Zhu Yanyi looked at the twisted dough stick in her bowl. It was about two fingers long and wide. It looked interesting. She picked it up and put it in her mouth. She took a bite. It was very soft. It tasted very different from big twisted dough sticks. Big ones were hard and solid. But the ingredients were real. People did not fake food much in this time. Zhu Yanyi did not like that hard texture. She liked this small one better.
"Is it good?" Gu Jingtian asked. She saw Zhu Yanyi eating happily. She took one for herself too.
"Hmm, it is very good," Zhu Yanyi nodded.
A plate of radish cake was served. People today think radish cake is a Hong Kong snack. But no one knew Tian Shi had it too. This radish cake was different. It was fried. They mixed shredded radish with wheat flour. They put the mix into a shallow spoon. Then they fried it in oil. The taste was light. You had to dip it in vinegar to taste it. But you could still feel the radish texture.
Zhu Yanyi took a bite of the radish cake. "This radish cake tastes different from Hong Kong snacks."
"The Hong Kong ones taste stronger," Gu Jingtian said. He held a piece of radish cake. "But this one smells like wheat when you eat it."
Zhu Yanyi nodded. Qu Zhongze took a bite. "I miss the coarse grain buns here." She asked the waiter to bring more coarse grain buns.
At home, Zhu Yanyi ate fine food. She ate coarse grains, but rarely buns. Buns were a northern thing. Southern people rarely ate them. They made rice cakes and tangyuan for New Year. North and South ate differently. But Zhu Yanyi did not mind. She thought it was a new and fun food.
"Where do you want to go after eating?" Gu Jingtian asked.
Zhu Yanyi thought for a moment. "I want to walk on the Concession Street. I heard foreigners took over areas before peace came. They changed the buildings there. I want to see those special buildings."
"You can go," Yu Qingyun said from the side. "But I suggest going during the day. There is nothing to see at night. Also, it is cold at night."
Zhu Yanyi shrugged. "I want to go during the day. But will I have time?"
Everyone was surprised. Yes, even on registration day tomorrow, they had no time for sightseeing. There was international exchange here. Security was strict. Some places were closed during the day.
"Let us walk with Little Junior Sister later," Dong Bocao suggested.
The street was called Concession Street because it used to be a foreign concession. They kept the name to remember history. They wanted people to never forget the national shame.
Zhu Yanyi walked slowly on the street. It was cold at night, so few people were out. The lights were bright. They were not creamy yellow like other places. They were milky white. The light hit the walls. The walls looked very pale. The light and the walls seemed to remind everyone of that painful history.