From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Only after actually entering the kitchens of Feng Zhengming's two stores did the apprentices, who had previously worked hard to get the job, realize how strict Feng Zhengming's requirements were in the kitchen.

Whether it is his store on Western Restaurant Street or the one near the train station.

In the kitchen, Feng Zhengming is very strict with his apprentices.

Every day, the apprentices in the kitchens of the two stores must arrive at the stores on time and in advance.

Starting from the morning, you need to start preparing with the chefs.

The first thing Feng Zhengming needed to prepare for his two stores was to process a large amount of pork.

Among them, there is not only the meat for making braised pork and four-happiness meatballs.

There are also a large number of pork elbows and trotters that need to be processed.

According to Feng Zhengming's request, the elbows and pig's trotters delivered by the supplier in the morning needed to be burned until their surfaces were completely black.

Then soak them all in the prepared hot water.

Then scrape and clean all the burnt black parts on the surface.

This series of processes was previously carried out by the chefs from both restaurants together.

Feng Zhengming recruited a new apprentice to work in the kitchen, so naturally all these tasks fell on the new apprentice.

When new apprentices first start working, there will be some problems.

It’s not that the apprentice doesn’t know what to do?
There are always some people who want to cheat.

Often when burning, the surface is not completely burned black.

Or when scraping, you didn't scrape it thoroughly and carefully.

Seeing this situation, Feng Zhengming would never tolerate it.

He would criticize apprentices at work without hesitation, almost in front of everyone.

Although Feng Zhengming would never get angry, the way he looked when he was not angry made the apprentices even more afraid of him.

At the beginning, some apprentices made mistakes and were reprimanded one after another.

Gradually no apprentices would make mistakes anymore.

In Feng Zhengming's words: "If you make a low-level mistake once and repeat it a second time, it means you didn't put your heart into it. I don't need people who don't put their heart into it in my store."

Because of this, the apprentices were almost afraid to make the same mistake twice.

Everyone knows that Feng Zhengming will not get angry, but if he wants to fire someone, he will not show mercy.

For the apprentices who have finally managed to get into Feng Zhengming's two stores in Shanghai.

Even though they have to do a lot of work in the kitchen, they are paid apprentice wages.

But in the kitchens of Feng Zhengming's two stores, they can see the cooking process of many dishes with their own eyes and learn real skills in the kitchens.

Another very important point is that the salary of apprentices in Feng Zhengming's store is not low.

At least it is higher than the salary they can earn from any random job in Shanghai.

So if anyone is fired by Feng Zhengming, as long as he wants to find someone to fill the position, he will find a lot of people immediately.

In addition, Feng Zhengming's shop does not provide accommodation, but will provide two meals for all apprentices.

The two meals at Feng Zhengming's two stores were not the leftovers in some restaurants and hotels.

Every meal for the store’s employees is prepared freshly by the young chef and his apprentices.

This arrangement is intended to provide apprentices with better learning opportunities.

Secondly, it is to ensure that everyone can eat well.

After all, there are no leftovers for employee meals in Feng Zhengming's two stores every day.

So the food is good and the salary is not low.

Even though Feng Zhengming's requirements are quite strict, there is still a lot of work to be done every day.

The apprentices are still willing to work hard in Feng Zhengming's two stores.

After Feng Zhengming's two stores recruited new apprentices, the food serving efficiency of the two stores was significantly improved.

The chefs in the kitchen have a slightly easier time every day.

After all, most of the time, chefs only need to cook in the stove and don’t have to do all kinds of auxiliary work themselves.

Even in the Western restaurant on the street, Jiang Chengzhe, Xia Hui and Sun Hai were able to exercise their own initiative in the kitchen and make some small improvements to some dishes.

Feng Zhengming would not interfere with their little creative ideas, and sometimes would even help recommend their improved dishes.

In order to balance the two stores, Feng Zhengming now travels between them every week.

Usually from Monday to Wednesday in the store on Western Restaurant Street.

From Thursday to Saturday, we will be at the store near the train station.

On Sundays, Feng Zhengming would also take a proper day off and stay at home to spend time with his wife and daughter.

No matter which store Feng Zhengming is in, he will arrange for other chefs in the store to rest.

For example, let Sun Hai and Xia Hui rest together, and ask Sun Hai to take Xia Hui to the prosperous places in Shanghai for a stroll and some fun.

In this regard, Sun Hai does seem a bit dull.

Feng Zhengming could only teach him specifically.

"Since you like Xia Hui in your heart, you should be brave enough to pursue her. Can you still expect Xia Hui to pursue you? I gave you two a holiday together, isn't it so that you can go on a date?"

