From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Even after the busiest lunchtime period, there were still many customers in the train station store.

Zhu Xu, Guan Wei and Zhang Lei all persuaded Feng Zhengming to take a rest for a while.

"Uncle Feng, leave the rest to us."

"Yes, chef, go and take a rest for a while."

"Uncle Junior, it's time for you to take a rest. You've been busy for so long. We can take care of the rest. Senior Brother Zhu is here."

After listening to the three people's advice, Feng Zhengming smiled and gave up the stove.

"Okay, you guys can come over as the rest of the guests, but remember don't be lazy."

The three of them immediately agreed in unison.

Feng Zhengming washed his hands and then walked out of the kitchen first.

I came to the store in front and checked whether the service staff there were paying attention to their work.

In particular, is the table turned over in a timely manner? Is the garbage on the table cleaned up when turning over?

The most important thing is whether the store’s trash cans are emptied in time.

After checking it, Feng Zhengming was quite satisfied.

The service staff in the store are very dedicated.

In fact, the main reason why the service staff work so hard is that Feng Zhengming pays them a high salary, and Feng Zhengming will never be merciful when firing people.

Therefore, the service staff in the store all cherish the opportunity to work in the store.

After Feng Zhengming checked all the trash cans in the store.

Suddenly a voice came and called him as he was about to go back to the kitchen.

Feng Zhengming turned around and saw an elderly man.

"Hello, uncle, what do you need?"

The old man smiled and said, "I just tasted Mr. Feng's cooking, it's really great. I wonder if Mr. Feng has time so we can chat?"

Feng Zhengming took a look into the kitchen and saw that everyone there was doing a good job.

He nodded to the old uncle: "Okay."

Feng Zhengming simply led the old man to the inside of the store and found a table in the corner to sit down.

After sitting down, Feng Zhengming asked the waiter to give them each a glass of water.

The old uncle looked at Feng Zhengming with a smile on his face.

"I've eaten at both of Feng Zhuangyuan's restaurants in Shanghai many times. I admire Feng Zhuangyuan's ability to blend Chinese and Western cuisines, using the fast food style of Western cuisine to create a kind of Chinese fast food."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, uncle. I am a great fusion chef, but many traditional chefs may not like me."

The uncle smiled and nodded: "It will indeed make many traditional chefs uncomfortable."

After a brief pause, the old uncle finally revealed his real purpose in looking for Feng Zhengming.

"Since you opened a branch in Shanghai, have you ever learned about stock investment? In fact, if you want to expand your Chinese fast food restaurant quickly, you will need a lot of capital.

And if you can optimize it further, you can integrate all the restaurants you have, package your assets and list them.

By raising funds through an IPO, you can obtain more funds and expand more quickly.”

After hearing what the other party said, Feng Zhengming was a little surprised.

Feng Zhengming has thought about financing through listing.

But he doesn't think he has the ability to go public for the time being.

Although the opening of the Shanghai branch did make the "Zheng Luxing" brand famous.

However, the profits from Feng Zhengming's two stores are far from enough to raise funds for listing.

So when Feng Zhengming was asked this question by the old man from Shanghai, he was a little confused.

Feng Zhengming then said frankly: "Uncle, how can my small business be qualified to go public for financing? Even if I open branches all over Shanghai, I still won't be qualified to go public."

The old uncle smiled and said: "You are just starting out now, so of course it is not enough, but if you continue to operate this model, you will create a fast food style that belongs to us Chinese food.

Perhaps it won’t be long before your model is popularized and you will have the strength to go public.”

When Feng Zhengming heard this, he stared at the old man in front of him.

"So what do you mean by that?"

The old uncle was very direct: "I want to buy shares in advance and give you an investment."

After hearing what the old uncle said, Feng Zhengming finally understood the other party's intention.

The old uncle was attracted by Feng Zhengming's fame as the champion of the National Cooking Skills Competition, as well as the unique Chinese fast food model that he promoted in his two stores.

So the old uncle wanted to invest in Feng Zhengming so that he could promote the model of the two stores in Shanghai as soon as possible.

