From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Luo Wenhan gave Luo Qing a wink and led her to his room.

"Why did you really come back? And you brought Feng Zhengming back with you."

Luo Qing was a little surprised by what her brother said.

"What's wrong? I can't go home?"

Luo Wenhan said seriously: "My dear sister, are you stupid? Where are all the tricks you usually use to deal with me?"

Luo Qing smiled and asked, "What do you want to say?"

Seeing that his sister didn't understand what he meant, Luo Wenhan became a little anxious.

"Didn't you see? My aunt's family has been looking down on our family for years. Why did they suddenly come to our house this time? And even brought cigarettes and alcohol to give to my parents?"

When Luo Qing heard what her brother said, she couldn't help but feel a little surprised at him.

I haven't been home for half a year. How come my brother seems to have become smarter all of a sudden?
Luo Wenhan glanced outside and then spoke to Luo Qing.

"They came because my aunt's son Zhao Jun is unemployed now, and they want to come to you and ask you to talk to Feng Zhengming and arrange for him to work in Feng Zhengming's restaurant."

It is obvious what my aunt's family's intention is by coming to my house to curry favor with me.

However, Luo Qing was still somewhat surprised by her brother's attitude.

"Today the sun is really rising from the west. Don't you usually like to say bad things about me behind my back? You always want to create some trouble for Feng Zhengming? Why are you still helping me speak up today?"

Luo Wenhan was stunned by what he said, and then he felt a little embarrassed.

"I admit that I was a little jealous of you and Feng Zhengming before, but I am your brother, and I also want my sister to be happy."

After hearing this, Luo Qing had some changes in her attitude towards her brother.

My brother continued, "You must know that all the factories are in trouble now. Our factory hasn't paid wages for two months. Like Zhao Jun, the factory directly laid off many people in the cafeteria.

Do you believe it? If Feng Zhengming helps Zhao Jun this time, there will definitely be many more relatives and friends coming to visit you.

So at this time, you can't just help casually. Even if Feng Zhengming is the top scholar in the country, he can't help everyone."

Luo Qing was very surprised. She didn't expect that her brother had been confused for so many years.

Now it's not so confusing anymore.

I can actually see it.

If Feng Zhengming helped his aunt's family, more people would definitely come to him for help.

Luo Qing looked at her brother and really felt like she didn't recognize him.

After a moment of silence, Luo Qing said, "Don't worry. I told him before he came. He also knows where my aunt's family is and why they came to our house."

Luo Wenhan was a little surprised: "He knows everything? Then he still..."

In Luo Qing's heart, she knew very well that Feng Zhengming came to her house because of her.

Feng Zhengming really could have avoided making this trip today.

But if Feng Zhengming can hide, can Luo Qing hide?

So he came to Luo Qing's house tonight to help Luo Qing solve these problems.

Luo Qing said to her brother: "Don't worry, he knows what to do."

There was still some worry on Luo Wenhan's face.

Luo Qing said, "His senior brother's apprentice came to him, and even asked the vice president of the cooking association to find him, but he still refused. Do you think he would agree to any request from my aunt's family?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Wenhan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"That is not bad."

Just at this moment, Luo's mother's voice came from outside.

"It's time for dinner. What are you two doing in the room? Come out and help serve the dishes. Why are you letting the guests serve the dishes?"

Brother and sister Luo Qing and Luo Wenhan hurried out.

I saw Feng Zhengming helping to set up the big table in the living room.

He also helped to go into the kitchen to bring out the dishes and set the table.

When Luo Qing saw this, she quickly pushed her brother to help.

She also snatched the things from Feng Zhengming's hand.

"Just sit still and don't do these things."

Feng Zhengming was not angry at all when his things were snatched away.

"It's okay. These aren't very tiring tasks."

Luo Qing whispered, "You don't have to do it anyway."

After everyone was seated, Feng Zhengming signaled to Luo Wenhan to open a bottle of good wine he had brought.

"I finally got some rest today, so I'll have a couple of drinks with my uncle and big brother. Big brother, open the bottle of wine I brought."

When Father Luo and Uncle Luo Qing saw the wine Feng Zhengming brought, they were reluctant to drink it.

"Such good wine should be kept for the New Year."

"Yes, yes, let's drink it during the New Year."

Feng Zhengming smiled and asked Luo Wenhan to open the wine.

"Uncle, you don't have to be polite. These bottles of wine were given to me by others. I am usually busy and don't have time to drink them. I brought them here for you to drink. You don't have to wait until the New Year."

As he spoke, Feng Zhengming personally poured glasses for Luo's father, Luo Qing's uncle, Luo Qing's older cousin Zhao Jun, and brother Luo Wenhan, and also poured himself a glass.

Then Luo Qing also took the wine bottle and poured herself a small glass.

Feng Zhengming found it a little strange.

