From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

I visited my master and had lunch with him and his wife.

In the afternoon, the teacher's wife and Luo Qing stayed at home with the two little ones while they took a nap.

Feng Zhengming and his master took their daughter Feng Nuanyou to his master's private restaurant.

Feng Nuanyou was naturally the happiest, because as children grow older, they become less willing to take afternoon naps.

Especially energetic children like Feng Nuanyou.

She prefers to go out and play during the afternoon.

However, when she is at home, her mother always makes her take a nap like her younger brother and sister.

Even in kindergarten, teachers will require students to take a nap.

Today is great! I don't have to take a nap anymore, and I can go out and play with my grandpa and dad.

Upon arriving at her master's restaurant, Feng Nuanyou immediately began to look forward to going to the kitchen with her father and seeing him teach others how to cook.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as Feng Nuanyou had imagined.

Dad wasn't directly invited into the kitchen to teach cooking.

Instead, he was first invited into a private room by his master.

Not long after, the eldest uncle from Master's family came into the private room.

"Big brother."

Feng Zhengming stood up and took the initiative to greet his master's eldest son.

Yan Jianxing smiled and said, "Zhengming is back."

Feng Nuanyou greeted him in return, "Hello, Uncle."

Seeing Feng Nuanyou made Yan Jianxing smile even more happily.

"Little Youyou is here too, welcome, welcome."

The master then asked his eldest son to sit down and listen to some of Feng Zhengming's suggestions.

The master invited Feng Zhengming to the restaurant this time in the hope that he would give some advice on the future operation of the private kitchen.

Feng Zhengming didn't rush to give advice; instead, he first asked his elder brother for his thoughts.

Yan Jianxing didn't hide anything from Feng Zhengming and shared some of his thoughts.

"Zhengming, as you know, because of you, many people may have a kind of filter on Shandong cuisine. They may think that Shandong cuisine should be made like yours."

So I've been thinking, should I try to become like you?

Or could you teach me some of the dishes from your area? We could exchange ideas and maybe even cook some of the dishes that suit our local cuisine at my restaurant?

After listening to his elder brother's words, Feng Zhengming roughly understood why his master had sent him here.

My master's eldest brother wants to emulate Feng Zhengming's old-style restaurant in Shanghai.

But the master clearly didn't want that; he still hoped that his elder brother could seriously prepare traditional Shandong cuisine well.

Or rather, the master hoped that the eldest brother, while using the name of Yan Family Restaurant, would try his best to make the dishes look like Yan Family cuisine.

It shouldn't deviate from the tradition of Yan family cuisine and become dishes that might be perceived as being mixed with other ingredients.

Feng Zhengming could understand this.

If the eldest brother hadn't hung up the Yan Family Restaurant sign, he could naturally have created many more innovative dishes.

But now that it's using the Yan Family Restaurant sign, and is deviating from the master's culinary traditions, people might think it's a case of "selling dog meat under the guise of mutton."

Feng Zhengming thought for a moment and said, "Brother, I think it's very difficult to make traditional Shandong cuisine well. It's even more difficult than running an old-style restaurant in Shanghai and making creative new dishes there."

Yan Jianxing was somewhat surprised to hear this, clearly not expecting Feng Zhengming to say such a thing.

In Yan Jianxing's view, traditional Shandong cuisine may eventually be eliminated by the times.

Feng Zhengming's innovative fusion cuisine is the future trend of cooking.

But now Feng Zhengming says that it is even more difficult to make traditional Shandong cuisine well.
Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Brother, think about it. Aren't many of the steps in traditional Shandong cuisine very complicated? You need to be very careful to do each step well."

In particular, the requirements for knife skills, fire control, and spoon skills must be extremely high.

The technique must be precise; otherwise, the taste might be completely different.

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Yan Jianxing thought for a moment and nodded.

"Yes, you're right. Traditional Shandong cuisine does require more attention to detail. Many aspects need to be done meticulously, and even the slightest deviation can lead to different dishes."

Feng Zhengming: "So, brother, if you also give up on upholding traditional Shandong cuisine, who will be able to better inherit Master's skills?"

These words stunned Yan Jianxing.

