From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

When Hao Zongcheng took his two sons to the kitchen, Duan Qingyan, as his wife, saw Feng Zhengming holding her daughter.

Seeing the little girl's pretty and cute appearance, sitting obediently in her father's lap, and even interacting with him.

Duan Qingyan couldn't help but say, "Daughters are the best. A daughter is her father's little cotton-padded jacket. Feng Zhuangyuan, your daughter seems to be very affectionate with you."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "It's good for your son too. A son will be closer to his mother, and he can bring honor to the family."

Duan Qingyan: "We have two sons. The eldest is alright and doesn't cause us much trouble. But the second one is really giving us a lot of headaches."

At this point, the aunt spoke up: "Younger sons are always more mischievous."

Duan Qingyan: "I was really worried when he didn't get into high school this time. Later, Hao Zongcheng told me not to worry, he would take care of it for the child."

Feng Zhengming: "Sister-in-law, you've worked so hard. I know that Brother Hao is usually very busy and can't take care of the family. It's all up to you to take care of them."

Duan Qingyan: "There's nothing we can do; he's the master chef."

Yang Bin then spoke up: "Senior Brother Hao really put his heart into wanting your youngest son to join our new store. It's clear he loves his sons very much."

Duan Qingyan couldn't help but ask directly, "I wonder if Xiao Zhi is allowed to come into your store?"

Feng Zhengming and Yang Bin exchanged a glance, and then Feng Zhengming spoke.

“Sister-in-law, I’ve told Brother Hao that the child is not young anymore. At this age, he wants to be respected, so he needs to be genuinely willing to come to my shop.”

Duan Qingyan nodded: "Feng Zhuangyuan is right. No wonder you are the national culinary champion. Your ideas are indeed unique."

Feng Zhengming laughed: "Hahaha, sister-in-law, I was able to win the top prize because I used these different ideas and innovated some old dishes."

So if we're really comparing some traditional dishes, I might not be a match for Senior Brother Hao and my fellow senior brothers.

Duan Qingyan: "Feng Zhuangyuan is too modest. I used to hear Lao Hao mention you often. He always spoke highly of you and said that you are very easy-going, like a big boy, and very sincere to people."

Moreover, she is someone who genuinely loves cooking and eating, and has a great appreciation for food.

Seeing you today and chatting with you for a while, I feel that Lao Hao's assessment of you is not an exaggeration at all.

Feng Zhengming: "Thank you for the compliments, sister-in-law and senior brother Hao. I always feel that I am just a cook."

Duan Qingyan nodded: "I really admire your attitude. Even though your business is so big now, with branches in Shanghai and Beijing, you still see yourself as a chef. That's a really good attitude."

Feng Zhengming and the others chatted in the private room. Hao Zongcheng helped his two sons change their clothes and found chef's hats for them to wear.

Then he led his two sons into the restaurant's kitchen.

Stepping into the kitchen and seeing what was there truly surprised the two brothers.

Because everything in the kitchen was really different from what the two brothers had imagined.

First of all, the kitchen was surprisingly clean and tidy, which surprised the two brothers.

The two brothers had never been inside their father's restaurant kitchen before, but they had seen the kitchens of some small restaurants when they ate out.

While the kitchens weren't exactly unclean, they were noticeably messy.

So the two brothers naturally assumed that the kitchen should be somewhat chaotic.

The two brothers were surprised by the cleanliness of the kitchen where their father worked.

When Hao Zongcheng entered the kitchen, the staff all greeted him warmly.

However, after exchanging greetings, everyone continued with their own work and did not engage in much conversation with Hao Zongcheng, nor did anyone pay attention to the two Hao brothers who had followed them in.

Hao Zongcheng gave the two brothers a general introduction to the kitchen, telling them what the different people in the kitchen were doing.
Hao Zongcheng explained every step from the water station to the cutting and preparation, and then to the cooking process.

The Hao brothers found it somewhat unbelievable.

I never imagined that so many people were needed to do different jobs in the kitchen of a restaurant.

Hao Zongcheng introduced the project to his two sons and then explained it to them.

"Don't think that one person can do all the work in the kitchen. The kitchen is a team, and you can't possibly cook for so many tables in a restaurant by yourself."

Therefore, in a restaurant kitchen, to ensure that dishes are served to many tables simultaneously, the kitchen staff needs to cooperate with each other.

