The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Several children especially like Min Xi and Yun Ji because they not only cook delicious food for them, but also tell them many fresh and interesting stories.

The professor and his wife were very pleased to see them interacting with the children. These two Chinese gentlemen did not look very old, but they were very thoughtful and obviously well-educated.

After a while, Min Xi said to the children, "Okay, I can't talk to you now. We have to go cook, otherwise we will be late for lunch."

Raphael quickly asked: "Brother, do you have beggar's chicken?"

"Of course we have to! I'll make two for you!" Min Xi said with a smile.

"Thank you, brother! You are so nice!" Raphael clapped his hands happily.

It was getting late, so Min Xi and Yun Ji hurried to clean up and cook. They didn't start early today, so they would probably have a late lunch. But good food is worth waiting for, and I believe everyone is willing to wait.

While Min Xi and Yun Ji were busy in the kitchen, several children also poked their heads out to talk to them, because it was so interesting to chat with them. The world they lived in was completely different from the world they were familiar with.

The mother who was helping in the kitchen said, "Don't you see how crowded the kitchen is? Mom and my brothers can hardly turn around, and you are adding to the chaos. Go out and wait until the food is ready. Ask again when we eat."

Several children sat outside and waited obediently with some regret.

When Min Xi prepared the beggar's chicken and asked Yun Ji to go outside to light a fire and stew the chicken, several children gathered around and thought it was very interesting.

When Yun Ji was stewing the chicken, he threw a few sweet potatoes into it. The chicken was not yet done, but the sweet potatoes were already cooked. Everyone ate some sweet potatoes to fill their stomachs.

In addition to beggar's chicken, Min Xi also made squirrel fish, braised beef brisket with radish, stir-fried beef with asparagus, beer duck, winter melon and shrimp soup, seafood rice, and baked egg tarts for dessert.

Because the beggar's chicken was prepared a little late, the meal was also eaten a little late, and it was not until after 1 o'clock. Fortunately, everyone had already eaten roasted sweet potatoes before that.

Professor Castro was surprised when he ate the roasted sweet potatoes. This was actually a crop he had grown in the school's botanical garden! Although sweet potatoes have been promoted throughout Spain, they are not widely planted. People obviously underestimated their importance.

He had eaten raw and boiled sweet potatoes, but never roasted ones. Today, he found that they tasted so good! These two Chinese guys really have an extraordinary talent for eating.

The food was served on the table and everyone sat around it. Yun Ji and Min Xi simultaneously cracked the dirt off the beggar's chicken and took out the hot and fragrant chicken. Min Xi placed the whole chicken in front of Raphael and said, "This is what I promised you. It's all yours."

Raphael looked at the whole chicken, swallowed his saliva, and said, "Are you really giving it all to me?"

Everyone smiled and said, "Yes, today is your birthday, you are the biggest, the whole thing is yours."

Although the brothers and sisters were envious, they were not sad because in addition to beggar's chicken, there was also a large table of delicious dishes today.

Raphael swallowed and said, "Thank you! But I still hope to eat with everyone."

Professor Castro smiled and said, "Rafael has grown up and knows how to share with everyone. Well, let's eat together. You can choose which piece you want to eat first."

Raphael said, "I want to eat chicken legs, two, okay?"

"Of course!" Min Xi helped him tear off the chicken leg and put it on the plate. "You are the birthday boy today, eat whatever piece you want."

"Thank you, brother!" Raphael was so happy that he couldn't see anything.

Min Xi and Yun Ji helped to dismantle the remaining beggar's chicken and distributed it to everyone. Last time the family ate one chicken, it was gone as soon as they tasted it. Today there were two chickens, so they could finally enjoy their meal.

Besides, there is a table full of delicious food.

The family enjoyed the rare delicacy. Rafael's brothers and sisters envied their younger brother for being so lucky on his birthday. Two Chinese gentlemen came to cook for him and celebrate, and also gave him gifts. I wonder if these two Chinese gentlemen were still in Valencia when they had their birthday.

The only girl asked, "Brother, how long will you stay in Valencia?"

Min Xi said: "It shouldn't take long, we will be back to Lisbon in a few days."

The girl asked hopefully, "Will you still be there next month? My birthday is next month."

"Clara, your brothers are here to travel in Valencia, not to cook for us." The professor's wife stopped her daughter somewhat awkwardly.

Min Xi said quickly, "It's okay, ma'am. It means everyone likes my cooking. But I'm sorry, Clara, we will be back to Lisbon soon, and we probably won't be in Valencia next month."

