The Portuguese who crossed the Atlantic needed lemons, and so did the Spaniards who crossed the Pacific, which may be one of the reasons for the presence of lemon trees in the area around the chicken coop.

Although the tree originated in southwestern China or northern Myanmar, it is now widely found around the Mediterranean Sea and is therefore not readily available.

After all, Chinese sailing, even the largest Zheng He went to the West, did not need to use lemons to prevent scurvy.

It's just that the so-called drinking tea and eating bean sprouts to supplement vitamins are all self-righteous rumors, which are as strong as the early Ming Dynasty, and it is impossible for Zheng He's fleet of more than 20,000 people to eat five catties of bean sprouts per day.

The voyage of the East was close to the coastline, it was easy to replenish fresh food, and the route taken by Zheng He to the West was the busiest route in the world at that time, even if it passed through Malacca, entered India, and crossed the ocean, there were also trade bases developed by Arab merchants for more than 1,000 years.

Rum was so impressive that a large amount of lemon was collected in the holds of the Egret and became the first commodity traded between the two sides.

Under the rum offensive, the Spaniards also sold large quantities of timber to the Oriental Trading Company, which had been dried for many years and could be used directly for shipbuilding, which was currently needed by the Trading Company, of course, for the Manila galleons that traveled between the Americas and Asia once a year.

Two days later, the Egret returned to Tamsui City, this voyage, fully loaded with cargo, very smooth, the spliced mast also performed well, the internal water seepage was also within a reasonable range, and the reinstalled chain drain machine and the like, novelty to the East, also worked normally.

Li Zhaoji only put forward one suggestion for improvement, that is, to add a stove to the ship, which is specially used to boil water, to ensure that the people on the ship drink boiled water, as for solving the fuel problem, it is natural to purchase coal, and then put the coal in the bilge, anyway, to put the ballast stone, it is better to change to coal.

This modification did not require the disassembly of the hull, so it was completed quickly.

"You two listen to me, the big shopkeeper wants to go to Macao with the Egret, I don't care about the rest, there is only one thing, the big shopkeeper is only allowed to appear in Macao, and he must not reveal his identity as much as possible, if he reveals that he wants to go to Guangzhou or other places, you two can take my arrows, tie them up on the boat, and send them to Tamsui." When the Egret was about to set sail for Guangzhou at Tamsui Port, Chen Liuzi said to Li Sizhi and Tang Mu.

There were also Liu Mingde and Yang Yandi on the side, and the two also nodded and said: "This is also what the two of me mean, remember, the safety of the big shopkeeper is greater than the sky, and everyone else can be ignored." ”

Both of them knew what was at stake, and after nodding their heads heavily, they boarded the Egret.

Macau, Mawei Lane.

Knock knock, chaotic knock on the door came from outside, more and more urgent.

He wiped his hands with a scarf, and shouted as he walked quickly to the courtyard door: "Come on, come on, come open the door, knock on the door, you have to lose money." ”

Three or five steps away from the courtyard gate, He suddenly stopped, because she didn't hear the knocker speak, she was a little remorseful for a while, and muttered: "I don't know which broken relative came to borrow money and rice, it shouldn't be, it's really unlucky, and it's going to be a tongue again, how can this be ......." ”

Ho's husband worked as an errand boy with the Portuguese, although he was also prominent for a while, but how can a person resist the changes in the living environment, Macau's economy is deteriorating, and the life of the Ho family is also very tight, whether it is the Bugarao Cannon Foundry where her husband works, or the council where he often attends errands, he has not been paid for a long time.

When He was thinking about finding some reason to refuse to open the door, he heard a familiar voice outside: "Oh, Aunt He, open the door quickly, I can't stand it." ”

"It's Si'er." He immediately opened the door and saw Li Sizhi, of course, in the right eyes, Li Sizhi was still the neighbor's apprentice Li Si'er.

Li Sizhi was dressed very decently at this time, carrying a basket in his hand and a bag of rice on his shoulder.

"Si'er, what are you doing here?" Ho asked.

"Oh, I said auntie, can you let me put things down and talk, it's very heavy." Li Sizhi shouted and walked into the hall, and when he saw the stocky wooden chair, he put the rice bag on it, put down the basket again, and panted roughly.

He brought water and said, "Si'er, come, drink some water quickly, where are you from, I heard that you and your master have gone abroad, and you haven't seen anyone for a few months, and your master was still talking to you a few days ago." ”

Li Sizhi drank it all in one gulp, poured another glass himself, and said, "Master and I followed the big shopkeeper to Tamsui, and we came back this time." ”

"Oh, you're talking about the Oriental Trading Company." He remembered that it seemed that Qi Hai's master and apprentice had been hired by that trading company in the first place.

Li Sizhi rested for a moment, pointed to the bag, and said, "Aunt He, you can take a good look, four buckets of rice, two pieces of cloth, and five catties of salt, you can order it." ”

"What does that mean?" He didn't lift the rice bag, but he didn't let go of his hand.

Li Sizhi said: "My master didn't come back, he confessed when he was in Tamsui, and asked me to buy these things and return them to you, saying that I owed you at the beginning, you order, what is still missing, I will buy it again." ”

"Ouch, where did you make a fortune?" Hearing that it was his own, He was even happier, and the rice jar at home had already bottomed out.

