The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

There were so many things I wanted to say, but in the end they were reduced to just a few words and sealed in an envelope.

Yun Ji wrote the address of the Beijing Yunxiang General Store on the envelope, and wrote his father's name in the middle. He hesitated for a long time about the mailing address, and finally Min Xi said, "Write your name, they will know it's you who wrote it back."

Yun Ji nodded: "Okay." Anyway, there was no way he could expect a reply.

Min Xi said: "I hope this letter can be successfully delivered to the Ming Dynasty and to your father and mother."

Yun Ji didn't say anything and put the letter away. Min Xi stretched out his hand to him: "Let me help you deliver the letter. You take a nap."

Yun Ji shook his head: "I won't sleep anymore, I'll go and send it off myself."

Min Xi said, "I'll go, if you don't want to sleep, then just paint."

Yun Ji hesitated for a moment. "Magu Offering Longevity" was different from the previous freehand paintings. It was a detailed painting, which was the most energy-consuming and time-consuming.

"Okay, then I'll trouble you." Yun Ji compromised.

Min Xi put the letter in his pocket and said as he walked, "You can draw. You don't have to accompany me to buy groceries in the morning. Diego and I will go together. He can help me move things, so you can have time to draw."

"There's no need for that. The light is too dim early in the morning and you can't paint. We buy a lot of vegetables every day. How can you and Diego carry them back?" Yun Ji said.

Min Xi thought about it and said, "Okay then. After we buy the groceries, you don't have to clean up. I'll take Diego to cook. Amanda will come early too, so she can help me prepare."

"We'll see when the time comes." Yun Ji said.

"Then you won't be able to finish the painting?" Min Xi said.

“Then let’s paint a picture of ‘Pine and Crane Longevity’.” Yun Ji said with a smile.

"You have already made a draft, it would be a pity not to paint it. I feel that it would be better for you to paint "Magu Offering Longevity". Foreigners don't know anything about pine and crane longevity, they must prefer paintings of ladies." Min Xi said.

"I think so too, that's why I chose 'Magu Offering Longevity'." Yun Ji said.

Min Xi waved his hand: "Just draw it quickly, I'm leaving now."

Yun Ji watched Min Xi leave with the letter, and his heavy heart seemed to relax a little. He hoped that his parents could see his letter.

In the evening, Baron Fernando came with a group of friends to have dinner. When they arrived, the restaurant was already very lively.

Today is the last day of the restaurant's opening promotion, and neighbors rushed over to try the food while there was still a discount. After all, I have tried their egg tarts before, and they tasted really good. The desserts are so good, so the other dishes shouldn't be too bad.

So the restaurant was basically full before dark, and when Fernando arrived, there was just one private room left.

As there are many customers, the front hall and the kitchen are very busy. Diego is also helping Gael serve the dishes. There is nothing wrong with this. After all, he has worked in the tavern for quite a long time. He can serve drinks, so serving dishes is even easier for him.

Seeing that they were all busy, Yun Ji went to order food for Baron Fernando himself. The Baron said, "These friends of mine are all here for the first time. Just ask Min to serve his specialty."

Yun Ji asked again: "How many dishes do you want?"

The baron waved his hand indifferently: "It's up to you. Do as you wish."

Yun Ji took a look at the number of people in the private room, and he knew the number in his mind, so he wrote down a few numbers. This was Min Xi's idea, to number the dishes, one set in the front hall and one in the back kitchen, and write the number of the dish the customer wanted. After Min Xi received the menu, he cooked the dishes according to the numbers sent to him. It was quick and simple, and it was also easier for people like Gael and Diego who had little education, and it was less likely to make mistakes.

When Yun Ji went out and closed the door, he heard someone say "beauty", but he didn't care and closed the door.

He sent the menu to the kitchen and told Min Xi what the Baron's order required.

Min Xi said: "I understand. Remember to tell the Baron that if he is free tomorrow at noon, he can come over to taste the food." All the dishes at the birthday party must be tasted by the Baron first to confirm that it is ok to make them.

"Okay." Yun Ji agreed, "There are still a few tables here that need to be cooked. I'll send some egg tarts up to the Baron first."

"Well, make them a pot of tea too." Min Xi instructed while he was busy.

"Got it." Yun Ji made a pot of tea and brought the egg tarts to the Baron's private room.

As soon as he pushed the door open, the noise inside suddenly quieted down, and six or seven pairs of eyes in the room were all staring at him with inquiring, curious and amusement looks.