However, Luo Qing poured the wine and picked up the glass directly.

"Aunt, uncle, cousin, sister-in-law, thank you for visiting my parents today. I'd like to toast you."

Luo Qing's initiative in toasting made everyone a little confused.

The atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward.

Feng Zhengming stood up, smiled, unscrewed the drinks he brought, and poured drinks for Luo's mother, aunt, sister-in-law, and children.

"Don't be so anxious. If we want to toast, we should toast together."

Feng Zhengming also picked up the wine glass.

"Aunt, uncle, cousin, sister-in-law, today is the first time we meet. Luo Qing and I would like to toast you."

This time, Aunt Luo Qing and her family raised their glasses and drank the first glass with the two of them.

After drinking, Luo Qing immediately said: "Aunt, uncle, cousin, sister-in-law, I know you are here today and want to find Zhengming through me and ask him to help arrange for my cousin to stay in his restaurant.

I have to say here that I can’t help with this matter, because his dry rice shop and Huiquanlou are his own businesses.

Not to mention that we haven’t gotten married yet, even if we were married, I wouldn’t let him arrange for his family to work.”

After Luo Qing said this, her aunt's family suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

I didn't expect that she would interrupt me first.

Feng Zhengming smiled and pulled Luo Qing to sit down.

"Well, look at you. Aunt and uncle came to our house probably just to see uncle and aunt. Don't say that. Cousin even cooked a table of dishes. Let's try his cooking first." Luo Qing was pulled to sit down. She continued, "Aunt, uncle, it's clear that my eldest cousin can't help with his work."

Faced with Luo Qing's repeated emphasis on what to say about my aunt's family?
Seeing that the atmosphere was becoming increasingly awkward, Feng Zhengming continued to smile and said, "Okay, okay, let's eat first."

Luo's father also said: "Yes, let's eat first and taste Zhao Jun's cooking skills."

Everyone finally started eating, and Zhao Jun saw Feng Zhengming starting to eat.

He waited for Feng Zhengming to eat a few bites, and couldn't help asking, "Chef Feng, do you think my cooking skills are okay?"

Feng Zhengming laughed: "Cousin, your cooking skills are quite good."

Hearing this, Zhao Jun's wife couldn't help but ask, "Then Chef Feng, do you think Cousin Luo Qing's cooking skills are worthy of being in your restaurant?"

When Luo Qing heard this, she couldn't help but say, "Sister-in-law, didn't you hear what I just said?"

Zhao Jun's wife said stubbornly, "Luo Qing, it's not that I have to ask this question, it's just that your cousin is unemployed now and our family is really in trouble."

Feng Zhengming stopped Luo Qing who was about to continue speaking. He smiled and seriously evaluated Zhao Jun's craftsmanship.

"Cousin, you are Luo Qing's cousin, and we are not strangers either, so I will say whatever I want to say."

Zhao Jun smiled and nodded: "Go ahead, Chef Feng, just go ahead."

Feng Zhengming said directly: "The dishes you cook are definitely good enough to be served in the cafeteria, but you probably haven't learned cooking systematically. You must have learned this skill in the factory cafeteria, right?"

Zhao Jun was stunned at first, then he nodded again and admitted: "Yes, I have been working in the factory cafeteria since I was an apprentice until my master retired. I have been the chef in the cafeteria."

Having said that, Zhao Jun picked up his glass and toasted Feng Zhengming first.

"Chef Feng, I know that my cooking skills are only good enough to make some home-cooked dishes and the big pot dishes in the cafeteria. I can't compare with a chef like you, and I'm not qualified to work in the kitchen of a restaurant like Huiquanlou.

But now the factory is carrying out industrial optimization and has cut down on canteens, hospitals, schools and other things.

Although I received some compensation for my buyout, I can’t just sit there and do nothing.”

Zhao Jun raised his head and drank the glass of wine.

"We came to my uncle's house today to ask Luo Qing for help. We just wanted to see if you need any help. Even if you want me to do odd jobs, it's fine as long as I can have a job."

Zhao Jun spoke very sincerely, and Luo Qing fell into silence.

Feng Zhengming picked up the wine glass, gestured to Zhao Jun, and then drank the wine as well.

After drinking the glass of wine, Feng Zhengming began to say what he wanted to say.

"Cousin, I know your difficulties, but I can only say sorry to you. If you come with your aunt and uncle today and ask me to borrow money through Luo Qing, as long as I have it, I will lend it to you without hesitation.

But you said you wanted to come to my restaurant and ask me for this job, and I can only say sorry.

Needless to say, although I am the one running Huiquanlou, the old brand of Huiquanlou is not mine. I must ensure the quality of Huiquanlou’s dishes, otherwise I will be held accountable by the province.”

When the Luo family heard Feng Zhengming say that he could not manage Huiquanlou well and could not guarantee the quality of Huiquanlou's dishes, and would be held accountable by the province, they were all shocked.

