From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

After listening to Ma Jingcheng's words, He Yunqing couldn't help but feel that the boy in front of him was a little silly and cute.

What he meant was that he was selling himself to Feng Zhengming in exchange for Feng Zhengming letting his master's family join the franchise of Bazi Rou and open a branch in their hometown city.

Seeing that Feng Zhengming did not respond, He Yunqing spoke with a smile.

"Do you know that what you just said is equivalent to selling yourself to our chef in exchange for our chef opening a branch in your place and handing the store over to your master's family to run."

Ma Jingcheng nodded immediately after hearing this: "Is this okay? If possible, I'm willing to do it."

He Yunqing was stunned by the question.

After looking at Ma Jingcheng carefully for a while, He Yunqing didn't know what to say for a moment.
Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Why do you think you are worth that price? Do you think that if you follow me, you can get my recipe for braised pork belly and let me open a branch in your place?"

Ma Jingcheng stared at Feng Zhengming: "Am I not worth it?"

Feng Zhengming shook his head: "It's not worth it. Each of my branches has a high profit. I have three branches in Quancheng, and each one is profitable. I also have five branches in various parts of the province.

In their local area, the wages of the chefs in the kitchen, the service staff in the store, and even some people doing odd jobs in the store are much higher than the local average wage.

Even so, my stores are still able to make money locally, and the profits are still considerable.”

After saying this, Feng Zhengming looked at Ma Jingcheng: "Do you think you are worth the value of one of my branches?"

Feng Zhengming's words were quite impolite.

Ma Jingcheng suddenly realized that he seemed to be useless.

When Ren Shouxiang saw how his apprentice was hit, he sighed helplessly.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Feng. We overestimated our abilities and shouldn't have come to you. I have been with you since I was fifteen years old. I have rarely been out of our area and don't know much about the ways of the world. Please forgive me."

After saying this, Ren Shouxiang prepared to take his apprentice and daughter away.

At this time, my daughter Ren Juan stepped forward.

“Mr. Feng, we admire you very much. My dad knows that he is not capable enough to continue teaching Xiao Ma more, so we hope that he can follow you and learn more in your store.

You don’t have to take what Xiao Ma said just now seriously. We still hope you can keep Xiao Ma in your store.”

Ren Juan reached out and pulled Ma Jingcheng: "He is willing to endure hardships and start from the bottom."

After listening to what his master and Ren Juan said, Ma Jingcheng raised his head and looked at Ren Juan.

"Sister Juan, I don't have to stay."

Feng Zhengming looked at them.

Ma Jingcheng is indeed a down-to-earth and hard-working person with a good foundation. He is also a talent worth cultivating.

But Feng Zhengming didn't feel that he really needed Ma Jingcheng to follow him.

Feng Zhengming has many people under his command who are hard-working and capable, and their basic skills are better than Ma Jingcheng.

To put it bluntly, one more or one less won't make much difference.

However, from the relationship between him and Ren Shouxiang and his daughter, Feng Zhengming seemed to vaguely see the relationship between himself and his master's family.

Back then, my master treated me the same way as Ren Shouxiang treated Ma Jingcheng.

Willing to find ways to provide better learning opportunities for his apprentices.

Feng Zhengming pondered for a moment, then interrupted the family who were still discussing with each other.

"Let me give you a chance, Ma Jingcheng. Some of the new people I recruited in the past few days will be assigned to several of my stores. I will arrange for you to be assigned to one of my stores.

You will work with the newcomers first. I will give you half a month. If you perform well in half a month, you will stay."

Hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Ren Shouxiang and his daughter Ren Juan were immediately overjoyed.

Ren Shouxiang quickly asked his apprentice to thank Feng Zhengming.

"Hurry up and thank Feng Zhuangyuan. He is giving you a chance."

Ren Juan even pulled Ma Jingcheng over and asked him to bow and thank Feng Zhengming together.

But Ma Jingcheng did not seem satisfied with the result.

"Then, what about my master and the others?"

Feng Zhengming smiled: "Why? I'm just giving you a chance to be an apprentice in my shop. Do you want me to accept you as a master as well?"

Ren Shouxiang quickly explained: "No, no, we don't have to stay. We will go back in two days."

Ren Juan continued to persuade Ma Jingcheng.

"Xiao Ma, what are you doing? This is your chance to work in the No. 1 shop. As long as you work hard, you will have the opportunity to learn from him in the future. Why don't you understand?"

Ma Jingcheng stared at Ren Juan: "But Sister Juan, if I don't go back, what will happen to Master's shop?"

