"Hahaha, the pig's ear is really fun to eat, crunchy crunchy..."

"It's crispy, tender, and smooth, even chewing it dry it's so fragrant. If I had some liquor, that'd be perfect."

"There's liquor, brother, here, for you. Just bought some homemade jujube wine, definitely strong. Not driving, right?"

"Come on, come on, meeting by chance is fate, let's find a place to enjoy a drink, my treat."

"Get lost, just look at you, you're not older than me, I'll treat, don't fight me, or I'll get riled up."

Wang Fan stood in the camper, listening to the conversation below and couldn't help but feel very sentimental.

The saying "Different regions nurture different people," he had no concept of this until he came to the Northeast, and it left quite an impression on him.

In Beijing, everyone seems to intentionally keep a distance. A person may have a few friends; strangers are strangers, if one can remain silent, they definitely will.

But not in the Northeast, clearly just two unrelated people in line, after a few words, they could go out eating and drinking like long-lost friends, that passionate spirit seems to ignite even in the freezing weather of minus ten degrees Celsius.

Yeah, lots of good looking guys and gals, and the average height is indeed quite tall.

The desire to go out and walk around grew stronger, he really wanted to see the culture in other provinces.

...

Zhou Ruoqing and Shen Yu had already each boarded their trains home yesterday.

After all, it's the New Year, best spent at home.

Tickets had been booked long ago, luckily secured a sleeper, if squeezing into a hard seat during the Spring Festival travel rush, that'd be no worse than murder.

Let's not even talk about the smell of sweat and instant noodles in the carriage, just that lethal: "Sunflower seeds, instant noodles, mineral water, make way in front." could make one miserable.

Lying under the covers, she suddenly felt a bit hungry.

If hungry, naturally you need to eat. Thinking of the big pig's knuckle and beef tendon she bought before leaving still in her bag, she gulped in anticipation.

Dig in!

She was already on the lower bunk, got up and pulled out her suitcase, took out her vacuum-packed pig's knuckle, and eagerly started eating.

There were four people in this compartment, she was careful not to disturb others resting while eating.

Even so, the aroma of the meat inevitably spread.

Li Ying is from Guangfu, but works in Yuhang, taking advantage of the early holiday vacation, she fiercely came to the Northeast to feel what real snow is like.

This time she really had fun, not only did she roll in the snow, she experienced what it's like to flop entirely into the snow.

She also saw the beautiful scenery of a whole forest covered in snow and felt the difference in enthusiasm between Northeasterners and people from the South.

If there were one dissatisfaction, it would be being constantly pushed to the children's slide by staff at the Ice and Snow World.

You Northeasterners think you're special because you're tall, huh?!

Though I'm just a little bit short, I am an adult, okay?

Why must I share a slide with kids?!

Humph... Hmm... smells really good... What's that smell?

Just about to take a nap, Li Ying suddenly twitched her nose, catching a strong aroma of meat.

Sitting up and looking down, she saw the young lady on the lower bunk opposite was tearing into a big pig's knuckle, judging by the oil on her lips, she seemed to be enjoying it immensely.

"Gurgle..."

Li Ying's stomach instantly cried out.

Li Ying wasn't out of money for food; it was just that the food on the train was far inferior to the things she had eaten in the Northeast. Unless starving, she totally didn't want to eat them.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, she hurriedly prepared to lie down, there were still some snacks under her pillow for sustenance.

Having heard the sound, Zhou Ruoqing curiously looked up, she saw a young girl blushing ready to lie back down.

Zhou Ruoqing chuckled stealthily and whispered, "Are you hungry? Come down and eat with me, I have plenty here."

Li Ying swallowed hard, despite wanting to go down a thousand times, she still shook her head, "No... no, I still have some food, thanks."

In the past, if someone refused, Zhou Ruoqing wouldn't say more.

But perhaps the Northeastern tour infected her, she smiled warmly and invited again, "Come on, come on. Let me tell you, this knuckle is really tasty, Di Renjie gave it five stars when he visited the shop, and it's quite boring eating alone, come have some together."

Faced with Zhou Ruoqing's enthusiasm, Li Ying couldn't resist, she cautiously got out of bed, then suddenly remembered she had some food in her suitcase too, hurriedly taking out a bag.

"I bought a lot of Harbin sausages, let me take them out for you to try too."

She then pulled out the sausages from her bag, placing them on the small table in the compartment.

Zhou Ruoqing's eyes lit up, "I wanted to buy some too, but was too caught up after two days of playing. Only realized when I got on the train but hadn't bought any, now I'm lucky. Here, some gloves, knuckle meat like this is best eaten using hands – so enjoyable."

"Thank you."

Li Ying thanked her, mimicked Zhou Ruoqing's way, and grabbed a small piece of knuckle meat with her hand.

The knuckle just off the pot and one left a day differ a bit, the originally tender skin became more resilient, making it chewier, but what's unchanged is how delicious it still tastes.

Li Ying's eyes brightened, "Wow, this is really good. Where did you buy it?"

Zhou Ruoqing grinned, "This, right across the street from Ice and Snow World at the snack street. Interestingly, I already knew the shop owner, he started in Beijing selling rice noodles, later switched to selling steamed buns in another place, and now unexpectedly turned to selling braised meat. But truth be told, all the stuff he makes is really good. If I didn't have someone I like already, I'd totally go after him, guarantee non-stop good food to eat all the time hahaha."

"Haha, that's interesting, but I've been to that snack street you mentioned, didn't see any braised meat being sold?"

Zhou Ruoqing thought for a moment and said, "Did you go somewhere else? The owner just set up the stall a couple of days ago."

Li Ying nodded regretfully, "No wonder. I went to Snow Village two days ago and haven't been back to Harbin since."

Zhou Ruoqing nodded, "You missed out, the meat fresh off the pot is even better, its skin bounces like it's dancing, imagining it makes my mouth water."

"Hey... Miss, I was able to resist your meaty aroma, why must you describe that scene now? You've made me hungry, I have white meat blood sausage and Ji Province marinated meat, mind if I join you?"

"Well... I have some frozen shrimp and cherries, mind if I join for a little snack too..."

"Come, come, the more the merrier, hahaha."

Zhou Ruoqing spoke out, inviting the other two to join in as well.

They each took their food from their bags, the table was soon filled.

They all introduced themselves, mostly Southerners coming to the Northeast for snow fun, as they ate and chatted, they shared their experiences and gains from this Northeast trip, filling the small compartment with laughter.

This kind of scene is something Zhou Ruoqing never dared think of before, many times she'd finish a journey without having spoken a word to others.

Is this perhaps the infectious charm of the Northeast?

Or maybe it's magic, who can say.

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