From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Feng Zhengming did not hide anything in front of Master Xia and directly expressed his opinions.

"Grandpa Xia, there are only two of us here, so I'd better call you Grandpa Xia instead of calling you Uncle Xia from the master's side."

Master Xia smiled and said, "It's just a title. You are Lao Yan's senior apprentice. Lao Yan and I are brothers. We were both apprentices at Jufengde back then.

So you can call me Uncle Shi, and if you want to call me Grandpa Xia, that's fine too."

Feng Zhengming nodded and said, "Grandpa Xia, regarding Confucius Mansion cuisine, I think there are only two directions for its development now. Either we put aside our former pretensions and make Confucius Mansion cuisine more approachable.

Either take the high-end route, or try to restore the rules of Confucius Mansion cuisine as much as possible.

However, if you want to go for a high-end route, many dishes in Confucius Mansion cuisine need to be changed.

We can’t use some of the things we have now. We need to make comprehensive improvements on the ingredients, utensils, and presentation of the dishes based on the current ones.”

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Master Xia fell into deep thought.

Master Xia and the Xia family also have their own ideas about the development of Confucius cuisine.

The idea is very similar to the high-end route mentioned by Feng Zhengming.

Even Master Xia's youngest son and son-in-law want to learn some Western cuisine and incorporate it into Confucius cuisine to make it more international.

Master Xia is firmly opposed to this and even explicitly prohibits it.

Because of this, Xia Zhennan is now the sole proprietor of the Xia family's Shili Restaurant.

Master Xia's two daughters, son-in-law, and youngest son have all gone out to start their own businesses.

Master Xia did not stop them. He thought it was not a bad thing to let the children go out and explore the world.

However, the inheritance of Confucius cuisine is still a difficult task for Master Xia.

Under the current circumstances, the business of Shili Restaurant is not as good as before.

Moreover, relying solely on Shili Restaurant may not be able to promote Confucius cuisine better.

Master Xia was silent for a moment and then asked, "Zhengming, what kind of method is the more popular route you mentioned?"

Feng Zhengming was quite direct: "Cooperate with the Three Confucius Temples Scenic Area."

These words made Master Xia's expression change immediately.

It was obvious that Master Xia was very resistant.

Feng Zhengming gave his explanation seriously.

"I know, Grandpa Xia, you must feel that cooperating with scenic spots will be suspected of deceiving tourists.

But this time I went to the scenic area specifically for a visit. Right next to the Confucius Mansion, there are many restaurants and hotels that serve Confucius Mansion cuisine.

Wouldn't it further tarnish the reputation of Confucius cuisine if those restaurants and hotels, which are obviously very shoddy, were allowed to use the name of Confucius cuisine to deceive tourists?"

Feng Zhengming's words made Master Xia sigh helplessly.

“I also know that allowing the Kongfu cuisine in those scenic spots to exist will indeed damage the reputation of Kongfu cuisine, but if we cooperate with scenic spots, it is easy to be interfered with from all sides.

Moreover, many tourists in the scenic area may be very concerned about the price of the dishes, so we may have to do it at a loss.”

Feng Zhengming shook his head: "Grandpa Xia, your idea is wrong. When I say cooperate with the scenic spot, I don't mean to let the scenic spot dominate you, but you should be able to make your own decisions.

The restaurant you opened in the scenic area is just to give Confucius Mansion cuisine a good reputation and let everyone taste the real Confucius Mansion cuisine.

It is not to cater to the needs of the scenic area, like the existing Confucius Mansion restaurants and hotels. "

Master Xia still didn't quite understand and looked at Feng Zhengming with a puzzled look.

Feng Zhengming then gave a careful explanation to Master Xia.

In fact, Feng Zhengming’s method was to let the Xia family step in and shut down all the messy restaurants and hotels in the scenic area that had signs selling Confucius cuisine.

Then the Xia family took the lead in creating a true Confucius Mansion cuisine.

It is not necessary to serve the dishes strictly according to the specifications of Confucius Mansion cuisine.

Some processes can be simplified, but the dishes must be delicious so that tourists in the scenic area feel that they are not losing out.

"We need to let customers experience the charm of Confucius Mansion cuisine. If they experience the charm of Confucius Mansion cuisine, they will naturally not feel that the money they spent is not worth it."

After saying this, Master Xia felt that this was indeed the truth.

Things are indeed a bit too chaotic in the Confucius Mansion right now.

