From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Chapter 1106 Visiting Dad at the Restaurant
In the kitchen of the old-style restaurant, Feng Nuanyou sat in the spot her father had arranged for her, her legs dangling in the air.

The little girl's gaze remained fixed on her father.

Watching my dad in the kitchen, like a general, directing the uncles and aunts working there.

A dish becomes especially beautiful and delicious after being handled by Dad, Uncle, and Aunt.

Feng Nuanyou didn't say anything, she just sat there quietly watching her father.

At that moment, the little girl felt especially happy.

Because she can see her father, and she can see him cooking for other people.

These days, Dad comes home very late every day and then gets up early to leave.

Feng Nuanyou rarely sees her father.

However, the little girl didn't make a fuss at home, because the almost five-year-old girl knew that her father worked very hard.

The little girl, on the other hand, stays at home every day and remains as happy as ever.

The little girl even helps her mother take care of her younger siblings.

My younger siblings often feel like they haven't seen their father in a long time and will cause trouble at home.

Whenever this happens, Feng Nuanyou gently holds her younger siblings' hands and chatters away to them.

When the younger siblings hear their older sister speaking, they will behave well and stop making a fuss, staring at their older sister and listening to her.

Feng Nuanyou felt that she was very capable and a good older sister.

Feng Zhengming directed and coordinated the work in the kitchen, quickly preparing each dish and then instructing the staff responsible for serving the food to accompany the servers.

"Remember to order the dishes from the largest private room on the third floor, don't get them wrong."

After finishing this task, Feng Zhengming came to his daughter.

"Why did Youyou come to Daddy's with Mommy today? Did you miss Daddy?"

Feng Nuanyou raised her little head and looked at her father.

"Hehehe, yes, Youyou misses Daddy so much, Mommy misses Daddy too, and her younger siblings miss Daddy too, but Daddy, you're so busy, we can't see you at all."

Feng Zhengming felt somewhat helpless, so he squatted down a little to be at eye level with his daughter who was sitting on the platform.

"I'm sorry, Dad has been too busy lately and hasn't been able to spend much time with Youyou."

Feng Nuanyou looked at her father and said, "It's okay. Youyou knows that Dad is very busy. Youyou has told Mom and my younger siblings. Everyone will support Dad."

Feng Zhengming: "Thank you, Youyou, for helping Daddy. What would Youyou like to eat tonight?"

Feng Nuanyou: "Hehehe, I want to eat spare ribs."

Feng Zhengming agreed: "Okay, Dad will make Youyou some spare ribs."

Feng Nuanyou then asked, "Dad, are you done with your work? Have you finished preparing the food for the old man outside?"

Feng Zhengming: "It's done. Youyou and I will take it to the old man in a bit, okay?"

Feng Nuanyou nodded: "Okay."

Fu Jun approached Feng Zhengming and said, "The chef's dishes are ready."

Feng Zhengming responded and told his daughter to sit still and wait for him.

He turned back to the stove and quickly finished preparing the vegetables.

Soon, a stir-fried razor clams dish was ready, and Feng Zhengming handed it over to an apprentice in the kitchen to plate.

He carefully packed up the old man's food.

Then he walked over to his daughter and picked her up from the platform.

He told Fu Jun and Cai Tao to keep an eye on the kitchen, then took his daughter's hand and walked out.

Feng Zhengming led his daughter away from the kitchen, and some apprentices in the kitchen couldn't help but huddle together and whisper among themselves.

"The chef's daughter is so cute, she just sits there without saying a word."

"Yes, the little girl is very pretty."

"The daughter looks like her mother; our boss's wife is very beautiful."

"When I first met the proprietress, I really thought she was a female celebrity."

"Me too."

Cai Tao spoke up at this moment: "What are you all chatting about? Have you finished your work? Don't talk about the head chef behind his back. Hurry up and finish your work. If you make a mistake, the head chef will punish you."

Upon hearing Cai Tao's words, the kitchen immediately fell silent, and everyone focused on their own tasks.

Feng Zhengming, holding his daughter's little hand, came out carrying the food he had prepared for the old man.

Throughout the journey, Feng Nuanyou had a happy smile on her face.

Seeing her father makes the little girl happy.

The little girl is now holding her father's hand, which makes her even more proud.

Walking outside the kitchen and towards the temporary room where Uncle Laoye and Luo Qing were resting, they would be seen by many guests in the lobby.

Seeing Feng Zhengming walking hand in hand with his daughter, many guests greeted him with smiles.

"Hello, Chef Feng."

"Chef Feng, your cooking is amazing."

"Chef Feng, is this your daughter? She's so cute."

