From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

While Feng Zhengming was quietly running Huiquanlou and Fengjia Rice Shop, he was also preparing to participate in the National Cooking Skills Competition.

Suddenly, some news came that was unfavorable to him.

After consultation between the Provincial Cooking Association and local cooking associations, it was decided that chefs participating in the provincial selection must possess qualifications above the senior cooking technician level.

The promulgation of such an article is very unfavorable to Feng Zhengming, and it even seems to be directed against Feng Zhengming.

It’s not that Feng Zhengming doesn’t have the ability to be a senior cooking technician, but he is not yet qualified to take the senior certificate due to his age.

According to the examination regulations, one must obtain the qualification of a senior cooking technician.

You must obtain the culinary technician qualification and have worked for more than 5 years before you can take the exam.

The new regulations also have clear age requirements for examinees. One must be over 32 years old to take the advanced exam.

Therefore, whether in terms of age or the number of years he has worked since obtaining his technician certificate, Feng Zhengming is not yet qualified to obtain a senior technician certificate.

This time, the Cooking Association requires that only senior cooking technicians or above are eligible to participate in the provincial selection.

This means that Feng Zhengming is now not qualified to participate in the provincial selection.

Feng Zhengming felt somewhat helpless after receiving such news.

He couldn't blame anyone for targeting him.

After all, from the perspective of national competitions, the selection rules require that only senior technicians can participate in the selection, and this cannot be considered a mistake.

Senior technicians clearly have absolute advantages in terms of craftsmanship and experience.

If it weren’t for the unexpected appearance of Feng Zhengming.

No one would have thought this was unfair.

However, for a "monster" in the culinary industry like Feng Zhengming who suddenly emerged, the announcement of this rule seemed to be intended to prevent him from participating in the selection.

When Master Yan learned the news, he immediately contacted the Provincial Cooking Association and found Master Cui.

When Master Cui saw Master Yan coming, he also smiled bitterly.

"Old Yan, I really didn't mean to target Zhengming on purpose. We had already discussed that Zhengming would lead the team this time.

But this time it is for the selection of the National Cooking Skills Competition, so it is necessary to convene cooking associations from all over the province to discuss it.

As a result, representatives from all over the country voted to come up with this new regulation at a symposium in front of provincial leaders.

So if you come to me about this matter, I can’t do anything about it.”

After hearing what Master Cui said, Master Yan was speechless for a moment.

If Feng Zhengming did not exist, Master Yan might also agree with this rule.

After all, we are going to represent Shandong cuisine in the national competition.

The representative chefs of Shandong cuisine in the first and second sessions were actually almost all top-grade chefs.

Especially at the first session, perhaps today’s senior cooking technicians were only qualified to help out on the spot at that time.

The lineup sent out by the second Shandong cuisine could be considered a very strong lineup of master chefs at that time.

If compared with the previous two sessions, the requirements for this provincial selection may have been lowered.

Master Cui saw that Master Yan didn't say anything. He thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we discuss it with Zhengming? Let him participate in the next session? He should be qualified for the next session."

Hearing this, Master Yan said, "We have to wait another four years for the next session. Zhengming's ability is already sufficient now. It would be a pity if he didn't participate this time."

Master Cui also understood that it was a real pity not allowing Feng Zhengming to participate in the national competition this time.

And based on observations over the past few years, Feng Zhengming can indeed be considered the best candidate.

Even Master Cui felt that Feng Zhengming's participation would most likely give him the top spot.

However, the new regulations have now been voted on by representatives of cooking associations across the province.

Even though Master Cui has a high status among Shandong cuisine chefs, it is not appropriate for him to openly overturn the new rules voted by everyone at this time.

Master Cui was quite helpless: "It's a pity that Zhengming can't participate this time, but now that the rules have been set, we must set an example."

Master Yan still didn't give up: "What do the provincial leaders say about this matter?"

This question gave Master Cui a new idea.

"Old Yan, you reminded me that this matter should indeed be reported to the provincial leaders. Maybe the provincial leaders will come forward and there may be room for maneuver."

Master Yan immediately said seriously: "Then I will go with you to meet the leader."

After being stunned at first, Master Cui quickly understood Master Yan's thoughts.

