novelraw Chapter 1666
Chapter 1666
Chapter 1666
Lin Yifei took a sip carefully and frowned immediately: "This taste is too strange, so sour that my teeth are about to fall out." Li Xiao calmly took a big sip and smacked his lips:
"In fact, if you drink a few more sips, you will find its unique charm. This bean juice helps digestion and is rich in nutrients." Zhang Yuedong gritted his teeth and drank a few sips. Although his expression was a little painful, he still persisted: "I feel like I am challenging the limits of my taste buds, but I can also experience the characteristics of the old BJ."
In the alley, they also met an old man sitting at the door basking in the sun. The old man greeted them warmly, and the three of them sat next to the old man and chatted with him. The old man spoke authentic old Beijing dialect and told them stories about the alley:
"This alley is very old. In the past, it was inhabited by ordinary people from old Beijing. Neighbors looked after each other and had a very good relationship. If a family had any problems, the neighbors would come to help. Although there are some changes now, the human touch is still there." Li Xiao listened with great interest and interrupted from time to time to ask:
"Uncle, how long have you lived here?" The old man stretched out his fingers and gestured: "I have lived here for most of my life. Watching this alley change little by little, I feel indescribable emotions in my heart." Zhang Yuedong recorded the stories told by the old man. He felt that these were precious memories:
"Uncle, you tell the story very well. These stories are the history of old BJ and more people should know them." Lin Yifei was also infected by the old man's enthusiasm and said with a smile: "Uncle, you live a very comfortable life. I envy you."
After saying goodbye to the old man, the three continued to stroll in the hutong, feeling the strong old BJ style. They found that the hutong is not only a form of living, but also an important carrier of the old BJ culture, carrying the memories of several generations and endless stories.
As the afterglow of the setting sun gradually spread over the streets and alleys of Beijing, Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei realized that this wonderful trip was about to come to an end. Before leaving BJ, they decided to pick some representative BJ specialties as a souvenir of this wonderful journey.
Walking into a handicraft store, Li Xiao was immediately attracted by a piece of exquisite cloisonné handicraft.
It was a cloisonné vase, with gorgeous patterns painted on it, bright colors, and smooth and delicate lines. He gently picked up the vase, looked at it carefully, and couldn't help but exclaimed: "This cloisonné craftsmanship is so exquisite! Look at the color combination and the delicate texture, every detail shows the ingenuity.
It is said that making a piece of cloisonné requires many processes, including making the base, pinching the wire, applying blue, burning blue, polishing, and gilding. Each process is very rigorous and requires the hard work of countless craftsmen.
Zhang Yuedong also came over and nodded repeatedly as he looked at the vase. "It's really beautiful. Putting it at home can instantly enhance the style of the entire space. Moreover, cloisonné is a characteristic traditional handicraft of BJ, with high artistic value. It is very meaningful to bring it back."
Lin Yifei found a set of Peking Opera masks on a shelf nearby. He excitedly picked up a mask and gestured to Zhang Yuedong, "Look at this mask, it's so realistic! The color and expression show that it's a loyal and brave character.
Peking opera is our national quintessence. Buying a few masks can be used as decorations and remind me of the Peking opera performances in BJ from time to time. "Li Xiao walked over to take a look and said with a smile: "Not bad, this mask is very distinctive. Different colors represent different characters. The cultural connotations behind it are very profound."
Then, they came to the food area. When it comes to BJ specialties, the famous Beijing roast duck is a must. The store has roast ducks that are freshly roasted and sold, as well as packaged vacuum roast ducks. Lin Yifei's eyes lit up and he went straight to the roast duck counter: "How can I come to BJ without bringing back some roast ducks? My family has been looking forward to me bringing back authentic Beijing roast ducks to try.
This freshly roasted duck has crispy skin and tender meat, and the aroma is so fragrant that I drool just thinking about it." Zhang Yuedong reminded him, "Don't forget to buy some pancakes, scallions, cucumber strips and sweet noodle sauce. These are essential ingredients for eating roast duck. Without them, it won't taste good." Li Xiao also picked a few roast ducks. He said, "This roast duck is not only delicious, but also famous throughout the country. It will be very impressive to bring it back to give to relatives and friends."
