sbdcsierra Chapter 1896 Experience
Chapter 1896 Experience
Chapter 1896 Experience
The travel agency's vehicle didn't arrive to pick them up for about an hour.
They weren't in a hurry, knowing that since their trip was so unexpected, they would naturally have to wait for a car.
While waiting, they had already inquired about the itinerary for the next few days and marked the various attractions on the map. The travel agency's itinerary was quite reasonable.
All they have to do is get up at 8 a.m. and follow along. The car will pick them up from the hotel in the morning. They don't have to think about anything, like queuing for tickets or worrying about where to go, how to get there, or how to take the bus.
The money has been paid; all they need to do is provide one person.
Ye Yaodong was also relaxed, without having to use his brain.
However, they need to get up earlier tomorrow so they can watch the flag-raising ceremony and then take a group photo in Tiananmen Square when there are fewer people.
It was already evening when I got off the plane, and after waiting for the tour company's car, it was almost eight or nine o'clock when I was finally taken to my destination.
So after the car dropped them off at the hotel, they found a restaurant nearby, ate, and went to rest early.
After a long day of travel, everyone was exhausted. None of them had slept well last night, and they had to get up early this morning. They had only just arrived at the hotel when it was completely dark, and they were all too tired to do anything else after dinner, as it was already very late.
In rural areas, they are already in bed by eight or nine o'clock.
At three o'clock the next morning, while it was still dark, Ye Yaodong and his father woke up and woke up the whole family.
Everyone cooperated very well, including the twins who were very excited.
Downstairs in the lobby, the tour guide was already waiting. She was a young woman in her early twenties, with a ponytail, a smile, and a slight Beijing accent with a retroflex ending.
"Good morning, everyone. We're heading to Tiananmen Square now, just in time for the flag-raising ceremony. I'll go over some important information with you on the bus."
It was only 1996, so there were few tourists and not many people watching the flag-raising ceremony. This wasn't originally included in the contract for the scenic spots; it was Ye Yaodong who insisted on adding it.
He also knew that in the future, when people stayed up all night, braving the heavy snow, there would be a lot of people suffering from hunger and cold, queuing up all night to watch the flag-raising ceremony.
It's rare to find a place these days where there's no need to queue and fewer people, so I naturally had to seize the opportunity to go see it.
The van traveled through the streets in the early morning. The streetlights were still on, and occasionally a street sweeper would push his tricycle past.
People sitting by the window were all leaning over the windowsill, looking at the city that had just woken up.
When we arrived at Tiananmen Square, the sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.
There were also a few other people scattered around the square, just like them, who had come to watch the flag-raising ceremony. There aren't many tourists these days, but there are still some, and everyone has a sense of patriotism.
They walked to the front row, where it wasn't crowded, and found a good spot to stand.
"Grandpa and Grandma, that's Tiananmen Square," Ye Xiaoxi said to them with a smile, linking arms with her father.
In the morning light, Tiananmen Gate stands quietly, its red walls and yellow tiles exuding solemnity, the national emblem on the gate tower gleaming golden in the dim light.
Ye's father looked up at him, remaining silent for a long time.
Ye's mother stood beside him, clutching his sleeve, looking dazed.
"Alright, alright, we've arrived at Tiananmen Square," Mr. Ye said after a moment of stunned silence.
Ye's mother's eyes were red. "I saw Tiananmen Square in Beijing. My life has been worth it."
Pei Yu took Ye's mother's arm and said, "Why are you crying, Grandma? This is such a happy thing. Others may never see Tiananmen Square in their entire lives, but you've seen it in just half your life."
"Haha, you're such a smooth talker, kid."
Ye Yaodong said with a smile, "After we finish watching the flag-raising ceremony, it will be dawn. We'll go to Tiananmen Square to take a family photo, and then ask the tour guide to include the national emblem in the picture."
"well……"
"I am Chinese, I love Beijing Tiananmen Square..."
The twins also started talking about it, one saying it and the other repeating it.
At 4:50 a.m., the National Flag Guard walked out of Tiananmen Gate.
The sound of orderly footsteps echoed in the square in the early morning.
The flag-raising time varies each day and is calculated based on the sunrise time.
The moment the national anthem was played, the entire stadium fell silent; it was a particularly solemn moment.
Ye's father stood ramrod straight, his eyes fixed on the slowly rising national flag.
Ye's mother lowered her head, secretly wiped the corner of her eye, and began to stare intently.
Everyone stood at attention, their eyes fixed intently on the fluttering red flag as it slowly rose.
Just as the national flag reached the top of the flagpole, the sun rose from the east, illuminating the city gate tower with a golden glow.
Everyone's eyes were red; this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Mr. Ye turned to Mrs. Ye and said, "My life has been worthwhile."
Ye's mother smiled broadly, her face beaming with pride. "It was all worth it. I can talk about it for the rest of my life when I get back."
