From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

At the same time Feng Zhengming and his team left Taicheng, Liu Zhongwei and Liang Fen finally hired some people, rearranged and cleaned the restaurant, hung up the photos of the dishes that Feng Zhengming had taken, and reopened the restaurant amid the sound of firecrackers.

The couple followed Feng Zhengming's advice and held a new opening promotion at the beginning of the business, offering discounts to customers who came to eat in the restaurant.

Liang Fen also went to look for her father's old customers.

So on the first day of opening, the restaurant was quite lively.

Most of the tables were already occupied by customers.

Liu Zhongwei and the newly hired kitchen helper quickly worked in the kitchen, preparing the dishes ordered by each table.

Because most of the dishes are braised, stewed or steamed, Liu Zhongwei and Liang Fen get up before dawn to prepare many of them.

There was also the marinade recipe that Feng Zhengming taught the couple before he left, and the marinated food was also soaked overnight.

When the dishes were served one by one, the old customers invited back by Liang Fen all looked at them differently.

"Isn't this dish cooked by Lao Liang's family good?"

"Yes, it's really good. Did you change the cook?"

"Well, the taste has improved, and it tastes like when Lao Liang was alive."

"Okay, this tastes right."

"I feel like this is better than what Lao Liang cooked before."

"They must have hired a new chef."

"Yes, yes, Lao Liang's son-in-law can only cook fried chicken. The other dishes are terrible. It is impossible that he cooked them."

Almost all the old customers were certain that Liu Zhongwei and Liang Fen must have hired a new chef.

When Liang Fen served the dishes, everyone asked Liang Fen questions.

Liang Fen replied with a proud smile: "Dear uncles, aunts and grandma, these dishes were either cooked by a new chef or my husband. My husband and I asked an expert for advice."

At this point, Liang Fen paused and apologized to everyone, "But we two can't tell you who the master is. If we have the opportunity to meet the master again in the future, everyone will know.

Thank you all for giving us this opportunity. We will definitely learn from what the masters have taught us and make good dishes. We hope that everyone will come to support us more in the future.”

Liang Fen and Liu Zhongwei are indeed a very interesting couple.

The couple's personalities are perfect complements to each other.

Liu Zhongwei is a simple and honest man. He doesn't talk much and just works hard.

Liang Fen is very active, likes to chat with people, and dares to say anything.

But this couple is so harmonious together.

Regular customers also like Liang Fen's personality.

Now I feel that the food at Lao Liang’s Restaurant is even more delicious, and everyone has promised to come here often in the future.

Liang Fen was so happy to see that everyone was satisfied with the food.

I was even more grateful to Feng Zhengming, the top scholar.

Feng Zhengming and his team left Taicheng and soon entered Jeju.

And headed straight to Qufu with great purpose.

As the hometown of Confucius and Mencius, after Feng Zhengming and his companions arrived in Qufu, they could not help but visit the Confucius Temple, Confucius Mansion and Confucius Cemetery first.

Feng Zhengming and his friends first took a tour around Confucius Forest.

Then we went to the Confucius Temple and Confucius Mansion.

The Confucius Temple and the Confucius Mansion are almost together.

When stepping into the Confucius Temple, Ding Yuan couldn't help but remind Feng Zhengming in a low voice.

"Brother Feng, you came to the right place. You are the top scholar in the country."

When Feng Zhengming heard this, he almost laughed out loud and said modestly that it was not possible.

"I am a chef champion, and I cannot be compared with those champions in the Confucius Temple. They are all literary stars."

Hou Dong argued from the side: "You can't say that. There are top talents in every field, and you, Brother Feng, are a genuine top talent."

Gao Yongfu was even more unconvinced: "The working people are the most glorious. Brother Feng, you are the top scholar among the working people, your status should be higher than other top scholars."

After hearing what the three people said, Feng Zhengming was really a little bit amused and helpless.

The four people visited the Confucius Temple and after coming out, they planned to take a walk in the Confucius Mansion.

As the imperial residence of Duke Yansheng, the Confucius Mansion is quite magnificent.

After leaving the Confucius Mansion, the group went to visit the Confucius Mansion Cuisine Museum.

There were so many exquisite instruments inside that Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong were a little dazzled.

"Using these things to serve food? Isn't that too extravagant?"

"Wow, these plates, every one of them looks so beautiful."

"I can't even imagine what the dish has to look like? To be placed on a plate like this?"

When Feng Zhengming heard the three people exclaiming, he smiled and greeted them in a low voice.

"Okay, stop looking here, let's go and experience some real Confucius Mansion cuisine."

