From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Feng Zhengming was not in a hurry to go to the Xia family's Shili Restaurant. He first wandered around Qufu alone.

We came to the block next to the Confucius Mansion and wanted to take a look at the several Confucius Mansion restaurants there.

As a result, Feng Zhengming just walked to the door of a restaurant called Kongfu Restaurant.

A figure walked out from the Kongfu Restaurant and recognized Feng Zhengming standing in front of the door at a glance.

"You, you, you are the national champion of Shandong cuisine, right?"

While calling Feng Zhengming, the other party quickly ran to Feng Zhengming.

"Oh, Mr. Feng, I didn't expect you to come here. Are you here to teach us about the Confucius Mansion cuisine? Come in, come in."

Feng Zhengming felt a little helpless when the other party held his hand.

Along the way, many people failed to recognize themselves.

As a result, today I was walking alone on this old street outside the Confucius Mansion.

I was actually recognized by someone.

The person who came out of Kongfu Restaurant was quite enthusiastic.

Moreover, the other party seemed to be afraid that Feng Zhengming would leave, and held Feng Zhengming's hands with both hands and refused to let go.

Feng Zhengming was not pulled in directly by the other party, but stood where he was.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

The other party wanted to pull Feng Zhengming in, but after pulling for a long time, he found that Feng Zhengming was much taller and stronger than himself, so he knew there was no way to pull Feng Zhengming in directly.

He had no choice but to stand at the door, still holding Feng Zhengming's hand and introducing himself first.

"I'm sorry, I'm so excited. My name is Kong Lingfu, and I'm the owner of this Kongfu Restaurant."

After introducing himself, Kong Lingfu continued to excitedly express his admiration to Feng Zhengming.

"Mr. Feng, I really admire you very much. I hope you can give some advice to our restaurant."

After hearing the other party's name, Feng Zhengming asked curiously, "Your last name is Kong? So, you are from the Kong family?"

Kong Lingfu was a little embarrassed: "Actually not really. I should say I can only be considered an outer disciple. My ancestors served the Yanshenggong Kong Mansion. We can't be considered descendants of the Kong family."

Feng Zhengming couldn't help but asked with a smile: "Since you opened the Kong Mansion Restaurant, and your last name is Kong, anyone else would definitely want to get closer to the Kong Mansion. Why are you distancing yourself from it?"

Hearing this, Kong Lingfu answered seriously: "I opened this Kongfu Restaurant because my ancestors did stay in the Kongfu, so I know how to cook some Kongfu dishes, so I opened this Kongfu Restaurant.

But I am not from the Confucius Mansion, so I cannot just use my status as a descendant of the Yansheng Duke to deceive others. "

When Feng Zhengming heard this, he immediately looked at Kong Lingfu in a different light.

It is obvious that they have already opened the Kongfu Restaurant and borrowed the name of Kongfu cuisine.

In the end, he still very seriously distanced himself from the issue.

Feng Zhengming thought about it and declined the invitation: "You can open a restaurant serving Confucius cuisine on the old street outside the Confucius Mansion. You also said that your ancestors cooked in the Confucius Mansion. I am not very knowledgeable about Confucius cuisine, so I am afraid I can't give you any advice."

After saying this, Feng Zhengming turned around and prepared to leave.

But Kong Lingfu quickly pulled Feng Zhengming back.

"No, no, Mr. Feng, please don't leave. I know you were being modest. I know you have mastered all Shandong cuisines, and Confucius cuisine is also within the scope of Shandong cuisine, so you must understand it."

Feng Zhengming felt somewhat dissatisfied with being held up by the other party like this.

"Boss Kong, isn't this inappropriate? You're holding me back on the street, and outside the Kong Mansion. Don't you think this is impolite?"

Kong Lingfu was stunned by what he said and subconsciously let go of Feng Zhengming.

But after letting go, Kong Lingfu still hoped to keep Feng Zhengming.

"Feng Zhuangyuan, I know you are a master chef, and it would be difficult for me to keep you here, but I really want to ask you to give us some advice on our restaurant."

Feng Zhengming did not leave immediately, but stared at Kong Lingfu for a while.

"Actually, I'm curious. Since you're using the signature dish of Confucius Mansion cuisine, don't you have confidence in yourself?"

This question stumped Kong Lingfu again.

Kong Lingfu hesitated for a moment and could only explain the situation to Feng Zhengming truthfully.

In short, Kong Lingfu probably didn't think so much when he opened the Kongfu Restaurant.

He just wanted to take advantage of the booming domestic economy and the tourism industry that was being developed in various places.