After the introduction, Hao Zongcheng asked his two sons, "Isn't it strange that they both know what to do even though I didn't give any orders when I came in?"

Hao Rongchao thought for a moment and tentatively replied, "Is it because everyone does these things every day, so even if you're not in the kitchen, Dad, everyone knows what to do?"

Hao Zongcheng glanced at his eldest son with a hint of surprise.

At that moment, Hao Zongcheng understood that there was a reason why his eldest son could achieve such good grades.

Hao Rongzhi looked around and said, "It's also because your assistant is in the kitchen, Dad. They will help you take charge."

Hao Zongcheng was very satisfied with his two sons' insightful observations.

"Old Zhang, come here."

Soon, a chef who was about the same age as Hao Zongcheng came over.

Upon seeing the chef, Hao Rongchao and Hao Rongzhi immediately greeted him.

"Hello, Uncle Zhang."

Hello, Uncle Zhang.

Chef Zhang smiled and said, "It's rare that you two brothers will be brought into the kitchen tonight. I heard that you're also going to start learning to cook, Xiao Zhi? You're going to learn at the restaurant of our national culinary champion? Then you've got a very high starting point."

Hao Rongzhi subconsciously replied, "I... I haven't decided to go yet."

Chef Zhang was taken aback: "Hey, you're not happy about it? Do you know how many people want to go?"

Hao Zongcheng smiled and waved to Lao Zhang: "The child is grown up and has his own ideas. I won't force him."

Chef Zhang is clearly a very traditional father, and he does not agree with Hao Zongcheng's ideas.

"Old Hao, you're doing something wrong. The children are indeed grown up, but they don't understand what's important yet. You can't let them have their way. You were too busy before and didn't have time to take care of them; it was your younger brother and sister-in-law who took care of them at home."

Your child has reached a crucial crossroads in their life; you can't just ignore them.

You need to pave the way for your children, guide them onto the right path, and really not leave it to their own choices.

Then Chef Zhang gave Hao Rongzhi a serious lecture.

"Xiao Zhi, don't be willful. Do you know how many people dream of the path your dad has paved for you? Don't underestimate our job as chefs. No matter how difficult things were in the past, we never heard of any chef going hungry."

Now that you've failed your middle school entrance exam and won't get into high school, listening to your dad and learning to cook is truly the best path for you.

"If you can become an apprentice of that top scholar Feng in the future, and with all the resources your father can provide, do you know how many detours you can avoid?"

Before coming to the kitchen today, Hao Zongcheng had a long talk with his youngest son.

Hao Rongzhi might genuinely resent Chef Zhang's teaching now.

Given Hao Rongzhi's previous personality, he would have turned on Chef Zhang without hesitation.

So when Hao Rongchao heard Chef Zhang's lecture to his younger brother, he looked at his brother with concern and reached out to pull him back, trying to stop him from behaving recklessly in the kitchen.

To Hao Rongchao's surprise, his younger brother didn't directly lash out at Chef Zhang. His brother's behavior was a little unusual.

Hao Rongzhi smiled and replied to Chef Zhang: "Uncle Zhang, you're right. My dad really paved a great path for me, so he brought me to the kitchen today."

"Let me get used to the environment beforehand, and I think it seems pretty good. I'll consider learning to cook."

Not only was Hao Rongchao somewhat surprised, but even Hao Zongcheng was taken aback by his youngest son's performance.

What they didn't know was that after talking with his father today, Hao Rongzhi actually felt how much his father valued him.

At his age, the naughty things he did were just a way to get his parents' attention.

Today, my father values ​​me so much and has had such a long talk with me.

Then, together with his father and brother, they looked around the kitchen of his father's restaurant.

Hao Rongzhi suddenly wondered if he could work in the kitchen with his father if he became a chef in the future.

Hao Rongzhi couldn't help but think that cooking together with his son would be a very interesting experience.

So after being lectured by Uncle Zhang, Hao Rongzhi was not angry at all, but instead accepted the idea of ​​learning to cook with a clear conscience.

Chef Zhang smiled after hearing Hao Rongzhi's words.

"Good lad, Uncle Zhang knew you were smart, just like your brother. It's a good thing your dad arranged for you to learn cooking. Remember to toast that Scholar Feng and say a good word for him when we eat later."

Hao Rongzhi smiled and agreed, "I understand, Uncle Zhang."

Chef Zhang then turned around and went back to work, letting Hao Zongcheng and his two sons continue to tour the kitchen.

