The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Min Xi already had experience with launching new ships into the water. He had participated in the launching ceremony of the Xiangyun a few years ago, and he was also present at the launching ceremony of the Yongning, which was modeled after the Xiangyun. Looking at it this way, it was quite meaningful.

The Yongning uses Western-style sails. Although Western-style sails are more complicated to use, they are more flexible and make better use of wind. No matter which direction the wind comes from, the sails can be adjusted to drive the ship forward.

Yongning left the dock smoothly, entered Sancha River, adjusted its direction and headed west. Sancha River is the confluence of the Yangtze River and Qinhuai River, and the Yangtze River is to the west. To test the performance of Yongning, the rolling Yangtze River is obviously the best place.

Most of the officers and soldiers on the Yongning had experience in flying the Xiangyun, so it was not difficult for them to operate the Yongning.

After the boat entered the Yangtze River, it was obviously carried downstream by the river. Under the command of the captain, the soldiers performed steering, U-turns, reverse, and sideways operations. These are routine operations they usually train at sea to deal with various emergencies on the battlefield.

Han Song walked around the captain's room and the deck with excitement on his face, watching his soldiers maneuver the Yongning through repeated trials. The excitement on his face was beyond words.

Min Xi asked, "General, how do you feel?"

Han Song nodded, smiling: "Not bad, not bad. This ship is obviously much more flexible than the Fu ship. Everyone is not familiar with this ship yet, but the reaction speed can reach this level. Once you are familiar with it, it goes without saying. If everyone switches to this kind of ship, we can sail across the South China Sea in the future."

Min Xi smiled and said, "This ship has been narrowed. I thought the stability would be a little worse, but it is not. The stability is surprisingly good. I believe that one day, the entire Ming Navy will switch to this type of ship."

Yu Liang said, "Master Min, you are worrying too much. The stability of this ship has been carefully calculated by the shipbuilders. It is impossible for a large ship worth tens of thousands of taels of silver to capsize after entering the water. Isn't this a slap in the face of us shipbuilders?"

Min Xi smiled and bowed: "Yes, I was rude. I apologize to the shipwrights of Longjiang Shipyard."

Zhao Shizhen, who was standing by, said: "I feel this ship is very stable. I think all future warships can be built according to this standard."

Min Xi patted his shoulder and said, "This matter really requires the help of my dear brother Chang Ji. When the time comes, I will have to trouble the shipwrights of Longjiang Shipyard to teach the craftsmen of other shipyards how to build this battleship."

Yu Liang did not refuse: "As long as it is an order from the court, how dare we not obey it?"

Zhao Shizhen was the head of the Arsenal Department of the Ministry of War, so it would be most persuasive for him to suggest to the Ministry of War that warships be converted into battleships. If the Ministry of War decided to mass-produce battleships in the future, shipyards in various places would need to arrange for people to come to Longjiang Shipyard to learn how to build battleships, so that the country could be unified.

They drove the Yongning around the river several times and finally drove the ship back to Longjiang Shipyard. In fact, if Min Xi, Zhao Shizhen and others were not on the ship, the Yongning would probably have driven the ship directly back to Fujian.

Because they were eager to test the attack effect of this ship, after all, they had little experience in firing cannons from inside a cabin. Unfortunately, there were too many ships passing through the Yangtze River, making it unsuitable for shooting training.

The trial voyage of the Yongning ended successfully. The soldiers of the Yongning Guard couldn't wait to return to Fujian to show their new ship to their comrades, so they completed the handover procedures on the same day and set sail back to Fujian the next day. Even the Qinhuai River could not attract them.

Min Xi and his team had successfully completed their mission. Min Xi asked Zhao Shizhen, "Chang Ji, are you planning to go back to your hometown?"

Zhao Shizhen thought about it and shook his head: "I'd better not go back. I'm here on business and I don't have enough time to go back home. It's too rushed, so I won't go back."

"So you're going back to Beijing?"

"Aren't you going back?" Zhao Shizhen asked Min Xi.

Min Xi said: "I want to go back to my hometown first, and then return to Beijing."

Zhao Shizhen remembered: "Your hometown is in Yingtian Prefecture, you should go back and have a look. Then we will wait for you here and return to the capital together?"

Min Xi thought for a moment and said, "Okay. I'll need two days. Please wait for me."

"It's a rare opportunity to come back, why don't you stay in your hometown for a few more days?"