The four people walked on the street and saw that on the streets near the Confucius Mansion, there were restaurants and hotels with the sign of "Confucius Mansion Cuisine" almost everywhere.

This made Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong feel a little dizzy.

Ding Yuan asked in a low voice: "No way? Xia Hui's family has so many stores here?"

Gao Yongfu shook his head in disbelief: "I feel like these aren't authentic Confucius Mansion dishes."

Hou Dong was very sure: "It's definitely not."

Ding Yuan asked curiously, "But if they are not authentic Confucius Mansion cuisine, how can they be called Confucius Mansion cuisine? Won't the Xia family cause trouble for them?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and gave some analysis to the three people.

"Confucius cuisine is a good brand. If you look closely, almost all of these restaurants and hotels named after Confucius cuisine have more than just the three words Confucius cuisine. They all have prefixes or suffixes.

If some of these restaurants and hotels have shares owned by people from the Confucius Mansion, or if they were once run by the chefs of the Confucius Mansion.

If someone registers a brand name and claims that they serve Confucius cuisine, is that okay?"

After hearing Feng Zhengming's analysis, Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong were all stunned.

"Can this still happen?"

The three of them obviously didn't understand this very well.

But Feng Zhengming knew all this too well.

He knew very well that he could open a shop around the Confucius Mansion and Confucius Temple, and he could also write the words "Kong Mansion" on the signboard.

Then it must have some connection with the Confucius Mansion.

As for what the specific connection is?
Feng Zhengming had no idea about this.

Maybe it's something that he, a mere national cooking champion, cannot know.

In this day and age, it is relatively easy to register this type of trademark.

As for whether the Confucius cuisine in these restaurants and hotels is authentic?

Feng Zhengming could only mutter to himself.

If they are authentic, then why is the Xia family still needed?
Why did the Xia family invite so many Shandong cuisine chefs to study and restore some of the Confucius Mansion cuisine? Feng Zhengming looked at the Confucius Mansion cuisine restaurants and hotels in front of him.

He sighed again in his heart: No wonder Confucius cuisine, which is as famous as Tan’s cuisine and Suiyuan cuisine, was later criticized for being superficial.

This is not to say that the Confucius cuisine restored and passed down by the Xia family is not authentic.

This is because the Confucius cuisine restored and inherited by the Xia family has been too relegated and away from the public.

Perhaps the skills and taste they inherited have not changed.

But if more people can’t eat it, what’s the point of having the name?
In this regard, Tan’s cuisine is better.

First, it is to gain attention.

Secondly, Tan’s cuisine has gradually become more down-to-earth with the evolution of the times.

Let more people at least have a chance to taste it.

Led by Feng Zhengming, the group walked out of the neighborhood near the Confucius Mansion and came to a neighborhood farther away from the Confucius Mansion and the Confucius Temple.

We arrived at the door of a large restaurant that did not serve Confucius cuisine.

Looking at this big restaurant called Shili.

Ding Yuan and the other two looked at Feng Zhengming and asked almost in unison: "Is this the Xia family's restaurant?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and nodded: "Yes, this is the Xia family's restaurant. Isn't it strange? Why is the Xia family's authentic Confucius Mansion restaurant not called Confucius Mansion cuisine?"

The three of them nodded almost at the same time.

Feng Zhengming explained with a smile: "It's very simple, because although the Xia family's ancestors were private chefs in the Yansheng Mansion, many of their skills were not passed down well.

Some of the dishes the Xia family has nowadays were created by Xia Hui’s grandfather’s father, who worked with several now-leading Shandong cuisine masters.

Together they collected a lot of information and even found a number of experts to conduct research.

They even found some servants from the Duke Yansheng's mansion and helped them recall the past, which led to the recipes of Confucius Mansion cuisine that the Xia family has now."

After a brief pause, Feng Zhengming pointed out very bluntly: "So the Confucius Mansion cuisine in the hands of the Xia family cannot be considered the Confucius Mansion cuisine of the past.

Out of respect for the Confucius Mansion, the Xia family opened this restaurant on their own and did not use the name of Confucius Mansion cuisine. "

Ding Yuan and the other two were extremely surprised when they heard this. They had never expected this to be the case.

Hou Dong was still a little confused: "But, since the Xia family was the chef who restored the Confucius Mansion cuisine, isn't the skill they are inheriting now the Confucius Mansion cuisine?"

Feng Zhengming corrected: "It is an attempt to restore the Confucius Mansion cuisine."

Then, without waiting for the three people to speak, Feng Zhengming continued to explain.

