Yunnan, a land brimming with rich culinary culture, is a perfect setting for a spectacular food program. Thanks to the meticulous planning and arrangements by the variety show team, who worked tirelessly day and night, Han Fei led his seven grandchildren to this mysterious region.
Xiaoqi picked up a hard object and banged it on the ground: "Grandpa, will this rock-like thing really taste good?"
Han Fei rescued the rice cake from the little girl's hand and explained kindly, "This is rice cake. There are many ways to eat it. It depends on which one you want to eat."
Which one tastes the best?
The third child sidled up, beaming with pride: "My deskmate is from Yunnan. He let me try it, and it's so delicious! Roast it up, and it's fragrant and sticky!"
"Is it roasted?" Xiaoqi frowned, looking doubtful. "It looks like a white stone. Won't it turn into a black stone if you roast it?"
Han Fei smiled and said, "Your third brother is right, one way to eat it is indeed to grill it."
Little Wu rubbed his stomach and said, "Grandpa, I'm starving!"
Han Fei patted Xiao Wu's bald head: "Alright, Grandpa will make you some rice cakes right now!"
Han Fei placed the round, cake-shaped rice cakes on the charcoal fire and grilled them until both sides were slightly golden brown and bubbles appeared. Then he spread chili sauce or sesame paste on one side, and stuffed them with potatoes, fried dough sticks, eggs, sausages, etc.
The aroma was irresistible, and Xiao Wu and Xiao Qi stared wide-eyed, a suspicious liquid unconsciously dripping from the corners of their mouths, glistening in the light.
"It's still very hot, little sister, you can't eat it!" Han Rou held Xiao Qi's outstretched hand tightly in her palm.
Little Seven looked at her second sister pitifully: "When can we eat?"
"Wait a little longer, let it cool down before eating."
"But my stomach is growling, it says it wants to eat quickly."
Han Rou was amused by the little girl's pitiful appearance: "Then let me blow on it for you?"
"Yay, you're the best, sister!" Xiao Qi leaned over and gave Han Rou a kiss on the cheek.
Han Rou used chopsticks to pick up the rice cake and cut it into small pieces with the kitchen knife she carried with her.
【Master, you use me to chop people up and then to cut vegetables. Isn't that a bit unhygienic?】
Han Rou ignored it; the knife didn't get dirty at all, and she always disinfected it with alcohol.
Xiaoqi eagerly leaned over: "Sister, can we eat now?"
Han Rou picked up a small piece, blew on it, and gently touched it with her fingertip to make sure it wasn't too hot before feeding it to her younger sister.
Little Qi, like a little bird eagerly waiting to be fed, lay beside her sister's legs with her mouth wide open.
"Wow! It's so delicious!" Xiaoqi ate with great relish.
Xiao Wu, panting heavily, nodded vigorously: "It's so delicious! So fragrant! It's both sticky and fragrant!"
After eating roasted rice cakes at a local's home, Han Fei led the bald-headed Xiao Liu by the hand and the pretty little Qi by the hand by the hand, followed by five other little kids of varying heights, lined up neatly.
"Grandpa, are these all your kids?" a passerby asked warmly.
Han Fei nodded and smiled, "They are all my grandchildren."
"Your granddaughter is so beautiful! I haven't seen such a pretty and spirited little baby in a long time!"
"Are all the men in your family bald?"
"Grandpa, is it because of you that you're bald?"
Han Fei's lips twitched: "It's hot here, so we shaved our heads before coming."
"Haha, it really is spring-like all year round here!"
"Go ahead and try our specialty street food, fried potatoes, it's delicious!" A passerby strongly recommended.
Someone approached Han Fei and whispered, "Old man, you'd better be careful. Things haven't been peaceful around here lately. People keep disappearing. You'll have to keep a close eye on all these children."
"I understand, thank you!"
Have fun!
Han Fei waved goodbye to the passersby and led the children to the street food stalls recommended by them.
Fried taro, a common street food in Yunnan, is made with great care. The vendor skillfully cuts the taro into evenly sized pieces, each piece bearing the unique texture and color of the taro.
Next, the taro was gently placed into the boiling oil.
As the temperature rises, the taro begins to make a soft crackling sound and gradually turns golden brown.
During the frying process, the time needs to be precisely controlled to ensure that the taro has two distinct textures—crisp or soft.
Once the taro has reached the desired consistency, the vendor will skillfully add it to various carefully prepared seasonings according to the customers' taste preferences.
These seasonings, whether rich, refreshing, or slightly spicy, add a variety of flavors to the taro.
Eight portions of fried taro were completed one by one, emitting an enticing aroma.
Han Fei stopped Xiao Qi and Xiao Wu, who were too eager to eat, but the other children were very sensible and did not rush to eat.
After walking for a while, Han Fei tried a piece first before letting the children taste it.
Xiaoqi took a small bite, and the crispy outside and tender inside burst into her mouth. Her big eyes curved into crescent moons.
Han Rou and her sister had identical expressions; at this moment, the two children did look seven or eight parts alike.
The crisp taro, with its fragrant and crunchy outer skin, makes a pleasant sound when chewed.
The soft taro melts on the tongue, leaving a rich taro aroma and the delicious flavor of the seasonings.
Every bite is intoxicating and leaves a lingering aftertaste.
"Sister, Xiaoqi wants to try some of yours. Is it crispy and delicious?"
Han Rou blew on the taro to cool it down and fed it to Xiao Qi. Xiao Qi forked a piece of its own soft taro and fed it to Han Rou's mouth. Han Rou opened her mouth and ate it.
"Click!" Xiao Wu quickly pressed the shutter, capturing this heartwarming moment.
In May, the mountains and fields of Lijiang are like a magnificent and colorful painting, with hundreds of flowers blooming freely and petals falling like colorful raindrops. Lijiang Old Town, also known as Dayan Town, is one of the two legendary ancient towns in my country that successfully applied for World Cultural Heritage status as a whole, bearing the vicissitudes of time and the accumulation of culture.
Xiao Qi held Han Rou's hand tightly as they skipped and ran joyfully through the sea of flowers.
Two beautiful girls, like two graceful butterflies, frolicked lightly in the flower field.
After a playful time, Xiao Qi was covered in sweat, exuding a rich, sweet, and alluring fragrance. This wonderful scent, like a magical force, attracted a swarm of fluttering butterflies to her.
They were like Xiaoqi's close companions, dancing around her.
"Sister, there are so many beautiful butterflies!" Xiaoqi was first astonished, then beamed with joy. She carefully reached out her hand, trying to have a close encounter with the butterflies.
The butterfly was not startled and flew away, but obediently landed on Xiaoqi's fingertip, its wings trembling slightly, as if it were whispering to Xiaoqi.
Xiaoqi felt the wonderful sensation of butterfly wings gently brushing against her fingertips, and her face beamed with joy: "They're so cute!"
Han Rou gazed quietly at Xiao Qi's harmonious interaction with the butterfly, a gentle and sweet smile involuntarily spreading across her lips, her dimples deepening. She quickly took out her phone to capture this beautiful moment forever.
Under the bright sunshine, Xiaoqi and the butterfly together create a beautiful and harmonious scene, as if there is a unique understanding and bond between them.
Han Fei and Xiao Liu, who were watching this scene from afar, exchanged a glance, but felt a heavy weight in their hearts.
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