From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

As the Spring Festival approaches, the menu reported by Feng Zhengming has received a response.

The province is very satisfied with his menu and is already busy purchasing it.

Because some young chefs and apprentices have to go home for the New Year.

Feng Zhengming himself also needed to prepare for the province's pre-Spring Festival dinner.

He simply closed Huiquanlou after the beginning of spring.

A considerable amount of New Year's money was given to the third and fifth senior brothers, the young chefs and apprentices in the kitchen, and the service staff of Huiquanlou.

Then we gave everyone a holiday in advance, allowing the young chefs, apprentices and some service staff to go home and celebrate the New Year.

Third senior brother Yang Bin has some small objections to the early holiday.

"Zhengming, many restaurants and hotels are open during the Spring Festival. I heard that some restaurants have started to offer New Year's Eve dinners. Why are you letting us go home for the holiday so early? You don't want to make money during such a good opportunity during the Spring Festival?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and asked, "Third brother, are you blaming me for not giving you enough money for the New Year?"

Yang Bin immediately said, "What nonsense are you talking about? How could I complain that the New Year's money is too little? You pay us so much a year, which restaurant in Quancheng can pay so much?"

Feng Zhengming still had a smile on his face: "Third brother, everyone has worked hard all year round. It's finally the New Year, who doesn't want to take a break and go home to spend time with their family?
Besides, we can’t take over all the business, we have to give other restaurants and hotels a chance to survive.

During the Chinese New Year, the prices of dishes and other items will go up for those restaurants and hotels that are still open, as they all want to take advantage of the holiday to make more money.

We make a lot of money throughout the year, and we give the market to others during the Chinese New Year.

Let others make some money, and we can take a break, isn't it a win-win situation for everyone? "

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, the third senior brother immediately understood.

Thinking about taking a holiday and taking the New Year's money to go home for the New Year, everyone in the kitchen could not hide the smiles on their faces.

Yang Bin made the connection and understood Feng Zhengming's arrangement.

It is exactly as he said, doing so will result in a result that all parties will like.

Other restaurants and hotels in Quancheng can get more business during the Chinese New Year.

The people in Huiquan Building can go home and have a good New Year.

Even Feng Zhengming himself was able to concentrate on dealing with the province's Spring Festival dinner work.

After thinking this through, Yang Bin nodded and admitted, "Zhengming, you think more far-sightedly. I'll listen to you. But after the Chinese New Year, I'll come back to help you on the fourth day of the New Year."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Don't worry, Third Brother. You haven't been home for a year. Go back with your sister-in-law to visit relatives during the New Year and have a good rest."

Yang Bin shook his head: "If I stay at home, won't I just eat and drink every day? Country people are too good at drinking. If I stay for a few more days, I will definitely be drunk every day. Drinking like that is too harmful to my health. I still want to work with you for a few more years."

Fifth Brother Cao Zhiguo laughed and said, "Hahaha, Third Brother, you came back early, so we brothers should drink too."

"Go ahead, we brothers drink together, and we won't drink too much." Yang Bin obviously still wanted to drink with his fellow disciples.

"Besides, I came back early because I have to go with you to pay New Year's greetings to Master."

Cao Zhiguo heard this and said, "Yes, we must not forget to wish Master a happy new year."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Okay, Third Brother, if you come back, we will definitely welcome you well."

Xia Hui and her younger brother Xia Mingye didn't want to go back either.

Xia Mingye couldn't help but say, "I've only been here for a short time, and I haven't learned a lot of things yet. If I go back like this, I'll always feel like I've lost out."

Feng Zhengming laughed: "It's no use for you to stay. We won't be open for the New Year."

"Uncle Master, can I go with you to the provincial Spring Festival dinner?"

Hearing her brother ask this, Xia Hui quickly stopped him.

"Don't think of anything crooked. How can you attend the provincial banquet?"

Xia Mingye was a little dissatisfied with what his sister said.

"Sister, I am the second place winner of the Young Chef Competition. I have learned a lot in the kitchen of the dry rice shop during this period. I will definitely not cause trouble to my uncle if I go."

Feng Zhengming knew that not only Xia Mingye, but Xia Hui also wanted to follow him to the provincial dinner to see the world.

Including Sun Hai and several young chefs from Quancheng, they also wanted to go.

And since Feng Zhengming has approved the application, Zhu Xu can go with him this time.

Lin Guofu will also attend the provincial dinner.

Of course Lin Guofu went to participate because he was one of the chefs who returned from the national competition.

