The growth system comes at the age of 30

Chapter 316 A Family Trip to the Capital. (5K)

"What are you looking at?"

Seeing Chen Jingle looking down at his phone and typing away, Li Beixing curiously peeked over.

Chen Jingle smiled and handed her his phone: "The blogger who interviewed us on the plane has released the video. Many viewers found us by tagging my link in the comments. Several people have expressed interest in placing orders in my private messages. New customers have appeared."

Li Beixing glanced at the comments section twice, then watched Cui Wenyao's video and asked in surprise, "Did you predict this from the beginning?"

"It's a win-win situation. He wanted to generate buzz and traffic, and I wanted to attract exposure."

Chen Jing chuckled and said, "Let's go, let's go, someone's treating us to supper tonight."

Great!

My husband is amazing!

Li Beixing was overjoyed. He handed the phone back to Chen Jingle and casually asked, "What are we having for supper later?"

Chen Jingle had already decided: "Let's have barbecue! Northeastern barbecue is the best. In the summer, with the evening breeze, eating some barbecue and drinking some ice-cold beer, it's wonderful!"

The nightlife of people in Northeast China consists mainly of public bathhouses and barbecue stalls.

If they weren't going to the public bathhouse, they would definitely be trying some Northeastern-style barbecue.

I didn't eat enough at the self-service lunchbox place, so I'm saving my stomach for a late-night snack.

As night fell, we decided to head to a barbecue restaurant.

Barbecue varies across China, but Northeastern barbecue is generally characterized by its large portions and affordable prices.

It's hard to imagine that even today, there are still beef and mutton skewers for 6 cents a skewer, and the key is that they are made with real beef and mutton.

Roasted corn costs two yuan a piece.

These are the prices in Northeast China!

In contrast, back in my hometown of Jiangbei, roasted corn is now sold by the kernel, with a string of kernels costing you one yuan.

Off the charts!
……

In Harbin, many barbecue restaurants open around noon and stay open until 11 or 2 at night, though some may stay open a little later.

In winter, they close an hour or two earlier; not many stay open until the early hours of the morning.

Therefore, having a late-night snack at seven or eight o'clock is not considered early.

Chen Jingle had all the food maps in his head. He held Li Beixing's little hand and walked slowly, just like a college student couple taking a stroll after dinner.

When you're out having fun, you can't rush things. If you rush, you'll easily get irritable, and you won't necessarily enjoy whatever you do or eat.

The two of them basically ate wherever they went all day, including regular meals as well as various local snacks and desserts.

Chen Jingle didn't choose those trendy barbecue restaurants, but instead picked a well-established restaurant with a good reputation.

The shop isn't big, but it's clean and tidy. It's a typical husband-and-wife business; the owner is in charge of grilling, and his wife is in charge of taking orders and serving the food.

The moment the two entered the store, they immediately attracted everyone's attention.

The store felt brighter now.

"What would you two like to eat? Just look at the menu and order."

The somewhat plump proprietress spoke with a thick Northeastern accent, her eyes darting back and forth between the two men's faces, secretly wondering which rich second-generation heirs were out experiencing life.
This appearance is completely unlike that of an ordinary person.

And you can tell at a glance that they're not locals.

Why?

Because neither of them had anything that could be considered a luxury item, while the locals had things like tree branches or bird frames.

Chen Jingle glanced at the menu and had a general idea of ​​what to expect.

He doesn't eat offal, kidneys, eggs, or penis; he just orders meat skewers and vegetables, which aren't expensive.

"Honey-glazed pork belly, pork belly skewers, fatty pork rinds, roasted chicken frames, and 'Empress's Roujiamo'..."

Chen Jingle could order whatever he wanted to eat. What he could eat, Teacher Li could naturally eat too.

I also ordered two bottles of Snow Beer.

The proprietress couldn't help but ask, "I'm afraid you two can't eat this much."

"It's okay, just follow the instructions. I have a big appetite, and I didn't eat enough for dinner," Chen Jingle said with a smile.

Seeing this, the proprietress stopped trying to persuade her.

The food was served quickly, but the first thing to come out wasn't the barbecue, but rather a small plate of cold dishes that the restaurant offered as a side dish with drinks.

Besides that, the first thing served was beef skewers.

Sizzling and dripping with oil, Chen Jingle took a bite first. The heat and seasoning were excellent; it was definitely something special. Moreover, the beef was fresh, and all the ingredients were on the rack.

