From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

The lawsuit against Feng Zhengming did not ultimately fizzle out.

Instead, Feng Zhengming's actions were noticed by the higher-ups.

Then, the higher-ups directly issued instructions, allowing Feng Zhengming to acquire those small shops near tourist attractions in Beijing.

It can be said that the attitude of the higher-ups is very clear: they do not want to stop Feng Zhengming's acquisition.

They were even encouraging Feng Zhengming's acquisition.

It is clear that the goal is to reorganize Beijing's snack shops through Feng Zhengming's acquisition.

In particular, we need to clean up those old shops near important tourist attractions in Beijing.

Others might not understand the higher-ups' attitude, but Feng Zhengming understood it very well.

He knew that it wouldn't be long before news that would shock the entire nation spread.

That means China will win the bid to host the Olympics.

What does a successful bid for the Olympics mean?
This means that our motherland is truly on the path to prosperity and strength.

This means that the Chinese nation must face the world and showcase its profound culture.

This also means that the capital city will undergo a complete transformation.

In preparation for the Olympics, Beijing will undergo a radical transformation.

The renovation of various old shops in the scenic area will also be a very important task.

The higher-ups were also thinking about how to renovate those old shops near tourist attractions.

After all, those old shops have indeed changed owners several times over the years.

In reality, the signs of those old shops were still not changed.

Moreover, those old shops remain important culinary landmarks in Beijing.

Therefore, the higher-ups hope that the old store can be truly rebuilt and improved.

It has truly become a symbol of Beijing's culinary scene.

Instead of turning into tourist traps and rip-off shops like they are now.

Just as the higher-ups were discussing how to make changes.

Feng Zhengming's affair was exposed.

This immediately drew everyone's attention to what Feng Zhengming had been secretly doing.

Through Master Hou and relevant departments, it was learned that Feng Zhengming did indeed acquire those small shops in order to preserve their long-standing traditional crafts.

This was like a godsend, a perfect solution for someone who was sleepy.

The higher-ups made the decision immediately, assigning Feng Zhengming to handle the acquisition and integration.

They also secretly sent a message to Feng Zhengming.

If he encounters any obstacles in his subsequent acquisitions and integrations, he can find the relevant departments to help him.

They will definitely give him the green light throughout the entire process.

If there are any financial difficulties, you can apply for a loan directly from the bank, or even transfer a portion of the shares to turn the acquisition into another form of public-private partnership.

Upon receiving the news, Feng Zhengming was naturally overjoyed.

With support, he can go all out and do it.

Next, he made a big move, acquiring all the small shops near the most important tourist attractions in Beijing.

Naturally, the conditions cannot all be the same as those of the boiled mutton head restaurant.

Basically, of all the shops he acquired, the one with the white sheep head was the best.

Many of the traditional crafts in other small shops have long since disappeared.

Some shops have even been turned into convenience stores.

After acquiring all these small shops, Feng Zhengming made some adjustments.

We need to reorganize all the small shops, deciding which shops will offer what kind of specialty snacks.
Which restaurants are suitable as small eateries in Beijing that serve stir-fried dishes?

Feng Zhengming had a complete plan.

He even submitted this plan to higher authorities through Master Hou in order to gain more support.

Feng Zhengming's actions naturally received tremendous support.

This time, no one stopped him.

The owners and chefs of the time-honored restaurants in Beijing did not feel that Feng Zhengming posed any threat to them.

After all, Feng Zhengming was only acquiring small street shops.

Those snacks are not something that other business owners are unwilling to acquire.

Rather, they felt that reorganizing those snacks was simply too much work.

Besides, in the eyes of the owners, snack shops don't make money anyway.

So they simply look down on these small shops.

This is what makes Feng Zhengming different from them.

After all, Feng Zhengming started from a street stall, so he is well aware of the enormous value that specialty shops can bring.

Therefore, since others didn't want them, Feng Zhengming decided to accept them all.

After dealing with all the tourist attractions and various small shops...

Feng Zhengming then took his daughter to a cooking school in the suburbs of Beijing.

This culinary school has trained many master chefs in Beijing and can even be considered the Whampoa Military Academy of chefs for state banquets.

