The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Tao Hong sat on the podium, looked at Min Xi, and asked, "Min Xi, is the provincial examination over?"

Min Xi held Yun Lin and stood up: "Master, it's over. I ranked tenth in the provincial examination, which is not very good. I hope I didn't embarrass you too much."

Tao Hong stroked his beard and nodded: "10th place is still not bad. You have only been studying seriously for less than two years, which shows that you have good talent. Study hard, and you will have a bright future."

"The students will work hard!" Min Xi responded respectfully.

Yun Ji came in from outside to help Tao Hong get the lecture notes, and held out his hand to support him: "Grandfather, please walk slowly."

Tao Hong walked out of the classroom slowly, leaning on one hand and holding a cane in the other.

They talked about the situation in Yingtian Prefecture, and then Min Xi and Yun Ji said goodbye to the Tao family and went back in the carriage.

Along the way, Yunlin held Min Xi tightly and refused to let go, fearing that he would leave again.

Yun Ji said, "Lin'er, the weather is hot, your second brother is sweating, get off him and sit still. Your second brother won't leave for a while."

Yunlin took a look, got off Min Xi, sat next to him, and said, "I want to sleep with my second brother tonight."

Yun Ji's face turned dark, but he didn't say no.

Min Xi smiled and said, "I originally planned to wait until I finished the college entrance examination before returning to Beijing. This round trip will take at least half a month."

Yun Ji said hurriedly: "The college entrance examination is still more than three months away. If you come back, your grandfather can still give you some pointers on your studies."

"Yeah, I thought so too, that's why I rushed back." Min Xi yawned. He had been running all the way and now he had met everyone he wanted to see. He felt completely relaxed. He felt sleepy before he even got home.

Yun Ji changed sides and sat down on the other side of Min Xi, letting him take a nap leaning on his shoulder.

Min Xi has been away from the capital for the past few months, and Yun Ji has never felt at ease. Now that he is back, he can finally feel at ease.

The next day after Min Xi came back, he went to the school as usual. Yun Ji finally stopped making excuses not to go to the academy, and life returned to normal. The two of them were still apart more often than together, but they felt more at ease when they thought that the other was somewhere they knew.

When Min Xi came back, it was already early summer, and the lavender in the yard began to grow buds. When he was not at home, Yun Ji took very good care of his lavender. The survival rate of the lavender planted in the ground reached 30%, with at least nearly 100 plants, which was much better than last year when there were only a few plants.

The potted plants are also growing well. After they bloom this summer, the seeds we collect will be enough to take to the farm and sow.

During the time when Min Xi went to Yingtian Prefecture to take the Tongshi exam, the Xingyun also returned to Quanzhou. It arrived around the end of February in the Western calendar, which was around the Chinese New Year, and it returned earlier than in previous years.

Because they set out earlier than in previous years, they set out from Lisbon in September of the Western calendar. This voyage was smooth, with no storms or pirates. As long as the maritime trade can arrive safely, it is a big profit.

Min Xi and Yun Ji now have no time to go to Quanzhou and Macau to pick up the goods. Yun Ji wrote a letter to Yun An, asking him to bring Captain Reiss to Beijing in May, because he estimated that Min Xi would also return from Yingtianfu by then, and he could just meet Captain Reiss.

So Captain Reiss arrived about half a month after Min Xi returned to the capital. He also followed the local customs and changed into Ming Dynasty clothing. He had thick hair and beard, and he didn't look like a Ming Dynasty person in Ming Dynasty clothing, which looked a bit funny.

Min Xi gave him a warm hug: "Captain Leis, long time no see!"

He spoke Portuguese, and Captain Reis said in Chinese: "Min, long time no see!" It was a bit stiff, but Min understood it. It seemed that his Chinese had improved a lot.

After they finished talking, they couldn't help but laugh at each other. Min Xi asked, "How do you feel? Did the capital of Daming not disappoint you? I'm sorry, I've been busy recently and haven't been in the capital. I didn't know you had already arrived in Daming."

"It doesn't matter. I had a very interesting time in Quanzhou. I learned a lot from Mr. Yun An. Where is Yun?" asked Captain Reis.

