The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

After the potatoes were dried, Min Xi picked out a few and planned to give them to the baron. As for whether he wanted to eat them or keep them for seeds, it was up to him to decide.

That afternoon, Min Xi and Yun Ji were preparing dinner for ten people in the evening. They heard the little bully's call. Min Xi looked out the window, but he couldn't see the front door from this position: "Did the guests arrive so early today?"

Yun Ji put down what he was holding and wiped his hands on his apron: "I'll go take a look."

After a while, Yun Ji returned to the kitchen, took off her apron and said, "The Baron is here. He said he has something to talk to us about." As he spoke, he took the kettle that had been heated on the stove and went outside to make tea for the Baron.

Upon hearing this, Min Xi wiped her hands on her apron and took it off: "What's the matter?" Then she followed Yun Ji out.

"Pedro, you're here?" Min Xi greeted the baron.

The baron was playing with the little bully, and when he saw Min Xi, he said, "Didn't you ask me to find out the news about the 'Shark'? I have already found it for you."

Min Xi and Yun Ji asked in unison: "How is it? Is the boat okay?"

The baron sighed, "The ship was fine, but when it was heading to Indochina, many crew members were infected with scurvy. Nearly half of them died. The entire ship was seriously damaged. Even the navigator died. Due to the shortage of manpower, the ship was unable to set off."

"How could it be so serious? Didn't they go for supplies?" Min Xi was extremely surprised. Scurvy has always been the biggest killer of European sailors, but he thought the route to Asia should be safe because there were many places to resupply along the way. He didn't expect that the Shark would be like this.

The baron sighed: "I don't know the details, maybe something unexpected happened along the way."

"Then the ship won't come back? Mr. Sanvis should be okay, right?"

The baron shook his head. "I haven't heard that the captain is in trouble. I think they can still come back. Find a ship willing to take them and follow them back. But their ship is short of crew, so the speed must be slow. Other ships may not be willing to take them because it will delay their journey."

This is indeed a very realistic problem. Min Xi sighed helplessly, but there is a way to get him back. Just spend money. As long as the price is high, there are still people willing to take him back. He has not returned for such a long time. Most likely, the price has not been negotiated, otherwise he would not have not returned for two years.

Seeing the baron coming, Min Xi gave him potatoes and told him how to eat and plant them. The baron said, "You only gave me five. I can either eat them or use them as seeds. Why not give me more?"

"We can't have any more. We don't have much to begin with. We have to take it back to Ming Dynasty for seeds. If you want to use it for seeds, you can eat it next year." Min Xi said.

"Okay!" The Baron had no choice but to say nothing. It was always easier for him to get potato seeds than Min Si. After all, he had ships that went to the New World frequently.

In June, tomatoes were finally ready to eat. In addition to letting McCaw grow peppers and tomatoes, Min Si also planted a lot in their own yard. Because he took good care of them, the tomatoes grew a lot and were big.

Min Xi had already picked them out and kept a few of the biggest and best ones for seeds, while they themselves would eat the smaller and less attractive ones first.

However, Min Xi did not expect that there was another big problem. As soon as the tomatoes were ripe, they were targeted by birds.

One morning, he went to the vegetable garden to pick vegetables and took a look at the big tomatoes he had saved. He was shocked to find that the largest and reddest tomato had broken and had obvious signs of being pecked by birds. Because it was a seed and he planned to wait until it was fully ripe before picking it, it was redder than the other tomatoes.

Birds have animal instincts and can always accurately find the sweetest fruit on a tree. So this tomato for seed was chosen.

Min Xi was helpless. These birds were too powerful. There were at least hundreds of tomatoes in this field, but they actually targeted the most important one.

Min Xi thought about it and decided to leave the tomato that was pecked. Since they had eaten it, he would leave it for them to eat. Maybe it would not harm the next one. In order to protect the other seeded players, Min Xi picked a few pumpkin leaves and covered the tomatoes. Although it would reduce their exposure to sunlight, it would at least ensure that they could mature safely and naturally.

Once tomatoes are ripe, the dishes become more diverse. You can make squirrel fish, sour soup fish, and even sour soup hot pot. For Chinese people, hot pot can be eaten all year round.

In the summer mornings, Yunji’s favorite dish is tomato and egg noodles, which are simple, sour, refreshing and appetizing.

Min Xi said, "It would be great if we had beef. Stewed beef brisket with tomatoes would be really delicious. Why doesn't Portugal learn from the British and Spanish and engage in animal husbandry and raise beef cattle? It's a pity that we didn't have tomatoes when we were in Britain and Spain, and we don't have beef in Portugal. It's a pity anyway."

Yun Ji couldn't imagine the taste, but after hearing Min Xi say that, he felt that it must be delicious: "I'll have the chance to eat it in the future." Although the Ming Dynasty prohibited the killing of working oxen, there would still be opportunities to eat beef.

Once the tomatoes are ripe, the peppers can be eaten, but you will have to wait a few days to collect the pepper seeds.

