The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Zhao Shizhen said, "I've been to Yunxiang Restaurant several times. The food there is really good, but it's hard to get a seat. The business is so hot. We haven't reserved a seat today, so I don't know if there are any seats available."

Min Xi looked at Yun Ji and laughed, "Don't worry, the boss is here, so I'll let you treat me to a meal."

Zhao Shizhen slapped his knee and said, "Yes, I almost forgot that Brother Yun is the owner of Yunxianghao. So all the Yunxiangji in Beijing belong to Brother Yun, right?"

"It is my family's property." Yun Ji said with a smile.

There were many scholars in the capital at that time, and Yunxiang Restaurant was crowded with guests every day. Many people made reservations in advance. If they went a little later, they would have to wait for a seat. Fortunately, they went early and it was not yet time for dinner, so they got a seat.

When the shopkeeper saw Yun Ji and Min Xi bringing people over, he thought he was going to treat them, and was about to make arrangements, but unexpectedly Min Xi smiled and said, "Today is our friend's treat."

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Okay, okay, but sir, the private room and the tables on the second floor have been reserved. Only seats are available on the first floor. I'm sorry to bother you to sit downstairs."

"Why not? Just arrange a quiet table for us." Min Xi waved his hand indifferently.

The shopkeeper led them to a more secluded table and asked, "What would you like to eat?"

Min Xi said, "Ask Mr. Zhao. We are the guests and follow the host's wishes."

Zhao Shizhen couldn't help but laugh and said, "I'm going to take over the show. All right, then. I'll order the dishes."

He asked Min Xi and Yun Ji about their dietary preferences and ordered five dishes and one soup. Min Xi said that the dishes here were large and three dishes and one soup would be enough, but Zhao Shizhen was so enthusiastic that he wanted to eat more and insisted on ordering two more dishes, so he had no choice but to let him do what he wanted.

Yunxiang Restaurant advocates the "clean plate" campaign and provides a take-away service. You can take away what you can't finish, but you have to pay for the take-away box. This was naturally Min Xi's idea. Although many dignitaries who come to Yunxiang Restaurant to eat disdain to take away, there are still many guests who are willing to take away. This take-away activity is quite popular and has become popular in Beijing.

Upon learning that the two had just finished the imperial examination, Zhao Shizhen expressed his envy and raised his teacup: "Then I wish you both success in the imperial examination!"

Min Xi took a sip of tea and waved his hand, saying, "I'm just taking the exam for fun. The important thing is to participate. I will definitely not pass. I just passed the exam last year, and I was the last in our Jiangnan Province. If I can pass the exam, it would be totally unfair!"

Zhao Shizhen said: "That means Brother Min has excellent luck in exams. Maybe he will pass the exam again this time."

Min Xi shrugged, looking indifferent.

Zhao Shizhen couldn't help but cover his face and sigh, "I took the provincial examination three times in a row, and failed each time. To be honest, I was quite discouraged. It would be very expensive to continue staying in the capital, but I was reluctant to go back to my hometown. When I left my hometown, everyone lined the streets to see me off, and I thought I would be able to rise to prominence from then on. Who would have thought that I would not even pass the provincial examination? I am really ashamed to face my fellow villagers."

Min Xi patted his shoulder and said, "Don't be discouraged, my dear brother. Everyone has different opportunities. Maybe your opportunity has not come yet."

Zhao Shizhen nodded: "Maybe!"

"Brother Zhao, how did you develop such good handwriting? It's as graceful as a flying dragon." Yun Ji changed the subject and said something to cheer up the other party.

Zhao Shizhen said, "I learned it from my grandfather since I was young. My grandfather was good at calligraphy and was appreciated by Emperor Shizong. He once served as the deputy of the Dali Temple and was famous for his calligraphy. I learned a little bit from him."

Yun Ji suddenly remembered something: "Is your grandfather Mr. Zhao a man of ill character?"

"Exactly!" Zhao Shizhen looked at Yun Ji in surprise, "Brother Yun actually knows our ancestor?"

Yun Ji said: "Mr. Zhao was good friends with my grandfather, and he collected a lot of his calligraphy. I have also copied some of them."

Min Xi understood that Zhao Shizhen was also a child of an aristocratic family. Wait, he seemed to have seen a description of Zhao Shizhen somewhere. He once searched for the development of firearms in the Ming Dynasty and it seemed that there was an expert in muskets, whose surname was Zhao and who was good at calligraphy. No way, could it really be him?