"He is studying at the academy and will not be back until the end of the month. You can stay here these days. I will have someone accompany you to visit various places in the capital." Min Xi said.

"Okay, thank you. Where's Diego?" Captain Reis asked again.

"He's making snacks in the snack shop and will be back soon." Min Xi rolled up his sleeves, "Captain Reiss, you haven't eaten my dishes for a long time, I guess. I'll go make dinner for you."

Captain Reis laughed: "It was because of you that I came to the capital."

"Then I have to perform well. Time is tight today, so I'll just cook a home-cooked dish and then I'll make you a sumptuous meal tomorrow." Min Xi said.

"Okay, I love whatever you cook." Captain Reis said with a smile.

In the evening, Diego came back from the store and saw Captain Reis. He was so happy that he screamed and rushed over to hug Captain Reis.

After Captain Reis hugged him, he let him go and looked at Diego and said, "Wow, you look like a Ming Dynasty man now, and you've grown a lot taller. How about it, are you interested in going out to sea with me? Be my navigator."

Diego just laughed but didn't answer.

Captain Reis was joking, of course. He said, "You are doing well in Ming Dynasty. There is everything here. Beijing is much better than Lisbon. You can marry a wife, have a few children, and settle down here."

Min Xi smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely introduce a good girl to Diego when the time comes."

Diego blushed and said nothing.

Seeing this, Min Xi said, "Diego, if you have a girl you like, you can tell us and see if we can help you find a match."

Diego's ears turned red. Min Xi thought, it looks like there's hope. She can ask him privately which girl he likes. As long as the social status is not too different, she can still give it a try.

After dinner, Min Xi arranged for someone to boil water for Captain Reis to take a bath. He and Yun An were coordinating matters concerning the Yun Xiang. Yun An had been traveling around for the past few years and was no longer the little bookboy he used to be. He was already a businessman who could stand on his own. Yun Ji did not treat him as a servant, but as a partner, and he had to give him a considerable amount of dividends every year. Now he had also bought a house in the capital and land in the suburbs of Beijing, and he was considered a landlord.

Yun An is quite capable at work and has arranged things in an orderly manner. After finishing the work, Yun An said, "Master Min, after the Xingyun leaves for Fulangji in the fall, I want to rest for a while."

Min Xi was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Okay, I agree on behalf of Seventh Brother. You have been running around outside all these years. You have worked hard. It's time to have a good rest."

Yun An scratched his head: "The main reason is that I'm getting married in the second half of the year, so I want to take a break for a while."

"Really? Congratulations!" Min Xi said with a smile.

Yun An said somewhat embarrassedly, "Originally, I had always wanted to wait until my eldest brother got married before getting married. My eldest brother said that he didn't know when he would get married. If I have a girl I like, I will get married first and don't have to wait for him. I am not young anymore, and Li Niang has waited for me for several years. If I don't get married, her parents will marry her off to someone else."

"Then hurry up! We can afford to marry you." Min Xi said, "My seventh brother and I will prepare a big gift for you by then."

Yun An smiled and said, "Thank you! Actually, I would like to see my elder brother get married sooner."

Min Xi said: "That depends on big brother."

"Mr. Min is about the same age as me. When can I drink at Mr. Min's wedding?" Yun An turned the topic to Min Xi again.

Min Xi gave a perfunctory laugh and said, "I'll try to do it as soon as possible."

This is a troublesome matter, really worrying!

After Yun An left, Min Xi went to find Diego: "Diego, tell me the truth, are you interested in a girl from a certain family?"

"No, boss!" Diego blushed all the way to his neck.

"You won't tell me, right? Then I don't care. Just wait for her to marry someone else." Min Xi said deliberately.

Diego whispered, "I don't think she likes me."

"Who? How do you know that he doesn't like you if you don't ask?" Min Xi said.

"I don't know, maybe she's some maid from some family. She always comes to buy snacks for her lady. I don't even know her name yet." Diego said in a low voice.

"Okay, I'll ask Aunt Luo later and help you make your wish come true." Min Xi patted his shoulder.