Barbecue is actually not difficult, the key is that it's hard work, even harder than cooking in the kitchen. He can figure out the barbecue sauce with just one bite, but he just doesn't want to make it.

Although Ms. Li was very tempted, the barbecue was too high in calories for her. She was afraid of getting pimples and gaining weight, so she reluctantly ate only a small amount of each kind.

Even so, she ate a little of this and a little of that, and in total she ate quite a lot.

In the end, the two of them ate enough for about three or four people.

Barbecue is greasy, heavy on oil and salt, so I can't eat too much of it.

When they checked the bill, it was only 150 yuan, even though Chen Jingle had ordered quite a few of the more expensive items.

I have to say, prices in Northeast China are really cheap!
And then there's the fact that barbecue and beer are a perfect match in the sweltering summer.

After two glasses of ice-cold beer, Teacher Li's cheeks flushed slightly and she was slightly tipsy. When she went out, she hugged Chen Jingle's arm tightly and leaned against him.

Chen Jingle's expression was speechless, yet also somewhat indulgent.

"If you can't drink, don't try to drink like others."

"I didn't drink that much," Li Beixing said in a coquettish tone.

Ultimately, she drinks very rarely, and Chen Jingle almost never touches a drop of alcohol at home, as she also drives.

I rarely feel like having a drink, and after just two glasses, I started to feel the effects.

Fortunately, she didn't drink any more, which was just right. Back at the hotel, she was bound to indulge a little more that evening.

Hey hey hey.

……

Harbin in the summer is indeed not as fun as in the winter; the two of them only visited a few attractions in the city.

Fortunately, there was plenty of food. Except for a few specific items, most of the time was spent eating and drinking, regardless of the season.

Before leaving, I visited the 731 Crimes Museum, and then boarded the high-speed train to my next stop.

Traveling from Harbin towards Beijing, passing through cities such as Huanglongfu, Fengtian, Liaoxi, and Rehe, we ate, drank, and strolled along the way, finally arriving in Beijing before the rest of the family set off.

Check directly into the Beijing International Hotel.

The reason for choosing to stay here is its excellent location. The city gate is just two kilometers away. Driving from the hotel, you can see the scene often seen in countless movies and TV shows by looking to the right along the long street.

Another advantage is that it's relatively convenient to visit the surrounding attractions.

So what if the facilities are a bit old? It's not a big problem.

We've booked rooms for everyone so that they can sleep comfortably and well on their first night in Beijing, ensuring they're in good spirits and have a pleasant trip ahead.

Chen Jingle's idea was that spending more money was fine, as long as he had fun and had no regrets.

Now, unlike before when he was struggling financially and had to worry about so many things, he only needs to consider one question most of the time: can the problem be solved with money?

Chen Xiuyun and her group, far away in Jiangbei, were preparing to board the plane.

"Everyone, take your phones, wallets and ID cards, and pull your suitcases. Chen Jinghao and Chen Qiyun, you two, help Grandpa and Grandma."

As the ticket check was about to begin, Chen Xiuyun whispered to the crowd.

Because none of the other people in the group, except for her and her uncle and aunt, had ever flown before, she had to temporarily act as their tour guide: "When the plane takes off, your ears may feel a little uncomfortable, and you will also feel a sense of weightlessness, like riding an elevator. Just keep your mouth open, lean back in your seat, and don't try to resist it. Just relax."

She had reminded them of this several times, fearing that these elderly people, adults, and children would not learn their lesson.

Especially that idiot Chen Jinghao, he's still playing his mobile game at this hour, I wonder if he even heard me, I really want to kick him hard.

Sister Xiu harbored some resentment in her heart.

Chen Jingle was so busy enjoying time alone with Teacher Li that he said everything was arranged and they were just waiting for everyone to arrive in Beijing.

The problem is that this group of adults, the elderly, and children all have no experience flying, so it's going to be difficult to manage them well.

However, after realizing that Chen Jingle had arranged business class for them, their resentment subsided somewhat.

Be nice.

She really benefited from this; I never thought she would be able to fly business class one day!
Although only a very few domestic routes retain first class, business class is basically equivalent to first class, so it's great that we don't have to squeeze into economy class.

From entering the VIP waiting area to boarding the plane, everyone seemed a bit reserved, looking around curiously, like country bumpkins visiting the Grand View Garden.

After all, their family had only recently escaped poverty, and now they're suddenly enjoying the life of the wealthy—it all seems a bit unreal.

Fortunately, no one laughed at them.

