Chapter 194: The Origin of Gold Coins

"Come on, let's eat!" Jiang Hai called out cheerfully, carrying a platter of large lobsters to the table. The three girls—Cindy Clive, Darlene, and Marian—who had been waiting eagerly, rushed to the kitchen to help him bring out the rest of the food. Before long, the table was filled with an assortment of dishes.

Jiang Hai had learned to cook in the past, mostly out of necessity. During the year he stayed home unemployed, he had no choice but to fend for himself in the kitchen. However, once he came into money, he became a little lazier and started eating daily at Mrs. Philemon's house, though he still cooked his own breakfasts.

Occasionally, though, circumstances forced him to cook, like now. Taking Darlene and Marian to Mrs. Philemon's house might have been easy enough to explain, but bringing Cindy Clive along would make her uncomfortable, even if Mrs. Philemon didn't mind. So, Jiang Hai dusted off his slightly rusty cooking skills and got to work.

Fortunately, Western cuisine wasn't overly complicated, at least not the way Jiang Hai approached it. He prepared four main dishes: baked lobster with cheese, steamed abalone with vermicelli and garlic, braised sea cucumber, and fried steak.

The baked lobster with cheese was relatively simple. First, he skewered the lobster's tail to drain it, then knocked it unconscious—much like handling a fish—before splitting the tail and discarding the less meaty claws. The lobster tail, cut lengthwise, was marinated in salt, wine, and ginger juice. After partially baking it in the oven, Jiang Hai sprinkled it with cheese, breadcrumbs, and pepper, then returned it to the oven until the cheese melted. Boston lobster, unlike ordinary lobster, has a lot of meat in its claws, so Jiang Hai cracked those open as well.

Steamed abalone with vermicelli and garlic was straightforward too. After soaking the vermicelli—purchased from a local store run by an elderly man—he cleaned the abalone, removing its innards and scoring the meat for texture. He placed the vermicelli in the abalone shells, topped them with the meat, and fried some garlic with fermented black beans for a fragrant topping. The abalone was steamed for five to six minutes, then garnished with chopped scallions and chili powder, followed by a drizzle of hot oil. The dish was fresh, mild, and delicious, though Jiang Hai admitted it was a bit extravagant to prepare such large abalone this way. But with an abundance of ingredients at hand, he didn't mind.

The scallion-fried sea cucumber was a common dish in China, though typically made with dried sea cucumber. Jiang Hai, however, had access to fresh sea cucumber—something rare because it deteriorates within hours of being harvested. Having caught these earlier that day, he confidently used fresh ones for this dish.

The fried steak was the easiest to prepare. The key to a good steak lies in the marinade and cooking time. Mrs. Philemon had already marinated the steaks for him. Jiang Hai preferred his steaks well-done, and his companions—Darlene, Marian, and Cindy—didn't mind either. In fact, Cindy shared his preference.

Though there were only four dishes, the portions were massive. The lobster alone weighed eight or nine pounds. Jiang Hai used about half a pound of sea cucumber, steamed eight large abalones, and prepared ten pieces of steak, each weighing around three taels. It was a feast that might challenge even the combined appetites of Jiang Hai and the three women.

"Come on, let's eat!" Jiang Hai declared, setting the last dish on the table. Unlike some households, they didn't say grace before meals, as Jiang Hai wasn't religious.

With his invitation, Darlene and Marian eagerly grabbed their chopsticks and began eating. Although neither had known how to use chopsticks initially, Jiang Hai had taught them, and after a few months, they'd become quite proficient. Cindy Clive, a regular guest, was already familiar with the setup and ate without hesitation.

"By the way," Jiang Hai began after devouring a steak, a third of a lobster tail, and a large abalone. "Have you had a chance to read that notebook? What's written in it?"

Cindy Clive, unbothered by maintaining a ladylike image, continued eating as she replied, "Yes, I've gone through it. The notebook was written by a British naval lieutenant commander named John Wiltold, and it appears to document events from the Second War of Independence."

"Is it in English?" Jiang Hai asked curiously.

"Yes, but not the English you're familiar with. It's written in traditional British English from 200 years ago—like the equivalent of ancient Chinese. It's similar but different enough to confuse you," Cindy explained with a smile.

English, like any language, had evolved over time. Today, it had two main branches: British English and American English. While they seemed similar to outsiders, locals could spot significant differences. The notebook was written in archaic British English, which hadn't yet been simplified, making it difficult for modern readers to understand.

Cindy, having finished her meal, picked up the notebook and began explaining its contents. Jiang Hai listened carefully, piecing together the story.

The diary recounted events from the Second War of Independence, a conflict less well-known than the American Revolutionary War. This war, fought between 1812 and 1815, stemmed from geopolitical tensions. At the time, Europe was embroiled in the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon's defeat allowed Britain to redirect resources to the conflict with the United States, leading to significant clashes.

John Wiltold, the diary's author, had been the captain of a British naval supply ship. His mission was to deliver provisions and 100 boxes of gold coins—military pay for British soldiers stationed in the Americas. However, during a U.S. counterattack, Wiltold ordered the gold to be thrown into the ocean to prevent its capture. His ship was later sunk, and the gold was lost to history—until now.

Jiang Hai, who had stumbled upon the notebook while searching for abalone, couldn't help but grin as he imagined the treasure hidden beneath the waves. "A hundred boxes of gold coins! I've hit the jackpot this time!" he exclaimed, his grin growing wider as he listened to Cindy's story.

(To be continued...)