From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

The old shop of Feng Family Rice Shop was where Feng Zhengming truly started his career.

Back then, with the support of his grandfather and family, he started his own catering career in this old shop.

Before this, Feng Zhengming was just an ordinary chef.

You could say he has excellent skills and a very solid foundation, but he's not much better than other chefs.

At that time, Feng Zhengming was probably not as good as his senior brothers.

But it was from this dry rice shop that Feng Zhengming's life was completely changed.

He started from this Feng Family Rice Shop and gradually forged his own path in the catering business.

He is no longer just a chef, he is also the boss.

Starting with the old Feng family rice shop, Feng Zhengming gradually earned his first pot of gold.

With his initial capital, Feng Zhengming was able to gradually open branch stores.

He also gained recognition from many people through his skills, which enabled him to take over Huiquanlou.

After that, everything moved onto a path of accelerated development.

Especially after Feng Zhengming won the national culinary championship.

It can be said that he truly transformed the honors he received into a driving force for development.

Of course, all of this progress was made possible by the help I received from my senior classmates.

From the earliest Third Senior Brother, to the later First Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, Fifth Senior Brother, and Sixth Senior Brother.

The senior brothers did not act like senior brothers and boss Feng Zhengming around just because he was the junior brother.

On the contrary, the senior brothers were well aware that they were inferior to their junior brothers in many ways.

Therefore, all the senior brothers chose to follow the junior brother's arrangements.

This is the tacit understanding between the brothers, and also the senior brothers' sufficient trust in their junior brother.

Today, Feng Zhengming and several of his fellow apprentices returned to the old shop of Feng Family Rice Shop.

The old shops are very different now than they used to be.

Although the old shop still operates on the same old dishes, such as braised pork belly, pig's trotters, four-happiness meatballs, and braised pork hock, it also retains the fast food format that Feng Zhengming originally created.

However, the old shop has now been expanded again and has become a proper restaurant.

Feng Zhengming looked around the old shop, then turned to his third senior brother with a smile and said something.

"Thank you so much, Third Brother, for running this old shop so well for me."

Yang Bin was stunned for a moment, then a smile appeared on his face.

“There’s no need for such formalities between us apprentices. If I help you run this old shop well, it will also benefit myself. Now that so many people recognize my skills, I’m not losing out.”

The other senior brothers also laughed.

Feng Zhengming looked at his fifth senior brother: "Fifth brother, tell me about the specific situation in the capital."

Cao Zhiguo glanced at the other fellow disciples present.

Then he stated some issues rather bluntly.

"The two stores in Beijing were doing quite well before the Lunar New Year. However, other restaurants in Beijing must have sensed our threat, so they are also making some upgrades and changes."

Feng Zhengming: "That's right. If they don't upgrade, then wouldn't our trip have been in vain?"

These words made the senior students laugh again, and everyone agreed with them.

Cao Zhiguo: "However, we also need to be wary. Some shops in Beijing have quite powerful backgrounds, so it's really not good for us to confront them head-on."

Feng Zhengming: "You don't need to worry about Fifth Brother. Just do what you're supposed to do."

Li Huidong: "Zhengming is right, we can't back down."

At this moment, the fifth brother's son spoke up.

“Dad, you’re not as brave as your uncles. Just like Mom said, you still don’t dare to fight those people in Beijing.”

Cao Zhiguo felt a little embarrassed after his son said that.

"Hey kid, what do you know? You think this is a fight? You want to start a fight with them?"

The fellow apprentices immediately burst into laughter.

Zhang Minghai: "Fifth Brother, I think my son is right. Just like Zhengming said, we should do our own thing and not care what those people in Beijing think of us."

We're all in the food service business; if they want to surpass us, they'll have to show us their true abilities.

Zhang Minghai's daughter is very supportive of her father.

"Dad is right."

The children couldn't help but chime in.

Feng Zhengming and his fellow students did not stop the children from interrupting.

In Feng Zhengming's and his fellow students' view, since the children were allowed to hear their conversation, they should also be allowed to express their opinions.

Among them, Li Xiaogang, the son of the eldest brother, actually gave a set of reasonable and well-founded opinions.

"Fifth Uncle, we have a younger uncle. He's so amazing, so Fifth Uncle, you should be bolder. As long as your cooking is delicious, you can compete with anyone."

Li Huidong: "You're copying your younger siblings, aren't you? You want to teach your fifth uncle a lesson?"

Li Xiaogang: "Dad, I'm not trying to lecture Uncle Wu, I'm just stating the facts."