Feng Zhengming hesitated for a moment and thought carefully: "Uncle, don't you think that if you invest in me, you might lose money?

The model of my two stores in Shanghai is not easy to promote.

In order to ensure the taste of each branch, high requirements are placed on the chefs in the kitchen.

It takes time to train chefs, so my expansion speed is bound to be limited.

Going public is even more likely to be out of reach.”

After listening to Feng Zhengming's words, the old uncle kept smiling.

“I know that your model is indeed difficult to promote, but you, the champion of the National Cooking Skills Competition, are unable to do it.

You are the most famous champion in the National Cooking Skills Exchange Competition. You should be able to do it, right?"

Feng Zhengming was stunned by the old man's words.

By looking into the old man's eyes, Feng Zhengming saw the old man's appreciation for himself.

At this moment, Feng Zhengming felt that the old man from Shanghai in front of him understood what he wanted to do.

Feng Zhengming opened a store in Shanghai, and what he wanted to accomplish most was to promote his own way of Chinese fast food.

More emphasis is placed on the importance of chefs in catering.

Let more aspiring chefs in the country get better treatment.

The most important point is that Feng Zhengming wants to use himself as an example to block the way for some people who are trying to take advantage of the situation.

Although the old man in front of him really knows what he wants to do?
But Feng Zhengming still smiled and rejected his investment.

"Uncle, I can't take your investment. What I want to do may be unpopular for a long time.

To be honest, I’m under a lot of pressure running my two stores in Shanghai.

I really worry every day whether these two stores will have some problems because I’m not there. Even if the chef’s dish is not cooked well, I’ll be worried.

So for now I don’t have the energy to open more branches, and I don’t dare to let others join my store.”

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, the smile on the old man's face faded.

The old uncle said to Feng Zhengming very seriously: "I thought I didn't underestimate you, but after hearing what you said, I know that I did underestimate you after all.

Your serious attitude towards cooking has already put you in a higher position.

You are right, your ideas are destined to be unpopular for a long time."

After a brief pause, helplessness appeared on the old man's face.

“There is no other way. We are still in the early stages of economic development and a large number of workers cannot get the respect they deserve. After working overtime, they don’t have the energy to enjoy delicious food.

Maybe for many people, as long as the food is not bad and they can fill their stomachs, that’s enough.”

Feng Zhengming nodded seriously when he heard this, but then he looked yearning.

"But we won't be like this forever. One day we will get past this starting stage, and more people will get paid more, have more wealth, and have the time and energy to enjoy good food.

So this is also my goal, I hope that by that time, everyone can still taste our own food. "

The old uncle sighed: "You have a long way to go."

Feng Zhengming laughed: "It's not that difficult. Aren't there people like you who come to visit me now?"

"Hahaha." The old man also laughed.

“Don’t say that. Actually, the business of both your stores is not bad. Your reputation is there. Although the prices in your store are not low, the skills of the chefs in your kitchen are good enough.

Therefore, it still attracts many customers to queue up to eat here.”

Feng Zhengming looked helpless: "Because of this, we are under a lot of pressure."

After hearing this, the old man finally understood the biggest reason why Feng Zhengming refused his investment.

He didn't want to put too much pressure on himself or the young chefs in the kitchen who followed him from Qi and Lu to Shanghai.

After accepting the investment from his uncle, Feng Zhengming had to continue to expand new stores.

It is necessary to push yourself and young chefs.

Under high pressure, no one can guarantee that the craftsmanship can remain at the same level.

Feng Zhengming still doesn't want the reputation of his store to decline.

This is also why he first opened two fast food-like restaurants in Shanghai.

There is no reason to open a high-end restaurant directly.

You need to give yourself and those who follow you a certain buffer.

Now in the kitchens of both stores, we can basically ensure that there are three chefs cooking at the same time.

This will make serving meals easier.

It is also easier to ensure the quality of the dishes.

The old uncle understood this and apologized to Feng Zhengming.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come to you like this to talk about investment. Didn't you think that if I invested in you and forced you to continue opening new stores, it would be a form of exploitation for you and your team."

Feng Zhengming smiled calmly: "Thank you for your confidence in us, uncle."

