Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1638 2.
"Let's go, let's start climbing the mountain!" Li Xiao took the lead enthusiastically, stepping briskly on the stone road.

Zhang Yue followed closely behind, holding a camera in hand, stopping from time to time to take pictures of the beautiful scenery along the way: "These trees are so lush, it feels like walking into a primeval forest. There must be a lot of elves hiding there."

Lin Fei was jumping around like a monkey, touching this tree and looking at that stone: "I think this Qingcheng Mountain is a natural oxygen bar. If you take a few more breaths, maybe you can live longer."

As they climbed up the mountain road, they could hear the sound of gurgling water. The three of them followed the sound and saw a clear stream flowing along the mountain. The water hit the rocks, splashing white water like lively musical notes. In the stream, fish swam happily and occasionally jumped out of the water, as if welcoming their arrival.

"This stream water is so cool. Let's scoop it up and take a sip. It must be sweet and delicious." Lin Fei said as he squatted down, reached out to scoop up a handful of stream water, brought it to his mouth and took a sip, with a satisfied look on his face.

Zhang Yue squatted down by the stream and carefully observed the fish in the water: "These little fish are so cute and free. I really envy them."

Li Xiao looked at his two friends and said with a smile: "Amidst the green mountains and clear waters, it feels like all the troubles have been thrown away. It's great that we can go out for a walk together."

As we continued to climb, the mountain road became steeper, but the three people were still excited. Along the way, we occasionally encountered Taoist temples with red walls and black tiles, solemn and majestic, and smoke rising up, like a pure land in the world. We walked into a Taoist temple, where the statues of the Three Pure Ones were enshrined. The statues had kind faces and deep eyes, as if they could see through everything in the world. The Taoists in the Taoist temples were dressed in Taoist robes, chanting scriptures and praying, or cleaning the courtyard, and their every move showed the Taoist calmness and composure.

"These Taoist temples are full of history, and make people feel a strong religious and cultural atmosphere." Zhang Yue said softly, with awe in his eyes.

Lin Fei approached a Taoist priest curiously and asked, "Master, is there any special way of cultivation in Qingcheng Mountain?"

The Taoist smiled and stroked his beard: "Qingcheng Mountain is one of the birthplaces of Taoism. It emphasizes following nature and keeping a pure mind. If you can comprehend the way of nature in this mountain forest, it will be a great practice."

Li Xiao nodded thoughtfully: "Master, what you said is very true. In this quiet place, it can really make people calm down and reflect on themselves."

After several hours of climbing, the three finally reached the top. Standing on the top and looking down, the sea of ​​clouds rolled and surged, and the mountains were looming in the sea of ​​clouds, as if they were in a fairyland. In the distance, the outline of the city became blurred in the clouds, as if the hustle and bustle of the world was isolated by this layer of clouds. The mountain wind whistled past, drying the sweat on their foreheads, but it could not blow away the joy in their hearts.

"Wow, it's so beautiful! All the hard work along the way is worth it." Zhang Yue opened his arms and embraced the magnificent scenery to his heart's content, his hair flying freely in the wind.

Lin Fei shouted excitedly: "Qingcheng Mountain, here I come!" The sound echoed in the valley, startling a flock of flying birds.

Li Xiao took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air filling his lungs, and felt a sense of accomplishment: "On this mountaintop, I feel like I'm one step closer to the sky, and all the pressure is released."

After a short rest at the top of the mountain, the three of them slowly walked down the mountain along another mountain road. On the way down, they passed by a small mountain shop filled with various specialties of Qingcheng Mountain, including fragrant Qingcheng tea, nourishing ginkgo, and unique root carving crafts.

Zhang Yue was attracted by a box of beautifully packaged Qingcheng tea. He opened the box and a faint tea fragrance hit his nose: "This tea is really fragrant. I'll take it back for my family to try. It will definitely be popular."

Lin Fei picked up a root carving ornament, fiddled with it and said, "This is fun. It will definitely add personality to your home."

Li Xiao smiled and picked out a few specialties: "These are the specialties of Qingcheng Mountain. Take them back as a souvenir and let your family and friends feel the harvest of our trip."

As the sun sets, the afterglow shines on the forests of Mount Qingcheng, as if covering this famous mountain with a golden coat. Li Xiao, Zhang Yue and Lin Fei, with full memories and gains, slowly go down the mountain, ending the day's trip to Mount Qingcheng. The car starts, and they look at the gradually receding Mount Qingcheng behind them, their hearts full of nostalgia, and what kind of excitement will be waiting for them in the next journey, everything is full of unknowns and expectations.

