From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

After New Year's Day 2004, and after seeing the Kaufmans off.

All of Feng Zhengming's stores in Shanghai have also entered the countdown to closure.

As in previous years, all of Feng Zhengming's shops closed before the Lunar New Year.

Everyone will have to rest until after the sixth day of the Lunar New Year before all the shops will gradually reopen.

Of course, this year is different because there are two franchised branches, Huang Yunliang and Wang Hanwen, so these two branches will probably not follow the closing time of Feng Zhengming's other stores.

Feng Zhengming's old-style restaurant also posted a notice of closure immediately after New Year's Day.

This has made many gourmets in Shanghai feel very uncomfortable.

"Chef Feng, why do you take such a long break every year?"

“Yes, if you take a break like this, we won’t be able to find a place to treat our friends to a nice meal during the Chinese New Year.”

"Why do we have to close for almost a month? Can't we open earlier?"

“Feng Zhuangyuan, I dare say that if you were willing to open your business during the Chinese New Year, your business would definitely be the best in the country.”

"Why are you choosing to rest instead of making money when you have the time to do so?"

Feng Zhengming's answer was the same old thing he had said over and over again in previous years.

“I and everyone in my restaurant also have families. We are all busy all year round. Many of them left their hometowns to come with me. I can’t let them have to work outside even during the Spring Festival.”

One sentence is enough to shut everyone up.

One can only sigh: Feng Zhengming is truly a rare and good boss.

As Feng Zhengming's shops gradually closed down, the service staff who lived in other places also went back to prepare for the Chinese New Year.

Every year, they not only get a long break, but they also receive a high New Year's bonus.

This makes many people hold their heads high when they go home for the Chinese New Year, truly the brightest star in the whole village.

Their families are also very proud of them.

As for Qi Lu and Feng Zhengming who came to Shanghai, they will still have to wait for a while.

Xia Hui and the others will go back with Feng Zhengming.

Others will spend a few days in Shanghai, or even bring their families to Shanghai for a few days, before returning home with their families for the Chinese New Year.

Of course, what everyone likes most is the various purchases made before the Lunar New Year.

At this time, although goods were plentiful in all places, Shanghai had a more complete selection of many things than other places.

Therefore, many of the customers at Feng Zhengming's stores in Shanghai rushed to buy things before the Lunar New Year.

Because of the high wages, the store usually takes care of their food and accommodation.

Therefore, most people save a considerable amount of money by the end of the year.

During the Chinese New Year, when they went shopping, they were all quite confident.

I rarely buy things from ordinary stores; I mostly choose various brand stores.

Even in some international brand stores, they don't feel bad about buying complete sets of clothes.

Feng Zhengming knew about this matter and still gave everyone a warning.

"Don't spend money carelessly on those things. At the end of the year, use the money you earn to buy one set for yourself, your wife and children, and your parents. Don't buy too many."

If you have money, you can either go home and build a house, or simply save it and wait until you've saved enough to buy a house later.

If any of you are willing to buy a house in Shanghai, you can take out a loan to buy it first.

Anyway, with your salaries at the store, you should be able to pay it off in about ten years.

Or, if you want to buy your own car, you can first learn to drive, then buy a car, drive it around occasionally, and take your family out for trips during holidays.

Most people were able to heed Feng Zhengming's warnings.

In fact, in recent years, this has been true for both the staff of our stores in Shanghai and the staff of our branches in other parts of the country.

Everyone who followed Feng Zhengming really made a lot of money.

Because almost all the stores offer meals and accommodation.

They don't have many expenses normally, and many people have saved up a lot of money over the years.

Even some kitchen apprentices have almost saved enough money to repair their houses.

Therefore, everyone is truly grateful to Feng Zhengming.

Not to mention these people themselves, even their families would not allow them to betray Feng Zhengming.

Therefore, many people, even though they are skilled enough to be chefs working in the kitchen, are still willing to continue as apprentices in the kitchens of Feng Zhengming's various restaurants, waiting for their chance.

Because they all believed that Feng Zhengming would arrange better opportunities for them.

Feng Zhengming also knew that these people were willing to follow him and had higher expectations of him.

So he has been working hard all these years to prepare to reopen Yanxilou in the capital, and he will arrange for some people to go to Yanxilou in the capital.

This would free up some space in other stores, allowing some apprentices to get promoted.

Of course, in addition to this method, Feng Zhengming also plans to open some mid-range stores.

This can also solve the problem of personnel arrangements.

