The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Langdon suddenly realized that he had said something wrong and waved his hand. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry for your misfortune. I envy you for being able to go on a long voyage.”

"I understand what Mr. Langdon means." Min Xi nodded to show his understanding.

"Can you tell me about China? I'm very interested in your country," Langdon said.

"Of course, what do you want to know? I will tell you everything I know."

So they walked and talked, and Yun Ji followed silently on horseback, listening to their conversation and practicing his English listening skills at the same time.

Once out of town, the speed was much faster. After less than a quarter of an hour, they saw the signpost they had erected by the roadside. Langdon noticed it. "Is it right here?"

"Yes, turn right here and go straight in, and you will reach our house." Min Xi raised his hand to show him the way.

Langdon craned his neck to take a look. "Yes, it is easy to find."

After turning the corner, they soon arrived at Bright Manor. Min Xi sincerely thanked him: "Thank you very much, Mr. Langdon, for taking us home. Please come in and have a cup of tea. If Mr. Langdon is not affected by the curfew, I can also treat you to a simple meal."

Langdon had come here to get acquainted, but he was not expecting to be invited to dinner. He was very surprised and curious. Min Xi's dim sum was so delicious, so he wondered how the meal was. "I can go back later, but won't that cause you any trouble?"

"No, we'll just keep it simple. I hope you don't mind, Mr. Langdon." Min Xi moved the things down from the carriage and was about to move them into the house when Yun Ji came over and took the steamer from his arms.

Min Xi said, "Seventh brother, I invited Mr. Langdon to dinner. There are not many vegetables at home, so just kill a chicken and make something simple." They have been helping out at the Earl's mansion for the past two days, and the family has not bought any vegetables. If they want to invite people to dinner, they can only kill the chicken on the spot.

"Okay, I'll kill the chicken." Yun Ji answered as he walked.

"Mr. Langdon, please make yourself at home. We have been helping out at the Earl's mansion for the past two days. There is no one at home, not even a pot of hot tea. Please wait a moment, I will go and light a fire and boil some water." After saying hello, Min Xi hurried to the kitchen to light a fire and boil water. Chickens also need boiling water to remove their feathers.

“Go ahead and do your work! Don’t worry about me.” Langdon waved his hand and began to tour the house and yard.

Min Xi lit the fire, boiled some water, and looked around the kitchen. There was nothing else except two eggs and two onions. He said to Yun Ji, "Seventh Brother, wait until the water is almost ready before killing the chicken. You knead the dough first, and I'll go to Powell's house to pick some vegetables."

"Okay, go ahead."

Min Xi trotted all the way to Powell's house with a basket in his hand. Mrs. Powell was preparing dinner. When she heard Min Xi's request, she said, "Go to the vegetable garden and pick any vegetables you need."

"Okay, Mrs. Powell, bring me some eggs." Min Si went into the vegetable garden surrounded by the fence, pulled a few lettuces, a few parsnips and some arugula, and picked a young pumpkin. When he came out of the garden, Mrs. Powell had already prepared eggs: "Is 10 enough?"

"That's enough, thank you!" Min Si put the eggs into the basket and took out 3 pence and gave it to Mrs. Powell.

Mrs. Powell took the penny and said, "Twopence is enough for you. Take your vegetables and eat them."

"That's embarrassing. Take it. I don't give you much. I'll go back first. I have guests at home. By the way, the chicken I bought from you last time is almost finished. I'll come to your house to buy a few more tomorrow." Min Xi waved his hand, turned around and ran back. Although Landon was not affected by the curfew, he should try not to let him go back too late.

"Come and catch them whenever you need them. It's best to come at night." Mrs. Powell said loudly to Min Xi's back. This Chinese neighbor is really nice. She gives money generously and promptly and never haggles over every penny.

When Min Xi returned home, Yun Ji had already kneaded the dough. Min Xi saw that the water was beginning to bubble, so he filled the teapot and said, "Seventh Brother, it's time to kill the chicken."

"Here I come!" Yun Ji put down the dough, took a knife and went to the chicken coop to catch the chicken.

Langdon waited for about an hour and finally had his fill of shredded chicken noodles. He used the other half of the chicken to make boiled chicken and fried pumpkin and eggs. The ingredients and time were limited, so there wasn't much room for creativity: "There weren't many dishes, and time wasn't enough, so I could only make something simple."

"Is this the food you eat in China? I've never seen this way of eating." Langdon looked at the noodles in front of him and found them very novel.

Min Xi replied, "Yes, this is how we eat it in China. In China, wheat flour is usually used for boiling and steaming. It is rarely baked, and only in dim sum. Mr. Langdon, please try it."

Langdon watched them stir the noodles with chopsticks while he placed a fork and a spoon beside them. “So you don’t use forks to eat?”

