From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Shanghai city.

It may be the city in China second only to Beijing in terms of fame.

In the eyes of many people, for a long time, when the word "metropolis" is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is probably Shanghai.

With the development of the domestic economy, Shanghai has naturally become a window to the world.

Many foreigners may choose Shanghai as their first stop when they arrive in China.

This city also brings together diverse cultures from different regions of the country.

Especially in terms of food culture, Shanghai also gathers different food from all over the country.

This year's national competition will be held in Shanghai.

It also adds some food culture attributes to Shanghai.

It also seems to be a celebration of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower which was recently built in Shanghai.

Although Feng Zhengming and his companions were sitting in sleeper berths, the bumpy ride at the train station from Quancheng to Shanghai was very uncomfortable.

So even before the train arrived at the station, most people in the carriage were already impatient and almost no one was willing to sit or lie down.

Everyone stood up and stood in the corridor or at the door with their luggage waiting.

Feng Zhengming looked at the scene in the train and sighed in his heart: Fortunately, it is not summer.

The train had just stopped and the people traveling with us were eager to get off.

Feng Zhengming saw this and said quickly: "Don't worry, there are a lot of people getting off the bus now, we can wait a little bit, anyway, Shanghai is the terminal, there is no need to worry about missing the bus.

We will sit for a while and get off when most people have gotten off. "

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Master Su agreed with him and asked everyone to sit down first.

Master Sun echoed, "Yes, yes, everyone sit down and wait for a while. We are already in Shanghai, so there is no need to rush."

As soon as the two masters started speaking, everyone sat down.

After waiting for a long time, the carriage was almost empty, and Feng Zhengming and his companions picked up their things and got off the train together.

After getting off the train, someone asked, "How do we get there? Is there anyone to pick us up?"

Master Su smiled and said, "You are dreaming, you think you are already the top scholar? Do you still need someone to pick you up?"

Master Sun laughed and said, "No one will come to pick us up. We can only rush to the competition venue to check in first, and then check in at the arranged hotel."

The chefs who were participating for the first time were a little surprised to hear that they had to rush to the competition venue to register.

Originally they thought that when they arrived in Shanghai there would be special people and cars to greet them.

Master Sun saw that several chefs who came for the first time were in low spirits.

He said with a smile: "Don't complain. Once we register at the site, they will arrange accommodation for us, and the subsequent meals will also be all-inclusive. This is already very good."

After hearing what Master Sun said, all the chefs immediately felt that the conditions were indeed quite good.

Li Zhifeng said: "Let's get out of the station first, and then ask how to get to the competition site."

Master Su asked, "Where is the competition held?"

Li Zhifeng said: "I heard that it was in Pudong, near the Oriental Pearl Tower, there is a newly built international hotel, and the competition was held there."

After hearing what Li Zhifeng said, Master Su immediately muttered something.

"It seems that the big hotel is one of the sponsors this time."

When Master Sun heard what Master Su said, he just smiled and didn't say much.

A group of people came out of the train station carrying their luggage.

After some inquiries, the group concluded that they could not find the way at all.

Finally, it was Lin Bosheng who suggested: "Let's take a taxi. I don't think we'll be able to find the way if we don't call a taxi before it gets dark."

Li Zhifeng and the two masters Su and Sun looked at each other and could only agree with Lin Bosheng's proposal.

Because we asked for a long time outside the train station, but we really couldn't understand what the locals were saying.

When we asked some outsiders, they basically said they were unfamiliar with the place.

The other outsiders at the train station didn't know the way better than Feng Zhengming and his friends.

The group could only find a few taxis.

Feng Zhengming stood up at this time with Lin Bosheng.

Lin Bosheng speaks Mandarin with a Beijing accent.

Feng Zhengming even spoke a few words in foreign languages.

He tricked a few taxi drivers into promising to take them to their destination.

After getting in the car, Lin Bosheng spoke to Feng Zhengming in a low voice.

"Zhengming, I didn't expect you could speak foreign languages?"

Feng Zhengming whispered, "I learned a few words to scare people."

Lin Bosheng couldn't help but continued to whisper happily: "Being able to speak a few foreign languages ​​is really impressive now. If you didn't speak those few foreign languages, these taxi drivers might really rip us off."

