From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

With Feng Zhengming's encouragement, Qi Jiale gradually regained some fighting spirit and determined to hone himself well before participating in the provincial youth chef cooking competition so as to further improve his cooking skills.

After Feng Zhengming talked with Qi Jiale, he felt that Qi Jiale had regained his fighting spirit.

He then talked to Gu Zhicheng alone.

In the conversation with Gu Zhicheng, Feng Zhengming asked the first question.

"Old Gu, if I let you go back to the island city and take charge of the dry rice shop branch over there, and let you be the head chef in the kitchen there, would you be willing to go back?"

When Gu Zhicheng heard this question, he was really surprised.

After Feng Zhengming came back, Gu Zhicheng actually felt that he would talk to everyone individually.

Gu Zhicheng had even speculated in his mind what Feng Zhengming might say to him?
But Feng Zhengming was so straightforward and asked him if he was willing to return to the island city.

Gu Zhicheng was a little unprepared and stunned for a moment, not knowing how to answer Feng Zhengming.

Seeing that Gu Zhicheng did not answer immediately, Feng Zhengming gave some explanations of his own.

"Starting next year, I will probably start opening branches of the dry rice shop in various places in the province, but each branch is not a simple dry rice shop. In addition to the braised pork, each store will be equipped with a back kitchen.

I will also introduce local specialties and snacks into the dry rice shop, so that each branch in each place will have its own characteristics. "

When Gu Zhicheng heard what Feng Zhengming said, he was even more shocked.

It can be said that Gu Zhicheng had never expected that a branch of Ganfanpu could be opened in this way.

Seeing that Gu Zhicheng still didn't say anything, Feng Zhengming then went on to tell him some of his subsequent plans.

"I passed by the island city this time and met with your master. I also learned about the situation in the island city through your master. If the dry rice shop branch operates well there, I should officially open a restaurant in the island city later.

If you were in Daocheng, I would feel more at ease, and maybe you would be the chef of the new restaurant in Daocheng in the future."

After hearing this, how could Gu Zhicheng not understand what Feng Zhengming meant?
Feng Zhengming hopes that Gu Zhicheng will return to the island city.

Start by running a dry rice shop branch and accumulate enough experience.

Later, he worked as a chef in a restaurant in the island city.

Moreover, there are indeed certain advantages for Gu Zhicheng to return to the island city.

First, he is a native of the island city, so after returning, Gu Zhicheng can take care of his family more conveniently.

Second, he is Gao Fengyi's apprentice, and will be taken care of by Gao Fengyi when he returns to the island city.

Feng Zhengming knew all this, which is why he asked this question to Gu Zhicheng.

Finally, Feng Zhengming added: "You can think about this matter, and don't rush to give an answer. If you don't want to go back to the island city and are willing to stay in Quancheng, I won't force you.

Next year we will help you bring your wife and children over so that your family can be reunited and you don’t have to live apart like this forever.”

After listening to Feng Zhengming's words, Gu Zhicheng thought about it carefully before finally speaking.

"Chef, you asked me to go back to the island city, is it because I didn't manage Huiquanlou well?"

Feng Zhengming quickly explained: "Don't get me wrong, I just think that since you are a local of Daocheng, you will have more advantages if you run the branch there."

Gu Zhicheng still sighed and expressed his apologies to Feng Zhengming first.

"Chef, I'm sorry. I betrayed your trust in the kitchen of Huiquanlou. I was supposed to assist Uncle Li and the others and share some of the chores in the kitchen with them, but I didn't do a good job and caused some conflicts in the kitchen."

After hearing this, Feng Zhengming smiled and comforted Gu Zhicheng.

"Old Gu, I didn't come back to blame you. You all did a good job. Whether it was Xia Hui, the first person I talked to, or Qi Jiale just now, I didn't talk to you to blame you.

I know you have been working very hard, and you have also been under a lot of pressure during the time I was away.

So no matter what problems you have, I won't blame you.

What's more, you haven't encountered any problems and you still maintain the good reputation of Huiquanlou.

I really appreciate you guys.”

After saying this, Feng Zhengming paused for a moment and continued, "If you don't want to go back to the island city, that's fine. You can continue to stay at Huiquanlou. Maybe I'll let you be the chef of Huiquanlou in the future."

Only then did Gu Zhicheng hurriedly explain to Feng Zhengming.

"No, no, Chef, I'd like to go back to Island City. During my time in Quan City, I've learned a lot from you. I think going back to Island City will be another kind of experience for me.

