The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Jasper's bargaining skills are beyond words. He used to run a small shop at home, and he was a local, so he would not suffer a loss in price. The only thing to worry about was that he might buy inferior ingredients to save costs.

In fact, this was indeed the case. Min Xi noticed this and called him over and whispered, "Jasper, the consumption level of our restaurant is already not low, so there is no need to skimp on the ingredients. We have to buy the best ingredients, even if the price is a little higher, we have to buy the best."

Jasper said sincerely, "I'll remember that, Boss."

Next, when Jasper was choosing ingredients, Min Xi and Yun Ji continued to not interrupt him, leaving it all up to him. Jasper had not expected that the two bosses would let him buy whatever they asked him to buy, whether it was seafood, meat, vegetables or spices, it was all up to him.

To be honest, Jasper was also confused as to why the boss suddenly decided to let him buy groceries.

After buying the vegetables, Yun Ji said, "Today's performance was not bad, but it took too long, which means I'm not familiar with the specific locations of the various vegetables. It also took a little longer to bargain, so I didn't have enough time to prepare the ingredients. I still have to pay attention to this in the future. It's best to buy the vegetables before 7 o'clock and return to the store before 7:30."

Jasper accepted Min Xi's criticism sincerely: "Boss is right. I used to go shopping with him, but I didn't pay much attention to where the vegetables I needed to buy were. I wrote them down today."

Min Xi said, "It's pretty good that you can do this on your first trip to buy groceries. I hope you can keep up the good work. Bring Gail with you tomorrow and list the menu for the day. You can discuss among yourselves what specific ingredients you need to buy. I'll give you a data reference at the beginning about how much is needed for how many tables, but you'll have to decide for yourselves from now on."

Jasper was even more confused when he heard this. What did the boss mean by this? Would he leave the grocery shopping to him and Gail?

After returning to the store, Gail was already kneading dough. He didn't live in the store before and had to take care of his own breakfast, so as long as he could come to work on time at nine o'clock, it would be fine. Now that he lives in the store, he naturally eats breakfast in the store as well. So after getting up every morning, he would rush to the store to help, and would usually arrive after seven o'clock.

Min Xi now wants to train them to cook, and Gail is also very perceptive. He is willing to take the initiative to do all the work that a chef should do. Although he is not as willing to do everything as Amanda, he is still pretty good.

Min Xi and Yun Ji called Gail over and told him about the store's arrangements: "Would you like to go shopping with us?"

Gail was also excited: "I'd love to go!"

Min Xi said, "You need to get up early to buy groceries. You have to get up at five o'clock. Can you get up?"

Gail gritted his teeth and said, "I can get up!" The boss asked him to buy groceries, which showed his respect for him. He couldn't let the boss down.

"Okay, come early tomorrow morning." Min Xi said.

"Starting from today, I will teach you how to cook more dishes, and you should also try to cook those difficult dishes." Min Xi said.

"Thank you for your training, I will do my best." Gail clenched his fist excitedly.

Only Jasper felt that something was wrong with his employer. They seemed to be planning something. Could it be that they were going to leave Lisbon?

In the morning, Yun Ji went to find the broker again and said that he needed to add one more person, two smart people, regardless of gender, who just needed to be hardworking, honest and reliable.

After Min Xi and Yun Ji had fought the copyright infringement lawsuit over Shuangpi milk, they were no longer worried about their peers sending people to their store to work undercover. Everyone knew that using his secret recipe would lead to lawsuits and compensation. If someone was willing to send someone to learn from him for future development, Min Xi would say he admired them, because it showed that they had vision and ambition.

It's no wonder that after the infringement lawsuit, some competitors have been eyeing the China Hotel. Some have already informed the agent that whenever the China Hotel recruits people, he must tell him and he will send the people to the China Hotel to learn skills. Even if the skills learned cannot be used now, they can be used after Min Xi and Yun Ji leave Fulangji.

That afternoon, the Portuguese sent the people to the Chinese restaurant. There was a man and a woman, both young, about sixteen or seventeen years old, and they were dressed very decently. Upon questioning, they found out that they were both locals from Lisbon.