Feng Zhengming smiled and whispered, "If they were really foreigners, they would probably be ripped off even more severely."

These words really amused Lin Bosheng, and he couldn't help laughing out loud.

After laughing, Lin Bosheng thought about it carefully.

He couldn't help but feel that he had underestimated Feng Zhengming.

Originally, Lin Bosheng thought that Feng Zhengming was a young chef who had never left Quancheng, had not seen much of the world, and had a lot of talent.

But from the fact that he spoke to the taxi driver in a foreign language.

And as he just said, if it were a foreigner, they might be ripped off even more harshly.

Lin Bosheng felt that Feng Zhengming definitely had a lot of experience.

But Lin Bosheng didn’t quite understand.

Feng Zhengming didn't seem to have left Quancheng before, so why did he know so much?
The group took a taxi and were still curious about the various skyscrapers in Shanghai.

Along the way, the other chefs more or less couldn't help looking out the window.

Lin Bosheng found that Feng Zhengming didn't seem to be that curious about everything outside the window.

Occasionally I would just glance out the window, and it didn't seem like I would be too surprised.

The taxi took Feng Zhengming and his group to their destination smoothly.

It is indeed a relatively new large hotel.

Even many surrounding facilities have not been built.

However, if you look up and far away, you can see that the Oriental Pearl TV Tower is not too far away.

After paying the fare, Masters Su and Sun felt that it was too expensive.

Li Zhifeng said: "Don't worry, we have enough funds to participate in the competition this time, so you don't have to worry about money."

The two masters were still very dissatisfied with Li Zhifeng's words.

"I brought the money here, but I didn't mean for you to spend it casually like this."

"Yeah, if we had known the fare would be so expensive, we might as well have taken the bus."

Master Su was even more angry and said: "If I had known, I would rather walk all the way and I would not take such an expensive taxi."

Li Zhifeng was speechless at Master Su's hot temper. Feng Zhengming came forward to help persuade the two masters.

"Uncle Su, Uncle Sun, why are you doing this? We are here to compete. As long as we compete well and bring back a few gold medals, bringing glory to our Shandong cuisine, then the money spent on the transportation will be worth it."

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, the two masters, Su and Sun, felt a little better.

At this moment, a group of people walked out of the hotel.

The leader is also an elderly master.

When he saw the two masters, Su and Sun, he came up to them with a smile.

"Master Su, Master Sun, you are so welcome to come."

Master Su and Master Sun also took the initiative to shake hands with each other.

"Master Li, so you are the one who is responsible for receiving us today?"

"Master Li, it's been a long time since we last met. The last time we met was at the second national competition a few years ago."

Master Li from Shanghai, who came out to greet Masters Su and Sun, also responded with a smile.

"Yeah, it's been many years since we last met. The last time we met was at the second national competition. In the blink of an eye, several years have passed. We have all grown old."

Then, the two masters, Su and Sun, called Feng Zhengming and others to their side and specifically introduced the master Li in front of them.

"This is the chef of Shanghai local cuisine, Master Li. Have you met Master Li?"

After being introduced by Masters Su and Sun, Feng Zhengming and others also greeted Master Li.

Just as Masters Su and Sun introduced, Master Li is a true master of local cuisine and the inheritor of local cuisine.

It can be said that almost all the famous Shanghainese chefs in Shanghai are his apprentices.

Master Li glanced at Feng Zhengming and his group.

Finally, his gaze naturally fell on Feng Zhengming.

"You must be Feng Zhengming, right? The talented young chef who cooked Shandong cuisine."

Feng Zhengming paid his respects to Master Li.

"I am not worthy of the reputation of a genius yet. I still have a lot to learn. I am lucky enough to be able to participate in the national competition this time, and I still want to learn more from more chefs."

Master Li said with a smile: "He is a modest and cautious child, which is somewhat inconsistent with your age."

Master Su said: "Zhengming is like this. Although he is young, he is quite mature in his conduct."

Master Li looked at Masters Su and Sun and said, "It seems that you two are very optimistic about this young man."

Masters Su and Sun looked at each other.

