From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

After sending away the people who wanted to become his disciple, Feng Zhengming looked at the crowd gathered in front of Huiquan Tower.

He greeted everyone with a smile.

"Good morning, everyone. Have you eaten yet? Do you want to have something to eat at Huiquan Restaurant?"

These words amused the crowd watching.

Seeing that Feng Zhengming was quite polite and friendly, some people couldn't help but ask.

"Chef Feng, are you really planning to take in apprentices after you turn 40?"

When Feng Zhengming heard someone ask this question, he realized that everyone present was very curious about this question.

He simply said directly: "Since everyone is very concerned about my taking in disciples, I was originally planning to say it publicly on a TV program, but today I will first reveal the truth to the neighbors.

I am indeed planning to officially accept disciples after I turn 40. I will not accept disciples before I turn 40.

Dear neighbors, if there is anyone in your family who wants to come to me to become my disciple, please tell them.

I, Feng Zhengming, will not accept any apprentices before I am forty years old, so please don't waste your time with me."

Seeing Feng Zhengming's formal announcement, many of the onlookers expressed their understanding.

"Chef Feng is indeed too young. It is indeed a bit early for him to accept an apprentice now."

"I think that what Chef Feng did is the most correct and inspiring. It shows that Chef Feng is not proud of winning the top prize."

"Yes, Chef Feng decided not to accept apprentices before the age of 40 because he was afraid of hindering their future."

"We support you, Chef Feng, and hope your cooking skills will get better and better."

"Yes, I hope your cooking skills get better and better, and your business gets more prosperous."

"Support Chef Feng and spread our Shandong cuisine more and more widely."

Feng Zhengming smiled and bowed to the people in front of the door.

“Thank you for your understanding and support. If you have time, you can come to Huiquanlou for a meal and try some of our new dishes.”

Everyone in front of the door also said that they would definitely go to Huiquanlou to try it.

After saying goodbye to the people watching in front of the door, Feng Zhengming turned around and walked into Huiquan Tower with He Yunqing.

After entering the door, He Yunqing couldn't help but smile and said, "These days, more and more people come to learn from you. Many of them specifically come to the entrance of Huiquan Tower to block you."

Feng Zhengming sighed helplessly: "Now I understand what it means that people are afraid of becoming famous just like pigs are afraid of getting fat."

He Yunqing continued happily, "Actually, this is a good thing. It means that everyone recognizes your ability, and it will also make Huiquanlou more famous."

At this point, He Yunqing asked, "Chef, are you really planning not to accept any apprentices before you turn 40?"

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Yes, I have decided. I still feel that I am too young. At my age, I have achieved such success, which is a bit too early for me to become famous. I have not learned many things well enough. I still need more time to hone and accumulate knowledge.

I hope that by the time I’m 40 years old, I’ll have truly mastered cooking and mastered all the techniques of Shandong cuisine.

By then, I should be able to accept and teach apprentices with greater ease."

He Yunqing looked at Feng Zhengming and sighed, "Chef, you always give me the feeling that you have been through a lot, as if you have suffered all kinds of losses once."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Although I haven't suffered any losses, I have heard others say it and have also seen others suffer losses because of pride, so I must try to avoid it."

He Yunqing nodded: "It's really rare for you to be so calm."

Feng Zhengming continued to laugh: "Hahaha, Uncle He, stop praising me. I'll leave the front to you. I'll go to the kitchen to take a look."

After saying that, Feng Zhengming went to the locker room to change his clothes, and then he went to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, young chefs and their apprentices are busy preparing ingredients.

When they saw Feng Zhengming coming in, everyone took the initiative to greet him.

Then Qi Jiale asked with a smile: "Chef, I heard that there is another person at the door who wants to become your disciple?"

When Feng Zhengming heard this, he knew that someone must have secretly gone out to take a look, and then ran back to share it with everyone in the kitchen.

"It seems that your morning work is too easy. You have no time to go outside and watch me being worshipped as a disciple."

As soon as these words were spoken, Qi Jiale's two apprentices immediately shrank their heads.

Feng Zhengming went on to say, "I have already announced that I will not accept any disciples before I am forty years old. So there won't be so many people coming to become my disciples in the future."

"What? You won't accept any disciples before you turn forty?"

"No way? A chef has to be forty before he can accept an apprentice?"

