#西湖龙井

[mademoiselle-red]

Imagining how Lianhua’s household would celebrate Chinese New Year’s Eve…

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, Lianhua announces to Ah Fei and Xiaobao that he’s got their new year’s eve dinner all planned out.

“Trust me,” he says with unfounded confidence.

Ah Fei narrows his eyes. Xiaobao smiles nervously with trepidation.

On Chinese new year’s eve, Lianhua presents his husband and disciple/adopted child with the following dishes:

Vinegar Fish of the Western Lake 西湖醋鱼

Xiaobao’s review: Amazingly, it tastes just as terrible as the version they serve at the famous Hangzhou restaurant Lou Wai Lou.

(Author note: Seriously, don’t order this “regional delicacy” if you find yourself in Hangzhou. Unless you enjoy the taste of unseasoned steamed fish drowning in vinegar sauce. Order any other fish dish. Like squirrel fish 松鼠鳜鱼 or a plain old steamed fish 清蒸鱼. Also, Lou Wai Lou is a tourist trap. Yes it’s got a long history, and was referenced in the Mysterious Lotus Casebook theme song and appears in Grave Robber’s Chronicles, but no, it is no longer good.)

Osmanthus Lotus 桂花莲藕

Xiaobao’s review: All the ingredients are there and assembled correctly. But why is the flower sauce burnt????

Lianhua: I’ve already ruined two pans from trying to make this sauce! The sugar keeps hardening into rock candy and sticking to my pan! (Caramelization is hard 😭)

(Author note: Do order this dish if you travel to the Yangzhou-Nanjing-Hangzhou-Shanghai area. It’s steamed lotus stuffed with sweet sticky rice and covered in sweet osmanthus flower sauce, what’s not to love?)

Bamboo shoot and chicken soup 竹笋炖鸡

Di Feisheng’s review: Even I am finding it hard to ignore the amount of salt that’s in this soup

Xiaobao: This is salvageable. I’m going to boil some water

(Author note: this is a new year staple in my household 😋)

Longjin Shrimp 龙井虾仁

Fang Duobing’s review: This is actually ok. But then again, it’s hard to really mess this dish up. But I don’t taste the tea. At all. It’s just stir-fried shrimp. Where is the Longjin?

Lianhua: Young Master Fang, do you know how much Longjin tea costs???

(Author note: I tried making this dish at home. It is stir-fried shrimp in a sauce that incorporates Longjin tea. It’s hard to get the tea flavor right without it either not coming through or becoming too bitter. The stir-fried shrimp part is pretty easy.)

After dinner, Xiaobao receives a very bulky red envelope from Lianhua and gets very excited. He opens it, revealing eight bank notes, each worth only one silver tael. His face drops and he begins to pout but Lianhua reminds him that he is a broke old man, while Xiaobao stands to inherit one of the largest fortunes in the country.

Di Feisheng reluctantly hands Xiaobao a very thin envelope. “My accountant prepared it for me. I don’t know anyone I’d consider my junior 晚辈, so you can have it.”

It’s one bank note worth 800 silver taels.

Both Xiaobao and Lianhua gasp in shock.

Lianhua: “Do I get one too? You’re a bit older than me, you know.”

Di Feisheng: “Have you got no pride?”

Lianhua: “Ah Fei gege” 🥺

(Note: gege means “older brother” in Chinese)

[ittybittyhuac]