I am willing to help you run the Daocheng Dry Rice Shop branch and keep the reputation of Fengjia Dry Rice Shop going."

Feng Zhengming responded with a smile: "Old Gu, you don't have to put too much pressure on yourself. The dry rice shop branch in the island city is a transition for you. When you go there, you must also help me pay attention to the situation of some restaurants in the island city.

If there is a suitable one, you must tell me immediately and I will consider opening a restaurant there as soon as possible.

By then, the new restaurant in the island city will probably let you, Old Gu, be the head chef."

Gu Zhicheng nodded first, but then he asked curiously: "Chef, if you open a restaurant in the island city, won't you go there and cook in person?"

Feng Zhengming answered very straightforwardly: "It is impossible for me to stay in the island city permanently, so if I open a restaurant there, I still need a chef who can stay there permanently to take charge. Lao Gu, I think you are very suitable."

This made Gu Zhicheng feel a little embarrassed.

"Chef, although I am older than you, my cooking skills are indeed much worse than yours. However, I will definitely work hard to catch up and strive to make a name for myself in the island city."

Feng Zhengming's words were very straightforward; he regarded Gu Zhicheng as his confidant.

Gu Zhicheng also understood it in his heart, and he looked at Feng Zhengming seriously.

"Don't worry, chef. I will definitely run the branch in the island city well."

Feng Zhengming smiled and patted Gu Zhicheng on the shoulder: "I trust you. When you go to Daocheng, you will own 30% of the shares in the branch there."

After hearing this, Gu Zhicheng opened his mouth to refuse.

But Feng Zhengming didn't let him say no.

"Don't refuse. You deserve this. Every person in charge of a branch will have such a share. I hope that we can all be a whole and you will all become the elders of my company."

After hearing this, Gu Zhicheng stopped refusing.

In Gu Zhicheng's opinion, it is definitely worthwhile to become a veteran of Feng Zhengming's company.

After chatting, Feng Zhengming and Gu Zhicheng returned to the kitchen together.

Complete the final cleanup with everyone.

When leaving Huiquan Building.

On the way, Feng Zhengming talked to Lu Chongshan about the old man who made Daliu noodles they met in Dezhou.

Lu Chongshan immediately became interested: "Chef, does the old man you mentioned really make Da Liu noodles so well?"

Feng Zhengming nodded. "It's great. I also went to the birthplace of Da Liu noodles and tried several Da Liu noodles there. In terms of noodles alone, there are probably few that can surpass Grandpa Zhang's."

Lu Chongshan was a little embarrassed at this time, and he obviously wanted to learn it very much.

This is the skill he, as a Chinese pastry chef, is eager to learn.

Whether it was the recipe of Dalui noodles or some other noodles, Lv Chongshan hoped to learn it. But Lv Chongshan was too embarrassed to ask Feng Zhengming directly.

He also knew that the craft was passed down to Feng Zhengming by an old man.

It seemed a bit too greedy for him to ask for it directly like this.

Feng Zhengming was also waiting for Lu Chongshan to speak.

As a result, he waited for a long time, but Lu Chongshan was too embarrassed to speak.

Seeing Lu Chongshan's embarrassed look, I probably guessed that Lu Chongshan was embarrassed to ask for it.

Feng Zhengming asked with a smile: "Do you really want to see it for yourself? And learn from Grandpa Zhang?"

Lu Chongshan immediately looked at Feng Zhengming and nodded without hesitation: "I want to learn."

Only then did Feng Zhengming tell the main point of his private conversation with Lu Chongshan.

"So, if I open a branch of the dry rice shop in Texas, would you be willing to go to Texas? Go there and work with Grandpa Zhang, and be in charge of the branch in Texas?"

Lu Chongshan was a little surprised when he heard this, and then he asked very frankly: "Chef, you, you don't want me anymore?"

Lu Chongshan did not try to suppress his voice at all, and as a result, other people heard it as well.

Then everyone stopped and looked at Feng Zhengming and Lu Chongshan together.

Feng Zhengming was also frightened by Lu Chongshan's shout.

Then look at the other people's puzzled eyes.

Feng Zhengming could only explain in public: "It's not that I don't want you, I just want you to go out and gain some experience. Your noodle-making skills are already very good, so I want you to go to Dezhou to learn the skills from Grandpa Zhang, and support the branch there."

After hearing this, Lu Chongshan and the others understood it all at once.

Lu Chongshan thought for a moment and asked, "Chef, do I have to go?"

