From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

It was the end of January, and it had been a month since Feng Zhengming returned from the National Cooking Competition.

During this period, Huiquanlou and Fengjia Ganfanpu are still doing good business.

At the beginning, some people came to eat at the restaurant and clamored that Feng Zhengming must cook for them himself.

After half a month of adjustment, most people have become accustomed to the fact that the dishes they eat are not cooked by Feng Zhengming himself.

Because even if Feng Zhengming doesn't cook the food himself, the dishes at Huiquanlou and Fengjiacaidianpu are still quite delicious.

Of course, it would be great if Feng Zhengming could cook for me every time.

It will still become a source of bragging for many diners to their relatives and friends.

That day, Zhang Liqiang brought Zhang Lei to the door.

When Feng Zhengming saw the uncle and nephew appear, he could guess their purpose without them even saying a word.

He still politely invited the uncle and nephew in, and found a quiet corner in the lobby on the first floor of Huiquan Building for them to sit down.

Then, without waiting for the uncle and nephew to speak, Feng Zhengming took the lead.

"Vice President Zhang, I know why you brought Zhang Lei with you. I think Vice President Zhang should also know what I mean."

Zhang Liqiang felt a little embarrassed after hearing what Feng Zhengming said.

"Zhengming, I brought Lei Zi with me today because I wanted to help Lei Zi get a position from you.

Lei Zi is your senior apprentice, and you can't possibly accept him as your apprentice, but you also know the situation in the brewery cafeteria, Lei Zi just wants to learn something from your Huiquan Building."

Feng Zhengming looked at Zhang Lei and asked, "Didn't your master tell you and Xiaopeng?"

Zhang Lei hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.

"Master said that after the New Year, you will go to the brewery to open a branch of the dry rice shop. Let Yang Peng and I continue to learn and practice in the new store. If we perform well next year, you can transfer us over."

Feng Zhengming looked at Zhang Liqiang with a smile.

"Vice President Zhang, you see, my senior brother has made arrangements."

Zhang Liqiang said with a stiff face: "But Lei Zi is your senior brother's apprentice after all. He was transferred to the kitchen of Huiquanlou. You can't just abandon your apprentice."

Feng Zhengming emphasized: "My senior brother did not abandon his apprentices. He arranged for Zhang Lei and Yang Peng to work in the kitchen of the newly opened Fengjia Dry Food Shop near the brewery.

The rule for apprentices and chefs at Huiquanlou is that they must first work in the kitchen of a restaurant for a full year.

After working for a full year, if you perform well enough in the internal competition at the end of the year, you can be transferred to the kitchen of Huiquanlou.”

Before coming, Zhang Liqiang also knew this rule.

Now, in front of Feng Zhengming, he still wanted to try to buy some opportunities for his nephew.

But before he could open his mouth, Feng Zhengming took the lead.

“I know that Zhang Lei is your nephew, and you definitely hope that he can learn better skills, but Vice President Zhang should understand that skills cannot be learned in one day. To learn the skills well, it requires a long period of accumulation and practice.

Does Vice President Zhang know why President Li and others didn’t come to me to plead for mercy?

Because President Li also went to the national cooking competition, he witnessed with his own eyes the cooking skills of chefs from all over the country.

Every chef has solid basic skills, and they have been honed step by step from the bottom.”

Feng Zhengming looked at Zhang Lei and continued, "If you really want to learn the craft well, you should listen to your master's instructions and start working step by step in the kitchen of the dry rice shop."

Now facing Feng Zhengming, Zhang Lei feels an invisible pressure.

Perhaps it’s because I know Feng Zhengming is the top winner of the national cooking competition.

Zhang Lei felt a sense of awe towards him.

So now when the two of them were close, Zhang Lei was a little afraid to look at him.

Feng Zhengming then said to Zhang Liqiang, "For this new store, I will let my third senior brother lead the team, and Zhu Xu from Jubinyuan will also go there. I should also be able to spare more time in the new store."

After introducing the configuration of the new store at Fengjia Ganfanpu Brewery.

Feng Zhengming asked seriously: "Vice President Zhang, do you think that this configuration of the kitchen is not enough for Zhang Lei to learn anything?"

After hearing this, what else could Zhang Liqiang say?

According to Feng Zhengming, the chef team configuration of the new store is indeed a very strong team.

Zhang Liqiang looked at Zhang Lei and said, "Leizi, why don't you listen to your master's arrangement and work in the new store of Fengjia Ganfanpu Brewery for a year.

You should learn from your Third and Junior Uncle Masters. When you have mastered the skills well next year, you can fight for the opportunity to work in the kitchen of Huiquan Restaurant with your own ability. That way, your master and I will be proud."

What else can Zhang Lei say at this time?

What his uncle and junior master-master said left him speechless.

Feng Zhengming patted Zhang Lei on the shoulder and said, "Leizi, we are of the same age. You and Xiaopeng have been learning cooking from my senior brother over the years. I know you both work very hard and want to get a chance.