Sun Hai smiled awkwardly: "Uncle Master, I know you want to help us get together, but I'm worried about Xia Hui. Will she look down on me?"

Feng Zhengming looked helpless: "You haven't even pursued her yet, and you think she doesn't like you?"

Sun Hai was even more embarrassed: "I didn't know before that her family was the inheritor of Confucius cuisine. Now that I know, I always feel like I'm not worthy of her."

Feng Zhengming couldn't help but reach out and give Sun Hai a slap on the face.

"Do you have any brains in this? What's the question of whether you are worthy or not? You have been learning from your master for so long, and now you are a chef who can stand on your own in my restaurant. How can you feel that you are not worthy of Xia Hui?"

Speaking of this, Feng Zhengming was a little angry, and he really felt like he was disappointed in his friend.

"I'm telling you, don't just think about Xia Hui going back to inherit the Confucius cuisine. If she does, won't you go and help her in the future?

I have opened a restaurant in Shanghai. Have you ever thought about opening a Confucius cuisine restaurant in Shanghai?"

These words scared Sun Hai.

"Master, can we open the Confucius Mansion restaurant in Shanghai? Can we do it?"

Feng Zhengming was so angry that he laughed.

"How come you don't have any ambition? You think you are incompetent before you even start doing anything?"

Then Feng Zhengming gave Sun Hai some encouragement.

“Think about it, the most popular dish in our restaurant right now, stuffed pig’s trotter, looks like something I learned from overseas chefs, but does it use a lot of Confucius cuisine techniques in its preparation?
The bone-removing technique alone proves that Confucius cuisine has never gone out of style.

As long as you can keep pace with the times and combine tradition with modernity, Confucius cuisine will be reborn.”

Luo Qing heard this and finally couldn't help but speak.

"What are you talking about? Aren't you going to teach Sun Hai how to pursue Xia Hui? Why did you end up teaching him how to cook?"

After hearing what his wife said, Feng Zhengming suddenly realized that he seemed to have strayed a little from the topic.

"I'm just giving an example. His pursuit of Xia Hui is just like his efforts to cook a good dish. There is no such thing as being worthy of her or unworthy of her. As long as he works hard and doesn't back down, he will definitely be able to pursue Xia Hui."

Luo Qing also nodded and said to Sun Hai seriously: "Your uncle is right, if you like Xia Hui, you should express it and pursue her openly.

Xia Hui is indeed carefree like a boy, but she is a girl after all, you can't expect her to chase you, right?"

After being taught and persuaded by Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing, Sun Hai finally made up his mind. "I understand, Uncle Master, Auntie, I will definitely make an appointment with Xia Hui when I have a day off tomorrow."

Feng Zhengming was satisfied: "You have money, right? Invite Xia Hui to go shopping on the pedestrian street tomorrow. Don't be reluctant to spend money there. If you don't have enough money, I'll give it to you."

Sun Hai quickly waved his hand: "No need, uncle, I have money."

He was indeed rich. He worked with Feng Zhengming in Shanghai, and Feng Zhengming provided him with food and accommodation.

Sun Hai's monthly salary is only slightly lower than Jiang Chengzhe's.

So Sun Hai had almost no expenses in Shanghai.

Almost all of his salary was saved.

Luo Qing looked Sun Hai up and down.

"Well, you two can go to the pedestrian street tomorrow and buy some clothes. What you usually wear is too plain.

At the end of the year, go back with your uncle and wear the clothes you wore when you came here. It will seem as if your uncle doesn’t pay you. Go with Xiaohui and carefully choose and buy a few sets of clothes.”

Feng Zhengming also nodded: "Yes, Xia Hui should have a good eye, just listen to her and let her help you choose clothes."

Luo Qing laughed: "Hahaha, this is great, listen to Xiaohui and let her help you choose clothes. You can improve your relationship during the selection process."

Feng Zhengming reminded her: "Remember not to refute her when the time comes. Try to listen to Xia Hui."

Sun Hai agreed seriously: "I understand, uncle, I will listen to her."

After Feng Zhengming gave instructions to Sun Hai, he asked his wife Luo Qing to inform Xia Hui as well.

After all, if Xia Hui was completely kept in the dark, what if she wasn't interested in Sun Hai?
If those two people go on a date like this, the result will probably be very awkward.

Luo Qing specifically went to test Xia Hui's intentions.

The result was still pretty good, Xia Hui really admired Sun Hai.

Moreover, Luo Qing could indeed feel through indirect inquiries that Xia Hui was interested in Sun Hai.

That’s the arrangement.

