From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Based on the experience of the previous few years, Feng Zhengming's stores in various places resumed business almost simultaneously on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

As soon as the stores reopened, people who had been waiting throughout the Spring Festival flocked to Feng Zhengming's stores in various locations.

While it's hard to say that the popularity will immediately return to what it was before the closure, the business of each store was quite considerable on the day they reopened.

This is no longer a pleasant surprise for the store managers and chefs.

This happens every year, and everyone has gotten used to it.

Besides, when business is good, everyone will work even harder.

After all, Feng Zhengming paid everyone a high salary. If business was bad, it would indeed make people doubt themselves and wonder if they had done something wrong.

Of the branches across the country, only a few stores in Qingdao are facing minor difficulties after resuming operations.

Gu Zhicheng deliberately suppressed several stores in Qingdao to some extent.

He knew very well that Feng Zhengming's shop would definitely be closed for a long time during the Spring Festival.

So he made good use of the Spring Festival holiday, keeping almost all of his stores in the city open, and openly attracting customers from the city with low prices.

Once Feng Zhengming's two stores in Qingdao reopened, many customers were drawn away by Gu Zhicheng's stores.

The managers and chefs of both stores were furious and immediately called Feng Zhengming.

Feng Zhengming's reply was also very simple.

"Don't worry about them. Let the customers eat at whichever restaurant they like. You just need to make sure the food is good and the service is good. If you can keep the restaurant running, you'll be the heroes."

After receiving Feng Zhengming's reply, the staff at the two stores in Qingdao were relieved.

Although they felt somewhat resentful and believed they had let Feng Zhengming down, they were not entirely convinced of their trust.

But with Feng Zhengming's comforting words, they all calmed down.

Once they calmed down, they continued to hone their skills, making the dishes in the restaurant better and serving the customers well.

Gradually, business at the two stores in the city began to recover.

Many people in Qingdao have noticed that Gu Zhicheng's shop is not bad in terms of its food, and it also makes braised pork, four-happiness meatballs, braised pork hock, and pig's trotters.

However, the service at Gu Zhicheng's store was really terrible.

Especially when there are many people, it's as if there are no waiters in the store, and no one cleans up the tables after people have eaten.

As a result, the customer experience deteriorated, and they began to praise the two stores owned by Feng Zhengming.

Gradually, customers began to return to Feng Zhengming's two stores in Qingdao.

The staff at both stores were surprised to find that it really was just as Feng Zhengming had told them.

Customers gradually began to return to their two stores.

This made both stores trust Feng Zhengming even more.

Feng Zhengming did not show his face in Qingdao at all during the entire process.

Because he never felt the need to show his face.

He believed in the abilities of his store manager and head chef, and even more so in the fact that customers would make the most suitable choice for themselves.

Meanwhile, in Qingdao, Gu Zhicheng couldn't care less about anything else. He was still working hard to make the seafood restaurant in Qingdao the top restaurant in Shandong Province after taking over the restaurant left to him by his master.

When Feng Zhengming learned the news, he felt helpless and even thought that perhaps he had given Gu Zhicheng too many unrealistic fantasies.

However, he could only choose to respect other people's choices.

After making arrangements for the Shanghai store, Feng Zhengming returned to Jinan.

Feng Nuanyou has been calling for her father all the time.

She even influenced her younger siblings to talk about their father at home.

The two little ones are much more sensible now.

They even knew how to please their older sister, Feng Nuanyou.

Because they pleased their older sister, she would play with them and share delicious food with them.

The three children were overjoyed when their father came home.

Feng Nuanyou didn't fight with her younger siblings. She let her younger siblings be held by their father first, and only after her younger siblings were put down by her father did she quickly snuggle into his arms.

Feng Zhengming was very happy to see that his eldest daughter had begun to give way to her younger siblings.

“Our Youyou is really a big girl now. She knows to give way to her younger siblings, which makes her dad very happy.”

Luo Qing also praised her eldest daughter, saying, "Youyou is indeed much more sensible now. She usually helps us take care of her younger siblings, and she even takes the initiative to feed them during meals."

Feng Zhengming was overjoyed to hear this: "Really? Our Youyou is so amazing? She's really grown up. Dad is so proud of you."

Feng Nuanyou was naturally very proud to receive praise from her father.

After returning to Jinan, Feng Zhengming quickly packed up with his wife, his second aunt, and his mother-in-law.

This time, Feng Zhengming even brought his two grandfathers along.