Feng Zhengming's arrival also garnered the school's attention.

The school leaders specially organized a group to welcome Feng Zhengming.

To everyone's surprise, Feng Zhengming, dressed casually, walked into the school following behind his three-year-old daughter.

This scene left many people speechless.

Some students couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

"Why does it seem like we're here to welcome this little girl?"

"Chef Feng loves his daughter so much that he even brought her along."

"Did Feng Zhuangyuan not take coming to the school seriously at all? Did he just bring his daughter here for a casual stroll?"

The reason Feng Zhengming brought his daughter along was mainly because his wife, Luo Qing, had important matters to attend to that day.

Today, Luo Qing, Tao Mengran, and Liu Fangyou are going to officially register a snack shop brand.

This brand is a sub-brand of Zhengluxing Company.

This is also the brand that Feng Zhengming will use to integrate all the snack shops in Beijing.

Because the scene there is more formal, it's not appropriate to bring my daughter along.

The key point is that my three-year-old daughter already understands quite a lot.

So the little girl didn't want to go with her mother; she wanted to come with her father instead.

Because Feng Nuanyou knew that it would be more fun with her father.

Sure enough, Dad took me on a bus, which drove through bustling streets, and we arrived at a school in the suburbs.

Then, when I walked into the school gate, there were so many older brothers and sisters lined up to welcome me.

This trip will definitely be more interesting than going with Mom to run errands.

Feng Zhengming let his daughter walk for a while, and when he saw that the school leaders had come out to greet them, he quickly picked her up.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. I just brought my daughter here to play today. I didn't expect you to make such a big fuss about welcoming me." After shaking hands with the school leaders and getting to know them, he said.

Feng Zhengming waved to the students who were welcoming him.

"Thank you everyone for welcoming my daughter and me. I'm here today mainly to recruit a group of apprentices. I wonder if any of you are about to graduate, hardworking, and truly willing to develop a good career in the culinary industry?"
If so, you can sign up with me later, and I'll contact you when I get back to arrange interviews.

Hearing Feng Zhengming's words stunned all the students.

They clearly hadn't expected Feng Zhengming to be so direct.

Just tell them that he's here to recruit new apprentices at the school.

After a brief silence, the group of students exclaimed in surprise.

"Wow, Scholar Feng is truly Scholar Feng, so straightforward!"

"That's fantastic! If I could become Feng Zhuangyuan's apprentice, wouldn't I be the Zhuangyuan's apprentice in the future?"

"You're dreaming. They're recruiting apprentices, not taking on disciples."

"But if I can become an apprentice in Feng Zhengming's shop, I'm sure I'll learn a lot in the future."

"Yes, maybe we can even go to Shanghai and become a chef at one of the top restaurants there."

"Scholar Feng, may I become your apprentice? I'm willing to learn anything, and I will definitely work hard."

"Me too, I can do it too, I can do it too, Scholar Feng."

The scene quickly became a bit out of control, with many students rushing forward, wanting to become apprentices in Feng Zhengming's shop.

The school was at a loss for what to do when faced with this situation.

However, we must still try our best to ensure Feng Zhengming's personal safety.

But Feng Zhengming didn't care at all, and instead took the initiative to walk up to everyone.

"Please don't get agitated. I think you may have misunderstood me. The apprentices I'm recruiting this time are for my shop in the capital. You will be apprenticing at the shop in the capital for the rest of your apprenticeship."

Hearing Feng Zhengming say this, the students calmed down considerably.

The school leaders did not expect that Feng Zhengming's few words would quiet the students down again.

Seeing that the students had quieted down, Feng Zhengming smiled and continued speaking.

"I want to tell you that becoming an apprentice in my shop may be more difficult than working in other restaurants, because I have stricter requirements."

In addition, the apprentices I recruited this time are mainly to stay in the capital and work in some of the small shops I have acquired.

In other words, what I mainly learned was some of the traditional snacks in Beijing.

So you should really think it over before deciding whether you want to apply to be my apprentice.”

After saying this, Feng Zhengming noticed that the students' expressions had become somewhat complicated.