There are a lot of peppers, but they are not selling well in Chinese restaurants and single-table restaurants. Few Portuguese people can eat spicy food. Of course, they are still working hard to promote spicy food, intending to make Portugal the first European country that loves spicy food.

Min Xi picked some green peppers, washed and dried them, and made pickled peppers. He also chopped some chili peppers and made chopped peppers. He planned to make chopped pepper fish head. It’s hard to say about other things in Lisbon, but there is always enough fish. There are all kinds of fish. Min Xi plans to try them one by one and pick out the tastiest one.

This year, a large field of corn was planted, and the corn had already formed ears this season. Because it was a large field, there was no need for artificial pollination, and the natural pollination effect was very good. The corn cobs were all very strong. Min Xi picked a few tender corns and brought them back, cooked them and gave them to Yun Ji to taste.

After eating it, Yun Ji said, "It tastes pretty good."

Min Xi said, "Isn't it? As a food, it is more convenient than rice and wheat. It can be eaten when it is tender. When it is old, it can be ground into powder. Cornmeal is the same as flour, and it can also be used to make steamed buns."

"It's a good thing. It looks a bit like sorghum. I think people in the Ming Dynasty will be more likely to accept it." Yun Ji said.

"They look a bit similar, but sorghum's fruit is at the top, while corn has male flowers at the top and its fruit is on the branches."

The baron said that the ship going to Ming Dynasty had not returned by July, so Min Xi and Yun Ji had to make plans. They had to find out in advance which ships were going to Asia this year and reserve seats with them, maybe they could catch a ride back.

Of course, it would be best if the Baron’s ship could come back so that they could go directly to Ming Dynasty and come to Europe with the ship next year.

By July, the only seeds that Min Xi needed to collect that had not yet arrived were peanuts, corn and sweet potatoes. Peanuts and corn would be old in August, so there was no need to rush. Only the sweet potatoes were a bit troublesome.

One Saturday night, Min Xi cooked dinner and waited for Diego to come back, but he didn't come back until after 8 o'clock. This was not like him. Every Saturday evening after closing the store, he would run home, afraid that he would stay outside for a while longer.

Min Xi looked at the cold food and said, "Diego, was he delayed by something, or did he have an accident on the way? Why hasn't he returned yet?"

Yun Ji said, "How about I go and take a look?"

Min Xi said, "Okay, go and have a look."

Yun Ji led the horse out and rode out the door. When the little overlord saw him go out, he followed him. Yun Ji pulled the reins and said, "Overlord, go back!"

Min Xi said, "Let him follow us. It's dark at night, and with him following us, if we run into Diego on the road, he can find us. Overlord, go!"

After receiving the order, the little bully ran all the way to catch up with the horse.

Yunji went and came back around nine o'clock, with Diego sitting behind his horse.

Diego looked very embarrassed when he saw Min Xi. "I'm sorry, boss. Mittel and the others insisted on asking me to teach him how to make snacks today. It's a bit late. I was thinking of going back tomorrow morning, but I didn't expect the boss to come to pick me up. I didn't tell you in advance. I'm sorry for making you worry."

Min Xi said: "I'm glad you're okay. Have you eaten?"

"I've already eaten. Haven't you eaten yet?" Diego saw the food on the table, twisted his hands together, and felt more and more uneasy.

"It's okay. It's okay for us to eat later." Min Xi comforted him, "Would you like to eat something with us?"

"Okay!" Diego didn't want to disappoint Min Xi's kindness, so he sat down at the table.

Yun Ji had already tied up the horse, washed his hands, and sat at the table to eat with them. Min Xi had reheated the food, so it was still warm and not cold.

Min Xi said, "They don't learn from you during normal times, so why do they come to learn from you at night?"

"They all know how to make it, but there are a few snacks that they just can't make right, so they want to redo them and ask me to watch them," Diego said, his voice lowering. "They know their boss is leaving soon, so they want to learn more while we're still here."

Min Xi nodded after hearing this: "I see. Seventh Brother, let's take some time to go to the store next week and talk to everyone about this. We are leaving, and we have to deal with this store. Let's see who is willing to take over these two stores and give them time to prepare the transfer fee."

"Okay!" Yun Ji nodded.

Min Xi asked Diego: "Diego, do you really want to go with us? Think about it carefully. If you go to Ming Dynasty with us, you won't know anyone except us."

Diego's eyes were firm: "Wherever the boss goes, I will follow you."

Yun Ji said, "If you stay in Lisbon, Oriental Taste will be yours, and there is no transfer fee. The store has a stable customer flow, and the monthly income does not fluctuate much. All the money you earn will belong to you."

Diego shook his head: "I don't want it, I'm following my boss."

Min Xi and Yun Ji looked at each other and sighed helplessly. This kid is still too emotional. If he is a little smarter. According to the current income of Oriental Taste, he will have at least several hundred reais a year, which is definitely a high-income group in Lisbon. Compared with his previous social status, it will definitely be a world of difference. It's a pity that this kid doesn't know how to use an abacus.