From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

The welcoming ceremony held by the province was indeed grand.

Not only were all the provincial leaders present.

We also invited many experienced craftsmen from the province to the site.

Even Master Xia from the Xia family came.

In the provincial conference hall, when Feng Zhengming and his team walked into the venue, there was a burst of warm applause.

Feng Zhengming and his team of chefs were naturally arranged to sit in the front row of the venue.

Among them, Feng Zhengming was arranged to sit on the rostrum.

This really made him feel a little flattered.

"Leader, this, this is not appropriate for me to sit here, right?"

The provincial leaders laughed.

"Hahaha, Chef Xiao Feng, there's no need to be modest. You are now the national culinary champion. It's appropriate for you to sit here. You are also qualified to sit here."

Under the arrangement of the provincial leaders, Feng Zhengming took his seat on the rostrum.

After Feng Zhengming sat down, the first thing he heard was the speech by the provincial leaders.

"Today, we are fortunate to be here together to welcome our Shandong cuisine chef team that has returned with honors from the national competition. Let us once again applaud our Shandong cuisine chef team and every chef who has returned with honors."

Naturally, applause broke out again at the scene.

Then Feng Zhengming also stood up and, together with every participating chef from the chef team, bowed to express his gratitude to everyone present.

Then the leaders continued to speak.

Everyone generally praised Feng Zhengming and his team's performance in this national cooking competition.

Of course, there are even more praises for Feng Zhengming.

Leaders generally said that Feng Zhengming's performance in the national competition brought honor to Shandong cuisine and also to the entire Qilu region.

It showcases the characteristics and beauty of Shandong cuisine to people all over the country.

It also changed some of the unfavorable impressions that people from all over the country had about Shandong cuisine.

The provincial leader said: "We should thank our Shandong cuisine chefs, who have used their exquisite skills to justify our Shandong cuisine in front of the people of the country and reversed some of the misunderstandings about Shandong cuisine.

It also promotes our Shandong cuisine very well, allowing more people to start paying attention to our Shandong cuisine, and then to our Qilu land.”

Everyone attending the conference today was truly happy that Feng Zhengming and his team returned with honors.

No matter who they are, they all have great respect for Feng Zhengming and his team in their hearts.

Because Feng Zhengming and his team won glory for Shandong cuisine.

It also brings honor back to the Qilu region.

At this moment, Feng Zhengming, who was sitting on the rostrum, could clearly feel the burning gazes in the audience, and could feel the sincere respect for himself in those gazes.

In the previous two national cooking competitions, although Shandong cuisine performed well, it was always outshined by chefs from other regions.

This year, there have been changes in the national cooking competition.

Not only was it the first time that live broadcast was used.

More importantly, this year's national competition invited famous chefs from Hong Kong.

As the return of Hong Kong is approaching, more and more businessmen and celebrities from Hong Kong are returning to the mainland.

A large number of people from Hong Kong have flocked back to the mainland, which naturally has led to a surge in the value of Hong Kong chefs in the mainland.

In the past, among the culinary circles in the north, who didn’t say that Shandong cuisine was the best in the north?

Among the eight big restaurants in Beijing in the past, which one did not serve Shandong cuisine?

Even the world-famous roast duck has its roots in Shandong cuisine.

You should know that all the roast duck chefs in the past were from Qi and Lu.

However, as we entered the 90s, the economic center of gravity gradually shifted to the southeast coast.

As many businessmen and celebrities from Hong Kong moved north, Cantonese cuisine from the south and Hong Kong chefs gradually occupied a more prominent position.

In the capital, Bada Lou, which once specialized in Shandong cuisine, has gradually declined.

Many of the newly emerging restaurants are gradually focusing on Cantonese cuisine.

There are even many restaurants that openly announce that they have invited famous chefs from Hong Kong to be in charge of the cooking, and the restaurant’s business will immediately explode overnight.

Under such circumstances, Shandong cuisine is becoming increasingly less popular.

As a result, many people began to criticize and dislike Shandong cuisine.

Shandong cuisine has a stereotype of being heavy in oil and salt and either sticky or black.

