Chapter 840 After enjoying a hearty breakfast at the market, Zhou Zhe led Lu Qingyang to truly immerse themselves in the bustling crowds of the morning market.
The market stretches along the town's only main street and the alleyways on both sides, bustling and vibrant.
They stopped at an old woman's stall, where various dried mushrooms, strings of dried wild persimmons, and "pig's glutinous rice cakes" wrapped in palm leaves and emitting a special fragrance were displayed.
Zhou Zhe bought two hot piglet cakes. The outer layer was soft and sticky, and the filling was savory minced pork and pickled mustard greens. Lu Qingyang thought the flavor was very unique.
On the street corner, an old craftsman was weaving fine bamboo baskets and winnowing trays with his skillful hands, while next to him was a blacksmith shop selling hand-forged machetes and hoes.
Crossing an open space, you enter an even more bustling livestock trading area.
The squeals of piglets and the clamor of chickens and ducks rose and fell, and buyers and sellers concealed their "squeezing" (a euphemism for making money) in their sleeves or with straw hats.
After strolling through the market, Zhou Zhe led Lu Qingyang to an ancient covered bridge near the town.
The bridge spans a clear stream. It is made of wood and has a roof that shelters people from the wind and rain. There are benches on both sides for people to rest.
The villagers who had just finished their business were sitting on the bridge, resting, smoking, and chatting.
They also sat down by the bridge, watching the ducks playing in the stream and listening to the old people chatting in their thick local accents.
As noon approached, Zhou Zhe led Lu Qingyang into a street-side restaurant that looked unremarkable and even a bit run-down, with the words "Old Street Hot Pot" painted in red on the door.
"Qingyang, don't be fooled by its appearance, this hot pot restaurant has the most authentic taste!"
The restaurant was bustling with noise, and the tables were gleaming with oil.
Zhou Zhe ordered the hot pot base and dishes simply by looking at the menu.
The dark, nine-compartment iron pot was bubbling with red oil, and chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns were floating and sinking.
In addition to the common tripe, beef aorta, and duck intestines, the hot pot also included local specialties such as square bamboo shoots, sweet potato noodles, and baby bok choy, which Lu Qingyang was seeing for the first time.
Besides hot pot, Zhou Zhe also ordered two specialty snacks: freshly cooked brown sugar glutinous rice cakes, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, dipped in thick brown sugar syrup and fine bean powder, sweet and refreshing to relieve the spiciness; and a bowl of chilled liangxia, made with rice flour, shaped like shrimp, served with brown sugar water and roasted sesame seeds, cool and sweet.
After finishing their hot pot meal, Lu Qingyang and Zhou Zhe, still smelling of spicy food, strolled along the old cobblestone street to digest.
The afternoon sun was languid, and a stall in the distance that read "Traditional Herbal Tea" caught their attention.
The stall owner, a girl with braided hair and bright eyes, was efficiently greeting customers.
"I just had hot pot, so I'm having a bowl of herbal tea to help me relax," Zhou Zhe said, downing two bowls.
The young woman deftly poured the tea, her voice clear and crisp: "Homemade, it's cooling and relieves spiciness, one cup is all it takes!"
Lu Qingyang took the rough earthenware bowl. The dark brown tea soup was slightly bitter at first, but sweet in the aftertaste, which indeed relieved the burning sensation on his tongue.
"What?" the girl asked, looking at him expectantly.
“Very authentic.” Lu Qingyang nodded.
The girl immediately smiled and said, "My family's recipe is a family heirloom, and it uses several kinds of herbs!"
Just as she was speaking, a child running around bumped into the edge of the stall, causing several empty ceramic bowls stacked together to wobble precariously.
The girl cried out "Ouch!" as the item was about to shatter.
Lu Qingyang reacted quickly, instinctively reaching out to block and support the two wobbly bowls on top, while Zhou Zhe also hurriedly steadied the table.
"That was close." The girl patted her chest in relief, quickly checked the other bowls, and then gave Lu Qingyang a grateful smile.
"Thanks a lot, bro, you're pretty quick!"
It turned out that she had overheard Zhou Zhe's words.
Only then did she notice the camera around Lu Qingyang's neck, and asked curiously, "Are you a reporter? Are you here to publish in the newspaper for our poor, remote village?"
Lu Qingyang was amused by her straightforward question: "You're a reporter, so you're just here to take a look around."
"Oh." She drawled, her eyes darting around, and joked, "Then you must be here to inspect some big project, right?"
Zhou Zhe joked, "Feng, you're really well-informed!"
"Of course!" The girl named Feng raised her chin, a hint of smugness in her eyes. "My stall is the most well-informed place in town! I know a little about everything that happens in every nook and cranny."
As she spoke, she added some more chilled tea to their bowls: "Here, this bowl is on me, to thank you for your help earlier!"
Then, she lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "Let me tell you something interesting. I heard that a few days ago, some people saw a wild boar with its cubs wandering around in the old forest. You guys should go in there, but be careful!"
After a brief chat, Lu Qingyang and Zhou Zhe said goodbye and left.
After walking a few steps, you can still hear Feng Meizi's cheerful voice calling from behind: "Take care! Come again next time you have a market, and I'll treat you to my grandma's leaf-wrapped rice cakes!"
Halfway there, Zhou Zhe suggested, "Qingyang, let's go, I'll take you to a cool place to relax. I guarantee it'll be more comfortable than using an electric fan!"
Walk deeper into the valley along a less traveled path.
The further in you go, the denser the trees become, blocking out the sun, and the babbling of the water gradually becomes clearer and louder. Passing through a dense forest, the view suddenly opens up, revealing a canyon. The cliffs on both sides are steep, and a white ribbon of water rushes down, crashing into several large, emerald-green pools at the bottom of the valley, splashing water and bringing a refreshing coolness.
"How is it? This place is great!" Zhou Zhe asked with a smile.
"This feels so good!" Lu Qingyang exclaimed sincerely, taking a deep breath of the cool, humid air.
This is practically an air-conditioned room.
Zhou Gang was even more impatient. He quickly took off his outer clothes and trousers, leaving only his underwear, and jumped into the largest pool with a "plop," splashing water high into the air.
"Brother Lu, come down quickly! It's very cool here!"
Lu Qingyang and Zhou Zhe also laughed as they went into the water.
The clear, cool water instantly washed away the stickiness and heat from my body.
Tired from swimming, they climbed onto a large rock on the shore, smooth as a mirror from the water's flow, to sunbathe.
Meanwhile, Zhou Gang had already begun his fishing business.
He crouched low, his eyes fixed on the crevices in the rocks and the stones in the rushing water, his hands silently diving into the water.
With a splash, he raised his hand again and found himself tightly clutching a large, mottled, grayish-brown stonefish that was writhing and twisting.
"See that, Brother Lu? This is a rock crawler! It only grows in places with incredibly clean water like this!" Zhou Gang held up his prize, his face beaming with pride.
He caught seven in no time.
Zhou Zhe wasn't idle either; he picked some wild mushrooms in the nearby woods.
The three divided the work: Zhou Zhe was responsible for building a simple stove with stones, Zhou Gang went to collect dry branches, and Lu Qingyang was responsible for cleaning the fish.
After the fire was lit, they placed their only iron lunchbox on a stand, filled it with clear stream water, added fish and wild mushrooms, and sprinkled only a little salt.
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