When Feng Zhengming heard this, he couldn't help but look at Gu Zhicheng.

The latter also looked over with a helpless look.

The two sides looked at each other, and Feng Zhengming felt somewhat helpless.

He could only explain to Lu Chongshan: "First of all, it's not that I don't want you anymore, nor is it because you made any mistakes, and I'm not sending you to Dezhou.

I asked you to go to Texas to be the head chef there, and you have to help me run the branch in Texas."

After hearing this, Lu Chongshan finally understood.

"Oh, I see. I misunderstood you, Chef."

Seeing that everyone, including the eldest and fifth brothers who went back together, looked at him.

Feng Zhengming told everyone in public about his big plan.

"Well, since everyone is so curious, I will explain to you the big plan that I came up with in my mind after traveling all over Qi and Lu this time.

My idea is very simple. I think many places in Qilu now do not pay attention to local food, snacks and restaurants.

Many local chefs are not very professional, and some local specialties and snacks are gradually disappearing.

So I was thinking of using the model of my several dry rice shops in Quancheng to open branches in various places.

The branches should add local specialties and snacks, not just snacks, not just braised pork.

We also need to cook the same dishes as Quancheng, so we need someone we can trust to be the head chef."

After hearing this, almost everyone understood.

Li Huidong thought for a while and said, "So Zhengming, you want to open branches all over the province? And each place must have local characteristics, and at the same time, the skills of the chefs in the kitchens of each branch cannot be too bad?"

Feng Zhengming nodded and said, "Yes, I want to promote the brand of my company 'Zheng Luxing'. In the future, Zheng Luxing will be a company that integrates restaurants and chef training.

It is necessary to be able to train Shandong cuisine chefs and also to be able to guide and operate Shandong cuisine restaurants and hotels.

We need to inherit our Shandong cuisine, promote and develop it, and make the dishes well.”

After hearing this, Cao Zhiguo couldn't help but exclaimed: "Zhengming, this idea of ​​yours is really amazing."

The eldest brother said in a serious tone: "Zhengming's idea is a very large plan, but if it can be accomplished, it will be a great thing for the inheritance and development of our Shandong cuisine."

Feng Zhengming, on the other hand, had a calm expression: "I just want to use my limited strength to help Shandong cuisine be passed down and developed better.

When branches of dry rice shops are opened in various places and restaurants and hotels gradually grow in scale, we can set a set of rules and let the masters set the standards.

In the future, Shandong cuisine restaurants and hotels will need to meet different levels of standards.”

Perhaps if someone says that a standard should be established to rank restaurants and hotels, it will definitely be criticized by others.

But if Feng Zhengming came forward, everyone would know that he could accomplish this task.

Because he is the champion of the national cooking competition, he is authoritative enough.

Feng Zhengming also said that he wanted to invite the senior masters to come forward and set standards together.

In this way, no one would dare to raise any objections.

After listening to Feng Zhengming's words, Lu Chongshan thought about it and agreed: "Chef, if you need me, I am willing to go to Texas and support the branch there."

Feng Zhengming smiled and nodded: "This is also a test for you, to see if you have learned anything in the kitchen of Huiquanlou."

Li Huidong echoed, "Yes, Chongshan, you are going to be the head chef there, so you can't embarrass Huiquanlou."

Lu Chongshan scratched his head and smiled innocently: "I will try my best."

After chatting with Lu Chongshan, Feng Zhengming asked everyone else in Huiquanlou to go back and rest, while he, his eldest brother and his fifth brother rushed to the old Feng family restaurant.

The brothers decided to get together with the third brother in the evening to discuss some things.

On the way, Feng Zhengming told his two senior brothers in detail about his next plans.

There were many details that were not made clear before, but Feng Zhengming explained them in detail to his two senior brothers on the way.

Li Huidong and Cao Zhiguo were both a little surprised when they heard this.

After their junior brother came back, they already felt that he was different.

Today I saw the various performances of my junior brother, and some of the things he said tonight.

It can be said that Li Huidong and Cao Zhiguo were all shocked, and they realized that their junior brother seemed to have embarked on a path that they had never thought of and could not catch up with.

After being shocked, Li Huidong reminded his junior fellow apprentice in a deep voice.

"Your ideas are good, but you still have to be careful. Some people in the cooking association are not so easy to deal with. They may not have good cooking skills, but they are very good at raising the flag to suppress others."

Feng Zhengming smiled and responded: "Don't worry, big brother, I will find a way to make sure they can't control me." (End of this chapter)