Then almost the entire family went to the capital together.

After they arrived in Beijing, their fifth senior brother in the capital specially helped them find a car to pick them up.

Feng Zhengming and his group continued to live in the courtyard house they had rented before.

Fifth Brother was originally planning to terminate the lease, but Feng Zhengming felt that he would be coming back after the New Year, so he didn't let Fifth Brother terminate the lease.

It just so happens that this group of them came to the capital, and it was perfect for them to each stay in a room in a courtyard house.

Upon arriving in the capital, Feng Zhengming immediately visited some of the city's master craftsmen.

After receiving a notification from Liu Yonggang, he took his family to visit the Yanxilou restaurant in Beijing.

The renovation is basically complete, and the various tables, chairs, and furnishings ordered are being delivered.

The two grandfathers went inside for a tour and couldn't help but feel that Feng Zhengming's renovation this time was exactly what they wanted.

Grandpa Situ: "It really does have that feeling of the old Yanxi Restaurant."

Grandpa: "Yes, that's exactly how it felt back then at Yanxi Tower. I bet this place isn't a wooden building, is it?"

Feng Zhengming: "No, actually these are all effects created during the renovation. This building is a proper cement building. If it were a building made entirely of wood, I couldn't afford it, and I wouldn't dare to use it to reopen Yanxi Building."

Hearing Feng Zhengming say this, both grandfathers couldn't help but laugh.

It's impossible for Feng Zhengming to use solid wood buildings in the capital as restaurants.

Although it's not a wooden building, the retro renovation does give it the feel of one.

Especially the outer three-story building, which has been decorated in an antique style, makes the whole building look like an ancient wooden tower with carved beams and painted rafters.

Moreover, after the surrounding walls were completely renovated, you can see some of the surrounding scenery from inside.

It makes you feel that the scenery around the entire building is really nice.

It features both old hutongs and ancient buildings typical of Beijing, as well as modern high-rise buildings.

Combining all these elements, dining in a place like Yanxi Restaurant truly gives one the feeling of traveling through time.

Feng Zhengming stood in front of the railing of the observation deck specially reserved on the top floor.

Looking at the surrounding scenery, I couldn't help but exclaim, "The construction and decoration skills of the people in Liujia Village are really getting better and better. This Yanxi Building is even more beautiful than the old Yanxi Building."

Grandpa, standing beside him, also agreed: "This building is really well decorated." Grandpa Situ: "Hahaha, it really feels like time and space have changed, as if the Yanxi Building from back then has been moved to the capital."

Feng Zhengming: "It seems that you all like this place, Grandpa?"

Feng Zonggu: "I really like it, it's a really nice place."

Grandpa Situ: "What? Zhengming wants us to stay in the capital?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "I do want you to stay in the capital. After all, the conditions in the capital are quite good. If you, Grandpa Situ, are willing to stay here, I will buy that courtyard house as well."

The two grandfathers exchanged a glance after hearing this.

Feng Zonggu chuckled and shook his head: "We can't stay here. As the saying goes, we can't forget our homeland. We still hope to go home."

Grandpa Situ: "Yes, I came back from abroad because I wanted to stay in my homeland in the end. If I come to the capital, wouldn't that be the same as staying abroad?"

Feng Zhengming understood that the two grandfathers longed to return to their hometown.

In fact, over the past few years, Feng Zhengming has already helped his grandfather buy the houses next door as well.

So Grandpa's house was further expanded.

This way, the whole family can have more spacious accommodations when they go home for the Chinese New Year.

For example, during this year's Chinese New Year, my second aunt's cousin and my third uncle's sister each had their own separate rooms.

On New Year's Eve, my daughter Feng Nuanyou slept with her aunt.

With such a large house, the two grandfathers naturally didn't want to leave their hometown.

Feng Zhengming will not force the issue; he will continue to respect the grandfathers' choices.

“Grandpa, if you and Grandpa Situ want to go home, then you can stay at home. It’s the same as living at home. The conditions there are not bad either.”

Feng Zonggu walked to Feng Zhengming's side and gently patted his shoulder.

“Zhengming, you have your own career, so do your career well. Don’t worry about us. Your Grandpa Situ and I are really happy to see you so successful.”

Grandpa Situ also stepped forward and stood side by side with Feng Zhengming.

"Your grandfather is right. Your success is our greatest pride."