Clara looked a little disappointed, but she still said politely: "Thank you, brother! The food you cook is really delicious. We like it very much. It would be great if we could eat it often."

Min Xi smiled and said, "Thank you for your compliment!"

Professor Castro said: "Mr. Min, please forgive the children's rudeness, it's just that the food you cook is so delicious."

"No, professor, they are all very cute, sensible and polite, I like them very much," said Min Xi.

After dinner, Min Xi and Yun Ji were dragged by a few children to chat for a long time. The professor's children were well-educated, read a lot of books, had good knowledge, and were eager to learn. Although they were young, their thoughts were not very naive. Min Xi found it interesting to chat with them.

When they left, a group of children reluctantly sent them to the door and watched them get on the carriage. The professor stood beside the carriage and expressed his gratitude to him: "Thank you for coming to help me fulfill my child's birthday wish. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know."

Min Xi hesitated for a moment and said, "I really have something to trouble you, Professor."

Professor Castro was delighted and said quickly, "Whatever it is, I will do my best to help as long as I can."

Min Xi said, "I would also like to visit the professor's botanical garden and ask you for some plant seeds. Is that possible?"

Professor Castro smiled and said, "That's easy. Just come to school and find me anytime."

"Then let's go there tomorrow afternoon."

"No problem, I'll wait for you at school in the afternoon." Professor Castro agreed readily. He was actually very happy that Min Xiken made the request. After all, it is not a good feeling for anyone to owe favors to others.

After the carriage left, Min Xi said happily: "We should be able to get potato seeds tomorrow! Our trip to Spain will be a complete success."

Yun Ji smiled and said, "You look so proud. Professor, do you really have any potato seeds left?"

Min Xi said, "I think there will be some, but if there really isn't, let him dig two plants out of the ground for us, put them in pots and take them back!"

Yun Ji couldn't help but laugh out loud: "You are really determined."

"Of course we have to. Now that we have found them, we have to bring a few back." Min Xi said.

Yun Ji recalled how he secretly brought back a sweet potato vine from the botanical garden of Oxford University. Min Xi was a man who would achieve his goal once he set it.

Min Xi said, "I'll go back and mix some dough and make some snacks for the professor tomorrow."

"Okay." Yun Ji agreed readily.

The next morning, Min Xi got up early and worked in the kitchen with Yun Ji for a long time, baking cookies and cakes and frying twisted dough sticks. He left some for the Earl's two children and packed the rest and took them to school.

Yun Ji took some snacks and went to find Professor Silva first, and then went to the botanical garden to meet Min Xi. Min Xi took some snacks and went to the botanical garden to find Professor Castro.

Professor Castro had no classes in the afternoon, so he remembered his agreement with Min Xi and took care of the crops in the botanical garden while waiting for Min Xi to come.

Min Xi stood outside the garden holding the box: "Professor!"

Professor Castro, who was inspecting the crops, straightened up when he heard this, and smiled when he saw Min Xi: "You are here, please come in! Where is Mr. Yun?"

"He went to see Professor Silva. Professor, here are some snacks I made. You can take them back for your brothers and sisters." Min Xi handed the box in his hand to Professor Castro.

Professor Castro said awkwardly, "How can I ask for your things again?"

"It's okay. I don't have any other special skills. I can only make some food. These are the cookies and cakes I baked. They can be kept for a few days. I'll bring them back for everyone to taste."

The professor had no choice but to take it: "Thank you so much."

Min Xi then carefully observed the crops in the garden to see if there were any worth taking back.

The professor put away the snacks and came out to see Min Xi observing his crops, so he took the initiative to go over and explain everything to him. Min Xi was also very good at asking questions, and the questions he asked were very much to the professor's liking, so the professor was happy and explained in great detail.

When Yun Ji said goodbye to Professor Silva and came to the botanical garden, Min Xi and Professor Castro were having a very pleasant chat.

After touring the entire garden, the professor took Min Xi to his workshop, where a large number of seeds from his collection were stored.

Min Xi looked at the bottles and jars. He didn't recognize most of the names on them. It was no wonder. The scientific names of plants are professional terms and not necessarily common. Many of them used Latin names, which he didn't recognize even more.

Min Xi asked the professor for some vegetable seeds, as well as some corn and sweet potato seeds. Finally, Min Xi asked, "Professor, do you still have the botato seeds planted over there? Can you give me some?"

Professor Castro said in surprise, "You want botato seeds? I did save some and planned to plant them in the spring, but there weren't many seeds to begin with, and they were planted in two batches, so there are even fewer seeds left. If you need them, I can only give you a few."

"Thank you, professor! Any amount is fine!" Min Xi said happily.