Food: Random stalls, customers chase me all over the country

Chapter 584 - Luding Bridge Encounter with Studying Tangju
"On the rolling hills, a rolling cloud shines down on the rolling city of Kangding. The moon is round, and the rolling city of Kangding..."

The RV was driving quietly on the road, and a series of silver bell-like songs could be heard from time to time.

Now that you have arrived in Ganzi, you must go to Kangding for a visit.

Not many people know about Kangding, and even fewer know that it belongs to Ganzi. However, many have heard the song "Kangding Love Song". Even if you haven't heard it all, you can definitely sing along with a few lines of it.

But in fact, Kangding is very powerful. It is not only the throat of Sichuan and Tibet, an important town on the ancient Tea-Horse Road, but also the center of Tibetan-Han exchange.

Since ancient times, it has been the political, economic, cultural, commercial, information, and transportation hub of the Kham Snow Region. The city is primarily Tibetan, with 24 other ethnic groups, including Han, Hui, Yi, and Qiang, inhabited. President Zhu once praised it as "an overseas fairyland, a sacred Penglai land."

And because of the song "Kangding Love Song", many people call this place Liuliu City.

Traveling to western Sichuan does not necessarily require a destination. Just like DJI, it is suitable for walking and traveling, and the scenery is all along the way.

Snow-capped mountains, green trees, yellow grass, red leaves, azure sky, and pure white clouds, the scenery on both sides of the road is enough to make the trip worthwhile.

The 318 route, which is said to be a must-drive in your lifetime, is a route that connects the beautiful scenery of western Sichuan.

Together with the relatively low-key 317 and some county roads, the entire scenery of western Sichuan is connected together.

The experience of traveling here by car and without car is completely different.

As they drove along, the two of them had even decided not to visit the local attractions, but instead started showing off their fandom.

Kangding jelly, made from mung bean and sweet potato flour, is light yellow in color and has a smooth, chewy texture. Served with chili oil, peanut butter, vinegar, and other condiments, it's delicious, soft, and chewy.

Especially after adding the sauce, it becomes bright red and oily and tastes very refreshing.

Paired with a bowl of salty butter tea, the combination of the two makes the taste even more lasting.

This is just the appetizer. Kangding's specialty is yak. ​​Kangding yaks grow on the snowy plateau. They drink water from melted snow, eat cordyceps and Fritillaria, see beautiful scenery, and listen to pastoral songs from distant mountains. Yaks that grow up in such an environment are very content, emotionally stable, and full of happiness.

There is a proverb that goes, "Cows eat Cordyceps and I eat cows. I don't need medicine when I am healthy and have no disasters." The yaks here are treasures from head to toe, among which Jiulong yaks, Ganzi yaks and Litang yaks are the best.

The two of them strolled and found a restaurant called "Malaya Tibetan Restaurant". The decoration inside the restaurant was full of Tibetan style, and the walls were hung with exquisite thangkas and Tibetan ornaments.

The two of them just ate a serving of jelly and didn't order more. They asked for a "beef blanket" and a "fried lamb chops".

Perhaps because they came early and there were not many people around, the dishes they ordered were served quickly. When the waiter brought the beef quilt to Wang Fan, a rich and mellow aroma hit his nose.

There was a small steel pot on the wooden tray, covered with a piece of something that looked like a steamed bun. The hot steam from the beef came out from the gaps in the bun, and it looked very hot.

Local specialties like this can only taste good when made with local ingredients, and Wang Fan is looking forward to it.

Gently peel off the pancake, and the steaming beef will immediately appear in front of you. There is a lot of beef in the pot that can be seen with the naked eye. It is cut into thick slices and paired with green and red peppers and onions, which looks appetizing.

The fried lamb chops were served on the table one after another. Wang Fan nodded when he saw the appearance of the lamb chops. Although he didn't know how it would taste for the time being, the choice of ingredients was still very good.

The lamb chops are small ribs with skin. Not only are they fat and lean, but the meat also looks very solid. The lamb chops have been fried to a golden color, and they must be crispy and tender when eaten.

Wang Fan didn't move his chopsticks, but opened his mouth directly. Based on his understanding of Zhuo Qianqian, he knew that a piece of meat would be fed to his mouth at this time.

Sure enough, as soon as he opened his mouth, a piece of fragrant beef slice was handed to him.

Open your mouth and put it in your mouth. After chewing it lightly, you can smell the rich aroma of the beef.

