From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

After a discussion with his master and elder brother, Feng Zhengming finally set the tone for his master's family restaurant.

That is to ensure that the eldest brother, Yan Jianxing, upholds the tradition of his master's craft.

This is actually what the master hoped his eldest son could do.

After Feng Zhengming's explanation, Yan Jianxing realized the responsibility he bore.

If he hadn't been in the culinary industry, then naturally no one would have entrusted him with this responsibility.

However, he went into the culinary industry and has gained some fame in recent years.

So it's natural that when people talk about him, they inevitably mention his father.

Whether Yan Jianxing is willing or not, he must shoulder the responsibility of inheriting his father's craft.

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Brother, if you need anything, you can tell us anytime. My fellow disciples and I will help you and ensure that our master's legacy is passed down properly."

Yan Jianxing: "Okay, Zhengming, thank you for your promise."

Master: "Since you've taken on some things, you have to do them well. Don't always think you can rely on others."

Yan Jianxing understood his father's expectations for him, just as he had told his father years ago that he wanted to learn to cook.

His father didn't even let him learn cooking from him.

It was only many years later that Yan Jianxing understood his father's intention.

His father hoped that he could seriously learn the craft well, instead of just relying on his father's reputation.

Yan Jianxing, as the eldest son, did not disappoint his father's expectations.

Indeed, if he masters the art of cooking, he will be able to shoulder the responsibility of inheriting and carrying forward his father's culinary skills.

Instead of eating at Yan's Restaurant, Feng Zhengming took his daughter to send his master home first.

After meeting up with his master's wife, Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing took the children and said goodbye to their master and mistress before leaving.

On the way back, Luo Qing asked him some questions out of curiosity, based on what she had heard from her teacher's wife that afternoon.

"Does my elder brother seem to have some other ideas?"

Feng Zhengming: "It's normal to have thoughts. The domestic economy is developing rapidly, and we have opened so many stores all over the country. Who wouldn't have other ideas after seeing this?"

Luo Qing: "Didn't you consider having your eldest brother and senior brothers come to the capital together?"

Feng Zhengming: "My elder brother is the master's successor, how can he work in my shop?"

Luo Qing was taken aback when she heard this, but after thinking about it carefully, she roughly understood what her husband meant.

This indicates that Feng Zhengming has already established his own independent business.

They are no longer simply inheritors of their master's skills.

Feng Zhengming was representing himself, his shop, and even his reopening of Yanxilou in Beijing; in other people's eyes, it was all about showcasing his skills.

Others are unlikely to go to the capital to reopen Yanxilou; they simply want to eat traditional Shandong cuisine.

Thinking about it this way, Luo Qing finally understood why her master had taken her husband out today.

"From this perspective, the eldest brother is indeed the most capable successor to the master. No one can say that the eldest brother cannot be the successor to the master, and the Yan Family Restaurant is also an authentic restaurant that inherits the master's culinary skills."

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, this also put a lot of pressure on my elder brother."

Luo Qing naturally understood that there was indeed enormous pressure behind this.

People come to the restaurant specifically to eat under Master Yan, but if the food doesn't replicate the taste of the past, it might damage Master Yan's reputation.

Therefore, this will inevitably put enormous pressure on the eldest brother, Yan Jianxing.

Luo Qing thought for a moment and asked, "So, does that mean Master can't go to Yanxi Tower in the capital either?"

Feng Zhengming sighed, somewhat helplessly.

“My master has already made it clear to me that he will not go to Yanxi Tower in the capital.”

Luo Qing: "Did Master just say it directly?"

Feng Zhengming: "It wasn't explicitly stated, but my master asked me to see my elder brother and talk to him about the issue of the Yan Family Restaurant's succession. Doesn't that mean he's telling me he won't come to Beijing with me?"

These words startled Luo Qing. After thinking about it carefully for a while, she finally understood her master's intention.

Meanwhile, at the master's house, the master's wife couldn't help but complain a few words about the master.

"You, you know perfectly well why Zhengming insists on sending you to the capital to his reopened Yanxi Restaurant, yet you still refuse him."

Master: "You don't understand. He has already walked his own path. He needs to walk his own path from now on. What does my reopening of Yanxi Restaurant in the capital matter?"
Go tell everyone that Yanxilou's closure wasn't because my cooking was bad?

Master's wife: "This proves that he has worked hard all these years and has always wanted to prove it to others."

Master: "I don't need him to prove anything. The closure of Yanxilou may not be directly related to me, but I did not point out the problem directly and watched it go down. I also bear some responsibility."