Min Xi said, "Since you are from Lisbon, you should have heard of the rules of my shop. Let me reiterate: you can learn cooking skills, but you cannot use them privately, unless one day I leave Europe and return to my country, then you can use them. Tell me your home address, otherwise I will have to look for someone everywhere."

The two young men cooperated and told each other their home addresses.

Gail heard the boy's name and address and said, "Your last name is Baker, and your home is on Cecil Street. Does your family run a bakery?"

The boy named Baker blushed, and the freckles on his face seemed to move. He stammered, "Yes, yes, my father is a baker. He came to the China Hotel to eat and was deeply impressed by the staple food here. He hopes to be able to make the same soft bread, so he wants me to come to the China Hotel to learn skills, so that I can use it in my bakery when you two gentlemen return home. I swear in the name of God: I will not use it in advance."

He knew that he could not hide his identity, so he told it all. His nose turned red after he finished speaking, and he looked at Min Xi and Yun Ji nervously.

Min Xi and Yun Ji looked at each other, and Min Xi said, "You are honest. This is better. You can stay. What about you, Miss Connor?"

The girl called Miss Connor was very fair and looked thin, not as strong as Greta. She looked calm and determined, and she looked directly into Min Xi's eyes and said politely, "Sir, I just want to find a job. My mother just passed away, and my father is a pastor, but he is in poor health and has an unstable income. I have two younger brothers and sisters at home, and I want to find a job to support my family."

This situation is somewhat similar to Greta.

Min Xi said, "Miss Connor, your job in my restaurant is to be a waiter, responsible for taking orders and delivering food to customers. We have never had female waiters in our restaurant, and you may encounter impolite customers. Aren't you afraid?"

Connor pursed his lips when he heard this, and after a while he said, "I heard that the guests who come to the Chinese restaurant to eat are all noble gentlemen. They shouldn't embarrass a little girl like me who earns money with my own hands."

Min Xi couldn't help but smile when he heard this: "Okay, then you can come to work tomorrow. I hope you can also show enough respect to the guests and remember the original intention of coming here to work."

"Thank you sir for giving me this job opportunity!" Connor lifted her skirt and bowed to Min Xi like a lady. It can be seen that she has been well brought up.

Fernando came over for dinner that night and brought some peppers, both dried and fresh. Peppers are perennial plants that can survive for three to five years as long as the temperature is right. Fernando's greenhouse just meets this condition, so he only grows them for a few years before replanting them.

Before he met Min Xi, he only collected some peppers for seeds every year and let the rest of the peppers fall and be used as fertilizer. After knowing that peppers can be used as spices, he ordered people to collect the ripe peppers, dry them, and store them for future use. Now, they come in handy.

Min Xi accepted the pepper and said to Fernando, "Baron, I have a request."

Fernando said, “What?”

Min Xi said, "My seventh brother and I would like to go to England with your delegation. I wonder if it is convenient."

Fernando looked at him in surprise: "Why are you going to England?"

"We have finally come to Europe, and we actually want to travel around and learn about the local customs and cultures. In fact, not only England, we also want to visit France and Spain, so that we can introduce Europe to my countrymen after we go back." Min Xi explained.

Fernando frowned: "If you leave, what will happen to your store?"

"It's still open. I asked the store staff to look after it for me."

"Is this true? Are you so confident?"

Min Xi smiled and said, "Didn't you once tell me that when you are a boss you don't need to do many things yourself, you need to learn how to use people. I am now following your original teachings."

Fernando opened his mouth, but couldn't find the words to object.

Min Xi said, "Don't worry, sir. We will arrange the matters at hand. It won't take too long in a few months. Please help us."

Fernando could only sigh helplessly: "Is this the result of your discussion with Yun? Does he agree?" He felt that this must be Min Xi's idea. Yun Ji is such a steady person, it is impossible for him to come up with so many fantastic ideas.

Min Xi nodded vigorously: "Of course, this is the result of our discussion."

"I think it was most likely your idea. He just didn't feel comfortable letting you go alone, so he insisted on going with you," said Fernando.

Min Xi smiled and said, "So you know us so well."

Fernando shook his head helplessly: "Okay, I'll take you there, but you can't leave the team without permission. You have to follow us."

Min Xi readily agreed: "Okay!" When the time comes, he will do whatever it takes to persuade and go to Oxford University to bring back potatoes and sweet potato seeds.