From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

After the young chef competition ended, many young chefs who came to Quancheng to participate in the competition tried to apply for jobs in Feng Zhengming's store, hoping to stay in Quancheng to work.

Everyone knows that Feng Zhengming is famous, and several of his stores are doing very good business in the province.

Everyone knows that Feng Zhengming has opened two branches in Shanghai.

So everyone is thinking that if they perform well in the future, they may have the opportunity to be transferred to Shanghai to work.

Of course, Feng Zhengming couldn't hire all of these young chefs who were looking for jobs.

He has selected a number of young chefs through competitions that have lasted for several days.

However, Feng Zhengming also explained to them the rules on his side.

After knowing the rules, some young chefs did not stay.

But there are still many people willing to stay and start as apprentices in Feng Zhengming's shop.

After the competition, Ma Jingcheng was also found by his master for a private talk.

Ren Shouxiang asked straight to the point: "Do you want to stay and work in Feng Zhuangyuan's store?"

Ma Jingcheng still misses the past: "Master, if I stay, what will happen to the store at home?"

Ren Shouxiang smiled and said, "What are you afraid of? Isn't Master still here? Besides, we still have your brothers. They can continue to run the store by following Master."

Ma Jingcheng was still hesitant: "Master, I finally got a rank, even though it's only sixth place, but I will definitely be able to increase business for our store when I go back.

Or I should go back with you. After I help you expand your store and you find the right person, I will come to Quancheng to learn the craft from Feng Zhuangyuan.

In the future, I will strive to expand our store like Feng Zhuangyuan and turn it into a chain store."

Ren Shouxiang didn't know whether to laugh or cry after hearing this: "You are only sixth this time. If you come back with me, you may not have a chance to come again in the future."

Although Ma Jingcheng is a bit honest and straightforward, he sometimes speaks without thinking carefully.

But he is not stupid.

Ma Jingcheng certainly understood that if he couldn’t take advantage of the sixth place in the provincial youth chef competition this time, he would have to try to stay in Quancheng and try to get a job in Feng Zhengming’s restaurant.

I'm afraid that after he goes back, he will never have such an opportunity again.

So Ma Jingcheng was actually very hesitant.

On the one hand, it was because of his master’s cultivation of him. If his master had not taught him so much, he would not have been able to get sixth place in the competition.

On the other hand, there is the relationship between him and Ren Juan.

In Ma Jingcheng's heart, he actually regarded his master as his father-in-law.

He was afraid that if he didn't go back this time, he and Ren Juan would be separated for too long, and their relationship would slowly change.

Ren Shouxiang also saw what his young disciple was thinking and knew the relationship between him and his daughter.

"If you really want to stay in Quancheng, Juan will come back with me first, and then I will ask her to come find you. I know the relationship between you two. Wait until next year when you have established yourself in Feng Zhuangyuan's store.

When you go back, I will arrange your marriage with Juan, and you can develop well together in Quancheng in the future."

Hearing Master say this, Ma Jingcheng was surprised: "Master, what about you? You won't come to Quancheng with us?"

Ren Shouxiang laughed: "Hahaha, if I come with you, what will I do at home? Juan's brother is still young, I can't just abandon my family."

Ma Jingcheng thought about it seriously and finally made up his mind.

"Master, I will go back with you. I cannot abandon you for my own future. After I go back, I will continue to hone myself and help you expand our store.

Later I can sign up myself and try to compete for a place in the national competition.”

Ren Shouxiang was very surprised. He didn't expect that his little apprentice would make such a decision.

"You silly boy, if you follow the number one scholar, your cooking skills will improve even more. If you come back with me, what can you come up with on your own?"

Ma Jingcheng said seriously, "If I can't figure it out, then I won't participate in the national competition. When I grow up, you can teach me and let me become Feng Zhuangyuan's disciple."

Ren Shouxiang was even more amused and said, "You are so bold, Juan's brother does like cooking, but is it so easy for him to become Feng Zhuangyuan's apprentice?
You said you wanted to be my disciple? Who do you think you are?

You are currently ranked sixth among young chefs in the province. Next year, someone else will be ranked sixth in the provincial young chef competition."

Ma Jingcheng still knew clearly what his master meant.

But he also remembered that he had promised Ren Juan that he would help her take good care of the family.

In the future, she will help her father, who is also her master, to open the largest restaurant in their area.

So Ma Jingcheng felt that for the sake of love, he couldn't abandon his master's family.

Ren Shouxiang talked with his apprentice for a long time and found out that his apprentice had already made up his mind to go back with him.