In this context, because Hong Kong's famous chefs were invited to participate in this national cooking competition, people from all over the country actually secretly thought that everyone might be a runner-up to Hong Kong's famous chefs.

But the appearance of Feng Zhengming suddenly changed the situation.

He uses solid Shandong cuisine basic skills.

I used a lot of things I learned in the national competition.

Successfully stood out in a national cooking competition.

It turned out that his skills really surpassed those of Hong Kong's famous chefs and he won the first place in the national cooking competition.

How could this not be inspiring?

How can we not make the people of Qi and Lu feel happy and proud?

So today, everyone here can be said to admire Feng Zhengming.

In many people's hearts, he is truly the hero of Shandong cuisine.

After the leaders spoke, Feng Zhengming was asked to say a few words.

Although it was a bit sudden, fortunately when he was notified, he was allowed to prepare some speeches himself.

Feng Zhengming stood up and bowed to everyone at the conference.

"To be honest, I am really excited to be standing here today. I never dreamed that I would stand in such a position one day and be regarded as a hero of Shandong cuisine."

Having said this, Feng Zhengming paused.

I subconsciously glanced at the speech I had prepared.

Then he raised his head again with a determined look.

“In fact, there are many things I want to say. First of all, I want to thank the land of Qilu where I was born and raised. Here I have enough food to eat and I also learned this cooking skill.

There are simple people here who have helped me a lot in every way.

It gave me a place to shelter from the wind and rain when I was homeless, and it also gave me a skill to make a living.

After Yan Xi Lou closed down, it was the simple people here that allowed me to work as a vendor at the train station.

Today, he is the chef who runs a dry rice shop and a well-known restaurant like Huiquanlou. "

Feng Zhengming paused here and seemed a little excited.

At this time, there was a burst of warm applause at the scene.

Feng Zhengming waited for the applause to stop before he continued.

"I should thank my master. In my mind, he is not only my master, but more like my father. He gave me a bowl of rice when I was about to starve to death on the street, and then passed on another bowl to me so that I can continue to have food to eat."

Having said that, Feng Zhengming bowed deeply to Master Yan who was sitting in the second row.

"Master, thank you." Sitting below, Master Yan was also quite moved when he saw this scene.

Master Yan really treats this little apprentice like his own son.

Especially when teaching cooking skills, Master Yan passed on almost everything he had learned throughout his life to his young apprentice.

I just hope that one day, my little apprentice will be able to carry forward my skills.

But Master Yan didn't expect that this day would come so soon.

Feng Zhengming's bow on the podium naturally triggered thunderous applause from the audience again.

Whether it is in the culinary industry or in some other technical industries.

From ancient times to the present, people have always attached great importance to respecting teachers.

What is respecting teachers?

It doesn’t mean that everything Master says is right.

It doesn’t mean that you have to obey Master’s arrangements completely.

It doesn't mean that you have to always stay by the master's side.

But I always think of my master in my heart.

No matter how great his achievements are, he can still put aside his achievements and status in front of his master and return to the respect that a disciple has for his master.

These may be gradually forgotten by people as the times change.

Feng Zhengming knew that he might be ridiculed by some people even in the future.

But he will never forget this, and will never forget the kindness his master has shown him.

No matter what he achieved?
No matter who he is?
In front of his master, he will always be the little disciple.

Feng Zhengming then shared some of his experiences participating in the national competition.

Some interesting stories from national competitions were also mentioned.

It really made the whole place burst into laughter.

This has given many people a new understanding of Feng Zhengming.

Through this welcome meeting, everyone came to know that Feng Zhengming is a person who respects teachers and is also a person who is nostalgic and grateful for his hometown.

Finally, everyone knows that he is still a young man and still likes to joke.

After the conference, other chefs who participated in the national competition were also invited to speak on stage.

We also asked everyone to take a group photo on the spot.

The province even commended Feng Zhengming and his chef team.

Feng Zhengming was also given a certificate of merit and even a bonus from the province.

After the conference, Feng Zhengming and the chefs were invited to a separate small meeting room, where they had another exchange with provincial leaders.

When the leaders met Feng Zhengming, they all liked him very much as a young man.

The provincial leaders asked Feng Zhengming about his next ideas.

