The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Min Xi was actually very curious. The Baron said he wanted to go to Ming Dynasty to do business. What kind of goods would he bring with him?

In his impression, during the ancient Silk Road, China used tea, silk, porcelain, lacquerware, paper, etc. to exchange for various spices, medicinal materials, gems, agate, ivory, Persian carpets and other products from foreign countries. These things were all produced in Central Asia, West Asia and North Africa. There was no trace of European goods, and these were not produced in Europe either.

The baron can't load a ship with gold and silver to exchange for goods over there, or load a ship with cannons and guns to exchange for Chinese goods?

Min Xi also asked the baron directly. The baron scratched his head and said, "We really don't seem to have anything to bring from Europe. I plan to bring things from the New World to trade with your Ming Dynasty."

My goodness, it's no wonder that the Baron would make money. Things from the New World are not cheap when they are shipped to Europe, and if they are then transported to Ming Dynasty, the price will skyrocket.

In addition to gold and silver, Europeans also brought back various spices and medicinal herbs, as well as tobacco and sugar from the New World.

The Chinese are good at using spices and also produce spices, but the consumption of spices is extremely large, so they have been imported since ancient times.

The baron asked, "Do you have any good suggestions? What is selling well in Daming?"

Yun Ji suggested to him: "In fact, you can take the gold and silver to Tianfang and Tianzhu to purchase local medicinal herbs, spices, etc., and then bring them to Ming Dynasty to sell." After all, when they went out to sea to do business, they also traded with these countries. If they brought them back to Ming Dynasty, the profits could at least increase by dozens of times.

The Baron clapped his hands vigorously. "You're right! Let's do it!"

Diego already knew about Min Xi and Yun Ji's plan to return to China, and he was also preparing to go to China: "Boss, after we leave, will the restaurant and dim sum shop still be open?"

Min Xi said: "Of course it's still open, but we won't be the boss anymore. We'll transfer the store to whoever is willing to take it over."

Diego said, "Of course they would!"

"Even if they are willing, they may not be able to afford it. I will definitely charge a transfer fee, and it won't be cheap. If they are unwilling to take over but are willing to continue working in the store, then I will transfer it to other bosses and let them continue to work in the store." Min Xi felt that the Baron should agree to take over the store, and the store would still be managed by Gail and the others. As the boss, he just needed to go there at any time and have food to eat.

"Boss, you will come back, right? Why don't you let us continue working and I will pay you when you come back?" Diego said.

"I should come back, but who knows when? It's troublesome for them to talk to the boss about something. In fact, Diego, if you don't follow us to Daming, I will leave the snack shop to you, and you don't have to pay the transfer fee. You will bear the rent and profit and loss yourself, and the money earned will belong to you. Isn't it good to be your own boss?" Min Xi advised him.

Diego shook his head: "No, I don't want to be the boss, I want to follow the boss."

Min Xi sighed when he saw this. If he wanted to go, he could go. He would come back to Europe anyway. If he was not used to the Ming Dynasty, he could come back to Europe. Even if there was no oriental taste, he had the skill of making desserts. He would not starve to death no matter where he started his own business.

Summer is here and the yard has undergone tremendous changes. The flowers and plants planted in the spring have blossomed, and the clusters of flowers are very beautiful. The vegetables in the vegetable garden are also growing very well. The chickens in the backyard have also changed from furry little balls to little chicks with their wings spread, chasing small insects around the chicken coop.

The little bully has grown up a little, and although he usually lies there lazily, when someone plays the game of throwing sticks with him, he turns into a cannonball and rushes forward very fast. He can catch the stick in mid-air before it even hits the ground. His hunting dog genes cannot be hidden at all.

The business of Yizhuo Restaurant gradually stabilized. Basically, there was one table every day, sometimes two tables, and the company could earn dozens of reais a month. Compared with Chinese restaurants, it was a little less, but compared with the people of Lisboa, it was enough. They could earn two or three years' income in one month.

Min Xi and Yun Ji were also very satisfied. This model was so leisurely and they could make money just by sitting at home.

They both like this small courtyard very much. There are traces of their personal decoration everywhere. The most important thing is that it is leisurely and comfortable. When there are no guests, it is their own world. This is the state that Yun Ji has always dreamed of.

When Yun Ji thought that such good days would soon be gone, he felt inexplicably empty in his heart. On the one hand, he missed home and his parents madly, and on the other hand, he was madly reluctant to give up the time he spent alone with Min Xi. He sometimes said to himself that these years were stolen by him, and he could spend a few years of free time as he liked, with the person he liked, without having to consider any responsibilities. But the stolen days must be returned after all.

Yun Ji finally finished the four screens for Lord Fernando and Lord Melo. In order to avoid Lord Melo's misunderstanding, they specially invited the two lords at the same time, and Min Xi presented the gifts to them.