As the night fell and the lights came on, Li Xiao, Zhang Yue and Lin Fei stepped into the ancient street that was gently carved by time with great expectations for Jinli Ancient Street. As soon as they entered the street, the big red lanterns hanging high came into view. The warm red light, like clusters of burning flames, instantly dispelled the night around them and illuminated the ancient street like a dream, as if they had stepped into the prosperous scene of Western Sichuan a thousand years ago.

"Wow, this is so beautiful! It feels like I have traveled back to ancient times." Zhang Yue couldn't help but exclaim in amazement. The camera in his hand could no longer be restrained, and he "clicked, clicked" to capture the intoxicating light and shadow, wanting to preserve every inch of the ancient charm.

Lin Fei also looked around excitedly, with a gleam of curiosity in his eyes: "This is more charming than I imagined, let's go in and take a look!"

Li Xiao smiled and nodded, leading everyone to walk slowly along the bluestone road. The stone slabs under our feet have been polished smooth and round by the years. With every step, we can hear the whispers of history. Along the road, antique wooden buildings are scattered in an orderly manner. The carved doors and windows and flying eaves, under the gentle caress of the lights, seem to quietly tell stories of the past, making people indulge in this rich ancient style.

Not long after walking, the tempting aroma of food came to us, which aroused the taste buds of the three people. Following the aroma, we saw that Jiupin Snack Street was crowded with people and bustling. In front of each stall, there were a wide variety of Chengdu specialty snacks, steaming hot and fragrant.

"This looks so tempting, I feel like I can eat it from beginning to end!" Lin Fei rubbed his hands, and rushed to a sugar-coated fruit stall impatiently. The sugar-coated fruit that had just come out of the pot was round and plump, with a bright brown-red color, and a layer of crystal white sesame seeds on the surface, flashing an attractive luster under the light. He hurriedly bought a string, put it in his mouth and took a bite. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the sweet taste instantly spread in his mouth: "Well~ This taste is amazing! It's crispy and sticky, sweet but not greasy, you guys come and try it." Zhang Yue was attracted by the Yeerba on the side. The soft and sticky glutinous rice balls were wrapped in green orange leaves, exuding a fresh aroma. She peeled it gently and took a bite. The delicate glutinous rice and the fresh and fragrant fillings blended perfectly, leaving a lingering fragrance in her mouth: "Wow, this is so delicious, refreshing and fragrant, with a faint lotus fragrance, so unique."

Li Xiao stopped at a tofu pudding stand. The delicate and smooth tofu pudding was topped with spicy and delicious sauce, red oil, chopped green onions and other condiments. The red and white colors were attractive. He carefully stirred it evenly, scooped a spoonful and put it into his mouth. The spicy and fresh taste instantly bloomed on the tip of his tongue: "Well, this tofu pudding is spicy and addictive. If I have a bowl in the morning, I will be full of energy all day long."

The three of them ate while walking around, and the food in their hands kept changing, from sad jelly to egg cake, from Bobo chicken to pig intestine rice noodle, every bite was authentic Chengdu flavor, immersing the taste buds in an unparalleled feast.

After eating and drinking, they continued to walk forward. The lively scene in front of the ancient stage instantly attracted everyone's attention. At this time, the stage was performing a wonderful Sichuan Opera face-changing. The actors were dressed in gorgeous costumes and had agile postures. With a raise of their hands and a turn of their faces, the facial makeup changed in an instant, red face, white face, black face... It was a feast for the eyes. The audience surrounded the stage in three layers, applauding and cheering one after another.

"This face-changing is so magical. I dare not blink, for fear of missing any moment." Zhang Yue stood in the crowd, head tilted up, staring at the stage without blinking, his face full of amazement and appreciation.

Lin Fei also applauded and cheered: "Yes, this is the essence of Sichuan Opera. The masters have such profound skills. I wish I could learn a few moves."

Li Xiao smiled and explained: "This Sichuan Opera face-changing is the quintessence of our China, a unique skill passed down from generation to generation by artists. There are many tricks in it, and it is not something that can be learned overnight."

After appreciating the face-changing, the three of them shuttled through every corner of the ancient street, feeling the rich Three Kingdoms culture and Sichuan folk customs. On the street, folk artists were concentrating on painting sugar paintings. A spoonful of sugar syrup on the chopping board was like a smart brush, quickly outlining various lifelike patterns, including majestic dragons, cute pandas, smart and playful butterflies... It was amazing. There were also craftsmen demonstrating paper-cutting art on the spot. In their hands, an ordinary piece of red paper was transformed into exquisite window grilles, figures, flowers and birds in a few seconds, which were delicate and exquisite, and ingenious.