For a moment, Ren Shouxiang was really anxious.

After thinking about it, Ren Shouxiang called his daughter from the next room.

Let my daughter help persuade this stubborn mule Ma Jingcheng.

Before Ren Juan could speak, Ma Jingcheng spoke first.

"Sister Juan, please don't say anything. I won't stay here by myself. I want to go back with you. I want to help Master turn our store into the largest restaurant in our area."

After hearing what Ma Jingcheng said, Ren Juan couldn't help laughing.

While smiling, Ren Juan turned her head and looked at her father.

"Dad, what are you talking about? If Xiao Ma wants to stay, he should ask Feng Zhuangyuan if he wants him, right? You haven't even asked him yet, but you're here discussing whether to stay or not?"

These words stunned both Ren Shouxiang and Ma Jingcheng.

Ren Juan continued, "We should ask Feng Zhuangyuan first. If Feng Zhuangyuan is willing to take Xiao Ma, we can discuss whether to keep him. Don't discuss whether to keep him, but end up staying and Feng Zhuangyuan doesn't want him? What will we do then?"

Hearing Ren Juan say this, both the master and the disciple couldn't help laughing.

The master and disciple then realized that they were indeed thinking too much.

Then Ma Jingcheng said, "Master, you see, Sister Juan is right. Let's go back. Mr. Feng doesn't necessarily want me."

This time, Ren Juan immediately denied Ma Jingcheng's words.

"No, we can't just go back like this. We came here this time to try to win the first prize. Even though you only got sixth place, you also received recognition from Feng Zhuangyuan, so you still have to give it a try. What if Feng Zhuangyuan is willing to accept you?"

Ma Jingcheng hesitated: "Sister Juan, why don't we just forget about this?"

Ren Juan was very determined at this time: "It can't be forgotten, and I still want to talk to Feng Zhuangyuan about making a deal with you."

Ma Jingcheng was surprised: "You want to make a deal with Feng Zhuangyuan?"

Ren Shouxiang also didn't quite understand what his daughter meant.

"Don't mess around. You can't joke with the top scholar."

Ren Juan saw that her father and Ma Jingcheng were both startled, and she immediately laughed.

"Hahaha, look how scared you are. It's not illegal. I mean, I'm not going to sell the pony to the number one scholar."

Seeing that her father and Ma Jingcheng still looked puzzled, Ren Juan expressed her thoughts.

"I'm thinking, can we let Feng Zhuangyuan open his branch in our area? Then my dad will change the store at home into Feng Zhuangyuan's braised pork rice shop. We will pay Feng Zhuangyuan a franchise fee and give him dividends every year."

Ren Juan's words made both her father and Ma Jingcheng excited.

Especially Ren Shouxiang, he actually thought about joining Feng Zhengming's branch.

After all, Feng Zhengming doesn’t have a branch there yet.

Although there is no branch of Feng Zhengming, there are actually some stores that also sell braised pork.

Now hearing what his daughter said, Ren Shouxiang felt that if he could join Feng Zhengming's store, it would definitely become the most popular store in their area.

But Ma Jingcheng quickly said, "It seems that Feng Zhuangyuan's branch does not allow franchisees, right?"

Ren Juan nodded: "I know, Feng Zhuangyuan said that he would open all his branches himself and would strictly control each branch, so he would not allow others to join casually."

Ma Jingcheng asked: "Then what else do you want to say?"

Ren Juan smiled: "But if you join Feng Zhuangyuan's store, won't we become family? My dad will help you manage the branch store first, and when you have learned enough to be independent, you can come back and take over."

Although Ren Juan’s idea was good, Ma Jingcheng still felt it was difficult to achieve.

"Mr. Feng wouldn't just let us do this, would he?"

Ren Shouxiang also felt that it would be difficult for Feng Zhengming to agree to this idea.

Ren Juan said seriously: "Let's go and ask. How can we know if it will work if we don't ask? Besides, we are not trying to steal Feng Zhuangyuan's skills and do it ourselves. We also sincerely want to join Feng Zhuangyuan's company."

After hearing what Ren Juan said, Ren Shouxiang and Ma Jingcheng looked at each other and agreed to give it a try.

After the Young Chef Competition, Feng Zhengming stayed at Huiquanlou every day.

He improved some dishes from the branch in Shanghai in the kitchen of Huiquanlou, and then taught them to his two senior brothers, asking them to introduce the same dishes in Huiquanlou.

The most important dish is the stuffed pig’s trotter that combines Chinese and Western cuisine.

Feng Zhengming made some changes in the kitchen of Huiquanlou.

