The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

When Fernando heard that he could taste the meat, he quickly picked up the chopsticks to pick up the meat. He almost failed to pick it up the first time because the meat was too soft and rotten. If he used a little force, it would be broken in half.

He lightened his force, picked it up carefully, and put it into his mouth. The fat part melted in his mouth, and the lean meat was fragrant and not dry, with a strong sauce flavor and extremely plump. It was simply indescribably delicious.

Fernando sighed with satisfaction: "It's delicious! I didn't expect pork could be cooked so deliciously!"

Min Xi said to him, "I made two pork elbows and left half for you. You can come and take them when the time comes. I will also leave some braised pork for you."

Fernando rubbed his hands in excitement: "Min, you are so good to me! Come over when I get out of the palace, and be sure to keep it for me."

Before Min Xi could say anything, Yun Ji's expression changed a little. The Baron was too familiar with them, and Min Xi did not treat him as an outsider, which made him feel a little jealous, but he also knew that he did not have that position, so he could only feel sad in secret.

Fernando left happily with the pork elbow and braised pork. Min Xi continued to do his own work. After marinating the pork legs, he also had to make bacon, cured ribs and sausages. He still had a lot to do today.

Under his guidance, Yunji and Diego stuffed a whole set of small intestines. The pig was not big, so the whole set of intestines weighed only more than ten pounds.

Yunji tied up the small intestine with a rope and hung it on the balcony on the second floor.

Min Xi was very satisfied: "Well, hang up the sausages, and the New Year will be coming soon."

Yun Ji thought about it. Although he had never seen the winter of hanging sausages, he had experienced the winter of making Laba garlic and winter pickles. Whenever he saw making Laba garlic and stepping on winter pickles, he knew that the New Year was not far away.

Because they were cooking bacon, they had a simple lunch. After four o'clock, Baron Fernando finally showed up. He jumped off the carriage excitedly and shouted as soon as he entered the door: "Min, look what I brought you?"

Min Xi was washing pig intestines. He didn't get up when he heard Fernando's voice. When he saw him, he asked, "What did you bring me?"

Fernando said: "His Majesty had pork elbow and braised pork for lunch today and was very satisfied. He said that the pig castration technology you brought has brought revolutionary progress to the diet of the Flanji people, so he rewarded you with 2000 reais, awarded you the title of honorary citizen, and issued you an honorary citizen medal."

As he spoke, he handed the purse and medal to Min Xi. Min Xi's hands were full of lard, so he naturally couldn't reach out to take it. He said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward! Seventh brother, please help me accept it."

Yun Ji, who was refining lard, put down the shovel and took the purse and medal from Fernando. The medal was made of silver and was exquisitely crafted. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Fernando came over, looked at what Min Xi was holding, and asked, "Min, what are you doing?"

Min Xi said, "Wash the pig's large intestine."

Fernando got closer and smelled a foul odor. He realized what it was and took a step back: "It stinks so bad, what do you want it for? Throw it away quickly."

Min Xi smiled and said, "Why throw it away? This is a good thing! I'm going to make dry pot pig intestines tonight. Would you like to stay for dinner?"

Fernando frowned and said in disbelief: "Is it really edible?"

"Of course, why can't I eat it? It's delicious." Min Xi nodded seriously.

Fernando shook his head hurriedly: "Forget it, I don't eat pig intestines. I never ate animal organs before, but I made an exception because of what you made."

Min Xi laughed: "Well, if you don't eat it, I will. Although the pig intestines have a bit of a stench, they are still very fragrant when cooked, and the taste is very unique. It seems that you are not lucky enough to enjoy it."

Yun Ji had just come downstairs after delivering the purse and medal. Seeing Min Xi laughing so brightly, he couldn't help feeling jealous, as he and the Baron always got along so well.

However, the Baron was still very curious about how Min Xi ate pig intestines, so he stayed for dinner.

Min Xi cut half of the pork elbow and served it to the table, leaving the rest for the baron to take home and some of the braised pork. In addition to the dry pot pig intestines that Min Xi mentioned, the evening dishes also included salt and pepper spare ribs, stir-fried pork tenderloin with green onions, and winter melon meatball soup. It was a complete pig feast.

