From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Near the end of the year, Feng Zhengming received an invitation from the province.

The province hopes that he can go back and participate in the provincial young chef cooking skills exchange competition.

The person who called Feng Zhengming was Master Cui, and his words on the phone were quite sincere.

“Zhengming, your master and I both know that you are very busy in Shanghai, but you also know that you are a role model for young chefs in our province. If you don’t come back to be a judge.

The young people in Qilu will lose their direction. Without you as a role model, they will lose the direction to pursue culinary skills."

When Feng Zhengming heard what Master Cui said on the phone, he couldn't help laughing.

"Hahaha, Master Cui is still so good at talking. Master, don't worry. It is my duty to support young chefs in our province. I will arrange things in the store here and go back next week."

When Master Cui got this answer, he laughed happily on the phone.

"I knew you would be able to come back, Zhengming. Okay, be careful on your way back."

In fact, even if Master Cui hadn't called, Feng Zhengming was also arranging things in the store and preparing to go back.

He went back not because he was in a hurry to participate in the provincial youth chef competition at the end of the year.

He went back to send his grandfather, Grandpa Situ, Luo Qing's grandmother and mother, as well as his wife Luo Qing and daughter back.

After all, it’s the end of the year, so let’s send my family back first.

Feng Zhengming would wait until the Chinese New Year and bring the people who had followed him from Qi and Lu to Shanghai back to celebrate the New Year together.

The two stores in Shanghai will not be greatly affected by Feng Zhengming's absence.

The Western restaurants on the street include Jiang Chengzhe, Sun Hai and Xia Hui.

They cook the food well in the store.

In the store near the train station, Zhu Xu, Guan Wei and Zhang Lei are already able to work on their own.

However, before Feng Zhengming left, he still gave everyone some instructions.

Especially in the store near the train station, Feng Zhengming told Zhu Xu and others that there might be more customers near New Year's Day, so they must pay attention to coordinating the personnel at that time.

"Remember one thing, we would rather sell less than be perfunctory to customers."

Zhu Xu and the others naturally said that they would keep Feng Zhengming's words in mind.

With the previous recruitment of apprentices, Zhu Xu and his team did have it a lot easier.

The store at the train station can also accommodate more customers.

Feng Zhengming reminded the three people because he was worried that they were only thinking about doing more business and not paying attention to their rest, thus overworking themselves.

After arranging everything for the two stores, Feng Zhengming and his family boarded the train back to Quancheng.

On the way back, I still saw a lot of people traveling from all over the place.

Many people have no choice but to leave their hometowns after encountering misfortunes.

But leaving your homeland may not be so well rewarded.

So some people choose to go back home at the end of the year to see if there are any opportunities.

Of course, some young people choose to go north to seek new opportunities.

In this era of great population mobility, you can see so many different aspects of human life on the train.

Luo Qing's grandmother and mother listened to some people's conversation along the way.

They couldn't help but sigh to Luo Qing that she had really had good taste in choosing Feng Zhengming.

"Xiaoqing, grandma thought Zhengming was not good enough at first, but now it seems that you had a better vision. If you hadn't found Zhengming, you might be like many people on the bus, leaving your hometown and looking for a job."

Luo Qing coaxed her daughter in her arms and responded, "Grandma, that won't happen. It's just that we won't live as well as we do now."

Luo's mother took over the conversation: "That's right, it shows how capable he is. You have such a good life here."

Hearing her mother say this, Luo Qing smiled: "His success is partly due to his hard work, partly because he caught up with a good opportunity, and partly because he has a good master."

Feng Zhengming immediately responded after hearing this: "Yes, I was lucky to meet my master, who took me in and taught me the craft.

If my master hadn't been thinking about me, he wouldn't have given me the recipe for Bazi Rou and wouldn't have let me go find my grandfather.

After I found my grandfather, my life officially changed. With the support of my grandfather, as well as the help of my third uncle, second aunt, and Grandpa Situ, I was able to achieve such good results today. "

Grandma said: "Zhengming, every step of the way, there are always noble people helping you. Doesn't that just prove that you are blessed?"

Grandpa also smiled and said: "Blessings are part of it, but what's more important is that he works hard enough."

Without waiting for anyone to speak, Grandpa continued his detailed analysis.

“Think about it, no one has thought of promoting my braised pork recipe for many years. Now that it is in Zhengming’s hands, he can start from setting up a stall in front of the train station and build it up step by step.

