From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Cao Zhiguo understood perfectly well that his junior brother was saying this to his son in order to elevate his status as a father in his son's eyes.

Therefore, he was truly filled with gratitude towards his junior brother.

In recent years, as Cao Chen has gotten older, he has indeed had many more ideas.

Especially this time when he returned to Beijing, Cao Chen stayed with his mother at his maternal grandparents' house.

It's inevitable that he'll overhear his grandparents talking about his father behind his back.

This somewhat shattered Cao Chen's image of his father.

That's why he directly asked Feng Zhengming if he could learn to cook from him in the future.

Cao Zhiguo knew this in his heart, but he didn't say much.

After all, my son was able to study in Beijing thanks to his maternal grandparents.

Cao Zhiguo and his wife, along with their son, still live with his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Since he was living under someone else's roof, Cao Zhiguo couldn't very well have any complaints about his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Now that his junior brother has spoken up, Cao Zhiguo has salvaged some of his image as a father in his son's eyes.

He was truly grateful to his junior brother.

At the same time, Cao Zhiguo's wife was also somewhat grateful to Feng Zhengming.

How could Cao Zhiguo's wife not know the disdain her husband received at his parents' home in Beijing?

She had argued with her parents about this.

But in the end, when the argument escalated, the parents' simple statement, "Then you can move out," instantly made Cao Zhiguo's wife lose her temper.

Cao Zhiguo's wife could only educate her son behind his back, preventing him from having any contemptuous views towards his father.

However, the more parents talk, the more rebellious the children become.

I met Feng Zhengming tonight and listened to what he said.

This immediately changed Cao Chen's opinion of his father.

At this moment, the owner's son came in to serve the dishes again.

Feng Zhengming stopped the other party.

"I'm asking you, are you still in school?"

The boss's son is named Xu Jinghao.

He was a little nervous when Feng Zhengming stopped him and asked him that question.

He was stunned for a moment, and for a moment he seemed not to know how to answer.

Cao Zhiguo smiled and reminded him, "Just tell me if you're still in school. Don't worry, Scholar Feng has no ill intentions towards you."

Cao Zhiguo had clearly been here more than once, and Xu Jinghao was even more familiar with him.

So after hearing what Cao Zhiguo said, Xu Jinghao finally relaxed and answered.

“I didn’t do well in school, so I didn’t continue my studies after graduating from junior high. Now I just stay at home and help out with my dad.”

Feng Zhengming: "Okay, then let me ask you, do you really want to learn cooking skills?"

This question stumped Xu Jinghao once again.

He was stunned for a moment before he suddenly came to his senses: "Scholar Feng, are you... are you going to take on a disciple?"

Feng Zhengming laughed: "It's not me who's taking on apprentices, it's my fifth senior brother. He thinks your skills are good and wants to ask if you'd like to learn cooking from him. But you'll have to start as an apprentice first."

Xu Jinghao looked at Cao Zhiguo, whom he was already quite familiar with.

He never expected that Cao Zhiguo would want to take him as his apprentice.

Before Xu Jinghao could answer,

The door to the room was pushed open, and the owner couldn't resist barging in.

“Master Feng, Chef Cao, my son is willing. He is willing to learn your skills. He doesn’t do well in school, and I’ve been worried about that. Now that you don’t mind that he’s not smart, and are willing to let him be an apprentice, that’s really a blessing for him.”

The boss then bowed deeply to Feng Zhengming and Cao Zhiguo to express his gratitude.

Feng Zhengming got up and stopped him first.

"Boss, don't get so excited. We also value talent. My fifth senior brother said that your young master has the talent, so we are willing to let him be an apprentice. Actually, this is also our luck to have met a good apprentice."

Cao Zhiguo also stood up: "Yes, yes, Brother Xu, don't get agitated. We should respect the child's opinion."

Then Cao Zhiguo looked at Xu Jinghao seriously: "Are you willing to come with me? Be my apprentice? You can learn in the kitchen for a while first, and then we'll see how you perform. If you do well, you might have the opportunity to formally become my apprentice."

With such an enticing opportunity right in front of him, it's no wonder Xu Jinghao was tempted.

Even the other people in the kitchens of both stores had their eyes shining.

Seeing everyone's gaze, Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "You are all the same. If you perform well, you will all have the opportunity to formally become apprentices."

Hearing his junior brother's words, Cao Zhiguo nodded: "That's right, everyone has an equal opportunity, and everyone will have a chance."

These words excited everyone present, and they were all eager to perform well at the upcoming Beijing branch.

Although they may not be able to become Feng Zhengming's apprentices, they can become apprentices of Cao Zhiguo, which is a legitimate apprenticeship of a state banquet chef, and Cao Zhiguo is one of the certified famous Shandong cuisine chefs.

