The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

The two of them toured Zhao Shizhen's house for a while, then closed the door for Zhao Shizhen and came out. They said hello to Ding Yan who was cooking noodles outside the door and left.

After leaving the courtyard, Yun Ji sighed: "This Zhao Shizhen is a rare talent. He should be sent to the Ministry of War or the Shenjiying."

"Yes, it would be a pity if such talents were left to their own devices. But what should we do?" Min Xi asked.

Yun Ji thought for a moment and said, "I'm going to send the painting to the palace in a few days, so I can take his calligraphy to His Majesty. If I mention it to His Majesty, maybe he can make an exception for the offer. The students of the Imperial College are eligible for special offers."

"Really? That's great!" Min Xi was worried that he couldn't find an opportunity to recommend him to the emperor.

A few days later, the results of the imperial examination were announced. Early in the morning, Tao Xing went out to Shuntian Prefecture to check the list.

Min Xi and Yun Ji still had their usual schedule. Min Xi slept until he woke up naturally. Yun Ji had already gotten up to send Yun Lin out to school, and when he came back he finished a set of boxing and prepared breakfast.

Min Xi woke up just in time, and the two of them had breakfast together. The little bully lay on the table, watching them eat soup dumplings with his mouth watering.

Min Xi found it funny and sucked the soup from the soup dumpling. He tore off half of the dumpling and threw it to the tiger. Before the dumpling even hit the ground, it grabbed it in its mouth and swallowed it whole.

Min Xi said: "Why is it so greedy? Haven't you fed it yet?"

"Why didn't you feed it? It had already eaten when Lin'er was having breakfast. It ate seven or eight buns. Its appetite is bigger than mine." Yun Ji said.

"It's a hunting dog, so it's normal for it to have a big appetite." Min Xi said as he fed it two more soup dumplings.

After dinner, Yun Ji cleaned up the dishes and went to the kitchen. Min Xi said, "Why don't I see Tao Xing and Tao Sheng?"

"They went to check the list early in the morning," said Yun Ji.

Min Xi slapped his forehead suddenly: "I actually forgot about this, the results will be announced today!"

"I thought you didn't care about this." Yun Ji smiled.

"How can I not care! Even if I fail the exam, you still have hope." Min Xi said.

"I will probably not pass the exam. Tao Shu and Tao Yu have a greater chance of passing," said Yun Ji.

Min Xi asked: "Do you want to see the list?"

Yun Ji shook his head: "Forget it, let them go and see, we will just wait for news at home."

Since he was not going out, Min Xi just did his own thing. He took out his pencil and ruler and continued to draw his design. What he drew was no longer a steam engine, because the steam engine had already been drawn. What he was drawing now was a bicycle, wondering if he could make a bicycle.

Min Xi knew that the easiest thing to do was to draw the drawings, but the most difficult thing was to make all the designs come true. Although this was the work of a craftsman, as long as he turned the designs into objects little by little, there was another problem that had to be solved, which was the materials.

I don't know if the smelting level of the Ming Dynasty has reached the level required to manufacture these parts, and I have to go back and figure out how to make steel. Although he has studied chemistry, it is only the basics, and most of it has been forgotten. I don't know if it is enough.

While Min Xi was drawing, Yun Ji was looking at the account book. Yun Xiang Hao was his business. In the past few years, he was studying for exams, and Yun Zhen and Yun An helped him manage it. Now that he had some free time, he had to take a look.

Min Xi was busy when the little bully who was lying at his feet suddenly stood up and looked towards the door.

Min Xi noticed its change and asked, "Someone is coming. Is Tao Xing back?"

Yun Ji put down the account book: "I'll go take a look."

The person who came was not Tao Xing, but a servant working in the front yard. He came to report that the bookstore had framed the painting and sent it over today.

Yun Ji went to take the framed calligraphy and paintings back to the study, opened them and appreciated them carefully with Min Xi. The painting "Bright Wind and Clear Moon" written by Zhao Shizhen was also there, making the framed calligraphy and paintings look more like the real thing.

Min Xi was very satisfied with the painting, which was much better than the emperor's. He said, "Let's keep one painting for ourselves, and don't show this one to His Majesty, since he has never been there."

"I didn't originally intend to give this painting to Your Majesty. I painted it for Lin'er," said Yun Ji.

"That's perfect. I want to keep this one, too." Min Xi said as he rolled up the painting at Shuceyan. He then carefully admired the other paintings over and over again. He would basically not be able to see them if he wanted to in the future.

Zhao Shizhen's calligraphy was also good. When I send the calligraphy and paintings to the emperor, I will mention him to the emperor. Maybe he will be appreciated by the emperor and be given an official position.

The two were looking at calligraphy and paintings when they heard hurried footsteps outside. Before anyone arrived, the voices came first: "You got it! You got it! Congratulations to my cousin for passing the high school entrance exam!"

Upon hearing this, Min Xi hugged Yun Ji and shouted excitedly: "Seventh Brother, you won!"

Yun Ji was also a little confused for a moment. Did he hear it right? "Is it me?"

"My cousin is in high school. Who else but you?" Min Xi took advantage of the fact that no one came in and kissed him on the corner of his mouth. "Congratulations!"

Then he let go of Yun Ji and walked out laughing: "Seventh brother passed the imperial examination, right?"

Tao Xing ran in happily: "Yes, Master Min, my cousin has passed the imperial examination!"

Yun Ji was dazed for a moment after being kissed. Min Xi rarely took the initiative to express affection in broad daylight. He quickly chased after him and asked, "Where's my ninth brother?"

Tao Xing shook his head somewhat embarrassedly: "I didn't see Master Min's name."

Min Xi was not disappointed at all. He nudged Yun Ji with his elbow excitedly and said, "What are you thinking about? Do you really want both of us to pass the imperial examination? The imperial examination is not run by our family. Be content. You passed the exam in one try. How many people will envy you to death!"

Yun Ji was of course happy, but he still cared more about Min Xi's feelings: "I hope you are the one who wins the imperial examination."

"I don't want to! For me, you are more suitable than me. Congratulations, Seventh Brother!" Min Xi said with a smile, then took the purse from Yun Ji's waist, took out two golden beans from it, and gave them to Tao Xing and Tao Sheng as rewards, "This is a reward from Seventh Brother, thank you for your hard work!"

Tao Xing and Tao Sheng happily took the golden beans and bowed: "Thank you, Master Min! Thank you, young master!"

Min Xi hung the purse back on Yun Ji's waist. He himself didn't like carrying a purse because it was heavy and very inconvenient. Whenever he was with Yun Ji, he didn't carry any money and Yun Ji paid for everything.

Yun Ji took out two silver ingots from his purse and said to Tao Xing, "Use this money to buy some wine for the rest of the family."

"Thank you, cousin!" Tao Xing happily took the money and prepared to tell everyone the good news.

Min Xi stopped him and said, "Wait a minute, Tao Xing, where is your young master? Did he win?"

Tao Xing was stunned and slapped his forehead: "I almost forgot about this. The eldest master also won, but his ranking was lower than that of the young master. The second and third masters did not see their names."

"I understand. Go ahead." Min Xi waved his hand to signal them to get busy.

Yun Ji smiled and said, "Tao Shu finally got it right."