Food Stall: Customers Chase Me across the Country

Chapter 623 - 581: A Chance Encounter with Traveling Little Sugar Oranges at Luding Bridge (2)

The beef dish came with its own main food, so the two didn’t order any more. Just those two servings left them stuffed.

After paying the bill, Wang Fan took out his phone, opened Weibo, and posted a status update – Today’s stall location – Luding Bridge, Ganzi, at 4 PM, serving boiled beef. Friends nearby are welcome to come and taste.

As a youth who grew up under the red flag, Wang Fan felt he must visit Luding Bridge when he arrived in Ganzi.

This was also the first time he posted his location since he started setting up his stall.

He was greatly impressed when he read "Seize the Luding Bridge" in his childhood textbooks, and he hoped more people could come and see this place.

Luding Bridge isn’t far from Kangding, just an hour’s drive. It was just after 1 PM, giving Wang Fan enough time to buy fresh yak meat.

Due to the "Retrace the Route of the Red Army" promotion, Luding Bridge attracts many tourists, even though its scenery isn’t as beautiful as other places. However, this was a crucial checkpoint where the Red Army broke through encirclement during the Long March.

After purchasing the yak meat and driving off, the two quickly arrived at the Luding Bridge scenic area.

After getting out of the car, Wang Fan looked around and felt that this place hardly seemed like a scenic area at all.

On both banks of the swift Dadu River were rows of residential buildings rather than picturesque scenery, and Luding Bridge stretched across the river.

At this moment, there were many tourists on the bridge, holding onto the chains as they walked on the already paved surface, feeling their legs cramp.

The swift Dadu River occasionally slammed against the riverside walls, making a crashing sound, as if constantly retelling the stories that happened here.

"The Jinsha River’s waves warm the cloud cliffs; the cold iron cables of the Luding bridge. Even more delightful are the thousand miles of snow-covered Min Mountains, bringing smiles to the three armies’ faces after crossing."

Wang Fan looked at the cable bridge stretched there and couldn’t help but softly recite this poem.

When he was a child, learning this lesson, he often pretended to be a soldier with his little friends, charging back and forth with guns made from torn cardboard boxes, and this poem remained fresh in his memory.

"Mr. Wang, what a coincidence to meet you here."

Suddenly, a somewhat surprised voice came from not far away. Wang Fan looked in the direction of the voice and realized it was a woman he didn’t recognize at all.

The woman looked about thirty, approximately 160 cm tall, wearing silver-rimmed glasses, exuding a certain intellectual beauty. Behind her were a group of neatly lined up elementary school students wearing orange hats, without any whispering or murmur.

Noting Wang Fan’s confusion, the woman extended her hand with a smile, saying, "Hello, my name is Wen Wan. I’m a class teacher at a kindergarten in Guangxi, and I’m a fan of yours."

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

Zhuo Qianqian, the quick-talker, quickly stepped in. After shaking hands with Teacher Wen, she smiled and asked, "Teacher Wen, are you taking little orange students on a study tour?"

Teacher Wen laughed, "Yes, we’re taking advantage of the National Day to let them see the world. Boss’s wife is really beautiful, and Boss Wang is very lucky."

The little oranges from Guangxi went on a study tour to Erbin last year, and Erbin warmly received them. To express gratitude, Guangxi sent several truckloads of little oranges overnight to Erbin. As a return gift, Erbin sent several truckloads of fresh cranberries back, making many Erbin residents aware for the first time that their hometown specialty included cranberries.

Unexpectedly, they met the little oranges here again, though presumably not the same group of children as before.

Teacher Wen continued, "We had planned to visit Luding Bridge today, and we saw your post on the way. Now, the children are in for a treat."

Wang Fan looked fondly at the little students, each acting like miniature adults, and said with a sweet smile, "No problem, I assure you I’ll bring out my best to entertain these kids today."

Zhuo Qianqian had already opened her backpack and was taking out some snacks Wang Fan had recently made to share with the children. Their eyes were filled with longing, but none reached out to take them. They merely looked expectantly at their teacher.

Wang Fan said, "Teacher Wen, these are some snacks I’ve made over the past few days. Consider them my gift, and please let the children accept them."

Teacher Wen nodded and then turned to the children, "Students, remember, you should not take things from strangers. However, the brother in front of you is Mr. Wang, a good person praised by our official media. You can accept his gift. But you should also be ready with your own return gift, right?"

"Yes!"

The children replied in unison, full of happiness, yet their voices were not too loud to disturb others.

With their teacher’s permission, the children happily accepted the snacks handed by Zhuo Qianqian and then took out various little gifts from their own small backpacks in return.

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

Zhuo Qianqian patted the girl’s head and laughed, "You are beautiful too, and when you grow up, you’ll be even prettier than me."

Zhuo Qianqian quickly mingled with the kids, even walking together to visit Luding Bridge.

The Luding Bridge entry is free, but a 5-yuan insurance is required, or you can use your ID card to register information instead.

After buying tickets, the little oranges walked onto the bridge in order, with Zhuo Qianqian leading the way at the front, while Wang Fan and Teacher Wen stayed at the back to prevent any children from getting lost.

Luding Bridge is far less stable than ordinary bridges, and standing at either side, you can clearly feel your feet sinking.

Zhuo Qianqian walked slowly at the front, and the little oranges followed carefully in her footsteps.

Though Luding Bridge is only 103.67 meters long, it took their group over ten minutes to cross. Once on the opposite side, Teacher Wen began explaining the story of Luding Bridge to the children.

The children seemed to understand some parts, while others were beyond their comprehension. These topics were rather advanced for their age, but seeds must be planted while they’re young, for who knows when they might bloom into splendid flowers.

"The term ’seize Luding Bridge’ doesn’t imply that our warrior forebears could fly, but rather vividly describes their speed and determination in overcoming physical limits to march quickly. ’Fly’ refers to our warrior forebears covering 120 kilometers of mountain roads within a day and a night. They drank rainwater when thirsty, and chewed raw rice when hungry. This extraordinary marching speed and resilience reflect their steadfastness and indomitable spirit!"

Teacher Wen’s voice was full of expression, and the children listened attentively: "In the future, you will encounter various difficulties and troubles, but these will be insignificant compared to what your forebears faced. Opponents have already laid solid foundations for us. I hope you will bravely overcome challenges in the future and become someone beneficial to our nation."

After crossing Luding Bridge, there is a Revolutionary Relics Exhibition Hall, containing over 240 real objects, pictures, and materials, authentically showcasing the history of the Dadu River battle and the Luding Bridge fight.

Looking at the equipment and materials full of traces of time, Wang Fan seemed to see a majestic figure standing on the riverbank, with a strategic smile on his face.

The sun was setting, and the great man, with his back to the sun, seemed to whisper something to the children.

"The world belongs to you as well as us, but in the end, it’s yours. You’re full of vigor, in the period of flourishing as morning sunlight at eight or nine o’clock. Hope is placed upon you."

Teacher Wen was surprised as she looked at Wang Fan, not expecting him to recite this segment.

However, at this particular moment, reciting this passage felt very fitting.

Teacher Wen smiled and told the little oranges, "No matter who may criticize you in the future, remember that the greatest person in the world once said that you are the morning sun, full of hope."

Wang Fan looked at Teacher Wen and the little oranges listening intently and suddenly understood the significance of these red historical sites.

They serve as the best carriers for the inheritance of spirit.