Feng Zhengming: "Thank you, sir. Thank you, Grandpa Situ. I will continue to work hard and uphold what I should uphold."

Feng Nuanyou ran up and down the stairs, visiting almost every private room.

When she ran back, her maternal grandmother and great-aunt wiped her sweat with heartache.

"Oh my, you little rascal, you're all sweaty from running."

"Look at you, you really do check every room. You're even more meticulous than your dad!"

Feng Nuanyou smiled happily: "Hehehe, I'm going to help Daddy check it out properly."

At this moment, Feng Nuanyou truly transformed into her father's little housekeeper.

She would carefully examine any areas that her father hadn't checked.

Although she couldn't understand it at all, she insisted on looking at each room one by one.

Feng Zhengming turned around, walked over, and picked up his daughter: "Youyou is the hardest working person in our family. What would we do if Youyou wasn't here?"

This made everyone laugh.

Feng Nuanyou laughed happily: "Yes, yes, Youyou will take good care of Dad and Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandpa and the others, and my younger brother and sister."

The little girl's words made everyone laugh even harder.

The great-aunt came over and pinched the little girl's cheek.

"Okay, we should thank our Youyou for taking care of us."

Grandma: "This girl is destined to be a hard worker. She's already thinking about taking care of others."

Grandpa Situ: "Youyou, you need to take care of yourself as well as others, understand?"

Feng Nuanyou nodded: "I understand, Great-Grandpa."

We have finished touring the entire newly renovated Yanxi Building.

After Feng Zhengming and his group came downstairs, he expressed his gratitude to Liu Yonggang and the others.

"Thank you so much, you've really worked hard. This place has been renovated so beautifully."

Liu Yonggang and the others all showed simple, honest smiles.

Liu Yonggang: "Feng Zhuangyuan, don't be so polite with us. If it weren't for your continued support and sponsorship over the years, we wouldn't be where we are today."

After a pause, Liu Yonggang continued, "With the renovations completed in Beijing, our company's business has expanded to the capital. We've already secured some renovation projects, and we have to thank Feng Zhuangyuan for all of this."

Feng Zhengming encouraged them: "Then you must do a good job and not bring shame to our Qilu region."

Liu Yonggang and the others naturally agreed with smiles.

With the renovation of Yanxilou Restaurant in Beijing complete, the interior decoration is now underway.

At the same time, Feng Zhengming's recruitment notice was also sent out.

They began recruiting staff for the new Yanxilou restaurant in the capital and Jinan.

In the capital city, trial operations were first conducted at the branches of Fifth Brother and Lü Chongshan.

Many of those who didn't perform well during the trial period were directly screened out.

The trial construction in Jinan was arranged at Huiquan Tower.

Huiquanlou has now been taken over by the eldest brother's disciples, which is also to make some preparations in advance for the eldest brother's trip to the capital.

Li Huidong was extremely strict with the trial period; he would absolutely not keep anyone with even the slightest problem in attitude.

Meanwhile, the disciples who were planning to go to Yanxi Tower in the capital with their senior brothers arrived in the capital ahead of time, as a way of paving the way for their master.

Feng Zhengming had already arranged accommodations for the staff of Xinyanxilou.

I live in a residential area near Xinyanxi Building.

Feng Zhengming rented several houses to serve as dormitories for his employees.

Of course, the senior students' residences in Beijing were not in rented dormitories.

Feng Zhengming planned to stay in the courtyard house he rented after his senior brothers arrived in Beijing.

This way, the senior students can stay in the capital city in a slightly better condition.

At the same time, Fifth Brother and Lü Chongshan can conveniently take care of the two branches in Beijing, as well as keep an eye on the old snack shops that have been acquired by Feng Zhengming.

While Feng Zhengming was making intensive preparations, news of the imminent opening of his Yanxi Restaurant had already spread throughout the capital.

All sectors in the capital are paying close attention to Feng Zhengming's reopening of Yanxilou.

Meanwhile, veteran chefs across Shandong province are also paying close attention to this matter.

Only some of the master chefs had some objections to this matter.

Some people felt that it was wrong for Feng Zhengming to open Yanxilou directly in the capital. They believed that Yanxilou should be reopened in Jinan instead of being moved to the capital.

Although someone filed a complaint with the provincial government, the provincial government did not respond to the matter.

The provincial authorities felt that Feng Zhengming's decision to open Yanxilou in Beijing was a way to vindicate Shandong cuisine and allow it to regain its former glory in the capital. (End of Chapter)