There are many delicious things, for example, our island has a famous dish called Peach Blossom Fish. This dish has quite a history.
Our island has many peach trees, and every year when the peach blossoms bloom, petals fall into the water daily, attracting some fish to eat them.
Those fish are exceptionally flavorful, with tender meat. They have only one large bone in the middle, no small bones, and carry a faint scent of peach blossoms, making them a favorite among gourmets.
I can't speak for other places, but the fish restaurant opposite our establishment also makes Peach Blossom Fish, and their skill is quite good.
The waiter introduced enthusiastically.
Gu Qingcheng, however, shook her head slightly and said, "We don't like to eat fish."
"Oh, is that so? If you don't like fish, then how about the Northwest style Yangrou Paomo? It's on Peach Blossom Street, you can go and try it.
I heard this family moved from the Northwest, and their Yangrou Paomo is the most authentic."
Like all inhabited islands today, Peach Blossom Island is also populated by a large number of immigrants. Therefore, it's normal to encounter people from the Northwest or South Guangdong here.
This has also contributed to the island's unique culinary culture: a melting pot! A remarkable phenomenon where delicacies and flavors from all over the country converge in one place.
This was a rare sight in the past.
"Alright, then we'll have Yangrou Paomo."
Gu Qingcheng decided.
Seeing his recommendation accepted, the waiter was pleased and said:
"For entertainment, after you've eaten your fill, you can simply stroll down Peach Blossom Street. The street is quite lively, with rare treasures and exotic goods from all directions.
Besides shopping, we also have a Peach Blossom Cave here. It's a very deep cave, quite cool inside.
Legend has it that in the past, water bandits hid large amounts of treasures they plundered inside. Many young people on our island explore the cave in their spare time in search of these treasures.
Of course, they always return empty-handed.
I think this is just a fabricated story to fool people, and I don't know how it started circulating.
However, the stalactites inside the cave are indeed beautiful. If you're interested, you can explore a bit near the entrance.
But don't venture too deep, as the cave is like a maze. Everyone who goes in makes marks and doesn't dare go too deep, and then they have to follow their marks to get out, otherwise, they'll get lost."
"Haha, great! If there are treasures, I must go and explore. What if I actually find something? I'll be set for life!"
Gu Qingcheng joked.
She touched her nose, thinking: I wonder if Lan Yue sister would like exploring caves? She doesn't seem very brave either...
Just then, Du Lanyue also came out to the reception.
When she woke up and saw Gu Qingcheng's door was shut, she felt too shy to knock and decided to go to the reception.
Although she had been accosted by some hooligans upon arriving at Peach Blossom Island today because she was alone, she figured she would be safe if she stayed in the inn and didn't go outside.
Little did she know that her exquisite beauty attracted many gazes as she walked out.
The gazes were so intense that she couldn't help but notice. She lowered her head slightly, and upon reaching the reception, she saw Gu Qingcheng, her eyes lighting up as she exclaimed:
"Young Master Gu, you're here too? You're up so early?"
Gu Qingcheng hadn't slept at all, but there was no need to explain. She smiled and said:
"How are you feeling? Much better, I hope?"
"Yes, I am. Come on, let me treat you to some Yangrou Paomo. Would you like some? Are you afraid of gamey flavors?"
"I'm not afraid of gamey flavors," Du Lanyue shook her head.
The waiter chimed in as a helpful assistant, "It's not gamey at all. Their lamb offal soup is not fishy and tastes great."
"Alright, then let's go eat Yangrou Paomo together."
When it came to food, Gu Qingcheng's mood brightened considerably.
Upon hearing that they were going to eat with Gu Qingcheng, Du Lanyue was naturally happy, but she still pretended to ask:
"What about Da Peng and the others?"
"Don't mind them. They can eat on their own."
Gu Qingcheng didn't want to bring a group of people along, making them too conspicuous.
She naturally took Du Lanyue's hand and they walked out together.
The waiter, looking from behind, cast an envious glance at Gu Qingcheng, thinking to himself:
No wonder this young master was asking about food, drink, and entertainment. He must have wanted to take his companion out.
And what a beautiful companion she is, truly enviable!
Yes, the waiter used the word "companion."
Peach Blossom Island is now inhabited by many immigrants, with a growing foreign population. Most survivors had their families scattered or broken apart, and after finding a place to settle, many formed temporary unions.
The natural disasters and man-made calamities had caused the imperial court of the Great Zhou Dynasty to collapse, let alone the old protocols and rituals. Of course, basic ethics and morality still existed, and people were figuring out how to live and establish new social orders after surviving.
Therefore, it's not surprising that new terms like "companion" emerged.
Many people, though they had lost their other halves, still cherished fond memories of their previous spouses. However, for the sake of survival, they had to form new families.
Furthermore, some people were already caring for nieces or children from their previous marriages. To avoid more disputes, the new term "companion" gradually came into being.
It can be said that the customs and social order of Peach Blossom Island and various other islands are in a state of flux, with people working to establish new lifestyles suited to their new lives.
Gu Qingcheng was unaware that her act of holding hands had touched Du Lanyue's sensitive maiden heart.
She thought to herself, Young Master Gu implicitly likes being with me, doesn't he?
Du Lanyue was also very confident in her own beauty.
During her years living in the capital, she had visited the mansions of princes and powerful officials and had met the noble ladies there.
Their appearances, compared to hers, were only average.
At that time, she was young, and no one held any animosity towards her; they only praised her, saying she would undoubtedly grow into a great beauty.
Now that she had fully blossomed, if she were to stand before those old acquaintances, she would surely make them pale in comparison.
What Du Lanyue lacked now was an opportunity to express her feelings to Gu Qingcheng.
Although she didn't know where the Yangrou Paomo restaurant was, the road was on their lips. After asking three passersby, Gu Qingcheng easily found the bustling Old Sheep Head Paomo restaurant.
Upon arriving, both of them understood why the business was so good.
Although it wasn't a grand restaurant, they had kept the dining hall spacious, bright, clean, and comfortable.
Gu Qingcheng and Du Lanyue found a window seat.
As soon as Du Lanyue arrived, she attracted many covetous glances.
However, seeing her with Gu Qingcheng, accompanied by someone, people didn't dare to act rashly or offend them.
After all, Gu Qingcheng's attire suggested they were either wealthy or noble.
The fabric of her clothes was undoubtedly of the finest quality, and by market price, it would cost at least tens of taels of silver. The jade pendant worn at her waist was exceptionally lustrous, easily worth over a thousand taels of silver.
Du Lanyue's attire was comparable to Gu Qingcheng's, with subtle yet high-end fabrics. However, Du Lanyue's appearance was even more striking, with her unparalleled beauty, flawless skin, and exquisite features.