Lord Fernando had known for a long time that Yunji was going to make him a folding screen, so he was not that surprised when he received the gift. He was just very pleasantly surprised. He opened it and looked at it carefully, and couldn't let it go: "Thank you, Yun, it's so beautiful, it's simply God's masterpiece! It's the best gift I've ever received, thank you! I will definitely keep it well."

Min Xi said: "As long as you like it, thank you for your care and help to me and my seventh brother."

Lord Melo looked at Lord Fernando with envy. He was so lucky to get the screen painted and carved by Yun Ji himself. He had never received even a piece of paper or a word from Yun Ji.

It was only after Min Xi called out "Mello, Lord" twice that he realized, "Oh, what's the matter?"

Min Xi brought out another screen and placed it in front of him: "This is a small gift from my seventh brother and I to thank you for taking care of our two stores. Do you like it?"

Happiness came too suddenly. Lord Mello pointed at himself in disbelief: "This, this is for me?!"

Min Xi smiled and nodded: "Yes. In order to give you a surprise, we did not tell you about this in advance. The content of the screen was also decided after discussion between me and my seventh brother. We Chinese people believe that 'the friendship between gentlemen is as light as water', so the screen painting for you is a landscape painting. I hope you will like it."

Lord Mello's lips trembled with excitement. Before he saw the full screen, he nodded repeatedly: "Thank you! I like it very much! Thank you, Mr. Yun!"

Yun Ji on the side smiled faintly: "You're welcome."

Min Xi said: "We will be returning home soon, so I'll leave this gift for you as a souvenir."

Lord Mello was originally overjoyed, but when he heard the news, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave: "You, you are leaving?"

"Yes, we have been in Europe for more than two years. We miss everything at home very much. It's time to go back," said Min Xi.

Lord Fernando was not surprised: "When are you leaving?"

"The date has not been determined yet. It will probably be a few months away. It depends on the departure date of the ship."

"Then I wish you a safe journey!" Lord Fernando said with a smile.

Lord Mello was in a daze. He said nothing, but just silently lowered his eyes and looked at the screen in his hand. His mood did not improve until he left.

Min Xi did not tell anyone else that they were leaving Portugal to return home, but the diners gradually found out about their departure. They all thought that it was no wonder that the two of them handed the restaurant over to a few waiters and opened a restaurant on their own. They must have been preparing to leave a long time ago, and it would be difficult to eat the food they cooked in the future.

So many diners rushed to order meals before they left. As a result, the restaurant's business became very popular, and both tables were full almost every day.

One afternoon in late May, after seeing off the guests, Yun Ji harnessed the carriage and went out with Min Xi.

Business has been good recently, so in order to take a break, I have to fill in the reservation information at some times. In fact, there are no guests, but they are busy and don’t receive guests. For example, today, they are going to harvest potatoes.

The little bully has grown up a lot and is now in an awkward period, looking a lot more funny.

He saw his master getting on the carriage, so he quickly jumped on as well. Yun Ji grabbed him and threw him to the ground: "Don't go. Stay at home and look after the house."

The little bully tilted his head and looked at him, seeming a little aggrieved. He didn't want to be alone at home, it would be so boring.

Yun Ji drove the car to the gate of the courtyard, stopped and turned over a sign on the door which read "I'm very sorry, I'm out for something, please order food tomorrow", and then closed the gate.

When the car left the village and got on the main road, Min Xi, who was sitting on the other side of the shaft, suddenly looked back and said, "It's Overlord who followed us out." No one knew when the little guy came out, and in order not to be driven back, it did not follow the car, but followed far behind. If Min Xi had not looked back, he would not have noticed that it had caught up.

Yun Ji looked back and said, "It's quite brave. Let it follow."

Min Xi waved at the little overlord: "Overlord, hurry up!"

When the little bully heard him being called, he quickly chased after him. Yun Ji did not stop to let it get in, but let it follow beside the carriage. Normally, it ate and slept and did not like to move, so now was a good time for it to exercise.

The two lived in the northern suburbs of the city, and McCaughlin's home was in the eastern suburbs. It was not very close to go to his place, so every time they went out they had to ride a horse or take a car. Although it was a little farther to go through the city, the road was easier to walk on.

Potatoes can usually be harvested three months after planting. The potatoes they planted in February are now beginning to turn yellow and their branches and leaves are dry, so they can be harvested. Otherwise, they will rot in the ground if they are not dug up.

The potatoes that Min Xi planted for the first time were about to be harvested. He was both nervous and excited. After all, this was a question of whether he would make another trip to Spain.

Before they even arrived, Min Xi began to mutter, "You must grow more and bigger. I don't want to go to Valencia anymore."

Yun Ji found it funny: "Look at how lush the leaves are, it must be good."

"I hope so!" said Min Xi.