The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

The two knew that they were cheated at the meal in the morning, so when they bought something next time, they knew to ask the price first and then bargain.

Min Xi discovered that Yun Ji was much better at bargaining than he was. His limit was to bargain down by one third each time, but Yun Ji would simply cut the price in half. Although he was not successful every time, the price he spent was always cheaper than he expected.

Min Xi smiled and said, "You really dare to chop."

Yun Ji looked at him with a smile: "Have you forgotten what my family does? The purchase price of our goods is only 30% of the selling price at most. This is to leave room for bargaining. When people buy things, if they can bargain more, they will have a greater desire to get a bargain."

Min Xi suddenly realized: "So that's it! I will bargain hard when I buy things next time!"

Yun Ji smiled and nodded.

Min Xi looked at his smiling face and felt dazzled. How could someone be so good-looking? In fact, he didn't know that he was also very good-looking, with delicate features and a lively temperament. He had a very pleasing appearance. Since Min Jiu had never looked in the mirror since he was a child, he had never looked in the mirror either, so he had no idea what Min Jiu looked like. He was a handsome guy after dressing up, but compared to Yun Ji, who was naturally beautiful, he was really ashamed.

After they finished shopping, Yun Ji said, "We still have 6 reais 768 riels left. How much will it cost if we open a restaurant?"

They bought some bedding and daily necessities, as well as some flour and vegetables, spending more than 600 riyals on these miscellaneous items. Compared to the meal, these things were really too cheap. Thinking of this, they felt sorry for the meal again.

Min Xi said, "It's definitely not enough to open a restaurant. We can start by setting up a stall to make some snacks, selling pancakes and the like. I've got some that I can sell near the pier."

Yun Ji shook his head: "I don't think it's a good idea. The people near the dock are all poor laborers. They may not be willing to spend money on food."

Min Xi said: "Not necessarily. In addition to the porters who work as coolies, there are also sailors going out to sea and entering the port. They are not short of money."

Sailors do have a hard time, drifting abroad all year round, and the risk factor is high. But this is a high-risk, high-reward job. As long as they come back safely, they can earn dozens of reais a year. The average person in Fulanji will not earn more than 10 reais a year.

Yun Ji said, "Then it's up to you. You can try it first."

"Let's go back first and ask Sanvis about the situation and see if there is anything we need to pay attention to." Min Xi said.

Before the bar opened in the evening, Min Xi used the flour he bought to bake some onion boxes. Since there were no leeks, he used onions instead. He chopped the onions into fine pieces. He was afraid that they would not be cooked through, so he fried them a little and made the filling with the fried eggs. In fact, onions can be eaten raw, but the two Orientals don't like such a strong taste.

The aroma of the fried onion boxes made Sanvis dizzy. Min Xi and Yun Ji had just finished two, but he had already finished five. He looked at the remaining onion box on the plate with a feeling of being unsatisfied and didn't feel like eating any more.

Min Xi said, "Sir, how do you think it tastes?"

Sanvis gave a thumbs up and said, "It's delicious. I didn't expect that you Chinese have so many ways to eat noodles."

Min Xi smiled and said, "That's not all. We have many ways to eat wheat flour. Sir, please try another one. I have something to ask you."

After hearing what he said, Sanvis took another one and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Tell me, if I sell food in Lisbon, how do you think the business will be?" Min Xi said.

"You want to do business?" Sanvis opened his eyes wide.

Min Xi nodded: "Yes. We have limited money on hand, and we don't know how long we have to wait here before we can go back. We want to earn some living expenses. I just don't know if this business can be done."

"This requires the approval of the tax officer and a small amount of tax paid every month, and that should be all that is needed," said Sang Weisu.

"Mr. Sanvis, can you introduce me to a tax officer?" Min Xi asked.

Sanvis said, "The tax collector for this area is Bailey. He always comes to my place for a drink in the evening. You will see him in a moment. I suggest you prepare some onion pancakes for him."

Min Xi smiled: "Okay, thank you sir."

