The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

The next day, Lord Melo came to eat. When paying the bill, Yun Ji showed him the bill for his friend's meal yesterday: "This is the bill for your friend's meal yesterday."

Lord Mello didn't even look at it, but just asked, "How much?"

Yun Ji said, "They spent a total of 1975 riyals, plus the 232 riyals you spent today, the total is 2207 riyals. After the discount, it is 1986 riyals."

Lord Melo, who only had one real silver coin in his hand, was stunned for a moment, then took out another silver coin: "No need to change."

Yun Ji took it and gave him the change anyway: "Please keep this change."

Lord Mello had no choice but to collect the change and put it in his purse: "I saw the preview saying there will be roast duck tomorrow?"

"Yes, if you plan to come and eat, you can ask the kitchen to reserve it for you." Yun Ji was businesslike.

Lord Mello nodded: "Okay, then keep one for me."

At noon the next day, Lord Mello's friends came again. This time there was one more person than last time, eight people in total, but Mello himself was not present.

Yun Ji recognized them as soon as they arrived, and guessed that they would be on Lord Mello's account again.

The group of people asked for a private room and ordered four roast ducks at 238 riyals each, half a duck per person. This time they were more extravagant than last time and spent a total of 2265 riyals. When they left, each person still had a box of egg tarts and a box of toasted buns.

Sure enough, after the meal, the leader came to the counter and tried to act calmly: "Lord Mello said that our account will be in his name."

Yun Ji raised his eyes and looked at the other party: "I'm sorry, Lord Mello didn't inform us in advance, I'm afraid you will have to settle this account by yourselves."

The man blushed and stammered, "Boss, how could you do this? Lord Mello said that all our meals will be recorded in his name."

Yun Ji said, "I only heard from Lord Mello that you guys ate squirrel fish and the bill was put in his name, but he didn't tell me anything else, so you have to pay for today's meal. Your total consumption is 2265 reais, which is 283 reais per person. I'll round it off for you, so it's 280 reais per person."

When the group of people behind him heard this, their faces turned unhappy, and two of the shy ones started to take out money from their pockets.

But more people were unwilling to spend money. Some people murmured, "Didn't they say that meals are free? I didn't bring any money with me."

280 Swiss francs is enough for their family’s food expenses for several days. Why should they pay for it themselves when someone is taking advantage of them?

Someone said, "Boss, please keep the bill. If Lord Mello doesn't pay for us, we will pay it ourselves."

Yun Ji said, "I'm sorry, I don't know you. If Lord Melo doesn't pay the bill, where can I find you? We are a small business, and we only pay for goods. We don't have the rule of credit. If everyone comes to eat and doesn't pay the bill, but just says someone else's name and puts the bill under someone else's name, I'm afraid my store won't be able to continue."

A man with a somewhat fierce face squeezed to the front of the counter and said, "Boss, this is not the first time we are keeping accounts. How do you know that Lord Mello is unwilling to pay for us?"

Yun Ji said calmly: "Then you should go and invite Lord Mello here and let him tell me in person, then you can leave."

The man slammed the table and said, "We are leaving. What can you do to me? Let's go!" Then he walked out.

Seven or eight men walked out the door upon hearing this. Yun Ji grabbed the man who led the way and said, "I advise you all kindly that it is only natural to pay for meals. If you were really beggars who could not afford to spend, we would also give you a meal. Now that you are dressed neatly, you are not beggars begging on the street, so why are you eating and freeloading?"

The man was grabbed by Yun Ji and tried to struggle, but found it was useless. Yun Ji said, "You can't just leave them all. You have to leave someone behind as collateral. Either you ask Lord Mello to help you settle the bill, or you gather the money together to redeem the person."

The captured man yelled, "Let go, let go! Come and help me, he is holding me and won't let go."

His companion hesitated for a moment, and someone came up to help push Yun Ji: "Your boss doesn't understand what people say, right?"

Yun Ji grabbed the man's wrist and twisted it: "Don't force me to use force! If you report this matter to His Majesty the King, I will be in the right."

The guy whose wrist was twisted screamed and his expression suddenly twisted. It was really painful.

His shout startled his companions and the guests who had not yet left the hotel.

The guests had actually noticed the commotion a long time ago, but they didn't know what was going on.

Min Xi had finished cooking a long time ago and was also called out by Gale. Seeing that the guests were shocked, he quickly said to comfort them: "Don't be afraid, everyone, they are just a group of scoundrels who eat without paying."

The customer finally calmed down and looked towards the counter.

Min Xi walked over and said, "Everyone, it's only natural to pay for your meal. Why are you running away after eating?"

"It's not that we don't want to pay. We agreed to put it in Lord Mello's name." Someone defended himself.