The existence of so many restaurants and hotels claiming to serve Confucius cuisine is indeed constantly damaging the reputation of Confucius cuisine.

We should indeed prevent this situation from getting worse.

So at this time, the Xia family, as the culinary family that restored and inherited the Confucius cuisine, should really stand up.

Feng Zhengming said seriously, "Grandpa Xia, at the provincial cooking association meeting at the end of the year, I hope you or Senior Brother Xia can bring this up. I will give some support at the meeting and make this happen."

Master Xia nodded: "It is indeed necessary to do this. We cannot let the reputation of Confucius cuisine continue to be damaged."

Speaking of this, Master Xia was somewhat envious of Tan’s cuisine.

"Tan's food is still the best. There are more development opportunities in Beijing."

Feng Zhengming smiled and mentioned that he met the chef who inherited the Tan family cuisine in the island city.

"Grandpa Xia, Tan's cuisine does need to develop better. After all, Tan's cuisine has been in Beijing since the beginning, so it can get more opportunities for development. Especially since Beijing gathers all kinds of cooking chefs from all over the world, it is more convenient for them to communicate with each other.

So it will allow Tan’s cuisine to develop better and make some improvements that keep pace with the times.”

Master Xia nodded: "Yes, we do need to keep pace with the times. After all, we are cooking, and the dishes we make must suit the tastes of today's people."

Feng Zhengming was very happy to see that Master Xia was so open-minded: "Grandpa Xia, I'm glad you think so."

Master Xia then asked: "How do we do the high-end route you mentioned?"

When Feng Zhengming heard this, he understood that Master Xia still hoped to restore the honor that Confucius cuisine once had as an official dish.

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "It's very simple. Opening a Confucius Mansion private restaurant in Quancheng is a high-end restaurant. From the selection of ingredients to the equipment of various tableware, chefs and service staff, everything needs to be equipped with the best.

The goal is to create a sense of the style of Confucius Mansion cuisine, the official cuisine of the past, to attract people who want to learn about Confucius Mansion cuisine.”

Master Xia hesitated: "Is it really okay to do this?"

Feng Zhengming is very confident: "Of course, and as our domestic economy develops better and better, more and more people will be willing to try it.

Of course, if you want to do this, you will have to invest a lot in all aspects, especially the chef team. They must all be skilled chefs who cook in person to ensure that every dish is better than most restaurants, even better than Jufengde. "

These words shocked Master Xia.

Want to do better than Jufengde?

This is something Master Xia had never thought of.

But after being surprised, Master Xia thought about it carefully.

What Feng Zhengming said was to open a Confucius Mansion private restaurant in Quancheng.

Doesn’t that mean that the craftsmanship must surpass that of Jufengde?
At least it needs to be on par with Jufengde.

But then Master Xia remembered that there was a Huiquanlou in Quancheng.

Feng Zhengming, the national number one chef, is in charge of Huiquan Restaurant. This is probably unmatched by any other restaurant. Feng Zhengming saw Master Xia's worry, smiled and told the master directly.

“Grandpa Xia, if you want to take me into consideration, then I think that Confucius Mansion cuisine may not be able to flourish, because Confucius Mansion cuisine is so famous that even I, the national culinary champion, cannot surpass Huiquan Restaurant if I don’t cook in person.

Then what is the revival of Confucius cuisine? "

Master Xia was left speechless.

Indeed, if the Kongfu cuisine is not better than the dishes designed by Feng Zhengming, the top scholar, then there is no way for it to be revived.

Master Xia hesitated for a moment and suddenly asked: "Zhengming, if we go to Quancheng, can we invite you to help us customize the menu? We can fully disclose the cooking techniques of Confucius Mansion cuisine to you."

Hearing this, Feng Zhengming didn't know how to respond for a moment.

But on second thought, it didn't seem difficult to customize the menu for the Xia family.

After all, Feng Zhengming has a set of advanced ideas.

What's more, you can also acquire some techniques of Confucius cuisine, and perhaps create something new.

Feng Zhengming nodded decisively and agreed: "Okay, if Grandpa Xia and you guys go to Quancheng, I will definitely do my best to help, and I agree to customize the menu."

Master Xia was very satisfied with this: "Hahaha, OK, I feel relieved with your words."

In Master Xia’s opinion, it would be somewhat difficult for the Xia family to develop Confucius cuisine.

We really need the help of a national culinary champion like Feng Zhengming.