Yan Jianxing suddenly realized that since he had opened a Yan Family Restaurant, he should take on the responsibility of passing on the Yan Family cuisine.

The father's other disciples, such as Feng Zhengming and his seven direct disciples, have all gone down a different path.

The saying "The master leads you through the door, but the practice is up to you" is perfectly exemplified in the lives of Feng Zhengming and his seven direct disciples.

In particular, Feng Zhengming has developed his own unique cooking style over the years.

It can be said that the dishes Feng Zhengming makes no longer belong to any particular regional cuisine.

His dishes blend the characteristics of various regional cuisines, combining their techniques and seasonings to create a unique culinary system of his own.

Especially during my trip to Chengdu, I learned a lot about Sichuan cuisine's seasoning techniques.

This gave Feng Zhengming an even greater advantage, allowing him to create even more unique flavors.

Then, the seasoning of Sichuan cuisine, the techniques of Shandong cuisine, and the selection of ingredients of Cantonese cuisine were combined.

Feng Zhengming has already created many unique dishes at the old-style restaurant.

Furthermore, those dishes have already received unanimous praise from many gourmets at the Old House Restaurant.

Every master hopes that their disciple can create their own school of thought.

In reality, most apprentices are not necessarily able to create their own unique style.

After all, most chefs have limited access to certain things.

Many chefs may not even be able to leave the city where they were born.

Therefore, one's culinary skills are limited to the cuisine and flavors of the city where one lives.

It's not that they don't want to innovate, it's just that innovative things often don't necessarily appeal to the locals.

In addition, they have never really traveled outside and haven't been able to experience the cuisines of other places.

They are unable to better understand the true essence of other cuisines.

In this way, forcing oneself to learn and integrate might actually lead to losing one's own strengths.

So instead of trying to create your own school of thought.

It would be better to thoroughly understand everything you've learned from your master and make your knowledge more solid.

But how many people can see this clearly?
Many people may still believe that they can innovate based on what their master has taught them.

In the end, they might actually lose all of their master's teachings.

Therefore, Feng Zhengming felt that his elder brother, Yan Jianxing, should hold fast to the Yan Family Restaurant and truly pass on the Yan Family cuisine. Feng Zhengming believed that it was a good thing for Yan Jianxing to continue the Yan Family cuisine tradition.

Yan Jianxing roughly understood what Feng Zhengming meant.

"Zhengming, do you think I should just carry on the Yan family cuisine tradition and not try to innovate? Do you think I might lack the ability to innovate?"

Feng Zhengming: "Brother, you've misunderstood. Think about it, our country has such a long history, and our food culture has a similarly long history."

With such a long history of culinary culture, are the dishes that have survived to this day the ones that have gained the most recognition?

Yan Jianxing nodded.

Feng Zhengming continued, "Those dishes that have been passed down have undergone the research of so many generations and consumed so much of people's hard work."

How can we create more new dishes in a short period of time?
The dishes I made in Shanghai were simply a fusion of various regional cuisines, incorporating some Western ingredients to create the final dishes.

While I call it innovation, I'm really just digging deeper into and integrating various old dishes from the past.

After Feng Zhengming explained it this way, Yan Jianxing finally understood what he meant.

Feng Zhengming wasn't denying his ability, but he felt that the effort and time spent trying to create a new dish might all be in vain.

Instead, it would be better to improve Master Yan's family cuisine so that it can be better passed down.

After understanding, Yan Jianxing showed some respect for Feng Zhengming.

"Thank you for your clarification. You've made me realize that I shouldn't pursue certain things excessively. I should focus on making Yan Family Cuisine better and passing it down. Even if I want to innovate, I should innovate based on the foundation of Yan Family Cuisine."

Feng Zhengming smiled and nodded.

"Big brother, you are the true successor of our master."

Yan Jianxing looked at his father.

His father didn't speak, but Yan Jianxing saw anticipation in his father's eyes.

When Yan Jianxing wanted to open this Yan Family Restaurant, his father had opposed it.

But now, his father has clearly accepted him.

That's why his father hoped he could better carry on the legacy of the Yan Family Restaurant.

Feng Zhengming understood his master's intentions very well.