The seasoning was changed to a flavor that is more in line with the tastes of people in Qi and Lu.

Then when serving, it is no longer served as a whole, but cut into slices and then arranged on a plate.

There is also a smaller version made by Feng Zhengming in Shanghai, four-happiness meatballs stir-fried in tomato sauce.

Some improvements have also been made to make the taste closer to Shandong cuisine.

The two senior brothers and the new young chefs of Huiquanlou all learn from Feng Zhengming.

By learning from Feng Zhengming, they also learned a lot of new things.

Feng Zhengming is able to apply what he has learned flexibly, making use of cuisines from various regions and some things from overseas.

But no matter how he changes, the foundation remains the most traditional Shandong cuisine.

This requires chefs to have solid basic skills in Shandong cuisine.

Otherwise, many dishes will be cooked in a way that seems neither right nor wrong.

While cooking, Feng Zhengming and his two senior brothers would talk about the Young Chef Competition from time to time.

Today, Senior Brother Five was a little curious: "Zhengming, the people you recruit from the Young Chef Competition every year almost never make it to the top ten. Do you discriminate against the top ten young chefs?"

Before Feng Zhengming could answer, Cao Zhiguo asked with a smile, "You didn't deliberately not recruit the top ten because you were afraid that they would surpass you in the future, right?"

Feng Zhengming couldn't help laughing when he heard that.

The eldest brother at the side helped to speak up: "Old Five, what are you talking about? How could Zhengming be that kind of person?"

Feng Zhengming laughed and explained: "It's not that I don't want to recruit the top ten young chefs, it's that they don't want to come. Have any of the top ten young chefs come to me to apply for a job since the competition ended?"

After hearing this, the two brothers thought about it carefully and realized it was true.

After the competition, many young chefs came to apply for jobs.

But it is true that none of the top ten young chefs took the initiative to come to Feng Zhengming to ask for a job.

Feng Zhengming continued to explain: "Do you know why none of the top ten young chefs came to our door? Because they have long been targeted by others. After the competition, someone will come to find them.

They took the initiative to come to us and offered good conditions. The top ten young chefs will definitely choose to go to them.”

After hearing this explanation, the two brothers thought about it and nodded in agreement.

Top ten in the provincial youth chef competition, even if you are still a young chef.

Still enough of a gun for some people.

As they were chatting, He Yunqing walked in and said, "Chef, there are three people outside. They are the sixth place young chef in the province. Ma Jingcheng and his team are here."

Hearing what He Yunqing said, the fifth senior brother immediately laughed: "Hahaha, look, they took the initiative to come to our door."

Feng Zhengming smiled helplessly: "I don't necessarily want him to come."

The eldest brother was puzzled: "Why? Although he only took sixth place, I think that boy has solid basic skills and is a relatively honest boy, which is not bad."

Feng Zhengming sighed, "I know he's a good guy, but his master has done him a favor, and he also misses his master's daughter. Can he feel at ease if he stays with us?"

The two senior brothers and He Yunqing all felt that it was indeed difficult to stay.

He Yunqing was puzzled: "If that's the case, why would they come to you?"

Feng Zhengming packed up and said, "Let's go and meet him first."

After Feng Zhengming came out, Ren Shouxiang spoke first.

"Feng Zhuangyuan, we are here to ask you for an opportunity. Although my apprentice only ranked sixth in this competition, he is still very hardworking and willing to make progress. I hope to let him work with you in your store."

Ren Shouxiang came straight to the point, spoke very sincerely, and was a very humble person.

Feng Zhengming looked at Ma Jingcheng and said, "Think carefully. If you want to work in my shop, you have to start as an apprentice. And you won't start in Huiquanlou. You have to start in the Bazirou shop first."

Ma Jingcheng hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but blurt out what he wanted to say.

Originally, some stores that wanted to join Feng Zhengming should let Ren Juan make the call.

But Jingcheng Ma really didn't know what to say?
So he just said all the words by himself.

Feng Zhengming and He Yunqing beside him were both a little stunned when they heard this.

After Ma Jingcheng finished speaking, Feng Zhengming couldn't help but laugh: "You mean, you, your master, and your senior sister are going to join my company together?
Then you stay in my Quancheng store and start from the bottom, and your master and your sister will go back and help me open a branch store in your place?"

Ma Jingcheng nodded: "Yes, I don't need a salary."

Ren Shouxiang and his daughter Ren Juan were embarrassed by what Ma Jingcheng said all at once, and they really felt like finding a hole to crawl into.

Ma Jingcheng really doesn't know what it means to beat around the bush. (End of this chapter)