After watching Chef Zhang leave, Hao Zongcheng looked at his youngest son.

"Not bad, it seems you've really grown up and know not to argue with your elders in person."

Hao Rongchao laughed beside him: "Haha, does that mean little brother can eat the dishes you and Dad cook together from now on?"

Hao Rongzhi: "There will definitely be opportunities, brother. Maybe in the future, Dad will be my assistant."

Hearing his son say that, Hao Zongcheng was actually quite happy.

"Sure, if that day ever comes, Dad will be very happy too."

She then took her two sons for a walk around the kitchen.

Hao Zongcheng even personally cooked a braised mutton dish for the two brothers to see.

Although Hao Zongcheng is a master chef of Henan cuisine, he has almost never cooked at home.

Firstly, it's because he doesn't have time to cook at home.

Because the time he eats at home is also the busiest time at his restaurant.

Secondly, having gotten used to the large stove in the kitchen, Hao Zongcheng often finds it difficult to cook with the stove at home.

He had tried it before, and ended up making a complete mess of his kitchen.

Afterwards, he had to help his wife clean up for quite a while.

From then on, his wife stopped letting Hao Zongcheng cook at home.

So, Hao Rongchao and Hao Rongzhi, the two brothers, have hardly ever seen their father cook.

Today, in the kitchen, I finally saw my father cook for the first time.

The two brothers felt that their father was a completely different person in the kitchen and at home.

In the kitchen, the father's movements were so graceful.

A seemingly simple dish of braised mutton is transformed into something special by the father.

Especially the way my father flipped the wok and smoothly pushed the mutton from the pot onto the plate was truly seamless.

The two brothers standing next to him were caught off guard and even seemed to want more.

When their father led the two brothers out of the kitchen.

Hao Rongzhi couldn't help but turn around and take another look at the busy kitchen.

He thought to himself that being a chef might not be so bad.

When Hao Zongcheng led the two brothers back to the private room, most of the dishes had already been served.

Everyone is waiting for Hao Zongcheng and his two sons to return.

When Duan Qingyan saw them return, she couldn't help but scold her husband.

"Why did you take so long? You knew we had guests tonight, why didn't you three come back earlier?"

Hao Zongcheng: "I'm just showing off my skills and adding a dish for our top scholar Feng and his team, aren't I?"

Feng Zhengming: "Sister-in-law, please don't blame Brother Hao. Brother Hao just wanted his two nephews to have a good look at what's in the kitchen."

Then, Hao Rongzhi looked at Feng Zhengming and asked, "Uncle Feng, can I...can I become your apprentice?"

Feng Zhengming immediately laughed: "What? You looked around the kitchen and suddenly want to be a chef?"

Hao Rongzhi: "It's not because I saw it in the kitchen, it's because I felt that if I could become a chef like my dad, maybe I could stand in the kitchen with him and cook together. It would be quite interesting for the father and son to do the same thing."

Feng Zhengming: "Your idea is quite good."

Hao Rongzhi asked again, "Then can I become your apprentice?"

Feng Zhengming shook his head: "Not now. You need to start from the very basics. It will be a long and arduous process. You will have to pass the learning and assessment before you can become my apprentice and eventually become my master."

The young chefs and apprentices who had been transferred here and were sitting in the private room all laughed.

Yang Peng spoke first: "Let me tell you, there are many people here who want to become Junior Uncle's disciples, so your competition is fierce."

The other apprentices also chimed in, all expressing their desire to become Feng Zhengming's apprentices.

Hao Rongzhi was also somewhat surprised, but he quickly understood.

After all, Feng Zhengming is a truly recognized champion in the national culinary competition.

Moreover, Hao Rongzhi had heard from his father that he had been invited to be the head chef at the state banquet during the National Day celebrations.

Therefore, it is quite normal for everyone to want to become Feng Zhengming's apprentice.

Having figured this out, Hao Rongzhi said something to his apprentices who were only a few years older than him.

"Okay, then let's compete. I'm definitely going to become your apprentice."

Hao Zongcheng looked at his son, a relieved smile on his face.

Seeing his son set a goal to strive for, Hao Zongcheng, as a father, was truly happy for his son.

Seeing his younger brother's state, Hao Rongchao secretly resolved to work hard in high school, get into a good university, and bring honor to his parents alongside his brother. (End of Chapter)