A Secluded Mountain Retreat in the Mountains: A Unique Wilderness Experience
Through a fortuitous circumstance, Old Cheng's long-held wish finally materialized,
allowing him not only to quietly study recipes,
but also to become a popular host of a homestay.
From construction to completion,
in many eyes, an engineering project that could be completed in a few months,
Old Cheng spent a total of two years on,
every blade of grass, every beam and column,
were imbued with his painstaking care.
Facing the mountains, between two streams,
mudbrick, timber, two houses stood side by side,
with a drop of five meters between them,
a tea garden exuded a fragrant mist.
Reflecting two years of dedication,
he named it Yunmen Shanju (Cloud Gate Mountain Residence),
located beneath Yunmen Peak, embracing serene mountain dwelling life.
Old Cheng could finally realize his wish of specializing in recipe research and welcoming guests,
Walking through the forest path,
towering green cypresses surrounded him,
a courtyard of blue-stone and mahogany doors came into view.
Stepping through the threshold, the scenery shifted,
amongst the clustered vegetation, a solitary ancient tree stood tall,
Every plant was lovingly cultivated by their companions,
unintentionally creating a graceful and elegant scene.
Long corridors, arched bridges, pavilions and halls,presented classic Chinese landscape elements.
A stream was diverted into the courtyard through the entrance gate,
paired with colorful stones,
and surrounded by thriving grasses,
the space immediately came to life.
A deep pool,
a few small fish frolicked happily,
his mind followed with joy.
Turning a corner,
he encountered adorable novice monks,
a closer look elicited smiles.
Walking along the long corridor,
one pavilion followed another,
under gray roofs and wooden beams, flowers and trees followed along,it had a wild charm.
Additionally, there was a large swimming pool,
In the summer afternoons,
sitting under the shade of trees and swimming, was exceptionally cool.
The courtyard, which was already considerable in size,
As he stepped, it was filled with interest at every turn,
Walking along the blue stone path,
He directly entered the house,The overall design was in the traditional (hui pai) style.
The selection of pure wood materials,
created a sense of antiquity and elegance for the entire hall,
The faint aroma of wood stimulated his senses,
allowing him to find serenity.
Further ahead were the mountain residence guest rooms,
each stood alone,
every room faced the most beautiful scenery of the four surrounding mountains.
The facilities inside,
were also designed in the traditional (hui pai) style,
Four curtains hung quietly,
adding to the charm.
Yunmen Shanju is a residence built for friends and guests,
if it exists here, it must exist here,
a spacious study arranged several wooden chairs,
guests could gather here to drink tea and chat.
An even more spacious dining hall,
The host Old Cheng always prepared it for the guests coming to Yunmen Shanju,
prepared various dishes and arranged a full table.
Delicate stone ears with roasted chicken,
fragrant, tender, and spicy green peppers with small shrimp in Xiaomi (a type of millet)
A taste that lingers on the lips and tongue, and dujunhua (azalea) with wild egg
and a full-bodied flavor of pig's feet and dried mushroom.
Served in unassuming blue porcelain bowls,
the taste was endless.
Seeing everyone's satisfied expressions,
perhaps this was Old Cheng's greatest pride.
Away from the chaos of the city,
returning to the simple and pure mountain dwelling life.
Countless urban dwellers are busy chasing fame and profit,
while Old Cheng hides in this secluded mountain residence,
patiently perfecting his culinary skills and this land.
As the saying goes, this is the ultimate paradise,
Hidden in the outside world, one's craftsmanship is unwavering.