"That's not right. How old is the chef this year?"

"Isn't it too old for a chef to take in an apprentice at the age of 40?"

"Does that mean we have to wait a long time?"

Everyone in the kitchen was surprised to hear Feng Zhengming say that he would not accept an apprentice until he was forty years old.

Everyone couldn't help but start talking about it.

Feng Zhengming clapped his hands to ask everyone to be quiet.

"Is there anything wrong with me accepting an apprentice at the age of 40? Don't the masters and old masters accept apprentices at a very old age?"

Feng Zhengming also cited the examples of his master and senior fellow students.

“My master didn’t accept apprentices until he was in his forties, and he was always very cautious about accepting apprentices. Many young chefs asked him for advice, and he would teach them seriously, but if asked to accept apprentices, he would often refuse.

Among my senior brothers, only my eldest brother, second brother and sixth brother have formally accepted disciples.

So I think that forty is a very suitable age for me to accept disciples.”

Upon learning that Feng Zhengming had decided not to accept any apprentices until he was 40 years old, the apprentices in the kitchen felt a little disappointed.

As for the apprentices in the kitchen of Huiquanlou, they also want to become Feng Zhengming's apprentices.

When they first came to the kitchen of Huiquanlou, they wanted to become Feng Zhengming's apprentices.

This time, Feng Zhengming won the first place in the national competition.

Naturally, this makes the apprentices want to become his disciples even more.

Especially the apprentices felt that they had entered the kitchen of Huiquanlou.

It is certain that the one who is closest to the water will get the moon first.

When Feng Zhengming wanted to recruit apprentices, these apprentices from Huiquanlou would be given priority as long as they performed well.

But this fantasy was shattered at this moment.

To accept a disciple at the age of 40, Feng Zhengming would have to wait at least another ten years given his current age.

For more than ten years, the apprentices in the kitchen of Huiquanlou dared not think whether they would still be working in the kitchen of Huiquanlou after more than ten years.
Feng Zhengming captured the lost expressions of some apprentices.

He smiled and said, "Are you somewhat disappointed? In fact, I have said since the beginning when you came to Huiquan Tower that I do not accept apprentices. You come to Huiquan Tower just for internship. Whether you can stay here depends on your ability."

Having said this, Feng Zhengming went on to announce.

“Originally, the internal competition was supposed to be held at the end of the year, but it was delayed due to some issues. Then it was New Year’s Day, and we at Huiquan Building were also very busy, so the internal competition was also delayed.

Let me give you all another week to prepare, starting on the Tuesday night after next.

All chefs and apprentices from Huiquan Restaurant and Fengjia Restaurant will participate in the competition."

Feng Zhengming's announcement of the competition at this time made everyone in the kitchen suddenly nervous.

Although everyone knows that there will be a big competition at the end of the year.

It's just that no one really took it seriously before. Now Feng Zhengming directly announced that the competition would be held in a week, which made everyone nervous.

Qi Jiale was nervous, but couldn't help but ask a question.

"Chef, what are we going to compete in for the big competition? Will there be any rewards if we win? Will there really be any punishment if we lose?"

When Feng Zhengming heard Qi Jiale ask this, he immediately laughed.

"What will the competition be about? Didn't I tell you before? Each of you has to cook a dish with some variations and creativity, and also a traditional classic dish to test your basic skills.

As for the reward? If he can get first place in our internal competition, I will give him a bonus.

Those with the worst results will be transferred from Huiquanlou to the back kitchen of the dry rice shop. If they want to come back, they must participate in the next competition one year later. "

After introducing the content, rewards and punishments of the competition, everyone became even more nervous.

Feng Zhengming went on to say, “By the way, I forgot to tell you apprentices that you also need to participate in competitions. Your competitions are all about basic things.

The result of the competition will determine whether you can continue to stay in the kitchen of Huiquanlou or Fengjia Rice Shop after the internship."

After hearing this, the apprentices in the kitchen were stunned.

Some of the apprentices were even a little frightened.

Originally, the apprentices thought that the competition between Huiquanlou and Ganfanpu kitchens would be an opportunity for them to gain experience and learn.

Some apprentices were even thinking in their hearts that they could then watch the joke of leading their own young chefs.

After all, they are usually taught and scolded by young chefs.

