Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1748

Li Xiao, Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei stood in the bustling airport hall, holding their boarding passes tightly in their hands, their eyes full of anticipation for the trip to Hainan. Li Xiao excitedly shook the map in his hand and said, "I'm finally going to Hainan. I can't wait to embrace the blue sea and sky and feel the caress of the sea breeze."

Zhang Yuedong smiled and continued, "Yes, I've heard that Hainan has charming scenery. I must have a good time this time and see all the beautiful scenery."

Lin Yifei nodded as he sorted his backpack: "Not only do I want to see the beautiful scenery, I've also been thinking about the special delicacies for a long time, like coconut chicken and Wenchang chicken. I'm drooling just thinking about them."

The three of them chatted and laughed all the way as they boarded the plane. As the plane slowly took off, their hearts also drifted to the charming island. After a few hours of flight, the plane landed smoothly at the airport in Hainan.

The moment they stepped out of the airport, a warm breeze with the salty smell of seawater blew, instantly dispelling the fatigue of the journey. Looking up, tall and straight coconut trees were neatly arranged on both sides of the road, and the broad leaves rustled in the wind, as if warmly welcoming their arrival. The bougainvillea on the roadside was in full bloom, in clusters and clumps, red like fire, pink like clouds, decorating the city exceptionally beautifully.

"Wow, this is Hainan, it's completely different from where we are!" Li Xiao couldn't help but exclaimed.

Zhang Yuedong took a deep breath and said with emotion: "This air is fresh and moist, so comfortable. I feel like every breath I take is worth it."

Lin Yifei couldn't wait to take out his phone and took pictures of the beautiful scenery in front of him: "Hurry up and take pictures and post them on WeChat Moments to make them envious."

The three of them took a taxi and headed to the hotel they had booked in advance. Along the way, they rolled down the car windows and enjoyed the scenery along the way. Pedestrians wearing brightly colored shirts could be seen everywhere on the street, as well as various unique tropical fruit stalls, with mangoes, jackfruits, dragon fruits and other fruits displayed in a dazzling array, exuding an enticing aroma.

After arriving at the hotel and checking in, they took a short rest and decided to go out to get familiar with the surrounding environment. The hotel is not far from the beach and can be reached in a few minutes on foot. When their feet stepped on the soft and delicate sand, they cheered excitedly.

The waves beat rhythmically on the beach, splashing layers of white spray, which sparkled with golden light under the sunshine. The sea level in the distance connected with the sky, and the azure blue water and the azure blue sky merged into one, making it difficult to distinguish where the sea was and where the sky was. Several seagulls soared over the sea, sometimes diving down, sometimes flapping their wings and flying high, making cheerful calls.

Li Xiao took off his shoes and walked into the sea, feeling the coolness and gentleness of the sea water. He smiled and said, "This is the vacation life I want. It's so comfortable."

Zhang Yuedong also walked into the sea, bent down and picked up a beautiful shell: "Look, this shell is so beautiful, I want to take it back as a souvenir."

Lin Yifei was lying on a beach chair, wearing sunglasses, enjoying the sun bath leisurely: "You guys take your time, I'll relax here first and enjoy this wonderful time."

After playing at the beach for a while, the sky gradually darkened, and the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the entire sea surface orange-red, sparkling and beautiful. The three of them left the beach with a sense of satisfaction, ready to try the local food and start the food chapter of this trip.

The next morning, the three of them drove to Yalong Bay. As the car slowly approached, the beautiful scenery of Yalong Bay was presented to them without reservation. The white and fine beach stretched along the coastline like a winding ribbon, glittering with tiny rays of light under the sunshine. The waves gently hit the beach, creating layers of crystal white foam and making pleasant "swishing" sounds.

"Wow, this is so beautiful! It's like a paradise on earth!" Li Xiao shouted excitedly as he got off the car and couldn't wait to run towards the beach.

Zhang Yuedong and Lin Yifei followed closely behind, their faces filled with irrepressible joy. They walked barefoot on the soft beach, the sand was as fine as powder, sliding gently between their toes, bringing an itchy and tingling feeling.

