The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Min Xi led everyone to a hotel with slightly better sanitary conditions on Dengta Street. After arranging for them to stay, he told them: "Change your mattresses. Although they are a little dirty, they are definitely better than the hotel's mattresses. At least you can sleep soundly. After I rent a house in two days, we will move in and clean it thoroughly then. When you are away from home, there is no need to be so particular."

These sailors understood his arrangement very well. The only European they had the most contact with was Diego. Perhaps because of his similar eating and living habits, Diego didn't smell very bad. But when they had a short contact with the Europeans at the supply point, the pungent body odor made these self-proclaimed rough and slovenly men feel ashamed. It was an unforgettable experience.

When they learned that the two bosses had arrived in Lisbon with a group of Portuguese people on a ship, had lived with those people day and night for several months on the ship, and had stayed in Lisbon for several years, they really admired the two bosses' patience.

After arranging the accommodation, Min Xi took the sailors to Magellan Street. Although they had been away for more than a year, he believed that the Chinese Hotel must still be open.

As expected, the Chinese restaurant was just now receiving customers, and business was booming. Min Xi led everyone in, and Jasper behind the counter subconsciously said, "Welcome - Boss? Boss! It's really you!"

Min Xi raised his hand to greet Jasper: "Jasper, you are still cashing."

Jasper came out from behind the counter and walked up to Min Xi: "Boss, you're back! Where's Boss Yun? Are these people your companions?"

"Yun Dongjia is here too. He went to Baron Fernando's house first. I brought my companions here to have dinner." Min Xi said with a smile.

Jasper shouted, and Miss Connor, who was greeting guests, also heard it. She turned her head and was overjoyed. She also ran over quickly: "Boss! You're back!"

"Ms. Kanna, long time no see!" Min Xi greeted with a smile.

Miss Connor left the guests and ran to the kitchen. She shouted and everyone who was busy in the kitchen came out, including Gail, Amanda, Greta, and two new faces. When they saw Min Xi, they were all very excited. They didn't expect to see their old boss again one day.

Min Xi greeted everyone with a smile and said, "Hurry up and get busy. There are so many guests waiting to eat. Don't burn the food. I'm back and I won't leave for a while. There's plenty of time to get together."

"The boss is having dinner here tonight, it's my treat," said Gail.

Jasper also said quickly: "Yes, the host can order whatever he wants to eat tonight."

Min Xi waved his hand: "Don't get excited, everyone, go and get busy. Don't rush to treat us. I brought my companions here to eat. Let's order the dishes as usual. I won't eat here tonight, I have to go to the Baron's place."

Min Xi arranged for the sailors to sit at the table. Since one table could not accommodate them all, they were divided into two tables. Min Xi helped them order the dishes and paid the bills. He then told the sailors, "I have already settled the bill. After you finish eating, go back to the hotel the same way you came. There is a curfew here. Although it is not very strict, we are foreigners, so it is better for us to abide by the rules. I will meet you at the hotel tomorrow morning."

"Okay, boss, you go ahead and do your work. I have memorized the way and can get back." said a sailor.

They knew they were going to live in Portugal for a while, and they had learned some simple Portuguese from Diego on the boat, so they should be able to cope with it. Besides, the name of the hotel called "Susa" was easy to remember, so they just needed to ask around.

As soon as Min Xi walked out of the hotel, he ran into an acquaintance, Lord Mello. Lord Mello had just gotten off the carriage and was about to turn around to help the girl in the carriage. When he saw Min Xi's figure at the entrance of the hotel, he thought he had seen it wrong. He turned his head again, his body was shocked, his eyes widened, and he shouted excitedly: "Mr. Min?!"

Min Xi didn't expect it to be such a coincidence that he could meet so many acquaintances on the first day in Lisbon. He raised his hand and greeted them with a natural smile: "Lord Melo, long time no see!"

Lord Melo looked at Min Si, then at the beautiful girl who was about to get off the car with her hand outstretched, and he still maintained his gentlemanly manners and helped the girl down first. The girl wore a wide-brimmed hat, a dark green velvet wide skirt, and her waist was not slender, and it could be seen that she had a very slim figure.

After Lord Melo helped the girl out of the carriage, he walked straight to Min Xi, his expression inevitably excited: "Mr. Min, I didn't expect you to come back. Are you coming back alone?"

Min Xi smiled and said, "Yun and I are back, and we've also brought a boatload of goods."

"Where are the clouds?" Lord Mello looked around hurriedly.

