From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Spending the night in the wild, Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong all felt that it was finally their chance to show their experience.

They have all participated in field training in the army and can be said to have experience of spending the night in the wild.

Deciding to spend the night in the wild, the three of them quickly set up the tent.

Then, Ding Yuan, as a veteran, assigned tasks to Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong.

Gao Yongfu was responsible for hunting some wild animals in the woods.

Hou Dong was responsible for fetching water.

Ding Yuan started digging a hole in front of the tent himself.

After Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong left, Ding Yuan continued to introduce them to Feng Zhengming while he was busy.

"Brother Feng, when we spend the night outdoors, we usually dig a pit and light a fire in it. When we put out the fire, we just fill it with the soil we dug out."

Feng Zhengming smiled and nodded and asked, "If you ask Xiao Gao to go to the forest to hunt for wild animals, can he bring them back alone?"

Ding Yuan was quite confident in Gao Yongfu: "Brother Feng, don't worry, Yongfu has experience in this area and will definitely be able to get the things back."

Ding Yuan then introduced to Feng Zhengming: "Although this place is not far from the village in front, there are many things in the forest, such as rabbits, pheasants and mountain birds."

Feng Zhengming naturally knew about these things.

These things can still be seen frequently in the wild in this era, but they may be hard to see in a few years.

Or even if you see it, you definitely can't hunt it casually.

Feng Zhengming thought about this and asked Ding Yuan, "Did you often hunt wild game when you were training in the wild?"

Ding Yuan quickly shook his head and explained: "No, we have rules. Under normal circumstances, we definitely can't just go hunting for wild game. Besides, we will be given rations during our training."

Feng Zhengming didn't completely believe what Ding Yuan said, so he asked with a smile: "Really?"

When Ding Yuan was asked this, he couldn't help but smile and tell the truth.

"Sometimes, we do secretly hunt some wild game to eat, such as wild ducks and pheasants, sometimes wild geese, or rabbits, and we also hunt roe deer and other animals to eat as a snack."

At this point, Ding Yuan still explained seriously: "But we don't fight a lot, and we don't fight every time."

Feng Zhengming couldn't help but sigh in his heart as he listened.

Hunting wild animals should be banned as soon as possible.

First, Hou Dong pumped the water back.

Then Hou Dong helped Ding Yuan dig a pit, and the two of them made a fire in the pit together.

After the fire started, Feng Zhengming chatted with the two people for a while.

Gao Yongfu finally came back from the woods.

He brought back quite a lot of things.

There were two rabbits, two pheasants, and even a pretty thick snake.

Seeing Gao Yongfu returning with a full load, Feng Zhengming immediately laughed.

"Not bad, Xiao Gao, you were able to bring back so many things."

Gao Yongfu immediately smiled honestly when he was praised.

Then, a few people were processing things while talking about how to hunt.

Gao Yongfu's method was what he often used in his hometown before he joined the army.

It's basically a trap.

First we need to find some traces of these things in the woods.

Then set traps around their movements.

After listening to Gao Yongfu, Feng Zhengming could feel that he was indeed an expert in this area and his technique was quite skilled.

Several people quickly slaughtered the creatures and boiled water to process them.

Feng Zhengming cleaned the two pheasants carefully.

Clean out all the internal organs and season the two chickens inside and out with the spices and salt you brought with you.

After marinating them for a while, he asked Hou Dong to find some leaves, wrapped the two chickens with the leaves, covered them with a layer of mud, and threw them into the fire in the earth pit to burn.

Feng Zhengming dealt with the two chickens, and Ding Yuan and the others also cleaned up the rabbit and the snake.

The rabbit was also marinated, then skewered on wooden sticks and roasted over a fire.

The snake meat is removed and placed in a small portable pot to make soup.

When Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong watched Feng Zhengming cooking, they discovered that Feng Zhengming actually carried a lot of spices in his backpack.

In particular, there are several spices that Feng Zhengming ground and matched himself.

Whether it is used to marinate chicken or rabbit, the aroma will make you drool.

Everything is ready and we start waiting to eat.

Ding Yuan couldn't help but ask, "Brother Feng, did you bring so many seasonings with you this time?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and nodded: "Yes, because I think we might live outside and cook outside, so I think we should bring some seasonings."