The three of them played happily on the beach. Li Xiao squatted on the ground, concentrating on building a sand castle. After a while, an exquisite castle was born in his hands. He proudly said to his friends: "Look, this is my 'dream castle'. I wish I could live in a castle like this in the future."

Zhang Yuedong smiled and joked: "Your castle can't withstand the impact of the waves. It will be washed away in a while." As he said that, he picked up a small shovel and began to draw a huge map on the beach, marking all the attractions they were about to visit on it.

Lin Yifei was happily walking on the waves at the beach. Whenever the waves came, he would jump high to avoid the waves. The splashing water wet his clothes, but he didn't care. Instead, he smiled even more brightly. "This sea water is so cool, so comfortable!" He shouted as he ran away.

After playing for a long time, the three of them lay down on the beach chairs, looking at the blue sky like a gem, feeling the warm sunshine on their bodies, and the breeze gently brushing their cheeks, bringing the unique breath of the sea. Li Xiao took a deep breath and said with emotion: "It would be great if I could live a carefree life like this every day."

Zhang Yuedong sat up, looked at the endless sea in front of him, and said thoughtfully: "The sea is really magical. It contains endless mysteries that make people want to explore it."

Lin Yifei also nodded in agreement: "Besides, the sea always makes people feel particularly open-minded. All troubles seem insignificant in front of it."

They enjoyed this wonderful time and shared their inner feelings with each other, and their laughter echoed over the beach of Yalong Bay.

Before they knew it, it was already noon and their stomachs started growling, so they decided to go to the nearby seafood market to enjoy a sumptuous seafood feast.

As soon as they entered the seafood market, they were greeted by a dazzling array of seafood. The stalls were filled with lively shrimps and crabs, lobsters with bared teeth and claws, colorful shellfish, and many strange sea fish that they could not name. The air was filled with a strong smell of the sea, but it did not affect their appetite at all, but instead aroused their desire for delicious food.

"Wow, there are so many kinds of seafood here. I want to try every one of them." Li Xiao excitedly shuttled between the stalls, his eyes wide open.

Zhang Yuedong was carefully selecting seafood. He picked up a big crab, turned it over and over, and said to the stall owner: "Boss, pick me a few fatter crabs. Make sure they are fresh." Lin Yifei was selecting various shellfish on the side. He asked the stall owner curiously: "How do you eat these shellfish? Which one is the most delicious?" The stall owner enthusiastically introduced to him the ways to eat and the characteristics of various shellfish. Lin Yifei listened with great interest and nodded from time to time.

Soon, they picked a bag full of seafood, including crabs, lobsters, shrimps, scallops, oysters, etc. Then, they went to a processing shop and handed the seafood to the chef to cook according to their taste.

While waiting, the three of them sat in the store, drinking fresh coconut juice and looking forward to the food being served. Li Xiao couldn't help swallowing his saliva and said, "I can't wait to taste the seafood. It must be very delicious."

Zhang Yuedong smiled and said, "Don't worry, good things are worth waiting for. Just enjoy it in a while."

Before long, delicious seafood dishes were served. The red spicy crab exuded an alluring aroma that made people salivate; the fresh steamed lobster had firm meat and was smooth to the mouth; the braised shrimp had a crispy shell and juicy shrimp meat; the scallops and grilled oysters with garlic vermicelli had a strong garlic aroma, and the vermicelli absorbed the freshness of the seafood and the aroma of the garlic, with a rich taste that was endlessly memorable.

"Wow, it's so sumptuous!" Lin Yifei's eyes lit up as he looked at the table full of delicious food.

The three of them immediately picked up their chopsticks and started to eat heartily. Li Xiao picked up a crab, took a bite of the crab roe, and said with satisfaction: "This crab roe is so fragrant and tastes absolutely amazing!"

Zhang Yuedong also ate the lobster and nodded in praise: "The lobster meat is so tender. The steaming method preserves its original flavor to the greatest extent. It's delicious!"

While eating scallops, Lin Yifei gave a thumbs up: "I can eat a whole plate of this garlic vermicelli scallops, it's so delicious."

While tasting the delicious seafood, they discussed the taste and characteristics of each seafood. Li Xiao said: "I think this spicy crab is the best for my taste. It is spicy and fragrant."

