The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Baron Fernando was like a child presenting a treasure at this moment. As soon as he said this, everyone in the room looked at him.

Duke Fernando looked over and said, "Pedro, what are you holding in your hand?" The Duke was eighty years old. His back was no longer straight, and his hair had turned silver. Not a single strand of brown hair could be seen, but he looked in good spirits.

The Duchess smiled and said, "This child must have found something interesting again." She was ten years younger than the Duke, her hair was completely white, but she still had a row of neat white teeth. She was a very elegant old lady, and one could still vaguely see her beauty when she was young. The Baron looked a bit like his grandmother.

Baron Fernando is the youngest grandson that the two elders love the most. Although he is a playboy, he has made a name for himself and is the most promising of their grandchildren. More importantly, the 26-year-old Baron Fernando is a bachelor and the dream husband of many aristocratic ladies.

The baron enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention. He walked up to his grandparents, knelt on one knee, and slowly unfolded the scroll in his hand: "Grandfather, look, this is a painting of Chinese ladies. Do you like it?"

The Duchess smiled and patted her grandson: "Your grandfather is so old, and you still send him pictures of beautiful women."

The baron said solemnly, "Grandma, you may not know that this beautiful lady is a Chinese deity. She is immortal and a symbol of longevity. The peach in her hand is also a symbol of longevity in China. The deer beside her symbolizes happiness and health. This painting was specially drawn for Grandpa's birthday."

After his explanation, the Duke and Duchess began to look at it carefully again, and the guests around also gathered around to admire the scroll. They were used to seeing three-dimensional oil paintings, so at first glance, this flat Chinese painting with clear lines seemed very novel and interesting.

The Duchess nodded. "It's a beautiful painting. Where did you get it?"

The baron said, "It was sent by my friends, the two Chinese people I invited to cook Chinese food for my grandfather today. The painting was drawn by one of the young men who is good at painting. He learned that my grandfather was very old, so he spent a lot of effort to draw this painting. He specially sent it to my grandfather to celebrate his birthday and wish him good health and longevity!"

The Duke was very happy after hearing this: "Good, good! Thank your two friends for me, they are so thoughtful."

There were so many guests that many people couldn't see the painting. The Duke noticed this and gave the painting to the people around him: "Everyone, take a look. Isn't it a very beautiful painting?"

Everyone started passing it around, and some children also squeezed in the crowd, craning their necks to see the painting. However, they were too short to see it at all, so they stretched out their little hands to grab it: "Let me see, let me see."

The baron took one look and quickly took it over: "Don't push, come here, I'll show you."

He stood on the sofa, holding the "Magu Offering Longevity" in his hand, unfolding it for everyone to see. The baron then explained the meaning of the painting to everyone according to what Yun Ji said.

Everyone was amazed. It was so interesting that the Duke could get a Chinese painting as a birthday gift.

In the end, the Baron simply asked someone to find a picture frame, framed the "Magu Offering Longevity" painting, and hung it in the most conspicuous place in the living room for the guests to appreciate.

Min Xi and Yun Ji didn't see this scene, otherwise they would have laughed to death. Chinese paintings need to be framed on scrolls, but they were too busy and short on time, and didn't have time to make scrolls, so they just framed it and sent it over. They thought they would have a chance to tell the baron how to frame it in the future, but they didn't expect that he would just frame it as an oil painting.

In the afternoon, guests from the same city arrived one after another, and almost all the important figures in Lisbon were there.

Everyone gathered together for afternoon tea and chatted, eating the cookies and cakes that Min Xi had baked yesterday. The cookies were crispy and sweet, and the cakes were soft and delicious, suitable for all ages, very popular, and even a little bit not enough. There were so many kinds of snacks on the table, these two were the most popular.

Naturally, some people asked about the origin of such delicious dim sum. Someone told them that they were baked by a Chinese chef who opened a Chinese restaurant on Magellan Street.

This is also what the Baron instructed his servants to say, as a way of repaying Min Xi for his help.

The painting "Magu Offering Longevity" hanging in a prominent place also attracted the attention of many people. Those who could enter and leave the Duke's Mansion were naturally either rich or noble. Regardless of whether they really understood art or pretended to understand it, they all developed a strong interest in it. Naturally, they soon learned the origin of the painting, which was actually related to the Chinese hotel. Many people developed a strong curiosity about the Chinese hotel.