Min Xi suppressed his excitement and said, "It turns out that Brother Seven and Brother Zhao are old friends. What a rare fate! For this fate, we must have a drink! Tea instead of wine!"

Before the dishes were served, the three of them clinked their teacups together.

It just so happened that Yun Ji also knew calligraphy, so the two of them started chatting about this topic.

The dinner was a great success for both the host and the guests. When it was time to pay the bill, Min Xi pulled Zhao Shizhen to leave, but Zhao Shizhen insisted on paying the bill. He said that if he didn't pay, he looked down on him. In the end, he couldn't resist and let him pay the bill. Of course, the shopkeeper gave him a 20% discount, after all, he was the boss's friend.

Because Zhao Shizhen drank a little too much, he was not good at drinking and was a little staggering when walking. The two of them sent him back to the Imperial College. Out-of-town students like Zhao Shizhen had dormitories in the Imperial College, usually four people in a room.

However, he was old and had been in Beijing for many years. He had moved out of the Imperial College a long time ago and rented a room in the alley outside the Imperial College. Several of his classmates also rented a room in the same courtyard.

Min Xi and Yun Ji sent the man back to his residence. Zhao Shizhen was already confused. Fortunately, they had agreed on the number of the alley and courtyard beforehand. The alley was narrow and the carriage could not enter, so they stopped on the street outside. Min Xi and Yun Ji helped the man into the small courtyard, one on each side. When they entered, they saw someone cooking in the yard, with smoke billowing from the pot. When the man saw Zhao Shizhen coming back, he hurriedly asked, "Brother Changji, can you sell your calligraphy?"

After the other party finished speaking, he noticed Min Xi and Yun Ji standing on his left and right: "Who are you?"

"We are Chang Ji's friends. He drank a little too much, so we sent him back. His calligraphy has been sold. The food you fried seems to be burnt." Min Xi reminded him that Chang Ji was Zhao Shizhen's pen name, and he had told Min Xi and the others about it.

Hearing this, the man hurriedly shoveled the burnt egg out of the pan: "It's over, it's over, the last egg is burnt! We are really running out of food!"

Min Xi roughly understood what was going on and said with a smile: "Don't worry, Chang Ji's calligraphy sold for a good price. When he wakes up, ask him to lend it to you to buy eggs."

The man's face lit up with joy when he heard that: "Really? I'll help you open the door, just wait a moment." The man added a ladle of water into the pot and came over to help Zhao Shizhen get the key to open the door.

"My name is Ding Yan. I'm Chang Ji's classmate and a student at the Imperial College. We rent a house here together."

"Nice to meet you. My name is Min Xi and this is my sworn brother Yun Ji. We ran into Chang Ji at the bookstore today and we got along really well. We had dinner together. He was in a good mood and drank a little too much." Min Xi said.

"Nice to meet you! Brother Chang Ji likes to drink, but his alcohol tolerance is not very good. Thank you for your concern. Just leave him to me. Please do as you please!" Ding Yan took Zhao Shizhen from them and helped him to the bed.

Zhao Shizhen's room looked like a typical single man's dormitory, with things piled together and very messy. However, as Min Xi had expected, there were many things worth seeing in the room: Zhao Shizhen's own handwriting and paintings, his handwriting was more than one or two levels higher than his painting level. In addition, there were many figurines, such as ship models, chariots, crossbows, muskets, cannons, etc., made of wood, pottery, and iron, finished products, semi-finished products, and many parts and tools of various colors, which should have been made by him. This confirmed Min Xi's guess that it was Zhao Shizhen, the musket expert.

Min Xi and Yun Ji were attracted by these things. They stood by the table and watched. Because they did not get the owner's consent, neither of them took action. It can be seen that Yun Ji was more shocked than Min Xi, after all, Min Xi was mentally prepared.

Ding Yan helped Zhao Shizhen wipe off his shoes and covered him with a quilt. He turned around and looked at the two guests staring at the messy table. He said, "These are all made by Brother Changji himself. He is actually richer than us, but he used all his money to buy these things. So sometimes he is as tight as us and has to sell some calligraphy and paintings to supplement his life."

Min Xi smiled and nodded: "I understand." Isn't this a typical case of male college students? At the end of the month or the end of the semester, all the living expenses are spent, and everyone pools the remaining change together to get through the lean days.

Ding Yan said, "Please help yourself. I have some water boiling over there. I am going to cook noodles."

Min Xi smiled and said, "Go ahead."