Zhang Yuedong said: "I still like steamed lobster the most. The delicious taste is unmatched by other methods."

Lin Yifei smiled and said, "I think each one is delicious. I don't know which one I like best."

Amidst laughter and joy, they enjoyed the sumptuous seafood feast and felt the unique culinary charm of Sanya.

After the seafood dinner, the three came to the Li and Miao Folk Village in Sanya, ready to watch a wonderful Li and Miao folk performance and gain a deeper understanding of the local folk culture.

Walking into the folk village, it feels like entering a mysterious paradise. Ancient thatched houses are scattered in the village, surrounded by green trees, flowers in full bloom, and the air is filled with a faint fragrance of flowers. The Li and Miao compatriots dressed in bright ethnic costumes greeted them warmly, with simple smiles on their faces.

The three followed the crowd to the performance venue and found a seat to sit down. After a while, the performance officially began. The first to appear were a group of beautiful Li girls, who were dressed in colorful Li costumes, wearing exquisite silver ornaments on their heads, and walked onto the stage with light steps. Their costumes were embroidered with exquisite patterns, including phoenixes symbolizing good luck, rice representing a good harvest, and various mysterious totems. Each pattern contained a deep cultural connotation.

The girls performed a cheerful bamboo pole dance, with two long bamboo poles opening and closing rhythmically. They moved flexibly and jumped between the bamboo poles, with graceful and coordinated movements. The audience was also infected by their enthusiasm, and they applauded and cheered along with the rhythm.

Next, there was the Miao Lusheng dance performance. Several Miao boys held Lushengs and played melodious tunes, while Miao girls danced around them. Their dance moves were vigorous and full of masculinity, and the sound of Lushengs was crisp and pleasant, echoing throughout the performance venue.

During the performance, there were also demonstrations of traditional skills of the Li ethnic group, such as Li brocade weaving and bark cloth making. An old Li grandmother sat on the stage, skillfully operating the loom to weave exquisite brocades. Her fingers danced flexibly between the silk threads, and soon, a piece of brocade with bright colors and exquisite patterns appeared in front of everyone. The audience below the stage exclaimed in amazement and praised the old grandmother's superb skills.

"These performances are so wonderful. I didn't expect the Li and Miao culture to be so rich and diverse. It's really an eye-opener." Li Xiao couldn't help but sigh.

Zhang Yuedong also nodded in agreement: "Yes, every performance is full of their love for life and inheritance of traditional culture, which is really admirable."

Lin Yifei stared at the stage without blinking and said excitedly: "I think the bamboo pole dance is the most interesting. I really want to go up and give it a try."

After the performance, the three also interacted with the Li and Miao compatriots, learned some simple Li and Miao dance moves, and tasted their homemade specialties, such as bamboo tube rice, three-color rice, etc. Amidst laughter and joy, they gained a deeper understanding of the Li and Miao culture and felt the hospitality of their ethnic minority compatriots.

After leaving the folk village, the three of them came to the market in the folk village. The market was very lively, with a wide variety of special souvenirs that were dazzling. There were exquisite shell crafts, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other accessories made of shells, with unique shapes and colorful colors; there were also various coconut products, such as coconut candy, coconut cakes, coconut biscuits, etc., which exuded a strong coconut fragrance; in addition, there were handicrafts such as Li brocade and Miao embroidery, each of which embodied the hard work and wisdom of the craftsmen.

"Wow, the things here are so beautiful. I want to buy some home." Li Xiao stopped in front of a shell handicraft stall, picked up a shell necklace and looked at it carefully.

Zhang Yuedong was also selecting coconut products. He picked up a bag of coconut candy, smelled it, and said, "This coconut candy must taste good. I'll take it back for my friends to try."

Lin Yifei was very interested in the brocade of the Li ethnic group and the embroidery of the Miao ethnic group. He chatted with the stall owner in front of a stall to learn about the production process of these handicrafts and the cultural stories behind them. The stall owner introduced them to him enthusiastically and took out some samples for him to appreciate carefully.

The three of them were choosing souvenirs while giving each other advice. Li Xiao picked out a sailboat model made of shells for Zhang Yuedong and said with a smile: "This sailboat model is very memorable. I hope your life will be as smooth as a sailboat."