In Min Xi's plan, the dishes should be cooked at about six o'clock, and the meal should start at half past six, and it will take an hour or two before it gets dark. When it gets dark, the men and women who have eaten and drunk enough will dance, which is the most common form of social entertainment in the European upper class.

It can be seen that partying is a European tradition. No wonder the most common form of social entertainment for young people in Europe and the United States in later generations is partying.

Min Xi prepared all the ingredients and waited for the other side to announce the start of the banquet so that he could serve and cook the dishes.

However, the most distinguished guest had not arrived yet, so Min Xi could only wait. But he was not in a hurry, because the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was already cooked and could be served; the roast chicken was stewing in the pot, just waiting to be fished out and served; the roast duck was roasting in the oven, and this dish would be served when it was ready.

Salt and pepper shrimp is very simple and takes very little time. You can cook it while you eat it. Squirrel fish is also easy. It has been cut into pieces and you just need to coat it with batter and fry it.

The noodles are ready, and the crab meat and shrimp are also prepared, just waiting to be fried. The custard buns are almost cooked, so it doesn’t matter how long they are steamed.

The Western food side, on the other hand, was a bit hurried, as the cooking methods were limited and the dishes had to wait to be cooked in the oven and in the pan. If they were cooked too late they were afraid it would be too late, so they started cooking early and some of the dishes had already cooled down. Although most Westerners eat cold food, is cold food really delicious?

Min Xi saw the fat chef wiping his sweat with a red face. The fat chef was a chef invited from the largest restaurant in Lisbon. He was said to be very skilled. He had just shown up today and did not take Min Xi seriously at all.

Although they knew that the front yard was extremely lively, Min Xi and others, as kitchen staff, still consciously abided by their duties and did not dare to go and watch the fun.

Gail was the most curious and always pricked up his ears to listen to the Duke's cooks gossiping about things in the front yard. Although Diego was also curious, he was very honest and did not dare to go out and inquire casually. He just concentrated on watching the fire and was on standby at all times.

Amanda didn't dare to ask. To her, being here was a blessing she had earned in several lifetimes. Was there any need to ask? If she told her neighbors what she had seen, she would be the most worldly-wise person in the whole block.

After seven o'clock, the most distinguished guest finally arrived. A luxurious carriage pulled by four horses slowly drove to the gate of the castle, and the Duke himself, supported by his children and grandchildren, also arrived at the gate early to welcome the distinguished guest.

The door of the spacious and luxurious carriage opened, and a middle-aged man came out first. He got off the carriage, bowed, and respectfully extended his right hand to greet a teenage boy.

This boy has a handsome appearance, not too white skin, and a strong body. He is not a sickly child. It can be seen that he is a person who loves outdoor sports. This is the most distinguished guest today, King Sebastian I of Flanders, a boy of only 16 years old.

Sebastian I did not even try to help the courtier's hand, but jumped down from the carriage, shocking the Duke and the others: "Your Majesty, please be careful!"

Sebastian I laughed loudly: "Happy birthday, old Duke! You are already eighty years old, so don't worry about me. I have jumped off a horse before, so this height is nothing."

Duke Fernando turned pale. "Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself. Your safety is related to the survival of our Flanji. Don't take any more risks."

This young king had not yet married and had no children. The royal family was small, and if he were gone, the dynasty would be in real danger.

Sebastian I put his arm around the Duke's shoulders and laughed nonchalantly: "Old Duke, life is an adventure. If I don't take risks, what's the point of living? Don't worry, I can walk and ride a horse, so there's nothing to be afraid of!"

The young king was full of energy and in great health. He liked hunting, horse riding, bullfighting, martial arts, boating, etc. He would do anything exciting. He was also ambitious, full of ideals and fighting spirit.

The Duke and several other important figures smiled bitterly and shook their heads helplessly.

Everyone gathered around the king as he walked into the hall. Sebastian I asked his servants to give the Duke the gifts they had brought: "Happy birthday, old Duke! I hope I can live to be eighty years old like you in the future!"

The Duke hurriedly thanked him: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! I wish Your Majesty a long life!"

Because the king was there, everyone accompanied him carefully and did not dare to speak loudly.

Sebastian I knew that he had made everyone uncomfortable, so he waved his hand and said, "Don't follow me. I haven't been to the Duke's Palace for a long time. Pedro, please accompany me to visit."

"Yes, your Majesty!" Baron Fernando agreed hurriedly.