Before, Feng Zhengming wanted to recruit Lin Guofu into Huiquanlou.

However, after Lin Guofu came back, he received an invitation from Master Cui to be a teacher at Master Cui's cooking training school.

There are also several chefs who participated in national competitions and have joined Master Cui’s cooking training school.

Or they may be hired as teachers at Quancheng Vocational School.

Feng Zhengming also received various invitations.

However, the province has also arranged Huiquanlou as one of the training sites.

So Feng Zhengming finally declined those invitations and stayed in Huiquanlou to continue working as the head chef.

Looking at the expectant eyes of Xia Hui and Xia Mingye, brother and sister.

Feng Zhengming suddenly remembered that their grandfather, Master Xia, was also in Quancheng.

"If you two really want to stay, you can go ask your grandfather. If Master Xia agrees for you to stay, I can consider taking you to the kitchen behind the banquet."

When Xia Hui and Xia Mingye heard this, their eyes suddenly lit up.

Without hesitation, the brother and sister said they would go and ask their grandfather.

After the Xia siblings left, Sun Hai also stood up and said, "Master, can I, can I stay?"

Feng Zhengming understood Sun Hai's thoughts.

However, he also knew that Sun Hai had not been home for a whole year, and his family should still be expecting him to come home to celebrate the New Year together.

At this time, Yang Bin spoke first.

"Sun Hai, don't stay here. Go home and have a good New Year. Didn't your family write to you last time and ask you to come home for the New Year? Didn't they say they wanted to find you a wife?"

Sun Hai's face turned red when he heard this. He hesitated for a moment and couldn't help but speak his true feelings.

"Master, uncle, I don't want to go home, but my family wants to talk to me about a wife. I don't want to get married yet. I still want to learn more skills from you."

In terms of age, Sun Hai is one year younger than Feng Zhengming.

So according to the average age of his hometown, Sun Hai is already considered very old.

If his family wants to find a wife for him, it may be too late in their village.

Originally, Feng Zhengming and his third senior brother were thinking about whether they could bring Sun Hai and Xia Hui together.

Later I found out that there was no such intention between the two of them.

Feng Zhengming and his third senior brother did not force the two to develop a relationship.

Yang Bin listened to Sun Hai and said with a smile: "It's right to learn a craft, but learning a craft shouldn't prevent you from getting married. You should go home this year. If your family members are looking for a wife for you, go and meet them. You might find a good woman."

Feng Zhengming also said: "That's right, if you meet a good woman, just get married and bring your wife to Quancheng."

Yang Bin laughed: "Hahaha, bring your wife back, Master and Uncle will definitely make arrangements for you."

Sun Hai felt embarrassed when he heard this. Yang Bin patted his apprentice on the shoulder and said, "Go home and don't be reluctant about the idea of ​​having a wife. Find a good wife, and you will be able to learn the craft more steadily and study cooking better in the future."

After his master's persuasion, Sun Hai finally nodded in agreement.

"Okay, Master. I will go home then. If I like the wife my family has recommended to me, I will bring her back to show Master and Uncle-Master first."

This made Feng Zhengming laugh immediately: "Hahaha, you don't have to show it to us, just pick one that you like."

Yang Bin nodded: "That's right, you don't have to show it to us, just pick one you like."

Sun Hai still insisted on this matter: "No, I still need my master and uncle to help me check it."

Feng Zhengming quickly understood what Sun Hai meant.

He must be worried that the proposed daughter-in-law would affect his cooking studies.

Insisted on bringing it to Feng Zhengming and Yang Bin to meet.

He wanted to let Feng Zhengming and Yang Bin see if the other party would affect his cooking studies.

Feng Zhengming felt that Sun Hai was worrying too much.

Nowadays, most girls, whether in the city or in the countryside, are still relatively innocent. As long as they are from a respectable family, they should support Sun Hai in learning cooking.

After all, Sun Hai's current job makes a lot of money.

Feng Zhengming felt that in a few years, it would be no problem for Sun Hai to buy his own house in Quancheng.

Yang Bin agreed with a smile: "Okay, if you want to bring her here for us to see, then bring her here. As long as she is a down-to-earth girl, you can get married and come to Quancheng together. There will be no problem arranging a job for her in the new Ganfanpu store."

Hearing this, Sun Hai quickly said, "No, no, Master, if I get married, I'd better let her stay at home first."

Yang Bin asked, "Why? Are you still worried about your wife? Are you worried that she will be too hard to stay in the restaurant?"

"No, it's not that, Master." Sun Hai was a little anxious.

