There is a scholar(书生)in Yunnan Province. He studies hard day and night on an island. His wife is very kind. She crosses a bridge to take meals to him every day. It is far from their home to the island so the food gets cold and tastes bad when she gets there. As time goes by, the scholar is becoming thin and not in good health, so his wife is worried about it.
One day, the scholar's wife kills a chicken and cooks chicken soup in an earthen pot(砂锅), putting some rice noodles, some pieces of meat and vegetables. Unluckily, when she crosses the bridge on the way to the island, she falls to the ground and can't stand up for a long time. When she finally arrives, she is surprised that the earthen pot is still hot. Her husband is surprised, too. They find two secrets(秘密)∶there is thick chicken oil(油)on the surface(表面)of the soup and the earthen pot can keep the heat in. As a result, the soup is hot and delicious.
After that, the scholar eats well and becomes healthy. Finally he succeeds(成功) in the exams. Therefore crossing-over bridge rice noodles(过桥米线)become famous and popular.
①the thick chicken oil on the surface of the soup
②the scholar's wife runs quickly to the scholar
③the earthen pot can keep the heat in
④the scholar heats the soup after his wife arrives