Wang Fan tasted the beef in his mouth. The technique was average and the ingredients were relatively simple, but good ingredients can really enhance the taste of food. This piece of lean beef did not feel dry at all when he put it in his mouth. He could feel the elasticity of the beef and a hint of medicinal fragrance while chewing it.

Moreover, this beef must have been stewed for a long time, and the spices and seasonings have been completely absorbed into the meat, making it taste very delicious.

Zhuo Qianqian’s favorite food is lamb, which is also the kind of meat she has eaten the most since she was a child. Wang Fan’s hands were not idle either, and he had already picked up a piece of fried lamb chops and put it to her mouth.

This kind of affectionate way of getting along is their daily routine.

Bit off a piece of lamb with skin from the chopsticks. The lamb chops were first marinated with secret spices, then coated with a thin layer of batter, and then fried in a frying pan until golden and crispy.

When Zhuo Qianqian took the first bite, the crispy outside and tender inside made her eyes curved into crescents.

The spices on the lamb chops are rich and long-lasting, and the lamb is tender and juicy, giving her a feeling that the more you chew, the more delicious it becomes.

Just as she was about to take her piece of lamb chop, she found that Wang Fan had already put the remaining half into his mouth.

The beef cap was a staple food, so the two of them didn't order any more. After eating these two portions, they were already full.

After paying the bill, Wang Fan took out his mobile phone, opened his Weibo and posted an update - today's stall location is - Luding Bridge, Ganzi, time is 4 pm, the dish is boiled beef, friends nearby are welcome to come and try it.

As a young man who grew up under the red flag, Wang Fan had to visit Luding Bridge no matter what when he arrived in Ganzi.

This is also the first time he has posted his location while setting up a stall in the past few days.

When he read the text "Flying over Luding Bridge" as a child, he was very shocked. If possible, he wanted more people to come and see this place.

Luding Bridge is not far from Kangding, only an hour's drive away. It is just past 1 o'clock now, which is enough time for Wang Fan to buy fresh yak meat.

Because of the publicity of "Retracing the Red Army's Road", many people travel to Luding Bridge. Although the scenery here is far less beautiful than other places, it was an important checkpoint for the Red Army to break through the encirclement during the Long March.

After buying the yak meat and getting in the car, the two soon arrived at the Luding Bridge Scenic Area.

After Wang Fan got off the bus and looked around, he felt that this place couldn't even be called a scenic spot. The banks of the turbulent Dadu River weren't picturesque, but rather rows and rows of residential buildings, with the Luding Bridge lying across the river.

At this time, there were still many tourists on the bridge, holding on to the iron chains and walking on the bridge surface that had already been paved. They all felt cramps in their calves.

The turbulent Dadu River crashes into the walls on both sides from time to time, making a "clattering" sound, as if constantly telling the story that happened here in the past.

"The water of Jinsha River laps against the cliffs, warming the air. The iron chains of Dadu Bridge are cold, yet I rejoice over the thousand-mile snow on the Min Mountains, bringing joy to the faces of the three armies as they pass by."

Wang Fan looked at the iron chain bridge that stretched there and couldn't help but murmur the poem softly.

When I was a child, I often pretended to be soldiers with my friends when I was learning this text, charging back and forth with guns made from torn cardboard boxes. I still remember this poem clearly.

"Mr. Wang, what a coincidence! I didn't expect to meet you here."

Suddenly, a somewhat surprised voice sounded not far away. Wang Fan looked in the direction of the voice, only to find that it was a lady he didn't recognize at all.

The man looked to be in his thirties, about 160 cm tall, wearing a pair of silver-rimmed glasses. He looked quite intellectual and beautiful. Behind him was a row of elementary school students wearing orange hats, who were arranged in an orderly manner and did not talk to each other.

Seeing Wang Fan's confusion, the lady smiled and extended her hand, saying, "Hello, my name is Wen Wan. I'm the head teacher of a senior class at a kindergarten in Guangxi. I'm your fan."

Wang Fan shook hands with Wen Wan, not knowing what to say.

Zhuo Qianqian's mouthpiece instantly came online. She shook hands with Teacher Wen and asked with a smile, "Teacher Wen, are you taking the little tangjus on a study tour?"

Teacher Wen smiled and said, "Yes, let's take advantage of the National Day to bring them out to see it. The boss lady is really beautiful, Boss Wang is so lucky."

The small tangerines from Guangxi went to Erbin for study tour last year, and Erbin received them warmly. To express its gratitude, Guangxi loaded several trucks of tangerines and sent them to Erbin overnight. In return, Erbin sent several trucks of fresh cranberries back. This was the first time that many people in Erbin knew that cranberries were one of their own specialties.

