From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

After spending a few days with his second senior brother in Dezhou, Feng Zhengming and his wife continued their journey to Yancheng with their eldest daughter.

Seeing that his second senior brother was doing very well in Dezhou, especially with his restaurant business booming, Feng Zhengming was completely relieved.

After several days of discussions, the second senior brother also agreed to reopen Yanxi Restaurant in the capital.

Originally, the second senior brother only wanted to go to Yanxi Tower in the capital for a year.

However, after being persuaded by Feng Zhengming, the second senior brother finally agreed to stay at Yanxilou in the capital for a few more years.

It was also because the second senior brother's daughter had grown up and was about to take the college entrance examination and go to university.

Therefore, the second senior brother doesn't need to worry much about taking care of the family.

Feng Zhengming thought that he could let his second sister-in-law and second senior brother go to the capital together at that time.

As for Chen Jin, the second senior brother's daughter, after she went to Shanghai, Luo Qing could help take care of her there.

The second senior brother had no worries, so he agreed to stay at Yanxi Tower in the capital for a few more years.

I can work with my fifth senior brother to run Yanxi Restaurant well, and also train a group of new people along the way.

Chen Jin, the daughter of the second senior brother, was very supportive of her parents going to the capital.

"Mom and Dad, now that you've gone to Beijing, I can come visit you during my university breaks. Wouldn't that be great?"

The second brother and sister-in-law smiled knowingly at their daughter's words.

Second sister-in-law: "Are you thinking that when summer vacation comes, you can hitch a ride on a plane with your uncle and aunt? That way you can save on travel expenses."

Chen Jin: "Oh, Mom, you're right."

Feng Zhengming: "Sure, if you need to go to Beijing during the summer vacation, we'll take you with us, and you can help take care of your sister."

Luo Qing: "Yes, my sister listens to you now, so please help us take care of her."

Chen Jin looked at Feng Nuanyou: "Hehehe, okay, I'll take care of my sister during my vacation."

Feng Nuanyou was also very happy to hear this: "Sister Jinjin, let's sleep together again."

Chen Jin smiled and agreed, "Okay, I'll let you sleep with me too."

When saying goodbye to her second brother's family of three, the daughter, Feng Nuanyou, was still a little reluctant to part.

Chen Jin gave her a hair tie that she had knitted herself.

"You must be a good boy and listen to me. When your sister goes to university in Shanghai, she will come and tutor you whenever she has time. You must get good grades and not embarrass your father."

Feng Nuanyou: "I'm waiting for Sister Jinjin to come."

Chen Jin: "I will definitely go."

After formally bidding farewell to his second senior brother and his family of three, Feng Zhengming and his group headed directly to Yancheng.

Upon arriving in Yancheng, Sixth Brother and Sixth Sister-in-law, along with their two children, also came to welcome Feng Zhengming and his group.

Sixth Brother's two children are already grown up.

Although they hadn't seen Feng Zhengming for many years, the two children still remembered him well.

Sixth Senior Brother was also quite excited to see Feng Zhengming.

The two brothers hugged each other.

"Zhengming, it's been several years since you last came to Yancheng."

Feng Zhengming: "Sixth Brother, I'm really sorry. I've opened so many stores now, and I've realized that I just don't have the energy to keep up. I can't keep an eye on many stores all the time."

Sixth Senior Brother: "You've worked hard too. Actually, most shops don't need you to keep an eye on them all the time anymore. The shop manager and the head chef should be able to run the shop well."

Feng Zhengming: "That's right, so it has relieved a lot of my pressure."

Sixth Sister-in-law and Luo Qing were raising three children together.

At first, Feng Nuanyou was a little reserved around the older brothers and sisters here.

Fortunately, Uncle Liu's older sister also took good care of her younger sister.

The group first checked into the hotel arranged by their sixth senior brother and sister-in-law.

The hotel arranged for this trip is also a very good one in Yancheng.

Feng Zhengming felt that such extravagance was unnecessary.

"Sixth Brother, Sixth Sister-in-law, you've arranged such a wonderful hotel for us. We don't need to stay in such a nice hotel at all."

Sixth Senior Brother: "Hahaha, that won't do. You're a big shot now, so we need to arrange a nice hotel for you to match your status."

Feng Zhengming was left speechless, both amused and exasperated by his sixth senior brother's words.

"Sixth Brother, when did you learn this skill too?"

Sixth Brother: "This hotel was arranged for you by your sixth sister-in-law. She said she wanted you to have a better and more comfortable stay."

Feng Zhengming looked at Sixth Sister-in-law: "Alright, Sixth Sister-in-law's arrangements are good, thank you Sixth Sister-in-law."