Yun Ji ignored those looks and put the things down: "Your Excellency Baron, there are a lot of guests today, so the dishes will be served a little later. Please have some tea and snacks first. Please forgive me for the poor hospitality."

Fernando reached out to take the egg tart: "It's okay, we'll wait a little longer. You go ahead and do your work."

Yun Ji added, "Is Your Excellency the Baron free tomorrow at noon? If you are free, you can come and try the food. Min has already prepared the menu for Your Excellency the Duke's birthday banquet. Once Your Excellency tries the food and agrees, we will finalize the menu."

Fernando raised an eyebrow: "No problem, I'll come over tomorrow at noon."

Yun Ji nodded and prepared to leave, but a guest who was closer to him raised his hand to stop him: "Wait a minute, may I ask your name?"

Yun Ji lowered his eyes and looked at the other person. He was a very handsome young man with delicate features. You could tell that every curl of his brown hair was carefully groomed. However, his skin was very white, almost pale, and it was obvious that he rarely got sun exposure.

He heard from Min Xi that Fulangji belongs to southern Europe, with more sunshine. Fulangji people have darker skin among white people, and they don't look much different from Ming people. Those with particularly white skin are generally pampered nobles. Of course, the baron himself is a noble, so it is normal for his friends to be nobles.

Before Yun Ji could say anything, someone started to chuckle. Yun Ji noticed something strange in the laughter and looked over.

Baron Fernando said, "Ignore him, just go and do your thing."

After Yun Ji left, the pale man reached out and pulled Fernando's sleeve: "Pedro, he is so beautiful, just like the Chinese porcelain my father collected. I want to meet him. You must know his name, right? Can you tell me his name?"

Baron Fernando pulled out his sleeves helplessly and said helplessly: "Simon, I brought you here today just to have a meal, not to hunt for beauties. And he is my friend, please don't harass him!"

Lord Simao Melo is the only son of the Marquis of Melo. The Marquis had this son when he was old and valued this son more than his own eyes. He was spoiled since he was a child and developed a lot of quirks. This guy loves beauty, especially beautiful women, regardless of gender.

"I won't harass him, I just want to be friends with him, okay?" Lord Mello pouted, a gesture that would definitely make people vomit if an ordinary man did it, but when Lord Mello did it, it didn't seem out of place, but rather a bit cute.

Someone nearby started to make a noise: "It's over, another prey has been targeted by Ximang."

Fernando frowned: "I regret bringing you here."

"No, isn't it good for us to come and support your friends in their business more often?" someone said with a laugh.

Lord Melo ignored everyone's ridicule and said to Fernando, "Forget it, if you don't tell me, I'll just come here often to eat. There will always be a chance to meet this beauty."

If Yun Ji knew that a man called him a beauty, he would definitely roll his eyes in front of him.

When everyone started to taste the egg tarts, their attention was no longer on Lord Merlot. The pampered rich young men all shouted, "What is this? It tastes so good! I was wondering why I couldn't find Pedro recently. It turns out he was eating alone without telling us."

Fernando said, "You guys are wronging me. His restaurant has only been open for three days. How could I eat alone without telling you? I know this restaurant is delicious, so I brought you here as soon as possible. Isn't that good enough for you?"

Soon, the two plates of egg tarts were snatched up by everyone. The egg tarts whetted everyone’s appetite and they were looking forward to the upcoming dinner.

Lord Melo ate very politely, unlike the others who devoured their food. Others finished two egg tarts, but he hadn't finished one yet: "Was this made by the beauty just now?"

Fernando resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Simon, even if you come to eat here in the future, please don't call him beauty, okay? This egg tart was not made by him, but by his partner."

Lord Melo did not comment, but slowly finished the whole egg tart, licking the corner of his mouth with the tip of his tongue. The action made all the men in the room feel a little erotic. Simon Melo was already a beautiful man, so why was he always so keen on collecting beauties?

If his status was not noble enough and his father was not a powerful figure in the Kingdom of Fulanji, he would probably be the target of pursuit.

Lord Mello finished his egg tart, took out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth, and then waited for Yun Ji to serve the food.

However, after waiting for a long time, only Gale and Diego came to serve the dishes. Yun Ji himself did not come up. It was not that he deliberately did not come, but that some guests downstairs had finished their meal and wanted to pay the bill and leave, so he was not available.