Before he took over Huiquanlou, it was on the verge of bankruptcy, but when he took over, he made Huiquanlou look brand new.

This year, when he went to Shanghai, he opened a Chinese restaurant on a street full of Western restaurants.

Not only did he run his business, he also made his restaurant the only one on that street.

This is not a blessing, this is his personal ability."

After grandpa said this, Luo Qing's grandmother and mother nodded in agreement.

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "It's also inseparable from everyone's support for me. Grandpa, you gave me the recipe for braised pork belly and helped me open my first dry rice shop. This time when I came to Shanghai, Grandpa Situ also gave me a lot of help."

Grandpa Situ laughed: "Hahaha, what I gave you can't be called help, it should be called investment.

I invest in you, and the return I hope to get is that you will take care of me in my old age and not leave me, an old widower, to be buried in a foreign land."

Grandpa Feng immediately said, "Brother Situ, don't say that. You are in good health. We are over 70 years old. How can we say goodbye to our ancestors?"

"Don't worry, Xiao Feng. I'm as open-minded as you are. We two old brothers can still accompany our children into the new century." Grandpa Situ smiled expectantly.

The journey back to Quancheng was smooth.

Uncle San was already waiting outside the station.

I got in Uncle San's car and sent Grandpa and Grandpa Situ back home first.

Then Feng Zhengming and his friends returned to their house in Quancheng.

In order to take care of the child, Luo Qing's grandmother and mother temporarily live with Feng Zhengming in his home in Quancheng.

After settling his family, Feng Zhengming changed his clothes and left home in his uncle's car.

Luo Qing felt a little uncomfortable when she saw her husband go out as soon as he came back.

But she also knew that her husband was very busy, so she didn't show it.

In his uncle's car, Feng Zhengming chatted with his uncle about some changes in Quancheng in the past year, the situation in various parts of Qi and Lu, and his uncle's business and the sauce factory.

Uncle San was also outspoken in front of Feng Zhengming.

"The situation is really bad this year. Many companies have gone bankrupt and many people have been laid off. Many people have no choice but to move south or north to find new jobs.

More people are going to the island city, and quite a few are coming to the spring city. Anyway, the labor market is really a bit overcrowded now.”

As they chatted, they also talked about Feng Zhengming's several stores. "The store in Daocheng is doing very well because many people go to Daocheng. Gu Zhicheng is now more stylish than his master."

Feng Zhengming couldn't help laughing after hearing this: "So Senior Brother Gao didn't punish him?"

Uncle San also laughed: "Hahaha, Lao Gao doesn't have time to take care of him now. I heard that Lao Gao might be going to Beijing."

Feng Zhengming was curious: "Senior Brother Gao is going to be transferred to work in Beijing?"

Uncle San nodded: "Yes, there are many rumors. I also asked Lao Gao and he admitted it himself."

Feng Zhengming thought this was a good thing: "That's great. Shandong cuisine also needs people in Beijing."

Uncle San couldn't help but said, "You should have been able to go."

Feng Zhengming knew what his uncle meant.

If he wanted to go to Beijing, he could indeed go, and there would be many units and big restaurants in Beijing vying for him.

However, Feng Zhengming does not want to go to Beijing for the time being. He still wants to run a restaurant of his own idea in Shanghai based on his own abilities.

We want to make our restaurant a benchmark for the national catering industry.

What Feng Zhengming didn't tell anyone was that he wanted to establish his own set of standards for Chinese cuisine.

We cannot allow overseas standards to define Chinese food in China in the future.

Feng Zhengming certainly knew what kind of treatment he would receive if he was willing to go to Beijing.

But those are not what Feng Zhengming is pursuing.

What he wants to pursue is to become a benchmark for the entire domestic industry.

Just like the one I met in Hong Kong, Kofman.

His existence has influenced quite a number of Western chefs.

Feng Zhengming also wants to influence the domestic Chinese food industry in his own way.

Thinking of this, Feng Zhengming talked to his third uncle about the magazine that his junior uncle Huang Tao was in charge of.

"It's the end of the year again. Has the recommended restaurant guide for various places in Qilu been released this year?"

Uncle San smiled and nodded: "It has been selected, and this year Master Yan and your uncle are planning to announce it at the provincial young chef cooking competition."

Feng Zhengming was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Are you going to do a live release?"

