Wanli 1592

Chapter 404 Dear General Xiao, Hello

Xiao Ruxun didn't regard the cardinal of the Holy See as a distinguished guest, and didn't go out to greet him. He just waited for him to come in and sat in the living room for a while, and then someone went to the inner hall to invite Xiao Ruxun out to meet the cardinal.

Matteo Ricci is already familiar with Chinese hospitality, but this is the first time for the cardinal to see chairs, tables and interior decorations that are different from those in Europe. The bishop finds it very novel. There are many trees, flowers and plants, full of greenery and vitality. There are also Chinese paintings and Chinese calligraphy hanging in the living room, as well as some plaques with written words.

In Europe, the calligraphy written by Chen Longzheng has become something sought after by countless people, because Chen Longzheng only wrote this one calligraphy, and no matter how many people ask for the rest, Chen Longzheng is determined not to write any more.

Chen Longzheng's reason is very simple - I just wrote to you to humiliate you, but I didn't expect that you couldn't understand that I was humiliating you, so it would be boring, and you still want to use these things to make money, what a waste of money!

A group of barbarians who only know gold and silver goods!
When Chen Long was boarding the boat and leaving, he dismissed this sentence very disdainfully. Naturally, no one understood.

Then that word is out of print in Europe. The Governor of Genoa felt that he had taken advantage of it. He wanted to keep this word as a family heirloom. People bought it with gold, silver and land. He sternly refused and resolutely refused to sell it. The bishop also probably knew the price, so looking at the calligraphy and Chinese paintings in this room, I felt very greedy and very moved.

Matteo Ricci also probably knew what the greedy bishop was thinking.

"The residences of Chinese scholars and nobles are basically like this. It is the habit and rule of Chinese scholars to hang some Chinese calligraphy and Chinese ink paintings. This is a kind of etiquette for them. These calligraphy and ink paintings are basically from some The hands of well-known writers and painters are very valuable, and in Europe, they are even more valuable."

The bishop nodded while scanning the circle of calligraphy and ink paintings with greedy eyes.

After a while, the servants brought tea and refreshments for the bishop and Matteo Ricci to enjoy. The bishop lifted the lid of the tea and saw that there were tea leaves inside, full of fragrance. He took a deep breath of the tea fragrance and sighed: " The Chinese are really rich, this tea is so fragrant, it can be sold at a very good price in Europe! And this... what is this?"

Matteo Ricci explained: "This is the refreshment served with tea when the Chinese entertain guests. It is the same as the pastry used by European nobles for afternoon tea. This is called mung bean cake, which is made of mung beans. , The weather in Myanmar is hot, and mung beans have the effect of relieving heat, so they are very popular in Myanmar. This kind of mung bean cake is also a very famous cake in Myanmar, sweet and glutinous."

After all, Matteo Ricci picked up a piece of mung bean cake and took a bite, then showed a look of enjoyment.

"The Chinese people's attainments in food are absolutely no less than their cultural attainments. It can even be said that their food itself is a kind of culture."

Hearing Matteo Ricci say this, and then seeing how he was enjoying himself, the bishop swallowed - as a cardinal, he can naturally enjoy all kinds of generous treatment, he can enjoy all kinds of food and drink However, he had never experienced exotic things before, so he couldn't wait to pick up a piece of mung bean cake, imitating Matteo Ricci, put it in his mouth and took a bite, and immediately, a soft, waxy and sweet taste swept over his mouth.

He couldn't help closing his eyes, savoring the sweet taste to his heart's content, and then he couldn't help eating three pieces in a row, and then sighed: "It's so delicious, are all Chinese food so delicate?"

"Chinese people are really particular about food. Of course, ordinary people are not so particular about it, but it is still possible to have a full stomach. There is no shortage of food in Myanmar."

The bishop nodded—who cares about the common people, they cannot represent China.

After eating a few more mung bean cakes, the bishop felt thirsty, so he picked up the tea bowl and took a sip of tea. The fragrant tea with a touch of bitterness dilutes the sweet and greasy feeling in the mouth. The perfect fusion of the two makes the mouth extremely comfortable , the taste buds are as wonderful as soaking in a warm bath.

"what……"

The bishop sighed deeply: "If you can enjoy this kind of tea and pastries after praying to God every day, it is really a supreme enjoyment. The afternoon tea enjoyed by those nobles is probably nothing more than this? Chinese people are really good at it. Enjoyed it."

Matteo Ricci smiled, but didn't answer—to be honest, how did he know how European nobles enjoyed afternoon tea? Only you bishop-level church nobles can enjoy it, right?
Although General Xiao likes to enjoy himself, the more than 100 million people under his rule have not been hungry for a single day in the past three years.As for you... huh...

In the middle of the stomach, there was a sound of footsteps, and Xiao Ruxun, who was wearing ordinary clothes, walked into the living room with Ma Wei, and saw Matteo Ricci and an old teacher wearing a teaching robe that he had never seen before, presumably it was the high-level The cardinal was gone, so Xiao Ruxun said, "This is the honored guest, right? My lord, Xiao Ruxun, some things have been delayed, and I am very sorry for delaying the honored guest."

Saying that, Xiao Ruxun cupped his hands at the old teaching staff, as a salute.

The bishop saw a very imposing young Chinese appearing in front of him. He was imposing and looked very powerful. When he was surprised, he heard him gurgling for a while. He didn't understand what it meant, so he could only He looked at Matteo Ricci.

"Bishop, this is General Xiao. He just said that he was late and he felt sorry."

This is Xiao Ruxun?So young?Are all Chinese nobles so young and handsome?

Although the bishop was surprised, he did not dare to be rude, and hurriedly bowed and said, "I am the special envoy of His Highness the Pope, Cardinal Zarome Alexander. Respected General Xiao, hello."

Matteo Ricci immediately translated.

"So it's Mr. Alexander." Xiao Ruxun smiled and nodded, "Sit down, you're welcome."

As soon as Xiao Ruxun stretched out his hand to ask the bishop to sit down, the bishop was stunned for a moment, looked at Matteo Ricci, and Matteo Ricci hurriedly said, "General Xiao, please sit down."

"Oh!"

The bishop nodded, sat down, and looked at Xiao Ruxun with some embarrassment—he always felt that this young man was too powerful, just like when he faced the powerful monarchs of those European countries , gave him a great sense of oppression.

(End of this chapter)