Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1612

As their trip to Suzhou came to an end, they sat on a stone bench by the river, looking at the lights reflected on the river.

Zhang Yue said: "Suzhou is like a gentle woman, with every frown and smile full of charm. I really don't want to leave."

Li Xiao said: "Yes, the city's cultural heritage and natural beauty are perfectly integrated, which makes people intoxicated. However, there are still more places waiting to be explored, and I believe the next stop will also be different and exciting."

Lin Fei also nodded and said: "I look forward to the next journey. I don't know what kind of wonderful encounter it will be." Continue to enjoy the fun of Jiangcheng and the customs of Jingchu.

With their nostalgia for the ancient city of Gusu, Li Xiao, Zhang Yue and Lin Fei set out on a journey to Wuhan again. This city, known as the "River City", enjoys the magnificent scenery where the Yangtze River and the Han River meet, and carries the profound Jingchu cultural heritage, waiting for them to unveil its mystery.

"Wuhan is a place connecting nine provinces. It has the eternal charm of the Yellow Crane Tower and the unique flavor of hot dry noodles. We must take a good look around." Li Xiao said excitedly as he got off the car.

Zhang Yue was also full of anticipation: "I've heard of the Yellow Crane Tower for a long time. Let's go there first to experience the grandeur of the ancients who climbed high and looked far into the distance."

When they arrived at the foot of the Yellow Crane Tower, its towering figure came into view. The Yellow Crane Tower, with its flying eaves and pointed corners, yellow tiles and red pillars, looked particularly spectacular against the backdrop of the blue sky and white clouds. "The ancients have gone away on the yellow crane, leaving only the Yellow Crane Tower here. This poem has been familiar to me since I was a child. Now standing in front of it, I can truly feel the vicissitudes and weight of history." Li Xiao looked up at the Yellow Crane Tower, feeling a lot of emotion.

Lin Fei echoed, "Yes, it has witnessed the changes of many years and carries the feelings of countless literati and poets."

They walked up the stairs slowly, and each floor had different views and cultural displays. Standing on the roof, looking far into the distance, the Yangtze River was surging and surging, and ships were shuttling back and forth on the river. The scenery of the river city was in full view. "Wow, this view is so broad. Looking at the Yangtze River, I feel my heart has become broad." Zhang Yue shouted excitedly.

After coming down from the Yellow Crane Tower, their stomachs started to growl, so they headed straight to a time-honored hot-dried noodles restaurant. "When you come to Wuhan, hot-dried noodles are a must-try. The aroma of sesame paste makes you salivate just thinking about it," Li Xiao introduced with a smile.

Zhang Yue looked at the bowls of hot dry noodles, which were yellow and oily, and the noodles were chewy. He tried a bite and said, "Well, this noodle has a unique taste. The sesame paste is rich and mellow, and with the side dishes, it tastes especially delicious. No wonder it is so famous."

Lin Fei nodded as he ate: "Indeed, every bite is full of the flavor of Wuhan, simple yet unforgettable."

In the afternoon, they came to the East Lake Scenic Area. The East Lake is vast, with rippling blue waves, and the shore is shaded by green trees and colorful flowers. "This East Lake is more beautiful than I imagined. It feels like a green pearl in Wuhan." Zhang Yue walked along the lake and exclaimed sincerely.

Li Xiao suggested: "Let's rent a bicycle and ride around the lake. This way we can enjoy the beautiful scenery more comprehensively."

So the three of them rode their bicycles, facing the lake breeze, and shuttled between the various scenic spots of East Lake. Sometimes they passed by quaint pavilions and towers, and sometimes they encountered a sea of ​​flowers, and their laughter echoed by the lake.

In the evening, they walked into Hubu Alley in Wuhan. Hubu Alley was crowded and bustling, and the aroma of various delicacies filled the air. "There are many special snacks in Wuhan here, we can eat while walking around." Lin Fei said excitedly, his eyes had already begun to search the stalls.

Zhang Yue was attracted by a stall selling Wuchang fish: "This Wuchang fish looks very fresh and tender. It is said to be one of Wuhan's signature delicacies. We have to try it."

Li Xiao became interested in the duck necks and bought some. While eating, he said, "Wuhan's duck necks are also unique. They are spicy, fresh and fragrant. The more you chew, the more delicious they are."

After eating and drinking, they came to the Hankou River Beach on the Yangtze River. The lights on the beach were bright, and people were either walking and chatting, or stopping to enjoy the river view. They found a place to sit down and look at the city lights reflected on the river and the slowly flowing river water.

