The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

The baron said, "Since it's so cheap, I will definitely come here often in the future."

But he was the only one who said that. The other guests just smiled and didn't express their opinions. Min Xi didn't know whether they thought it was expensive or not as cost-effective as Chinese restaurants. Of course, there were also people like Lord Mello who had a heavy idol burden and didn't want to be a conspicuous bag like the Baron.

In fact, Min Xi had already anticipated that the business of a private restaurant in Lisbon would definitely not be as good as that in London. After all, there is no substitute in London, but there is in Lisbon. Fortunately, no matter where the customers eat, as long as they eat Chinese food, they earn their own money.

Min Xi has already made up his mind. No matter how cheap the price is, he will not cook. If people come to eat, he will cook. If not, he and Yun Ji will grow some vegetables.

After the meal, the satisfied customers left one after another, and the shop assistants also took the initiative to help clean up and wash.

Neither Mr. and Mrs. Fernando nor Lord Melo left.

The baron said, "We will open your new restaurant. My eldest brother's child has his birthday tomorrow, and I'm inviting them to have dinner with you to celebrate his birthday. There will be eight people in total, including my parents and my eldest brother's family. My grandparents are too old to ride in a bumpy carriage, so they won't come. You can arrange the dishes for us."

Min Xi asked: "Noon or evening?"

"nighttime then."

"Okay. We'll prepare the birthday cake as a birthday present for him," said Min Xi.

The baron waved his hand: "You don't have to buy the cake. I went to your store yesterday and ordered a cake. I will bring it over tomorrow."

"Okay then. I'll prepare a set meal for eight people with ten courses," said Min Xi.

The Baron asked, "Will ten courses be enough?"

Min Xi smiled and said, "It's enough. The portions are all very generous. By the way, is there anything you particularly want to eat?"

"Let's have one paella. Let's give everyone a taste. Do you still have the candied sweet potato from last time?"

"Yes, I've left some for you. But as for the seafood rice, I'm afraid it won't be as fresh by the evening, and won't taste as good as what we had at noon," said Min Xi.

The baron thought for a moment and said, "The temperature isn't that bad right now. I think we can still have food in the evening."

"I'm glad you don't mind. What else?" Min Xi asked.

"How about beggar's chicken? I've eaten it, but my parents haven't tried it yet," said the Baron.

"it is good!"

The two discussed and decided on the menu.

Lord Mello just sat there drinking his tea in silence, waiting for the Baron to decide on the menu.

After recording the Baron's menu, Min Xi asked Lord Melo, "Is there anything I can do for you, Lord?" He guessed that Melo was going to talk about buying a boat because he had been asked to do this for a while.

Lord Melo put down his teacup and said with some embarrassment: "Last time you asked me to help you consult about buying a ship. My father said that you are foreigners and we cannot sell you a ship. But maybe you can apply to His Majesty. As long as His Majesty agrees, my father will naturally approve it."

In fact, he had already known the result of this matter, but he didn't know how to tell Min Xi and Yun Ji. He was afraid that if he told them directly, Yun Ji would be disappointed in him. He spent two days talking to his father and only got this little information.

Min Xi's heart sank when he heard this, but he could understand it. After all, private individuals could not afford to open a shipyard these days. Shipyards were all owned by the royal family. Ships were related to national strategic security. If they were bought by competitors, it would eventually be a sword stabbing him.

When Yun Ji heard the news, his brows furrowed. Lord Mello became nervous instantly when he saw his expression and lowered his head like a child who had done something wrong.

When the baron heard this, he said, "How about I go to the palace and ask for you some other day?"

Min Xi nodded: "Okay, please!"

The baron said, "I don't think it's a big problem. You and we will never become enemies. Your Majesty will not be on guard against even China."

Min Xi smiled bitterly when he heard this. Who would have thought that in another two hundred years, you would really become our enemy.

Lord Mello said embarrassedly: "I'm sorry I couldn't help you."

Min Xi waved his hand: "Don't think like that. This is not something you can decide. You have helped us a lot by helping me find out the news."

When Lord Mello heard this, he raised his eyes and looked at Min Xi, then at Yun Ji. Yun Ji had a dull expression on his face and no one knew what he was thinking.

Lord Mello said, "I, I want to come over for lunch tomorrow at noon."

After hearing this, Min Xi asked, "Okay, how many people?"

Lord Mello thought for a moment: "Three people, okay?"

"Of course, but for three people it's also a meal for four, with six courses," said Min Xi.

"Okay! That's it. I can eat anything. You can arrange it for me."

"Then do you want both the seafood rice and the candied sweet potato?"

Lord Mello nodded: "Yes."

Min Xi nodded: "Okay, I'll arrange the rest."

Lord Mello is a refined man, so let's make some exquisite dishes.