"The Xia family is the president of the Confucius Cuisine Research Association. Whenever there are discussions and studies on Confucius Cuisine, including presentations to others, someone from the Xia family will come forward to participate in the cooking.

But the Xia family's restaurant cannot completely restore the specifications of Confucius Mansion cuisine, nor can they use the tableware required by Confucius Mansion cuisine to serve the dishes, so they would rather not use the name of Confucius Mansion cuisine. "

After listening to Feng Zhengming's words, Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong felt quite respectful towards the Xia family.

As they were talking about this, a figure walked out of the Shili Restaurant.

"Hahaha, I heard someone say that a few people came to the door, and one of them looked like our national number one scholar. I hurried out to take a look, and it turned out to be our number one scholar."

Feng Zhengming also stepped forward with a smile: "Hello, Grandpa Xia."

Master Xia shook Feng Zhengming's hand excitedly: "Great, you can come to our restaurant, it will bring honor to our Xia family restaurant."

Feng Zhengming responded with a smile: "Grandpa Xia, you are exaggerating. It is my honor to be here to learn from you and experience the Confucius Mansion cuisine."

"Hahaha, okay, okay, let's stop flattering each other." Master Xia pulled Feng Zhengming and was about to go in.

Feng Zhengming looked back at the three people who were accompanying him and asked them to follow him in.

Master Xia led Feng Zhengming and the others into a private room in the restaurant.

"Come, put your things down first. I have heard that you have traveled all over the land of Qi and Lu on foot. This is truly a feat that an old man like me admires."

Feng Zhengming responded with a smile: "I believe that if Grandpa Xia was still young, he would definitely come with us."

"Yes, if I were twenty years younger, I would definitely go for a walk with you."

Master Xia then asked Feng Zhengming and the others to sit down first.

Feng Zhengming and the others sat down, and without waiting for Master Xia to ask, he took the initiative to introduce the situation of the brother and sister Xia Hui and Xia Mingye.

"Xia Hui is already able to cook in the kitchen of Huiquan Restaurant. Her cooking skills have improved rapidly. She can already cook some technically difficult dishes. With more practice, she should be able to become the head chef."

"Xia Mingye is still working in the restaurant kitchen. His cooking speed has improved a lot, and practice makes perfect. I believe that if he participates in our internal competition at the end of the year, he will have a chance to join the kitchen of Huiquanlou."

After listening to Feng Zhengming's introduction, Master Xia was immediately delighted.

"Okay, okay, I'm assured they'll stay with you."

Just at this moment, a figure appeared outside the box door.

Master Xia caught it and shouted, "What are you still eavesdropping on? Come in quickly."

The person outside the door was naturally Xia Hui's father, Xia Zhennan.

Although this father always spoke in a tough tone and was very strict with his son and daughter, he still couldn't help but come over and eavesdrop, wanting to know what was going on with his son and daughter.

After being pointed out by his father, Xia Zhennan had no choice but to go in.

Feng Zhengming stood up and greeted with a smile: "Hello, Senior Brother Xia."

Xia Zhennan nodded: "Hello."

Master Xia then asked everyone to sit down.

"Sit down and listen to what's going on with your son and daughter."

Xia Zhennan remained well-behaved in front of his father.

His father asked him to sit down, so he sat down.

Feng Zhengming sat down again and continued to introduce the situation of Xia Hui and Xia Mingye to Master Xia and Xia Zhennan.

Xia Zhennan listened very carefully, as if he wanted to know all the information about his children.

Master Xia also listened very carefully and was very pleased with the progress of his granddaughter and grandson.

"Okay, it's right to follow Zhengming. It will allow them to learn cooking better without being tied down by some titles."

It was obvious that Master Xia's subsequent words were deliberately spoken to Xia Zhennan who was present.

In Master Xia's opinion, his son is now hindered by some titles.

But Xia Zhennan is already quite old, and it’s not easy to ask him to change.

So Master Xia placed his hopes on his grandson and granddaughter.

As for the other children of the Xia family?
In Master Xia's opinion, those people are not as good as Xia Zhennan.

In the evening, Feng Zhengming and his friends had a sumptuous dinner at Xia's Shili Restaurant.

Xia Zhennan personally took charge of the cooking and made several very classic Confucius Mansion dishes.

Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong, who have been traveling with Feng Zhengming for some time and have eaten many dishes cooked by chefs with different skills, were all more or less amazed.

After dinner, Master Xia arranged accommodation for Feng Zhengming and his friends.

After everyone had settled in, Master Xia chatted with Feng Zhengming alone in his room about some things.

What the two people talked about privately was the future inheritance and development of Confucius Mansion cuisine. (End of this chapter)