The master also hopes that through Yan Family Restaurant, the inheritance of Shandong cuisine can be preserved.

This is both a father's expectation for his son and a master's expectation for his apprentice.

It is also the expectation of the previous generation of pioneers for the next generation of inheritors.

In the past, the master might have expected Feng Zhengming to be a younger apprentice who could better carry on his mantle.

The master no longer thinks that way, and the key is that the master sees that Feng Zhengming has greater potential for advancement.

The master felt that it was time to let his young apprentice inherit his recipes.

This might actually be a limitation for younger apprentices.

We should let the young apprentice create some of his own unique dishes.

Therefore, we need someone who can preserve and pass on the traditional Shandong cuisine.

Judging from the current situation, the best candidate is still his eldest son.

He exchanged a glance with his father and understood his master's intentions and expectations.

Yan Jianxing finally let go of some of his obsessions.

He smiled and said to his father, "Dad, don't worry, I will run the restaurant well and pass on the Yan family cuisine you created."

Feng Zhengming: "I believe you can definitely do it, brother."

The master also smiled, very pleased that his son had such a sense of responsibility.

"Okay, as long as you can persevere, I believe you will become a famous chef in the future."

Yan Jianxing looked at Feng Zhengming: "It seems that I, your older brother, will eventually fall behind you."

Feng Zhengming: "What do you mean by 'falling behind me'? I should say that I haven't been able to learn Master's teachings well, and in the end, I still need you to help me pass them on. It's my fault as your disciple."

The master immediately said, "Zhengming, you can't say that. You are the kind of disciple that any master would hope to teach. You have never disappointed your master."

Yan Jianxing: "Yes, Zhengming, you shouldn't say that. You are your master's darling."

Feng Zhengming laughed: "Hahaha, thank you, Master, for always cherishing me."

The master laughed too: "You brat, you're not allowed to say those kinds of things again. You have to cook good food and run your shops well, understand?"

Feng Zhengming: "Don't worry, Master, I will definitely cook well and run the restaurant well."

Then Yan Jianxing asked, "Are you planning to go to the capital to reopen Yanxilou?"

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, I am planning to go to the capital to reopen Yanxilou."

Yan Jianxing: "Are you planning to have your senior brothers and the others take charge of cooking?"

Feng Zhengming: "Yes."

Then he looked at his master.

"If Master's health permits, I also hope that Master can go to Yanxilou in the capital to guide everyone."

The master's expression became somewhat serious.

"I'm afraid I can't go to the capital to help you. I'm too old, and since you and your fellow disciples have reopened Yanxi Tower, I, as your master, can't do anything to help you. It's not good for me to take up your reputation."

Feng Zhengming: "Master, how can you say that? Without your guidance, how could we have the skills we have today?"
"Master, you will always be our master. Even I must listen to you when you go to the capital to reopen Yanxi Tower and provide guidance. Master, you are our greatest source of confidence."

Hearing Feng Zhengming's words, both his master and elder brother were moved.

Over the years, Feng Zhengming has become one of the top chefs in China.

But he still maintained his respect for his master.

When he went to the capital to reopen Yanxilou, he still wanted to invite his master to go with him.

In fact, both Master and Yan's eldest brother understood that Feng Zhengming was not trying to use Master's reputation, but rather to give Master greater fame.

Many people may have forgotten that when Yanxilou closed down, Master Yan was the head chef at the time.

Feng Zhengming was well aware of the blow this incident had dealt to his master.

He was well aware that over the years, some chefs had developed some doubts about their master.

Even with him being the top scholar, there are still people who feel that Master Yan's skills are not that good.

Therefore, Feng Zhengming wanted to reopen Yanxilou in Beijing, invite his master over, and prove to everyone that his master's skills could still be considered those of a top-notch master of Shandong cuisine.

The closure of Yanxilou was not due to the master's poor skills.

The master stared at Feng Zhengming with a smile on his face.

"After all these years, you still remember."

Feng Zhengming: "I will never forget it. I believe that Master, your skills have not been lost, nor have they declined. You are still a master capable of making top-notch traditional Shandong cuisine." (End of this chapter)