The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

The next day, Min Xi submitted the memorial.

After reading his memorial, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites asked, "Does your friend Fulangji own three galleons?"

"Yes, sir." The baron actually has four galleons, but Min Xi and Yun Ji plan to buy one of them and sell the other three to the court as warships.

"Then he is a very wealthy man."

"Yes, he is very rich. He came to Ming Dynasty with his wife and children in order to seek protection from the Ming court. I think it will be beneficial to us if they stay. I have already written the specific details in the memorial, so I am asking for them. I hope your Excellency can approve it." Min Xi said respectfully.

The Minister of the Honglu Temple knew that Min Xi had a close relationship with the emperor. He could have bypassed him and gone to Wanli, but he didn't, which showed that he was a man of tact. He nodded and said, "I will report this to His Majesty and obtain special permission for your friend Fulangji to allow them to stay in the Ming Dynasty."

"Thank you, sir!" Min Xi couldn't help but remind him, "Sir, let me focus on the three galleons. I think it would be best to buy them in the name of the court, so that they can be used by the navy."

In the past two years, Longjiang Shipyard has built several battleships, but the shipbuilding speed is far behind the needs of the navy. These galleons are fully equipped with guns and cannons, which is just right for the navy. When they go to Australia in the future, they can let these warships escort them.

"Of course I know that." said the Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Min Xi submitted the memorial and went back as he wanted to entertain guests.

The Baron and his family had just arrived in Beijing and were full of curiosity about everything in the capital. They were determined to explore this new city. As the host, Min Xi of course had to accompany them on a good tour.

When Min Xi returned home from the government office, he heard the doorman say that Captain Reis had already accompanied them out. It seemed that they couldn't wait to go out for a stroll.

Min Xi didn't even have time to change his clothes, and quickly turned his bicycle around and prepared to go to Qianmen Street to look for someone. The appearance of a few foreigners in Beijing would definitely cause a sensation. Although there had been foreigners in Beijing before, they were all men, and there had never been women or children.

As Min Xi was riding his bike out, he suddenly remembered that he should go to the pastry shop to buy some cakes for Alice and Bella. By the way, he should tell Diego that another of his fellow villagers had come, and asked him to take some time to visit his home to meet them and speak their hometown dialect.

Diego was busy in the store. When he saw Min Xi, he said excitedly, "Boss, Baron Fernando is also in Beijing!"

"You know everything?" Min Xi was a little surprised.

Diego nodded vigorously: "Yes, Captain Reis brought them to our shop, and I treated them to cakes."

It seems that Captain Reis remembered Diego and brought the Baron and his family to see Diego first.

Min Xi smiled and said, "I was originally going to tell you that the Baron's family is planning to settle down in Daming. You won't be alone anymore, and you'll have someone to speak your hometown dialect with. When you have time, go to my house to see them, have a good chat with your fellow villagers, and teach them to speak Daming dialect."

"Really? That's great, I have someone to accompany me. I will definitely go when I have time!" Diego said happily.

Min Xi said, "Pack some snacks for me and I'll take them back for Bella."

"Okay, okay!" Diego quickly packed the snacks that Min Xi wanted into a box.

Min Xi asked him to tie up the box with a rope, then hang it on the handlebars of the bicycle and ride towards Qianmen Street.

As expected by Min Xi, he easily found the Baron and his party without much effort. They were buying clothes in a ready-made clothing store. Alice and Bella both liked Chinese clothes very much and wanted to adapt to the local customs and change into local clothes.

As they were choosing clothes, Captain Reiss used his not-so-fluent Chinese to communicate with the store owner, trying to make the store owner understand the needs of the mother and daughter. However, it was not going well.

More people were watching Alice and Bella out of curiosity.

Min Xi pushed through the crowd and walked in: "Pedro, Captain Reis, you are here, I was looking for you everywhere. Is there anything I can help you with?"

When Reis, the Baron and others saw Min Xi, they immediately felt like they had seen a savior: "Min, come and help us!"

Min Xi smiled and said, "Don't be anxious, take your time and tell me what you want to buy."

When the shopkeeper saw Min Xi coming over, still wearing his blue official uniform, he knew that he was an official appointed by the court, so he said respectfully, "Sir, are these your friends?"

Min Xi nodded: "Yes. I will translate for them."

So with the help of Min Xi, the Baron and his family of three finally bought the clothes they wanted, but Min Xi only let them buy one set, and then took them to Yunxiang Cloth Shop, and asked the shop to get them two sets of clothes of the right size, so that they could change and wash them. He also asked the shopkeeper to tailor several sets of clothes for them, from inside to outside.

After buying clothes, Min Xi took them to look for delicious food. They ate from the street food stalls all the way until they arrived at Yunxiang Restaurant. The snacks fascinated the Baron and his family. After ordering the dishes and sitting in the private room of the restaurant waiting, the Baron and his family of three were still studying the snacks that Min Xi had just bought.

Min Xi smiled and said, "Eat slowly. Don't worry. We are sure that you will be satisfied with the food of Daming. Pedro likes Chinese food so much, Daming will not let you down."

The baron took a bite of the sugar-coated fruit and said, "I believe it! I must have been a Chinese in my previous life, that's why I like Chinese food so much."

Bella also said: "Then I must be Chinese too, that's why I am my dad's daughter!"