readsfreenovel Chapter 188 The Rural Girl in "Metamorphosis" 31
Chapter 188 The Rural Girl in "Metamorphosis" 31
Liu Yuxi was the main person in charge of dinner. After asking for everyone's opinions, she made hand-pulled noodles as the main dish, added a few eggs and some green vegetables. You could eat the noodles alone, but to cater to the elderly's taste, the noodles were a bit bland, so Liu Yuxi also stir-fried a few vegetarian dishes.
After everyone finished eating, the others washed the pots and dishes, while Liu Yuxi chopped some lean meat into minced meat, preparing to cook a vegetable and lean meat porridge for breakfast the next morning. He also planned to make a few egg pancakes to finish the meal!
The next day, the group's itinerary was to visit Dayan Ancient Town, Baisha Ancient Town, and Shuhe Ancient Town. After breakfast, the group rode in the owner's car. The owner gave them a very low price, charging only 300 yuan for the round trip. They didn't know if that would cover the gas money.
Because the inspection of maintenance fees in these three ancient cities is not strict, and there is no need to spend money if you don't go to the scenic spots, their search results yesterday showed that all the money they had left was not enough for a day trip to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
I spoke with the director about the current situation, and it seems like they're just giving up. Either the production team increases their budget, or they're allowed to earn money on the streets. Otherwise, they'll just be able to admire the various scenic spots from afar.
Let the production team decide which option to choose, and then they set off in the boss's car.
They first went to Shuhe Ancient Town. When they were choosing a place to stay, they wanted to choose a guesthouse there, but the prices were too high and they couldn't afford it. However, they could still visit one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi people in Lijiang.
The guesthouse owner acted as the driver on the road and transformed into a tour guide once they arrived at their destination. Being a local, he shared practical information with the guests, which, combined with the beautiful scenery, frequently elicited exclamations of "Wow!" from them.
Of course, taking photos at scenic spots is a must. The men didn't know, but the women were having a blast! They were constantly looking for the right view and the right spot, having a great time. The only pity was that they didn't change into traditional Naxi costumes, which made it less than perfect.
The men were somewhat uninterested, but soon the group moved on to Baisha Ancient Town. Located in the north of the city, Baisha Ancient Town is part of Lijiang Ancient City. It is the birthplace of the Mu family, the chieftains of Yunnan. The Naxi people have lived here for a long time and it is known as the ancient capital of the Naxi people. It was once the economic, political and cultural center of Lijiang.
When you come to Baisha Ancient Town, you must see the Baisha Murals. Fortunately, the entrance fee to the Baisha Murals is only 30 yuan per person. Everyone bought tickets, and of course, we also bought one for the shop owner. We couldn't lose our tour guide.
The murals they saw were mostly located in the Dabaoji Palace and the Liuli Palace. The owner explained, "These murals integrate Han, Tibetan, and Naxi cultures, combining various religions and showcasing life stories from Tibetan Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and other traditions."
The Baisha murals are unique in their eclectic approach, incorporating various religious cultures and artistic styles. The paintings are meticulously composed, executed with rigorous brushwork, rich in color, accurate in form, and lifelike in depiction of figures. They clearly draw upon the characteristics of Dongba painting, such as its bold style, strong color contrasts, even lines, and refined brushwork.
The themes covered are quite extensive, including depictions of galloping horses, blooming lotus flowers, mountains and fields, flowers, birds, insects, and other natural scenery.
The religious figures depicted in these murals, through the lens of religion, incorporate the artists' aesthetic ideas and subtly or overtly represent the social life of the time.
According to historical records, the murals in Lijiang, represented by the Dabaoji Palace, were painted gradually over a period of more than 300 years, from the early Ming Dynasty to the Puli period.
The local prefect, Mu Wang, hired a group of Han Chinese painters led by Ma Xiaotian, along with Tibetan and Bai painters, Dongba religious disciples, and Taoist followers to participate in the mural painting.
"Wow!" Although Liu Yuxi expressed her amazement along with everyone else, she didn't really feel anything about religion, after all, she was a non-believer! She was more amazed by the preservation time of these murals!
After viewing the murals, it was already noon, and everyone was hungry. The owner suggested, "There are many local snacks around here. If you're interested, I can take you there!"
"Of course!" "Great!" Amidst the chorus of agreement, a question suddenly arose: "Is it far?" Everyone looked and saw it was Grandpa Lin. It was clear that the old man was a bit tired, and the weather was hot, so he was covered in sweat. Looking at the other grandpas and grandmas, they also noticed that they looked tired, but they didn't say anything.
“It’s not far. We can drive right to the street. You can sit in the car while I take the young people to buy some food and bring it to the car to eat.”
"Grandma, let's go back after we finish eating, and rest at the guesthouse this afternoon?" Liu Yuxi said to her grandma with some heartache.
“Yeah, if we get bored this afternoon, we can sing some songs on the first floor!” Ye Qing chimed in.
"Let's go then, let's fill our stomachs first, I'm starving!" Grandpa Ma replied, his condition being the best among the elderly.
Everyone got on the bus, and when they arrived at their destination, Liu Yuxi and Lin Ziye got off with the shop owner to buy snacks, while Ma Lin and Ye Qing stayed in the bus with the grandparents. After everyone had eaten their fill, they headed home.
On the way back, even the young people, Ma Lin and Ye Qing, felt exhausted, and the elderly had already fallen asleep. These young people were increasingly regretting their actions, realizing they hadn't considered the physical limitations of the elderly.
If we continue our trip, we need to arrange some activities that don't require much physical exertion. We absolutely cannot do what we did today again. When we passed a traditional Chinese medicine shop on the way, Liu Yuxi asked Lin Ziye for some money and went to the pharmacy to get some foot bath packs to relieve fatigue for the elderly people that evening.
Back at the guesthouse, we woke up Grandpa and Grandma and told them to go back to their room, take a hot shower, and continue to rest. Grandma Liu's hair wasn't even dry before she started to doze off again. We told Grandma to lie down and Liu Yuxi dried her hair for her.
She felt a little guilty. Others could have excuses, but she herself had been an old woman for countless lifetimes, yet she hadn't noticed anything unusual about her grandmother. Could it be said that her grandmother and the others had behaved too well? No!
Of course, it doesn't seem to be a very serious matter at the moment. Among the four elderly people, only Grandpa Lin is a bit tired because of his poor health. The other grandpas and grandmas can basically recover after a good night's sleep.
However, the journey ahead is still long, Liu Yuxi reminded herself that she would have to keep her mental focus on the entire rest of the program and could not afford to miss anything. Regardless of how the production team arranged things, the most important thing was to ensure the safety and health of the grandparents.