"He went to the Baron's house first. Sir, are you here for dinner? You guys go and have your meal first. We will stay for a long time after returning this time. We will get together again later." Min Xi said.

Lord Mello asked, "So where do you live now?"

"I'm temporarily living in the Baron's house." Min Xi did not hide it.

"Are you going to Pedro's house?"

"Exactly."

Lord Mellor said, "It's not close from here. Please take my carriage and let my driver take you there."

Min Xi did not refuse: "Thank you." He was very tired and wanted to find a carriage to take him there. Now that he had a ride, he naturally would not refuse and got on the lord's carriage without hesitation.

After Min Xi left, the girl next to Lord Melo asked curiously, "Who is this gentleman?"

Lord Mellor watched the carriage leave and said, "A friend."

"You forgot to introduce your friend to me." said the girl.

Lord Mellor said perfunctorily: "Oh, I forgot. Let's go and have dinner."

The girl obviously noticed that his mood had dropped. He was no longer as excited as before, and seemed as stable as he had been since she had known him.

Min Xi took Melo's carriage and soon arrived at Baron Fernando's manor by the sea. As soon as he got off the carriage, Yun Ji came up to him with a smile on his face: "Ninth brother!"

Min Xi looked him up and down and asked, "Why haven't you showered or changed clothes after being here for so long?"

"The Baron's house also has a big bathhouse, and it takes a long time to boil water. I think it's a waste for one person to take a bath, so I'm waiting for you to come and take a bath together." Yun Ji said.

Min Xi smiled and said, "Okay, is the water ready? Okay, let's go take a shower first."

Yun Ji nodded: "That should be about right. That carriage belongs to Lord Mello." He recognized the family emblem on the carriage.

"It's his. I took the sailors to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. When I came out, I met Lord Mello. He asked his coachman to bring me here." Min Xi explained.

"I see. Did you go to eat?"

"No, if I had to eat, I wouldn't have come so soon. I'll take them to find a hotel first, and then find them a place to eat. Apart from Chinese restaurants, I'm afraid there won't be many places that suit their taste."

The baron came out of the room and said, "Can't you two go inside and talk? Why do you have to stand in the wind and talk?"

Min Xi smiled and said, "I'm coming. Let's go inside quickly. The wind is quite strong."

The Baron's house actually only looks bright on the surface. The wind is really strong in winter and spring. It's only early spring now and the wind is still chilly.

As soon as I entered the house, the feeling was indeed different, warm as spring. It turned out that several fireplaces in the living room were all burning brightly, and the indoor temperature was at least several degrees higher than outside.

Alice was sitting on the sofa, pushing a cradle. When she saw Min Xi coming in, she quickly stood up and bowed like a lady: "Mr. Min, long time no see, welcome to visit!"

Min Xi stepped forward and returned the gentleman's greeting: "Madam, long time no see! You look really good, more beautiful than before."

After giving birth, Alice looked a lot plumper and more charming. She smiled widely: "Thank you!"

Min Xi walked to the cradle and looked at the baby playing with a rattle inside. It was a very beautiful doll, who looked very much like Alice: "Wow, what a cute little baby. She is so beautiful. What's her name?" The rattle was a gift that Min Xi and Yun Ji brought to the child.

The baron walked to the cradle, squatted down, and picked up his daughter: "Bella, come and meet your Chinese uncle, this is Uncle Min."

"So your name is Bella, what a nice name. Hello, Bella!" Min Xi reached out and gently touched little Bella's little face.

Bella was not afraid of strangers. She looked at Min Xi and grinned at him. She had just grown four teeth and looked very cute.

The baron said, "Don't you want to take a bath? The hot water is ready, go and take a bath. After you take a bath, we will have dinner together."

"it is good!"

Min Xi and Yun Ji took their change of clothes and went to the bathroom to take a shower and change clothes. They took a comfortable hot bath in the large bathtub. When they came out of the bath, dinner was already served, so they sat down and ate their first meal since returning to Europe.

Min Xi discovered that what they were eating was actually seafood rice.

The baron said proudly, "Come and taste the cooking of my cook. We harvested a lot of rice last year, and now we can almost achieve paella freedom."

Min Xi took a bite and nodded with satisfaction: "Very delicious!"

The baron said, "It's made according to the recipe you left behind. Your Majesty also loves paella. Paella is very popular in Lisbon now. Every restaurant has it. Although the methods of making it vary, the taste is generally not bad."

Min Xi smiled and said, "It seems that I can be regarded as the first person to bring paella to Lisbon."

"Absolutely, you are a great hero!" The baron gave him a thumbs up.