"Kill them with kindness" Wrong. CURSE OF QIN SHI HUANG

的是不我一有大在人了中到资要可以这个你会好为上来��学交也用能如文时没说他看提那问生过下请天们所多麽小想得之还电出工对都机自後子而讯站去心只家知国台很信成章何同道地发法无然但吗当於本现年前真最和新因果定意情点题其事方清科样些吧叁此位理行作经者什谢名日正华话开实再城爱与二动比高面又车力或种像应女教分手打已次长太明己路起相主关凤间呢觉该十外凰友才民系进使她着各少全两回加将感第性球式把被老公龙程论及别给听水重体做校里常东风您湾啦见解等部原月美先管区错音否啊找网乐让通入期选较四场由书它快从欢数表怎至立内合目望认几社告更版度考喜头难光买今身许弟若算记代统处完号接言政玩师字并男计谁山张党每且结改非星连哈建放直转报活设变指气研陈试西五希取神化物王战近世受义反单死任跟便空林士台却北队功必声写平影业金档片讨色容央妳向市则员兴利强白价安呵特思叫总办保花议传元求份件持万未究决投哪喔笑猫组独级走支曾标流竹兄阿室卡马共需海口门般线语命观视朋联参格黄钱修失儿住八脑板吃另换即象料录拿专远速基帮形确候装孩备歌界除南器画诉差讲类英案带久乎掉迷量引整似耶奇制边型超识虽怪飞始品运赛费梦故班权破验眼满念造军精务留服六图收舍半读愿李底约雄课答令深票达演早卖棒够黑院假曲火准百谈胜碟术推存治离易往况晚示证段导伤调团七永刚哥甚德杀怕包列概照夜排客绝软商根九切条集千落竟越待忘尽据双供称座值消产红跑嘛园附硬云游展执闻唱育斯某技唉息苦质油救效须介首助职例热毕节害击��态嗯宝倒注停古输规福亲查复步举鱼断终轻环练印随依趣限响省局续司角简极干篇罗佛克阳武疑送拉习源免志鸟烦足馆仍低广土呀楼坏兵显率圣码众争初误楚责境野预具智压系青贵顺负魔适哇测慢怀懂史配呜味亦医迎舞恋细灌甲帝句属灵评骑宜败左追狂敢春狗际遇族群痛右康佳杨木病戏项抓徵善官护博补石尔营历只按妹里编岁择温守血领寻田养谓居异雨止跳君烂优封拜恶啥浪核聊急状陆激模攻忙良剧牛垒增维静阵抱势严词亚夫签悲密幕毒厂爽缘店吴兰睡致江宿翻香蛮警控赵冷威微坐周宗普登母络午恐套巴杂创旧辑幸剑亮述堂酒丽牌仔脚突搞父俊暴防吉礼素招草周房餐虑充府背典仁漫景绍诸琴忆援尤缺扁骂纯惜授皮松委湖诚麻置靠继判益波姐既射欲刻堆释含承退莫刘昨旁纪赶制尚艺肉律铁奏树毛罪笔彩注归弹虎卫刀皆键售块险荣播施铭罗汉赏欣升叶萤载嘿弄钟付寄鬼哦灯呆洋嘻布磁荐检派构妈蓝贴猪策纸暗巧努雷架享宣逢均担启济罢呼划伟岛歉郭训穿详沙督梅顾敌协轮略慧幻脸短鹰冲朝忍游河批混窗乡蛋季散册弃熟奖唯藏婚镜紧猜喝尊乾县伯偏偷秋层颗食淡申冠衣仅帐赞购犯敬勇洲束斗徒嘉柔绩笨拥漂狮诗围乖孤姓吸私避范抗盖祝序晓富译巨秀馀辉插察庆积愈端移宫挥爆港雪硕借帅丢括挂盘偶末厅朱凡惊货灭醒虚瑞拍遗忠志透烈银顶雅诺圆熊替休材挑侠鸡累互掌念米伴辅降豪篮洗健饭怜疯宏困址兮操临骗咧药绿尼蔡玉辛辈敏减彼街聚郎泡恨苏缩枢碰采默婆股童符抽获宇废赢肯砍钢欧届禁苍脱渐仙泪触途财箱厌籍冰涛订哭稳析杰坚桥懒贤丝露森危占茶惯尘布爸阶夏谊瓶哩惨械隐丰旅椰亡汽贝娘寒遭吹暑珍零刊邮村乃予赖摇纳���伦尾狼浮骨杯隔洪织询振忽索惠峰席喵胡租款扰企刺芳鼠折频冒痴阴哲针伊寂嘴倚霸扬沉悔虫菜距复鼓摩郑庄副页烧弱暂剩豆探耐祖遍萧握愁龟哀发延库隆盟傻眉固秘卷搭昭宁托辩覆吵耳閒拨沈升胖丁妙残违稍媒忧销恩颜船奈映井拼屋乘京藉洞川宪拟寝塞倍户摆桌域劳赚皇逃鸿横牙拖齐农滚障搬奶乌了松戴谱酷棋吓摸额瓜役怨染迫醉锁震床闹佩牠徐尺干潮帽盛孙屁净凯撞迴损伙牵厉惑羊冬桃舰眠伍溪飘泰宋圈竞闪纵崇滑乙俗浅莲紫沟旋摄聪毁庭麦描妨勒仪陪榜板慕耀献审蟹巷谅姊逐踏岸葛卧洽寞邦藤拳阻蝎面殊凭拒池邪航驱裁翔填奥函镇丌宽颇枪遥穹啪阅锋砂恭塔贺魂睛逸旗萨丸厚斋芬革庸舒饮闭励顿仰阁孟昌访绪裕勿州阐抢扫糊宙尝菩赐赤喊盗擎劝奋慈尽污狐罚幽准兼尖彰灰番衡鲜扩毫夸炮拆监栏迟证倾郁汪纷托漏渡姑秒吾窝辆龄跌浩肥兽煞抹酸税陷谷冲杜胸甘胞诞岂辞墙凉碎晶邱逻脆喷玫娃培咱潜祥筑孔柏叭邀犹妻估荒袋径垃傲淑圾旦亿截币羽妇泥欺弦筹舍忌串伸喇耻繁廖逛劲臭鲁壮捕穷拔于丑莉糟炸坡蒙腿坦怒甜韩缓悉扯割艾胎恒玲朵泉汤猛驾幼坪巫弯胆昏鞋怡吐唐悠盾跃侵丹鑑泽薪逝彦后召吕碧晨辨植痴瑰钓轩勤珠浓悟磨剪逼玄暖躲洛症挡敝碍亨逊蜜盼姆赋彬壁缴捷乏戒憾滴桑菲嫌愉爬恼删叹抵棚摘蒋箭夕翁牲迹勉莱洁贪恰曰侨沧咖唷扣采奔泳迹涯夺抄疗署誓盃骚翼屠咪雾涉锺踢谋牺焦