From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Jiang Chengzhe served Feng Zhengming several new dishes that he had developed himself tonight.

One of the dishes is an improvement on Feng Zhengming's stir-fried snail slices.

It also involves simmering very thin snail slices in hot broth on the spot.

The difference is that Jiang Chengzhe chose lobster bisque.

He barely added any seasoning to the soup.

It's simply a broth made from lobster shells, and then very thin slices of conch are blanched on the spot.

The broth is incredibly flavorful, and when paired with thin, crisp snail slices, it creates a truly unique taste.

After eating the dish, the sister-in-law immediately realized that it was very similar to Feng Zhengming's stir-fried snail slices in soup.

"Zhengming, is this your stir-fried snail slices in soup?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "It's my improved version. Mine uses the broth from our traditional classic Shandong dish, vinegar and pepper fish, to blanch the conch slices, thus maintaining the unique sour and spicy flavor of vinegar and pepper fish."

Third Sister-in-law: "Yes, yes, I was just saying that this tastes a bit like Zhengming's dishes."

Feng Zhengming: "My dish is suitable as an appetizer before the main course. The vinegar and pepper fish soup is very appetizing and also lays the groundwork for the main course later."

Ah Zhe's soup uses a rich broth made from lobster shells, so it's served as the final broth, giving it a finishing touch feel.

At this moment, Jiang Chengzhe also walked in: "Good evening, ladies. This soup with stir-fried snail slices is actually more than just stir-frying snail slices. I can also use the remaining soup to make a lobster congee."

As he spoke, Jiang Chengzhe put the prepared rice porridge into the clay pot and began cooking it on the spot.

The rice was clearly soaked and prepared in advance.

Put it into the clay pot, cover it with the lid, and it will be ready to cook in a short while.

Furthermore, the rice in the pot completely exploded and turned into a rice paste.

Next, Jiang Chengzhe added the prepared lobster meat slices to the pot, and also added the lobster brains to the rice porridge.

After simmering for a while, the lid of the casserole was lifted again, and a rich aroma filled the entire private room.

I have to say, this rich lobster congee is incredibly delicious.

Feng Zhengming called the children back and made them all drink a bowl of lobster porridge.

The children really enjoyed the food.

The third brother's son couldn't help but ask, "Mom, can we eat this every day when we get home?"

The third sister-in-law was both amused and exasperated: "Silly boy, how can you eat this every day? It's very expensive."

Feng Zhengming: "If you like it, you can come and eat it again when you have the chance. Actually, your dad can make it too. When you go back, you can ask your dad to make it for you every time you get good grades."

Third Sister-in-law: "Zhengming, it's really not good to eat this stuff all the time."

Feng Zhengming: "Sister-in-law, you don't actually need such good lobsters. We can use some fresh seafood, including fresh shrimp from the Bohai Bay, to make it taste similar."

After listening to Feng Zhengming's words, the women looked at each other, feeling as if all dishes became simpler when Feng Zhengming was in charge.

In front of Feng Zhengming, Jiang Chengzhe could only earnestly agree from the sidelines.

"The chef is right. You can indeed use other seafood to replace lobster without much difference in taste, and you can enjoy more different flavors of seafood."

After hearing what Jiang Chengzhe said, the sisters-in-law all said they could give it a try when they got back.

The sixth sister-in-law even said, "If you want seafood, contact me and I'll have my husband prepare it and ship it to Jinan."

Upon hearing this, the other sisters-in-law looked at Sixth Sister-in-law.

Second Sister-in-law laughed: "I forgot, Minghai's family is here too. They live by the sea, so it's easier for them to get seafood."

Third sister-in-law: "Yes, yes, we'll really have to trouble you two from now on."

Sixth Sister-in-law was still very happy because she felt that her words had not brought shame to her husband.

Seafood is such a common thing for them in Yancheng.

Moreover, it seems that some deep-sea aquaculture is being developed in Yancheng, so there is a lot of seafood there.

Of course, what the wives and children liked most in Jiang Chengzhe's restaurant was the various desserts he served last.

Various Cantonese dim sum dishes, especially the mango pomelo sago dessert specially added by Jiang Chengzhe.

This dessert is especially loved by the sisters-in-law and the children.

Feng Zhengming smiled and introduced, "This is considered one of the most classic Cantonese desserts. I didn't expect that A Zhe would also introduce it to his restaurant. If you and your children like it, you can order a few more servings."

Luo Qing immediately retorted, "What kind of talk is that? Do you think we women have never eaten or seen anything like this before? And you want a few more servings?"

Feng Zhengming: "That's not what I meant. I just saw that everyone likes to eat it."

Sister-in-law: "Even the most delicious food can't be eaten all the time, right?"