He didn't say anything more, turned around, picked up his daughter, and let the school leaders lead the way as they walked into the school.

After Feng Zhengming and the school leaders left, the students resumed their heated discussion.

Most of the students applied to be Feng Zhengming's apprentices and were not interested in staying in Beijing to learn how to make snacks.

"Stay in Beijing to learn how to make snacks? What future is there in that?"

"Yeah, I'm definitely not going to apply."

"I'd rather wait until graduation and ask my family to help me find a job at a big restaurant through some connections."

"I'd rather work in a cafeteria for a few years than learn how to make snacks."

When most students looked down on becoming a snack apprentice, even those who initially had the desire to do so dared not express their interest.

Of course, although they didn't openly express their disagreement, some students were secretly thinking about signing up to give it a try.

Feng Zhengming, together with school leaders, visited the school's teaching sites and also toured the kitchen.

I saw that many schools had specially arranged for some students to learn in the kitchen.

Feng Zhengming did not offer any advice on their studies.

Because in his eyes, Feng Zhengming could see right through this specially arranged learning.

After the tour, Feng Zhengming and the school leaders went into the conference room together.

He sat down and first answered some questions from student representatives.

Then he had another exchange with student representatives.

Throughout the process, Feng Zhengming had his daughter sit next to him, and the little girl sat obediently.

The little girl's appearance makes her seem somewhat like a leader.

Feng Zhengming also gave a speech to all the students at the school's arrangement.

His speech was also very down-to-earth, without too many encouraging platitudes.

To get straight to the point, I first told all the students.

"If you want to become a chef, you have to be willing to work hard. I can tell you that the work in the kitchen is always the most demanding and arduous. Even if you are a top chef, as long as you are in the kitchen, you will need to be busy around the stove every day."

So if you want an easy job, then you might not be suited to be a chef.

I know you want to ask me, how can I become a top chef like me?

My only answer is that you'll only have a chance if you work harder than me, harder than most of the chefs in the kitchen.

Feng Zhengming spoke very frankly; he didn't even try to make empty promises to the students.

He is very straightforward and tells everyone all about the hardships of working in the culinary industry.

At the end of his speech, Feng Zhengming once again mentioned that he had been recruiting snack apprentices.

"I know that many people will think it's not worth learning when they hear that it's a snack apprenticeship, and that it's not a real skill."

But I want to tell you that any kind of snack that has been passed down is, like many dishes that have been passed down, something that has been discovered through the exploration of generations.

I started by selling braised pork, a local Shandong snack, at the Quancheng Railway Station. That's how I earned my first pot of gold and was able to open my own shop.

So never underestimate the power of snacks; they could be a skill that allows you to make a living.

Feng Zhengming said these words, and then added.

"I will not force anyone to apply. I said I am recruiting snack apprentices, and it is all voluntary. If you are not willing, please do not force yourself. No matter what you do, you need to be true to yourself."

Feng Zhengming spoke very frankly, which ultimately dispelled the doubts of some of the wavering students.

As for whether there are still students willing to apply for snack apprenticeships?
Feng Zhengming wasn't worried at all. If he couldn't recruit in Beijing, he could recruit nationwide.

There are always some young people who may understand the importance of snacks and be willing to humble themselves and learn how to make them.

Moreover, for those who are unwilling to start as apprentices...

Feng Zhengming felt that he didn't need to force the other party.

Perhaps they will have better opportunities in the future, but they are really not suitable for Feng Zhengming's company.

After the speech, Feng Zhengming also demonstrated some of his skills to the students.

They also explained some kitchen techniques, which served as a lesson for the students.

During the process, the school also arranged for a female teacher to help look after Feng Zhengming's daughter.

At first, the female teacher wondered if the little girl would make a fuss.

It turned out that the little girl didn't make a fuss at all, and even played with her.

Then, once her father is done with his work, Feng Nuanyou will immediately return to his side.

It can be said that the little girl did not cry or make a fuss throughout the entire process, but she also did not allow others to get too close to her.

The little girl's behavior surprised many people.

Feng Zhengming eventually received contact information from several students, so the trip wasn't entirely wasted. (End of Chapter)