The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Fernando pushed the door open and walked in: "Haha, my old friend, what delicious food did you bring me again?"

Min Xi smiled and saluted: "Your Excellency Baron, today I brought you the most representative snack in China, steamed buns."

Fernando couldn't help rubbing his hands: "Let me taste what it tastes like."

Min Xi opened the food box. Fernando looked at the plump white buns and reached out to grab them. Butler Jody behind him reminded him, "Sir, please wash your hands first."

Fernando ignored him, but was stopped by Min Xi: "Baron, you should wash your hands before eating. Otherwise, if you feel uncomfortable after eating, it will be my responsibility."

Fernando had no choice but to turn around and wash his hands in the silver basin beside him: "Don't worry, this won't be your fault anyway."

After washing his hands, he couldn't wait to grab the bun and take a bite. His eyes widened immediately. He didn't expect it to be so soft. The fluffy and soft bun skin and the delicious crab meat filling were a perfect match, which was more delicious than crab meat dumplings.

Fernando finished a fist-sized bun in just three or four bites, and couldn't wait to grab another one: "Min, you are a genius when it comes to eating! You invented so many delicious foods."

Min Xi said: "This is not my invention. It is the result of the wisdom of countless Chinese people. When it comes to eating, Chinese people are indeed better than Europeans."

Fernando said: "More than that! I think it is much better!"

"Pedro, what delicious food are you eating without telling us?" The group of friends outside pushed the door open and rushed in. They originally just wanted to eavesdrop, but when they stuck close to the door and listened, they found that all they were talking about was food, so they couldn't wait to rush in.

Seeing everyone rushing in, Fernando subconsciously hugged the food box that Min Xi brought in his arms, fearing that it would be snatched away by those bad friends: "This is mine, you have no share!"

When Min Xi and Yun Ji saw the stranger who suddenly appeared, they looked at each other and smiled knowingly. Isn’t this a potential guest who came to their doorstep?

A man with a Balboa-style beard saw them and said with an exaggerated expression: "Are these two gentlemen not locals?"

Min Xi replied calmly: "Yes, sir, we are from China."

Everyone said, "It seems that you brought these delicious foods, Pedro. Pedro, you can't eat them alone, everyone who sees them should have a share!"

Everyone gathered around the baron, wanting to share the bun in his arms, but the baron was reluctant to give it to anyone. There were five friends here, and if each of them got one, that would mean five. That would be half gone, and his heart was bleeding.

Fernando yelled, "Wait, these buns were made by Min. You can eat them, but you have to pass Min's test!"

Fernando was reluctant to give up the steamed buns, so he threw the task of embarrassing his friend to Min Xi.

Min Xi was also stunned. He didn't expect the baron to do such a thing.

Those people all looked at Min Xi and Yun Ji: "Tell me quickly, how are you going to test us?"

Min Xi thought for a moment and said, "Your Excellency the Baron, I want to go to your greenhouse to pick some wolfberries."

Fernando laughed when he heard this: "Go, go!"

Min Xi stood up and was stopped by Yun Ji: "Ninth brother, what are you going to do?" He guessed what Min Xi was thinking, but it was too crazy.

Min Xi said, "It's okay, they don't dare to eat it."

Min Xi walked quickly into the greenhouse, picked several bright red tomatoes and came back, saying with a smile: "The Baron asked me to test you all, so I'll give you a question. Whoever dares to eat a wolf peach will have to eat a bun."

Everyone's face changed when they heard this. This group of friends had actually bet several times for this wolf peach, but in the end no one dared to eat it.

Yun Ji's face became even uglier when he understood what was said, and he shouted at him, "Min Xi, don't do anything rash. This is a matter of life and death!" If those people were poisoned, they would be sued.

Min Xi gave him a soothing look: "Seventh Brother, don't worry, they know their limits, no one dares to eat it."

When Fernando saw Min Xi's method, he burst into laughter: "Min, you are amazing! Well done!"

Those people had complicated expressions and no one dared to try.

Fernando gloated: "What are you worried about? Isn't Cafu here? He is a doctor and he can treat you immediately."

Cafu was one of the friends. When he was named, Cafu touched his nose and said, "Anyone of you can eat it. If you feel uncomfortable, I can wash your stomach."

Min Xi said: "To be honest, I have eaten a piece of wolf peach. It tastes sour and sweet, and has no side effects. I think it is harmless. I just don't know if you gentlemen have the courage to try it."

Everyone was stunned, including Fernando: "Have you really eaten it?"

Min Xi nodded: "I brought two back from you last time. I took a bite and now it seems that there is no harm."

The man with the Balboa beard said, "Are you serious? If you have eaten it before, would you dare to eat it again now?"

"I dare." Min Xi said.