"Wuhan is a city with profound history and culture, and is full of life. It is really charming." Zhang Yue leaned back in his chair and said with satisfaction.

Li Xiao nodded in agreement: "Yes, every scenic spot and every kind of food is telling the story of this river city. I wonder where the next stop will be and what kind of excitement it will bring us."

Lin Fei also said with anticipation: "No matter where we go, as long as we are together, the journey will definitely be very interesting. I look forward to the next trip." Continue to travel in the Spring City, the charm of Qilu
Bidding farewell to the hustle and bustle of Wuhan, the city of rivers, Li Xiao, Zhang Yue and Lin Fei travelled to Jinan, a city known as the "City of Springs" that is full of lively spring culture and exudes a unique Qilu charm.

"Jinan, half of the city is mountains and half is lakes. This spring is its soul. We must appreciate it." Li Xiao couldn't wait to say as soon as he stepped into Jinan.

Zhang Yue nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of anticipation: "I heard that there are countless springs in Jinan, and each has its own characteristics. Let's go to Baotu Spring first."

The three of them came to the Baotu Spring Scenic Area. Before they got close, they heard the sound of gurgling water. When they reached the spring, they saw three streams of spring water gushing out from the ground, with turbulent water and splashing water, shining with crystal light under the sunlight. "Wow, this is Baotu Spring, it really lives up to its reputation. The spring water is like boiling, so spectacular." Lin Fei exclaimed, staring at the surging spring water.

Li Xiao introduced with a smile: "This Baotu Spring is one of the three major scenic spots in Jinan. It has been highly praised since ancient times, and many literati and poets have left poems for it."

Zhang Yue approached the spring, stretched out his hand to feel the coolness of the spring water, and exclaimed: "This water is so clear and icy cold. It feels like it will be very refreshing to come here in the summer."

After coming out of Baotu Spring, they strolled along the moat. The weeping willows on both sides of the river swayed in the wind, contrasting with the clear river water, forming a beautiful picture of a water town. "The water in the moat also benefits from the gathering of spring water. It feels like the whole city of Jinan has been revitalized by this spirit," said Li Xiao.

Near noon, they walked into a Shandong restaurant. "Let's try the nine-turn large intestine, which is a classic of Shandong cuisine and really tests the chef's skills." Li Xiao recommended it to everyone.

After a while, a plate of nine-turn large intestines was served on the table. It was ruddy in color and fragrant. Zhang Yue picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. After tasting it carefully, he said, "Well, this large intestine is really well prepared. It is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It has all five flavors of sweet, sour, bitter, spicy and salty. It's amazing."

Lin Fei also praised the scallion-fried sea cucumber: "This sea cucumber is soft, tender and smooth, with a strong scallion aroma. The exquisiteness and skill of Shandong cuisine are fully reflected in this dish."

In the afternoon, they came to Daming Lake. Daming Lake is wide, the water is rippling, there are cruise ships on the lake, and pavilions and towers are scattered on the shore. "Do you still remember Xia Yuhe by the Daming Lake? Haha, standing here, it seems that the plots in those TV dramas have come alive." Zhang Yue joked with a smile.

Li Xiao responded, "This Daming Lake does carry many stories and legends, and the scenery is also beautiful. Let's go take a boat ride and feel its beauty up close." So the three of them boarded the boat, which slowly paddled on the lake, with the breeze blowing on their faces, making them feel very comfortable. Looking at the picturesque scenery around him, Lin Fei sighed, "The scenery of this Spring City is really full of a leisurely and contented charm, which makes people feel particularly comfortable."

In the evening, they arrived at Jinan's Furong Street. Furong Street was bustling with a variety of snacks and fragrant aromas. "There are so many delicious foods here, I am dazzled." Zhang Yue excitedly shuttled between the stalls.

Li Xiao bought a portion of fried dough sticks and handed them to the two of them: "Try this fried dough stick, it's a traditional snack in Jinan, the skin is crispy and the inside is tender and delicious."

Lin Fei was very interested in the sweet foam. After taking a sip, he said, "This sweet foam has a unique taste, salty and delicious, and the texture of the coarse grains is also very solid."

During this day in Jinan, they fully appreciated the charm of the springs in the city of springs, tasted the mellow Shandong cuisine, and immersed themselves in the bustle and food of Furong Street. When night fell, they returned to the hotel.

Zhang Yue was lying on the bed, saying with satisfaction: "The city of Jinan is like a soothing poem, with a long lasting charm. The more you savor it, the more delicious it becomes. I like it here so much."