涵础绕俱霹坜唬氏彻吝曼寿粉廉炎祸耗炮啡肚贡鼻挖貌捐融筋云稣捡饱铃雳鸣奉燃饰绘黎卷恢瞧茫幅迪柳瑜矛吊侯玛撑薄敦挤墨琪凌侧枫嗨梯梁廷儒咬岚览兔怖稿齿狱爷迈闷乔姿踪宾家弘韵岭咦裤壳孝仇誉妮惧促驶疼凶粗耍糕仲裂吟陀赌爵哉亏锅刷旭晴蝶阔洩顽牧契轰羞拾锦逆堕夹枝瓦舟悦惹疏锐翘哎综纲扇驻屏堪弥贯愚抬喂靖狠饼凝邻擦滋坤蛙灾莎毅卒汝征赠斗抛秦辱涂披允侦欲夥朗笛劫魅钦慰荷挺矣迅禅迁鹿秤彭肩赞丙鹅痕液涨巡烤贱丈趋沿滥措么扭捉碗炉脏叔秘腰漠翅余胶妥谣缸芒陵雯轨虾寸呦洒贞蜂钻厕鹤摔盒虫氛悄霖愧斜尸循俩堡旺恶叉燕津臣丧茂椅缠刑脉杉泊撒递疲杆趁欠盈晃蛇牡慎粒系倦溜遵腐疾鸭璃牢劣患祂呈浑剂妖玻塑飙伏弊扮侬渴歪苗汗陶栋琳蓉埋叡澎并泣腾柯催畅勾樱阮斥搜踩返坛垂唤储贩匆添坑柴邓糖昆暮柜娟腹煮泛稀兹抑携芭框彷罐虹拷萍臂袭叙吻仿贼羯浴体翠灿敲胁侣蚁秩佑谨寡岳赔掩匙曹纽签晋喻绵咏摊馨珊孕杰拘哟羡肤肝袍罩叛御谜嫁庙肠谎潘埔卜占拦煌俄札骤陌澄仓匪宵钮岗荡卸旨粽贸舌历叮咒钥苹祭屈陋雀睹媚娜诱衷菁殿撕蠢惟嚣踊跨膀筒纹乳仗轴撤潭佛桂愤捧袖埃壹赫谦汇魏粹傅寮猴衰辜恳桶吋衫瞬冻猎琼卿���卓殖泼譬翰刮斌枉梁庞闽宅麟宰梭纠丛雕澳毙颖腔伫躺划寺炼胃昂勋骄卑蚂墓冥妄董淋卢偿姻砸践殷润铜盲扎驳湿凑炒尿穴蟑拓诡谬淫荡鼎斩尧伪饿驰蚊瘟肢挫槽扶兆僧昧螂匹芝奸聘眷熙猩癢帖贫贿扑笼丘颠讶玮尹詗柱袁漆毋辣棍矩佐澡渊痞矮戈勃吞肆抖咳亭淘穗黏冈歧屑拢潇谐遣诊祈霜熬饶闯婉致雁觅讽膜挣斤帆铺凄瑟艇壶苑悬詹诠滤掰稚辰募懿慨哼汁佬纤肃遨渔恕蝴垫昱竿缝蹈鞭仆豫岩辐歹甄斑淹崎骏薰婷宠棵弓犬涂刹郁坎煎螺遮枯台昔瘾蒂坠唔瞎筝唇表吁冤祷甩伞酱范焉娇驼沦碳沾抚溶叠几蜡涌氧弦娱皓奴颓嘎趟揭噹剥垦狭魁坊盐屎郝佩摧栗菊瘦钧匿砖嘘缚嘟盆债霞挽逍���蕴颈获畏喂脾姬赴囊噪熄锡诀肇璋晕浊伐峡窃枕倘慌垮帕莹琦厢渺脏削锣虐豔薇霉衍腊喧娶遂睁裙韦矢伺钉婴蓄奸廿堵葬蓬鸦尝挨蕾璿挚券厨醇呻霍剃浆葡暨滨履捞咕耕棉烁尉艰妓棺鹏蒸癌纬菌撇惩绑甫崩魄拂汰氓歇萝呒萄蕃曝疋向胏烛腻襄妆髓朴薯颂薛滩橘贰嘲叹枚侮豹巢酬碑翩蚕辽矿屡谴卵撰攀肌冯宴盏阪浦迦颁炼尬胀辟艘株只湘饲爹梨喽侍疫雕黯并铝弗爪鄙钗栽狸谘柄悸喉擅劈秉芷裸锵贾逗寓咚璞烫铅啸炳屿竖惶仕挪栅迄顷窄鸥鲢郊倩兜茧磊抒夷绰溯拙僚芙杖溃凶鸽妒沌祺呐卦聆栖蝇佮唾汇楣匠蛛悼舜耿瞄芋瞒竭茵吼苛浸拯克豆沛掠廊凸搅俺酌倡朦蕉暱焕掏蝉焰狄绳惰芽裹宛御赎燥滔贬悍袂坟颉啤押尴颤钝腥缔粮哑槟簿斧肿纶僵齣辖蹲敷喘扎酿佑肖愈隧嗜檬迳碌襟凋圭寇污哨倪筠桦诈姜旬秃脂噢撼衅庚炫谭惭涩崔贷胡晒琉捏绮膝拭暗醋膨杠鑫瀑喃剖袜逾涅扳惘凳呃掘捍榔窍蜗旷梵暇稻柠抉辗蔚钩卜莺匡蜘祯哔窟亟谛溢黛晦伶逮傍葱刁堤恍匣谍禧轿耸瀚斐忿泓拐驴罕沫绽刃窈渝仄瑛葵噜绣奕窥浏隶蔽仟敛丞诘鳖疤膏锥窕皱晰晖舅孰煽姚钞袱绊焚芦咸沮呕瞪淳丐茹盘菱篠涕衬蚀溉瑄翟怠钰躯肺掷丑奢荫靶纱芸佰峻阱哄肾庄囡阑戳腕菸凹蟾蒐呱巾雏螃盯馈垄毓犀逞姨穆樵阀弥跷搁隙疵憧忏琨阙萱怅辄搏榕饥捣渣眺虞俯绅谤珑咫俏淆蜀楠乞诅匀貂寰迋敞跪囚溺骆憬苇脊瑶疆乍杆眸窜孽卅夭簧徘馒趴鎚啼冗缉絮啄沸萃嘶鸳禽惫徨屐舆邂掀嫖苟檯矫铎棱哗徊拱蕙徬滞吠妞氾芹叩朽侪赦汐丰虔茅棠仑膳魉儡鸯懦渗邵筱畜崖瑕蕊揣擒挂屯莽矽侏弧澈饺奎裘塌饵偎泻蔓彗樽衔茍磋萎廓悯���茎歼壤浇蚤恃瞻拚汀椒嚼粥磅佫勘脖吨澜��笙厄嚷伽徽隅寥缤簾烘茜驯噎厦闰煤链锈诫颊俐曳蓓暧郤淌喀昆蔑峙躁菇逅雇殴泌酥缮莓辕骇巍糗扛杏茁琵礁秽岔僻焊嗡诵瞌捌遁赃涡琮卯锯扔苏邹莅隘蹋湛昼岫蛰桩藐汲禄皂濑绒耽粪粤卤曜懋咎痘聂垢瞳闵睿跤鉴躬斟淇莒毯幸骋岱庐殃橄恤叽鳞蒙芥榄楷硫苔麒椎禹喙厘袅亥倌吭诃裔梓蓦岩帜瓣狡惕蒙怯嫩龚嚎豚埠暸唆妃瓢蹄厮讥啃琶愿噱狷搪氢橙咆靡砌筷兑溼呸镀踹冢祟懈术搓攸橡膛俞祉冀炊瓷遐揽鹭茄蜢塘郡韬挟牟糙阎旻赘霆呎炭霄媳瘤猿颺煚铠蝠钜苓傀烬墅璇困愣恬嫉琐嫂淼梳憎搂藻酵屉陡摺箫飨桐蚱曦璧偈蹦昶咙铮嗤戌屌耘裳啾嵘胺笃烹巩厝疚鸶汹蔷沐咽烙畸讳揍曙铐朔涓睬矶岐凄鲫楞鲤荆偕徜饥肮蔼辙恁霈诛鞠茉煜傭嗓酹昙铨艳绷峨揉珈鹃诲臆焰隽熔堇韧扒憨舵肛戊坝抠骷碘鞍冕榨肘羔哺霓巳铲蚵惆驹撷稽羹纺蜕趾吊豁褪癸眨臻慷蝙胧沼舱柚抨葭枷靥硝绚绞缆讪褚砗嫣蒲丫鹦蒹憩懊聋盎婊盔峦矜凛铺鹉蜴惚畴羁媛堑泛疮韶憋祁诟搔蜥袒奄忱玖拌悴祠扼髅筑蛤茱骐捶须亢葔艸筛岳岳慵戮跎砰仑炜篱笈瘫吏痊庶厥棘娑沁窘鲸缕硷俨栈蔬鸠闲迢恣昀泠涟眩噫娥荼鳄镖侃虏俾樟榴咛炬窦笠翱莘躇翡姜枭匕藩徉觞拣吱皈墉傌梢巅踌萌幌杭侥栾奠痲夸瘖芯蟀驿耨禾瑾