The old man nodded and said, "I believe you can become the group of people who lead the industry."

Feng Zhengming: "We will work hard."

After seeing the old uncle off, Feng Zhengming went back to the kitchen to help.

He did not tell anyone about the conversation between him and the old uncle.

After all, since we didn't accept their investment, there's no need to tell everyone about it.

However, after returning home in the evening, he told his family about this.

Grandpa Situ smiled and said, "Some old men in Shanghai do have a lot of money. The Shanghai stock market is also in their hands."

Luo Qing was curious after hearing this: "Grandpa Situ, so, those uncles in Shanghai are very powerful?"

Grandpa Situ laughed: "They are indeed powerful. They are a group of cunning and treacherous guys. Zhengming, you better be careful."

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Grandpa Situ, don't worry, I won't cooperate with them easily."

Grandpa Feng also spoke up: "The two stores are already putting a lot of pressure on you. You can't open a branch in Shanghai for the time being, unless your chef training system in Quancheng is improved and new chefs can be sent here."

Grandpa Situ agreed: "Yes, it is clear that your current model of opening branches is very good for customers, allowing customers to enjoy a hot and delicious meal.

But your current model really requires too much from chefs. Not to mention hiring any chef, even the apprentices from your uncles’ and uncles’ restaurants in Quancheng probably can’t meet the requirements of your current restaurant.”

Feng Zhengming certainly knew that what Grandpa Situ said was true.

This time he opened two branches in Shanghai at once.

He has brought almost all of his chefs here.

If Feng Zhengming wants to open a new store, he will inevitably face the embarrassing situation of having no one available.

Moreover, the two stores have such a high reputation in Shanghai today.

Jiang Chengzhe is also helping behind the scenes.

To put it more directly, Feng Zhengming's two current stores in Shanghai are run by the top and second place winners in the National Cooking Skills Competition.

With such a lineup, let alone two fast food restaurants.

They are qualified enough to open a top restaurant in Shanghai together.

This is also the case, as Feng Zhengming’s two stores are clearly fast food stores.

The reason why the restaurant on Western Restaurant Street can attract a large number of white-collar workers in Shanghai and many overseas people is that.

Even if Feng Zhengming is not in the store, Jiang Chengzhe is there and can still strictly implement the standards of Feng Zhengming.

In the previous few months, Feng Zhengming also looked at the accounts calculated by Luo Qing.

Two months after opening, the profit of the store on Western Restaurant Street was even twice that of the store at the train station.

This is because the prices at the Western Restaurant Street are higher than those at the train station.

The people attracted also have greater spending power.

Unlike the store at the train station, it relies more on sales.

Therefore, if Feng Zhengming wanted to open a new store in Shanghai, he would face considerable difficulties in all aspects.

Feng Zhengming looked at his family, leaned into his wife's arms, and kissed his daughter's little face.

"Well, for now, we will just run the two stores well and ensure their reputation and popularity. Once a new batch of chefs are able to take up their posts, we can consider opening a new store."

Grandpa and Grandpa Situ nodded in agreement.

"That's right, take it step by step and don't rush."

“Although today is an era that values ​​time efficiency, some things still require accumulation.”

The next morning, Feng Zhengming went to the Western restaurant on the street.

The atmosphere of the store here is completely different from that at the train station.

At the railway station store, Zhu Xu, Guan Wei and Zhang Lei will be more relaxed in management.

So in that restaurant, everyone in the kitchen can call each other brothers.

This store on Western Restaurant Street has stricter management because Jiang Chengzhe implements stricter management in the kitchen.

There is no such thing as brothers in the kitchen here.

But the atmosphere is not depressing.

Because many things in the kitchen have been disassembled and processed by Feng Zhengming.

When everyone does their job, it is basically difficult to make mistakes.

In terms of food delivery stability, this store on the Western Restaurant Street is more stable.

It is precisely because of this stability that this store on Western Restaurant Street can attract more customers.

In particular, it can attract domestic white-collar workers and overseas customers who pursue delicious food and have stronger purchasing power.

Feng Zhengming's return to the store actually made the atmosphere in the store more joyful and lively. (End of this chapter)