The next day, Sun Hai, who had a day off, changed into clean clothes as instructed by Feng Zhengming and took the initiative to invite Xia Hui to go shopping together.

Xia Hui guessed something from Luo Qing's conversation with her and the fact that her master-master specially asked her and Sun Hai to take a holiday together.

She was still very happy in her heart, so when she saw Sun Hai taking the initiative to invite her, she naturally agreed with a smile.

The two of them went to a small alley near where they lived and had breakfast in Shanghai.

The date between the two officially began with breakfast.

At first, Sun Hai did exactly what his uncle taught him.

He took the initiative to buy Xia Hui the breakfast she wanted and brought it to her and put it down.

But after doing all this, Sun Hai and Xia Hui sat down face to face, but they didn't know how to start the conversation?
The two of them ate breakfast in silence.

It was Xia Hui who took the initiative to find a topic and discussed the taste of Shanghai locals with Sun Hai.

With such a topic, the two of them naturally talked more.

They ate and chatted, and after breakfast, the two took a bus to the pedestrian street together.

On the way, Xia Hui asked directly.

"You asked me to go to the pedestrian street. Are you going to spend money on me?"

When asked this question, Sun Hai didn't know how to answer for a moment.

After struggling for a while, Sun Hai remembered what his uncle said: If you encounter a question you don't know how to answer, then just say what you think in your heart.

Sun Hai nodded and looked at Xia Hui: "Yes, my aunt said that the clothes we usually wear here are too simple. We should buy some fashionable clothes so that we can show them off when we go back for the New Year."

Xia Hui laughed after hearing this: "Hahaha, you really listen to Uncle Shi and Sister Qing, don't you?"

Sun Hai said embarrassedly: "Not really, actually, I still want to go shopping with you and have a good rest together."

After hearing what Sun Hai said, it was Xia Hui's turn to feel embarrassed.

The two took the bus to the pedestrian street.

After stepping onto the pedestrian street, Xia Hui immediately became excited.

She took Sun Hai with her and went to visit one store after another.

Sun Hai also quickly realized the "sweetness" of accompanying a woman shopping.

Xia Hui took Sun Hai with her, and the two of them went shopping from store to store.

In every store, Xia Hui and Sun Hai would try on a lot of clothes.

Sun Hai never expected that trying on clothes could be so painful.

Xia Hui always seems to find something she is not satisfied with.

Let Sun Haihui try them one by one.

After trying all the stores, Xia Hui was not satisfied with any of them, so she took Sun Hai to the next one.

Even if you meet some sales clerks in a store, they may express their dissatisfaction with their constant trying on of clothes.

Sun Hai felt a little embarrassed when he saw it.

But Xia Hui didn't care at all. She completely ignored those dissatisfied looks and pulled Sun Hai to try them one by one.

Starting from the moment they stepped into the pedestrian street, the two of them tried it as they walked.

Soon Sun Hai became hungry.

Fortunately, Xia Hui didn't just force Sun Hai to try on clothes all the time.

Looking at the time on the watch, it was already past lunch time, so Xia Hui and Sun Hai went to find a local cuisine restaurant for dinner.

“Why do we want to eat local cuisine?”

Xia Hui smiled and said, "Of course we are learning from them. Look at this restaurant, all the people eating there are locals. This means that this restaurant is very popular with locals. We need to taste the locals' taste so that we can cook according to their preferences in the future."

After hearing what Xia Hui said, Sun Hai thought for a moment and said, "Our main customers are not locals, right?"

Xia Hui nodded: "I know, but when you go to a place, you have to understand the taste preferences of the people there. This is what our uncle taught us. Have you forgotten?"

Sun Hai quickly replied: "No, no."

Then it was lunch time in the afternoon, which made Xia Hui and Sun Hai feel uncomfortable.

The main reason was that the two of them ate authentic local cuisine, which was indeed too sweet for them.

However, after eating, the two of them would still deduce according to their own ideas.

I was thinking about how to learn from other people’s cooking methods, but I had to make some adjustments to the taste so it wouldn’t be too sweet.

After dinner, the two continued shopping for clothes.

After a good selection, Xia Hui finally helped Sun Hai pick out a casual suit.

When Sun Hai put it on, although he didn't have the physique of Feng Zhengming, he still looked very impressive.

If Xia Hui liked it, she would pay for it from Sun Hai.

Sun Hai was about to pay for it himself.

But Xia Hui stopped him: "You want me to buy your clothes for you, understand?"

These words made Sun Hai stunned at first.

Then he stuffed all his money into Xia Hui's pocket and said, "I'll give you all my money from now on." (End of this chapter)