“kill them with kindness” Wrong. CURSE OF RA 𓀀 𓀁 𓀂 𓀃 𓀄 𓀅 𓀆 𓀇 𓀈 𓀉 𓀊 𓀋 𓀌 𓀍 𓀎 𓀏 𓀐 𓀑 𓀒 𓀓 𓀔 𓀕 𓀖 𓀗 𓀘 𓀙 𓀚 𓀛 𓀜 𓀝 𓀞 𓀟 𓀠 𓀡 𓀢 𓀣 𓀤 𓀥 𓀦 𓀧 𓀨 𓀩 𓀪 𓀫 𓀬 𓀭 𓀮 𓀯 𓀰 𓀱 𓀲 𓀳 𓀴 𓀵 𓀶 𓀷 𓀸 𓀹 𓀺 𓀻 𓀼 𓀽 𓀾 𓀿 𓁀 𓁁 𓁂 𓁃 𓁄 𓁅 𓁆 𓁇 𓁈 𓁉 𓁊 𓁋 𓁌 𓁍 𓁎 𓁏 𓁐 𓁑 𓀄 𓀅 𓀆

[easyshopee]

ชาเขียวหลงจิ่งหางโจว 西湖明前龙井 Green Tea Longjing(Dragon Well)from Hangzhou

[easybuypick]

ชาเขียวหลงจิ่งหางโจว 西湖明前龙井 Green Tea Longjing(Dragon Well)from Hangzhou

[easyshopee]

ชาเขียวหลงจิ่งหางโจวA 西湖明前龙井 A Green Tea Longjing(Dragon Well)from Hangzhou A

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ชาเขียวหลงจิ่งหางโจวA 西湖明前龙井 A Green Tea Longjing(Dragon Well)from Hangzhou A

[easyshopee]

ส่งฟรีชาเขียวหลงจิ่งหางโจว AA 西湖龙井 AA Green Tea Longjing(Dragon Well)from Hangzhou AA

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ส่งฟรีชาเขียวหลงจิ่งหางโจว AA 西湖龙井 AA Green Tea Longjing(Dragon Well)from Hangzhou AA

[umichenginabroad]

Week 7: Rainy Day in Hangzhou

Rain droplets trickled down the lotus leaves and splashed on the lily pads. I watched closely at the lively activities happening at the lotus pond, where the duck families swam under the umbrella leaves and occasionally stepped out of the water to trudge on the lily pads. A classic Chinese story, Legend of the White Snake, takes place at this famous lake. The West Lake (西湖) has a unique calming scenery on a rainy day. As Shanghai embraces its rainy season, with everyday making me want to sleep and keep sleeping, so does its neighboring city Hangzhou. 

Last week I promised to cover Suzhou but I decided it’s better to talk about Hangzhou instead :) I’ve been there twice already and the trips are more recent so I have more to talk about!