It can be seen that in order to allow Feng Zhengming to participate in the national competition this time, Master Yan is really willing to sacrifice his face and fight for a chance for his little apprentice.

The two masters did not hesitate and rushed to the provincial government together to report the situation to the provincial leaders.

What surprised the two masters was that when they found the leader, the leader was receiving Mr. Situ.

The situation that Mr. Situ came to explain to the leadership was actually about Feng Zhengming's participation in the provincial selection competition for the national competition.

The leader had just finished listening to what Mr. Situ said when he saw Master Cui and Master Yan coming in. He smiled and welcomed the two masters in to sit down.

After the two masters sat down, the leader said bluntly: "It seems that the two masters are here because of Feng Zhengming's matter, right?"

Then the leader continued with a smile: "It seems that Xiao Feng is indeed very capable, which is why so many people are running around for him, but he himself doesn't seem to be in a hurry at all."

Master Yan immediately defended his young apprentice: "It's not that he's not anxious. He really can't get away now. After he took over Huiquanlou, the business is very good, so he has to keep an eye on Huiquanlou."

The leader then asked: "Huiquanlou is so busy, does he have time to prepare for the competition?"

Master Yan said: "There should be time for this. After all, the kitchen in Huiquanlou is busy every day, which is also equivalent to practice."

The provincial leader nodded and said, "I understand the situation. The new rules voted by the cooking association are indeed in line with the background of the national competition trials.

To represent Shandong cuisine in the National Cooking Skills Competition, not just anyone can participate in the trials; it requires sufficient professionalism.

Moreover, the requirement that only senior cooking technicians can participate in the selection is also a respect for the chefs.”

Master Yan quickly said: "You are right, we should respect the chefs, and also respect the National Cooking Skills Competition.

But Feng Zhengming's situation is rather special. I believe you should know that his cooking skills have reached the level of a master chef, but there is a certain gap in his age."

The provincial leader saw that Master Yan was quite anxious, so he stood up and poured Master Yan a glass of water.

"Master Yan, don't worry. Mr. Situ told me about this matter, and I am also considering how to deal with it." The leader poured water personally, also showing respect for Master Yan, a master.

It was difficult for Master Yan to urge his leader to give a reply at the moment.

When Master Cui saw that Master Yan stopped talking, he could only say a few more words himself.

"We wanted Feng Zhengming to participate this time, mainly because of his youth and his innovative cooking skills. We think he might be able to change some of the misunderstandings about Shandong cuisine through the national competition."

The leader was a little curious when he heard this: "What are some misunderstandings about Shandong cuisine? What misunderstandings do people from other places have about Shandong cuisine?"

Master Cui replied: "The most important point is that they think our Shandong cuisine is too conservative, lacks much innovation and cannot keep up with the development of the times."

Hearing what Master Cui said, the leader looked at Mr. Situ in surprise.

Mr. Situ smiled and said, "These are indeed some of the impressions that people have of Shandong cuisine. When I live abroad and recommend it to some of my foreign friends, I also say that Shandong cuisine is the most traditional Chinese cuisine."

After a brief pause, Mr. Situ continued, “When I say tradition, I don’t mean conservative.

It is to show our foreign friends that Shandong cuisine has a relatively deep cultural heritage and can show our own cultural depth, which is something that has been accumulated over a long period of time.”

After hearing what Mr. Situ said, Master Cui and Master Yan both agreed with his opinion.

Master Cui went on to say: "Being conservative is not necessarily a bad thing in many cases. The reason why Shandong cuisine has been able to survive to this day and its techniques have been well passed down is actually precisely because of this conservatism."

Master Yan said: "Being conservative does not mean that there can be no innovation. For example, Feng Zhengming introduced some dishes in Huiquanlou, which are all innovations based on very traditional techniques."

Mr. Situ spoke again: "Feng Zhengming's craftsmanship is very solid. Because of his solid basic skills, he is able to make some innovations based on tradition.

What’s more, the most important thing in the national cooking skills competition is to test the chef’s basic skills.”

After listening to everyone's words, the provincial leaders fell into deep thought again.

The leader actually knew that it would be right to let Feng Zhengming participate in the selection.