Fernando was very happy with the meal: "I never thought that pork would be so delicious one day. Min, you are really a genius!"

Min Xi waved his hand and said, "It was not me who invented castration of pigs, but the ancestor of our Chinese wisdom."

Fernando saw Min Xi always sticking his chopsticks into the dry pot and eating with gusto. He asked in confusion: "Is pig intestine really that delicious? Isn't it smelly?"

Min Xi stopped and smiled slyly: "Why don't you try it? It tastes really good. Brother Qi, isn't it?"

Yun Ji nodded: "Not bad. But if the Baron doesn't want to eat, we don't have to force him."

Diego naturally didn't mind and ate until his mouth was full of oil.

Fernando was a little confused. Should he really try it? He rarely ate pork before, and only ate pork a few times in Chinese restaurants. Because Min Xi handled it well, the odor became much lighter, so he could accept it. Now, should he even accept the stinky pig intestines? His ability to accept was too strong.

Fernando stretched his chopsticks to the edge of the dry pot, trying to pick out a piece of large intestine from the pot.

Min Xi saw his hesitation and said, "Sir, let me help you!" He stretched out his chopsticks, picked up two pieces of pig intestines and put them on Fernando's plate.

"Why did you take two pieces? I'll just try one." Fernando looked at his plate in confusion.

Min Xi smiled and said, "Eat it. Maybe you will find it delicious after eating one piece and want to eat a second piece."

Fernando picked up the plate and sniffed it. It had a little bit of a bad smell, but the fragrance was stronger. He picked it up and hesitated for a long time before finally putting it in his mouth. It had a little bit of a bad smell, but it was not difficult to accept, after all, cheese also stinks. Since he had already eaten it, he mustered up the courage to chew it a few more times. As a result, he found that it was quite chewy, and the more he chewed, the more fragrant it became. The smell didn't seem to be unbearable.

Min Xi said, "How is it? I didn't lie to you, did I? It tastes pretty good, right?"

Fernando picked up the second piece and put it in his mouth, expressing his approval with his actions: "I really admire myself for daring to eat even pig intestines."

"Hahaha, that shows that pig intestines are really delicious. It also shows that you are a very tolerant person. If you go to China, you will probably be able to accept a lot of food that you have never tried." For example, century eggs and stinky tofu.

Fernando was delighted by the compliment and said, "If I have the chance in the future, I really want to visit China."

"Welcome!" Min Xi said with a smile.

Fernando thought of something important: "After the New Year, His Majesty wants to summon you and the man who learned how to castrate pigs, and ask him to teach more people how to castrate pigs and spread this technology. In the future, we Frangi people will be able to eat delicious pork."

Castrated pork is really delicious. If all pork tastes like this, he believes that many nobles will not be averse to eating pork.

Min Xi exclaimed: "Your Majesty is a very wise monarch." The fact that he personally took care of such matters showed that he was a very pragmatic person.

"Of course. Your Majesty loves his people like his own children and always considers his people," said Fernando.

"Do you need me to tell the butcher in advance?"

"Of course, tell him in advance so that he can prepare early," said Fernando.

"it is good."

After finishing his meal, Fernando left with the stewed pork elbow and braised pork.

Diego cleaned up the dishes, and Yunji helped Min Xi clean up the kitchen. The pickled ham, bacon and ribs had to be covered, and the leftover fresh pork had to be hung up to prevent wild cats and mice from stealing it.

After finishing all this, Min Xi stretched and said, "Finally it's done. I can finally have a good rest tomorrow."

Being closed these days is not much easier than being open.

Yun Ji said, "How do you want to spend tomorrow?"

Min Xi said, "The weather has been nice these past two days, let's take apart and wash the quilts and clean up. Although we don't know exactly when our New Year falls, let's celebrate the Western New Year. Don't we need to clean up during the New Year?"

Yun Ji didn't know what to say. Well, they said they were taking a rest, but in fact, they were all working.