I didn’t expect to meet the tangerines here again, but I guess they are not the same group of kids as before.

Teacher Wen continued, "We had originally planned to come to Luding Bridge today, but we didn't expect to see your message, Boss Wang, on the way. Now the children are in for a treat."

Wang Fan looked at the tangerines that looked like little adults, and he was very fond of them. With a sweet smile on his face, he said, "No problem. I will definitely use my best skills to entertain these children today."

Zhuo Qianqian had already opened her backpack and took out some snacks that Wang Fan had recently made, intending to share them with the children. The children's eyes were full of desire, but no one reached out to take them. They just stared at their teacher eagerly.

Wang Fan said, "Teacher Wen, these are the snacks I made these past two days. Consider them my welcome gift. Please let the children accept them."

Teacher Wen nodded and turned to the children, saying, "Students, you should never accept anything given by a stranger. But this Mr. Wang in front of you is a kind man who has been praised by our official media. You should accept the gift he gave you. But you can't just take someone's things for free. You should prepare your own return gift, right?"

"Correct!"

The children answered in unison, their voices full of joy, but not too loud so as not to disturb others.

With the teacher's permission, the children happily took the snacks handed to them by Zhuo Qianqian, and then took out various small gifts from their schoolbags to give back to Zhuo Qianqian.

A little girl with big eyes gave Zhuo Qianqian a White Rabbit candy and said with some envy, "Sister, you are so beautiful."

Zhuo Qianqian touched the little girl's head and said with a smile: "You are very beautiful too. When you grow up, you will definitely be prettier than me."

Zhuo Qianqian quickly became close friends with the children, and they even went to visit Luding Bridge together.

It is free to enter Luding Bridge, but you need to buy insurance for 5 yuan. If you don’t want to buy it, you can also use your ID card to register your information.

After buying the tickets, the little tangju children walked onto the bridge one by one. Zhuo Qianqian led the way in front, while Wang Fan and Teacher Wen followed behind to prevent the children from getting lost.

Luding Bridge is far less stable than ordinary bridges. If you stand on either side and walk, you can clearly feel your feet sinking.

Zhuo Qianqian walked very slowly in front, and the little tangerines followed her step by step, walking steadily.

Although the Luding Bridge is only 103.67 meters long, it took them more than ten minutes to walk across it. When they reached the other side, Teacher Wen began to explain the story of the Luding Bridge to the children.

The children seemed to understand what was said, as these things were a bit too advanced for their age. But seeds must be planted when they are young, and maybe one day they will bloom into beautiful flowers.

"The name 'Flying over Luding Bridge' doesn't mean our warrior ancestors could fly, but rather vividly describes their speed and determination to march beyond their physical limits. 'Flying' refers to the 120km mountain trail they covered in one day and one night. When thirsty, they could only drink rainwater; when hungry, they could only chew raw rice. This extraordinary marching speed and perseverance embodies the fortitude and indomitable spirit of our ancestors!"

Teacher Wen's voice was very inspiring, and the children listened attentively to her speech: "You will encounter various difficulties and troubles in the future, but these difficulties are nothing compared to those faced by our ancestors. They have laid a solid foundation for us. I hope that you will have the courage to overcome difficulties and become a useful person to our country."

After crossing the Luding Bridge, there is a Revolutionary Relics Exhibition Hall, which houses more than 240 objects, pictures, and materials, truly showing the original historical appearance of the Dadu River Campaign and the Luding Bridge Battle.

Looking at these pieces of equipment and information that were full of traces of time, Wang Fan seemed to see a tall figure standing on the shore with a smile on his face that showed he was in control of the situation.

As the sun sets, the great man turns his back to the sun and seems to whisper something to the children.

"The world is yours, as well as ours, but ultimately, it is yours. You young people are full of vigor and vitality, in your prime, like the sun at eight or nine o'clock in the morning. Our hopes rest on you."

Teacher Wen looked at Wang Fan in surprise. He didn't expect Wang Fan to say such words.

But at this moment, in this place, these words are really very appropriate.

Teacher Wen smiled and said to the little tangerines, "No matter who says you're not good enough, you must remember that the greatest person in the world said you are the rising sun and hope."

Wang Fan looked at Teacher Wen and the little tangerines who were listening attentively, and suddenly understood the significance of these red attractions.

This is the best carrier of spiritual inheritance.

(End of this chapter)