"Chef Feng, you really are just as described, tall and strong. Although you're not exactly handsome, you're so gentle."

"It's so heartwarming to see your daughter walking with you."

“Yes, this scene makes us feel like we’re not in a restaurant, but rather visiting your home.”

Hearing the guests' comments, Feng Zhengming responded with a smile.

"Thank you for coming. It's my honor that you like my cooking. Many of the dishes in our restaurant are actually home-style dishes, but we make them a little differently, hoping that everyone can eat better."

At this point, Feng Zhengming brought out his daughter.

“My daughter felt that I was working too hard lately, so she specially asked her mother to bring her to see me.”

As he said this, a happy smile appeared on Feng Zhengming's face.

Many guests felt that Chef Feng's words sounded like he was showing off.

This amused the guests, who greeted the little girl with smiles.

"Hello, your dad is really amazing."

"You are so beautiful, such a good girl. You know your father works hard, yet you still come to visit him."

"What a good child, a beautiful and well-behaved child."

"That's wonderful. You must be very happy to have a father like Feng Zhuangyuan."

Feng Nuanyou was speechless after everyone spoke to her, so she could only look up at her father.

Feng Zhengming looked down at his daughter, gave her an encouraging look, and nodded to her.

With her father's approval, Feng Nuanyou dared to speak up.

"Thank you everyone for coming to eat Dad's cooking. Dad works so hard. If you have anything to say to Dad, he will definitely cook even better."

After hearing what the young girl said, several regular gourmets from Shanghai immediately took the lead in applauding and cheering.

"it is good."

"Our little boss is absolutely right."

"That's right, let's clap, let's clap for our little boss."

Led by several seasoned gourmets from Shanghai, the guests in the hall also applauded enthusiastically.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the entire restaurant was quite joyful.

Feng Zhengming smiled at everyone, then took his daughter's hand and walked towards the temporary rest room.

Inside, the wife was talking to the old man.

After entering the room, Feng Nuanyou first greeted the old man.

"Grandpa, we're back! Dad has prepared the food for you and your two grandmas." Feng Zhengming walked up to the old man and said, "Uncle, this is the food for you and your two aunts. Actually, you don't need to make a special trip every time. Just give me a call and I'll have someone deliver it to your home."

The old man sat there with a smile, first expressing his gratitude, and then asked, "Zhengming, do you have time to sit down?"

Feng Zhengming nodded, put down the food, and sat down next to the old man.

The daughter naturally took the opportunity to snuggle into her father's arms.

The old man said calmly, "I came here today partly to buy food, but also to tell you something."

Upon hearing this, Luo Qing originally wanted to take her daughter out first.

However, the old man waved his hand and said, "No need to avoid it, it's nothing serious."

Then the old man continued to say to Feng Zhengming: "I attended a small meeting today, a meeting in Shanghai. At the meeting, the city expressed its hope to build a more centralized food street."

We might continue to promote your restaurant after the New Year, hoping to boost the overall catering industry.

Feng Zhengming nodded and said, "That's great, I'll definitely cooperate."

The old man looked at Feng Zhengming and said, "Cooperation is one thing, but Zhengming, you need to understand that this is an opportunity, and you should seize it."

Hearing this surprised Feng Zhengming.

Then the old man bluntly pointed it out.

"Since Shanghai is already preparing to become an international food capital, it will definitely increase its support for food. There should be many restaurants receiving support, and your restaurant will receive even more support."

But you can't just have one restaurant; you have to consider your other stores.

Also, you'll need to create some fast food outlets and shops between your restaurant and other establishments.

This is a very favorable opportunity for you.

Upon hearing this, Feng Zhengming understood what the old man meant.

The old man informed me in advance so that I could prepare.

Feng Zhengming: "Uncle, shouldn't we head east next?"

The old man smiled and said, "Yes, the east bank of the river is a good place. It's being built up there now, and the area is quite large. You can make some plans there in advance. After all, although your restaurant is top-notch enough, the place is a bit small."

Everyone wants to taste your cooking, or rather, to have other chefs under your supervision prepare dishes that you designed.

So you need a bigger store, not necessarily a top-tier one like your restaurant.

The price could be lowered slightly to make it more affordable for more people; that's what you should be doing in Shanghai.

Feng Zhengming had to admit that the old man's vision was indeed unique.

He had already foreseen some future development trends.

He also knew that although Feng Zhengming's old-style restaurant was famous, it had a fatal problem.

The old-style restaurant is relatively small, and it would be too much of a challenge to accommodate a large number of customers.

Now that Feng Zhengming is famous enough, he will attract a large number of diners from home and abroad.

