The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

One meal of dumplings conquered all the pirates on the ship. Each of them ate at least thirty large dumplings and still felt unfulfilled. They hoped to continue eating dumplings in the evening.

Min Xi sighed helplessly: "You only care about how good it tastes, but you didn't see that we are so tired that our arms have become thinner. I don't want to make dumplings tonight, so just eat something casually."

The pirate leader came over with ten gold coins in his hand: "Sir, this is the money for cooking for lunch and dinner today. Even if you don't want to eat dumplings, please make sure to make them delicious."

Min Xi borrowed the money, checked the amount and put it in his pocket. "When has the food I cooked ever tasted bad? I'm just worried that with so much water and fuel, can I make it to the shore?"

The pirate leader chuckled: "Don't worry, there will definitely be enough. We have prepared half a month's supply. It is more than enough to support us all the way to Southampton."

When Min Xi heard him say that, he felt relieved and prepared to eat burritos in the evening.

The filling of the burrito is naturally fish. Min Xi cuts the fish into pieces, spreads salt and spices evenly on it, marinates it for two hours to make it tasty, and then frys it in a frying pan.

Yun Ji helped to use the pirates' frying pans to make pancakes, and stacked them up after each one was done. When the fish was fried, he fried another pot of shredded carrots and onions. When eating, he put the fish and shredded carrots and onions on the pancakes and rolled them up.

This is how to make spring pancakes, which is also the simplest way to eat pasta. Even so, it still smells so good that these British pirates who have never eaten good food are screaming in admiration.

Earning 5 pounds for a meal, or 100 reais, is much easier than making money through regular channels. One day can make as much as a month of opening a shop, but Min Xi and Yun Ji have never thought of staying on the pirate ship to save enough money for a ship. This way of making money with a risky mind has never been their choice.

Although the pirate leader and pirates had tried to persuade them to join more than once, they were rejected without hesitation.

Three days passed in a flash, but they did not arrive in Southampton as smoothly as Min Xi had expected. According to his estimated itinerary, it was almost time for them to arrive.

Min Xi found the pirate leader and asked him, "Captain, when can we reach Southampton?"

The pirate leader replied: "Within seven days."

"Three days have passed and there are four days left. If you can't send me to Southampton, I will not give you the antidote," said Min Xi.

The pirate leader chuckled, "Sir, are you really not considering joining us? I can give you 10,000 pounds a year for the two of you."

Min Xi frowned: "I have no interest in being a pirate. Don't play tricks on me!"

The pirate leader showed a regretful expression: "Isn't there still four days? I promise to send you to Southampton within four days. You just need to cook your meals and earn 15 pounds every day. Isn't that good?"

To put it bluntly, I just can't bear to eat the food cooked by Min Xi.

Min Xi thought for a moment and said, "If you really want to eat the food I cook, I have a way to make sure you can have delicious meals in the future."

The pirate leader's eyes lit up: "What's the solution?"

Min Xi said: "I can teach Owen to cook two dishes. But I have to charge tuition, 50 pounds per dish, what do you think?"

The pirate leader said, "Of course! I hope you can teach him how to make dumplings, stuffed pie and noodles."

Min Xi frowned: "Time is limited and the difficulty is too high. I don't think I can learn everything from Owen. Instead of learning nothing, it's better to learn two things well, dumplings and pies."

The pirate leader could only compromise regretfully: "Okay, then I'll listen to you."

Yun Ji listened to their conversation and asked, "What do you mean?"

Min Xi relayed the pirate leader's words. Yun Ji frowned and said, "Tell him that if he doesn't send us to shore within four days, I don't mind letting them see my methods."

Min Xi turned to the pirate leader and said, "My brother said, if you dare to play tricks, don't blame him for being rude, he really has killed people before."

Upon hearing this, the pirate leader quickly smiled and said, "Don't be angry, we have no ill intentions, we just want to eat more delicious food."

"Okay, just remember the time when the poison takes effect." Min Xi was too lazy to smile at him.

So Owen was arranged to come and learn how to make dumplings and pies from Min Xi.

Although both are made of dough wrapped around fillings, the two types of dough are different. The dumpling skin is drier, while the pie skin is wetter. This alone almost drove Owen crazy.