Xu Jinghao finally nodded in agreement: "Okay, I'm willing to go to your store."

Cao Zhiguo smiled and said to the boss, "Brother Xu, don't worry, I will help you raise your child well."

The boss smiled and said, "Thank you, Chef Cao, and thank you to our top student. I'm at ease knowing you're teaching this child."

Everyone enjoyed the meal very much, and Feng Nuanyou sat obediently next to her mother.

Seeing the little girl's well-behaved appearance, Cao Zhiguo's wife couldn't help but whisper to Luo Qing.

"Daughters are the best. Look how well-behaved Youyou is!"

Luo Qing smiled and said, "Girls are usually more obedient, but when it comes to getting things done, we still need boys."

Fifth Sister-in-law looked at her son and said, "I hope he can grow up to be like his father."

Feng Nuanyou turned to her fifth aunt and said, "Fifth aunt, why don't you let Brother Chenchen go to the kitchen? Let him help Uncle Wu in the kitchen during his holidays, and he'll learn quickly."

Fifth Sister-in-law exclaimed, "That's really a good idea! I didn't expect Youyou to be so clever!"

Feng Nuanyou: "Hehehe, it was Dad and Mom who said it, I heard it."

Fifth Sister-in-law looked at her son again. She knew in her heart that her son was usually too spoiled at his maternal grandparents' house.

We really need to teach him properly in the future, otherwise our son will be spoiled by his grandparents.

Let your son go into the kitchen so he can see how his father and the other uncles and brothers work.

Fifth Sister-in-law believes that the child's current ideas will gradually change due to the influence of the environment.

During the meal, everyone toasted and drank quite a bit without realizing it.

After the meal, Feng Zhengming and his fifth senior brother put their arms around each other's shoulders.

The two walked and whispered to each other.

It wasn't until Feng Zhengming said, "Fifth Brother, let's buy a house. While houses in Beijing aren't too expensive yet, let's buy a house first and move out of Cao Chen's maternal grandparents' house."

Cao Zhiguo was stunned for a moment and looked at his junior brother in surprise.

Do you know how expensive housing is in Beijing?

Feng Zhengming smiled, thinking to himself, "How could I not know? It will only get more expensive in the future."

"Fifth Brother, don't worry. With our two stores opening in Beijing, I dare say it won't be long before we start making money. In the future, you might be able to buy a house with your annual dividends."

Hearing his junior brother's words, Cao Zhiguo was willing to believe him.

Because my junior brother really does have that ability. Just like how he was able to buy an old-style house in Shanghai.

If we were to create a wealth ranking of chefs across the country.

Cao Zhiguo believed that his junior brother was far ahead.

Feng Zhengming: "Remember, Fifth Brother, we need to make money, but we also need to make good food. I'm entrusting the two restaurants in Beijing to you. You must make them famous for me."

Cao Zhiguo nodded seriously: "Don't worry, I will definitely run the two stores in Beijing well."

Feng Zhengming glanced back at his wife, daughter, his fifth sister-in-law, and his fifth senior brother's son.

"Don't put all your energy into the store. Spend more time with your child. Cao Chen is a good child, but a good child's growth cannot be without a father's love."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhiguo turned around and saw his son looking in his direction.

He could certainly tell that with his son by his mother's side, along with his aunt Luo Qing and her sister, he, as a boy, felt uncomfortable.

So Cao Chen looked at her father, hoping to walk with him and her uncle.

Cao Zhiguo smiled at his son and then waved.

Cao Chen's face immediately lit up with a smile, and then he quickly ran over to his mother.

Cao Zhiguo put his arm around his son's shoulder.

“Son, a real man should go with us men. Your mother told him to go with your aunt and take your sister.”

Cao Chen smiled when he heard his father's words.

"Dad, what you said tonight is the most correct."

Cao Zhiguo burst into laughter: "Hahaha..."

Feng Zhengming also turned to look at Cao Chen: "Xiao Chen, your uncle just told your dad to hurry up and buy a house so that you and your mom can move out of your grandparents' house. What do you think?"

Cao Chen answered almost without thinking: "Okay, I've been meaning to stop living at my grandparents' house for a long time."

After saying this, Cao Chen seemed to realize that it was a bit inappropriate to say it that way.

"It's not that I don't want to stay at my maternal grandparents' house, it's just that my maternal grandparents always look down on my dad, and I don't want them to look down on him."

Feng Zhengming laughed: "That's right, we can't let others look down on your dad, so let your dad buy it, and if there's not enough money, your uncle can pay for it."

