The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

What Yun Ji said was true that there was nothing valuable at home. Through the introduction of Baron Fernando, they deposited most of the money they earned in a loan office, which was a credit institution established by the government, an early bank. If merchants needed money, they could go to the loan office to borrow money.

This is both safe and can generate some interest, which is safer than keeping it all at home.

This time when they went out, they took the remaining money with them.

Baron Fernando was very kind. He not only lent them a carriage, but also a hunting rifle and a short musket. When you are out, you should not have the intention to harm others, but you must be on guard against others. If you encounter a desperate criminal on the road, although Yun Ji is good at fighting, if there are more bad guys and they are armed, the advantage of the other party will not be obvious.

Min Xi had made sufficient preparations for this trip. In addition to guns, ammunition, clothing and rain gear, he also brought dry food. He made pancakes and pot cakes, and brought the remaining beef jerky. Even if he couldn't find a place to eat, he wouldn't starve in the next two days. Of course, he couldn't forget to bring tomato seeds and pepper seeds to Professor Greeley, which was the main purpose of this trip.

Min Xi arranged the carriage comfortably, so that after a journey of several hours, one could lie down and take a nap if one felt tired. The only problem was that the carriage was a bit narrow, so one had to curl up and could not stretch their legs.

Yun Ji saw that he was busy as if he was moving house, and said with a smile: "If you don't know, you would think you are moving."

Min Xi said: "A poor family is rich on the road, so it is always a good idea to be well prepared on the road."

Early on Saturday morning, when the sky was just getting light, Min Xi and Yun Ji were ready to leave. Diego reluctantly saw them off at the door: "Take care, boss, and come back soon."

"Take good care of the house and lock the door. We will be back soon." Min Xi touched Diego's head, got on the carriage and left.

Yun Ji waved the whip to drive the carriage, the crisp sound of horse hooves rang out in the empty streets, and it went through the morning mist and headed out of the city.

This was the second time they left Lisbon after arriving in Flanders. The last time they went to Mora to see Captain Reis, they were worried and met a driver who raised the price on the spot, which was a really bad experience. This time was completely different. They drove the car themselves and didn't worry about anyone. In addition, the local weather in October was very cool and pleasant, so it really felt like a trip.

Yun Ji sat in the front of the carriage to drive it. Min Xi did not enter the carriage, but sat on the other side of the shaft to look at the scenery and chat with Yun Ji.

The wind in the early morning was a little chilly, so they put on their coats to avoid feeling the cold. Min Xi said, "The autumn climate here is really pleasant, perfect for an autumn outing."

Yun Ji smiled and said, "Isn't this the equivalent of an autumn outing?"

"Yes, it's an autumn outing. At this time of year in Yingtian Prefecture, we should still be struggling with the autumn heat. The climate in Lisbon is much better than Yingtian Prefecture. It's not too hot in the summer, and it's not too cold in the winter."

"Yes, the weather in the capital is only pleasant in March, April, August and September every year. The other seasons are either too hot or too cold." Yun Ji agreed.

After leaving the city, the sun had not yet risen and the fields and forests were still shrouded in a thin morning mist. The autumn wind dyed the fields and forests into colorful colors, which was very beautiful.

Min Xi said, "Seventh Brother, look, that hillside is all yellow, what do you think it is?"

Yun Ji looked in the direction of his finger. The entire hillside was covered with neatly arranged rows of crops, the bright yellow color was very eye-catching. "I don't know."

Min Xi said, "I guess it's grapes!" In fact, it is grapes, and it is the grape harvest season now.

Yun Ji murmured, "Is this how they grow grapes here?"

“It’s very convenient to pick, right?”

"Yes. No need to build a grape trellis." Yun Ji said.

"I guess it was built, but the shelf is relatively low, so it doesn't grow higher."

"Let's go and take a look when we get a chance," said Yun Ji.

In fact, you don't need to go there to see it. When you go a little further, you will see vineyards all along the road. If you look carefully, you will know what is going on. The grape trellises are only a little over one person tall, and they are full of grapes. People can pick grapes by standing in front of the trellises.

Min Xi asked, "Are the grape varieties here different from those in Daming?"

"Yes, it's a little different. There are purple grapes, and the grapes are bigger."

"Grapes are plants that can be propagated by cuttings. When we leave, we can break off a few grape vines and take them back as cuttings. If they survive, they will enrich the grape varieties of the Ming Dynasty," said Min Xi.

"That's a solution." Yun Ji agreed.

The sun came out, and the golden sunlight was not too scorching. Instead, it made the roadside scenery more beautiful. This was a completely different scene from that in China. At first glance, it was novel and beautiful, and people would like it. However, after all, it was not the scenery of my hometown, and it was difficult to generate a sense of familiarity.

