From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Chapter 776 The Boss Treats
Boss Wang’s daughter is named Wang Youqi.

Ever since Boss Wang tasted Feng Zhengming's cooking skills in Quancheng, he later saw Feng Zhengming win the first prize in the National Cooking Skills Competition on TV.

There were also news reports that Feng Zhengming, the top scholar, attended the state banquet after his return.

Boss Wang always talks about Feng Zhengming with his wife and children at home.

According to Boss Wang, Feng Zhengming's cooking skills are very impressive.

Even Boss Wang said that the dishes cooked by Feng Zhengming were the most delicious he had ever eaten.

Because she often heard her father say this at home, Wang Youqi was full of curiosity about Feng Zhengming and was very much looking forward to his cooking skills.

As a result, when I asked Feng Zhengming in person today, I was told that the dishes he cooks may not be better than those cooked by the restaurant chef.

Wang Youqi suddenly felt that something was wrong.

"Dad, you lied to us. People say that the dishes you cook are not necessarily better than those cooked by chefs in restaurants."

When Boss Wang heard what his daughter said, he was a little amused.

"I'm just being modest. I'm trying to give face to the chef of this restaurant."

Wang Youqi was not convinced: "It's delicious, so why do you have to save face? You are so dishonest."

The little girl's words amused both Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing.

Feng Zhengming smiled and gave his own explanation.

"I said it may not be better than what the chefs here cook because everyone may have different opinions on whether it tastes good or not after eating it."

In order to make the girl understand, Feng Zhengming continued to give her examples.

“It’s like candy. People who like sweet food think candy is delicious, but people who don’t like sweet food think candy is not delicious.

Or someone who likes spicy food will think the spicier it is, the better it tastes. Do you like spicy food?"

The girl waved her hands when asked: "I don't like spicy food."

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Look, if you don't like chili peppers, you definitely don't like spicy food. You don't think spicy food tastes good, right?"

The girl nodded.

Feng Zhengming: "So if it's a spicy dish, you don't think it tastes good, but people who like spicy food think it tastes good. So if you ask me if my cooking is better than the chef in this restaurant, I can only answer that it's not necessarily the case."

After listening to Feng Zhengming's statement, Wang Youqi thought about it carefully for a while and nodded in agreement.

"Well, you're right. Whether it tastes good or not depends on the customers eating it."

Feng Zhengming laughed, and Boss Wang and Mrs. Wang also laughed.

Mrs. Wang apologized to Feng Zhengming again: "I'm sorry, Mr. Feng, our Qiqi is usually spoiled by her father, so she dares to speak nonsense to anyone she meets."

Feng Zhengming smiled: "It's okay, Mrs. Wang, you don't have to keep apologizing to me. I think you and Boss Wang's daughter are very cute. In this era, girls are less likely to suffer if they are bolder."

Boss Wang laughed happily: "Hahaha, Mr. Feng and I really have the same opinion on this."

Feng Zhengming: "Boss Wang, don't call me Feng Zhuangyuan. Call me Xiao Feng, or Zhengming. Today is a family dinner, so we should address each other in a more family-like way."

Boss Wang nodded: "Yes, yes, I'll call you Zhengming."

Mrs. Wang also changed her tone: "Okay, then I will call you Zhengming too."

Boss Wang added: "Then don't call me Boss Wang Boss Wang. I'm a few years older than you. Just call me Brother Wang, and this one is your sister-in-law."

Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing changed their way of addressing Boss Wang and Mrs. Wang to "Big Brother and Sister-in-law."

After changing the name, both sides became more comfortable.

Then the restaurant started serving food to Feng Zhengming and his friends.

The first dishes served were some famous cold dishes in Cantonese cuisine.

For example, boiled chicken.

When the chicken was served, some blood could be clearly seen at the cut.

Boss Wang introduced with a smile: "The white-cut chicken here is very famous here. Don't be fooled by the blood. This is how the chicken is considered tender enough. You can try it now."

Feng Zhengming smiled and nodded: "I know this. In your place, Brother Wang, you guys insist that chicken must taste like chicken."

Boss Wang nodded: "Yes, it must have chicken flavor."

Feng Zhengming picked up a piece and dipped it in the sauce prepared here.

Put it into your mouth and savor it carefully.

The chicken skin is quite crispy and the meat is very tender.

The chicken flavor is well preserved without being processed for a long time.

Of course, this also has something to do with the breed of chicken used here.

Luo Qing also picked up a piece and said it tasted very good after eating it.