Min Xi explained: "I have no relatives at home, only some clansmen. I can just go back and offer sacrifices."

"I see! Then go ahead, we'll wait for you here."

Min Xi did not delay and rented a carriage that day, bought gifts, and returned to Jurong County with Tao Xing.

His return this time was completely unexpected to everyone, so it did not alarm anyone.

When they arrived at the small town of their hometown, it was already afternoon. The carriage stopped directly in front of Min Xi's house. Min Xi got off the carriage. Because it was hot, everyone stayed at home to escape the heat, and not many people noticed their arrival.

Min Xi walked into his own yard and heard the sound of reading coming from inside. His house was indeed used as a school just as he expected.

Min Xi went in quietly. The yard was trampled clean without a single weed. There were some children's toys scattered around. It seemed that this was their playground. The trunk of the only jujube tree was also rubbed very smooth.

The doors of the left and right wing rooms were tightly closed, apparently to be left for him to rest when he came back. The main hall door was open, and the desk and the children could be seen. Some of the inattentive children had already looked out the door.

This yard is much more spacious than the one Min Jiu lived in before. There were only three thatched houses before, but now it has been replaced by a yard with a main house and wing rooms, all of which are brick houses with black tiles and white walls.

Min Xi went to the west wing and found that there was furniture inside for him, including a bed, cabinets and tables.

He walked from the corridor of the west wing to the main house, and came to the main room in the middle which was used as a classroom. There were about a dozen children of different ages sitting inside. They were reading Thousand Character Classic, but when they saw him coming, they lowered their voices.

The teacher on the podium heard something wrong, looked up, and followed the children's gaze towards the door. The teacher didn't know Min Xi, so when he saw him, he stood up and came over, standing at the door to look him over and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

They spoke in the local dialect, which Min Xi could only understand but not speak. He bowed slightly to the other party and said, "Hello, teacher! I'm not looking for anyone. I just came back to see you. I'm sorry to disturb your class. You are busy!" He spoke in Mandarin.

The teacher's surname was Yang, and he was not from the village. He was stunned for a moment when he heard his accent. Then, seeing that he was well-dressed and had an extraordinary demeanor, he knew that he might be of a higher status, so he asked, "What's your surname? Where are you from?"

"My surname is Min, and I come from the capital." Min Xi said.

Master Yang responded: "Are you the owner of this house, Mr. Min?"

Min Xi smiled and said, "That's right."

Master Yang bowed quickly and said, "It's Mr. Min. I've heard a lot about you. Please forgive my rudeness. You guys continue with your studies, and Min Yu, you will lead the study." After he gave instructions to the students, he asked Min Xi to go out.

"I didn't know you were coming back, sir. I'm sorry for not welcoming you in person." Master Yang said politely.

Min Xi said, "Please forgive my impoliteness. I came to Yingtian Prefecture on business and came back to visit my hometown after I was done. What's your name, Master?"

"My surname is Yang."

"Sorry to bother you, Master Yang. Please continue with your work. I just came to see you. I am very pleased to see the children studying in my home."

Master Yang said, "I have the key to your door. I'll get it for you."

"No, I won't stay at home. I'll just stay at the inn for one night. I'll be back in Beijing tomorrow." Min Xi rejected his kindness. "By the way, how many years have you been teaching here?"

Master Yang said, "Two years."

“Do many street kids come to school?”

"Not many, maybe a dozen or so. Most of them don't go to school."

"I send some money back to the private school every year to support the children's education. Why are there still so many children who don't come to school?"

Master Yang sighed, "Your intention is good, but even if you don't have to pay tuition fees, you still need writing brushes, inkstones, and books. These are all very expensive, and many families can't afford them. A half-grown child can help with some chores at home, but many families think that studying is not worth it, so they don't send their children to school."

Min Xi understood: "Thank you for telling me, Master."

Master Yang waved his hand and said, "It's just a trivial matter. I want to thank you for your generosity in sponsoring the children's education."

"It's a small matter, not worth mentioning."

Min Xi learned about the situation of the school from Master Yang, then said goodbye and went to find the clan elder. When the clan members learned that he was back, they wanted to announce it to the world by beating drums and gongs. Soon, relatives from near and far came, as well as neighbors, and surrounded the clan elder's house.

After the greetings, the clan leader said, "Jiulang, you didn't pass the imperial examination. The cost of living in the capital is high. Why don't you return to your hometown? You have some land deeds in your name, which is enough for you to continue studying and take the imperial examination."

