highly: "This spicy fried clams is so delicious, fresh and spicy, just to my taste." Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, these clams are so fresh and taste really good." Lin Yifei ate the Spanish mackerel dumplings in big mouthfuls and said with satisfaction: "These Spanish mackerel dumplings are so delicious, with thin skin and big fillings, so fresh that my eyebrows are about to fall off." They also tasted seaweed jelly, which is a kind of jelly made from seaweed. It has a smooth taste and is paired with special seasonings. It has a very unique taste.

After dinner, they heard that Qingdao Song and Dance Theater had a wonderful performance, so they decided to watch it. When they arrived at the theater, they bought tickets, walked into the theater, and found a seat to sit down. The performance began. The actors on the stage were dressed in gorgeous costumes, singing and dancing, performing a variety of programs such as dance, songs, and acrobatics. The dancers' dancing postures were graceful and moving, and their movements were light and smooth, as if they were a group of dancing fairies; the singers' singing was melodious, sometimes passionate, sometimes gentle, and intoxicated; the acrobats' performances were thrilling, and they completed various difficult movements in the sky, which made people sweat for them. Li Xiao was attracted by the wonderful performances of the actors, and he couldn't take his eyes off them. He smiled and said to Zhang Yuedong next to him: "This performance is so wonderful, and the actors are so amazing." Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, this performance is really a feast for the eyes." Lin Yifei smiled and said: "This is not only a visual and auditory feast, but also makes us feel the cultural charm of Qingdao."

After watching the show, they came to Qingdao's characteristic commercial street, ready to buy some local specialties. There are many shops selling Laoshan Green Tea here. Laoshan Green Tea is the northernmost green tea in China. It has the characteristics of long growth cycle, excellent quality, fat leaves and thick taste. It is praised by consumers as "the first famous tea in Jiangbei". They walked into a tea shop, which was filled with rich tea fragrance. The boss enthusiastically introduced the varieties and characteristics of Laoshan Green Tea to them and brewed a cup for them. The tea soup was clear and bright, with tender green color and fragrant aroma. After tasting it, it tasted fresh and refreshing, and the aftertaste was long. Li Xiao took a sip of tea and praised it: "This Laoshan Green Tea is really well-deserved, and it tastes so good." Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, this tea is mellow and has a unique taste." So, each of them bought some Laoshan Green Tea and planned to take it back to give to relatives and friends. In addition, they also bought some Qingdao's specialty seafood, such as squid shreds, dried shrimps, etc. These seafood are delicious and nutritious, and are Qingdao's representative specialties.

During this day in Qingdao, they fully enjoyed the romance and passion of the coastal city, appreciated the unique architectural style, admired the beautiful sea view, tasted delicious seafood, watched wonderful performances, bought their favorite specialties, and spent a fulfilling and wonderful time. They are looking forward to the next stop of the journey, to continue to harvest more happiness and surprises in Shandong.

After leaving Qingdao, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei headed to Jining, a city full of cultural heritage and bearing the deep roots of Confucianism, which made them full of expectations. Li Xiao said excitedly in the car: "Finally, I am going to Jining. I have always been interested in Confucian culture. This time I must experience the charm of the hometown of the saints." Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, the Three Confucian Temples in Qufu are well-known. It is a holy place of Confucian culture." Lin Yifei smiled and said: "Not only can I visit the Three Confucian Temples, but I can also taste the food in Jining. It's exciting to think about it."