In a small Shu embroidery shop, Zhang Yue was attracted by the exquisite Shu embroidery works. The flowers, birds, fish, insects, landscapes and figures on the embroidery were delicately stitched and brightly colored. The luster of the silk thread sparkled under the light, as if the agility of all things in the world were embroidered into this piece of brocade.

"These embroidery works are simply amazing. Every stitch and thread reveals the craftsman's hard work and wisdom." Zhang Yue gently stroked a handkerchief embroidered with plum blossoms, his eyes full of love and admiration. His fingers ran across the delicate embroidery, as if he could feel the warmth of the craftsman's fingertips.

The shop owner is a kind middle-aged woman. She introduced with a smile: "Girl, this Shu embroidery is a traditional craft of Chengdu. The process is very complicated. It takes several months or even longer to embroider a small piece. It is the result of the hard work of the craftsmen."

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

Zhang Yue couldn't let it go and bought a handkerchief embroidered with the night scene of Jinli Ancient Street. "Take it back as a souvenir. Seeing it will remind me of the beauty of Jinli. It is more charming than a photo."

Lin Fei has a special liking for a Three Kingdoms-themed craft shop, which is filled with various souvenirs related to the characters and stories of the Three Kingdoms, including an exquisite Zhuge Liang feather fan, a majestic Guan Yu ornament, a naive Zhang Fei doll... He picked up a small Liu Bei doll, fiddled with it and said, "This thing is interesting. I'll take it home and put it on the table. I feel like there's a historical and cultural atmosphere all of a sudden."

Li Xiao also picked out a few books introducing the Three Kingdoms culture and Chengdu folk customs: "I'll read these books slowly when I get home to deepen my understanding of our trip, and also bring back the culture of Jinli."

As I was walking, a Zhang Fei Beef Restaurant came into view. Standing at the door was a clerk dressed as the black-faced Zhang Fei, holding a Zhangba Snake Spear, looking very majestic. From time to time, he shouted a few words to attract customers. He looked as if the real Zhang Fei had traveled through time and space.

"Come, three guests, have a try of our authentic Zhang Fei beef. The meat is firm, spicy and fragrant. I guarantee you will have an unforgettable aftertaste after eating it!" "Zhang Fei" greeted enthusiastically.

Lin Fei laughed out loud and took a step forward: "You look quite similar. I wonder if the beef is as domineering as Zhang Fei." As he spoke, he picked up a piece of beef for tasting and put it in his mouth. He chewed it carefully and his eyes lit up immediately: "Well, you know what, this beef is really good, with just the right amount of saltiness. The more you chew, the more delicious it becomes."

Zhang Yue also tasted a piece and nodded in praise: "It is indeed delicious, with a mellow taste, and the packaging is also exquisite. It is suitable to take it back as a gift."

Li Xiao smiled and started chatting with the clerk. After learning about the history and production process of Zhang Fei beef, he couldn't help but sigh: "There are so many stories behind this little piece of beef. It is worthy of being a specialty of Chengdu." In the end, they bought several bags of beef and prepared to take them back to share this delicious food with their family and friends.

As the night deepened, Jinli Ancient Street was still brightly lit and bustling. Li Xiao, Zhang Yue and Lin Fei left slowly, leaving with a full taste of delicious food, exquisite souvenirs and deep love for the ancient street. Looking back, the high-hanging red lanterns, old buildings and people passing by formed a beautiful picture, as if this night had been quietly frozen by time and became an eternal and beautiful memory in their hearts.

"Today's trip to Jinli was really worth it. I got to experience the food, culture, and art all here." Zhang Yue smiled with satisfaction, carrying bags of harvest in his hands.

Lin Fei also jumped excitedly: "Yes, this Jinli Ancient Street is so charming. It feels like there are surprises hidden in every corner. I haven't visited enough!"

Li Xiao looked at his two friends with a smile in his eyes: "Don't worry, our journey has just begun, and there are more fun places waiting for us. Next, let's go to Chongqing to feel the heat and enthusiasm of the mountain city and experience the different Bayu customs."

The three of them walked away into the night with their longing for the next stop, and their story continued to be written in this vast land of China. Each stop will be a new and wonderful adventure, which makes people look forward to it.

After the wonderful trip in Chengdu, the three of them dragged their slightly heavy suitcases and entered the airport hall with full memories. While checking in, Li Xiao kept looking through the photos he took in Chengdu on his phone, smiling: "I had so much fun in Chengdu these days, I feel like I haven't stayed long enough."