Li Xiao said: "Yes, the cultural heritage of the land of Qi and Lu is profound, which is fully reflected in this Spring City. However, our journey is still going on, and there will definitely be more exciting things waiting for us in the future."

Lin Fei also said with anticipation: "I wonder what kind of unique customs the next place will have. I am really looking forward to the next stop."

Not far away, we saw a giant panda sleeping soundly on a tree, its round body swaying slightly with the branches. Zhang Yue immediately took out his mobile phone to take a photo and said excitedly: "Look, look, that giant panda is sleeping so soundly, like a furry ball, so cute."

Lin Fei smiled and said, "It lives a very comfortable life. It eats and sleeps, sleeps and eats. It has no worries."

As they continued to tour the base, they saw several giant pandas playing on the grass, chasing each other and looking very cute. Li Xiao looked at them and couldn't help but sigh: "These giant pandas are really the darlings of nature. Seeing them makes me feel better."

After leaving the panda base, the three of them came to a well-known hot pot restaurant. The restaurant was steaming and filled with fragrance.

Li Xiao looked at the various ingredients and soup bases on the table and said, "This soup base looks very authentic, with red peppers and rich butter. It must be spicy enough to satisfy your appetite."

Zhang Yue said with some concern: "I can't eat spicy food very well, will I be able to handle it?"

Lin Fei patted his chest and said, "It's okay, I'm here. If it's too spicy, I'll help you eat more."

The hot pot started to boil, and they started to put in the dishes. Li Xiao picked up a piece of tripe, dipped it in the pot, put it in his mouth, and exhaled while saying, "Wow, this tripe is crispy and tender, spicy and fresh, it's simply delicious."

Zhang Yue carefully tasted a bite of the beef ball, and his eyes lit up: "Well, although it's spicy, it's really delicious. The taste is so unique."

Lin Fei kept putting food into the pot, stuffing his mouth full, and mumbled, "It's so delicious. I feel like I can eat hot pot in Chengdu for a month without getting tired of it."

After eating and drinking, they came to Jinli Ancient Street, which was lined with antique buildings and hung with red lanterns, full of the rich Three Kingdoms cultural atmosphere.

Li Xiao strolled along the ancient street and said, "This Jinli Ancient Street is so charming. It's like traveling back to ancient Chengdu."

Zhang Yue was attracted by a sugar painting stall on the street and stopped to watch. He saw the stall owner skillfully drawing various exquisite patterns with sugar syrup. Zhang Yue asked curiously: "Master, how come this sugar painting is so beautiful?"

The stall owner smiled and said: "This is a craft that requires a lot of practice."

Lin Fei was tasting Chengdu's special snack - rabbit head. While eating, he said: "This rabbit head tastes very special. Although it looks a bit scary, it tastes really delicious."

They also enjoyed the Sichuan Opera face-changing performance in the ancient street. The actors quickly changed their facial makeup on the stage, which drew cheers from the audience.

Li Xiao exclaimed: "This Sichuan Opera face-changing is so magical, it's simply too amazing to watch. I don't know how they do it."

Zhang Yue said: "This is the charm of Chengdu folk culture. Every performance contains a profound historical and cultural heritage."

After the performance, they picked some Chengdu specialties. Li Xiao bought a few bags of Mount Emei tea: "This tea is very good, with a refreshing fragrance. I can take it back and enjoy it slowly."

Zhang Yue selected some Shu embroidery products: "These Shu embroidery products are so exquisite. Every stitch and thread embroiders the style of Chengdu."

Lin Fei bought a lot of Chengdu’s special snacks: “These snacks can satisfy my cravings on the road, and I can also share them with my friends to let them taste the flavor of Chengdu.”

The day in Chengdu was fulfilling and enjoyable. Li Xiao said with satisfaction: "Chengdu is really a city that makes people not want to leave once they come here. The leisurely life, delicious food, cute pandas, and unique culture are all unforgettable."

Zhang Yue nodded in agreement: "Yes, but our journey continues. What kind of surprises will the next city bring us?"

Lin Fei said with great anticipation: "No matter where the next stop is, I believe we will not be disappointed. I can't wait to set off!" Continue to Chapter 5: Hangzhou Trip

Bidding farewell to the leisure of Chengdu, Li Xiao, Zhang Yue and Lin Fei boarded a plane and headed for Hangzhou, a poetic city. During the flight, Li Xiao gazed at the gradually changing scenery outside the window and said to his companions: "Hangzhou is known as a 'paradise on earth'. The beautiful scenery of West Lake and the ancient Zen of Lingyin Temple have fascinated me for a long time."