After seeing so much, Min Xi also felt visual fatigue. The sun was rising higher and higher, making his scalp feel hot. Min Xi yawned. Yun Ji noticed his condition and said, "Ninth brother, you can go into the carriage and rest. You don't have to accompany me. I can drive the car."

Min Xi did not insist: "Okay, then I'll go in and get some sleep first, and I'll catch the bus later."

"Go."

Min Xi got into the carriage and found a comfortable position to sleep in the little nest he had prepared long ago. The carriage swayed like a cradle, and he quickly fell asleep.

When he woke up, he found that the carriage had stopped. He sat up and asked, "Seventh Brother, are we there yet?"

But there was no response from Yun Ji outside. He was a little confused. Where did he go? Did he go to the bathroom? He raised his hand to push the door, but a hand closed the door from the outside. Yun Ji's voice came in a low voice: "Don't come out! Something is going on."

Min Xi was shocked. Was he in danger? "What happened? Did he run into a bad guy?"

Yun Ji said: "They haven't robbed us yet, they are robbing the carriage in front."

Upon hearing this, Min Xi quickly opened the seat in the carriage. Underneath was a German-made spring-loaded hunting rifle, the Baron's best gun. "Seventh Brother, do you want a gun?"

"Don't come out. I have a pistol on me. Get your spear ready," said Yun Ji.

Min Xi quickly loaded the shotgun with bullets and gunpowder and held the gun barrel nervously. He was not sure whether he could light the fire and hit the enemy.

There were faint sounds of yelling and women crying in the distance, and a man was begging: "Just take the money and forget it, but leave our wife here. Don't hurt our wife, or the master will kill me."

"Stop talking nonsense, you're dead if you dare to stop me!" A voice rang out along with the sound of gunfire, scaring everyone to scream.

"Knock knock."

Min Xi's carriage rang, and Yun Ji's low voice rang out: "Ninth brother, give me the rifle and load it with bullets."

Min Xi said nervously, "It's ready. Shall I give it to you now?"

"Open the door a crack and pass it to me. Give me the ammunition too. Bolt the doors and windows of the car from the inside and lie down in the car and don't come out." Yun Ji said.

Min Xi followed his instructions and said, "Seventh Brother, what are you going to do?"

"There are four guns over there. I should be able to handle it. Don't worry, I can still protect myself." After Yun Ji took the gun from the gap in the car door, he jumped down the slope beside the road.

A robber in front noticed the movement of the carriage behind and said, "Someone jumped out of fear. It must be someone with money!"

Min Xi had no idea what was going on outside and he lay in the carriage, not daring to move. They dared to rob people in broad daylight, which showed how rampant the thieves were in this place. No wonder the baron wanted to lend them a gun.

I hope Yun Ji will be fine. He is a skilled fighter and a good marksman. He should be fine. He must not be in any danger.

Just as Min Xi heard the sound of horse hooves approaching him, he suddenly heard a gunshot, followed by another one. There was chaos over there: "The other side has a gun!"

"Luka is dead!"

"Joey's been shot."

"withdraw!"

"Get out!"

The noisy sound of horse hooves rang out, and even the horses in Min Xi's carriage were frightened, and the carriage began to shake. Fortunately, the horses did not run away on their own.

Min Xi was very hesitant. Should he go out? Yun Ji had left, and now there was no one controlling the carriage. Just as he was hesitating, he heard another gunshot, right outside his carriage. Min Xi guessed that it was Yun Ji who fired the gun. He mustered up his courage, sat up, gently opened the window and looked out.

I saw Yun Ji jumping up from the slope beside the road, holding a gun in one hand.

After a while, he returned to the carriage and said to the people in the carriage: "Ninth brother, it's safe for now. The thieves ran away. I killed one and another was injured. I'll give you the gun first. I'll go over and take a look."

Min Xi quickly opened the car door, and Yun Ji handed him the shotgun: "Load the ammunition and don't come out yet. I'll call you." He walked forward with the pistol.

The people in the carriage in front were obviously frightened. Even though the robbers ran away, they were still too scared to move. The coachman was shot and fell to the ground. Fortunately, the gunshot missed his vital parts and he bled a lot, but his life was not in danger. A woman in a puffy skirt was trembling under the carriage, not daring to come out.

One of the two robbers was shot in the heart by Yun Ji, and fell off his horse and died on the spot. The other was shot in the neck, but because it was shot by a short musket, the force was too small and he did not die immediately.

Yun Ji walked forward, hesitated for a moment, and shot the robber in the chest, killing him instantly. He had already started killing, so he didn't care about killing one more. After all, his and Min Xi's oriental faces were too easy to recognize. If the robber remembered them, there would be endless trouble in the future. He couldn't put himself and Min Xi in danger.

It was almost noon and the sunlight was too glaring, so he wore a hat to block the light, covering half of his face. His clothes were no different from those of the locals. The robbers' attention was all on the carriage in front of them, and they probably didn't notice his oriental face.