Min Xi ignored him and told him to try. It was nothing more than adding flour if there was too much water, or adding water if there was too much flour. After all, he was a chef and it was impossible for him not to learn. Finally, after struggling with a bag of flour, Owen basically mastered the trick.

In addition to kneading the dough, the next step was to mix the stuffing. Owen only had a dagger-shaped knife for cutting vegetables, and such a knife would definitely not work for chopping stuffing, as the knife for chopping stuffing should be heavier, so Min Xi lent him his own knife. Owen looked at Min Xi's knife again and again, and couldn't let it go. He praised it countless times, saying it was a thousand times better than his own knife.

Min Xi said, "Okay, I know you like my knife, but it's custom made and I can't give it to you. If I give it to you, I won't be able to use it. But I can draw a picture for you. When you get ashore, you can go to a blacksmith shop and make a kitchen knife."

Owen asked curiously, "Why do you carry a kitchen knife with you when you go out?"

Min Xi couldn't help rolling his eyes: "I'm a chef. Carrying a knife when I go out is like a pirate carrying a gun when he goes out to sea. It's a necessary tool. How can I cook without a knife?"

Owen chuckled: "I'm a pirate chef, and from now on I'll carry a gun and a knife."

Min Xi said unhappily, "That's enough. Just focus on chopping the stuffing."

Min Xi told the other party what ingredients and spices to put in the filling and how much salt to add, and also told him that the same filling could be used for both dumplings and stuffed pancakes.

As for making pancakes and dumplings, and even the method of frying dumplings, he told Owen. Owen learned all of this very quickly. He usually cooked mainly by frying, and occasionally he would cook a pot of thick soup for everyone. The pot for cooking soup could be used to cook dumplings, and the pan for frying vegetables could be used to make pancakes and dumplings.

The pirate leader was very satisfied with the pancakes and dumplings made by Owen. From now on, they would no longer have to eat hard and dry bread.

When giving the money, the pirate leader was very generous and gave not a single 100 pound gold coin less.

Finally, it was the evening of the seventh day. When the setting sun dyed the English Channel a magnificent red, the coastline could be seen in the distance.

The pirate leader said: "The Isle of Wight is ahead. After going around the Isle of Wight, we will reach Southampton. We can even have a meal on the boat tonight!"

Min Xi was speechless. At this time, they were still thinking about the meal they cooked. "Can your ship dock at the port of Southampton without being caught by the navy and the police?"

"Of course not, we are a registered merchant ship!" said the pirate leader proudly.

It seems that this is really a robbery under the order of the emperor. Min Xi rolled his eyes quietly.

Min Xi finally made them some noodles. Of course, these people couldn't eat soup noodles, so Min Xi made them mixed noodles. The stuffing was made by chopping steamed fish into fish floss and stir-frying it. The pirates ate while wiping their tears, because after this meal, they would never be able to eat such delicious food again.

After dinner, the pirate leader asked, "Sir, where is the antidote you promised to give me?"

Min Xi said, "Come with us, and I will give it to you when I get ashore."

The pirate leader had no choice but to personally send Min Xi and Yun Ji ashore. The group of pirates stood on the deck and watched them leave. It was not yet dark. Min Xi turned around and saw the pirates standing on the deck and waving at them. He couldn't help but sigh. Who could have imagined that these foodies were a group of pirates that the sailors were afraid of.

When they reached the dock, Min Xi and Yun Ji continued to walk. The pirate leader became anxious and asked, "Where's the antidote you promised me? Why haven't you given it to me yet?"

Min Xi and Yun Ji said, "Wait a moment."

After walking the entire section of the dock, Min Xi stopped and said, "Thank you for your escort, Captain. This is the antidote for those poisons. When you go back, each of you can eat one, chew it, swallow it, and drink plenty of water, and you will be fine."

The pirate leader asked, "Really? What if it's fake?"

Min Xi smiled and said, "If we wanted to kill you, we wouldn't have to wait until we left. In fact, your poison is not that deadly. You have been able to eat and drink for so many days. You took the antidote and sweated a lot, and the last of the toxins were all excreted. Let's go, bye!"

The pirate leader held the packet of antidote with a look of doubt on his face.

After they walked away, Yun Ji asked, "What did you give him?"

Min Xi raised his eyebrows: "One spicy dish for each person."

When Yun Ji heard this, he could no longer control himself and burst out laughing.