Ren Shouxiang couldn't help but ask, "What's the matter, little brat? Do you think you've grown powerful now that you've won sixth place in the province's young chefs rankings? Your cooking skills are better than mine? I can't run the restaurant without you, right?"

He Yunqing stood aside and saw the family's appearance. He could tell that they were not acting.

Whether it is a master or an apprentice, including the master's daughter, many of their behaviors come from their heart and instinct.

He Yunqing has been working at Huiquanlou for so many years, welcoming and seeing off so many customers, and has been dealing with different people all his life.

I can’t say that I can tell at a glance whether the other person is deliberately acting.

But through several conversations and some observations, He Yunqing was still able to tell the difference.

Feng Zhengming deliberately caused this family to argue.

He was also observing whether this family was putting on a show in front of him.

Through some observation and eye contact with He Yunqing.

Feng Zhengming has also confirmed that this family is not intentionally putting on a show in front of him.

He spoke again, interrupting the three people's argument.

"Okay, stop arguing. Ma Jingcheng, I'll give you another chance. If you can stay in my store in half a month, you can get a chance to work in the store's kitchen before the Chinese New Year.

I will visit your hometown after the Chinese New Year. If it is suitable, I will open a branch there.

I can let your master's family take charge of the operation of the branch over there."

Ren Shouxiang, his daughter, and Ma Jingcheng all looked at Feng Zhengming in surprise.

They didn't expect that Feng Zhengming would actually be willing to open a branch in their local area and let Ren Shouxiang run it.

Seeing their surprised expressions, Feng Zhengming continued speaking without any doubt.

“The opportunity is already in front of you. It’s up to you whether you can seize it. Remember, whether you are in my store or when I open a branch, you must do everything according to my requirements.

If you can't do it according to my standards, I will choose to find someone else to do it."

Ren Shouxiang immediately came to his senses and bowed to thank Feng Zhengming.

"Thank you, thank you so much."

Ren Juan also came to her senses and quickly pulled Ma Jingcheng along to bow to Feng Zhengming to express her gratitude.

After Ma Jingcheng bowed and thanked him, he was still a little worried.

"Do you keep your word? If I can stay in your shop smoothly and I can get the opportunity to work as a chef before the New Year, will you come to our hometown to inspect it after the New Year?"

Feng Zhengming said seriously: "Why? Do you think I'm kidding you?"

Ma Jingcheng agreed immediately: "Thank you, I will try my best to do it." Feng Zhengming then looked at He Yunqing: "Uncle He, please arrange for him to go to the branch over at the brewery."

He Yunqing was stunned when he heard this arrangement.

Originally, He Yunqing thought that Feng Zhengming would arrange Ma Jingcheng to work in the old shop.

I didn't expect that Feng Zhengming would arrange a branch at the brewery.

But on second thought, He Yunqing roughly guessed Feng Zhengming's intention.

By arranging Ma Jingcheng in the old shop, he might be able to learn more from his third senior brother Feng Zhengming.

But with Third Senior Brother Feng Zhengming around, Ma Jingcheng would definitely not get the chance to cook during the period before the Chinese New Year.

Instead, he was assigned to a branch of the brewery. With his own efforts, Ma Jingcheng might have a chance to work as a chef.

When He Yunqing thought about it, he felt that Feng Zhengming was still taking good care of Ma Jingcheng.

Afterwards, He Yunqing took Ma Jingcheng to handle some formalities.

Feng Zhengming chatted with the Ren family's father and daughter for a few more words.

Ren Shouxiang expressed his position to Feng Zhengming in a serious manner: "Don't worry, Mr. Feng, he will definitely work with you in the future. I won't let him go back to help me."

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

"Master Ren, you don't have to think like that. I don't mean to keep Xiao Ma by my side. I opened a shop and trained young chefs in the kitchen, not just to let them work for me.

I hope they can pass on Shandong cuisine. It doesn’t matter to me whether they stay in my restaurant in the future or not.

As long as they really learn something in my store and can persist in putting what they have learned into practice.

Then you won’t waste yourself and my time in my shop in vain.”

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Ren Shouxiang realized it instantly.

As expected, he is the top scholar in the country, and his vision is much bigger than mine.

Ren Shouxiang understood that he was still thinking about the affairs of each household.

But Feng Zhengming was thinking from the perspective of promoting Shandong cuisine.

Thinking about it this way, Ren Shouxiang seemed to understand.