Aunt Luo Qing asked in disbelief, "Will the province really hold us accountable?"

Luo Qing immediately said: "Of course, Huiquanlou is a time-honored brand in Quancheng, the brand is from the province, and now it is one of the provincial cooking training centers, and it is also a Shandong cuisine exchange restaurant for overseas Chinese.

If there is a problem with the dishes, the province will definitely hold them accountable. Do you think Huiquanlou is so easy to run?"

Feng Zhengming continued, "Speaking of the Fengjia dry rice shop that I own, I believe that my aunt, uncle, cousin and sister-in-law have all heard of the reputation of my dry rice shop, right?
Therefore, all the chefs in the kitchen of the dry rice shop are those who have passed my assessment, and they are led by my senior brother himself.

Cousin, your cooking skills are really not good enough to work in a dry rice shop kitchen now."

Hearing this, Zhao Jun was disappointed, and his aunt's family also looked a little unhappy.

Feng Zhengming added: "But I came here today to give you some advice, cousin."

Zhao Jun immediately perked up when he heard this: "Chef Feng, what's your idea?"

Feng Zhengming said, "Cousin, you are not yet forty this year, right?"

"No, I'm only thirty-six." Zhao Jun replied quickly.

Feng Zhengming nodded: "At thirty-six, you are still in the prime of life. My idea is that you should not rush to find a job, cousin. I will pay for your tuition. You can go to my uncle's cooking school for further study."

These words left Aunt Luo Qing and her entire family a little confused.

Zhao Jun also showed a hint of displeasure on his face.

He wanted a job.

Now Feng Zhengming has not given him a job and wants him to go back to school.

This was somewhat difficult for Zhao Jun to accept.

Feng Zhengming then explained: "Don't worry, cousins. I know you must feel uncomfortable if I ask you to learn cooking now.

But if you want to make progress, cousin, you must study hard.

You need to systematically learn all kinds of things in the kitchen and stop doing things according to your bad habits in the cafeteria."

Although Feng Zhengming explained it very clearly, Zhao Jun obviously did not take it seriously.

Aunt Luo Qing couldn't help but say, "Xiao Feng, if you think that cousin Luo Qing's cooking skills are not good enough and he can't work in your restaurant, just tell us clearly that we don't need your help and cousin Luo Qing can find a job somewhere else.

You didn't let cousin Luo Qing work for you, and you even asked him to go to school, saying that he wanted to learn cooking again.

How long will he go to school? If you pay for his tuition, what will happen to his wife and children? Will they starve to death?"

Hearing what her aunt said, Luo Qing suddenly became a little annoyed. It was obvious that her aunt was ungrateful.

"Aunt, my cousin's craftsmanship is really not good. Zhengming paid for my cousin to learn a good craft. Isn't it for my cousin's future?"

Zhao Jun's wife couldn't help but say, "If it's really for our own good, then isn't his Huiquanlou also a training center? Why not let our old Zhao go there to learn?"

Before Luo Qing could speak, her sister-in-law added, "You just look down on us and don't want to pay us. Why are you pretending to be a good person?"

Seeing this situation, Feng Zhengming could only say: "If you are unwilling, then I really can't help you."

After saying this, Feng Zhengming stood up and toasted Luo Qing's parents with another glass of wine.

"Uncle, aunt, I can't help with my cousin's affairs. I think it would be a bit annoying for me to stay here. I'm also a bit worried about Huiquanlou. I'll leave first. I'll come back to wish you a happy new year after I finish my work in the province before the New Year."

After saying that, Feng Zhengming put down his wine glass, went to Luo Qing's room to pick up his coat, and walked out without saying anything more.

Luo Qing naturally put on her coat and left with Feng Zhengming.

After they left, Luo Qing's family was in an uproar.

Aunt Luo Qing said bluntly: "Brother, sister-in-law, what kind of partner did your Luo Qing find? Why is this person like this?"

My uncle also added: "There are no rules at all."

Luo Qing's parents were silent for a moment.

Luo Wenhan said while eating: "We are willing to pay the tuition and let my cousin learn the craft well. Do we need to explain it more clearly?"

The whole family looked at Luo Wenhan.

Zhao Jun's wife asked, "What does he mean?"

Luo Wenhan was almost full, so he put down his chopsticks and said, "People have said that Zhao Jun's cooking skills are not good enough to be accepted at Ganfanpu and Huiquanlou, and they are willing to pay for Zhao Jun to go back to school and learn cooking from scratch.

What does this mean? You don't understand? How dare you curse someone behind his back after he left?
You missed a good opportunity, and no one can help you."

After saying that, Luo Wenhan stood up, wiped his mouth and said, "I'm full. I'll go see them off."

Luo Wenhan went back to the house, picked up his coat, and hurried out. (End of this chapter)