Gao Yongfu asked curiously, "I haven't seen you use it before, Brother Feng?"

Feng Zhengming laughed: "Because there has never been an opportunity."

Hou Dong was just about to talk about the wedding banquet he had hosted for the Ma family.

But before he could say it, Hou Dong thought that the Ma family seemed to have also bought seasonings. Later, Feng Zhengming contacted the delivery man and sent him some seasonings. There was really no need to take out the seasonings he was carrying.

Feng Zhengming also introduced the seasoning powder he prepared to the three people.

“This powder is the most basic five-spice powder: peppercorns, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and cumin seeds.

I added some spices to it, such as dried ginger, cardamom, licorice, pepper, angelica root, and tangerine peel. The mixed spices can be used for pickling or stewing. "

Feng Zhengming also took out several other bags, which were also various spices.

He even prepared chopped green onion and ginger, which were roasted and then ground into powder.

It can be said that the spices prepared in Feng Zhengming's bag are indeed quite complete.

Seeing these things made Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong realize that it was no wonder that they smelled so delicious from the pickled chicken and rabbit.

Soon, the snake meat soup was ready, and Feng Zhengming added some spices to season it.

An enticing aroma soon wafted from the pot.

Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong really didn't expect that Feng Zhengming could cook such a simple meal in the wild so delicious.

Feng Zhengming looked at the expressions of the three people and roughly guessed what they were thinking.

"Hahaha, are you trying to say that I can make such delicious dishes under such simple conditions, my cooking skills are really great?"

The three of them looked at each other and nodded awkwardly.

Feng Zhengming explained to the three people with a smile.

"As the saying goes, fine food is never too fine, and even though we are in the wild, we still have to make the food delicious. And I don't have any cooking skills to speak of. What I make is just ordinary dishes with some seasonings."

Without waiting for the three people to speak, Feng Zhengming turned the two roasted rabbits over.

“These things don’t actually require much technical skills. For the two chickens in the fire pit, even if they are made into beggar chickens, I just add some spices and marinate them inside and outside, so that they can be eaten directly after they come out.

Roasting a rabbit is even simpler. Just sprinkle some spices on it and roast it until cooked.

As for this pot of snake meat soup, it shouldn't be difficult to make. Just cut the meat, put it in the pot and cook it, and then season it. "Hearing Feng Zhengming say that a few things were quite simple, the three people were speechless.

These dishes are indeed not difficult to make.

There's no need for fancy cooking, the key may just be seasoning.

Especially the spice powder brought by Feng Zhengming is really crucial.

After a long wait, the rabbit was finally roasted and the snake soup was ready as well.

Finally, take out the two chickens wrapped in mud from the fire pit.

When the hardened mud shell on the outside was broken.

You can smell the fragrance wafting from it instantly.

The aroma of chicken mixed with the aroma of marinated spices.

In addition, it is sealed with mud. From the moment the mud shell is knocked open, the rich fragrance will make you drool.

Feng Zhengming asked everyone to divide the food, and the four of them sat around the fire pit and feasted.

After starting to eat, Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong tasted a different flavor.

The three people had to admit that the spices Feng Zhengming brought were indeed different.

Although the spices in the recipe are quite common.

But Feng Zhengming obviously has his own set of proportions.

After being marinated with spices, chicken and rabbit meat are quite flavorful.

The snake meat soup tastes light, but it is just enough to dilute the greasiness of the chicken and rabbit meat.

The four people had such a rough meal in the wilderness.

Hou Dong couldn't help but be the first to praise.

"It's really delicious. I didn't expect that dishes could be cooked so deliciously in the wild."

Ding Yuan and Gao Yongfu also followed suit.

"Yes, Brother Feng, the top scholar, has great cooking skills. Any dish can be delicious in his hands."

"That's right, otherwise how could Brother Feng be the top scholar in the country?"

Hearing the three people praising him again, Feng Zhengming smiled helplessly.

"Don't praise me. Do you think these things are delicious tonight because we are really hungry? We walked all the way here after the wedding banquet at the Ma family. It was really hard for you."

The three of them immediately said that they had seen a lot of things during this trip with Feng Zhengming and it was not that tiring.

"Brother Feng, don't say that. I've learned a lot from following you on this trip."

"Yes, if I hadn't come on this hike, I wouldn't have known that there are so many differences between different places in Qi and Lu."