Therefore, he cannot limit himself to old-style restaurant and the various shops he currently owns in Shanghai.

He needs to open a larger store.

It should be larger than fast food outlets or rice shop branches, but not a traditional large restaurant.

It's about creating a smaller alternative to the old-style villa restaurant that can accommodate more guests.

Feng Zhengming expressed his gratitude to the old man.

"Thank you for your reminder, Uncle. I will consider it. I will open a larger restaurant in Pudong as a lower-end alternative to the old villa restaurant, to accommodate more customers."

The old man smiled and nodded: "Yes, remember that the city will provide support, and your restaurant should also help the surrounding area."

Feng Zhengming replied, "I understand, Uncle. Don't worry."

After speaking, the old man stood up to leave.

Before leaving, the old man looked down at the little girl.

"When you have time, let your parents take you to visit your grandparents. Your two grandmas like you very much and hope to meet you."

Feng Nuanyou smiled happily: "Okay, I'll go see Grandpa and Grandma with my mom and dad."

Feng Zhengming also agreed: "When we have some free time, we will definitely take our daughter to visit Uncle and Auntie."

The old man said, "You're welcome anytime."

Feng Zhengming and his wife Luo Qing held their daughter's little hand and saw the old man off to the door and into the car.

After watching the old man's car drive away, the family of three returned to the restaurant.

Back at the restaurant, Feng Nuanyou urged her father to hurry up.

"Okay, Dad, hurry up and go cook. Mom and I are waiting for you."

Feng Zhengming looked at his wife.

Luo Qing nodded, "Yes, you go ahead and get busy. We'll wait for you to go home together."

Feng Zhengming: Okay, I'll have someone bring you dinner in a bit.

Feng Nuanyou: "Daddy, I want to eat spare ribs!"

Feng Zhengming replied, "Dad remembers."

He then asked his wife, "What would you like to eat tonight?"

Luo Qing thought for a moment and said, "Give me a bowl of noodles. I'm craving yellow croaker noodles."

Feng Zhengming: "Okay, Mom, give me a bowl of yellow croaker noodles. Youyou wants to eat spare ribs."

Then Feng Zhengming went back to the kitchen and let the mother and daughter continue to rest in the temporary rest room.

Feng Zhengming returned to the kitchen and continued cooking for the customers.

At the same time, he also prepared the yellow croaker noodles and sweet and sour pork ribs that the mother and daughter wanted to eat.

The soup for the yellow croaker noodles is a fish soup that has been simmered in advance. Feng Zhengming selected a half-day yellow croaker, sliced ​​the fish, seasoned it slightly, and then stir-fried it with pickled mustard greens from Ningcheng.

Pour the milky white fish soup into the pot, and then add the marinated and coated fish fillets.

Skim off all the foam that floats to the surface, and finally add the hand-pulled noodles, which have also been cooked in the fish soup, into the soup.

A bowl of yellow croaker noodles emitted a very tempting aroma.

While the yellow croaker noodles are cooking, the sweet and sour pork ribs should also be ready to serve.

Feng Zhengming also cooked a stir-fry for his wife and daughter.

After finishing, Feng Zhengming personally delivered it to his wife and daughter.

Feng Nuanyou was delighted to smell the aroma of sweet and sour pork ribs.

"Hehehe, it smells so good! Dad's cooking is the best!"

Luo Qing looked at the yellow croaker noodles and said, "Why did you bring it over yourself? You could have just had someone bring it to us."

Feng Zhengming: "How can that be? It's only right that we bring it to you and your daughter."

Luo Qing also smiled.

Then Luo Qing ate with her daughter, and Luo Qing also served her a small bowl of yellow croaker noodles.

Otherwise, my daughter would definitely only eat sweet and sour pork ribs and wouldn't eat anything else.

Feng Nuanyou did indeed think that way, but seeing that her mother had served her noodles, she could only obediently start eating them herself.

Fortunately, the noodles weren't just noodles; Feng Zhengming also cooked some small wontons for his wife and daughter.

The wonton filling is shrimp and mutton, which is also Feng Nuanyou's favorite.

After letting his wife and daughter eat first, Feng Zhengming returned to the kitchen to continue his work.

Feng Zhengming was busy until evening, serving almost all the dishes to this group of guests.

His wife and daughter had been waiting at the restaurant the whole time.

In the meantime, Luo Qing took her daughter to the cashier's counter for a while, which served as both a way of greeting some customers as the owner and a way of sorting out some of the restaurant's accounts.

After most of the guests had started to leave, Feng Zhengming handed over the finishing touches in the kitchen and then went out to play with his daughter for a while.

(End of this chapter)