"Don't call me sir, it's embarrassing. Just call me Sanvis," said Sanvis.

"Okay, Sanvis." Min Xi followed suit.

After dinner, Min Xi hurried to make onion boxes. Yun Ji went over to help and asked him, "Is this what we're selling?"

Min Xi said: "Onions are still not quite good enough. It would be better if we had leeks. It's a pity that we don't have leeks like we have in China." However, there seems to be a kind of bear onion in Europe, which tastes similar to leeks. You can find it when you find time to go to the suburbs to look for it.

"Then what are you selling?" Yun Ji asked.

"There are a lot of seafood here, and I think it's good to sell seafood-flavored dumplings. Dumplings are different from steamed buns, and they don't need to be made with leavened dough. They can be steamed or fried." Min Xi said this and asked Yun Ji, "Seventh Brother, can you make dumplings?"

Yun Ji was stunned for a moment, then said, "I can learn."

Min Xi laughed: "I guess you won't."

Yun Ji acquiesced, not because he was following the old saying that a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen, but because he had too much to learn: reading, martial arts, and business. He had no time to learn how to cook. Besides, there were so many maids and old women at home who would find ways to prepare all kinds of delicious food for him. There was no need for him to do it himself.

"It's normal that I don't know how to do it. I'm a little curious about why Jiulang can do everything." Yun Ji said.

Min Xi said: "I have done everything to make a living. I worked as a kitchen helper in a restaurant for several years and learned by watching."

Yun Ji was silent for a moment: "If only I had known Jiu Lang earlier."

Min Xi said: "It would be useless to know each other earlier. If it weren't for the shipwreck, we would never know each other."

Yun Ji had to admit this. Before the shipwreck, they lived together on the same ship for three or four months. Yun Ji could only call out Min Jiu's name and knew nothing about him. He only knew that he was a very smart young man who always had a bright smile on his face and had vigorous vitality.

After the boat capsized, Yun Ji was the first to wake up. The first person he saw in the water was Zhong Bo, who had followed him for many years. When he swam towards Zhong Bo, the unconscious Min Jiu suddenly appeared between him and Zhong Bo. After a moment's hesitation, he grabbed Min Jiu and checked his breath to see if he was still alive, so he dragged him onto the sampan. When he settled Min Jiu and went to find Zhong Bo, Zhong Bo had disappeared.

Yun Ji never told Min Xi about this matter. Yun Ji never regretted it, but felt sorry for Zhong Bo and resented why God didn't give him another chance. Afterwards, he also knew very clearly that he made the right choice. Zhong Bo was old and he was injured. If he saved him, they would both end up being eaten by fish.

"You're right, if it weren't for that shipwreck, we wouldn't be so familiar with each other." Most likely, after getting off the ship, we went our separate ways and never saw each other again.

Min Xi sighed: "Good fortune and bad fortune go hand in hand. Who knows which is good and which is bad?"

Little Diego pushed the door open from outside and came in: "Sir, Mr. Bailey is here. Mr. Sanvis asked me to call you."

Min Xi waved to little Diego: "Diego, come here, I see you haven't eaten much tonight, so this is for you." As he said that, he handed over an onion box.

"No, sir, thank you very much for your generosity, I have already eaten, I can't have any more!" Little Diego ate an onion box given by Min Xi tonight. He didn't dare to eat more because flour was too expensive and not worthy of being eaten by an inferior like him.

Min Xi pulled his arm and said, "Here, this is what I bought, not Mr. Sanvis's. If you don't want to eat it now, you can put it away and eat it when you're done."

Min Xi said as he picked up the remaining vegetable box and went to the tavern in front. Little Diego had no choice but to hide the onion box in a hurry and followed.

The golden food boxes on Min Xi's tray exuded an alluring aroma that could not be covered up even by the most mellow wine. As soon as they went out, they attracted the attention of the tavern guests. Everyone looked at the tray in his hand curiously: What was that Oriental man carrying? It smelled so good!