Feng Zhengming's so-called test of his apprentice was just an excuse, or a way to motivate him not to slack off in the store.

In fact, if Feng Zhengming wanted to open a branch, he would definitely go to their hometown to take a look and investigate.

Ren Shouxiang figured this out and he truly admired Feng Zhengming from the bottom of his heart.

This is giving himself and his apprentice a way out.

Feng Zhengming smiled and encouraged Ren Shouxiang with a few words.

"Master Ren, you can't be discouraged. You are still young and have a chance to improve. When I open a branch in your place, I will also examine your skills. I hope you won't let me down."

If it was before knowing what Feng Zhengming did today, Ren Shouxiang might have thought it was ridiculous that Feng Zhengming encouraged him.

But now, after being encouraged by Feng Zhengming, Ren Shouxiang was actually inspired to fight.

"Okay, top scholar, please rest assured. I will not slack off. I will work hard when I return. When you come to inspect me, I will definitely show my skills worthy of your branch."

Feng Zhengming nodded: "That's right, you must have fighting spirit. I am looking forward to seeing your skills, Master Ren."

After leaving Huiquanlou, Ren's father and daughter and Ma Jingcheng were on their way back to the hotel.

Ren Juan couldn't help but say, "That number one scholar is really different."

Ma Jingcheng was still a little slow to realize: "What's the difference?"

Ren Juan reached out and tapped his head gently.

"You should learn from them. Be humble when you go to their store. Work hard to improve yourself. Don't let down the opportunities they give you."

Ma Jingcheng nodded: "Don't worry, Sister Juan, I will definitely get the chance to cook before the Chinese New Year."

Ren Juan shook her head: "It's not about getting you a chance to cook, it's about letting you study hard, learn some of other people's skills, and also show yourself well."

Ma Jingcheng agreed: "I know."

Ren Shouxiang sighed: "We still underestimated him. He was able to become the national champion, attend the return state banquet, and represent Shandong cuisine to exchange ideas in Hong Kong. He really has that ability.

And they are not trying to fight for themselves, they are fighting for the status that Shandong cuisine deserves.”

Ma Jingcheng felt a little strange when he heard his master suddenly say such words.

"Master, didn't you say before that the top scholar is just a chef? If I work hard, I will be able to surpass him in the future?"

Ren Shouxiang immediately asked back: "I, when did I say that?"

Ma Jingcheng was surprised: "You clearly told me that before coming here."

Ren Juan couldn't help laughing at this time.

"Alright, alright, Dad, stop denying it. You did say that before you came here. It looks like you want to take it back now, right?"

Ren Shouxiang was helpless: "I want to take it back. Maybe there will be a new champion in the next national cooking skills competition, but no one will be able to surpass Feng Zhuangyuan."

Ren Juan was a little surprised: "Dad, are you so absolute?"

Ren Shouxiang nodded: "Yes, no one will surpass him."

Then Ren Shouxiang warned his apprentice: "In the future, you must be humble in front of others. Don't speak such big words in front of others like you did before."

Ma Jingcheng nodded: "Master, don't worry, I won't brag anymore. I know I am not as good as the top scholar."

In Huiquanlou, He Yunqing chatted with Feng Zhengming before the restaurant opened.

"Chef, you seem to like this Ma Jingcheng very much?"

Feng Zhengming smiled: "I have a little appreciation for him, but I can't say I like him. In my eyes, he is no different from other young chefs.

If I really have to say who I like, I still prefer Xia Hui, Sun Hai, Guan Wei and others.

In my opinion, Sun Decai is more worthy of training than Ma Jingcheng.”

He Yunqing was unable to refute after hearing this.

He knew very well that what Feng Zhengming said was true.

In terms of ability, Xia Hui, Sun Hai and Guan Wei are definitely in the top tier.

Sun Decai can be said to be able to barely catch up with them.

As for this year's young chefs, including Ma Jingcheng, no one can catch up with Sun Decai for the time being.

Without waiting for He Yunqing to ask, Feng Zhengming directly stated his idea of ​​accepting Ma Jingcheng.

"I kept Ma Jingcheng because, on the one hand, we were indeed short of manpower, and on the other hand, Master Ren was someone worthy of entrusting the branch with."

He Yunqing couldn't help but want to laugh after hearing this.

The Ren family felt that Feng Zhengming helped them because he liked Ma Jingcheng.

In fact, it was quite the opposite. Feng Zhengming accepted Ma Jingcheng because he saw Ren Shouxiang's ability. (End of this chapter)