The master's wife sighed helplessly after hearing this.

As a couple married for many years, she knew very well her husband's stubbornness.

Over the years, Master Yan has always felt that the closure and opening of Yanxilou were related to him.

Moreover, Master Yan also felt somewhat guilty towards his personally taught apprentices.

He didn't make better arrangements for his apprentices when he was capable.

Over the years, if it weren't for Feng Zhengming, his senior brothers might not have achieved what they have today.

Although it is said that the master should lead you through the door and the practice is up to you, the disciples were not lacking in ability, but they almost did not have the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.

As the master, Master Yan must have felt quite uneasy.

Master's wife: "You are just too stubborn. They don't blame you. They are grateful to you for teaching them so many skills. You never held anything back from them. You taught them all the skills you have learned, practiced, and researched in your life."

Master: "That's what a master should do. If a master can't pass on his skills to his apprentices, how can he be worthy of being called 'Master' by them?"

Then the master added, "As a master, how can you take advantage of your disciple's fame?"

The master's wife did not continue to persuade her.

Because I knew that my master had already made his decision.

As Feng Zhengming drove, he remarked, "My master felt he hadn't arranged things well for us disciples, so he believed that my reopening of Yanxilou in the capital was due to my own abilities."

He no longer wanted to benefit from the fame of his apprentices; he preferred to stay in Jinan to continue exploring, researching, and passing on Shandong cuisine.

Luo Qing reached out and gently took her husband's hand.

At that moment, she didn't know how to comfort him.

All she knew was that he ultimately respected all of his master's decisions.

"Perhaps in the future, when I reach my master's age, I will also shed all the glory around me, return to Jinan, return to our old shop, and just be busy in the old shop every day."

Luo Qing: "Okay, then we'll run a small family-run shop."

Feng Zhengming smiled: "You're willing?"

Luo Qing: "Why wouldn't we want to? Didn't we always want to run a family business together?"

Feng Zhengming: "Okay, it's settled then. In the future, we will hand over the other stores to others and go back to our hometown to run our old shop, only making some dishes that we like."

Luo Qing: "Hahaha, aren't you afraid there will be too many people queuing at the door? Will you be able to handle it?"

Feng Zhengming: "That's simple. We issue numbers every day, and the person who receives the number must come to collect it. Once the person receives the number can eat there, it is their turn. We issue only that many numbers each day, and once we have prepared all the dishes for that number, we close for the day."

Luo Qing: "Hahaha, then there will definitely be a lot of people queuing up every day."

Feng Zhengming: "No, by then I'll be as old as my master, and probably no one will care about me anymore."

Feng Nuanyou, who had been sitting silently in the passenger seat, suddenly spoke up at this moment.

"No, Daddy is so amazing, there will definitely be many people who will always love him." Hearing his daughter's words, Feng Zhengming looked at his daughter in the passenger seat.

"Dad thought our Princess Youyou was asleep."

Feng Nuanyou immediately smiled and said, "No, I don't want to disturb my parents' conversation."

Luo Qing: "Oh my, our Youyou is being so well-behaved today?"

Feng Nuanyou: "Oh, Mom, I've always been a good girl."

Luo Qing: "Really?"

I heard my mother deliberately draw out the sound of "ma".

Feng Nuanyou immediately pouted and turned her head away.

"Mom, please stop talking. What you're saying is making me unhappy."

Luo Qing reached out and pinched her daughter's little cheek.

"You still dare to be unhappy?"

Feng Nuanyou sat angrily in the passenger seat, her arms wrapped around herself.

He certainly looks very angry.

Feng Zhengming glanced at it and said, "Hahaha, our Princess Youyou is indeed angry."

Luo Qing: "Oh, you're really angry? Okay, then Mom can have some peace and quiet tonight."

Feng Nuanyou: "I'm so angry, so angry! I'm going to make a scene tonight!"

Luo Qing and Feng Zhengming couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.

Feng Zhengming reached out and touched his daughter: "Okay, Mom was just joking with you. Don't be angry. When Mom gets old, Youyou, you can joke with Mom like that too."

Upon hearing this, Luo Qing reached out and pinched her husband's arm.

"You're so mean! You're already teaching your daughter how to discipline me, aren't you?"

Feng Zhengming: "Haha, don't worry, I'll protect you then."

Feng Nuanyou laughed too: "Hehehe, Mom, I'll deliberately annoy you then, so you can't catch me."

Luo Qing: "Fine, you two are working together, humph. I'll teach my younger siblings well and they'll take care of you two. There are three of us and two of you, you can't beat us."

