Free Web NovelChapter 429: Chapter 218: Recording My Tiananmen Check-in [Second Update!]
Li Younan took a brief nap at the hotel and got up before lunchtime.
There were plenty of traditional snacks from the capital near the hotel he was staying at, including places that sold mung bean juice.
To be honest, he had never tried this stuff before, but because it was extremely notorious online for being unpalatable, it made him curious.
If something is extremely unpleasant to eat, it should have been eliminated under the natural selection process, but why has it not only survived, but continues to hold an important position in the capital’s culinary culture amidst a myriad of culinary delights?
Li Younan was very curious.
So, he had to experience it for himself, just in case it was like stinky tofu or durian—some people dislike it, while others love it.
There was another reason for his heightened curiosity: similar to Beijing roast duck, which has also become famous and can be found in shops outside of its local area, mung bean juice was something Li Younan had never seen in big cities such as Shanghai and Chengdu. It seemed only the capital had it.
Li Younan walked into a snack shop and casually ordered some famously local snacks, like "Rolling Donkey" cake, cream fried cake, pea cake, and braised dishes.
Nowadays his appetite was huge; it seemed like he ordered a lot, but in fact, each serving wasn’t much, and he could easily finish them.
Naturally, he didn’t forget to order a cup of mung bean juice.
While waiting for the dishes, Li Younan began pondering the next steps for Route 318.
Route 318 is well-known for its crossing through Level 3 terrain areas, with truly magnificent scenery.
However, before setting off, focusing on things like which place to experience or what lens to use for the scenery should be set aside.
The first point to clarify is that driving along Route 318 is definitely a journey filled with challenges.
The more you learn, the more awe you feel.
Route 318 is not an impulsive trip but an adventure that requires careful preparation.
There will be many uncontrollable factors along the way: challenges from extreme weather and climate, complex road conditions and geological disasters, altitude sickness and oxygen deficiency environments... All of these are ultimately reflected in the pre-trip preparation, specifically the choice and adaptability of the vehicle.
Li Younan decided on the Unimog chassis, whose off-road settings are already top-tier.
But to ensure the journey remains comfortable and safely controlled, the entire vehicle needs extensive modifications and upgrades.
Since everything was starting from scratch, the process would take a long time.
As Younan was deep in thought, the capital’s famous snacks he was eagerly awaiting were served on the table, including the bowl of green mung bean juice.
Despite being mentally prepared, before drinking, he hesitated slightly, then picked up the mung bean juice and took a sip.
But in the next moment, his expression turned strange.
Hmm, how to say this—it tasted great. Smooth with no fishiness, sour with a unique taste, and the rich bean aroma was enticing. Li Younan asked the server in puzzlement, "Is this real mung bean juice?"
The server seemed to notice his confusion and laughed heartily, saying: "This is our shop’s special mung bean juice. We also have mung bean ice cream and pea cake ice cream, would you like to try some?"
Li Younan replied indignantly, "No, no, I want the traditional mung bean juice, the kind locals drink."
The server paused, blinked, and said, "Oh."
A moment later, the server brought a new bowl of mung bean juice.
Li Younan snorted, saying grumpily, "This is more like it. Did I come here to drink refined mung bean juice?"
He picked up the bowl, and without mental preparation this time, drank a large sip.
The next moment, he widened his eyes and held the juice in his mouth without swallowing.
The server tilted her head, curiously watching him.
Finally, Younan gagged and spit it out.
The server quietly walked away without laughing.
Li Younan distinctly saw her shoulders shaking.
Let it be doomed, this stuff certainly doesn’t need preservation.
...
Li Younan strolled to Tian’anmen Square. There was a conspicuous sign stating that viewing the flag-raising ceremony required advance reservation.
And quite coincidentally, this time the task was to watch the complete flag-raising ceremony at Tian’anmen Square.
To be honest, even without this check-in task, Younan coming to Tian’anmen would certainly watch it once.
Younan completed the reservation online and prepared to go to his second checkpoint—the Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City also requires advance booking.
However, upon arrival at the Forbidden City, he discovered that it required booking a week in advance.
This was slightly frustrating.
But first, let’s collect the mission task.
Upon arriving at the Forbidden City, Younan collected the checkpoint task, which presented a challenge as it required reaching an unopened area.
Moreover, the Forbidden City task required him to reach multiple locations; the Forbidden City is the largest palace complex in the world, so reaching all three unopened areas is akin to needing the Forbidden City completely open to him.
There’s a popular saying online: "The areas of the Forbidden City that are open are called the Forbidden City, and those that are not open are called the Forbidden City."
Li Younan consulted with the staff; indeed, as a tourist, he couldn’t enter those closed core areas, but it wasn’t entirely impossible.
