From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Chapter 1020 Exploring the Restaurant of White Water Sheep Head
Feng Zhengming naturally had no intention of participating in the recruitment work at the Beijing store.

They also didn't want to contact the people recruiting in Beijing.

After all, the two stores in the capital were entrusted to Fifth Senior Brother and Lü Chongshan.

If he gets too involved and has too much contact with the recruiters.

This might make it difficult to manage Fifth Senior Brother and Lü Chongshan later on.

Even with Sun Hongcheng, Feng Zhengming made his stance clear: Sun Hongcheng was someone from his fifth senior brother's shop, and everything had to go through his fifth senior brother first.

Sun Hongcheng also saw through this relationship, so he naturally nodded in agreement.

"I understand, head chef. I'll have him apply for a job at the restaurant as usual later."

Feng Zhengming: "It's right to apply for a job normally. Not just anyone can get into any of my stores."

Sun Hongcheng nodded: "Understood, I will make sure he prepares properly."

Feng Zhengming looked at his fifth senior brother: "Fifth brother, please take good care of me."

Cao Zhiguo nodded: "Don't worry, I will definitely conduct a rigorous assessment."

Feng Zhengming then looked at Lü Chongshan: "Chongshan, you can also recruit some apprentices from the capital. You can decide how to recruit them. The key is that they must be honest and hardworking. Those who can't endure hardship should not be hired."

Lü Chongshan: "Don't worry, Master, I know."

Sun Hongcheng saw that Feng Zhengming was only talking to his fifth senior brother and Lü Chongshan.

He felt a little disappointed.

However, Sun Hongcheng also understood that he was considered a partner by Feng Zhengming.

He has not yet demonstrated his value sufficiently.

His roast duck, which seems to be his specialty, has actually been modified by Feng Zhengming to sell better in the store.

Therefore, if Sun Hongcheng wants to gain Feng Zhengming's trust more, he really needs to demonstrate more ability.

After the meeting, everyone had dinner together that evening.

After returning to the hotel room.

Luo Qingcai then told her husband about Sun Hongcheng.

"You didn't let Sun Hongcheng's recommended friend go directly into the store. Won't that give him something to think?"

Feng Zhengming: "Don't worry, he won't have too many thoughts. Once he enters the store, he should understand that his position is not as indispensable as he initially imagined."

Luo Qing was puzzled: "Weren't you going to make roast duck at the Beijing branch? Why isn't the roast duck chef important anymore?"

Feng Zhengming: "Sun Hongcheng's skills are not irreplaceable, and he knows that himself."

Luo Qing: "Have you found a new roast duck chef?"

Feng Zhengming: Of course not.

Luo Qing was even more puzzled: "Then why do you say he's not irreplaceable?"

Feng Zhengming: "Do you think the skill of making roast duck can stump Fifth Brother?"

Luo Qing was taken aback at first, but she quickly understood.

"It seems that this is indeed not a problem for Fifth Brother. Then why did you let Sun Hongcheng into the shop in the first place?"

Feng Zhengming: "Because I don't want Fifth Brother to do everything by himself. He is the head chef and manager of the branch. How can he do everything himself?"

Luo Qing thought about it and realized that it seemed to make sense.

"Then we still need Sun Hongcheng."

Feng Zhengming: "Sun Hongcheng is a bit too stubborn. Didn't you hear Fifth Brother say in private that he doesn't get along well with the other chefs in the kitchen? He's too arrogant."

Luo Qing: "That's true. He doesn't get along with the other chefs in the kitchen. How is he going to work in the kitchen in the future?"

Feng Zhengming: "So, I'm also giving him a little warning today, to make him understand that he's not that important in my shop."

In fact, the fifth brother has completely mastered the roast duck technique at Feng Zhengming's branch store.

Most importantly, the lotus leaf pancakes for the roast duck in the shop are made and delivered daily by Lü Chongshan.

It could be said that Sun Hongcheng's job in the kitchen was simply to roast a duck.

He has always been rather arrogant.

Now Feng Zhengming understands why he couldn't stay in the kitchen of the roast duck restaurant back then.

With a personality like his, he probably often showed his dissatisfaction with others when he was working in the kitchen of the roast duck restaurant.

You've always been arrogant and looked down on others. They're not your parents, so why should they go along with you?
If Sun Hongcheng doesn't handle interpersonal relationships well in the kitchen, it will naturally make him uncomfortable in the kitchen.

Luo Qing: "So do you think he can change?"

Feng Zhengming: "He will definitely make changes. He said later today that he would ask his friends to prepare well for Fifth Brother's assessment. It can be seen that he himself has realized his problems."

Luo Qing couldn't help but laugh: "Even if you change, you're still a good comrade."

At this moment, the daughter suddenly interjected: "A child who changes is a good child."