Min Xi was surprised and asked, "How come there is a land deed under my name?"

"These were all given to you by wealthy families when you took the imperial examination last time. I registered them under your name. We also collect your annual output and convert it into silver and keep it with me," said the clan leader.

Min Xi sighed helplessly: "Didn't I tell you at the time to return all those things to me?"

"You returned it, but they didn't want it. They said it was impossible to take back something you gave away. They felt it was embarrassing and refused to take it back. A few of us old guys discussed it and decided to accept it for you," said the clan leader.

"Then team leader, please show me those land deeds and tell me who gave them to me." Min Xi planned to return the gifts in equal value.

The patriarch quickly brought the land deed to Min Xi. Min Xi took a look and found that there were twenty or thirty acres of land. Although it was not much, the annual harvest would at least be twenty or thirty taels of silver.

After reading it, Min Xi said, "Since these fields are under my name, all the income from the fields should be used to run the school. I heard that many families in the town dislike the expensive books and paper, ink, and pens, and are unwilling to send their children to school. In the future, the school will try its best to provide some books and paper, ink, and pens, and persuade more children to come to school, not only boys, but also girls."

The clan leader looked at Min Xi with some difficulty: "Jiulang, are you sure you want to do this? This is not a small amount of money."

Min Xi said, "Calculate how many school-age children there are in the town. How much does it cost to educate them for a year. Let me see how much it will cost and how much I can afford."

The clan leader looked at him and said, "Even if you are rich, you still have your own life to live. Are you ignoring your family?"

"I can take care of my own family. I now have an official position in the Honglu Temple, and I also do some business in the capital. I still make some income every year." Min Xi said.

His own shop in the capital could earn several hundred taels a year, plus the dividends Yun Ji gave him, he still had several thousand taels of income every year. He didn't need to raise children, and Yun Ji paid mainly for his tinkering with bicycles and other things. His own spending was really limited, so the money he earned was just there. It wasn't much pressure for him to set aside several hundred taels a year to run a school.

The clan leader asked him, "Are you an official?"

"Yes. It was appointed by His Majesty the Emperor."

"How many grades?"

"A minor official, rank eight."

The clan leader said: "The eighth rank is a bit low, but it was bestowed by the emperor. He must value you very much. You must have a bright future." In the minds of ordinary people, to be an official, one must be at least a seventh-rank county magistrate. Those below this rank are not considered proper officials.

Min Xi smiled and said, "It's hard to say what the future holds. The Honglu Temple is responsible for dealing with foreign countries. Since I have been in Europe for several years and know some foreign languages, going to the Honglu Temple will be of use to me."

Several elders in the clan looked at each other in confusion. It sounded like this official position was of little use. Was it a good thing or a bad thing?

Min Xi said, "I came to Yingtian Prefecture on official business this time. I came back to take a look and learn about the current situation of the school. I will also go to pay my respects to my parents. I will leave after paying my respects to my parents tomorrow. Some colleagues are waiting for me in Yingtian Prefecture to return to Beijing."

When the elders heard that there were colleagues waiting to return to Beijing, they naturally did not dare to stay. Min Xi was now the most promising person in their family, the first to pass the imperial examination and the first to serve as an official in Beijing. The elders in the family would naturally accept whatever he arranged.

On the second day, when he was paying respects to his grandparents and parents, the ancestor who was closest to him said, "You are not young anymore. I hope that when you come back next time, you will bring your wife and children with you. Your grandparents and parents can rest in peace knowing that you have successors."

This really made Min Xi feel embarrassed, so he had to pretend he didn't hear it.

When he left, Min Xi left the three hundred taels of silver he brought with him for the school. The clan leader counted the number of school-age children in the clan, including those in the neighborhood, last night. However, the clan leader said that about one-third of these children would not come to school. Some of them became apprentices, and some of their parents would not allow them to go to school.

In addition to the dozen or so people who are already in school, there are another ten or so people who can strive to come to school, and he can fully afford this number of people.

Min Xi handed the money to the clan leader, and the task of purchasing pens, ink, paper, inkstone and books was given to Master Yang. In this way, the two sides could supervise each other and prevent anyone from embezzling the money.

After leaving his hometown, Min Xi returned to Yingtian Prefecture, where he met with Zhao Shizhen and others and prepared to return to the capital.

Before leaving, Min Xi went to Yingtian Prefecture for a stroll and brought some gifts for Yunji and Yunlin.