The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Min Xi had already brewed tea and prepared snacks. When he heard the sound of carriages in the distance, he ran out, opened the door, and stood outside the yard waiting.

Yun Ji on horseback saw him from a distance and said to Baron Fernando, "Min is there to greet you." After that, he rode his horse towards Min Xi. When he reached Min Xi, he reined in his horse, jumped off the horse in a handsome manner, and greeted the guests with him.

Baron Fernando waved to Min Xi from a distance: "Min! Min! My dear friend, we meet again!"

Min Xi looked at them with a smile and waved hello.

When the carriage arrived at the door, the Baron jumped off, rushed over and hugged Min Xi: "That's great, Min, you're still alive! I thought I lost you. You were all fine in the Indian Ocean, but when you arrived in the English Channel, I messed up everything. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry!"

Min Xi was originally smiling, but when he heard Baron Fernando's choking voice, he was also somewhat moved. He raised his hand and patted him on the back: "It's okay, Your Excellency Baron, how can you be blamed for this? I know this is definitely not your intention. It happened suddenly, and we all understand."

Yun Ji on the side had a rather unhappy expression on his face. It was not like this when the Baron hugged him just now. After all, he had a special relationship with Min Xi.

Lord Fernando and the members of the delegation ship came up to say hello and apologize to Min Xi. Finally, the captain of their ship came over to apologize. He bowed deeply to Min Xi and expressed his sincere apologies, saying that it was due to his negligence in his work that the two people were in danger.

Min Xi finally realized that he had been tricked by the sailor who delivered the message. He waved his hands and said, "It was a coincidence. Fortunately, we are all fine. It's a pity for the sailors who were with us. After they got on the lifeboat, we never saw them again. We only saw an overturned lifeboat on the sea the next day. I don't know if it was theirs."

No one said anything else. It was most likely that boat.

Lord Fernando said: "I will report this matter to His Majesty when I return and express my sincere condolences to their families."

Yun Ji said: "Fortunately, there was no danger. Most people are safe. Everyone, please stop standing and come in and sit down."

Thinking about eating the food cooked by Min Xi, Baron Fernando was in high spirits. "Fortunately, we are all still alive. I still have the opportunity to eat the food cooked by Min Xi. I feel happy just thinking about it! You know, I almost went crazy missing the food you cooked in the past few months! The food of the Dutch is worse than ours in Portugal! Can you imagine? The Dutch eat raw herrings and stuff them directly into their mouths at the fish stall. My God, it's so barbaric!"

Min Xi couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. In fact, raw herring is not that bad. As long as the fish is fresh enough, it tastes good. Sashimi is eaten in many countries.

European countries are very confident in their own food and look down on each other's food. For example, Portugal has salted cod, Spain has paella, Germany has sausages and pork elbows, Italy has pizza and pasta, France has foie gras snails, etc. In short, they all have a few outstanding dishes. Perhaps the UK is the only one that keeps silent because it really doesn't have anything outstanding.

"Let's have hotpot today. We just happened to have a copper pot and we can make beggar's chicken." Min Xi said with a smile.

Fernando rubbed his hands excitedly: "Great, I can finally have a decent meal!"

It was still early for dinner, so everyone sat down, drank tea, ate snacks and chatted about what had happened since they separated.

It turned out that after the Baron and his crew boarded another ship that night, the captain ordered his crew to lower the sails in the dark and try to get rid of the pursuit of the pirate ship. However, this ship was originally loaded with more cargo, and with the crew members of both ships on board, its speed was not much faster than that of the light pirate ship. The pirate ship pursued them relentlessly, and during the pursuit, the hull was also hit by two cannonballs.

At this difficult moment, they encountered a Dutch ship, which took the initiative to lend a helping hand and help fight back, so the pirate ship gave up the pursuit.

In fact, this Dutch ship was not a good thing either. However, the other party did not openly rob it, but secretly held it hostage.

Although their ship was not penetrated at the bottom, the damage was quite serious, causing the hull to tilt slightly.

The people on the Dutch ship offered to help them share the weight, allowing some people and some cargo to board the ship, and proposed that their ship dock in the Netherlands for repairs. At that time, the members of the delegation were all on the Dutch ship, and they had no choice but to follow.

As a result, the repair work was delayed again and again, and they were asked openly or secretly to use the gifts they brought to the Queen as compensation and repair money.