We're all just ordinary people; those who have nothing better to do than jump out and play the villain to get slapped in the face are ultimately a tiny minority.

Secondly, the flight attendants have excellent professional ethics; they will help with anything you don't understand or need assistance with.

My grandparents are both quite old, belonging to the elderly category. Although they weren't asked to provide a medical report, the flight attendants paid extra attention to their mental state, asking them several times if they felt unwell. Fortunately, both of them were in good spirits until they landed.

After all, they've worked hard their whole lives. Seriously speaking, their physical and mental energy is much better than many young people working 996 these days.

Lu Xian was actually in the worst spirits; she was a little airsick.

Fortunately, it's not serious.

……

The journey was safe and uneventful, and the plane landed safely at Beijing Capital International Airport.

They weren't very lucky; these past few days have been the hottest time of the year in Beijing, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius every day. Even occasional thunderstorms couldn't alleviate the sweltering heat.

"So this is the capital city?"

The family got off the plane and looked around curiously.

Where are the city gates? Where is the Great Hall of the People? I can't see them.
After collecting their luggage, the group finally saw Chen Jingle and Li Beixing standing at the exit.

"Brother Le! Sister-in-law!"

Chen Qiyun's eye-catching bag made people jump up and wave as soon as they saw it from afar.

"Was the flight smooth?" Chen Jingle asked with a smile after reuniting with everyone.

Upon seeing Chen Jingle, Chen Xiuyun finally breathed a sigh of relief: "The weather was great, and apart from a bumpy ride for a minute or two, I didn't feel anything."

Not only her, but everyone else also breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, they were unfamiliar with the place and the people there. Apart from a few younger relatives, the others couldn't speak Mandarin well, and the grandparents were practically illiterate. With Chen Jingle around, things were different; he could solve any problems.

The hotel staff behind them, responsible for picking up passengers, quickly took the suitcases from everyone's hands.

He arranged three cars; there were definitely not enough people in two cars.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Chen Jingle waved his hand: "Let's go to the hotel first."

"Where are we staying tonight?" Sister Xiu asked curiously.

Chen Jingle said, "I'm staying at the International Hotel on Jianguomen Inner Street. I've already booked a room."

International Hotel?

This name doesn't sound promising at all.

Sister Xiu searched on her phone and found out what level it was. Goodness, it was five-star, and one of the top-tier levels in Beijing.

As expected of a master!
Upon arriving at their destination and looking at the opulent hotel lobby, Grandma couldn't help but mutter, "How much does it cost to stay here for one night?"

Upon hearing this, Li Beixing laughed and said, "Grandma, when you're out having fun, accommodation and food are the things you can't skimp on, especially since you're older. If you stay in a bad place with poor soundproofing, you won't feel well the next day, and you'll still have to walk around all day, which is very draining."

Uncle frowned and said, "Jing Le and Bei Xing have already made arrangements. You can just stay with them. Why nag so much? It's rare for us all to travel together. If the accommodations and food are really bad, you'll probably be unhappy."

He knew his mother's personality best; she was never polite.

The old lady didn't dare to say anything more.

After successfully checking in, Chen Jingle asked everyone to put their luggage away and then let them rest for 10 minutes before taking them to eat.

The first meal upon arriving in the capital should naturally be a good one.

He chose the Tan Family Courtyard private room on the third floor of the hotel.

Tan Family Cuisine, or Tan Family Cuisine, is a dish that many people have probably heard of. It was passed down from Tan Zongjun, a scholar who was a native of the provincial capital of Southeast China during the late Qing Dynasty. Therefore, Tan Family Cuisine is actually a high-end Cantonese dish.

It tastes good, but it's not cheap.

Everyone tacitly refrained from asking the price, to avoid feeling the pinch later. Judging from the restaurant's decor, it was clearly not a place for the average person to afford.

Chen Jingle would never bring it up on his own initiative.

As I always say, as long as everyone's happy.

Considering that long flights are tiring for both the elderly and children, Chen Jingle did not make any other arrangements after the meal, but simply told everyone to wash up and rest early.

……

The next morning, Chen Jingle led everyone to visit the memorial hall.

The memorial hall is only open in the morning and not in the afternoon, and it is closed every Monday.

It's relatively easy to make an appointment on weekdays, not holidays, but of course, it's best to book in advance.

Chen Jingle made the appointment a week in advance.

Grandpa specially put on his green military uniform with red epaulets, pinned on his medals, and tried his best to straighten his hunched back.

