The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Coming out of Wenyuan Pavilion, Zhao Shizhen bowed deeply and sincerely to Min Xi: "Brother Quanzhen, Chang Ji can be what he is today thanks to your help and support. Chang Ji will remember it forever! If you need me in the future, just let me know." To Zhao Shizhen, Min Xi was definitely his benefactor, and he could not express his gratitude enough.

Min Xi lifted him up with both hands: "You're welcome, this is what you deserve. Go to the Ministry of War and continue to study muskets and artillery. If I need your help, I will definitely ask for it."

"Okay!" Zhao Shizhen asked doubtfully, "Actually, I just can't figure out why my brother doesn't want to go to the Ministry of War?"

Min Xi smiled casually: "The Honglu Temple is very comfortable. I have so many things I want to do there. If I go to the Ministry of War, I am afraid I will not have time to do them. If I stay in the Honglu Temple, I can do them slowly."

Zhao Shizhen thought of his stack of drawings and said, "When I have time, I will go find Brother Quanzhen and give you some advice."

"Okay, thank you in advance!" Min Xi thanked him. "By the way, Chang Ji, when you go to the Ministry of War, please help me find out about the situation of Jiangnan Shipyard. I want to know how their progress in imitating the galleon is."

"No problem, leave it to me." Zhao Shizhen patted his chest and agreed.

Yun Ji did not feel much regret when he learned that Min Xi refused the promotion to the Minister of War and Zhao Shizhen was promoted out of turn. He knew that Min Xi did not have much ambition for a career in politics. He cared more about doing what he liked, creating more things with practical uses, and actually improving people's living standards.

On the holiday in early May, Min Xi and Yun Ji were summoned to the palace, and according to Wanli's instructions, Yun Lin was also brought along. They were also allowed to ride bicycles into the palace as an exception.

Wanli has just learned to ride a bike and is very excited. He hopes to play a racing game with Min Xi, Yun Lin and others.

As they pushed the cart with Eunuch Yao to the Hall of Supreme Harmony Square, they saw Wanli riding his cart in circles. When he saw them coming, Wanli waved at them excitedly: "You guys are here?"

As soon as Min Xi and Yun Lin parked their car, Wanli rode in front of them. Min Xi and others saluted quickly: "Your Majesty!"

Wanli stopped the car, tilted it slightly, put one foot on the ground, raised his hand and waved at them: "No need to be polite, just stand up. Hey, why is your car taller than mine?"

Min Xi explained, "For safety reasons, your majesty's car is suitable for your current stature. Yunlin's car is lower than yours, which is also suitable for his stature."

Wanli looked at Yunlin's car and found it was indeed shorter than his own: "I see!"

"When Your Majesty grows taller, we will present you with a taller bicycle," said Min Xi.

Wanli smiled and nodded: "Okay. You guys ride around with me for two laps."

Min Xi and Yun Lin both got on their bikes and circled slowly behind Wanli.

On this day, they accompanied Wanli to indulge in his bicycle riding addiction and played a few games of Werewolf with him. Werewolf is now a very popular game in the palace. The Queen Mother and the Empress would occasionally invite people to play a few games. This game has spread from the palace to outside the palace and is now very popular among the dignitaries in Beijing.

They did not come out of the palace until evening.

On the way back, Min Xi and Yun Lin rode bicycles, and Yun Ji rode a horse. The three of them walked through the streets and alleys, and were again stared at by passers-by on the street.

Although the bicycles were sold at a very high price, there was a shortage of buyers. Many children of officials had placed orders early on, but the production was too slow and only four or five bicycles were produced each month at most, which was far from enough to meet the demand.

Yun Zhen has arranged for new people to learn how to make bicycles from the blacksmith who made bicycles, but it will take time to increase the number of people to make bicycles in a short period of time.

Some merchants in Beijing have taken a fancy to this business, but they are unable to buy samples because they have all been bought by dignitaries and ordinary people simply cannot afford them. Those merchants who want to imitate them have nowhere to go for the time being and can only wait for an opportunity to buy samples.

They returned home in the sunset, and the concierge came to greet them: "Sir, Captain Reiss is here. He arrived this afternoon."

Min Xi and Yun Ji were delighted: "Captain Leis is here? That's great!"

Normally, Leis should have returned to Ming Dynasty long ago, but there was no news of his return this year. Min Xi and Yun Ji were quite worried. Now, he finally returned safely.

They handed the carriage to the porter and walked quickly towards the gate.

Captain Reis was still arranged to live in Zizhuyuan as before. Diego and Hughes had lived there before, and Reis also had a room there. Now Diego had moved out, and Reis still lived in the old place.

They arrived at Zizhu Garden and saw Leis sitting in a rocking chair drinking tea. When he saw them coming back, he stood up excitedly, but he was so excited that he spilled the tea: "Oh, sorry!"

Min Xi laughed and walked forward, opening his arms: "Captain Leis, long time no see! You are finally back."

"Dear Min, long time no see!" Reis put down the teacup and gave Min Xi and Yun Ji a warm hug, and even hugged little Yun Lin.

It was Yunlin’s first time hugging a foreigner, and he felt quite embarrassed.

Yun Ji poured tea for Leis again: "Captain Leis, did your trip go smoothly?"

Reis said: "The voyage was smooth, but something happened in Portugal that delayed the trip and we set off very late."

Min Xi asked: "What happened?"

Leith sighed: "Our king is dead."

Min Xi and Yun Ji looked at each other tacitly. Yun Ji was shocked beyond words: what Min Xi said was true!

"How could that be?! Your Majesty is still so young!" Yun Ji said.

Reis lowered his head and said in a heavy tone: "Last August, His Majesty led his army to attack Morocco, but unfortunately died in battle!"

Yun Ji glanced at Min Xi and found that what he said was exactly the same.

"Poor King! I can't believe this is true. Your Majesty is still so young!" Min Xi sighed, "What is the current situation in Portugal?"

Reis shook his head. "The people of the country are in great sorrow. They cannot believe that His Majesty the King has passed away like this. But the country cannot be without a king for a day. His Majesty has no children, and now his great-uncle Henry I is on the throne. But the new king is a cardinal. He has never married and is now over 60 years old. The Pope has not allowed him to return to secular life, marry and have children. Now the entire Portuguese royal family has no successor, the king is old, and the Portuguese people cannot see a future."

Min Xi said, "It's such a pity! Is it because of His Majesty's death that you postponed your departure?"

"Yes, when the news of His Majesty the King's death in the battlefield reached our country, we were just about to set off for Ming Dynasty. However, due to the national mourning, our departure was delayed for two months, and we did not set off until November. By the way, Baron Fernando wrote a letter to you." Captain Reis took out a letter from his arms.

The envelope of the letter looked badly worn, probably because it had been carried with the owner for a long time.

Min Xi opened the letter and took a look. He found that he could not fully understand it. After all, his Portuguese was mainly spoken, and the phonetic vocabulary would change over time. The handwriting of the letter was also rather sloppy. It could be seen that the writer was very emotional. He handed the letter to Reis: "My Portuguese level is still a little lacking. Captain Reis, please help us read it."