Ye Xiaoxi smiled and said, "I can proudly tell my fellow villagers, and I can also proudly tell my classmates that I watched the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square in Beijing."
Pei Zuo: "Then my life has been worthwhile."
Pei You: Repeat a grade!
Ye Huimei slapped her forehead twice, "Your lives have only just begun."
Pei You: "That's worth it. My grandparents spent most of their lives seeing this, and we've only just begun our lives and we're already seeing it. Of course it's worth it."
Pei Yu said with a smile, "Next time, bring Grandpa to come and see too. Otherwise, if Grandpa and Grandma see it but Grandpa doesn't, he'll only be able to hear Grandpa bragging, and he'll definitely get angry."
Ah Guang nodded and said, "Yes, I've been here once before and I'm experienced now. Next time, I'll bring your grandpa along to take a look."
They didn't leave after watching the flag-raising ceremony; they stood there watching the national flag and chatted for a while.
Only after the tour guide urged them did they begin to walk down from Tiananmen Gate.
The red walls, the yellow tiles, and the national emblem hanging in the center of the city gate were all bathed in a layer of light.
The Tiananmen Gate, the gear, and the ears of wheat and rice on the national emblem are clearly visible in the morning light, solemn and sacred.
The square was filled with people taking pictures, and vendors with cameras ran around shouting, "Snapshot, snap, one minute to take a picture!"
Ye Yaodong originally planned to take the photos himself, but now he was worried that the tour guide wouldn't take good photos. After all, the photos would have to be developed before they could be seen, and they might only come once, and wouldn't be coming back for the next few days.
So he simply waved and called over the man carrying the camera.
"Master, take a group photo for us, make sure the city gate and national emblem are in the background."
The photographer was a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a white shirt and a Seagull camera around his neck. He happily agreed.
Then they arranged seats for their family; it was clearly a professional arrangement.
Everyone followed instructions and was quite satisfied; if they had taken the photos themselves, they would have just stood around aimlessly.
"We still can't skimp on the money for this group photo," Lin Xiuqing muttered to Ye Yaodong.
"Yes, you might only take one photo in your lifetime, so it's better to find a professional photographer to take it."
Ye's father and mother were pushed to the very center.
Mr. Ye wore a plaid shirt today, and his hair was styled with mousse in the morning, neatly combed to one side, showing that he had dressed up specially.
Ye's mother also changed into a new floral dress she had made before leaving the house. It was dark blue with small white flowers. The two of them stood side by side, both a little stiff, unsure of what to do with their hands.
"Sir, be natural and smile." The photographer peeked out from behind the camera.
Mr. Ye forced a smile, but it looked unnatural. Mrs. Ye was even more nervous; her face was taut.
"Everyone, shout 'Cheese!'"
After taking several photos, the technician said it was okay.
The photos cost two yuan each to develop, and one yuan and fifty cents for an extra one. They thought they could keep one for each family, so they developed three. Ye Yaodong also bought the negatives, thinking he might be able to develop them again later.
The photos were advertised as being ready in one minute, but in reality, it still took a while. They left their hotel address so the driver could deliver them directly to the hotel.
Ye's father stood there, gazing at Tiananmen Gate.
Ye's mother walked over and whispered, "What are you still looking at? Let's go, the tour guide said we have to go to other places."
Mr. Ye hummed in agreement, but did not move.
Ye Yaodong also walked over and stood next to his father. "Dad?"
"Dongzi, how many years have you thought this city gate tower was built?"
"It's been hundreds or thousands of years, hasn't it? I don't know much about history, so I asked a few scholars."
They walked towards Ye Chenghu and his group and asked again.
Ye Chengyang answered first, "It was built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty and was originally named Chengtianmen. It was destroyed by war at the end of the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the eighth year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, when it was officially renamed Tiananmen."
Father Ye nodded, "That means it's been several hundred years. Amazing, it's been built for several hundred years. Our ancestors were truly remarkable."
"The Forbidden City is also around the same time."
Ye Yaodong said, "Let's go visit the Forbidden City now."
"Let's go, let's not delay, the tour guide is already urging us."
They then followed the tour guide, listening to him explain stories about the Forbidden City that they couldn't understand.
I was completely bewildered by what they were saying about the emperor holding court and the concubines in the six palaces.
Once again, they felt the money was well spent. Others just glanced around aimlessly; nothing beats listening to historical anecdotes while looking at the architecture.
Stories add color to these solemn buildings; it is the historical stories that give these buildings their unique character.
It was already 5 p.m. when we got back to the hotel. Everyone's legs were weak. We walked at least 2 to 3 steps a day. We planned to rest for at least half an hour before looking for food.
Father Ye sat in the hall with his legs dangling, "Oh dear, these old arms and legs of mine are no good. We've only been walking for a day, and my legs can't take it anymore. How could the emperor walk every day and still be able to stand it?"
Mother Ye rolled her eyes at him. "Are you stupid? Does the emperor need to walk on two legs? There are plenty of people to carry him."