Before Li Huidong could speak again, Feng Nuanyou stepped forward.

"Uncle, you have to let my brother speak."

Seeing Feng Nuanyou stand up and say these words, Li Huidong was at a loss for words.
Then Yang Bin chuckled and said, "See? Senior Brother can't win, can he? He can't argue with our little Youyou."

Li Huidong came to his senses and smiled, "Alright, alright, let the children all speak. Anyway, we haven't restricted their right to speak today."

Feng Zhengming: "Everyone can say that brainstorming can sometimes give children more intuitive perspectives than we can."

The children were naturally delighted by Feng Zhengming's words.

Next, a group of children offered various suggestions to their fathers.

Although most of the suggestions do seem somewhat naive.

However, some of the children's naive ideas actually gave everyone some inspiration.

After sitting in the old shop for a while, Feng Zhengming and the others took the children out for a walk.

It wasn't until late afternoon that the senior students said they wanted to take the children back.

Before saying goodbye, Feng Zhengming confirmed his trip to Shanghai with his fellow students one last time.

"Brothers, when you go back, remember to tell your wives to bring their children to Jinan. After we meet up, we'll head to Shanghai together. Don't worry, I'll make sure you and your wives have everything arranged."

The senior students all nodded in agreement.

After a day, the children all grew to like their uncle, Feng Zhengming.

They all took the initiative to say goodbye to Feng Zhengming and his daughter Feng Nuanyou.

Feng Nuanyou, who had been playing a bit too wildly, was still a little reluctant to leave her father's arms.

But in the end, the little girl still waved goodbye to her older sisters and brothers.

On the way back, Feng Nuanyou kept asking, "Dad, will we be able to see my sister and brothers again soon?"

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, my older sister and brothers are going to Shanghai with us."

Upon hearing this, Feng Nuanyou's face immediately lit up with anticipation.

"Hehehe, I can continue to play with my older sister and brother."

Then Feng Nuanyou counted on her fingers which of her toys at home in Shanghai she wanted to give to her older sister and brother.

Looking at his daughter, Feng Zhengming's face was full of the smile of a loving father.

Back home, Feng Nuanyou excitedly told her mother the good news.

Luo Qing agreed with Feng Zhengming's arrangement. "It's really a good idea to let the sisters-in-law take the children on a trip to Shanghai before the winter vacation ends."

Feng Zhengming: "Right, I also think this idea is great."

Luo Qing laughed: "You're praising yourself?"

Feng Zhengming: "That's right. Your husband is so smart that he came up with such a great idea. Of course he should praise himself."

Feng Nuanyou: "Yes, yes, Dad is so smart."

"Alright, you two, father and daughter, are always singing in unison."

Luo Qing felt somewhat helpless about the father and daughter's back-and-forth banter.

Then Feng Zhengming asked, "By the way, is Auntie coming to Shanghai with us?"

Luo Qing: "Yes, didn't Auntie already say so? Auntie really likes the two little ones now. She's retired and doesn't have much to do. Hongwei is going back to school soon."

Feng Zhengming: "Okay, let Auntie help you take care of them for a while longer. Once the two little ones are a bit older, Auntie can also take a break."

Luo Qing: "I regret it now. The two little ones are just too difficult to deal with."

Feng Nuanyou immediately stepped forward: "Mom, it's okay, you still have Youyou. Youyou can help you too."

Luo Qing chuckled and pinched her daughter's cheek: "You're still helping Mommy? Didn't you go out to play with Daddy today? Wasn't it your great-aunt and third great-aunt who helped Mommy?"

Feng Zhengming asked curiously, "Where are Aunt and Third Aunt?"

Luo Qing: "Aren't my aunt and third aunt also going to Shanghai? They went back to pack their things first."

Feng Zhengming: "Should I drive over and pick them up?"

Luo Qing: "No need. We'll book the plane tickets together after my sisters-in-law arrive tomorrow."

Feng Zhengming: "I also need to call and contact those who went home for the holidays."

Luo Qing: "Then go outside and make a phone call. It's so hard to get the two little ones to sleep. Don't talk in the room and wake them up again."

Feng Zhengming tiptoed out of the inner room and gently closed the door behind him.

Feng Nuanyou naturally followed behind her father, like a little tail, as she walked out of the inner room.

Once outside, Feng Zhengming called each of the kitchen staff in Shanghai.

Most of them are already waiting for orders in Jinan.

Sun Hai and Xia Hui are also on their way to Jinan.

After making contact with everyone, they were all ready to return to Shanghai.