"Yes, we use chopsticks to eat. Stir the noodles with a fork before eating, mix it evenly." For people who can't use chopsticks, eating mixed noodles is much more user-friendly than eating soup noodles. Today, Min Xi specially made mixed noodles.

Langdon stirred the noodles with a fork, picked up some and put it in his mouth. He immediately felt like he had opened the door to a new world. It turned out that rice could be eaten this way! Compared to dry and tasteless bread, the way to eat noodles was much better. The noodles covered with soup and shredded chicken were moderately salty, fresh and juicy. It was really delicious and not choking.

Min Xi recommended boiled chicken to him: "Try the chicken again and dip it in this dipping sauce."

Langdon picked up the chicken with a fork, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in his mouth. His eyes widened immediately. Is this the chicken he usually eats? It tastes too good. How can it be so fresh and tender? With the sauce made of something unknown, the taste is simply amazing!

"How can it be so delicious!" Langdon ate another piece of chicken in disbelief. He really liked this chicken. Dipping it in the ingredients on the dish was like opening up a new realm of taste buds.

"It's mainly because I made a good dipping sauce." Min Xi smiled with some pride.

"It's delicious! We need to make a reservation to dine here, and the price starts from 1 pound?" Langdon thought about what Min Xi said today was just a simple dish, so he wondered what it would taste like if it was a complicated one. He was full of curiosity and anticipation, and couldn't wait to see Min Xi's cooking skills.

"Yes. The price depends on the number of people you book."

Langdon thought for a moment. "How about tomorrow? I'm bringing some friends over for dinner. There will be about five or six of us. How much will it cost?"

Min Xi didn't expect him to place an order so quickly: "Are you here for lunch or dinner? Are there any guests who have certain dietary restrictions?"

“How many dishes are there?” Langdon asked.

"For six people, there will be eight courses, not including main course and dessert. The total cost is 1 pound 5 shillings."

“If it’s eight courses, then even if you have certain dietary restrictions, you should still be able to eat some food,” Langdon said. “I still have to notify people. I’m afraid I won’t be able to make it in time at noon. Let’s do it in the evening. Not too late.”

"Then we'll have dinner around five, so we'll have plenty of time to go back after dinner."

"Sure. What's on the menu?" Langdon was looking forward to tomorrow's meal.

"The main meats are chicken, duck, beef and mutton. The rest depends on what meats you can buy at the market."

"Will the custard buns we had today be available tomorrow?" Langdon asked. He really didn't get enough of them today.

"If you want to eat this, then make it. Is there anything else you particularly want to eat?" Min Xi asked.

Langdon thought for a moment and said, "This chicken is pretty good today."

Min Xi smiled and said, "Let me cook the chicken in a different way. There is salt-baked chicken, beggar's chicken, and a roast chicken."

Langdon perked up: "Of all the ways to cook it, which one tastes the best?"

"It's hard for me to say. Everyone has different tastes. Some people like this, some people like that. You choose one."

"Can I have both?"

Min Xi shook his head: "I'm afraid that won't work. If we order both, the cost will be too high. The chicken can be used to make two dishes, but for a whole chicken like this, we only offer one at a time. If you want to eat it differently, come back next time."

Langdon thought for a moment. "Then let's have roast chicken."

Min Xi thought, this kid is really good at choosing, he actually picked the most difficult one. The cost of roasting chicken is high, and you need to buy a lot of spices, but if it is just one chicken, you can roast it in a clay pot. The pot is small, so you can put less spices to save costs.

After finishing his meal, Langdon went back satisfied. Before leaving, he paid a deposit of 5 shillings in advance so that even if he didn't come, at least he wouldn't lose the cost of the ingredients.

After seeing off the guests, Min Xi and Yun Ji hurried to Powell's house to buy some chickens and ducks, because the chickens they bought last time had been eaten up.

After washing up and lying down upstairs, Min Xi said, "Seventh Brother, I will go shopping with you tomorrow morning. Yizhuo Restaurant will be officially opened. Try to make the dishes richer and give the British a little shock."

"Okay!" Yun Ji agreed.

Min Xi tilted his head and looked at Yun Ji: "Seventh Brother, I didn't ask for the wages from the Countess today. You won't blame me, right? I've been busy for two days and got nothing."

Yun Ji looked at him and said, "How could it be! We volunteered to go there and used their banquet to find customers. It's only natural that we don't charge any fees. And the results are pretty good. Isn't this the start of business?"

Min Xi grinned, "Yes, the effect is quite obvious. And Hopson's friend Miller, I wonder if he will come to dinner."

"It doesn't matter if you don't come. I see many people are very interested in the Earl's Mansion today, but our place is too remote and not easy to find. But we can't entertain too many guests. Just take it easy." Yun Ji said.

"Yeah, I also think making money is a side benefit. I don't know what kind of family this Langdon is from, but I think I can get along well with him. Maybe he's from a wealthy family, and I can even get to know a professor at Oxford University through him."

"If that's the case, it would be a real relief."