But opportunities are not easy to come by. Often, you can’t show your abilities in the kitchen of a big restaurant.”

After a brief pause, Feng Zhengming asked directly.

"Think about it, with your current level, if you come directly to Huiquanlou, will you have a chance to cook?"

When Feng Zhengming asked this question, Zhang Lei suddenly realized it.

If he were to come to the kitchen of Huiquanlou now, he might not even be able to keep up with the pace of cutting and preparing food, let alone cooking.

After all, in the canteen kitchen, the requirements for knife and spoon skills are often not high.

But Huiquanlou is different.

Huiquanlou is a large restaurant, and it has Feng Zhengming, the top scorer in the national competition, as its employee.

Not to mention how high Feng Zhengming's own requirements are for the chefs and apprentices in the kitchen in terms of knife skills, spoon skills, and fire skills.

Those who come to Huiquanlou for dinner have very high psychological expectations when they come.

Now Zhang Lei couldn't help but recall that in the cafeteria kitchen, the master had always emphasized this to him and Yang Peng.

“Although we are in the brewery cafeteria now, you two must remember to find time every day to practice the basic skills.

Only if you practice the basic skills well, will you be able to have a place in the kitchen of any restaurant or hotel when you leave the brewery canteen.

I won’t be despised by others even if I serve them as a porter.”

Now Zhang Lei finally understood what it meant to be disliked even for being a waiter.

Feng Zhengming didn’t know what Zhang Lei was thinking?
Zhang Lei looked a little lonely.

He continued to encourage: "Learn well in the kitchen of the new Ganfanpu restaurant. You and Yang Peng have a good foundation. With a little experience, you will have the opportunity to come to Huiquanlou."

Feng Zhengming was not just empty talk when he said this.

He knew clearly how the senior brother taught his apprentice.

The eldest brother is the one with the most solid basic skills among his fellow disciples.

Moreover, the eldest brother is quite familiar with various techniques of Shandong cuisine.

Even many detailed techniques can be mastered by the senior brother very well.

Therefore, the eldest brother always has a place in the city's cooking association.

Zhang Lei and Yang Peng have been with the senior brother for so many years. Under the senior brother's strict guidance, their foundation must be stronger than many apprentices from vocational schools.

With a little experience in the kitchen of a dry rice shop, you will definitely gain a lot of improvement.

At the end-of-year competition, Feng Zhengming is looking forward to the two of them shining.

Seeing that Zhang Lei was convinced, Zhang Liqiang was too embarrassed to stand up.

"I'm so sorry. I came all the way to see you. It's you, my junior uncle, who really speaks volumes. I advised him a lot before, but he didn't listen. He listened to you after just a few words."

Feng Zhengming knew in his heart that Zhang Liqiang probably had not persuaded Zhang Lei.

Zhang Liqiang might even hope that Zhang Lei could come directly to the kitchen of Huiquanlou. This time he brought Zhang Lei to the kitchen.

Zhang Liqiang definitely has the idea of ​​​​successfully arranging Zhang Lei to work in Huiquanlou.

If successful, Zhang Lei's family will owe Zhang Liqiang a favor.

Zhang Liqiang has a nephew who works in the kitchen of Huiquanlou, so he naturally has face in the Cooking Association.

Feng Zhengming would definitely not point these out.

He smiled and said, "Maybe my senior brother is going to Huiquanlou, and Zhang Lei and Yang Peng can't come with him, so he feels a little unsure."

Feng Zhengming then said to Zhang Lei: "Don't worry, your Third Uncle will also teach you well."

Zhang Lei nodded: "I know, thank you, Junior Master."

Send uncle and nephew Zhang Liqiang and Zhang Lei out.

Feng Zhengming turned around and saw He Yunqing standing at the counter and smiling.

He walked to the counter and said, "Uncle He, are you laughing at me again?"

He Yunqing quickly said, "No, it's really not this time. I think Zhang Liqiang is a little funny."

Feng Zhengming said nothing and just looked at He Yunqing quietly.

The latter continued, "You probably don't know that Zhang Liqiang also worked in Huiquanlou."

Upon hearing this, Feng Zhengming seemed to suddenly understand why Zhang Liqiang brought Zhang Lei to see him today.

"So that's how it is. He didn't make a name for himself in Huiquanlou at first, so he wanted Zhang Lei to work in the kitchen of Huiquanlou and make a name for himself there."

He Yunqing smiled and said, "It's quite interesting."

Feng Zhengming asked: "When he was in the kitchen of Huiquanlou, how was his cooking skill?"

He Yunqing's evaluation is: "It's average. It can cook most dishes, but the taste is not very good."

“Being able to cook most dishes is considered a very good skill.”

He Yunqing nodded: "Yes, it's a pity that he was not focused on cooking later."

Feng Zhengming probably understands this.

Otherwise, Zhang Liqiang would not be in charge of the Cooking Association now.

Without chatting with He Yunqing for long, Feng Zhengming said something and turned to go to the kitchen.