Just like Jiang Chengzhe's advice to himself, he arranged a gradual promotion ladder for everyone.

Feng Zhengming and his wife were not in a hurry to return to Jinan.

His shop had already closed down, so he took his apprentices and the head chefs from various shops to Jiang Chengzhe's restaurant for a meal.

Jiang Chengzhe was also somewhat helpless about Feng Zhengming's arrangement.

"Master Feng, Chef Feng, you're such a great chef with such amazing skills, why do your employees always choose my restaurant for extra meals?"

Feng Zhengming: "Isn't it because Chef Jiang's cooking skills are so good? You were my former assistant, so of course I have to come and patronize your restaurant."

Jiang Chengzhe: "But what will happen to my shop's business if you do this?"

Feng Zhengming: "Don't worry, we'll pay you."

Jiang Chengzhe: "This isn't about money."

Feng Zhengming: "Not money? Does that mean Chef Jiang is planning to ask for no money?"

Jiang Chengzhe quickly said, "No, I never said it was free."

Feng Zhengming: "Ah Zhe, don't worry. After I finish this meal, we're going back to Jinan together for the New Year. Your business will be even better after that."

Jiang Chengzhe: "I also need to close down for the Lunar New Year. How can my business possibly be doing well?"

Feng Zhengming: "Then you have to cook a good meal for A-Zhe tonight."

Jiang Chengzhe was truly helpless in the face of Feng Zhengming's demands.

He knew very well that he was completely under Feng Zhengming's control.

When Jiang Chengzhe opened his own restaurant, he was full of ambition and high spirits.

It wasn't until he actually opened his own restaurant that he realized many things weren't as he had imagined.

Jiang Chengzhe almost fell into a trap many times because of the various ingredients and the tricks of the drink.

Fortunately, Feng Zhengming stepped in to help him; otherwise, Jiang Chengzhe would probably have lost all his savings in the first month of opening his shop.

Jiang Chengzhe's procurement channels are all provided by Feng Zhengming.

Jiang Chengzhe went to the purchasing market to inquire and finally understood Feng Zhengming's current strength.

Feng Zhengming has already taken control of the upstream of the procurement channel.

In other words, as long as the goods originating from Shandong Province were shipped to all markets in Shanghai, the source of the goods was in Feng Zhengming's hands. This means that Feng Zhengming effectively controlled at least two-fifths of the goods in the Shanghai market.

Jiang Chengzhe knew very well that if Feng Zhengming really wanted to use underhanded tactics...

He could make half of Shanghai's restaurants close the next day because they run out of stock.

Jiang Chengzhe also knew that Feng Zhengming would not do that.

He will only stick to his bottom line.

In reality, Feng Zhengming controlled the supply of goods in order to ensure that all his stores used high-quality materials.

Jiang Chengzhe often felt that Feng Zhengming was even somewhat obsessive about the materials he used.

Many of the goods that Jiang Chengzhe considered barely usable, Feng Zhengming would absolutely never use.

Or rather, Feng Zhengming's old-style house restaurant and children's kitchen are not used.

Jiang Chengzhe could understand.

A children's kitchen is for cooking for children, so you absolutely cannot use even a little bit of bad ingredients.

The old-style restaurant is Feng Zhengming's biggest trump card right now, and he cannot tolerate any problems with the ingredients.

But this would make Jiang Chengzhe and the other head chefs feel a bit uncomfortable.

Because the best one will definitely be chosen by Feng Zhengming first.

Jiang Chengzhe watched as Feng Zhengming and his men had almost filled the restaurant's main hall.

He could only silently accept reality.

"Alright, tonight our restaurant's main courses are cod and beef. If you have any preferences, please let our waiter know and we will arrange them for you."

Feng Zhengming was not very satisfied with the arrangement of cod and beef as the main courses.

"Zhe, why are you still the same as always? Cod and beef are too old-fashioned. You should try something new."

Jiang Chengzhe didn't understand: "How do you try new things?"

Feng Zhengming: "We could try using large Arctic surf clams, or other meats, like lamb or pigeon?"

Jiang Chengzhe: "It's definitely worth a try, but today we're preparing cod and beef."

Feng Zhengming: "Then give me beef. What kind of beef?"

Jiang Chengzhe had someone bring out the beef to show it off.

"It's Australian Wagyu beef that we import, and it's of relatively high quality."

Feng Zhengming: "Then I'll still go with cod. Can't you prepare some grouper or something?"

Jiang Chengzhe was speechless after Feng Zhengming's words.

Luo Qing finally couldn't stand it anymore and had to stop her husband from continuing.