At this time, the two little ones in the car had already fallen asleep.

However, I wonder if she understood what her mother said while she was asleep.

The two little ones even waved their little hands and made a few "woo woo woo" sounds.

Hearing the little one's voice made the family of three smile.

After a series of pleasant and playful moments, Feng Zhengming drove his wife and children back to his grandfather's house.

They could have gone back to their house in Jinan.

But because of this trip back, the two grandfathers have been talking about them constantly.

Feng Zhengming simply moved in with his wife and children at his grandfather's house.

Upon returning to her grandfather's house, Feng Nuanyou greeted him as she entered, calling out "Great-Grandpa."

Hearing the little girl's shouts brought smiles to the faces of the two great-grandfathers.

It was as if the two elderly people had suddenly become several years younger amidst their laughter.

Feng Zhengming and his wife, carrying their two babies, followed closely behind as they entered the house.

Upon returning to his grandfather's house, Feng Zhengming immediately began cooking.

Having dinner with the two grandfathers at home was one of the important duties of Feng Zhengming and his team during their trip back.

With the mischievous Feng Nuanyou by their side, the two great-grandfathers were very happy.

The two great-grandfathers played chess while also teaching their great-granddaughter.

As Feng Nuanyou watched, she found playing chess quite interesting, so she sat obediently beside the player, watching, listening, asking questions, and learning.

Seeing her daughter's serious expression, Luo Qing couldn't help but find it amusing.

Seeing that the two babies were still sleeping, Luo Qing went to the kitchen.

“Our Youyou is watching her great-grandfathers play chess.”

Feng Zhengming: "Isn't this a good thing? It keeps her quiet for a while."

"She's not just watching, she's learning too!" Luo Qing said excitedly.

Luo Qing is very happy to see her daughter studying hard.

Although Luo Qing didn't say it aloud, she didn't want her daughter to learn to cook in the future.

Having spent so many years by her husband's side, Luo Qing knew exactly how hard it was to be a chef.
Luo Qing felt that if her daughter liked playing chess, becoming a chess player would be much easier than being a chef.

Feng Zhengming immediately guessed what his wife was thinking.

"Haha, it's always good to have more skills. Let your daughter learn whatever she wants. If she really wants to learn cooking in the future, then let her become Xia Hui's apprentice and let Xia Hui teach her strictly."

Luo Qing: "Oh dear, I really don't want Youyou to learn to cook and become a chef, it's too hard."

Feng Zhengming: "Learning to cook doesn't necessarily mean becoming a chef. If you can cook, you can make what you like to eat, and when we can't cook anymore, we can have her cook for us."

Luo Qing laughed: "What's wrong with you today? Why are you always thinking about what it will be like when you're old?"

Feng Zhengming: "I don't know why I suddenly keep thinking about what it will be like when I get old. Maybe it's because when I came back this time, I saw that my grandfather and the others had aged, and my master and his wife also seemed to have aged a bit. It made me feel a bit emotional."

Luo Qing hugged her husband from behind.

"It's okay. We'll make time to come back and spend more time with them. Besides, with Youyou keeping Great-Grandpa company, he'll be very happy, and when he's happy, his health will improve."

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, we need to spend more time with our families."

Then he turned to his wife and said, "And our parents, we should spend more time with them too."

Luo Qing: "My parents aren't very old, and my mom has been helping us take care of our baby, so we see her every day."

Feng Zhengming: "How about we go back and bring Grandpa and Dad over?"

Luo Qing: "No, Dad definitely won't go. He's very comfortable at home now, with my brother and sister-in-law taking care of him, and he doesn't have to take care of the children."

Feng Zhengming thought to himself, "That's right, is my brother getting married soon too?"

Luo Qing: "You didn't ask?"

Feng Zhengming: "It seems I forgot to ask yesterday."

Luo Qing: "You're really something! What did you and my brother talk about?"

Feng Zhengming: "Haha, we just talked about other things, and I didn't ask him about his marriage."

Luo Qing: "It'll be either at the end of this year or next spring. My brother has already discussed it with my sister-in-law, and we'll bring her family over then."

Feng Zhengming: "Okay, I'll come back myself to cook a feast for you then."

Luo Qing: "Hahaha, my brother is really proud of himself, he'll be overjoyed."

As we were chatting, a burst of cheers came from the small courtyard outside.

"Great! My great-grandfather and I beat Great-Grandpa Situ!"

Hearing their daughter's cheers, Feng Zhengming and his wife exchanged a glance, and both smiled happily. (End of Chapter)