Zhang Liqiang led Zhang Lei away. On the way back, he said apologetically, "Leizi, I'm sorry that I didn't help you get into Huiquanlou this time."

Zhang Lei quickly said, "It's okay, uncle. Junior Master is right. If I go to Huiquan Building now, I will not be able to catch up with them."

Zhang Liqiang said: "Don't be discouraged, work hard in the new store of Ganfanpu. If you don't want to work in the kitchen of the new store of Ganfanpu, uncle can also contact other restaurants or hotels for you."

Zhang Lei shook his head: "No need, uncle, I'll go to the kitchen of the restaurant."

Seeing Zhang Lei so determined.

Zhang Liqiang also smiled and said, "The kitchen staff at the dry rice shop is not bad either. I heard that the salary at the Feng family dry rice shop is quite high."

Zhang Lei also knew this.

When they first learned about the wages of the kitchen staff at Fengjia Canteen, he and Yang Peng were very envious for a while.

Especially now that the canteen is being squeezed by Deputy Factory Director Fang Jian.

The canteen's profits began to decrease. Although Zhang Lei and Yang Peng's salaries did not change, they could see that their master was in trouble.

Zhang Lei and Yang Peng discussed privately that if the canteen was always being squeezed out by Fang Jian and his group, they might as well persuade their master to take them to work in the kitchen of their junior uncle's dry rice shop.

Now it seems like a prophecy has come true.

Zhang Lei thought about it and quickly made up his mind.

You have to study hard and work hard in the kitchen of the restaurant.

Try to be transferred to the kitchen of Huiquanlou as soon as possible.

At the same time, Zhang Lei and his cousin Zhang Liqiang found Huiquanlou.

In the backyard of the brewery cafeteria, He Xiaona was also discussing with Yang Peng.

"Why don't you go look for your Junior Master? Haven't you and your Junior Master always had a good relationship?"

When Yang Peng heard what He Xiaona said, his attitude became very firm.

"No, didn't Master tell us to go to the new dry rice shop that Junior Master-Uncle opened near the brewery first?"

He Xiaona couldn't help but say, "But, can working in the kitchen of Ganfanpu be the same as going to Huiquanlou?"

Yang Peng said, "Why is it different? Junior Master's uncle has a rule that if you want to work in the kitchen of Huiquanlou, you must first work in the kitchen of the dry rice shop for at least one year.

One year later, you will have to participate in an internal competition. Only if you perform well enough in the competition can you be transferred to Huiquan Building."

He Xiaona heard this and said, "You are too honest. Junior Master said that to others. Your relationship is different."

"It's all the same. Junior Master-Uncle doesn't like to use favors or backdoors."

Seeing that she couldn't persuade Yang Peng, He Xiaona could only mutter to herself.

"Do you believe it? Zhang Lei must have used his connections to find Junior Master."

Yang Peng said with disdain: "Let him go find it, it's useless no matter who he finds, Junior Master Uncle doesn't care about human feelings."

He Xiaona asked again: "What should I do if you go to the new restaurant?"

"What do you mean? You're going too. Do you want to stay in the brewery cafeteria?"

He Xiaona said, "But the restaurant is so small, can it accommodate so many of us?"

Yang Peng comforted his young wife: "Don't worry, you have been to Junior Master's Canteen before, it's a big place, we will definitely be able to arrange for you to stay there."

Hearing this, He Xiaona asked, "Is the new store at the brewery as big as the one in the city?"

Yang Peng smiled and said, "It should be about the same."

But then He Xiaona became a little worried again.

"I've been here for almost two years. Do you think we can get our household registration? My parents are urging us to have a child, but we don't even have a place to live. How can we have a child?"

Before Yang Peng could speak, He Xiaona added: "After leaving this cafeteria, where will we live in the future?"

Yang Peng also understood that his young wife's concerns were not unfounded.

He has been an apprentice since he came from his hometown for several years.

But I haven't learned anything yet.

I originally thought that by working in the brewery cafeteria with my master, I would have a stable place to live, and that after saving some money I would be able to own a small house here.

As a result, Deputy Director Fang in the brewery squeezed out the master, and now the master in the cafeteria can hardly continue to contract.

Although the master has already made arrangements for me to enter the new dry rice shop owned by my junior uncle.

But Yang Peng still feels very confused about the future.

He Xiaona saw Yang Peng lost in thought and her brows gradually furrowed.

She quickly tried to comfort him, "Don't worry. I believe that Master and Junior Uncle will definitely take care of us. You should work hard in Junior Uncle's restaurant and learn the skills. At worst, we can open our own restaurant in the future."

Yang Peng was deeply moved by his young wife's consolation.

Whenever he was confused, his young wife would always comfort and encourage him.

Yang Peng hugged his young wife and said, "Don't worry, I will study hard. The salary paid by my junior master is also high. Maybe if we save money for a few years, we can buy a small house here."

At this moment, the young couple began to look forward to the future. (End of this chapter)