"Can you please stop talking? We're here to eat, do you really have to torture them like this? You're not the head chef, you should just go with the flow."

Feng Zhengming chuckled: "I'm giving him advice so he can have more ideas and not limit his thinking."

Jiang Chengzhe looked at Feng Zhengming: "Okay, thank you for your guidance, Chef."

Xia Hui and the others were amused by this scene.

They still knew that their master insisted on having a meal at Jiang Chengzhe's restaurant before returning to Jinan for the Spring Festival.

I just want to see if Jiang Chengzhe has improved, or if he has regressed.
Feng Zhengming would also take the opportunity to give Jiang Chengzhe some advice, so that he would have a direction to improve himself next year.

So they find it very interesting to see this regular program every year before the Lunar New Year.

Especially seeing Jiang Chengzhe suffer a setback in front of Feng Zhengming.

Jiang Chengzhe was angry but dared not speak out, knowing in his heart that Feng Zhengming was right.

He still needs to make some changes. He can't just stick to the old ideas. He needs to be willing to try new things, otherwise people will always get tired of his restaurant.

Jiang Chengzhe returned to the kitchen and led the kitchen staff through a busy period of work.

They served each dish to Feng Zhengming and his group one by one.

To Feng Zhengming's surprise, Jiang Chengzhe also learned his way of serving dishes.

The traditional Chinese style of serving dishes is done first, and after the whole dish is placed on the table, it is then divided into individual plates for each guest.

Or, if the guests prefer to eat from a large plate, the waiter won't serve them, but will instead have them use serving chopsticks to pick up food for themselves.

Feng Zhengming was quite satisfied with this change.

This shows that Jiang Chengzhe is flexible and does not try to learn Western cooking methods in a rigid way.

However, Feng Zhengming still felt that Jiang Chengzhe's cooking was too conservative for some dishes.

Just like with cod, Jiang Chengzhe uses a sous-vide cooking method.

Moreover, the accompanying sauces are all Western-style sauces.

After eating, Feng Zhengming took the initiative to find Jiang Chengzhe and gave him some new suggestions.

"For cod, you can try pan-frying it, and you can also try some bolder sauces, such as using pickled pepper sauce or stir-frying it with fish chili to make a spicy flavor."

Feng Zhengming paused for a moment: "How about even a Sichuan peppercorn?"

Jiang Chengzhe was taken aback by what Feng Zhengming said.

He really hadn't thought that cod could be cooked in this way.

"Won't the flavor be too strong if we cook it like this?"

Feng Zhengming: "Then let's make a scallion-braised dish, using the scallion-braised sauce of Shandong cuisine, or drizzled with scallion oil and topped with fried shallots for plating."

Jiang Chengzhe was completely dumbfounded by what Feng Zhengming said, and he couldn't even imagine cooking cod like that.

Of course, Feng Zhengming's suggestion was: "I don't mean you should just cook it like that. Don't you have those machines here? You can make small balls of the scallion sauce and other flavored sauces and place them on the side to add some fun for the guests."

Feng Zhengming's idea really gave Jiang Chengzhe a lot of inspiration.

"Okay, that's a great idea. I think we should give it a try."

Feng Zhengming: "Although the ingredients are good, they will taste good no matter how they are cooked, but we also need to create some unique features."

Jiang Chengzhe was completely convinced: "Okay, I understand. I will try some things."

A meal at Jiang Chengzhe's restaurant was destined to involve more conversation between the two of them.

Feng Zhengming himself wouldn't eat much, and he couldn't even spend much time with his family.

Most of the time, Feng Zhengming communicated with Jiang Chengzhe.

This has been a regular feature of the show for the past few years.

Everyone could see that the relationship between Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe became stronger through these exchanges.

As the meal drew to a close, Feng Zhengming reminded Jiang Chengzhe.

"You'd better hurry up with your relationship with Liu Fangyou. Don't let her be dragged along like this without knowing why. Let me tell you, if you dare to betray her, I won't let you off the hook."

Jiang Chengzhe was left speechless, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

“I’ve already discussed it with her. Our parents will meet again during the Chinese New Year this year to finalize our relationship. After the New Year, my parents and I will go back to exchange betrothal gifts.”

Feng Zhengming nodded: "That's more like it. I believe you will make her happy."

Jiang Chengzhe smiled and agreed, "That's for sure."

After finishing their meal, Feng Zhengming and the others packed their things, officially preparing to return to Jinan for the Spring Festival. (End of Chapter)