The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

After Min Xi and Yun Ji cleaned up the kitchen, they came over with some fruits to entertain the guests.

Overhearing Langdon telling Fergus about their origins, Mrs. Fergus looked at Min Xi and Yun Ji in surprise and asked, "Have you two gentlemen been staying in Lisbon before?"

Min Xi nodded: "Yes. I was rescued by a merchant ship of the Flanji and came to Lisbon with it."

Mrs. Fergus hesitated for a long time, but finally couldn't help asking: "I know that the Flanji people believe in Catholicism. Do you two gentlemen also believe in Catholicism?"

Min Xi shook his head: "We don't believe in religion."

"How do the people there treat you? Are they xenophobic?"

Min Xi continued to shake his head: "We didn't feel xenophobic. Although some people came to preach to us, we refused and they didn't say anything. Probably because we are Chinese, they didn't make any demands on us. We never went to their services either."

Fergus held his wife's hand and said, "Don't worry. Since it's a family marriage, they won't make things difficult for Alice."

When Min Xi heard the name Alice, he couldn't help but feel moved. This name sounded familiar: "Why would Madam ask this?"

Mrs. Fergus sighed and said, "My cousin is going to marry in Lisbon soon. She has been troubled by this. Since we are Protestants, I want to find out for her."

Min Xi was shocked: It can't be such a coincidence! Could this Mrs. Fergus be the cousin of Baron Fernando's future wife?

Min Xi asked hurriedly: "I know a lot of prominent people in Lisbon. Which family is your cousin going to marry into?"

Mrs. Fergus said: "It seems to be the grandson of a duke."

"Is he the youngest grandson of Duke Fernando?" Min Xi asked.

Mrs. Fergus blinked. "It seems so. Do you know him?"

Min Xi nodded vigorously: "Yes, ma'am. We are very good friends with Baron Pedro Fernando. I came to London with them this time."

Mrs. Fergus asked in surprise, "They are already in London?"

Min Xi shook his head: "I'm sorry, ma'am, I'm not sure. Something happened on our way to England. We encountered a storm and the ship I was on capsized. I was separated from the ship the Baron and his crew were on, and they are nowhere to be found. We were rescued by a passing British ship and landed in Southampton. After arriving in London, I looked for their whereabouts, but I haven't heard that any of Flanki's ships have docked in London recently. I don't know if he is safe now. The fleet is on a mission to London on behalf of His Majesty the King. The Baron's purpose of coming here this time is to marry his fiancée."

Mrs. Fergus covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh my God, oh my God! This is horrible! Has something happened to Baron Fernando? My poor Alice!"

Both Fergus and Langdon's eyes widened in shock. Langdon asked, "Are you sure it's a diplomatic mission to England?"

Min Xi nodded: "Yes, there are dozens of members in the delegation, and most of them are on the Baron's ship. I hope that the Baron and his men are safe now."

Mrs. Fergus was a sentimental person, and at this moment her tears were already rolling down: "Oh, God, please bless poor Alice, bless Baron Fernando!"

Min Xi sighed and said, "I hope you can report this to the British government and help find out the news about the mission ship. They are on a carrack named Manta."

Fergus put his arm around his wife's shoulders, comforting her while saying to Min Si: "Thank you for telling me the news. We will find a way to convey this news to Her Majesty the Queen. I believe Her Majesty the Queen will definitely send the navy to find out their news. God bless them all to be alive!"

These days, Min Si tried not to assume the worst about Baron Fernando's situation. He hoped that they had just encountered some accidents and landed in France or Germany, or that even if they were caught by pirates, they would not be in danger of their lives. He was unwilling to accept that such a humorous and friendly baron had left this world.

"Then I'll leave it to you!" Min Xi said sincerely.

Langdon asked, “Are you the only two survivors on your ship?”

"Not necessarily. When our ship was sinking, many people boarded small boats. They may have boarded the mission ship, or they may have been rescued by other ships."

Fergus comforted his wife: "Don't worry, they may have landed in France or Germany and encountered some problems, so they didn't come to London in time."

After Langdon and the Fergus couple left, Min Xi couldn't help but sigh.

Yun Ji asked, "What's wrong?"

Min Xi said: "I didn't expect the world is so small that I could actually meet the cousin of the baron's fiancée."