“The palace is so big, he has to walk through it to find his way. I’ve walked around all day and I haven’t even remembered many routes. He certainly won’t.”
"It's good that the eunuch remembers. With a memory like yours, no one would want you to become a eunuch."
"That's even better, who wants to be a eunuch?"
Pei Zuo: "No one wants old eunuchs either; only young ones like us can become eunuchs."
Ye Huimei slapped his head, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Ye Chenghu laughed heartily, "That's ambitious."
Ye Chengyang also gave the twins a thumbs up, saying, "You have lofty aspirations."
Ye Xiaoxi teased, "Being a eunuch now would be difficult; there's no such thing as a guaranteed job anymore."
Pei You quickly distanced himself from the situation, shaking his head frantically. "It's none of my business. I don't want to be a eunuch. My brother said so, so I'll go."
"I don't want to go. When did I say I wanted to become a eunuch? I only said that only children can become eunuchs."
"Don't be so clingy. The Qing Dynasty is over. There's no place that will take you if you want to be a eunuch. Go out and find something to eat," Ye Yaodong urged.
Lin Xiuqing asked, "What are we having for dinner?"
Several younger members said in unison: "Roast duck."
This is something they've been talking about all day. They didn't get to eat it yesterday, and they didn't have time to go out for lunch either.
"Okay, then let's go eat roast duck tonight."
After resting for a while, the group recovered and started chattering away, creating a lively atmosphere. Every now and then, they would say something that made everyone laugh.
It wasn't completely dark yet; the streetlights had just come on, and people were coming and going on the street.
It was rush hour, and the bicycles were ringing all around. Occasionally, a bus would pass by, packed to the brim.
Referring to the map and asking for directions repeatedly, they walked for about ten minutes before finally arriving at the most famous Quanjude restaurant.
A large red lantern hangs at the entrance, and the words "Centennial Shop" are pasted on the glass door.
"It's here!"
Ye Yaodong suddenly heard a street vendor hawking douzhi (fermented mung bean juice). "I think I've been hearing vendors shouting douzhi over there. Is Beijing's douzhi famous? I'll go buy some for you guys to try."
Mr. Ye nodded, “I’ve heard about it all along. Since we’re already here, let’s try what this stuff that Beijingers drink tastes like.”
Lin Xiuqing agreed, "Then you go ahead. It'll be perfect to buy some to go with the roast duck. Let's go in and order first; it'll probably take a while before the food arrives."
"Okay, you guys go in first, I'll go find the vendor."
Ye Yaodong was thinking of giving each person a bowl, but when he found the vendor, he realized that he had nothing to put in his bowl. Everyone else had brought their own containers, some with earthenware pots, some with enamel mugs, and some with bottles. No one was empty-handed like him.
He discussed it with the vendor and asked him to push the cart to the entrance of the roast duck shop so he could go inside and borrow a clay pot from the owner to put the food in.
A dozen or so of them were already inside, sitting down and ordering food. Borrowing a pot would be easy.
When Ye Yaodong brought in a large pot of soy milk and placed it on the table, the roast duck had not yet been served.
“I saw some Beijingers buying this stuff with pots or enamel mugs. It must taste good. It’ll be perfect with roast duck later.”
"Is this soy milk the same as douzhi? It doesn't smell like much." Mother Ye sniffed as she leaned closer.
"I don't know. When I asked just now, they told me that soy milk is soy milk and soy juice is soy juice, they are different."
Mr. Ye said, "That should be different, otherwise it would just be called soy milk, why would it be called soy juice? But I guess it should be about the same, let's fill a bowl and try it first."
"Tell the boss to bring a big ladle."
Everyone held their bowls, waiting expectantly.
"I must be thirsty after walking all day. I'll have a bowl to quench my thirst. Let me have some first." Ye Chenghu was unpretentious and took the bowl to scoop some out.
Others who tried to follow suit were all stopped.
Ye Chenghu was caught off guard, which is why he didn't have time to be stopped.
He took a big gulp, his eyes widened instantly, his face changed drastically, and he spat it out.
However, he still had some decency and promptly turned his head to spray the ground.
Everyone stared at him in surprise.
Ye Chengyang, standing next to him, moved away in disgust, keeping a little distance. "What are you doing?"
"Cough cough, it's nothing, I just drank it too fast and choked."
"Is it good, brother?" Ye Xiaoxi asked, her face full of curiosity.
Ye Chenghu opened his eyes, trying to hold back his tears. "It's delicious, so delicious! You guys drink more later. Oh my god, I choked. Let me catch my breath. You guys drink, drink more."
"Really? Then give me a lot more."
The twins chimed in, "I want more too!"
"I want it full."
They held their bowls and couldn't wait for the spoons to be brought over.
Ye Yaodong served them each a generous portion, saying, "You all need a lot, right? I'll fill it up for you."
(End of this chapter)