After they all left, Min Xi smiled helplessly at Yun Ji: "I didn't expect buying a boat would be so complicated."

“I don’t know if buying a second-hand ship requires the king’s consent.”

"But where can we find second-hand ships for sale? Do you think the Baron can agree to transfer one to us? Or buy one for us in his name? Do you think it's feasible?" Min Xi's eyes suddenly lit up when he said this.

Yun Ji smiled: "If it doesn't work, then ask the Baron for help."

Min Si actually still had confidence in Sebastian I, thinking that he would agree to sell a ship to him. After all, he was also an honorary citizen of Portugal, so wasn't he half of his own? Should he be so wary of his own people?

Let’s not consider these things for now. The most urgent thing is to prepare two meals for tomorrow.

Diego did not go back to the store that night, but lived with them. This was the first time he had his own bedroom. Although the room was not big and the furnishings were very simple, with only a bed, a box and a table, the bedding was all brand new, made especially for him by Min Xi and Yun Ji. He rolled around on the bed with joy.

The only trouble was that he was asked to take a bath before going to bed. It was winter, and he was asked to take a bath. His boss's habit of cleanliness was a bit scary. Although it was scary, he still took a bath. His boss liked cleanliness, and he didn't want his boss to feel dirty.

The next morning, Diego got up very early and was about to run back to the store, but he ran into Yun Ji who was driving a horse-drawn carriage to buy vegetables. Yun Ji asked him to get in the carriage: "Get in, I'll take you back to the store."

Diego waved his hands hurriedly: "No, no, no, I'll run back. It's not far. I'll just consider it as exercise."

Yun Ji didn't insist and said with a smile: "That's fine. Remember to keep exercising. Then I'll drive the carriage and you can run after it."

So one of them drove the car while the other ran. Diego didn't feel tired and really ran back to the store.

After running back like this, Diego really felt that he could go stay at his employer's place, and he would be able to make it in time in the morning.

At noon, Min Xi thought Lord Melo would bring two friends to eat, but he actually called his parents over. Min Xi never expected that the first guest of his private restaurant would be Marquis Melo.

After the food was served, Lord Mello invited Min Xi and Yun Ji to eat with him: "Anyway, they are just my family, you have all met them, and there are a lot of dishes, let's eat together."

Min Xi quickly refused: "No, no, no, you guys should eat by yourselves, we won't join you."

You must be joking. They paid for the meal in their own restaurant. How could they eat there? Besides, the Marquis was not a lord. He agreed to it out of consideration for his son, but they, as outsiders, had to know what was good for them, so as not to be accused of being uneducated.

I don't take the so-called nobles seriously, but the nobles take themselves very seriously. When in Rome, do as the Romans do and you still have to respect them.

The Lord invited them twice, but they insisted on not coming to the table. It was the Marquis who finally spoke up: "Forget it, let's just eat by ourselves."

The Marquis and his family were very satisfied with the meal, especially the paella and candied sweet potato dishes, which gave them unexpected surprises.

After dinner, Min Xi and Yun Ji sat down to drink tea with the Melo family of three.

The topic inevitably turned to Min Xi's purchase of a boat.

Marquis Melo said, "It's not that I don't want to sell it, but I can't. His Majesty has issued a decree that it is not allowed to build ships for Spain, Britain, France and other countries privately. However, the government has negotiated with His Majesty and we will still build ships for them with His Majesty's consent. On the one hand, it is out of interest, and on the other hand, if they can't buy the ship, they will try to rob our ship. If you want to buy a ship, you can get His Majesty's consent. As long as he agrees, we can build a ship for you."

Min Xi said, "Thank you for your information, sir. How much does it cost to buy a boat?"

Marquis Melo frowned: "The price of a ship alone, if you foreigners buy it, it may cost 5 reais."

"Sir, do you mean that weapons and equipment are not included?" Min Xi confirmed with the Marquis.

Marquis Melo nodded: "Yes, if you include full armor, it will cost about 20 reais."

Min Xi and Yun Ji looked at each other. Compared with the price of a ship in Spain, it was probably tens of millions of reais cheaper.

Min Xi couldn't help but ask, "What if it's bought by a local?"

"It can be cheaper." Marquis Melo said, "You need to go to the shipyard and confirm the exact price with the cost estimator."

"Thank you for telling us this." Min Xi thanked sincerely.

After seeing off the Melo family, Min Xi sighed, "Two hundred thousand reais! We can only get about twenty thousand at best, which is still far from enough. Seventh brother, can you bring that much money when you go back?"

Yun Ji frowned and thought for a moment: "I'm afraid I can't come up with hundreds of thousands of taels of silver all at once, but if I bring goods worth tens of thousands of taels of silver to sell, I should be able to get the money together."

Min Xi thought about it and it made sense. Bringing goods from China to Europe would cost at least several times more. "That's settled then!"