And the provincial leaders took the initiative to bring up the matter of the old plaque in Yanxi Tower.

When Feng Zhengming saw his leader mention the old plaque, he directly expressed his thoughts.

“I know that my ability and energy are limited now. Running Ganfanpu and Huiquanlou is already very stressful. I may not have the ability and energy to reopen Yanxilou.

But I still hope to get the old plaque in my hands, so that I can feel more at ease. If I have the opportunity in the future, I can restore Yanxi Tower. "

The leader laughed after hearing this: "They say that Chef Xiao Feng is a nostalgic person. Today I finally saw it for myself."

Feng Zhengming felt a little embarrassed: "I don't want to cause trouble to the province. If it is really troublesome, I can temporarily not take the old plaque back.

I just hope that if the old plaque is really going to be transferred in the future, can you notify me in advance? So that I can also be eligible to compete? "

When the provincial leaders heard Feng Zhengming say this, they laughed.

"Don't worry, Xiao Feng. We have already discussed it. Since you are willing to take over Yan Xi Lou, we can give you the old plaque. But there is one thing. You must make sure Yan Xi Lou is run again in the future."

Feng Zhengming was really excited when he heard that the province was willing to give him the old plaque.

"Thank you, thank you leader, thank you for your trust."

After talking about the old plaque, the leader asked, "Xiao Feng, what are your plans for the future? I heard that you want to go south and open a Shandong cuisine restaurant in Shanghai?"

Feng Zhengming knew that he could not hide this thought from others, after all, many people around him knew about it.

When Feng Zhengming heard the provincial leader mention it, he nodded in acknowledgement frankly.

“I do have this idea, but I definitely can’t go for now, after all, my cooking skills are not very good yet.

I want to arrange my Ganfanpu and Huiquanlou after the Chinese New Year, and then I want to leave Quancheng and travel around Qilu to see the mountains and rivers of Qilu.

I want to find the roots of Shandong cuisine and find out its original appearance among the mountains and rivers of Shandong."

Feng Zhengming's idea surprised the provincial leaders present.

This was something they had not known before.

Before this, they asked Chen Zhiheng to communicate with Feng Zhengming.

I haven't heard Feng Zhengming say he has such an idea.

Now, when they suddenly heard that Feng Zhengming had such an idea, the leaders present looked at each other in surprise. They were really shocked by such an idea.

At the same time, while being surprised, the leaders also appreciated Feng Zhengming's idea.

The provincial leader said: "Xiao Feng, you are truly a rare talent in Shandong cuisine."

The other leaders and chefs present also felt the same way.

Feng Zhengming's idea may be something that many chefs have never thought of.

Everyone is learning Shandong cuisine and has been cooking it for a long time.

After winning a national competition, many people may focus on how to increase their salary or start teaching students to pass on their skills.

But Feng Zhengming’s ideas are completely different from everyone else’s.

He was not in a hurry to cash in on his status as the top scholar, nor did he think of stopping thinking or seeking new development and progress after getting the top scholar.

He actually wanted to travel all over the land of Qi and Lu, and to search for the most original roots of Shandong cuisine among the mountains and rivers.

This is a journey to trace the roots of Shandong cuisine, or it should be said that it is to find a way for the better development of Shandong cuisine.

How could the provincial leaders not support something like this?
The leader immediately made the decision: "Okay, Xiao Feng, if you have such an idea, the province will definitely fully support you. No matter what you need, the province will give you the greatest help."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Thank you, boss. Actually, I don't need anything. My Ganfanpu and Huiquanlou are doing good business. I can still afford the travel expenses. Besides, I want to walk. Only by walking can I better appreciate the most primitive state of the mountains and rivers of Qilu."

These words surprised the leaders again.

Because they had never heard of anyone doing this before.

The key point is that walking all over Qi and Lu is really not an easy task.

The leader said: "It will be very hard to walk there, Xiao Feng, you have to think it through."

Feng Zhengming nodded seriously: "Don't worry, leader, I have thought it through clearly."

In the end, the provincial leaders also agreed with Feng Zhengming's approach.

And he still said that the province would definitely give the greatest support possible. (End of this chapter)