These words made Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing exchange a glance, and then they both laughed.

Feng Zhengming picked up his daughter and said, "Youyou is right. If you change, you're a good child."

Feng Nuanyou: "Dad, did someone do something wrong? Are they not a good child?"

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, other children aren't as well-behaved as our Youyou; they always make mistakes."

Hearing her father praise her for being good, Feng Nuanyou was naturally very happy.

"Hehehe, Daddy is the best."

Seeing her daughter hug her husband and praise him, saying "Daddy is the best," and then kissing him.

Luo Qing couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

"Oh, look at you two, father and daughter, so affectionate."

Feng Nuanyou was very well-behaved and reached out her little hands to hug her mother.

"Hehehe, Mom is the best too."

Luo Qing pouted: "Is Mom better, or Dad better?"

It was clear that this wasn't the first time Feng Nuanyou had been asked this question.

She said almost immediately, "Yes, Mom and Dad are the best."

Feng Zhengming smiled and hugged his wife: "Don't always ask our daughter questions like that. Mom and Dad are definitely good to our daughter."

Feng Nuanyou immediately mimicked her father's words: "Mom, please don't keep asking Youyou questions like that."

"Hahaha……"

The way their daughter mimicked speaking made Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing burst into laughter.

Having their daughter, their little bundle of joy, truly makes Feng Zhengming and his wife happy no matter what.

Moreover, their daughter is a lucky star for the couple.

For example, a few days later, Feng Zhengming obtained information about some small shops near the tourist attractions.

He and his wife, along with their daughter, chose one to go to.

As soon as he entered, the shopkeeper recognized Feng Zhengming and gave him a cold shoulder.

They probably felt that Feng Zhengming's branch opening nearby had caused their business to decline.

However, after Feng Nuanyou stepped in, the shop owner was quickly amused by the adorable little girl.

Then the restaurant served Feng Zhengming a plate of boiled mutton head.

Upon seeing the boiled sheep's head served by the restaurant, Feng Zhengming immediately stood up and respectfully bowed to the restaurant owner.

"I'm so sorry, we were too presumptuous. We didn't expect you to be a true craftsman. We shouldn't have come here so abruptly."

The shopkeeper waved his hand, "Scholar Feng, you're too kind. This skill isn't anything special these days. Times have changed, and there aren't many people willing to eat this anymore." Feng Nuanyou noticed a cow horn next to the plate on the table, and the little girl couldn't help but feel curious.

"Dad, what's this for?"

Feng Zhengming patted his daughter's head: "You can ask your grandfather."

Feng Nuanyou looked at the shopkeeper and asked, "Grandpa, what's this for?"

When asked by the little girl, the shopkeeper gave a gentle explanation.

"This contains salt and pepper. You see, there's a hole here. When you eat this mutton head meat, you sprinkle the salt and pepper on through this hole, and that's how you get the flavor."

Watching the shopkeeper pick up the ox horn and gently shake it over the slice of meat.

Very small particles immediately poured out from the small hole at the tip of the corner.

"Wow, this is great, it's amazing."

Feng Nuanyou was genuinely surprised.

Watching the shopkeeper's skillful techniques, Feng Zhengming couldn't help but sigh, "This kind of craftsmanship shouldn't disappear; it should continue to be passed down."

The shop owner was somewhat helpless: "There's nothing I can do. The only thing I know how to cook is mutton head meat. Nowadays, people have so many other options, so nobody cares about this little skill."

Feng Zhengming picked up a very thin slice of mutton head meat.

Even Luo Qing was very surprised this time.

Feng Zhengming shared some with his wife and daughter.

He then explained, "This is the meat that was removed from the sheep's head after it was cooked. This knife is called a cow ear knife, which is used to slice the sheep's head meat. Only with a cow ear knife can the sheep's head meat be sliced ​​thin enough."

While eating mutton head meat, they listened to Feng Zhengming's explanation.

It was quite amusing to both Luo Qing and her daughter.

As the shopkeeper listened to Feng Zhengming's explanation, he couldn't help but look at Feng Zhengming in a different light.

In the past, the shop owners always thought that a national culinary champion like Feng Zhengming could only cook banquet dishes and didn't understand their street food stall.

According to Feng Zhengming, the shop owner even felt that Feng Zhengming knew more about boiled mutton head than he did.

After explaining the situation to his wife and daughter, Feng Zhengming smiled and looked at the shopkeeper.

"Actually, besides boiled sheep's head, your shop can also make some mutton soup and stir-fried mutton offal. I think people would like those, and they would also fit the characteristics of your shop."

The shopkeeper laughed: "What Scholar Feng says is true, but I don't know how to make those things."

Before Feng Zhengming could speak, the shopkeeper then made a self-deprecating remark.