Feng Zhengming helped by saying, "Third brother, don't tease Sun Hai. You know he doesn't mean that."

Then Feng Zhengming said to Sun Hai: "You don't have to worry about being accused of arranging seats for your family. Your master is my senior brother, and the dry rice shop is our own business. There is no problem arranging more seats for your wife."

Yang Bin nodded: "Yes, Master believes in your character, and also believes that the girl you like will definitely be kind-hearted."

Sun Hai was really touched by this.

At this moment, he felt that his master treated him like a son.

"Thank you, Master, thank you, Uncle Master. I will learn the craft from you well."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "First, make the fried double crisps."

When Sun Hai heard about the dish "Fried Crispy Noodles in Oil", a trace of fear appeared on his face.

In fact, after the competition, Feng Zhengming asked all the young chefs in the kitchen to make fried crispy dishes.

As a result, almost all young chefs failed with this dish.

It was the dish of Fried Double Crispy Food that made the young chefs realize their own shortcomings.

This is a dish that requires the ultimate in knife, fire and spoon skills.

It is actually not surprising that young chefs have collectively failed.

After all, in Quancheng, almost everyone who can cook this dish to a sufficient standard is a famous chef in Quancheng.

Perhaps among the young chefs, only Feng Zhengming can master this dish.

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Sun Hai recalled the scene of the previous car accident.

However, he still said with determination: "Uncle Master, rest assured, I will learn from Master and master the skill of deep-fried double crisp."

Yang Bin said with a smile: "Hahaha, if you can practice the Oily Explosion and Double Crisp, you will be almost ready to become a master."

Sun Hai quickly said: "I still have a lot to learn from Master. I don't have as much talent as my uncle, so I still need to learn more from Master."

Feng Zhengming nodded: "It's definitely right to follow Master and learn for a longer time."

Since Sun Hai was sure he wanted to go home, he hurried back to prepare.

Yang Bin also asked Sun Hai to buy some things for his family.

"Don't just think about bringing money back. Often, even if their families give them money, they are reluctant to buy things. You can buy some things for them in Quancheng and bring them back."

Sun Hai also nodded in agreement, and made an appointment with some young chefs who were also preparing to go back, and went for a walk on the street.

All the people who should go back have been arranged, and Feng Zhengming will naturally take over the restaurant himself in the following period of time.

Of course, the dry rice shop didn’t stay open for long.

After the Little New Year, the dry rice shop also closed down.

Because Feng Zhengming will be responsible for the preparations for the province's Spring Festival dinner.

Brother and sister Xia Hui and Xia Mingye found Master Xia.

Finally, after the brother and sister begged together, Master Xia agreed to let them stay in Quancheng for the New Year.

Since Master Xia agreed that the siblings could stay in Quancheng for the New Year.

After Feng Zhengming applied, he naturally brought the siblings to the kitchen of the provincial dinner.

In the kitchen behind the dinner, Xia Hui and Xia Mingye, brother and sister, dared not say anything.

Most of the time, they can only do odd jobs together with the people in charge of doing miscellaneous tasks.

However, even if they were just doing odd jobs, Xia Hui and Xia Mingye learned a lot.

The first thing is the design of the dishes at the banquet.

The brother and sister witnessed Feng Zhengming's expertise in dish design.

Although they are clearly some very traditional Shandong dishes, Feng Zhengming takes into account the specific circumstances of the dinner guests and will make some subtle adjustments so that everyone at the dinner can be satisfied with the food.

In addition to the design of the dishes, Feng Zhengming is also very particular about the preparation of ingredients.

However, in order to ensure the quality of the dinner dishes, the ingredients must be selected very carefully, and any ingredients that are not good in the slightest will be screened out.

But Feng Zhengming is a chef who knows how to save money, and he will not throw away the ingredients that are screened out.

He would use any part that could be used to make soup or stew.

Or arrange to make some staff meals for everyone involved in preparing the dinner.

Some people involved in preparing the dinner said privately.

"I admire Chef Feng's cooking skills so much."

"Yes, Chef Feng is worthy of being the champion of the national cooking competition. He can make such delicious dishes with those leftover ingredients."

"He is really thrifty. In the past, a lot of scraps would have been thrown away."

“Yes, in the past, a lot of scraps were thrown away.”

"But that would be quite wasteful. It's not like Chef Feng can make a lot of delicious dishes, and we can eat better."

After intensive preparations, this provincial Spring Festival reception dinner was held two days before the Spring Festival.

Feng Zhengming arrived at the kitchen early that morning and conducted a final inspection. (End of this chapter)