Uncle San nodded again: "Yes, this was suggested by your uncle Huang Tao. Master Yan and his men all agree with it. The province also supports holding a press conference and broadcasting it live on the provincial TV station."

Feng Zhengming laughed: "Hahaha, not bad, not bad, this is quite formal."

Uncle San pointed out: "If this is the case, competition will be very fierce next year. Many restaurants and hotels in various places will want to be included in the recommended guide."

After being reminded of this by his uncle, Feng Zhengming immediately realized what his uncle meant.

"Uncle San means that next year someone will come to you seeking to be included in the recommended guide?"

"That's for sure." Uncle San was very sure, "The product you released last year was already well received by many people, and it has indeed caused some internal impact in the industry.

If we do a live broadcast on TV this year, it will definitely attract more attention.

Next year, those guys will have to think of a way to get on the recommended guide, right?"

Of course Feng Zhengming understood what his uncle was worried about.
I am worried that some people will resort to bribery in order to be included in the recommended guide.

“I will discuss this with Master and others. If we find anyone trying to bribe someone to get on the recommendation guide next year, we will punish them directly and not make any recommendations for three years.

Also, I believe that the masters like Master will still have to save face and will not easily accept any bribes."

Uncle San then reminded: "The old masters will definitely not do that, but you also have to be on guard. When the old masters go there, those restaurants and hotels cook well. If other customers go there at other times, they may not cook well."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Don't worry about that, I will arrange another team to judge.

At that time, we will combine the scores from the undercover visits with the scores from the experienced chefs to give a comprehensive score to restaurants and hotels across the province.”

Uncle San was curious: "Who would you choose to secretly visit those stores?"

Feng Zhengming: "Uncle, I can't tell you this. Maybe I'll ask you to do a secret investigation later."

This immediately amused Uncle San.

"Okay, okay, you have so many tricks up your sleeve now. It seems that you have made great progress in the past six months in Shanghai. You have more and more tricks."

Feng Zhengming: "There is no other way. Some things cannot be said openly. If they are said, it will not be a secret investigation."

Uncle San could only nod in agreement.

The car soon arrived in front of Huiquan Building.

Feng Zhengming did not rush to get out of the car, but observed outside the door for a while.

"With you away from Huiquanlou, and with many companies having problems this year, business isn't as good as before, but it's not too bad either. We can continue to compete with Jufengde and Taifenglou."

Feng Zhengming: "That's enough. We can't have one company dominate the market."

After hearing this, Uncle San looked at Feng Zhengming in surprise.

"Why are you suddenly keeping a low profile?"

Feng Zhengming laughed: "I'm not being low-key, it's the truth. In the current environment, it's hard for good restaurants to survive. If we do something to undermine each other, wouldn't it be even more of a joke?"

Uncle San agreed with what Feng Zhengming said.

"That's true. It's better to keep the current base for now."

Feng Zhengming asked again: "By the way, the food shop didn't raise the price, did it?"

"The price hasn't increased, but because it hasn't, the dry rice shop is now crowded every day. Many people go in and order a piece of braised pork and a portion of rice."

Feng Zhengming took over his uncle's words: "And ask for more soup?"

Uncle San nodded, "That's right. A piece of pork belly with some soup and rice is enough to fill you up with a bowl of rice. If you want noodles, that's even more ridiculous. Just mix the pork belly soup with noodles and you can eat several bowls of them."

Hearing the worry in his uncle's words, Feng Zhengming smiled happily.

"That's good. Just make sure everyone is well fed."

When Uncle San heard his nephew laughing happily, he couldn't help but sigh: "It's a good thing that you have some other businesses to support you, and you bought all the shops of your stores."

Then Uncle San asked, "Your price in Shanghai is not low, right?"

Feng Zhengming replied: "The price in Shanghai is higher than here, but the price of braised pork in the store near the train station is not expensive either. On that street full of western restaurants, I would set a higher price."

Uncle San laughed when he heard this: "Okay, you specialize in making money from those overseas people, right?"

Feng Zhengming did not deny it: "Yes, they have money and can afford it."

After staring at Huiquanlou for a while in the car and chatting with his uncle, Feng Zhengming did not get out of the car to enter Huiquanlou.

Instead, he went to the old dry rice shop with his uncle.

Feng Zhengming still wants to go back to the old shop first, after all, it is his first shop. (End of this chapter)