“It does taste different from the fried chicken we have over there.”

Feng Zhengming: "It's different. The chicken breeds we use are different. The best chickens we use are free-range chickens from the mountains. They are roosters that are a few years old. They must be fried and roasted to be tender and tasty.

The chicken used in Cantonese cuisine is much more tender, and it cannot be stir-fried or roasted like in Shandong cuisine, otherwise it will become very tough if it is overcooked.”

Mrs. Wang smiled and said, "As expected of the number one scholar, it seems that he is not only knowledgeable about Shandong cuisine, but also about other cuisines."

Boss Wang took over the conversation: "Zhengming came to our place this time to exchange culinary skills, and they will also go to Hong Kong City together."

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, this is what we agreed upon when we attended the return state banquet together."

Wang Youqi was immediately very curious: "Uncle, when you prepare state banquets, is it different from the usual cooking?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and replied: "There won't be much difference. The only difference may be that we need to process the ingredients more cleanly. For example, for chicken, we need to remove the bones in advance."

Wang Youqi continued to ask: "Do we need to remove the bones?"

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, because foreigners don't spit out bones, so we have to clean the bones for them. Also, the chicken can't be cooked so tender, it must be fully cooked."

"Well done? Wouldn't that make it taste bad?"

Feng Zhengming smiled and replied: "So, the state banquet may not necessarily be very delicious."

The restaurant then served a variety of classic Cantonese dishes.

Especially the various kinds of seafood are really endless.

Not only were there small seafood from Qilu, but there were also large seafood like lobsters and king crabs, as well as an abalone for each of Feng Zhengming and his group.

There is also grouper, which is very famous in Guangdong and Hong Kong.

After Feng Zhengming and his friends had been eating for a while, the door of the private room was gently pushed open.

The restaurant's head chef came over to say hello tonight.

"Uncle Feng, why didn't you tell me in advance that you were coming?"

The chef in charge is Vice President Li’s apprentice.

Because Vice President Li will be there to receive a group of chefs from all over the country, the apprentice will have to be the chef in charge of the restaurant tonight.

The chef, named Li Kangwu, is the apprentice of Vice President Li and also his nephew.

Feng Zhengming had also met him at the National Cooking Skills Competition.

However, he was not qualified to participate in the National Cooking Skills Competition. He went along to see the world and to help Vice President Li.

Feng Zhengming stood up with a smile and took the initiative to shake hands with Li Kangwu: "Long time no see." Wang Youqi watched the two shaking hands. She was very surprised: "You are obviously older than him, why do you call him uncle-master?"

This made Feng Zhengming and Li Kangwu both laugh.

Li Kangwu explained to the little girl in Cantonese.

"He and my master participated in the National Cooking Skills Competition together. Although he is younger than me, he is a generation older than me in terms of seniority and qualifications, so I should call him Uncle Shishu."

Feng Zhengming then gave the little girl another explanation.

"It's mainly because my master is of a higher generation. I became his apprentice before he retired, so in the culinary industry, my generation has risen along with my master."

Li Kangwu smiled and said, "Uncle Master, you are too modest. We all know your skills, and Master often praises you for your skills."

Feng Zhengming certainly knew why Li Kangwu came in.

I'd like to hear some of my opinions on tonight's dishes.

So Feng Zhengming decisively evaluated each dish one by one.

"If I were to say the best dish tonight, it would definitely be your white-cut chicken. It tastes really good."

After hearing Feng Zhengming's evaluation, Li Kangwu felt a little proud.

Whether the boiled chicken is good or not is indeed a test of the skills of a Cantonese chef.

Controlling the temperature is really a job that tests one's ability.

Feng Zhengming then evaluated some other dishes and gave his own opinions.

For example, for king crab and crab roe steamed egg, Feng Zhengming recommends that the egg liquid should be sifted and it is best to add a little bit of water starch to make the steamed egg taste smoother.

There are also lobster slices stir-fried with egg white. Feng Zhengming also pointed out that the oil temperature may be too high during the oil-pulling process.

"These are just minor issues. As the saying goes, the flaws do not outweigh the merits. This table of food is still very good. It seems that Senior Brother Li will have successors."

Li Kangwu smiled and said, "Thank you for your evaluation, I will continue to work hard."

Finally, Li Kangwu gave Feng Zhengming and the others a dish, braised pigeon.

When this dish was served, Wang Youqi obviously liked it very much.

Feng Zhengming asked the little girl to eat more.