In addition to roast duck, they also bought some BJ's specialty cakes, such as donkey rolls, pea yellow, and tuckahoe cakes. Li Xiao picked up a piece of donkey rolls and introduced it: "This donkey roll has a soft and glutinous texture, is sweet and delicious, and is made of glutinous rice flour wrapped with red bean paste. It is not greasy at all.
There is also the pea yellow, which is golden in color, melts in the mouth, and tastes sweet. It is a good product for old Beijingers to cool down in the summer. The Fuling cake is also very unique, as thin as paper, sweet but not greasy, and is said to have health benefits. "Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei tasted it, nodded in praise, and each picked some to take back.
The three returned home with bags of local specialties. They knew that these specialties were not only the taste and culture of BJ, but also the testimony of their wonderful trip. When night fell and the lights of Beijing gradually lit up, they set off on their return journey with full memories and expectations for the future.
This trip across multiple cities has brought them countless beautiful views, delicious food and friendships, and has also deepened their love and attachment to the beautiful mountains and rivers of their motherland. They are looking forward to the next trip to explore more excitement and beauty.
The plane slowly took off. Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei looked out the window at the gradually receding BJ land, their hearts filled with reluctance and attachment. This multi-day trip was like a splendid dream. Although it has now ended, those beautiful moments are like stars, shining in their hearts.
Li Xiao gently stroked the backpack filled with local specialties beside him, and said with emotion: "Along the way, we have been to so many places and seen so many beautiful scenery. Each place has its own unique charm, which has given me a deeper understanding of the beautiful rivers and mountains of our motherland." There was a hint of satisfaction and relief in his eyes, as if he was still immersed in those shocking scenery.
Zhang Yuedong flipped through the photos in the camera, his mouth curled up unconsciously: "Yes, these photos are the best testimony of our travels. From the unique landforms of Kunming Stone Forest, to the fireworks and prosperity of Chongqing Mountain City, to the rich history of the ancient capital of Beijing, each one carries a lot of memories.
After I go back, I must organize it well and hold a photography exhibition to let more people feel the wonderfulness of our journey." His voice was full of excitement and anticipation, and his fingers slid lightly on the camera screen, as if he was reliving those unforgettable moments.
Lin Yifei leaned back in his chair, recalling the delicacies he had tasted along the way, smacking his lips and saying, "And those delicacies, I'm still drooling just thinking about them now.
Kunming's Yiliang roast duck, Chongqing's hot pot, BJ's fried noodles, each has its own flavor, and every bite is intoxicating. This trip really spoiled my taste buds. "He closed his eyes, his face was filled with a happy smile, as if those delicacies were still dancing on the tip of his tongue. The three of them smiled at each other, knowing in their hearts that this trip brought them not only visual and taste enjoyment, but also spiritual baptism and growth.
They traveled through different cities, appreciated the wonders of nature, felt the local customs, and learned about the profound historical and cultural heritage. These precious experiences, like shining treasures, will be forever embedded in the picture of their lives.
As the plane continued to climb, the clouds rolled and surged below, as if their fantastic journey was unfolding beneath their feet. They set off on their return journey with full bags and heavy memories.
Although the journey has come to an end, they know that this is just a small stop on the journey of life, and there will be more wonderful things waiting for them to discover and explore in the future. They look forward to the next departure to pursue new scenery and continue to write their own travel stories.
Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei are good friends who have known each other for many years. They are busy in their daily lives and rush to different cities to make a living. Li Xiao is a freelance writer who is used to wandering in the world of words and exploring the world; Zhang Yuedong works hard in an advertising company.
Every day, they battle wits and courage with creativity and customer needs; Lin Yifei is a fitness coach, exuding vitality and enthusiasm. Long hours of high-pressure work make them exhausted, and their inner desire for freedom and distant places becomes stronger.