Especially at the Confucius Mansion, a large number of people come to worship almost every year.

His ancestors once lived in the Confucius Mansion.

It just so happened that at that time, some restaurants and hotels on the old street next to the Confucius Mansion were being subcontracted and renovated.

Kong Lingfu also worked in other places in his early years and had accumulated some funds.

So Kong Lingfu simply took over the Kongfu Restaurant.

His idea was that by relying on the signboard of the restaurant he had contracted, he should be able to attract some chefs of Confucius cuisine to cooperate with him. In that way, even if he gave more to the chefs when distributing dividends, he should still be able to make a good income.

As a result, Kong Lingfu did not expect that after he contracted the restaurant, he found that he could not find a chef who cooked Kongfu cuisine.

It was only later that he found out that Confucius cuisine had actually been lost long ago.

The current Confucius Mansion cuisine was restored by the Xia family and some Shandong cuisine chefs.

Therefore, the Xia family may be the only one who can cook Confucius Mansion cuisine.

But they have their own restaurant, so there is no way they would be willing to help Kong Lingfu run his restaurant.

As a result, Kong Lingfu's restaurant fell into ruin in his hands.

Fortunately, Kong Lingfu was smart. He went to Quancheng and hired several Shandong cuisine chefs at high salaries.

Because Confucius cuisine was once considered a lost art, many people now don’t know what dishes it contains?

Kong Lingfu simply asked those Shandong cuisine chefs to cook Shandong cuisine in his Kongfu Restaurant.

He really fooled him.

Taking advantage of the restaurant's geographical location, Kong Lingfu's business has been pretty good in recent years.

Hearing this, Feng Zhengming couldn't help but smile and asked, "Since business is good, what else do you need me to teach you?"

Kong Lingfu looked helpless: "Business is not bad, but after all, the chefs here can't make authentic Kongfu cuisine. If someone really asks us to make Kongfu cuisine, we really have no way to deal with it."

Feng Zhengming thought about it and directly gave his own solution: "Why don't you change the sign?"

Kong Lingfu was stunned: "Change the sign?"

Feng Zhengming nodded seriously: "Since you are not cooking Confucius Mansion cuisine, there is actually no need to hang such a sign. It is too ostentatious to hang such a sign.

You will definitely be criticized by others, but perhaps you can still rely on your good cooking skills to stabilize your business.

But if you can’t make authentic Confucius cuisine, sooner or later people will point this out to you.”

Feng Zhengming's words did serve as a wake-up call to Kong Lingfu.

Over the years, Kong Lingfu did feel a little hot about this sign. It seemed that the sign did attract many customers to his restaurant.

But most of those customers came for the words "Kong Mansion" on the sign.

But he couldn't hire a chef to cook Confucius cuisine, so sooner or later customers would cause trouble for his restaurant because of these two words.

Therefore, Kong Lingfu really wanted to find someone who could cook Kongfu cuisine and learn it well.

Now Feng Zhengming pointed out the problem and told him that he could change the sign.

Kong Lingfu was really a little moved.

If he changes the sign and continues to open the restaurant here, relying on the location advantage, he should be able to maintain relatively good business.

Thinking about it this way, Kong Lingfu felt that maybe changing the signboard was a good idea.

But suddenly, a customer passed by.

When they saw the sign of his restaurant, several people immediately called their companions to go in together.

"This is the Kongfu Restaurant. They should serve Kongfu cuisine. Now that we are here, we must try some. Let's go in and have a taste. Let's have lunch here."

As they were talking, a few people did not notice Feng Zhengming and Kong Lingfu at the door and went in together.

When Kong Lingfu saw this scene, he instantly gave up the idea of ​​changing the sign.

Obviously, the Kongfu Restaurant signboard is indeed the key to maintaining his restaurant's business.

Locals may not bother to come, but outsiders who visit the Confucius Mansion will definitely be willing to go in and eat.

Besides, the vegetable prices set by Kong Lingfu were not very high.

So in fact, many tourists will not come back to them after having a meal there, even if they think it may not be authentic Confucius Mansion cuisine.

Seeing Kong Lingfu, someone walked in towards the sign of Kongfu Restaurant.

Feng Zhengming probably guessed what Kong Lingfu was thinking.

He just sighed softly, then turned and left.

Kong Lingfu waited until Feng Zhengming walked some distance away before he came to his senses.

After coming to his senses, Kong Lingfu quickly caught up with Feng Zhengming.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Feng, I'm afraid I can't change the sign."

Feng Zhengming nodded without saying anything.

Seeing that Feng Zhengming didn't say anything, Kong Lingfu could only continue to talk to Feng Zhengming.