Feng Zhengming: "Okay, I'll listen to my sister-in-law."

Sister-in-law: "Then let's order another one for each family, so the children can have some more."

Feng Zhengming: "I'll go tell A Zhe."

Not long after, Jiang Chengzhe served several more servings of mango pomelo sago.

The meal was finally coming to an end.

The sisters-in-law were very grateful for Feng Zhengming's arrangements and Jiang Chengzhe's hospitality.

After dinner, the sisters-in-law, along with Luo Qing, Liu Fangyou, Feng Zhengming's second and third aunts, took a group of children downstairs to the Bund and the river to ride yachts.

Feng Zhengming stayed in the restaurant and had some more conversations with Jiang Chengzhe.

Feng Zhengming gave a lot of praise to some of Jiang Chengzhe's dishes.

"Today's dishes reveal some of your new ideas; you've finally rediscovered your old style of Hong Kong-style Cantonese cuisine."

Jiang Chengzhe smiled slightly: "Thank you for the praise, Chef. After you told me about it before the New Year, I made some adjustments and gradually regained some of my old feeling."

Feng Zhengming: "In terms of techniques, different cuisines have things in common, but when it comes to specific dishes, you should go back to the foundation of your past Hong Kong-style Cantonese cuisine, which is your own unique style."

Jiang Chengzhe: "Yes, I think so too. It's all thanks to the head chef's strict requirements on me."

Feng Zhengming: Stop with the nonsense. You're making it sound like I'm about to become your master.

Jiang Chengzhe chuckled: "Sometimes I feel that you really are like my master. If possible, I would really like to become your disciple."

Feng Zhengming: "Isn't that unnecessary? Isn't it better for us to address each other as friends and brothers?"

“It’s different. If I formally become an apprentice, I can be promoted in status in the future.”

Feng Zhengming: "You kid, you're not in a low position now. You're Li Guansheng's apprentice."

Jiang Chengzhe: "We chefs aren't limited to having only one master."

"Alright, alright, you're getting more and more excited. Don't try that on me, I won't take you as my apprentice."

After hearing Feng Zhengming's words, Jiang Chengzhe stopped insisting.

"By the way, that old man came by once before and gave me some advice."

Feng Zhengming: "Uncle is a very good person and is willing to guide young people. I have also received a lot of guidance from him. If it weren't for some guidance from Uncle, I might not have been able to win the annual top ten restaurant award."

Jiang Chengzhe: "The old man's advice to me was to try to break away from imitating you and develop my own style."

Feng Zhengming laughed: "Uncle is right, you really shouldn't imitate me."

Jiang Chengzhe: "The old man also said that I should try to be more Western-style and try to get some overseas recommendation guides."

Feng Zhengming: "That's a good path too. Didn't you try in Hong Kong but fail? So why not try in Shanghai?" Jiang Chengzhe: "But I feel like doing that would go against our original intention?"

Feng Zhengming naturally understood Jiang Chengzhe's concerns.

When they first discussed it, they decided to use Chinese cuisine to establish their own system.

If Jiang Chengzhe were to now actively conform to Western standards, he would feel that he was betraying his original intentions.

Feng Zhengming: "If we put it another way, you're infiltrating the enemy's ranks and trying to understand how they perceive Chinese cuisine. Would that make it easier for you to accept?"

Upon hearing Feng Zhengming's words, Jiang Chengzhe's expression immediately changed.

I thought about it carefully for a while.

He had to admit that after Feng Zhengming said that, he was indeed more willing to accept it.

At least I feel that this shows I know myself and my enemy, and it doesn't mean I've betrayed my original intention.

Feng Zhengming could tell at a glance that Jiang Chengzhe accepted his statement.

"Alright, you can think about it again. I think since your uncle asked you to try, you should give it a shot. After all, it's better for you to be the first restaurant chef to get a star than for someone else to take it from you."

Jiang Chengzhe was amused by this remark.

"Chef, are you implying that I should cooperate with you in the future?"

Feng Zhengming: "I'm making this clear, and I believe you understand."

Jiang Chengzhe nodded: "I understand."

Feng Zhengming didn't linger any longer. After saying goodbye to Jiang Chengzhe, he left Jiang Chengzhe's restaurant.

As Feng Zhengming stepped out of the elevator, he unexpectedly ran into several bosses he was fairly familiar with.

Surprisingly, Bao Guofeng was also present.

Upon seeing Feng Zhengming, Bao Guofeng immediately greeted him with a smile and took the initiative to approach him.

"Oh, Scholar Feng, so you've already returned?"

Feng Zhengming: "Boss Bao, it's been a long time. I just got back today."