This also made Mr. Wang and Mrs. Wang feel a little embarrassed.

This dish was obviously given by Li Kangwu for Feng Zhengming's sake.

You should know that in the restaurant where they eat, braised pigeon is a signature dish.

The originator of this dish in this restaurant is Li Kangwu’s master and uncle, who is also the Vice President Li.

He combined old practices from the past and made some new improvements of his own.

Let this braised pigeon become the restaurant's signature dish.

Boss Wang originally wanted to order it, but there were too many other dishes, and this dish usually requires reservation, so they didn't order it in the end.

Unexpectedly, Li Kangwu actually gave them this dish specifically for Feng Zhengming.

Feng Zhengming could see that Mr. Wang and Mrs. Wang were embarrassed.

He smiled and said, "Brother and sister-in-law, you don't have to be embarrassed. If the child likes it, let her eat it. I am a chef and I usually eat very well. I have eaten a lot tonight."

Luo Qing also nodded: "Yes, the dishes tonight are too rich, I am a little full."

After hearing what Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing said, Boss Wang and Mrs. Wang also expressed their gratitude with a smile.

We have almost finished the food and have also drunk a lot of wine.

Only at this point did Boss Wang start talking about business with Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing.

Boss Wang was quite straightforward and was willing to continue cooperating with Uncle Feng Zhengming.

However, Boss Wang knew that Feng Zhengming's third uncle had a foreign trade business, and he hoped to obtain an export share for some of his products through his third uncle's foreign trade channels.

Having said this, it was Luo Qing's chance to shine.

Luo Qing explained some of the situations in great detail.

He did not directly agree to Boss Wang’s request for export, but said he could help Boss Wang make the contact.

"Brother Wang, if your factory can process some OEM products, it will be easier to receive some foreign trade orders. Uncle San's company does have a lot of business contacts in this regard."

When Boss Wang heard this, he immediately agreed with a smile: "Sure, sure. Our factory has already been in contact with them. As long as they can provide samples, we can quickly adjust and help with the processing."

Luo Qing smiled and nodded: "That's fine. Boss Wang can take some time to go to the island city and talk to our third uncle."

Boss Wang agreed: "Okay, if it's suitable, I can build a new factory in your place, which will save a lot of shipping costs."

Feng Zhengming also laughed: "That's great, I will definitely help Brother Wang get better discounts then."

Hearing this, Boss Wang became even happier.

He knew very well that with Feng Zhengming's current status, he could indeed help him get some preferential treatment.

In fact, this was the promise that Boss Wang wanted when he specially invited Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing to dinner tonight.

After talking about all this, Mr. Wang and Mrs. Wang were both curious and asked a question.

"Zhengming, you seem to be familiar with Cantonese cuisine. Have you ever thought about opening a restaurant here while you are so famous?"

"Yes, Zhengming, with your cooking skills and your current fame, you will definitely do good business if you open a restaurant here."

Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing looked at each other after hearing this.

Feng Zhengming then explained his thoughts.

“I feel that Cantonese cuisine is not my forte, so I don’t want to come here and compete with Cantonese chefs for business. I do want to move out of Shandong and open a restaurant in the south.

But I plan to go to Shanghai and open a restaurant there first."

I heard that Feng Zhengming was planning to open a restaurant in Shanghai.

Boss Wang and Mrs. Wang looked at each other, and the couple already felt Feng Zhengming's ambition.

As an international metropolis, Shanghai has attracted a large influx of foreign investment from Guangdong Province in recent years.

But it still cannot be compared with Shanghai.

Moreover, Shanghai is a more diverse city.

Feng Zhengming has put his name on the map and opened a Shandong cuisine restaurant in Shanghai, which he specializes in. I'm sure the business will be good.

Compared to coming to Guangzhou and switching to Cantonese cuisine, this is more attractive to Feng Zhengming.

Boss Wang smiled and asked, "If you open a restaurant in Shanghai, will I have a chance to buy a share?"

Feng Zhengming looked at Boss Wang and could roughly guess what he meant.

It can be regarded as an advance investment in yourself, and it also brings the two sides closer together.

Feng Zhengming thought about how Vice President Li looked when he met Boss Wang, and of course he would not refuse.

"Okay, once I'm ready, I'll go to Shanghai to open a restaurant, and I'll notify Boss Wang."

"Hahaha, great. Then I wish our number one scholar great success in Shanghai." Boss Wang smiled happily, raised his glass and toasted Feng Zhengming directly.

(End of this chapter)