The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Min Xi asked: "Chang Ji, who did you learn carpentry from?"

Zhao Shizhen answered while busying himself: "I have never had a proper apprenticeship. I loved making these little things when I was a child. Whenever I had free time, I would go to the carpenter's shop to watch others do carpentry. I especially liked the fragrance of wood. I often sat there for half a day. After watching so much, I started to do it myself. I couldn't do it well at first, but after doing it more, I got better."

"That's really interesting." Min Xi said with a smile.

"Alas, I was often scolded and beaten for this when I was a child, and it delayed a lot of time for reading and writing. My parents still say that if I had put the time I put into performing tricks instead of studying, I would have passed the imperial examination and become a Jinshi long ago." Zhao Shizhen chuckled when he said this.

Min Xixin said that Chunchun was a talented engineer who was almost buried. Nowadays, only those who have read the Four Books and Five Classics well can have the opportunity to display their talents. I don't know how many talents have been buried.

"There are 360 ​​professions, and every profession has its top talent. It is not necessary to take imperial examinations to succeed," said Min Xi.

"But since ancient times, everything is inferior except reading. Being a carpenter does not meet the pursuit of people nowadays." Zhao Shizhen also felt helpless.

"It's okay. You have achieved success now. I believe you can balance your hobbies and strengths."

"I feel it's a bit difficult. Before I got married and lived alone, I could save money to make things I liked. Now that I'm married and have a big family to support, the salary is not enough for my expenses. How can I have extra money to take care of my hobbies?" Zhao Shizhen felt inexplicably sad.

"It doesn't matter. I'll find a way for you to make money." Min Xi said with a smile.

"You don't need to give me money. Coming here to do handicrafts is a way for me to satisfy my craving for handicrafts." Zhao Shizhen said.

"I told you, I'm not just doing carpentry, I do other things as well. Once the bicycle is really made, I'll sell it for money, and I'll definitely give you some of the money then." Min Xi said seriously.

Zhao Shizhen saw that he was serious and didn't seem to be joking: "Do you think this thing can really replace carriages and horses?"

Min Xi nodded: "Really. You will know when it is done."

When Yun Ji came back, the two of them had already processed a lot of parts, and in a few days, they would be able to complete the bicycle model.

"Chang Ji is here? Have dinner at home before going back." Yun Ji nodded at Zhao Shizhen.

"No, thank you Brother Minglang for the invitation. I'll go back now. I promised to go back and have dinner with my wife. Besides, if it's too late, there is still a curfew." When Zhao Shizhen saw Yun Ji coming back, he knew it was getting late, so he put down the work in his hands, said goodbye and left.

Yun Ji asked his servants to take him back in a carriage.

After the others left, Yun Ji looked at the results of their afternoon work and said, "Did Chang Ji do all this?"

"Yes, I can't do such delicate woodworking. This also depends on talent," said Min Xi.

"You've only been learning for a short time, and you've done quite well." Yun Ji comforted him.

Min Xi laughed: "Only you can praise me."

"Second brother has done a great job!" said Yun Lin on the side.

Min Xi turned around and gently scratched Yun Lin's nose: "Why do you have such sweet lips?"

Yunlin laughed: "Second brother, what are we having for dinner tonight? Is there any dish you cooked?"

Min Xi said, "Yes, what do you want to eat? I'll make it for you."

"I want to eat cold noodles." Yunlin said.

"Since he's easy to feed, no problem. Let's go and I'll make you some cold noodles." The weather is hot, so it's just right to eat cold noodles.

From that day on, Zhao Shizhen would follow Min Xi home after work unless he had something else to do, and the two would work on woodworking together. Min Xi would do the rough processing, and Zhao Shizhen would do the more detailed work, and the two worked well together.

Min Xi had very high requirements for the bicycle model. He wanted it to be more than just a decoration. He required the wooden model to have a chain that could drive the front and rear wheels to rotate, and even for children to ride on.

The gear and chain are also made of hardwood, which is a great test of patience. It takes a lot of time to carve a chain from hardwood. The model was originally planned to be completed in three to five days, but it took half a month in the end. Even Yunji came to help carve the chain links.

Once fully assembled, this wooden bicycle can actually be ridden in the yard.

Yun Ji was shocked when he saw the wooden bicycle: "Is this a two-wheeled vehicle? How can we ensure that it does not fall over?"

Min Xi said: "This requires someone to master the balance. Once mastered, it will not fall. Let Lin'er try it."

Yunlin found this new thing very novel. He was a young and inexperienced person who was not afraid of tigers. When Min Xi asked him to ride on it, he actually did it without any fear of falling.

Of course, Min Xi would not let him fall, he supported him from behind: "Press the pedal and push up."

At the beginning, Yunlin didn't understand the key points and couldn't pedal at all. After a while, he realized that the pedals could be turned downwards. He finally mastered the trick and actually pedaled the wooden bicycle.

Min Xi quickly let go: "You ride it yourself. If you feel like it's going to fall, put your feet on the ground. The bike is low, so you won't fall."

The model car was not very tall, just the size of a baby carriage, and Yun Lin's feet could support the ground completely. Yun Ji was worried about his brother, so he followed him to prevent him from falling accidentally, so that he could support him in time.

Zhao Shizhen looked at the bicycle Yunlin was riding and couldn't help but show joy on his face: "I didn't expect that I could really ride it! It's amazing."

Min Xi smiled and said, "I didn't lie to you, did I? This is your masterpiece!"

"You drew the blueprints and designed them. I just reconstructed them. It's a good thing, but the wood is not strong after all. If the wooden chain is turned two more times, it may be worn out. You still have to use an iron chain."

"Of course, this is a model, just to see its effectiveness. Okay, Lin'er, let's not ride it anymore. It will break down if you ride it too much. I'll replace it with an iron one for you later." Min Xi waved for Yun Lin to come back.

Yunlin was so excited riding the bike, he didn't expect that this wooden bike could actually turn and carry him such a long distance.

After hearing what Min Xi said, Yun Ji took his brother off the bike, holding him in one hand and the bike in the other: "Okay, don't damage your second brother's bike."

Yunlin said, "Second brother, you promised to make me an iron one."

"I will never go back on my promise to you." Min Xi took the bicycle model from Yun Ji and said to Zhao Shizhen, "If we ask a blacksmith to make this bicycle, how long do you think it will take to make it?"

Zhao Shizhen stroked his chin and thought for a while: "The most difficult part is actually the chain. The work is too delicate and I'm afraid it will be difficult to do." They really put a lot of effort into carving the wooden chain.

Min Xi said: "Actually, I don't think the chain is difficult."

Zhao Shizhen looked at him and asked, "Do you have any idea?"

Min Xi said: "We can make a model, pour red-hot molten iron into it, and cast it into the components of this link, and then assemble them one by one."

The only thing I need to worry about is that the iron is not pure enough. It is too brittle and easy to break. I don't know how pure the Ming Dynasty's refined iron is. Do I have to find a way to synthesize steel?

"If what you said is feasible, let's try to make the chain by casting first," said Zhao Shizhen.

Min Xi felt that he should give it a try first. If the material really wasn’t good enough, he could think of a solution then.