"That's enough, in this way, you go to Master's house in the next few days, talk to the master about paying off, and you will clear it up." Li Sizhi said with a smile.

Seeing Li Sizhi leaving, He immediately stopped him: "Si'er, don't go, what's the matter, the eldest lady didn't make you tea, you have to leave, sit down, and talk." ”

On weekdays, He likes Li Sizhi a lot, this young man is very smart, diligent, and can speak. He also thought that if Qi Hai let him become an apprentice, he would give him his daughter.

It's just a pity that the Qi Hai family also has a daughter, but no son, and Li Sizhi is going to be rich.

Saying that, He Zhang Luo made tea for Li Sizhi, and Li Sizhi was also diligent, poured the rice into the rice jar, and washed his face.

"Si'er, what's the matter with you, after going to sea for a few months, people still said that you were caught by pirates, why did you come back so boldly and make a fortune. Tell the eldest mother, if there is a good way, the eldest mother will also make a fortune. Ho said.

Li Sizhi said with a smile: "Auntie is making fun of me again, how much ability my Uncle He has, he has worked hard for the imperial court, and he can speak well in the council, where is the use of going overseas to make a fortune." ”

"Those are all face-saving scenery, and there is no benefit. Si'er, don't leave at noon, eat here, you sit down for a while, I'll go grocery shopping. He smiled and persuaded.

In fact, Li Sizhi came for his Uncle He, and his Uncle He is He Liangtao, who is the Chinese leader who can stand side by side with Ferreira among the Chinese in Macau, and Li Sizhi also knows that Uncle He is also registered with the big shopkeeper.

When he came back this time, Li Sizhi heard that Li Zhaoji admired He Liangtao so much, so he came to test it and see if he could invite him to Tamsui, after all, Li Zhaoji came to Macao in person this time, in addition to expanding trade, the most important thing is immigration.

The situation in Macau is getting worse day by day, and some people are willing to emigrate.

Li Sizhi stopped He Shi and said, "Buying vegetables is such a thing, where is it bothering the eldest lady." ”

He walked out of the courtyard gate, greeted him twice, and two of his attendants arrived, gave him money, and asked him to go to drink and buy food.

"Ouch, Si'er, your kid is really developed, and you have servants to call you." He was even more shocked.

Li Sizhi said: "Where is it, this is the entourage of the big shopkeeper, and I am also stained." ”

Li Sizhi just wants to create a feeling that he is mixed well now, others may not know, but as a neighbor of the He family, Li Sizhi knows very well that although He Liangtao has great ability, it is not so easy to move, especially when he assisted Daming to build a fortress and cast artillery, but it did not play a role.

He Liangtao was a little disheartened, and he was old and didn't want to run around anymore.

And the only one who has the ability to convince him is the He family in front of him.

"Si'er, why didn't your master come back?" He asked.

Li Sizhi said: "Master is very powerful now, the big shopkeeper built a shipyard and let Master take charge, and now Master is in charge of more than 70 people, and he is busy without touching the ground, so he doesn't come back." When I came back this time, I took the Shi Niang's family over, by the way, there is one more thing I want to entrust to Aunt He. ”

"You say."

Li Sizhi said: "After a while, the master's family is leaving, but now the house here can't be sold at a high price, I have discussed with the master, it is better not to sell it, give you the key to hold, you have to use the item, take it for yourself, if there is a price in the future, sell it again."

Of course, if the eldest mother likes it, she is willing to pay five taels of silver, and she can sell it to the eldest mother. ”

As soon as he heard that he was going to sell the house, the He family was even more interested in the wealth that Qi Hai's master and apprentice now had.

"Si'er, tell your aunt, is Tamsui so good, can it be compared to Macau? No, if it's that good, I haven't heard of it. Ho said.

Li Sizhi played a trick to get away with it: "What are you telling you about this, I said, can you still take my uncle to Tamsui?" ”

"If you have a good future, it doesn't hurt to go." Ho said half-truthfully.

Li Sizhi seemed to be thinking, smashed his fist in his palm again, and said: "Speaking of which, my uncle's ability, he went to Tamsui, and he is more important than my master." Not to mention, the salary of twenty taels of silver a month is certain, the uncle will repair the castle, and he will also cast cannons, and the trading company will definitely reuse it. ”

"Is what you said true or false?" When He heard that there were twenty taels a month, he was moved.

Li Sizhi smiled: "Auntie, if I say something disrespectful, don't tell my master, as far as my master's skills are concerned, there are twelve taels a month." ”

In terms of ability, Qi Hai is a craftsman who builds ships, but he is too far behind He Liangtao.

When He Shi heard this, she nodded heavily, she thought for a while, and said: "Si'er, don't go, you stay here, I'll go to the artillery factory and call your uncle back, with this effort, you can talk to him well." ”

"Okay, if you want it or not, it's okay, I'll just tell a story. Not to mention, my uncle has also seen our big shopkeeper, and the big shopkeeper also remembers him. Li Sizhi said.

Ho asked, "Your shopkeeper is not in Macau." ”

Li Sizhi nodded: "Yes, there is one thing, auntie, except for the uncle, don't tell anyone else, this is a big deal." ”

"Then can you invite him to dinner?"

"That's not going to work, the big shopkeeper went to the Fortress to see the Governor."