They had thought of finding someone to send a letter to rescue them, but the letter fell into the sea. It was obvious that the letter was intercepted.

It was only after the Queen sent people to find their whereabouts that the repair speed in the Netherlands was accelerated, and they agreed to let them leave the Netherlands and go to London.

"They are just a group of robbers who took advantage of the situation!" Baron Fernando said hatefully.

Lord Fernando said, "Never mind, they saved us after all."

"Is that rescuing people? I think they are kidnapping! They saved us but wouldn't let us go. Most of the gifts we brought to the queen went into their pockets. I know we should be rewarded, but how can it be the same if we give them rewards and if they ask for them themselves?" The baron was very angry.

Min Xi said: "No matter what, I am lucky to be alive. Everything else is just material possessions."

The baron shrugged. "That's the only way to think about it. Tell me about your story. I heard that you took those pirates hostage. I'm so curious. How did you do it?"

Min Xi then told them how Yun Ji had held the pirate leader hostage, and then he fed them soy sauce dough as poison pills. When he finally mentioned that the antidote was a spicy spicy pepper, everyone burst out laughing.

The baron laughed so hard that he rolled on the sofa, holding his belly. "Min, you are such a genius. If I had known, I would not have left. I would have gone on adventures with you. It would be so much fun! We can also eat delicious food."

Yun Ji said, "In that situation, it didn't seem interesting at all. I was afraid that their guns would go off accidentally and hurt Min."

It was the first time that Min Xi heard Yun Ji talk about his feelings at that time. It turned out that he was also afraid. He thought that he had a lot of skills and would be fearless. In the final analysis, he became his weak point.

"But no matter what, everyone is safe and sound, which is a blessing in disguise!" said Lord Fernando.

Min Xi said: "Fortunately you are safe, otherwise we would not know where to go now."

"Why do you say that?" the Baron asked quickly.

"To be honest, we are worried about your safety as well as our own. We are worried that the Queen will find out that Yun and I came to England on a pirate ship. If anything happens to you, will she let us go back to Lisbon?"

Baron Fernando glanced at his brother and the chief envoy of the mission and said, "If anything happens to us, you will definitely tell His Majesty the King when you return that we were attacked by British pirates. This will inevitably affect the relationship between Britain and Portugal."

Min Xi nodded: "Yes, that's it. If you haven't come yet, we have planned to go to France and return to Lisbon by land from France."

The head of the mission said: "France has been in chaos in recent years. Religious wars have been going on for many years, and there have been many casualties. It is not very safe. It is right not to go."

Fernando said, "We have come here, so why go to France? Just come back with us. After a tour, we find that Portugal is still the best place, right?"

Min Xi smiled and said, "Indeed, I feel that life in Portugal is more comfortable than in the UK."

When the people present heard this compliment, they all showed proud expressions, because this was certification from their Chinese friends!

They talked about meeting the Queen again, and the Baron said with a smile, "I didn't expect you to meet the Queen before us. That's amazing! You are really received by the King wherever you go!"

Min Xi smiled and said: "That's because we have a strong motherland behind us." Otherwise, who would welcome the two of them, a businessman and a sailor in distress with nothing?

These words deeply touched everyone present.

Min Xi talked about the Queen asking them to help deliver a letter. Baron Fernando said excitedly: "The Queen is so ambitious! Our King hasn't even asked you to help deliver a letter to your Emperor yet, and she's already made a request!"

Min Xi said: "Didn't your merchants obtain residency rights in our Macau?"

Fernando was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Yes, we have already contacted your country before her. We have a better relationship!"

Min Xixin thought that it would have been better if you hadn't taken over Macau later.

After chatting for a while, Min Xi and Yun Ji got up to prepare dinner. They did not have a pass and could not move after the curfew, so they had to eat early and go back before the curfew.

Today's meal was very sumptuous. In addition to the prepared dishes, there was also hot pot. If you wanted stir-fried dishes, there were stir-fried dishes. If you wanted hot pot, there was hot pot. After several months, everyone finally had a satisfying meal and was very satisfied.

When everyone was leaving, Baron Fernando said, "I'm not going back today, so I'll stay here. I see there are a lot of rooms here, just make me a bed."

Min Xi said with some embarrassment: "I'm afraid you have to go back to sleep. Except for our bedroom, the other rooms are locked and we can't get in."