Sixth Sister-in-law: "Alright, I know you think we're spending too much money, but your senior brothers have made a lot of money following you these past few years, so they don't need the money from this hotel."

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, yes, Sixth Sister-in-law is right. It's time for the senior brothers to bleed."

These words amused both Sixth Brother and Sixth Sister-in-law.

After settling into the hotel, Feng Zhengming had another private chat with his sixth senior brother.

"You came all this way to tell me that I should also go to Yanxilou in the capital, right?"

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, the reopening of Yanxilou in the capital has been planned for a long time. Fifth Brother has been helping to find a place in the capital for a long time, and I heard that a suitable place has been found."

It's a three-story building with a fairly large interior space, and the location isn't too remote.

I plan to go to Beijing after Youyou's summer vacation ends, if the place is suitable.

Next, we will begin the design and renovation, aiming to restore as many of the original features of Yanxi Tower as possible.

Sixth Senior Brother: "Zhengming, your idea is good, but I think it's not appropriate for me to go to the capital. It would be more appropriate for the eldest, second, and third senior brothers to go."

Feng Zhengming: "They're going too. Sixth Brother, you're from Yancheng, which belongs to the Jiaodong school of Shandong cuisine. I hope that the reopened Yanxilou restaurant in Beijing can present a variety of different Shandong dishes."

Sixth Senior Brother: "But I still have a home in Yancheng. I can't let your sister-in-law bring the child with me to the capital."

Before Feng Zhengming could speak, the sixth senior brother continued.

"Moreover, many restaurants in Beijing certainly cannot completely replicate the traditional Shandong cuisine we make in our hometown. They still need to make some changes, otherwise, they may find it difficult to gain a foothold in Beijing."

Feng Zhengming: "Sixth Brother, you're right, which is why we need to go together even more."

Sixth Brother still didn't want to leave his hometown, since his family was in Yancheng and going to the capital would mean he wouldn't be able to go home for a long time.

Feng Zhengming also knew his sixth senior brother's concerns: "Sixth brother, don't worry, I will help arrange for someone to take care of your wife and children. Besides, don't you want to make something of yourself and make your children proud of you in the future?"

These words did indeed touch Sixth Brother's heart.

As his child grew older, Zhang Minghai also felt some pressure from him.

Children all hope to have a very capable, even omnipotent, father. Although Zhang Minghai is quite famous in Yancheng, he is only famous in Yancheng.

He might even still be seen by some people as "just a cook".

Therefore, Zhang Minghai also hopes to achieve greater things.

Going to Beijing is indeed a move that will make the children proud.

In the future, the two children can proudly tell others that their father is a head chef in a grand restaurant in Beijing, who has prepared state banquets and hosted many domestic and foreign celebrities.

While it's true that children shouldn't be encouraged to have this competitive mentality, Zhang Minghai genuinely wanted to set a positive example for his child.

Feng Zhengming: "Sixth Brother, you're going to Beijing to show the kids that even at this age, your father hasn't given up trying, isn't content with the status quo in Yancheng, and wants to go to Beijing to compete with those top chefs."

The sixth senior brother was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright, Zhengming, you really are good at persuasion."

Feng Zhengming then smiled.

"Haha, I'm speaking from the heart. We should set a positive example for our children. This time, with the reopening of Yanxilou in Beijing, we're sure to make a name for ourselves in the capital."

I believe our children will feel the inspiration we bring them in the future.

If our children don't work hard in the future, we can use this experience to teach them that they shouldn't give up easily, and they shouldn't be complacent.

This time, the sixth senior brother did not refuse; he agreed to go to Yanxi Tower in the capital.

“Alright, I’ll listen to Zhengming. Let’s go to the capital together and give it our all, to challenge the top masters in the catering and culinary world.”

Feng Zhengming: "Haha, that's right. With you going, Sixth Brother, I'm sure we won't lose to anyone."

Sixth Senior Brother: "Don't flatter me. We're just there to add to your glory. The main thing is for you, the top scholar, to demonstrate your abilities."

Feng Zhengming: "Sixth Brother, my restaurant in the old villa in Shanghai is where I show everyone and prove my strength."

The reopening of Yanxilou in the capital is not for me to showcase anything, but rather for me to show everyone you, my fellow apprentices, and let everyone witness your craftsmanship.

In the future, I hope that when people mention Shandong cuisine, they won't think of me, but rather of you.

Feng Zhengming's words stunned Zhang Minghai.

This was something Zhang Minghai hadn't expected.

It turns out that the junior brother has always cherished the feelings of his senior brothers.

He himself had already achieved great success; he had even become the head chef for state banquets.