"Don't worry, Mr. Feng. Our restaurant will definitely maintain its standard. Although we may not be able to make authentic Confucius Mansion cuisine, we will definitely make Shandong cuisine well, and we guarantee that the price will not be too high."

When Feng Zhengming heard what the other party said, he finally stopped.

"So, your restaurant is relatively ethical?"

Kong Lingfu responded seriously: "Yes, we will not fool our customers casually."

Feng Zhengming turned around again: "Let's go."

Kong Lingfu looked puzzled: "Leave? Where to?"

Feng Zhengming pointed to the Kongfu Restaurant: "Don't you want to treat me to a meal?"

Kong Lingfu immediately laughed: "Hahaha, okay, okay, please come in, No. 1 scholar, please come in."

Under the guidance of Kong Lingfu, Feng Zhengming was introduced to Kongfu Restaurant.

After entering the door, I have to say that the space inside is not that big.

And judging from the overall decoration, it looks quite old.

After Feng Zhengming entered the room, he immediately pointed out the problem before he even sat down.

"How long has it been since you cleaned your restaurant? Look at your tablecloth, don't you guys ever change it? There are holes in your tablecloth? Can you still use it when it's so dirty?"

These words made Kong Lingfu feel a little embarrassed.

Feng Zhengming continued to walk inside.

Observe carefully as you walk.

But the more he looked, the more Feng Zhengming frowned.

He just thought that opening a restaurant next to the Confucius Mansion would be too profitable.
Be it the tables and chairs or the various tableware in this restaurant, nothing looks new.

Especially some of the chairs, which look quite old.

Feng Zhengming looked around and couldn't help asking, "Is this a restaurant or a furniture store? Don't you guys replace these old tables and chairs? Aren't you afraid that if someone has problems sitting there, they'll cause trouble for you?"

Kong Lingfu looked embarrassed. He had not expected that Feng Zhengming would raise issues with the layout of the restaurant first.

It seems that Kong Lingfu has no intention of changing directly.

Feng Zhengming could only warn with a serious face: "As a good restaurant, if you can't even guarantee that the most basic tables and chairs are new, how can you compete with others?
Is it just because of your good geographical location?
You can still take advantage of this now, but if your reputation spreads in the future and people tell others about the environment here, do you think so many people will still be willing to come and eat here?"

Without waiting for Kong Lingfu to speak, Feng Zhengming gave the order for improvement directly and without question.

"If you really want to run this restaurant well and live up to its reputation, then you must first do a thorough cleaning. All the tables and chairs must be replaced, and the tablecloths must also be replaced. They must all be replaced with new ones.

As for your chairs, you need to find a place that specializes in wooden furniture and order a batch of antique official hat chairs."

Feng Zhengming said these words out of his sincere desire to help Kong Lingfu run the restaurant well.

At least it should look worthy of the sign at the door.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Kong Lingfu seemed to realize his problem.

He quickly agreed seriously.

"Okay, okay, Mr. Feng, you are right. I will definitely redecorate this place according to your requirements, and replace all the tables and chairs. All the chairs need to be replaced with those official hat chairs. I have also remembered that."

Feng Zhengming looked at Kong Lingfu and he really didn’t know whether he should help this person?
The key is to look at his expression, he seems to really want to run the restaurant well.

But after seeing everything he saw when he entered the door, Feng Zhengming really didn’t know how to evaluate him?
In Feng Zhengming's opinion, perhaps it was too easy for him to run this restaurant.

Many tourists who come to visit the Confucius Mansion will want to come in and have a look and taste the food when they see the sign of the Confucius Mansion Restaurant.

Everything came too easily, so much so that Kong Lingfu had no motivation to make progress.

Thinking of this, Feng Zhengming sighed, shook his head, then turned and walked outside.

When Kong Lingfu saw Feng Zhengming turn around and walk out, he was a little confused.

He quickly chased after him: "Feng Zhuangyuan, you, what do you mean? Didn't you say you wanted to go in and try our food?"

Feng Zhengming shook his head and responded, "I'm sorry, I've lost my appetite after seeing the layout of your restaurant. If you really want to run the restaurant well, you should do a thorough cleaning first and replace the tables, chairs, dishes, etc."

After saying this, Feng Zhengming left Kongfu Restaurant without stopping.

After leaving, Feng Zhengming hesitated for a moment and then did not return to the Xia family's Shili Restaurant.

He went straight to the local government. He felt that it was necessary to remind the locals that they should not allow the restaurants and hotels around the Confucius Mansion to exist without permission and display the Confucius Mansion cuisine signs. (End of this chapter)