Bao Guofeng: "If I had known you were coming back, I would have booked your restaurant."

Feng Zhengming: "Haha, it's okay, A Zhe's restaurant is great too."

The other bosses also knew Feng Zhengming.

Moreover, in their eyes, Feng Zhengming was more than just a chef.

These business owners now understand the value of Feng Zhengming.

In terms of annual revenue from just his few stores in Shanghai, it might not be much worse than that of those other business owners.

In particular, Feng Zhengming was named one of the world's top ten restaurants last year.

In the eyes of bosses, this is an even more remarkable achievement.

Perhaps, in the eyes of these bosses, being a champion in a national cooking competition is nothing more than a chef with better skills.

But Feng Zhengming was able to win one of the world's top ten restaurants of the year, and his various restaurants were doing so well in Shanghai.

The restaurant owners will no longer treat him as a chef, but as a big shot in Shanghai's catering industry.

"When is your store opening, Feng Zhuangyuan? We'll all come and support you then."

"Haha, Lao Li, does Feng Zhuangyuan's shop need your support?"

"Exactly, just say you want to reserve a table. No need to beat around the bush. When Feng Zhuangyuan's restaurant opens, it's bound to be packed. If you don't reserve in advance, you'll have to wait in line."

Then Bao Guofeng spoke first: "Scholar Feng, I'd like to reserve a table, a large private room is needed."

Feng Zhengming: "Boss Bao will call me back later. My restaurant will reopen tomorrow, but we won't be accepting reservations tomorrow."

I heard Feng Zhengming say that the business will open tomorrow, but reservations will not be accepted tomorrow.

The bosses, including Bao Guofeng, were all a little puzzled.
Why is Feng Zhuangyuan only open tomorrow and not accepting reservations for tomorrow?

"Yes, you'll be reopening tomorrow, so we'd like to make reservations in advance for tomorrow."

"That's right, Scholar Feng is giving us face."

Feng Zhengming: "It's not that I'm not giving you face, it's just that my restaurant will reopen tomorrow, and the prices will be a little lower, so that some of my supporters can eat at a lower price first."

Bao Guofeng: "No problem, I will definitely bring my family to support you tomorrow night."

The other bosses also expressed their intention to support the event tomorrow night.

Feng Zhengming: "Thank you everyone. I might need to arrive early tomorrow night, otherwise I'll have to wait in line."

Bao Guofeng: "Okay, see you tomorrow night."

Seeing that Bao Guofeng had said so, the other bosses also agreed to go ahead of time.

Feng Zhengming said goodbye to them and walked across the street to the Bund.

Watching Feng Zhengming's departing figure, all the other business owners looked at Bao Guofeng.

"Old Bao, are you really going tomorrow night?"

Bao Guofeng: "I'm not kidding. I'll definitely go tomorrow night, with my wife and kids."

The other bosses laughed, thinking Bao Guofeng was joking.

"When did you, Lao Bao, become so particular about food?"

"Feng Zhengming is indeed very skilled, but is it really necessary to queue up tomorrow night?"

"Exactly, why don't we just make a reservation after tomorrow?"

Bao Guofeng listened to what the others said, but he did not offer any explanation.

In Bao Guofeng's view, these guys didn't understand what Feng Zhuangyuan meant, so there was no need for him to explain to them.

Bao Guofeng, who considered himself a friend of Feng Zhengming, could tell from the conversation.

Feng Zhengming is not accepting reservations for tomorrow night, actually to reserve a table in advance for his friends in Shanghai.

So everyone going to his old-style restaurant tomorrow night must be his friends.

Since Bao Guofeng considers him a friend, he will definitely participate.

The business owners who were with Bao Guofeng were unaware that Feng Zhengming was not accepting reservations for tomorrow night because he had already notified some friends that he was coming back and would resume business tomorrow.

So, the old-style restaurant will actually have quite a few customers tomorrow.

In front of the other bosses, Feng Zhengming also gave Bao Guofeng enough hints.

Bao Guofeng was a smart man; now that he knew, he had to go and show his support.

The group didn't continue the topic and went upstairs to Jiang Chengzhe's restaurant.

Stepping into Jiang Chengzhe's restaurant, Bao Guofeng had to admit that Jiang Chengzhe's restaurant did indeed provide a very good experience for men like them who had a certain amount of wealth.

Stepping into the restaurant gives you a sense of luxury, which is why Jiang Chengzhe's restaurant is a popular spot for many business owners during the Chinese New Year.

The restaurant was doing very well tonight, and there were quite a few of Bao Guofeng's acquaintances there.

This immediately changed the atmosphere, making Bao Guofeng and his group feel more at ease. (End of Chapter)