Anyone who has been to Huiquanlou will know how good Feng Zhengming’s cooking skills are.
What's more, he was strongly recommended by two masters, Cui and Yan.

There was also Mr. Situ, a representative of overseas Chinese, who came specifically to plead for him.

It can also be seen that Feng Zhengming's craftsmanship has been recognized by most people.

Especially gaining recognition from real masters.

If such a young and promising chef, as a representative chef of Shandong cuisine, were to participate in the national competition.

Indeed, this momentum alone has already created a kind of oppression on chefs from other regions.

What does it mean that such a young chef like Feng Zhengming can represent Shandong cuisine?
This shows that Shandong cuisine not only has deeper roots, but also has a very good mechanism for cultivating the young and middle-aged generation.

That’s why we were able to cultivate young and promising chefs like Feng Zhengming.

This series of thoughts quickly passed through the minds of the provincial leaders.

This made the leaders more hopeful that Feng Zhengming could get the opportunity to participate in the national competition.

After another round of thinking, the leader gave a solution.

“Although according to the regulations, only senior culinary technicians can participate in this selection, but young chefs should also be given some opportunities. Can we hold a separate competition for young chefs?
If young chefs who do not meet the requirements can stand out in the young chef selection competition, can they enter the selection competition and strive for the qualification to represent our Shandong cuisine in the national competition?

Do you think this arrangement is feasible?"

The leader gave such a more compromising solution.

In name, it is to give equal opportunities to aspiring young chefs across the province.

In fact, it is a special challenge channel opened specifically for Feng Zhengming.

Although this means Feng Zhengming needs to start by competing with young chefs, at least he has a chance to challenge himself.

Master Cui clapped his hands and cheered: "This is a good idea. The leaders are indeed better at thinking of solutions than us."

Mr. Situ said with a smile: "In this way, Feng Zhengming can stand out among the young chefs in the province and challenge the master chefs in the selection competition. I believe everyone will have no objection."

Master Yan also nodded: "This method is indeed very suitable and can convince everyone."

Seeing that a solution had been found, the leader asked someone to call Tao Jingwen and Chen Zhiheng.

I told the two of them about this matter again.

They are the two of them who are in charge of the process of this provincial selection competition.

I heard the leader explain the causes and consequences and the final solution.

Tao Jingwen and Chen Zhiheng thought about it and both agreed to this approach.

Chen Zhiheng said: "We will immediately arrange a competition specifically for young chefs. I think we can call it a challenge competition. The top three will be eligible to enter the selection competition."

Tao Jingwen also agreed with the proposal put forward by Chen Zhiheng.

"This will be fairer and give equal opportunities to capable young chefs."

The provincial leader smiled and said, "Since everyone agrees with this plan, Xiao Tao, Xiao Chen, you two should take some time to arrange the challenge. You can notify the TV station and ask them to help promote it."

Tao Jingwen and Chen Zhiheng agreed immediately, and they turned around and left together.

After leaving the leader, the two of them also had a private conversation.

Tao Jingwen whispered, "Zhengming really has great interpersonal relationships. The Culinary Association just issued a new rule and he was no longer eligible to participate in the selection competition. Someone immediately stepped in for him."

Chen Zhiheng also whispered: "It still depends on his own strength."

Tao Jingwen was a little surprised to hear this.

He originally thought that Chen Zhiheng and Feng Zhengming should have a good relationship, and he should be happy for Feng Zhengming at this time.

But judging from Chen Zhiheng's reaction, he actually adopted an attitude of being completely impartial.

Tao Jingwen was stunned for a moment, then he said: "The opportunity is already here, it depends on whether he can seize it."

Feng Zhengming himself learned from the TV station’s publicity that in addition to the selection competition, a challenge competition was added, inviting young chefs from all over the province to participate in the challenge, and the top three could also enter the selection competition.

Of course, the challenge also has requirements, that is, young chefs participating in the challenge must be senior cooks.

Although the Young Chef Challenge has relaxed its entry requirements, after the news was broadcast, almost everyone felt that this challenge was a channel for Feng Zhengming to enter the qualifying round.

But even if people knew that this track was opened for Feng Zhengming, no one would think that this was a backdoor.

After all, Feng Zhengming has proven himself more than once, and he is the top young chef. (End of this chapter)