The Legend Behind Crossing-Bridge Rice Noodles过桥米线的传说

Long ago， just south of the Yunnan Province of Mengzi， there was a beautiful lake with water as clear as jade. In the center of the lake， there was a small island covered in green bamboo and big trees whose ancient stalks reached the sky.

Known for its natural beauty and pleasant atmosphere， the small island drew many scholars to study for the imperial exams.

Among these scholars was a particularly hard-working person. Every day， his wife made the long walk to the lake， crossing the bridge to the island to bring him his midday meal. However， he always worked so hard on his studies that he only remembered to eat long after the food had grown cold.

Due to his irregular eating habits， the scholar became thin and his wife grew very worried. One day， she had an idea. She used a good hen to make a hot chicken soup， and separately prepared her husband’s favorite local rice noodles， seasonings， and ingredients.

很久以前，在云南省蒙自以南的地方有一个美丽的湖泊，湖水清澈如玉。湖中央有一个小岛，岛上长满了翠绿的竹子和古老的参天大树。

这个小岛以自然风光和宜人的环境而闻名，吸引了许多书生来此准备科举考试。

其中有一位书生特别勤奋。他的妻子为了给他送午饭，每天都会长途跋涉到湖边，经过一座桥到岛上。然而，他常常沉迷于学习，以致总是在食物已经变冷之后才记起要吃饭。

由于饮食不规律，他变得消瘦，妻子十分担心他。一天，她有了一个主意。她宰杀了一只肥硕的母鸡，熬制了热气腾腾的鸡汤，并分别准备了丈夫最喜欢的当地米线、调料和配菜。

She brought them in different bowls， mixing them just before he was ready to eat. On its own， the chicken soup stayed hot enough to cook the rice noodles and other ingredients， and created a thin layer of oil that kept the whole bowl hot.

Eventually， the scholar succeeded in passing the imperial exams. Remembering his wife’s great kindness and warmth， he joked that it was his wife’s wonderful rice noodles that helped him pass the exams.

Because there was a bridge to the island， in memory of the good wife， later generations called the delicious food “crossing-bridge rice noodles”. And thus the food symbolizes affection and admiration.

Today， crossing-bridge rice noodles are still considered a Yunnan specialty—and it still comes in separate bowls， allowing you to pick your ingredients and add the hot soup yourself. In Yunnan， this delicious food is so popular that there are varieties of crossing-bridge rice noodles. In 2008， it was listed as an item of intangible cultural heritage of Kunming City.

她将这些食材装在不同的碗里，等丈夫准备吃时再将它们混合在一起。鸡汤本身足够热，可以烫熟米线和其他配菜，同时还会形成一层薄薄的油膜，让整碗食物都热着。

最终，书生成功通过了科举考试。他记得妻子的善意和温暖，开玩笑说正是妻子做的美味的米线帮助他通过了考试。

因为到岛上要经过一座桥，为纪念这位贤惠的妻子，后人将这道美食命名为“过桥米线”，因此这道美食也象征着爱意和钦佩。

如今，过桥米线仍然被视为云南的特色美食。它仍然采用分碗盛装的方式，让顾客可以选择自己喜欢的配菜加入热汤。在云南，这道美食非常受欢迎，有各种口味。2008年，这道美食被列入昆明市非物质文化遗产。

Word Bank

atmosphere n. 气氛；氛围

scholar n. 学者；聪颖勤奋的学生

irregular adj. 无规律的；紊乱的

seasoning n. 调味品；作料

affection n. 喜爱；钟爱