A Ming Dynasty Woman's Workaday Life in Europe

While Su Yao and her friends were out at sea, they were caught in a devastating earthquake and tsunami. When they opened their eyes again, they had become exotic curiosities from the East, being auctioned at a slave market in the Port of Seville, Spain, in 1585. But at least they were lucky in three ways: 1. They were all still alive. 2. Each of them had a skill. 3. The count who bought them loved good food. With her excellent cooking, Su Yao won over the count's palate and earned her freedom. Later, she opened a Chinese restaurant, serving dishes from all eight major regional cuisines in turn. Nobles and celebrities from across Europe flocked to try her food. Her friends went on to open a clinic, a clothing shop, and a financial securities firm, leading the trends of the age in Europe. A few years later, they had made a fortune. They bought several large ships and formed an ocean-going fleet. They also brought along Shakespeare's manuscripts, paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, scientists, wealth, connections across many countries, and precious seeds from the New World, then sailed across the ocean to return home and serve China! #We cash in on Europe during the Age of Exploration# #A few nobodies build businesses in Europe# #Your Majesty, I brought back Europe's treasury for you# Blurb written on March 20, 2025. P.S. A lighthearted slice-of-life story about building a business, with a small ensemble cast, food, and development. Coming soon 1: Dear Grandson, Your Ancestors Are Waiting for Your Disaster Relief Grain Blurb: Great Yue, Lin Family Village, ancestral hall. The Lin clan chief prayed devoutly as he offered incense. “Ancestors, Great Yue is suffering its worst drought in a century. Crops have failed across many regions, and even the river in our village, which has never run dry, is about to dry up. I, an unfilial descendant of the eighteenth generation of the Lin family, beg you to protect us and help us get through this year of disaster. If you have any grain hidden away, please appear in our dreams and tell us.” Behind him, fifteen-year-old Lin Chang'an burst out laughing. “Grandpa, our ancestors were all so poor they had nothing to their names. How could they have hidden grain for us? I say we should ask our descendants for help instead.” The clan chief gripped his pipe angrily. The boy clasped his hands together and added irreverently, “My descendants, I'm your ancestor, Lin Chang'an. Your ancestor here is suffering through drought and disaster, and we're about to starve and die of thirst. If you've made something of yourselves, find a way to show us a little filial respect!” The clan chief raised his pipe and smacked the boy on the head. “You little rascal, what nonsense are you talking about?” “Grandpa, don't get so worked up.” The boy clutched his head and tried to dodge. Then, in the empty space before the offering table, these suddenly appeared: 5 bags of Wuchang rice from Northeast China 5 cases of Baisui Mountain mineral water 5 cases of fresh fruit and vegetables The clan chief: !!!! Lin Chang'an: Was that our ancestors answering us? Or our descendants? Coming soon 2: A Little Seaside Restaurant in Northern Song China Blurb: Xie Zhiqiu transmigrates to the Northern Song dynasty, becoming a young woman traveling a thousand miles with her child to find her husband. Unfortunately, she has spent three days in Zitong Harbor without finding him. Worse, she is almost out of money. Unable to find him and with nowhere to return to, Xie Zhiqiu can only rent a small room and settle in with her child for the time being. To support her family, Xie Zhiqiu sets up a little stall at the harbor docks. Juicy shrimp dumplings, tangy and spicy rice noodles, and chewy noodles topped with soybean paste... There are plenty of merchants traveling between the north and south, and they can all find a taste of home here. Thanks to those familiar flavors, customers keep pouring in, and business gets better and better. Her little stall becomes a small restaurant. Before long, a grand restaurant called Xie's has joined the lively, bustling docks of Zitong Harbor. * One day. The little restaurant's young proprietress, her hair tied up in a tiny bun, stands at the door with her hands on her hips, introducing the day's special to a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark skin and a rugged, masculine air. “Hey, dark-faced uncle, today we've got the most delicious cured meat and bamboo shoot soup. The little glutinous rice ball has had a nice bath and turned all white!” Ye Xingshui, weather-beaten from his travels, looks at the child who doesn't even reach his thigh. “Little Tangyuan, I'm your father.” Little Tangyuan stares at him with round eyes, studies him carefully, then holds out a hand. “My dad gives me silver to spend. Will you?” Ye Xingshui takes out some money. Little Tangyuan accepts it, runs to the back courtyard, and calls out triumphantly, “Mother, a dark-faced uncle said he was my dead father. He couldn't fool me, and I even tricked him out of his money!” Ye Xingshui laughs in exasperation and climbs over the wall. Little Tangyuan screams, “Mother, he can climb walls!” Xie Zhiqiu runs out with a spatula, staring blankly at the tall, handsome, strikingly masculine man. He really does look like her husband. Oh dear... What about the scholar Aunt Zhang next door introduced to her? Theme: Survive adversity and work hard to return home.