Before I leave Shanghai, I would do some pre-planning on the RED app which has lots of useful posts on where to tour and what to do. I found one titled "How to tour 西湖 without breaking a leg", and it provided a detailed map of the lake with the recommended route about its sceneries. The romance between a kind-hearted man named Xu Xian (许仙) and the female snake spirit Bai Suzhen (白素贞) unfolds here.

In the image below, you could see the peak of the new Leifeng Tower (雷峰塔). The story ends with the white snake being imprisoned here by the Buddhist monk Fahai, and in the aftermath, her husband Xu Xian became a monk at the temple to stay close to her.

Too lazy to walk under the showering sky, we hopped on a tourist bus that took us to the biggest lotus pond at the lake, the place where I saw the little black furry balls tagging close to their mother. The ride was very comfortable with the cool breeze and peaceful scenery, and there's helpful commentaries on the sites as we rode along the perimeter of the lake.

After some walking around and taking pictures, we headed to a boat deck and took a boat ride around West Lake. Here's another view of the Leifeng Tower overlooking the lake.

We got to see the site on the Chinese banknote 1 Yuan!! These are the final product from us rushing out of our seats to get the clearest view and zooming in and out to get the best focus.

三潭���月 (Three Pools Mirroring the Moon) is the biggest island on the lake, and it's guarded by three small pagodas. During the Song Dynasty, a poet and governor of Hangzhou named Su Shi ordered the construction of three pagodas which became the borders where no lotus planting is allowed. It was Su Shi's solution to prevent silt accumulation that caused the lake's irrigation ducts to clog. On the night of the full moon, people would light candles in the pagodas and there's a saying that 33 moons will show. Each pagoda has 5 hollow holes—when they're all illuminated—makes 15 moons. The candlelight reflecting on the water makes another 15. The full moon shining in the sky and its reflection on the lake makes 2. 15+15+2 = 32 and the last one is in your heart, totaling to 33 moons. This spot is extra special during the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the full moon symbolizes family union. The pagodas were built for practical purposes and continued to be remembered through cultural celebration.

On our cab ride to get lunch, I saw the Broken Bridge (断桥) and it was packed with tourists. The legend says Bai Suzhen fell in love with Xu Xian at first sight on the bridge, also on a rainy day. So that was the end of the West Lake tour. The rest of the day was eating and shopping at a big commercial center northeast of the lake.

Hangzhou grew Longjing tea (龙井茶), so I was on a look out for this tea flavored sweets. Both the Longjing ice cream and pastry I've tried tasted like matcha and later I found out it's basically green tea.

Here's some more pictures I got on the next day at 河坊街 which is on the east side of the West Lake. The big shopping malls had no Hangzhou-specific souvenirs so I went to this street to search for fridge magnets. The two characters on the left picture were the couple, Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen.

The other trip was organized by my program, and the location was at an ancient water town called Wuzhen (乌镇).  After two hours of shuttle bus ride, the group arrived in the evening. Down below are the night views of the canals and bridges I passed by when I was searching for food. The pervasive smell of Changsha's stinky tofu can be detected even before I finish crossing the bridge. I'm pretty sure they taste better than the smell suggested but every time I was discouraged by the strong smell to have any appetite to try them. Wuzhen felt so hot and stuffy even at night. The town is mapped by canal networks, which gave nice views but they also made the heat more insufferable with the humidity.

Given the place is pretty small and contained in itself, we were entrusted to do solo exploration and complete the cultural activities pre-arranged for us in our free time.

After the hotel breakfast, I made lacquer fans in a giant water tank mixed with a few droplets of lacquer. We get to choose the colors and watch the shop owner swirl the different colors into a nice blend on the water's surface. Then she let us dip the fan into the tank, slowly twirling it to absorb the lacquer into a beautiful pattern. The products all turned out very nice. If I were to describe the fans, one resembles HeyTea's best sold grape fruit tea and another is cherry red and green like a watermelon. Some look like vast mountains masked by clouds and the fan I showed in the picture below using the colors purple, pink, and gold looked like taro ice cream. Yum!

Next came the pottery session, where I desperately tried to save my misshapen bowl into a stable state. I was trying to do layers with it, but the whole thing looked like it's on the brink of falling apart as it spun and spun. The professional eventually came over and remodeled it into a smooth round bowl. Here's what became of my panda themed bowl and everyone's masterpieces.

It rained unexpectedly, and while we were rushing back to the hotel to fetch umbrellas, I stopped to take in the special scenery on top of the bridge.

The last cultural activity covered by the Joint Institute was tie-dye, and after that, we went on a boat ride along the canal before leaving Wuzhen. It rained shortly after we boarded, cooling off the air and giving the scenery a different feel.

That's all for Hangzhou :)

Vivien Lin

Computer Engineering

UM - Shanghai Jiaotong University Joint Institute

[jinghuablog]

阴差阳错出国门（8）

皇天不负苦心人。十月份刚过没几天，淑君便收到邮局寄来的澳洲大使馆的取件通知单，几个月来悬在心头的一块大石头终于落了地。淑君决定第二天亲自跑一趟邮局去取挂号信，可未拿到信之前，她反而变得忐忑不安了起来，心情比以前更加的焦虑紧张，晚上躺在床上辗转反侧，一夜未眠。

第二天早上，淑君起来得很早。她匆忙对着镜子梳妆打扮了一番，扎上马尾辫，换了一件红色羊毛衫，吃了点牛奶和鸡蛋，便心急火燎地赶到静安寺21路电车站，此时正值上班早高峰，车站上到处是乌泱泱的人群。淑君一看到这么多人，不禁倒吸一口冷气，责怪自己为什么这么急着出门，自己纤纤弱质的身体哪能挤得过这么多的壮年大汉呢？