"If they knew the mission ship hadn't arrived yet, would they send someone to look for it?"

"Who knows."

"Why don't you tell them the truth? Since you said that the Queen of England has a stake in those pirate ships, it should be easier for their officials to investigate the whereabouts of the mission ship."

Min Xi smiled bitterly: "It would be good if the mission ship was safe in the end. If something really happened, it would be a very serious diplomatic incident and would seriously affect the relationship between the two countries. In order to keep this secret, will the British let us leave the UK alive?"

Yun Ji couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat when he heard this: "I didn't consider this level."

"I can only pray that the Baron and the others are really safe." Min Xi knew that Britain was not a place where he could stay for long. He had to find a way to get potatoes and sweet potato seeds and leave Britain as soon as possible.

Yun Ji groaned for a moment and said, "If that's the case, if something happens to the Baron and his men, and the British find out the cause, we might not be safe either."

Min Xi nodded: "Yes, so we still have to try to get what we need as soon as possible and leave the UK as soon as possible."

"So what should we do? Should we go directly to Oxford to look for it?"

"Let's ask Brett if he knows anyone who teaches or studies at Oxford. He has a wide network of contacts and might have some connections."

"There are no customers ordering food tomorrow. Let's go into town and ask."

"it is good."

As a result, that afternoon, more customers came to the store and made reservations for lunch for the next day. There were quite a few people, a total of 9.

Min Xi said to Yun Ji, "Go to the hotel tomorrow and see if you can run into Brett. If you can't, ask the clerk to tell him to come to our house for a simple meal, and then we'll talk to him in detail."

"it is good."

Early the next morning, Yun Ji went to the Bright Hotel, but naturally he didn't meet Bright, so he asked the front desk clerk to help convey his message.

Unfortunately, Brett was out on business and was not in London for the past few days. Min Xi waited and waited but no one came. He ran to the city to ask, and the clerk said that Brett had not come to the store for a few days and might have gone out for something.

Min Xi had no choice but to wait.

It was not until four days later that Brett accepted the invitation. It turned out that he had gone to Brighton for business in the past few days and bought a manor there, which he planned to use as a holiday villa and rent it out to people who came to the seaside for vacation from London.

"The manor I bought is a sea view villa with a beautiful pebble beach and stunning scenery. If you want to go to Brighton for vacation, I can rent the villa to you. You can go bathing in the sea and take a walk on the pebble beach." Brett's greatest hobby in his life may be buying houses and renting them out.

Min Xi smiled and said, "I can also provide Mr. Bright with a selling point. Pebble Beach can provide foot massage. In our Chinese medical system, the acupuncture points on the soles of the feet are closely related to various organs and parts of the body. By pressing the acupuncture points on the soles of the feet, you can achieve excellent health care effects and eliminate all diseases."

"Are you serious?" Brett's eyes lit up.

"of course it's true."

Brett rubbed his hands excitedly: "Then you can use it as a selling point in the future. For your idea, I can let you live in Brighton for half a month for free."

"Thank you in advance. We'll make a note of it and go again when we have time." Min Xi said with a smile.

After a long exchange of pleasantries, Min Xi got to the point: "Mr. Bright has a wide network of contacts. I wonder if he knows any friends at Oxford University?"

"Of course. Are you interested in Oxford?"

Min Xi's heart was pounding with excitement: "Yes, I heard about Oxford University when I was in Lisbon, and I really wanted to go and have a good visit. It would be best if someone I know at Oxford University could take me there."

"That's no problem. I have a friend who is a professor of theology at Oxford University. He is in London now. Can he introduce him to you?" Brett said.

"Okay, I'll treat your friend to a meal. You can tell me if there's anything he doesn't want to eat."

Brett thought for a moment and said, "I don't think I've heard of anything that people don't eat."

“Is there anything you particularly like to eat?”

"I think everyone likes the dishes you cook. Just cook what you are good at."

"Okay, once the specific time is set, please let me know in advance so I can prepare the food." Min Xi said.

"No problem. I'll go find Professor White right away. I'll let you know when the date is confirmed." For Brett, this meant he could get another meal for free, so he was very willing to help.

The next day, Brett came to tell Min Xi that Professor White would be free the next day at noon, and he invited White's whole family to come, making a total of six people including him.

Min Xi agreed and began to prepare for tomorrow's banquet.