What's more, the granddaughter and grandson that Master Xia favors are now under Feng Zhengming's command.

Master Xia still hopes that Confucius cuisine will really go to Quancheng in the future.

If we open a Confucius Mansion private restaurant in Quancheng as Feng Zhengming said, we can get Feng Zhengming's support and help.

Master Xia has already decided in his heart that he will hand over the private restaurant in Quancheng to his granddaughter and grandson in the future.

If we just rely on the two of them, it will definitely be difficult in the early stages.

Feng Zhengming naturally guessed what Master Xia was thinking.

He felt that helping Xia Hui and Xia Mingye was not a bad thing.

After all, Feng Zhengming still hopes that Confucius cuisine can be passed down well.

And in the hands of Xia Hui and Xia Mingye, they will be able to incorporate some innovative elements to truly restore the reputation of the original three official dishes.

As a chef, it is an honor to be able to personally participate in promoting Confucius cuisine.

Master Xia did not continue chatting with Feng Zhengming. He asked Feng Zhengming to have a good rest first and then left.

After Master Xia left, Feng Zhengming began to think about it.

If I want to open a dry food shop in Qufu, where should I open it?
What kind of adjustments need to be made to the dishes in Ganfanpu? Can Ganfanpu have certain characteristics in Qufu?

Of course, in addition to opening a branch in Qufu, Feng Zhengming also needs to open a branch in the urban area of ​​Jeju.

Feng Zhengming felt that he should be able to ask the Xia family to help select some people at that time.

It would be great if we could incorporate some of the Confucius Mansion cuisine’s distinctive yet simple dishes into it.

It would be great if the dry rice shop opened stores in Jeju and Qufu.

Along the way, Feng Zhengming has seen a lot and has had more ideas.

For example, this restaurant has opened branches all over Qi and Lu.

Each store must also have some local characteristics.

This is a very good idea.

But it’s also a very bold idea.

Because if you are not careful, you may find yourself in a thankless situation.

Especially when introducing local specialties, sufficient understanding of the local area is required.

We also need to invite people who can cook local specialties.

These are not just talk.

In order to fully implement it, too much preparation is required in the early stages.

Of course, Feng Zhengming still decided to test the waters in Yancheng now.

Because Yancheng has his own Sixth Senior Brother to help check.
If the new model can be implemented in Yancheng, then Yancheng's successful experience can be applied to other cities.

The most critical point is the training and arrangement of talents.

There is one thing Feng Zhengming has to guard against.

Once a branch becomes really famous, will someone invest money to poach people from the branch?

If someone spots this business.

Investing money to poach people from a branch and then opening the same store will definitely affect the branch's business.

It may even lead to vicious competition with branches.

After all, it is impossible for Feng Zhengming to keep an eye on every branch.

If there really is an expert who secretly makes trouble for the branch, Feng Zhengming will not be able to solve it immediately.

Feng Zhengming lay down on the bed. At this moment he was really under some pressure.

If you want to run the branch well, you need to open branches all over the province, or even across the country.

It’s really not an easy thing to do.

Lying on the bed, Feng Zhengming even had some hope in his mind. How great it would be if he could have a system like in some time-travel and rebirth novels in his previous life, which allowed him to control the branch at any time?

But there is no such thing in reality, and Feng Zhengming felt that he could only build a management team.

The management team must cooperate with you to manage the branches in various locations in an orderly manner.

I thought about it for a long time, and even wondered in my mind what kind of people should be on the management team?

Suddenly Feng Zhengming laughed.

"I'm really a little over the top. I've even started to think about the management team. Should I also think about the future listing?"

Feng Zhengming laughed at himself a little, "I'd better not think too far ahead. For now, I should visit all the places, participate in the provincial young chef cooking competition by the end of the year, actively contact Brother Liu, and open a branch in Yancheng first."

After figuring all this out, Feng Zhengming calmed down completely, then he lay down on the bed and quickly fell asleep.

The next day, Feng Zhengming unexpectedly did not get up early.

When he got up, he found that it was almost ten o'clock in the morning.

After getting up and washing, Feng Zhengming opened the door and went to look for Ding Yuan, Gao Yongfu and Hou Dong.

In the end, Feng Zhengming felt a little strange that he didn't find the three of them.
Fortunately, they left a note at the hotel front desk.

It turned out that the three people saw that he was sleeping well, so they did not disturb him and followed the Xia family to their restaurant to study. (End of this chapter)