能否挤上车是一个考验，上车后不被挤得花容失色又是另一大考验。还好淑君站得离停车的车门很近，车门一开，便身不由己的被后面的人给推上了车，上面还没来得及下车的乘客气得直嚷嚷，大家挤在车门口乱作一团。上海人每天就是这样从拥挤的车上杀进杀出，并为之而拚尽全力，原始人的狰狞面目暴露无疑。等车到达四川北路天潼路站的时候，淑君像是刚做完一套广播体操，手臂酸疼，脚肚子抽筋。下车后，淑君整了整衣服，捋一捋凌乱的头发，沿着四川北路往南走了大约百来米，便来到了四川路桥旁的上海邮电总局。

淑君还没上到二楼的取件大厅，就被堵在了楼梯上，她抬头往上看，��见楼梯上站满了人，取件大厅的门口也挤满了人，跟春运火车站似的。在这些人当中有来取澳洲大使馆邮件的；有来打探澳洲签证发放消息的；有来找在澳洲的落脚处的；还有专门帮人换外币的＂黄牛＂。淑君吃力的挤过人群，凭借取件通知单进入了大厅。过去淑君只是听说积压的学生签证有上万，但那只是个抽象的数字概念，一旦这些数字转化为一个个有血有肉的人头，它的视觉冲击力令人震惊。

在排队等待的时候，淑君听见身旁二个人交头接耳的说，今天来的全都是获批签证的，据说前二天尽是些被拒签的人。听到这话，淑君心里难免一阵小激动，但一看到眼前的人山人海，小激动立即又变成了惴惴不安，甚至还有点后悔自己的选择，早知去澳洲有这么多人，当初就不该跨出这一步。

拿到了签证，淑君又返回到原来的车站，跳上一辆21路电车去了母亲家。昨天晚上淑君跟佳丽打过一个电话，告诉她明天取挂号信的事情。佳丽回答说，不管签证的结果如何，她都会请半天假，两人约好中午一起去西湖饭店吃午饭。电车在繁忙的路上开得很慢，熟悉的街景多么的可爱，一幢楼，一爿店，一辆车，一个人，淑君都想多看几眼，仿佛眼前的一切都披上秋日的阳光，温暖而又明亮。然而没过多久，淑君觉得那股子兴奋劲消失的无影无踪，像是落在了川流不息的路上，现在离别的愁绪已经盖过快乐。

佳丽接到淑君电话后，也是一晚上没合眼。她为淑君感到高兴，自己同淑君从小玩到大，对她实在是太了解了，她为人正派，稳重和自爱，而且特别的重情重义，这些品质是佳丽最为欣赏的。可佳丽对待异性的眼光往往失准。自从那次与淑君在东海咖啡馆的碰面之后，佳丽与贾东杰的关系还是保持着不温不火，然而凭着女性的直觉，佳丽怀疑贾东杰在澳洲并不单纯，否则的话他不会表现得如此冷淡。贾东杰是众女性喜欢的那种类型，外表清朗，又能口若悬河；头脑灵活，又能贴心周到；心丝镇密，而又善于包装自己。贾东杰现在很少来信，借给他的学费仅还了一小部分。现在的佳丽身处二难境地，写信要他信守承诺还钱，又怕影响两人的关系。不写信去催他，他就装着没事人似的。佳丽情感的受伤本来就很痛苦，现在又被还钱一事搞得心力憔悴，环顾四周，有哪个上海女孩那么的傻，那么的好骗？男友刚离开时，那段日子真是度日如年，现在刚开始适应了一点，闺蜜却又要离去，唉！人生真是魔幻，一切都难以预料。

佳丽向单位请了半天的假，回家见到淑君已过了中午。淑君告诉她，自己已经拿到了澳洲签发的签证，她从包里拿出一本咖啡色的护照，把贴有签证的一面展示给佳丽看。佳丽笑得有点勉强，多么熟悉的一幕呀，一年以前，贾东杰也是一脸兴奋的给她看签证，说的也是同样的一番话。淑君突然意识到佳丽的情绪有点不对劲，举起的手在空中停了几秒钟，然后放下手中的护照，说：＂你怎么不说话啊？＂

＂我高兴还来不及呢，恭喜你，我没看走眼！＂

＂那就好，我现在饿的快要不行了，我们去吃饭吧。＂

＂从现在起，你一半时间都得放在我们这里，这里有你的发小，你的老妈，你曾经生活过的地方。＂

淑君咯咯笑个不停，说：＂好，放在你这儿，真是一对前世冤家。＂

她们俩说说笑笑的走出弄堂。今天，周围的一切在淑君的眼里都变得熠熠生辉，弄堂口的皮匠铺、理发店、烟纸店、裁缝铺、点心店、连平时她最讨厌的菜巿场都变得跟往常不同，多了几分顺眼，多了几分亲切，她甚至问自己以前为什么这样讨厌它们？或许是因为人将要离开上海，那些过往的人和事都一下子变得高大美好，但那份美好到底是真，还是假？她无从回答，其实真假都无所谓，感受真切才是最重要的。

她们来到了四川北路，街上还是同往常一样热闹非凡，人潮，车流，声浪，到处都是拥挤喧腾，给人一种尘埃没有落定的感觉。前面就是西湖饭店，淑君凑近佳丽的耳边说：＂今天我来请客！＂

