The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

"This dish may look ordinary, but it is delicious!" Queen Elizabeth commented sincerely, showing that she likes this dish very much.

"As long as Your Majesty likes it. You might as well dip it in some mashed garlic juice, which will give it a different flavor." Min Xi suggested. He could find garlic in the kitchen, which meant that the queen must also eat garlic.

The queen forked up another piece of chicken leg and dipped it in some minced garlic. This time, the garlic added a salty aroma and the taste was even richer. "They are all delicious. Can you teach Lawrence how to make this dish?"

The queen had spoken, so how could Min Xi not agree? "Yes, Your Majesty."

The queen smiled and said, "It's not in vain that I let you teach me. I'm paying your tuition."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your reward!" Min Xi bowed again.

After dinner, the two chatted with Queen Elizabeth for a while, and were allowed to leave because Queen Elizabeth wanted to take a nap. Before leaving, Min Xi taught the court chef Lawrence how to make white-cut chicken.

The courtier arranged for the coachman to take them home and gave them a beautiful wooden box engraved with the royal emblem, which probably contained the tuition fees mentioned by the queen.

After leaving the palace, Min Xi opened the box in his hand, and 10 golden pounds lay quietly inside. Yun Ji also saw it. The two looked at each other and couldn't help laughing. They didn't speak tacitly, and they both thought of the recipes sold on the pirate ship. Those were 50 pounds a recipe.

However, they also had the intention of blackmailing the pirates. The Queen gave 10 pounds for tuition, which was still more expensive than the price of double skin milk in Lisbon. After all, 10 pounds could be exchanged for 200 reais.

Fortunately, the queen did not keep them for too long, so they would not be delayed in coming back to make dinner. After all, they still had to prepare well for the festival. It was still a bit lonely for the two of them to celebrate the festival. After dinner, they planned to invite the neighbors to celebrate, barbecue, eat moon cakes and watch the moon.

While Min Xi was preparing dinner, Yun Ji was busy cutting and marinating meat and carving wooden sticks for skewers.

You don't need to prepare a barbecue rack, just find some bricks and build a simple barbecue grill on the ground.

A lot was cooked for the two of them for dinner. The chicken was not cooked in the usual way, but was braised, the duck was made into beer duck, the sea bass was braised, the lamb was stewed with radish, the beef was made into scrambled egg beef, and they also stir-fried some vegetables, making a total of six dishes.

The two of them also poured beer and drank while eating. Chinese food always feels weird with red wine, so they just drank beer.

Min Xi held up the wine glass and said, "Every festive season brings me more thoughts of my family. Seventh brother, it's another reunion day, and this year I'm the only one accompanying you to celebrate the festival. I hope that next year, we will be close to returning home, and we can celebrate the festival with our family the year after next."

Yun Ji clinked his glass with his: "It's nice to have you accompany me during the holidays." He hoped that he could celebrate the holidays with him every year in the future.

"I'm glad you think so. Let's try to put our return date on the agenda for next year. Come, have a drink!" Min Xi took a sip of wine.

Yun Ji drank the wine in one gulp. Seeing this, Min Xi said, "Don't drink like that. Eat some food first, otherwise you'll get drunk easily. We're going to watch the moon and have a barbecue in the evening." Then he picked up a chicken leg for Yun Ji.

Yun Ji said, "You eat the chicken leg."

Min Xi picked up another one: "I have one too, let's have one each. Today we have a few dishes that we rarely make, you can try them and see how they taste."

Yun Ji took a bite of the chicken leg: "Delicious!"

The two of them drank and ate at the same time. Yun Ji tasted a bite of beef scrambled eggs and suddenly asked, "I forgot to ask you, how can you cook so many dishes? I thought you learned cooking skills in a restaurant, but you have never worked in a restaurant, right?"

Min Xi took a sip of wine and said, "It's my hobby. When I was little, I cooked for my grandparents at home. I had a pretty good talent for cooking, and the food I cooked was delicious. When I grew up, I took a chef's license, thinking that I could cook some delicious food for my grandparents. If I couldn't find a job in the future, I could become a chef. But in the end, I didn't cook for them many times before the old people passed away."

Yun Ji didn't know how to comfort him for a moment. Today was another day like this. After a long while, he said, "Then make it for me in the future. I love it."

Min Xi smiled: "Okay."

The two ate and talked, and the sky darkened, but the moon had not risen yet. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, they cleaned up the table, went to the yard to light a bonfire, and prepared for a barbecue. Yun Ji went out with a lantern, and went door to door to invite neighbors to come to his house to enjoy the moon and eat barbecue.

There was no electricity and people everywhere went to bed at sunset. The Powell family was getting ready to go to bed, but when they heard Yunji calling them to go to his house to watch the moon and eat barbecue, they all got up. The children were extremely excited because they could go to their Chinese uncle's house to eat barbecue. Even the youngest child, who had been sleepy, woke up when he heard that there was meat to eat. He put on his clothes, got out of bed, and went out with his parents and older brothers and sisters.