Two of them were ones that Chen Jingle had never seen before.

Everyone finally got a clear look at what the city gate tower looked like, but today's goal was not the city gate tower or the Forbidden City.

Upon arriving at the memorial hall entrance, we bought flowers and lined up, following the flow of people.

Chen Jingle felt inexplicably nervous.

Although he considered himself a Maoist, he didn't know what to say when he met the old man, or perhaps he didn't need to say anything at all.

Half an hour had passed by the time we came out after laying flowers at the memorial hall.

Led by Chen Jingle, the group turned and went to the adjacent hall, but only a portion of the exhibition hall was open to the public.

In their exhibition hall in Southeast Asia, besides the usual meeting tables and chairs, there was a huge table. I wonder if they were having a meal right after the meeting.

Unlike the memorial hall where photography is not allowed, here Chen Jingle transformed into a photography tool, snapping away in all sorts of pictures.

We'll have a quick lunch and then head to the National Museum across the street in the afternoon.

The National Museum of China has so many exhibits to see, a total of 143 million items. Even if you only look at each item for one second, it would take about 400 hours.

The ancient exhibition hall alone spans from 200 million years ago to 1911, and many of the artifacts there are from textbooks.

By the time we finished shopping and taking photos, it was already 5 p.m.

Everyone was still eager for more, because it was truly worth savoring. Even the grandparents, who weren't initially very interested in these things, joined in until the very end.

After leaving the National Museum, we returned to the square, took some photos, and waited for the flag-lowering ceremony.

After watching the flag-lowering ceremony and seeing the lights on the city gate and the assembly hall, it's time to have dinner. That basically concludes the day's itinerary.

Even Chen Jingle felt a bit tired after doing all this, let alone the others.

The task for tonight is to get a good rest.

Because on the third day, we had to get up early to queue up to watch the flag-raising ceremony and then go up to the city tower.

These also require advance booking; all the attractions in this area require reservations.

The city gate tower was under repair in early June, but it has now been repaired.

It's definitely impossible to get a front row spot for the flag-raising ceremony. Many people line up as early as 1 or 2 a.m., which is quite exaggerated. However, we still hope to get as close to the front as possible.

As a result, I could only stand at the back.

Unfortunately, the elderly person's health doesn't allow for queuing overnight; just being able to get to the site is enough.

After the flag-raising ceremony and the visit to the city gate tower, the next step is to stroll through the Forbidden City.

We had considered renting a wheelchair, since the Forbidden City is quite large, and we didn't want Grandpa and Grandma to get tired from walking around for too long, but they both refused.

"Can't you rest when you're tired? I'm not so tired that I can't walk anymore," Grandpa said irritably.

Seeing this, no one dared to say anything.

Okay, let's rest when we're tired anyway.

After spending most of the day touring the Forbidden City, we exited through the Shenwu Gate, had afternoon tea at the nearby Wanchun Jinfu Restaurant, rested briefly, and then climbed to the top of Jingshan Park.

Jingshan Park is the original Coal Hill, where Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself.

However, that crooked tree was cut down in 71. Although a new one was transplanted later, it was never the same as the original one.

Standing at Wanchun Pavilion in Jingshan Park, you can overlook the entire central axis of the Forbidden City. At that time, it was sunset, making it a great choice for either enjoying the scenery or taking photos.

After visiting the above key areas, the remaining attractions are the Summer Palace, the Old Summer Palace, the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, the Temple of Heaven, and the Badaling Great Wall.

Basically, you can only visit one or two places a day.

Fortunately, everyone's original plan was to stay in Beijing for about a week, which gave them enough time to visit the sights and enjoy the local cuisine.

It's often said that Beijing is a food wasteland, but it's not actually that bad. Perhaps there aren't many local delicacies, but there's no shortage of food from all over the country.

This can be seen from Teacher Sui's restaurant review videos.

Compared to other cities, the price is slightly higher, but if you're willing to spend the money, you can still eat and drink well.

……

For the family's last meal before leaving Beijing to return home, Chen Jingle thought long and hard and decided to hold the gathering at the State Banquet Hotel.

He also wanted to taste what real state banquet dishes were like.

I've seen so many videos of state banquet dishes that I can even cook them myself, but I've never actually tasted a real state banquet.

Of the 14 billion people in China, probably not many have the opportunity to taste it. Since it's a rare opportunity to come to Beijing, this is a perfect chance.

(End of this chapter)