佳丽转过头来，笑嘻嘻的说：＂你还是省省吧，现在你用钱的地方不少，等哪天衣锦还乡时，你得请我上杭州西湖住上几个星期。＂

＂这一刀斩的够��的，但不管怎样，今天还是我来做东。＂

她们说说笑笑走进西湖饭店，一楼坐满了食客，她们只得上了二楼，正好靠窗的一个角落有一张空桌子，好像是专为她俩预备好的。

佳丽说：＂你们牛羊国没得吃海鲜，还是点这里的招牌菜，西湖醋鱼、龙井虾仁、清炒鳝糊怎么样？＂

＂再来一份东坡肉，另加一个三鲜汤。＂淑君对站在一旁的服务员说，她知道佳丽喜欢吃这二样菜，可刚说完，她好像记起什么似的，又把服务员叫了回来，说：＂再来一瓶花雕黄酒。＂

＂你可从来不喝酒的，今天怎么会心血来潮？＂

＂今天我算是豁出去了，做不到一醉方休，至少也该喝个痛快！＂

＂那我也豁岀去了，舍命陪君子。＂

等到菜和酒端上桌之后，佳丽随手把二只酒杯酙的满满的，于是举杯为她们二十多年的友情，为淑君的前程干杯！

碰杯之后，淑君连喝了二大口酒，但喝得太快，立即呛咳了起来，佳丽急忙摆手说：＂不要喝得太猛，先吃点菜再说。＂

淑君看着桌上的饭菜，心中不禁泛起一阵酸楚，她伸手握住佳丽，声音颤抖的说：＂佳丽，这下我真的要离开这里，有什么话想跟我说？＂

＂金秋多佳日，登上西湖楼。别绪杯中酒，对饮别更愁。＂佳丽像是自言自语，又仿佛是在倾诉衷肠。一年前，她也是这样送别了自己的男友，如今又将送别从小玩到大的闺蜜，生命中曾留下过的二只深深烙印，都将要淡出她的生活，成为永久的回忆。人生最美好的莫过于爱与被爱，最大的遗憾恰恰是所有的爱都不能长长久久，天长地久只是个传说，只存在于人的美好愿望里，或许生命本身就是这样，＂短的是人生，长的是磨难。＂想到这里，佳丽不禁心情沉重，悲从中来，眼睛闪着泪光，说：＂淑君，天下没有不散的宴席，把我们的美好放在心里，这就足够了。＂

淑君不敢面对佳丽那双含泪的眼睛，她把头别向了窗外，声音颤抖的说：＂人来如流水，去如风，我们来到这世上，早晚终须一别。从今往后，下雨的日子，有风的天气，我都会想起我们今天的约定。＂说完，淑君已经泪流满面。

佳丽噙着泪水说：＂淑君，你再这个样子，我可不理你了！又不是我们以后不再见面似的。＂佳丽觉得这些伤逝别离的话，不仅自己难受，淑君更是受不了，她是个重感情的人，再说下去这顿饭恐怕没办法吃了，于是佳丽有意把话题引开，说：＂开场白过后，我们可要全力以赴的开吃了。＂

淑君从包里取出手帕，揩干眼泪，然后扬起头来说：＂上次你说你伤心难过的样子很难看，这不，我也一样，这回让你看到了吧。＂

＂走之前，你应该高高兴兴才对，第一次出远门可不许哭鼻子。＂

＂泪都哭干了，以后到了澳洲就是再苦再累都不怕。＂淑君把手帕放进包里，转悲为喜的说：＂好啦，我们准备吃饭吧！今天上来一盘菜就消灭它一盘，决不许有漏网之鱼。＂

＂这意气奋发，不可一世的架势可不像你呀，是不是喝多了？＂

＂我们要不要再来一瓶？＂

＂‘花看半开，酒饮微醺’才是我们应该追求的境界。＂

＂这句话我喜欢，道理看似简单，做起来可并不简单。追求不过，也就是饶过放过自己。＂

＂淑君悟性不差，干什么都行，希望你在澳洲这片自由广袤天地里顺顺利利！＂

今天淑君和佳丽胃口都特别好，淑君说这是人逢喜事胃口大，佳丽把这归咎于没吃早餐，只喝了点牛奶，还自嘲自己是饿虎下山。那些看似平日里吃不了完的饭菜，没多久就像风卷残云般的只剩了些残羹剩饭。酒足饭饱后，佳丽指了指桌面，打趣的说：＂佳肴美酒穿肠过，杯盘狼藉弃眼前＂

＂这说明我们战斗力超强，与那些男人有一拚。＂

＂是啊，你去澳洲也要同那些男人一争高下，过去我们可把班里的男生都给比了下去。＂

＂我怕这次争不过他们。＂

＂为什么？还未动身就想打退堂鼓，这怎么能行？我们的淑君永远不甘人后。＂说完，佳丽站起身来，高举起酒杯，说：＂喝了这一杯，为了远方未知的命运壮胆助威！干了这一杯，伤感的告别是为了以后再不感伤！＂

＂干杯！＂

＂干杯！＂说完，她们一饮而尽。

淑君摇晃着只剩半小瓶的花雕酒，说：＂喝完我们就走。＂话音刚落，就听见临桌的几名食客正在为争抢座位起了争执，说得尽是些夹枪带棒骂人的话。那几位没有抢到座位的顾客骂骂咧咧的走开了，而得胜的两个人则一脸怒容坐在她们的临桌。

＂酒还未下肚，酒失酒过就已暴露无遗，看来我们不要再喝了，一切留待以后的相逢日。＂佳丽说着朝淑君扮了个鬼脸，用手指了指吃剩下��鱼头，只见盘中一只吃剩下的鱼头，鱼眼突出，鱼嘴微张，鱼脸狰狞。淑君朝那人看了一眼，会心笑了起来，然后说：＂我们走吧！＂