At a chance gathering, after three rounds of drinks, Li Xiao's eyes showed a hint of longing, and he was the first to break the silence:
"I'm really tired of this life of typing on the computer day after day. Every day I'm either rushing to finish a manuscript or looking for inspiration. I feel like I'm almost out of touch with reality. We need to go out and see the outside world." Zhang Yuedong put down the wine glass in his hand and expressed his deep agreement:
"Yeah, I'm tortured by all kinds of weird requests from clients every day, and my brain cells are almost dead. Going out to relax, maybe it can stimulate my exhausted creativity." Lin Yifei also echoed: "I teach people to exercise in the gym every day, and I don't have a chance to go out and have fun. We must make this trip this time, I can't wait!"
They started planning their trip. Li Xiao flipped through the map, drew lines on it with his fingers, and said excitedly, "China is a vast country with many interesting places.
From south to north, from east to west, every city has its own unique charm. "Zhang Yuedong came over and fixed his eyes on several coastal cities: "Cities near the sea are nice, with beaches, waves, and endless seafood. Just thinking about it makes me happy."
Lin Yifei had other ideas: "I want to go to a place with high mountains, climb mountains and see the distant view, challenge myself, and breathe some fresh air." After a heated discussion, they finally decided to embark on a trip across China, visiting cities of different styles to experience diverse customs.
On the day of departure, the sun was particularly dazzling, as if it had gilded their journey. Li Xiao carried a slightly worn backpack full of dreams, which contained a laptop, several good books and various daily necessities.
Zhang Yuedong was dragging an oversized suitcase, the wheels of which made a "gurgling" sound as they rolled on the ground. It was filled with carefully selected photographic equipment, ready to record every wonderful moment of the journey; Lin Yifei was carrying a professional mountaineering bag, with trekking poles and a water bottle hanging on the outside, and he looked full of energy.
While waiting at the airport, the three of them were filled with uncontrollable joy. Li Xiao kept flipping through the travel guide, muttering:
"The first stop is Chengdu. I heard that the hotpot there is so spicy that it can make your soul leave your body. There are also cute giant pandas. I must go and see them." Zhang Yuedong fiddled with the camera, adjusted various parameters, and responded with a smile: "I have to take more beautiful photos. Maybe I can even hold a photography exhibition."
Lin Yifei was doing some simple stretching exercises to conserve his energy for the upcoming trip: "When we get to Chengdu, let's go climb Mount Qingcheng first to warm up." The surrounding tourists were infected by their enthusiasm and cast envious glances at them from time to time.
When the boarding announcement came, they smiled at each other, their eyes full of anticipation for an unknown journey. They stood up and walked towards the boarding gate, thus embarking on this wonderful journey to China.
The first stop was Kunming, a city with spring-like weather all year round. The plane slowly landed at Changshui International Airport, and the three of them walked out of the airport with their luggage in their arms, excited. Before they even stepped into the city, they could already feel the unique atmosphere of Kunming, with the warm sunshine gently falling on them and the breeze carrying a hint of floral fragrance.
They headed straight to the Stone Forest Scenic Area, a place known as the "No. 1 Wonder in the World". As soon as Li Xiao entered the scenic area, he was shocked by the scene in front of him and couldn't help but exclaim: "This is simply a dream world carved out of stone by nature!"
Zhang Yuedong also quickly raised his camera and kept pressing the shutter, muttering: "It's so beautiful, every stone is like a living work of art." Lin Yifei excitedly shuttled between the stone peaks, occasionally reaching out to touch the rough but story-filled stone walls.
In the Dashilin Scenic Area, stone peaks stand in rows, pointing straight to the sky like swords. They walked along the winding path and came to the famous "Lotus Peak". Lotus Peak is named after its shape that resembles a blooming lotus. On the top of the peak, huge rocks lie horizontally, and the stone pieces are tilted upward, like a cluster of petals.
Li Xiao looked up, and in his mind he saw the scene of ancient people reciting poems and painting here. He said, "This Lotus Peak is truly a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship. If the ancients had seen it, they would have left behind many masterpieces." Zhang Yuedong photographed the Lotus Peak from different angles and nodded in agreement:
"Yes, this unique shape, with so many layers of light shining on it, any shot would be a blockbuster." Lin Yifei tried to climb some low rocks to find the best viewing point, and shouted: "Come over here quickly, from this angle, Lotus Peak is more spectacular!"