The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Min Xi did not expect that he sent some food to Zhang Juzheng just to help him live longer without suffering from constipation and hemorrhoids, and he never thought of asking for anything in return. If it were not for Zhang Juzheng's importance to the Ming Dynasty, he would have been hiding from him, and he never thought of relying on Zhang Juzheng to rise to prominence.

When Zhang Juzheng was eating, Min Xi and Yun Ji were also eating hot pot. Snowy days are the best for hot pot. When Min Xi saw his favorite chrysanthemums and pea tips after entering the greenhouse, he decided to have this hot pot.

The hot pot warmed up this snowy night. Min Xi chewed the pea tips, his mouth full of fragrance: "Only Lin'er didn't get to eat the vegetables from the greenhouse. When we have a day off, I'll ask someone to send back some more vegetables."

Yun Ji asked: "You only have this one greenhouse to provide vegetables for so many families, is it enough?"

Min Xi shook his index finger. "It's not a big problem. I also made some shelves and stacked them up in the greenhouse for cultivation. They don't take up land, only space. More vegetables can be grown in the same area. I've made up my mind. Next year I'll build a few more greenhouses and grow vegetables to sell to the dignitaries. I can sell a basket of vegetables for a few taels of silver and make back the cost of the greenhouses."

Yun Ji couldn't help laughing after hearing this: "Why do I feel like you are more like a businessman than I am?"

"I still understand the principle that scarcity makes things valuable. In the weather in the north, where else can you grow vegetables except in a greenhouse? The vegetables shipped from the south are extremely expensive when they arrive in the capital, and they are not fresh enough. They have wilted a long time ago. Are they better than the ones I just picked from the greenhouse?" Min Xi raised his eyebrows proudly.

Yun Ji cooperated very well: "No!"

Min Xi took a bite of chrysanthemum and thought of Wanli again: "There is a greenhouse in the palace, so I don't need to bring food to His Majesty."

"I don't know what kind of food His Majesty has. Why don't you write a memorial to ask?" Yun Ji said with a smile.

Min Xi thought for a moment and said, "Forget it. The dishes His Majesty eats are provided by special people. If I were to deliver dishes to His Majesty, I don't know how many procedures I would have to go through. It would be too troublesome. Let the palace figure it out on its own."

"I think it would be better for you to write a memorial. No matter whether His Majesty wants it or not, at least let His Majesty know your intentions. Otherwise, when he finds out that you sent food to Lord Zhang but not to him, he will come to you to hold you accountable." Yun Ji reminded.

Min Xi thought about it and it was true. Wanli was a narrow-minded person. Last time the baron held a housewarming party and didn't invite him, he went to ask him. Besides, Liulichang was his. The vegetables grown in the greenhouse made of glass were not for the emperor. There was no guarantee that the emperor would not mind.

So the next morning, Min Xi handed the memorial to the Minister of the Ministry of Rites and gave him a bunch of green cabbages. The Minister of the Ministry of Rites looked at the cabbages and said in surprise, "Quanzhen, where did you get such a good thing? Was it a reward from the palace?"

Min Xi was unwilling to tell the truth, fearing that his colleagues would ask him for food: "Sir, I have my own way. If I have fresh vegetables in the future, I will definitely bring them to you."

"It's amazing that you still think of me. I'll accept it with pleasure. If you get good things in the future, please remember me. I'll deliver this memorial for you." As he was about to open the memorial, he was held down by Min Xi.

"Sir, could you please not read this memorial and present it directly to His Majesty? It contains only the daily conversations between His Majesty and I." Min Xi smiled apologetically. He didn't want the Minister of the Ministry of Rites to know that he had a greenhouse.

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites looked at Min Xi: "Is it really just family matters?" In theory, the memorials submitted by every official to the emperor should be confidential, and superiors should not read them. However, in actual practice, superiors will still read the memorials of their subordinates for their own interests.

Min Xi nodded: "It is absolutely true! If you don't trust me, then wait and see."

The Minister of the Honglu Temple hesitated for a moment and said, "Then I won't read it. I will present it directly to His Majesty for you."

"Thank you, sir!"

Wanli saw Min Xi's memorial the next day, and on the next day off, he left the palace in plain clothes and asked Min Xi to accompany him to see the greenhouse. Min Xi and Yun Ji had no choice but to take Yun Lin to the farm in the suburbs to pick vegetables.

Although Wanli is already 18 years old, he still has a bit of a teenager's mentality. Perhaps he was suppressed too much in his childhood, so he is still rebellious in his bones and doesn't want to grow up. Min Xi is willing to play with him. In front of Min Xi, Wanli's nature is particularly released.

The scale of the greenhouse is larger than Wanli expected, and the variety of vegetables planted in it is also more than expected. There are not only vegetables, but also fruits and melons. However, the growth cycle of fruits and melons is longer than that of other vegetables, so they are not yet mature.

Even Yun Ji was surprised that Min Xi actually started stacking crops in the greenhouse. He built wooden racks against the wall and planted different vegetables on each layer. All the common summer vegetables were there, but some grew slowly and could not be harvested in time.