Master Sun said: "We came here this time in the hope that Shandong cuisine can win one or two gold medals. They are all excellent chefs who have been selected, and we have the same expectations for them all."

Master Li smiled and said, "Great, it's rare to see you guys have such confidence. I'm really looking forward to the performance of the Shandong cuisine chefs."

Afterwards, Master Li took them to check in and asked them to go upstairs to put down their luggage first.

"The hotel has prepared a welcome dinner tonight, and someone will notify you then."

Masters Su, Sun and Li Zhifeng also nodded in agreement.

Everyone took the elevator upstairs together.

The hotel arranged a room for two people.

However, because Feng Zhengming and his group had an odd number of people, Feng Zhengming, Lin Bosheng and Li Zhifeng were finally arranged to stay in the same room.

Everyone went upstairs and entered their respective rooms.

Feng Zhengming put down the luggage he had brought.

Li Zhifeng was surprised to see Feng Zhengming bringing a pot with him: "Zhengming, why did you bring a pot with you? There should be pots in this competition, right?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "I am used to using the pot given by my master, so I just carry it on my back."

Lin Bosheng said: "Actually, you don't need to bring anything when you come here to compete, everything will be provided here."

Feng Zhengming still insisted: "I still think it's better to use what is convenient for me."

Li Zhifeng said: "It seems that you have participated in too few competitions of this kind. If you participated in more competitions, this might not happen."

Lin Bosheng also agreed with Li Zhifeng's statement.

"Zhengming, you must take a good look this time. Chefs from other places will all have their own unique skills. You don't have to hide them when the time comes. Show them what you should show."

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Okay, thank you Brother Lin for reminding me."

Then Lin Bosheng and Li Zhifeng packed up and both said they wanted to go out for a walk.

Feng Zhengming did not go out with them, but chose to go to the rooms of the two masters.

When the two masters saw Feng Zhengming coming, they smiled and invited him in to sit down.

Master Su asked: "How is it? Is Zhengming nervous?"

Feng Zhengming was frank: "A little bit."

Master Sun smiled and said: "It's normal to be a little nervous. After all, it's a national competition. Later, there will be chef delegations from various provinces arriving, and there will be a lot of people."

Master Su added: "This time there are chefs from Hong Kong City here too, you really need to show your true skills."

Master Sun said: "Chefs in Hong Kong are also chefs. They all rely on their skills. We are not necessarily worse than them."

Master Su agreed with a smile: "In terms of skills and craftsmanship, our Shandong cuisine is definitely not inferior to theirs, but they often have some creative ideas that are better than ours."

Having said that, the two masters looked at Feng Zhengming together.

"Zhengming, you have to work hard and show some of your wonderful ideas to the chefs in Hong Kong."

"That's right, Zhengming, the dishes you showed off during the selection competition were really very creative. Let's show them to the chefs in Hong Kong."

Feng Zhengming nodded and agreed: "Master uncle, Master uncle, don't worry, I will definitely do my best."

Master Su added: "This can really be considered the second largest national competition."

Feng Zhengming naturally knew what Master Su meant by the second largest scale.

Because among the three national competitions, the first one is generally recognized as the largest.

The first session attracted famous chefs from all over the country.

Especially in performance and display competitions, all the chefs who took part were truly famous chefs from various provinces and cities.

Now they have all become masters in various provinces and cities.

So even though the third session was held in Shanghai, chefs from Hong Kong were also invited.

But it is generally impossible for the old masters to do it again.

It is still somewhat lacking compared to the first session.

Master Sun went on to say, "However, this year there are chefs from Hong Kong participating, which is quite a challenge for you. If you can win the gold medal in the competition with chefs from Hong Kong, it will also be very valuable."

Master Su also agreed with this and encouraged Feng Zhengming.

"Zhengming, you must prepare well. When the time comes, you can show off your skills and win a gold medal in one fell swoop."

Facing the expectations of the two masters, Feng Zhengming couldn't help but smile and said, "I am really under increasing pressure."

This made the two masters laugh.

Soon, the other participating chefs also came to the rooms of the two masters.

Everyone sat down together again to analyze the format of the next game. (End of this chapter)