Cao Zhiguo was also amused by the conversation between his junior apprentice and his son.

"Alright, alright, is this how you raise a child? Aren't you just trying to sow discord between the child and their grandparents?"

Feng Zhengming: "What do you mean? Xiao Chen shouldn't have a bad relationship with his grandparents, right?"

Cao Chen immediately said, "No, my grandparents are very good to me. My mom and I came to Beijing for school and had nowhere to stay, so my grandparents let us stay at their house."

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, we should remember the kindness of our maternal grandparents."

Actually, your maternal grandparents didn't mean any harm. They didn't really look down on your father; they just wanted to encourage him to build a successful career, buy his own house in Beijing, and make your family's life better.

Cao Chen nodded: "Uncle, I know. I don't blame Grandpa and Grandma."

Cao Zhiguo watched his junior brother talk to his son. He really didn't expect that a few words from his junior brother would change his son's attitude so much.

At that moment, Cao Zhiguo felt that he was not close enough to his son.

Feng Zhengming, the uncle, was completely unpretentious and communicated with the child as an equal.

Cao Zhiguo could tell that every word Feng Zhengming said was meant to guide the child.

This kind of communication will make children more willing to communicate.

The group walked back slowly, passing a small square.

I saw a group of adults and children playing football inside.

On a whim, Feng Zhengming said, "Let's go play football."

Cao Chen was naturally willing to go, but he still wanted to see his father one last time.

Cao Zhiguo paused for a moment, then chuckled, "Come on, let's go, it's been a long time since we played."

Then the two fathers took the boy and rushed into the small square, quickly blending into the crowd playing football.

During the scramble, Cao Zhiguo even attempted a dribble, but it was intercepted by the opponent.

Feng Zhengming made a timely run, regained possession of the ball, and passed it to Cao Chen.

Cao Chen received the ball and immediately took a shot.

As a result, the kick wasn't powerful enough, and the goalkeeper caught it.

Fifth Sister-in-law and Luo Qing led Feng Nuanyou to the sidelines, watching the two fathers playing football with their boys, both with happy smiles on their faces.

Feng Nuanyou even made a gesture as if she wanted to rush in and kick the ball with her father, standing next to her mother.

Fortunately, Luo Qing reached out and pulled her back, preventing the little girl from rushing inside.

"Hey Mom, don't pull me! I want to go! I want to play soccer with Dad too!"

Luo Qing laughed: "You're still too young. What if someone hurts you when you go in?"

Fifth Aunt squatted down as well: "Youyou, you're a girl. It's not pretty for girls to play football. Youyou, cheer for your dad, fifth uncle, and brother from the sidelines."

Feng Nuanyou could only look towards the field and then start cheering.

After a struggle, Cao Zhiguo and his son finally got another chance to shoot.

This time, Cao Chen didn't rush to shoot. When he saw others closing in, he cleverly passed the ball out with one foot.

Cao Zhiguo suddenly displayed the tacit understanding between father and son, rushing forward to appear at the spot where the ball was passed.

Then he lifted his foot and shot, and this time the ball finally went into the makeshift goal.

Cao Chen and his son Cao Zhiguo hugged each other happily and shouted loudly.

Feng Zhengming smiled as he looked at the father and son, expressing his gratitude to those who had brought them into the picture.

Then he and Cao Zhiguo and his son withdrew together.

Seeing her father approaching, Feng Nuanyou finally couldn't resist any longer. Taking advantage of her mother's inattention, she pulled out her little hand and ran towards her father with small, quick steps.

When Feng Zhengming saw his daughter running towards him, he took the initiative to go forward, hugged her tightly, and then lifted her high up.

Feng Nuanyou was lifted high by her father, and at that moment it seemed as if she was flying.

It made the little girl laugh with a silvery, cheerful voice.

Cao Zhiguo and his son walked arm in arm, as if returning in triumph, to his wife.

"How about that? My son and I are pretty in sync, right? We stepped right in."

"Mom, my dad is pretty good at soccer."

Fifth Sister-in-law was naturally very happy to see the father and son looking like that, and took out tissues from her bag and handed them to them.

"Hurry up and wipe your sweat, look at you two covered in sweat."

The father and son took the tissues and wiped the sweat from their faces.

The father and son even wiped each other's faces.

At that moment, the father and son's relationship was completely strengthened because of an unexpected ball game.

Luo Qing also walked up to her husband and daughter, and took out the tissues she had prepared in her bag.

"It looks like this game went really well. Look how good the relationship has become between Fifth Brother and his family of three?"

Feng Zhengming put his daughter down and took the tissue his wife gave him.

"Communication is essential between people. Whenever there is communication, all problems can be easily solved." (End of Chapter)