Yunji went to call Green again. Green was also about to go to bed. When he heard Yunji calling him, he hesitated for a moment and went out. He was a loner, and he could not get to know anyone. If Minxi and Yunji had not taken the initiative to contact him, they might not have known each other even if they lived together for a year. Minxi had come to give moon cakes before, saying that today was their traditional Chinese festival, and they had to celebrate the festival. As neighbors, they naturally had to show their respect.

Soon, Min Xi's courtyard became lively, and even Clyde's family came. Probably because they saw his family often going in and out of luxurious carriages, and knew that they were in contact with dignitaries, they did not dare to offend them. Yun Ji invited him, so he came. Anyway, he would not suffer any loss, and he would eat and drink for free.

Tonight was no exception. In addition to mooncakes, Min Xi also baked egg tarts and cakes, and prepared nuts such as hazelnuts and sugar-roasted chestnuts, as well as beer and seasonal fruits. Then there was a lot of meat skewers, mainly lamb and beef, and chicken wings that were killed today.

Everyone sat around the campfire, the children ate and drank first, then started to play, running and chasing around the campfire excitedly, while the adults sat at the table eating and chatting.

The neighbors were curious about China's customs and practices, and when they heard that Min Xi and Yun Ji had gone to see the Queen this morning, they were so shocked that they almost passed out. Queen, these two Chinese people actually went to see the Queen and had dinner with the Queen. This was something they had never dared to imagine!

When talking about the Queen, there were naturally more topics to talk about. Green, who was usually taciturn, couldn't help but talk more at this time.

Even Mr. and Mrs. Clyde felt that today's trip was particularly worthwhile. They heard such explosive news. This was first-hand information and they didn't have to hear it second-hand from others. They could be the ones to spread the news.

The moon rose, and the bright moonlight fell on the village, making everything dim. The moon in Britain is not bigger or rounder than the moon in China, but thinking that this is the same moon in my hometown, I still feel a lot of comfort in my heart, at least I am enjoying the same moon with my relatives in my hometown.

The smell of barbecue wafted in. The children were attracted by the smell and ran to the grill. They stared at the skewers in Min Xi's hand and asked, "It smells so good. Is it cooked?"

Min Xi smiled and said, "Wait a moment. Eat something else first."

"Uncle, that egg tart is so delicious, but it's a pity that it's gone. Jimmy ate four, and I only ate one!" Powell's youngest daughter Joanna complained to Min Xi.

Min Xi smiled and said, "Then can I give you some more barbecue later?"

"Well, I want two barbecues!" The little guy's voice was so sweet, so adorable.

"I'll give you four, and some chicken wings, okay?" Min Xi said.

"Okay, I want chicken wings!" There were only two chicken wings, and I gave her only one, so of course she was happy.

Mrs. Powell stretched her neck and said to Min Si, "Sir, don't give her so much. She can't eat much."

Min Xi smiled and replied, "It's okay, eat as much as you can."

Soon, the first batch of barbecue was ready, and the children were the first to eat. Everyone rushed over, took the big skewers of barbecue from Min Xi, and then dispersed to eat the barbecue.

Yun Ji is a typical northerner, he is generous in his work and the meat skewers he makes are all quite large. Min Xi teased Joanna, saying that if he gave her four skewers, she would definitely not be able to finish them, and if she could finish one skewer she would be considered to have a good appetite.

Everyone ate barbecue, drank beer, and talked and laughed until late at night. The neighbors, who had eaten and drunk their fill, returned home carrying their children who had already fallen asleep.

The men were drunk and were staggering and shouting loudly.

Yun Ji also drank a little too much. He sat on the chair, poised his head and looked at Min Xi with a silly smile: "Every time I treat you, you are the one who gets tired."

"It's okay to be a little tired. It's a holiday, so we should be happy. The neighbors are all very nice. They celebrate the holiday with us." Min Xi yawned, but couldn't hide his tiredness. He raised his arm and sniffed hard. "It smells like cigarettes. I need to take a shower. Fortunately, I had the foresight to wear a headscarf, so I don't need to wash my hair."

Yun Ji stood up and said, "There's water on the stove. I'll go get you some water for a bath." After saying that, he took a step forward, his steps a little unsteady.

Min Xi reached out and grabbed his arm: "Seventh Brother, don't go, I'll pour it myself. Sit down, I'll pour you some tea to sober you up."

"Which one is your teacup? I can't recognize it. Use mine. Come, have some tea." Min Xi handed his teacup to Yun Ji.

Yun Ji took the teacup and stared at Min Xi blankly. The candlelight and the remaining bonfire shone on Min Xi, making him look particularly gentle. Yun Ji couldn't control his reason a little bit, and instinctively reached out and grabbed the corner of Min Xi's clothes: "Ninth brother."