“I’m getting old and no longer have the ability to learn any new skills. My own children are also unwilling to learn my skills. It’s possible that my family’s white-boiled sheep head will disappear from the market in the future.”

Feng Nuanyou immediately exclaimed, "No, you can't disappear! This is delicious, Grandpa Shopkeeper, you have to keep making it!"

The little girl's words amused the shopkeeper again.

"Haha, you think it's delicious? Then eat more. The grandpa who runs the shop can still make it, so he'll definitely keep making it."

Feng Zhengming and his wife exchanged a glance, and then he got straight to the point and explained his purpose to the shopkeeper.

When the shopkeeper heard Feng Zhengming say that he had come to buy his old shop, his expression changed drastically.

Feng Zhengming had anticipated this, so he spoke first before the shopkeeper could.

"Please don't get excited, let me finish. My purpose in acquiring your shop is not to change it, but to pass on your craft and preserve your shop's reputation."

If you're willing to continue, I can give you shares in the store, and I'll hand it over to you to manage.

I will send someone over to help you make mutton soup, mutton, lamb spine, offal, and other dishes so that your business can continue to thrive.

Feng Zhengming's words made the shopkeeper fall into deep thought.

It's impossible for me to say I don't want to pass on my skills.

The shop owner has been persevering alone all these years because none of his younger relatives are willing to learn the trade.

In the past, there were still some regular customers, but in recent years, because there are tourist attractions nearby, many tourists have flocked to Beijing.

His little shop did initially attract tourists.

However, after the initial curiosity fades, a single white sheep head is indeed not enough to attract many tourists.

Gradually, business at his own little shop dwindled.

This made the children in the family feel even more that it was the right thing not to learn the craft from him.

The shop owner also looked helpless.

Feng Zhengming whispered a few words to his wife.

Luo Qing left her husband and daughter behind and got up to walk out of the store.

Not long after, Luo Qing returned carrying a bag of sesame seed cakes.

Feng Zhengming touched the sesame seed cake: "Not bad, it's still warm."

Luo Qing: "Yes, I specifically asked for it to be hot."

Feng Zhengming broke the sesame seed cake in half.

The sesame seed cake is an authentic Beijing-style sesame paste sesame seed cake.

However, after Feng Zhengming broke it open, he saw that there was a white core inside and smiled.

"The craftsmanship is a bit rough; there are still so many white spots inside."

The shopkeeper glanced at it and said, "These days, where can you find a shop that can make sesame paste flatbread so well?"

Feng Zhengming first put the mutton cheek meat into the sesame seed cake, then handed one to his wife who had bought the cake, and then gave one to his daughter.

"So I want to do these old things well, so that tourists from other places who come to Beijing can truly taste the old flavors that Beijing should have back then."

The shopkeeper looked at Feng Zhengming in surprise.

"You, you really want to restore the old flavors of Beijing?"

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Of course, Beijing is the capital, the heart of our motherland. If we can't even preserve the old flavors of the heart of our motherland, then what's the point of me being the culinary champion?"

The shop owner was also quite excited.

"Good, good. People say that you, Feng Zhuangyuan, are a true lover of cooking. I didn't believe it before, but I do today. From the fact that you know the details of my boiled mutton head and how to eat it, I know that you must have studied various cooking methods."

The shop owner said earnestly, "I'm willing to transfer this shop to you, but I also hope you'll agree to keep my boiled sheep's head."

Feng Zhengming: "Of course it will be kept. I can give you shares in this store, and you can continue to stay in the store."

At this point, Feng Zhengming said very sincerely, "You can continue to run this shop."

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "No need. I can't keep this shop afloat with my limited skills. I'm willing to pass on my skills to you, as long as someone is willing to learn from me seriously."

Feng Zhengming: "I will arrange for someone to learn from you personally. I will definitely pass on this craft."

This made the shopkeeper even happier, because he was clearly more at ease if the training was given to Feng Zhengming.

"Thank you, thank you, Scholar Feng."

Feng Zhengming: "No, I should be thanking you. It is my honor that you are willing to pass on your skills to me."

Next, Feng Zhengming chatted with the shop owner and learned about some other unique shops.

The shopkeeper also introduced Feng Zhengming to some unique old shops near the tourist attractions.

"Speaking of the past, there was another very special shop that sold a bowl of braised pork noodles, which was a specialty of Beijing. It's a pity that it disappeared later."

Besides the now-disappeared "rotten meat noodles," the restaurant also introduced the famous braised pig's head meat from Beijing.

“In the past, people would either carry a red or white display case or push a meat cart along the street to sell their pig's head meat. There used to be a shop here that specialized in it. You might want to check out that shop, but it seems to have been closed for a while.”

After inquiring with Ma Fucheng, the old owner of Baishui Yangtou, Feng Zhengming began to plan how to acquire other small shops.

(End of this chapter)