When it comes to the internal cooking competition, you can see the young chefs being criticized by the head chef, and you may even see them being scolded.

As a result, the apprentices didn't have long to rejoice in their hearts.

Feng Zhengming announced that they would also have a competition among themselves.

Their competition item is basic kitchen skills.

It was also during the time they were interning in the kitchen of Huiquanlou that they were learning and practicing with the young chefs.

What terrified the apprentices the most was...

Feng Zhengming said that the results of their competition will determine whether they stay or leave after the internship.

After this period of time, the apprentices had all assumed in their minds that they would be kept in Huiquanlou or the kitchen of the dry rice shop.

Now that the chef said this, it was like shattering their fantasy that they would definitely be able to stay.

I saw that the apprentices looked shocked and worried.

Without Feng Zhengming saying anything, Gu Zhicheng said, "You all should prepare well. You are here for internship. Whether you can stay after the internship period depends on your performance this time."

Guan Wei was more direct: "We have taught you everything we should have taught you. If you want to stay, you have to fight for it yourself."

Qi Jiale smiled and said, "Don't be so depressed. Even if you can't stay, if you study hard enough, we will write a good internship report for you, and it will be easier for you to find a job in the future."

Bao Feng and Yao Zhenhui also comforted the apprentices respectively.

Feng Zhengming finally said: "Remember that you are chefs. Your internship at Huiquanlou is just the beginning of your real career as a chef. Whether you learn something here may not be so important to you in the future.

But I still hope that this internship will give you a lot of experience and help you in your future career in the culinary industry.”

The apprentices looked at each other, and finally began to express their willingness to try their best to stay.

The apprentices were very serious in the process of preparing ingredients and cooking.

Maybe he wanted to perform better and try to stay in Huiquanlou.

Feng Zhengming and the young chefs watched the performance of the apprentices closely.

Young chefs still have some preference to become apprentices to me.

After all, I have always been the one bringing my apprentice with me.

Every young chef doesn't want to be unable to stay as an apprentice.

Therefore, the young chefs also provided more teaching and explanations to their apprentices.

This made Feng Zhengming feel that the atmosphere in the kitchen was really good.

Huiquanlou opens at noon and is open until the evening, so the kitchen is always busy.

After all, Feng Zhengming, the champion of the national cooking competition, is here.

There are already many people in Quancheng who want to try his cooking.

There are also many people who come here from other places.

This not only makes Huiquanlou's business good, but also attracts many foreign tourists to the Spring City.

After all, the City of Springs is half mountains and waters and half springs.

It can be said to be a very popular and tourist city.

For people from other places, after visiting the Spring City, it has become a must-do for many people from other places to go to Huiquanlou to taste the cooking skills of the top winners of the national cooking competition.

And Feng Zhengming did not disappoint the locals and outsiders.

He will make some subtle adjustments to the taste of the dishes depending on whether the customers are locals or outsiders.

Make the same dish suitable for both local people and outsiders.

He Yunqing also played a key role in this.

He Yunqing is indeed a very dedicated manager.

When guests come in, he always takes the initiative to greet them and chat with them.

Through chatting, you can learn some of the guests' backgrounds.

Do you know where it comes from?
Are there any taboos on taste?
He Yunqing understands all this clearly and will give timely feedback to Feng Zhengming after the customers place their orders.

When Feng Zhengming cooks, he will make adjustments based on He Yunqing's feedback.

A lot of times it's just small adjustments.

It can make outsiders feel delicious.

For example, for dishes that originally have a salty and fresh taste, the locals may prefer a saltier taste and do not want any sweetness.

But if the customer comes from Shanghai in the south, they may want a little sweetness in their taste.

When seasoning the dish, Feng Zhengming would add a little more sugar to make the dish more sweet.

Just a little difference.

This will make customers from Shanghai feel that the food tastes delicious.

This seasoning ability is something that young chefs in the kitchen cannot yet master.

Many times, young chefs may not be able to capture the flavor accurately when cooking for local people.

The idea Feng Zhengming gave to young chefs is the simplest and most direct method.

Be sure to taste it yourself when seasoning.

You have to taste it yourself before the dish is finally ready for serving.

Of course, in order to ensure the taste, Feng Zhengming usually tastes it once and makes adjustments in time. (End of this chapter)