Chapter 41: Chapter 39 Tomato Sauce Goes on Sale
After delivering a precise, piercing blow to Hook, Little Niu was in rare good spirits and treated Xu Yun to a broad bean sandwich on the street.
Looking at the sign of the Yage Hotel not far away, Xu Yun chewed on the dry bread, a hint of reflection surfacing in his heart.
According to the normal historical trajectory, a significant fire was going to occur in London in 1666.
Its impact was so profound that historians even named this disaster the ’Great Fire.’
After this fire, Hook displayed exceptional architectural talent, directly participating in London’s reconstruction efforts. Consequently, it wasn’t until the end of 1668 that he had the time to challenge Barrow at Trinity College.
Back then, Barrow found himself helpless against the problems Hook presented, facing ridicule and mockery from Hook in front of many students, which eventually alarmed the university’s principal at Cambridge.
This ordeal led Barrow to fall seriously ill, and upon recovering in 1669, he resigned from his position as Professor Lucas, recommending Little Niu as his successor.
In the following years, Barrow abandoned mathematics, earnestly diving into theological studies, reminiscent of characters in local martial arts novels who, upon seeing through the world, cut off worldly ties.
Later, Barrow earned his doctorate in theology in 1670 and formally took up the position of Trinity College’s dean in 1672, advancing to deputy principal of the University of Cambridge by 1675—though this illustrious resume recognized his theological achievements rather than mathematical.
Furthermore, from the end of 1673, Barrow was bedridden, passing away in 1677.
No one can say for certain whether Barrow’s untimely death had direct ties to Hook’s disruptive impact, but one fact is undeniably clear:
A leading Lucas Professor prematurely stepped down, shifting from mathematics to theology.
Bear in mind, Barrow had already acquired the sum and product of two functions and differential theorems—heights Little Niu could hardly reach at this point.
In terms of research progress, he was considered the leading figure in the field of calculus at the time!
Therefore, in certain circles, Barrow’s assessment somewhat resembles those fallen stars in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
With Xu Yun’s appearance, Little Niu had coincidentally resolved a major disaster for his teacher but simultaneously created enmity with Hook, leaving the outcome uncertain whether good or bad.
........
Twelve days flew by in the blink of an eye, and a new Sunday arrived.
Grantham.
Saint Titus Church.
Today, the entrance to the church was as crowded as ever, with deep and grand hymns faintly emanating from the building’s interior, creating a spectacle even grander than Xu Yun’s first visit.
This was the second Sunday of November, and according to seventeenth-century traditions on the British Peninsula, each month’s second Sunday saw a large trade assembly organized based on the fourth administrative district across all of England.
The trade assembly commenced on Sunday afternoon, continuing until about two to three in the afternoon on Monday.
Hence, on this day, the church’s worship bell rang an hour earlier than usual, and the service omitted the Holy Communion segment, giving everyone ample time to buy or sell goods.
Though seemingly a grassroots initiative, this assembly could never exist without and certainly did not happen without church district support.
In previous assemblies, churches also sold some Holy Books, portraits of Saints, or beverages, among other things.
But presently, the stall belonging to the Grantham District differed from previous ones:
No Holy Books, no portraits, just rows of fist-sized clay pots neatly arranged on a table.
Behind the table stood four or five large ceramic jars, with Xu Yun, Little Niu, the Williams family, and several church-attired helpers at the side.
According to the agreement initially established between Pastor Yalrin and William.
The district would extend the area selling tomato sauce to at least one-fifth of the East Midlands Region, with Grantham being just a small part of the map.
Considering this non-religious business might not fully align with the church’s style, Yalrin delegated the assembly stalls to the Williams family.
The district only assigned a few people to assist with data statistics and some material logistics.
At this moment, Mrs. Williams wore a cotton-linen dress, a white headscarf wrapped around her head, and nervously wiped her hands on her apron:
"Dear, how long until the meeting ends?"
Compared to his wife, William Asku appeared much calmer, as he looked toward the town’s clock tower and said:
"It should be soon, maybe five to ten minutes and..."
"Duang——"
Before William finished speaking, a deep chime echoed from the direction of the church.
This was the dismissal bell, signaling the end of worship.
In less than an instant.
Creak——
The two heavy church doors slowly opened, and a stream of people accompanied by a wave of body odor poured out.
Mrs. Williams’s expression grew noticeably tense, as she hurriedly instructed Lisa and the others:
"Lisa, check the position of the spoon.....Elura, make sure the lids on the jars are secured....Andrea, where are the potatoes? Quickly bring them out!"
The assembly venue was located on a street beside the church, with the district’s stall at the front of the street, serving as the only entrance.
With the exclusive possession of the cross sign, anyone who wasn’t a starship player would inevitably see this stall upon entering the street.
...
Just leaving the church, Tiffany Boli held her son Dino’s little hand, wrapped his slightly drafty scarf tighter, and asked:
"Dino, tell Mommy, did you listen carefully to today’s Sunday School lesson?"
Eight-year-old Dino joyfully hopped on the pavement blocks and replied cheerfully:
"Yes, today was about Job’s story. Hey, Mama, what’s that?"
Tiffany Boli was smiling as she listened to Dino speak and instinctively turned her head upon hearing his question, finding Dino pointing at the stall at the market entrance.
She smiled, stroked her son’s head, and said:
"Oh, that’s the church stall. Shall we go have a look?"
Tiffany Boli’s husband was a tailor in Grantham Town, with skilled craftsmanship that guaranteed a high income, making basic needs no worry for the middle-class family.
In August, Tiffany Boli had bought an Apostle Peter portrait at the assembly to hang at home. Unfortunately, not long ago, a cat ran into their house and shredded most of the portrait.
So since the beginning of the month, she had been planning to purchase another new portrait at the market.
When she led Dino close to the stall, a male voice echoed in her ear:
"Hello, would you like to try some newly launched tomato sauce? Free tasting!"
"Tomato sauce?"
Seeing the black-haired and black-eyed peculiar young man before her, Tiffany Boli swallowed the words she was about to say, asking curiously:
"What’s that?"
The black-haired young man adeptly pushed a plate in front of her and picked up a small piece of potato cut into thin long strips from the side:
"This is a new sauce from the East, made with non-toxic tomatoes and guaranteed by the Grantham District. Look, there’s a handwritten letter from Pastor Yalrin here too.
The quantity is limited, available until sold out, feel free to try before deciding."
"Tomato, huh?"
Upon hearing the term, a hint of hesitation surfaced on Tiffany Boli’s face.
In her understanding, tomatoes were considered a poisonous food.
She glanced at the stall’s Grantham District sign and the church-attired personnel behind it, and the trust stemming from faith gradually outweighed the impressions formed by rumors.
As this tailor’s wife gingerly picked up a potato strip, dipped it lightly in the tomato sauce, and took a bite.
A moment later, her eyes brightened up:
"How is this sold?"
Across from her, Xu Yun smiled and held up two fingers:
"10 ounces of tomato sauce, only 2 pence!"