Yun Ji understood what he said, and when he saw Min Xi wanted to eat tomatoes again, he became anxious: "Ninth brother, have you forgotten what you promised me?"

Min Xi turned around and looked at him seriously: "Seventh Brother, this is a great opportunity. If I eat it this time, I believe the whole of Lisbon and even France will know that wolfberries are actually non-toxic."

Yun Ji asked, "So what if you prove it is non-toxic?"

Min Xi said: "First, it can correct its name. It is not poisonous in itself, but people think it is poisonous. It has been misunderstood for so many years. Although it is a plant, it will feel very unfair. Secondly, I can use it to cook."

Yun Ji was silent for a moment after hearing this, and then said, "Okay, I'll help you prove it."

"Okay." Min Xi knew that tomatoes were rich in nutrients and did not stop him.

Everyone couldn't understand Chinese, so they watched them discuss for a while. Then Yun Ji took a wolf peach from Min Xi's hand, opened his mouth and took a bite, and a sweet and sour taste spread in his mouth.

Min Xi looked at him and asked, "Seventh Brother, is it sweet and sour?"

Yun Ji nodded: "Yes, it tastes good."

Soon, Yunji finished eating the whole tomato.

The others were stunned, with a hint of admiration in their eyes. He actually dared to eat it!

Min Xi said, "We have already eaten it. Are there any of you gentlemen who dare to try it?"

Fernando even forgot to eat the buns: "Really? What does it taste like?"

Yun Ji said in Portuguese: "Sour and sweet." He had just learned this phrase from Min Xi.

Fernando said, "That doesn't sound bad. Do you dare to eat it? If you dare to eat it, I will give you a bun."

His friend was still a little hesitant, so Dr. Cafu said, "Why don't you wait a little longer? The poison may not take effect immediately."

Fernando said with a smile: "Then you just wait patiently." Then he sat down and tasted the buns with relish.

When the friends saw this, they realized that half of the buns had been eaten in such a short while. If they waited any longer, even if they dared to eat the wolf peaches, there would be no buns left.

Seeing that everyone was still afraid to eat it, Min Xi took one and started eating. There were not many types of vegetables in Fulanji, and there were not many fruits in this season. Tomatoes are a very nutritious fruit.

Yun Ji saw him eating again and felt helpless: "Why are you eating again? Didn't I already eat?"

Min Xi whispered, "It's okay. You've already eaten, so what does it matter if I eat again? We are one anyway. If you die, there's no point in me living alone."

When Yun Ji heard this, he was shocked and suddenly remembered the time Min Xi kissed him that night. At that time he said it was a joke and he didn't dare to think too much about it. But now combined with this sentence, he felt that it had a different meaning.

Seeing that he was silent, Min Xi leaned over and whispered, "Don't worry, Seventh Brother, we will all live long lives."

Yun Ji rolled his eyes at him and said, "It's better this way."

Cafu said, "Let me check on you two."

Min Xi said, “Okay.”

Cafu checked their eyes, mouths, noses, and tongues, and then put his hands on their necks to feel their pulses. Amid everyone's anticipation, he said, "Nothing unusual. I'm going to give it a try."

After Cafu finished speaking, he took a bite of a tomato, but he didn't dare to eat more. As agreed, Fernando gave him a bun.

He was eating a crab meat bun. After taking a bite, his eyes lit up: "What is this made of? It's so delicious!"

Min Xi said: "The bun skin is made of wheat flour, and the filling is crab meat."

"How can wheat flour be so soft?" Cafu was incredulous. "How did you do it?"

Min Xi smiled and said, "This is the secret recipe of us Chinese."

Although the other people were very interested in the buns, they thought about giving up because of the wolf peach and just not eating them. Now after hearing what Cafu said, they couldn't help but want to taste the buns.

Fernando had just eaten six buns and was almost full, so he stopped and said, "Are you really unwilling to take the risk? I think there's still time."

Under his encouragement, some people finally started eating tomatoes again.

Tomatoes are somewhat different from the cherry tomatoes that were cultivated later. Although they are sour and sweet, they have a raw taste. People who eat them for the first time will find them a bit strange. Everyone thinks they are not bad, but not particularly delicious either, so they only take one bite and then stop.

Fortunately, everyone got buns as compensation. Some had mutton buns and some had crab meat buns. Since they could only eat one, they couldn't finish trying both flavors, so they all looked at Min Xi with a sense of unsatisfaction.

Min Xi took the opportunity to say, "I came here today because I have something to ask of you, Lord Baron."

"You say." Fernando had eaten several meals with Min Xi, so he wanted to give him something in return.

Min Xi did not beat around the bush: "I want to open a Chinese restaurant, but I'm short of some funds. I would like to ask the Baron to be my guarantor so that I can get a loan from the bank."