Min Xi said: "Lord Mello is a regular customer of my shop, but we don't know you. You said you are friends of Lord Mello, what are your names? What do you do? Lord Mello has always been generous and righteous, it's impossible that his friends are a group of people who dare not even say their names!"

This made the man's face turn red and white. If he said his name at this time, it would be like exposing his reputation as a freeloader. So he said to the group of friends who had not left yet: "Everyone, please collect the money and pay."

The group of people came back and took out some money from their pockets, and finally they got together the 2023 Reese.

Min Xi said, "In that case, let's just forget about it for Lord Mello's sake. The remaining amount will be wiped out as a discount for you. Remember to bring money next time you go out to eat."

The group of people left with their faces turning red and white. It was a really embarrassing meal. They will never come here to eat again.

Yun Ji saw Min Xi and said, "Will Lord Melo blame us for offending his friends?"

Min Xi snorted coldly and curled his lips, "What a shitty friend! He uses his name to cheat people and eat and drink for free. It's better not to make friends with such people."

Lord Melo came with Baron Fernando in the evening. Yun Ji went to order food for them and told Lord Melo about what happened at noon: "The group of friends who came to eat squirrel fish last time came to eat roast duck again today, and they said they would put the bill in your name."

When Fernando heard this, he looked at Lord Melo and said, "Are those sour poets from Hamlin again? Didn't the Marquis tell you not to associate with that group of people? His Majesty doesn't like them, so why are you still associating with them?"

Lord Melo blushed and said, “How much do they eat? I’ll pay for it.”

Yun Ji said: "I didn't agree, saying that you didn't tell them to pay for it themselves."

"Thank you! I'm sorry to bother you." Lord Mello thanked them sincerely. That group of people were friends he knew in the past. It happened that he was asked to treat them to a meal, so he invited them because he couldn't save face. He didn't expect that those people would eat meal after meal. If Yun Ji didn't ask them for money, he would have to pay for them out of face.

Yun Ji said, "It is only natural to pay for meals. Your Excellency has never eaten, so there is no need to thank me."

After dinner, Lord Melo went back first, and Fernando stayed because he had to bring Min Xi and Yun Ji to the palace tomorrow.

When Min Xi finished his work and most of the guests had left, Fernando was sitting on the balcony drinking tea and enjoying the breeze. When he saw Min Xi coming over, he asked, "Where's Yun?"

"There are still two tables of guests downstairs, waiting to pay the bill," said Min Xi.

Fernando said, "I will go to the palace tomorrow. Is Yun's painting ready for your majesty?"

Min Xi said, "It's ready. I'll show it to you."

"it is good!"

Min Xi went up to the attic carrying a candlestick and took down the painting.

Fernando couldn't wait to take it, unfold it and take a look. He immediately held his breath: "Although this horse has no details, it feels like it is about to run out of the paper. It's amazing!"

Min Xi said: "Yes. The characteristic of freehand painting is to express the spirit, not the form."

Fernando clapped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I like this painting, too. Ask Yun to paint me a picture of my horse. I'll give him fifty, no, one hundred reais."

Min Xi's eyes lit up when he heard this: "His paintings are so valuable?"

“When it comes to art, the price actually depends on whether the work meets the buyer’s preferences,” said Fernando.

Min Xi nodded: "It seems to be the case."

It is really pitiful. How many famous artists lived in poverty and sickness during their lifetime. But after their death, their works were sold at sky-high prices. Unfortunately, they themselves could not see or enjoy them.

Fortunately, Yunji's painting is just a hobby and he doesn't need to rely on it to support himself.

The reason why his paintings are valuable is because they are unique in Europe.

When Yun Ji sent the last table of guests upstairs, Min Xi and Fernando were talking about Lord Mello.

"...They are a group of down-and-out nobles who were stripped of their titles. Now they have trouble even eating. But they are not content with the status quo and want to rise again through other channels. They wrote a lot of poems to dedicate to His Majesty, hoping to be appreciated by His Majesty. Simon also loves poetry, so he got to know this group of people and helped present poems to His Majesty. But His Majesty doesn't like poetry. He thinks that if he wants to achieve great things, he should join the army."

Min Xixin thought that Lord Mello's temperament seemed a little incompatible with that of a poet, but his group of friends were quite consistent.

Fernando went on to say, "It would be fine if they just wrote poems. The year your majesty took power, we had a big conflict with Greater Luzon at sea. We suffered a loss and lost four ships. The king personally negotiated with Greater Luzon but did not get any compensation. This group of pedantic poets got together and wrote poems to imply that your majesty is too young and lacks experience in governing. He should wait until he is an adult before governing. This has completely offended your majesty."

Min Xi guessed that these people might have said this under the instructions of someone.