Actually, Feng Zhengming didn't need to concern himself with this.

For everyone, going to Shanghai with Feng Zhengming was something no one would be unhappy about.

If it weren't for Feng Zhengming insisting that everyone go home to rest, some of the younger chefs and apprentices in the kitchen might not have wanted to go home for the Chinese New Year at all.

So in fact, many people were already waiting in Jinan on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

They came to Jinan on the first day of the Lunar New Year, but they didn't dare to look for Feng Zhengming, fearing that he would scold them.

Because this situation has happened before.

Feng Zhengming never swore at anyone in the kitchen.

However, the previous year, several young apprentices in Shanghai's kitchens did not properly celebrate the Chinese New Year at home. Instead, they stayed in Jinan and wandered around aimlessly on New Year's Eve.

As a result, his family called Feng Zhengming, who had found the people on the street on New Year's Eve, arranged for them to come to his home for dinner, and then gave the young apprentices a good scolding.

From then on, the young apprentices would spend the Lunar New Year at home and then rush back to Jinan on the first day of the new year to wait.

They didn't dare to contact Feng Zhengming on their own initiative, for fear of being scolded by Feng Zhengming again.

Feng Zhengming knew that some people had already arrived in Jinan on the first day of the Lunar New Year to wait.

After all, they are all young people who have been working in Shanghai for a long time.

It's natural to feel a little out of place when you go back home.

Moreover, most of them went home before the Lunar New Year.

I had been staying at home for many days until New Year's Eve.

After so many days, their family members have started to dislike them somewhat.

They also disliked some of the old family rules and the nagging of the elderly.

So for these young people, it's better to go to Jinan on the first day of the Lunar New Year and wait to go to Shanghai for work.

Many employees at Huiquanlou Restaurant in Jinan and its branches made the same choice.

Feng Zhengming was aware of this situation, but he didn't blame him too much.

Just pretend you know nothing about this.

He can still understand these young people.

This era is one in which the gap between cities and rural areas is widening rapidly. Young people who are used to living in cities often find it difficult to adapt to the people and things in the countryside.

As for everyone traveling back to Shanghai by plane, Feng Zhengming doesn't care about the expense now.

Besides, with so many of them booking tickets together, the airline also offers them discounts.

Even Shandong Airlines has been reserving a portion of tickets specifically for Feng Zhengming in the past two years.

After contacting everyone, Feng Zhengming looked at himself and his daughter.

"Youyou, are you tired?"

Feng Nuanyou: "Hehehe, I'm not tired at all."

Feng Zhengming: "How about Dad helps you cook? You can help Dad, and we'll cook for Mom together."

Feng Nuanyou immediately clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Great! Let's cook together!"

Feng Zhengming led his daughter into the kitchen, to the refrigerator, and let her choose the dishes for tonight.

"What do you think we should eat tonight?"

Feng Nuanyou looked at the things in the refrigerator and, after some selection, chose the dishes that her mother liked to eat.

Feng Zhengming also added fish and shrimp, which his daughter also likes to eat.

Then he brought a stool for his daughter and let her stand on it.

This makes it easier for my daughter to reach things on the stove.

Next, the father and daughter cooked dinner together.

Feng Zhengming handed the cabbage to his daughter: "Here, tear these leaves into pieces, okay?"

Feng Nuanyou: "Okay, I'll do it."

While his daughter tore the cabbage, Feng Zhengming prepared other dishes.

Feng Zhengming peeled the shrimp, sliced ​​the fish into thin slices, wrapped the fish slices around the shrimp, coated them with starch, then made a batter, wrapped the fish slices around the shrimp and deep-fried them.

Smelling the fragrance, Feng Nuanyou smiled and leaned closer, saying, "Daddy smells so good!"

Feng Zhengming then fed the fried fish slices and shrimp to his daughter.

With one bite, the outer shell is crispy, the fish meat inside is soft, and the shrimp retains a certain bouncy texture.

Feng Nuanyou ate with a beaming smile.

Feng Zhengming asked with a smile, "How is it? Not too salty, right?"

Feng Nuanyou: "Oh dear, I've finished eating, I've forgotten what it tasted like."

Feng Zhengming: "You've turned into Pigsy eating the ginseng fruit. Here's another one, eat it slowly and taste how salty it is."

Feng Nuanyou nodded with a smile: "Okay, okay."

The father and daughter enjoyed their interaction in the kitchen, and Feng Nuanyou was genuinely helping her father with chores. (End of Chapter)