His old-style restaurant also won a place among the top ten restaurants of the year according to the Global Gourmet Association.

Feng Zhengming has already achieved everything he could.

Just as Feng Zhengming has always said, he has no reason to go to the capital.

Therefore, he had only one purpose in going to the capital to reopen Yanxilou.

To give my senior brothers a bigger stage to showcase themselves.

Zhang Minghai looked at his junior brother: "You want Yanxilou in Beijing to also win that international top ten restaurant award?"

Feng Zhengming: "If possible, I believe in your skills, senior brothers, and you can definitely handle it. You don't need me at all."

Sixth Senior Brother couldn't help but laugh: "Zhengming, I've noticed you're really good at flattering people. You think we're guaranteed to win the Top Ten Restaurants award?"

Feng Zhengming: "Sixth Brother, have more confidence. With you, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fifth Brother all here at Yanxi Restaurant in Beijing, how could you possibly fail to win an international top ten restaurant award?"

Zhang Minghai was taken aback by what was said, but after thinking about it, he also laughed.

If we don't have this much confidence, how can we reopen Yanxi Tower in the capital?

Moreover, Feng Zhengming's words did indeed ignite Zhang Minghai's fighting spirit.

Zhang Minghai didn't know what his other senior brothers thought, but he still had a fighting spirit in his heart.

If he hadn't gone to the capital, fine, but now that he's gone, he's determined to make a name for himself.

Feng Zhengming saw that he had already aroused his sixth senior brother's fighting spirit.

He believed that once his sixth senior brother and the other senior brothers went to the capital, they would definitely be able to make a name for themselves at the reopened Yanxi Restaurant.

Reopening Yanxilou in the capital is a major undertaking that Feng Zhengming will strive to accomplish next.

He wanted everyone to know that no matter how famous he, Feng Zhengming, became, he would never forget his roots and would still strive to uphold his craft, using it to win over everyone.

My daughter has already become familiar with the older brothers and sisters in Yancheng, and the little girl quickly showed her characteristics as a social terrorist.

At first, her older siblings played with Feng Nuanyou, but gradually Feng Nuanyou took the initiative.

At first, the older brothers and sisters could only follow behind their younger sister to play.

Feng Nuanyou is also very clever. She knows how to flatter her older brother and sister and coax them into listening to her willingly.

Feng Zhengming's sixth sister-in-law quickly figured it out.

Sixth Sister smiled and whispered to Luo Qing, revealing the truth.

“Your Youyou is so smart. In just a short while, she got used to it and started to take the lead, making her older siblings play with her on their own.”

Luo Qing felt a little embarrassed by what was said.

"Sister-in-law, please don't mind. That's just how my Youyou is. Whether it's a big kid or a little kid, she dares to play boldly with them and expects them to listen to her."

Hearing Luo Qing's words, Sixth Sister-in-law smiled and said, "Oh, the children are playing together, why would I mind?"

Then Sixth Sister-in-law added, "I quite like Youyou's personality. If our child were like that, it would save your Sixth Brother and me a lot of trouble."

Luo Qing: "Sister-in-law, children should be allowed to express their nature. For example, Youyou's father doesn't usually take care of her much, but he will take her out to broaden her horizons."

I think that after Sixth Brother goes to Beijing, Sister-in-law, you should take the children to Beijing to meet up with Sixth Brother when the children are on summer vacation.

"Let the children see the world in Beijing then; that way, they'll gradually become bolder."

Sixth Sister-in-law hesitated for a moment: "I'm afraid your sixth brother might not be willing to go to the capital."

Luo Qing smiled confidently and reassured her sixth sister-in-law: "Don't worry, sister-in-law. Youyou's father will persuade Sixth Brother to go to the reopened Yanxi Restaurant in the capital."

Hearing Luo Qing say this, Sixth Sister-in-law thought for a moment and then laughed.

"That's right, that's why his senior brothers listen to him."

Luo Qing: "Sixth Sister-in-law and others can bring the children to Shanghai to visit us when they have time. The children should go out more often so that they can broaden their horizons."

Sixth Sister-in-law agreed: "Okay, in the future, when the children have holidays, we'll go out and play."

Luo Qing: "In the future, if all the children can go to university, they can go to good universities in the province, as well as universities in Beijing and Shanghai. We can take care of them."

Sixth Sister-in-law: "Now that the children are taking the college entrance exam, they still need to learn to take care of themselves."

As they were chatting, Feng Zhengming and his sixth senior brother returned together.

Seeing the two brothers' smiling faces, Luo Qing and her sixth sister-in-law almost guessed that the two had reached an agreement. (End of Chapter)