"Preparing a wedding banquet for the Ma family also gave us experience in preparing banquets in the village."

Hou Dong's words made Ding Yuan and Gao Yongfu smile and agree.

Gao Yongfu is even planning his own future.

"After I retire, if I can't stay in Quancheng, I will go back to my hometown and organize some people there to prepare a wedding banquet for them."

Feng Zhengming heard this and asked, "Don't you want to stay in Quancheng?"

Gao Yongfu hesitated, as if he didn't know how to answer for a moment.

After a moment of silence, Gao Yongfu nodded and explained his family situation.

The reason why Gao Yongfu hesitated was mainly because his parents still lived in his hometown. He was the only son in his family with an older sister and a younger sister.

"In our family, once a daughter gets married, she becomes a member of the family, and the parents must follow their son."

After hearing what Gao Yongfu said, Feng Zhengming and the others probably understood why he was hesitant about whether to stay in Quancheng?

It is obvious that Gao Yongfu is a filial person.

Even though he knew that it would definitely be better for him to stay in Quancheng.

He still can't let go of his parents in his hometown.

What's more, he has a younger sister at home who is still in school.

"My parents have always wanted my sister not to continue to go to school, but my sister and I disagree. My sister is now taking care of my parents and has also given some money to my sister for school. I also send money back every month, hoping that my sister can go to school well."

After listening to Gao Yongfu's words, Ding Yuan praised: "You are a good son and a good brother."

Feng Zhengming thought about it carefully and encouraged Gao Yongfu.

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if you can't stay in Quancheng. I believe that with your ability, you will be able to do something great in your hometown. If you need any help at that time, just tell me."

Gao Yongfu didn't expect that Feng Zhengming would say this to him.

"Brother Feng, if I go home, how can I still bother you for help?"

Feng Zhengming laughed: "Hahaha, what are you saying? Now that you're home, do you not consider me a friend anymore? Then are you just pretending when you keep calling me Brother Feng?"

Gao Yongfu quickly stated: "No, I really mean it when I call you Brother Feng. You are only a few years older than me, but you are really like an elder brother. You have taught us a lot along the way, and I am really grateful."

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Isn't that enough? You call me Brother Feng, I will definitely help you wherever I can."

"Thank you." Gao Yongfu was very touched.

Compared with Gao Yongfu, Hou Dong is more at ease.

His family lives in the city, and he has an older brother and an older sister, so he doesn't need to ask about family matters.

So he would like to retire from the army so that he can learn cooking from Feng Zhengming.

His biggest dream now is to be able to work as a chef at Huiquanlou in the future.

Feng Zhengming and the others were delighted to hear Hou Dong express these ideals.

Ding Yuan pointed at himself and reminded Hou Dong: "Look at me, it's not easy to get into Huiquanlou."

Hou Dong responded seriously: "I know, so I will work hard."

Feng Zhengming smiled and encouraged: "Work hard. As long as you are willing to work hard, the goals you set for yourself are not out of reach. I believe you will succeed in the future."

"Really?" Hou Dong was quite excited. "Brother Feng, can I work in the kitchen of Huiquanlou in the future?"

Feng Zhengming nodded: "There is definitely a chance to get in. Huiquanlou's kitchen is not a difficult place to get into. As long as your cooking skills are good enough and you can pass the internal screening, you will definitely be able to get into Huiquanlou's kitchen."

Ding Yuan immediately took over the conversation: "You must beat the chef of Huiquanlou in the internal competition of Huiquanlou."

Hearing this, Hou Dong suddenly felt a little dispirited.

“It feels very difficult to beat other chefs in Huiquanlou’s kitchen.”

Feng Zhengming encouraged again: "Don't be so unconfident. You haven't even competed with them yet. How do you know you can't do it?"

Then Feng Zhengming looked at Ding Yuan again and said, "You should work hard and strive to be admitted to the kitchen of Huiquanlou and set an example for everyone."

Ding Yuan was stunned by what he said, and then quickly agreed.

"Okay, chef. I will work hard and strive to join the kitchen of Huiquanlou as soon as possible."

The next moment, the people sitting around the fire pit suddenly burst into laughter.

During this hiking trip, the four of them saw a lot of scenery and different people, and established some comradeship among them. (End of this chapter)