Wanli was amazed and said, "Min Xi, did you plant all these?"

Min Xi shook his head: "No, I asked someone to plant them. The technology is mine. Look how good the weather is today. There is sunshine, but it is very windy and cold. However, through the glass, the sun can shine in, but the wind cannot. If the temperature is low, someone can light a fire to raise the temperature and provide enough temperature for the vegetables to grow. Although they grow slower, at least we can ensure that we have fresh vegetables to eat."

Wanli looked at the fruit rack and asked, "This is a cucumber, right? I can recognize it, but what's next to it?"

"This is a tomato. My seventh brother and I brought back seeds from Europe. You should have eaten dishes made from it. It has just bloomed and will take some time for the fruits to bear."

Wanli asked questions as he walked along the way, and asked about all the vegetables in the greenhouse. In the end, he concluded: "You really know how to enjoy life. With this greenhouse, you can have whatever you want to eat in the winter."

"If you like, you can come here to pick vegetables in the future." Min Xi said.

"That's not necessary. There is no shortage of vegetables in the palace. I just don't know how they are grown." Wanli said.

"I plan to plant more and sell them in winter. Since those dignitaries are willing to pay for them, the money I earn can also be counted as income for Liulichang," said Min Xi.

Wanli nodded with satisfaction: "If only all the officials in the court were like Min Qing and Yun Qing and always wanted to help me make money, then the Ming Dynasty's treasury wouldn't have to worry about being empty."

"You don't have to worry now, sir. Isn't the national treasury getting full?" Min Xi said with a smile.

"That's right! The national treasury is no longer short of money this year. It doesn't have to be as stretched as before. Many things that need to be done can be done." Wanli sighed. In the past two years, he had been in charge of the government and realized how difficult it was to manage a country. Money was needed everywhere. Even though he was the emperor, he felt embarrassed like a good cook cannot cook without rice. Fortunately, he had Zhang Juzheng to help the national treasury and Min Xi to help the private treasury. He felt more confident.

At this moment, Min Xi's heart moved, and he said, "Sir, I have another idea to make money, and I need your support."

Wanli looked at him curiously: "What other ways do you have to make money?"

Min Xi said: "Europeans sailed to the New World and brought back a lot of gold, silver and other things, which made them rich in a short period of time. Why don't we also go to the New World to try our luck?"

When Yun Ji heard this, he understood Min Xi's idea. It seemed that he was finally going to take action. Yun Ji frowned. Going out to sea was a good idea, but the risk was too great. He couldn't let Min Xi go alone.

Wanli became interested after hearing this: "What do you think we should do?"

Min Xi said, "I want to organize a fleet to go out to sea and head east. We will definitely reach the New World. If we can find something valuable there, it will be a great help to you and our Ming Dynasty."

"You're going to the sea yourself?" Wanli couldn't help but frowned when he thought of Min Xi going to the sea. He knew it was dangerous to go to the sea, so he was reluctant to let Min Xi take the risk. On the other hand, Min Xi was his only close friend in the world. Although he never bowed down to him, he made him feel at ease. He didn't want to lose Min Xi as a friend. If he encountered troubles in the future, who would he go to talk to?

"Yes, I have rich sailing experience, so I have to go there in person on the first trip. When the route matures in the future, I won't go there." Min Xi knew that he had to go there on the first trip, otherwise how could he find the iron ore and coal mines in Australia, and the rubber trees in South America?

Yun Ji also said, "Sir, I will go with my ninth brother. We both have rich sailing experience and are most familiar with the situation outside. And with my protection, my ninth brother will be safer."

"Are you both going?" Wanli's mood was obviously a little low.

Yun Lin who came along was stunned: "Big brother, second brother, you guys are going out to sea?" He had never expected that his two elder brothers were going out to sea.

Min Xi then noticed that Yun Lin was here. He had only mentioned this to Yun Ji, but not to Yun Lin. He then reached out and embraced Yun Lin: "I do have this plan, but I'm not sure when to leave."

Yun Lin pursed his lips, trying to control his emotions and not let himself cry. After a long while, he said, "Can I go with you?"

Min Xi and Yun Ji were both stunned. They looked at Yun Lin and remembered that they were Yun Lin's biggest support. Although he had grown up a little, he was only in his teens and was far from being old enough to grow up. Min Xi thought for a moment and said, "We can discuss it when the time comes."

Yun Lin couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he heard this, as this meant that he had the opportunity to go out to sea with his brother.

Wanli pursed his lips and said, "It seems that I am the only one who can't go. I really envy you guys. You can go wherever you want at any time."

"Young Master is different from us. You are of noble status and the backbone of our Ming Dynasty. Naturally, you cannot leave. Let us fight for you." Yun Ji said.

Wanli sighed and said, "How long does it take for you to come back?"

Yun Ji looked at Min Xi, who thought for a moment and said, "If everything goes well, we can go back and forth in a year, or two years at most."

"It's been too long! When you're not here, who should I talk to if I encounter troubles?" Wanli was a little depressed.

"Then let's get back as soon as possible." Min Xi said.

Wanli waved his hand: "Forget it, safety comes first. Just come back safely."