出了饭店，佳丽说：＂今天吃了太多，我们还是散散步吧，往南还是往北随你挑。＂

＂往北走吧，我想去我们的母校‘复兴中学’看看，你觉得怎样？＂

＂好啊，现在就开始一场场的告别演出了。＂佳丽不假思索的回答，接着说：＂是不是那里很难忘吧。＂

＂我最难忘的就是你，整天在我眼前晃悠。佳丽，你还记得我们的班主任＇王老虎＇吗？我们高考提高班的同学给他整得够呛。＂

＂不好好整治我们，你怎么会当上医生，我又怎么进出版社呢？＂

＂可他好凶啊，老是绷着脸，不苟言笑，我还是有点怕他——后来他生病来找过我，是肺癌晚期，最后只能保守治疗，这件事我很抱歉。＂说完，淑君沉默不语，像是为她那句抱歉而感到难过，过一会儿她又接着说：＂现在回忆起他的音容之余，不禁还怀着怅惘敬慕之意。＂

＂说到高考，我记得最清楚的一件事就是你妈为了让你补营养，竟把她宝贝儿子的牛奶让给了你喝，可高考结束，你又喝不上牛奶，这不是明显的重男轻女吗？＂

淑君听了，不禁咯咯的笑出声来，然后一板一眼的说：＂有一个下雨天的早晨，某人一手撑着雨伞，一手拿了一根筷子，筷子上还串着三根刚买回家的油条。那人一见到我，心里一高兴，手上的筷子立马失去平衡，三根油条吱溜一下滑落到了地上，当时她的那张脸如同茭白一样，又白又绿。要不要我再揭一下你的那些高考糗事？＂

＂打住，打住！我可不想再回忆起难堪的往事。＂

俩人笑成一团，接着她们手挽手往北走去。阳光带着丝丝暖意，秋风吹来阵阵凉爽，今天真是难得的好天气。淑君喝了点酒后，酒酣耳热，说话也比平时多，议论风生，意气飞扬。走在路上，她看什么都想许下一番心愿，路过理发店，就问佳丽剪哪种发型更合适，还一定要佳丽陪她去南京路上的新新美发店去做头发。看到对马路上一家时装店，她又拉着佳丽穿过马路。进店之后，又纠缠不休的问带些什么样的衣服去澳洲合适。闻到糖炒栗子的阵阵飘香，又感憾万千的说，从今往后恐难再也吃到她的最爱。想到现在正在放映的影片，又央求着佳丽，一定要陪她去永安电影院，看一场电影……

对于淑君所说得，佳丽都照单全收，可她的内心在隐隐作痛，了了一个心愿，也意味着添了一份沉重。佳丽说：＂这条上学路，我们俩不知走过多少遍，想到从今往后我只有自己孤零零一个人走了，不免有点伤感。＂

＂是啊，我是孤独的走另一条路。＂她停顿了一下，用胳膊肘碰了一下佳丽，说：＂佳丽有你的陪伴，这一路走的很快乐，我会永世难忘，我的心也会留在你身边，直到天老地荒。＂

＂还是把你的心留给冯子健吧。咦！他是否知道你拿到了签证？＂

＂只知道有使馆挂号信一事，至于签证的结果，我还没告诉他，我猜他正急得像一只热锅上的蚂蚁。＂

＂要不前面弄堂里有个公用电话亭，告诉他一声？＂

＂不管他，这次他伤的我不轻，恐怕没这么快冰释前嫌。＂

＂不要带着遗憾离开，更别带着怨恨远行。淑君，听我的，家和万事兴，我觉的有家才是真幸福！＂

＇知——道——了，听你的。＂淑君顿时觉得近几个月的怨恨顿时烟消云散。

走到了学校门口，她们俩探头往里看，校园出奇的安静，一长排高大的教学楼静穆的立在秋阳之下，前面的大操场上也空无一人。佳丽见淑君踌躇不前的样子，便自顾自的往里边走去。淑君连忙说：＂算了，我们就不进去了，看过一眼，心里也就踏实许多。＂

佳丽面对着她说：＂不进去？以后可别后悔噢。＂

＂学生们都在上课，进去也没啥可看的。＂说罢淑君又挽住佳丽，神情暗然的说：＂人要是永远长不大，永远是个学生有该多好呀，那时真不知愁是啥滋味，可现在呢，你在为溜去澳洲的男人而烦恼，而我正在为去那里而发愁。＂

＂我知道你在澳洲还没有一个落脚的地方，所以上个月我曾写信给东杰，希望他能帮帮忙，这不我昨天收到他的一封来信，他说，只要你愿意可以先住在他那里，他们住的房子住有十来个人，你觉的怎样？＂

＂愁的事情一大堆，这事我还真没来得及考虑。既然贾东杰答应了，我先在他那里落个脚。＂淑君偏过头去，瞧着佳丽，说：＂佳丽，你跟我说实话，贾东杰在那里到底是怎样？我总觉的有点不对劲，至少他并没有把你放在心上。＂

佳丽连忙摆手道：＂你去到那里，先看看情况再说。如果他还是一个人，手头又拮据，那就暂时不要提钱的事情，只要他对我还有情，什么都好说。＂

淑君用责怪的眼神瞪了她一眼，刚想脱口说出，你真是执迷不悟，痴心不改！诸如此类的话，但转念一想，还是不说为好，她不愿再说些刺痛佳丽的话。但她在内心暗自发誓，一定要为佳丽讨回这份公道。

＂近乡情怯＂这是游子返回家乡共有的感慨，而远赴他乡的人的心情远远要复杂的多，这里面有立志，憧憬，兴奋，好奇，忧虑，胆怯，无助，孤寂……而现在淑君满脑子的都是要如何去面对这个男人，甚至超过了她将要去面对的一个完全陌生的世界。