From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

After expressing their gratitude to several people from Gangcheng, Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe went to other private rooms to express their gratitude.

The people who came to other private rooms tonight are all famous bosses in Shanghai.

Previously, several bosses had some opinions about Feng Zhengming’s fixed menu and the fact that people were not allowed to order dishes.

But after having this meal tonight, these bosses were completely convinced.

"Feng Zhuangyuan is worthy of being Feng Zhuangyuan. Every dish he prepares is really well done."

"Mr. Feng is indeed very capable. We have offended him before."

"Yes, yes, Mr. Feng, please don't be offended. We underestimated your craftsmanship."

Of course Feng Zhengming accepted the bosses' polite apologies with a smile.

“You don’t have to be so polite, your coming to reserve a table in my shop shows your recognition of my cooking skills, and I am also very grateful to everyone for coming to support us tonight on New Year’s Day.

I hope that if there is an opportunity, I can get some support from you so that I can do a good business in Shanghai."

Naturally, all these bosses in Shanghai expressed their continued support to Feng Zhengming in the future.

There are some overseas friends here tonight, but they are not sitting in the private room.

So Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe also had special conversations with them later.

I would like to express my gratitude to these overseas friends.

After Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe thanked everyone, they were called over again by a table of guests in the corner of the store.

After Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe were reintroduced, they realized that the other party was from the city of Shanghai.

This really surprised Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe.

Feng Zhengming was even a little bit frightened.

"I really didn't know you would come tonight, and we didn't make better preparations."

The leader smiled and waved his hand: "No need to be so polite, Mr. Champion. I see that you are neither humble nor overbearing to those bosses, stars, and celebrities in Shanghai and Hong Kong. You don't need to be servile to us."

"That's right. We are all workers. Mr. Feng, your craftsmanship deserves more respect."

"You still gave up your rest on New Year's Day to serve this delicious food to everyone. We really deserve your gratitude."

After the pleasantries, several people explained the purpose of their visit tonight.

"In fact, we specially booked a table tonight because we wanted to see Mr. Feng's cooking skills and discuss something with him."

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Please speak, everyone."

The next few people explained some of their requests to Feng Zhengming.

In fact, the local people in Shanghai hope that Feng Zhengming’s two stores can become the typical outsiders they want to portray.

That is to say, Feng Zhengming and his two restaurants should become representatives of outsiders in the catering industry in Shanghai.

After listening to the words of several people from Shanghai, Feng Zhengming roughly understood.

Hucheng is going to give him some identity.

Maybe he will be required to participate in some associations and attend some meetings of the associations in the future.

Of course, in return, Feng Zhengming can also get certain support from Shanghai.

The purpose is to allow Feng Zhengming's store to be promoted in Shanghai.

Feng Zhengming doesn't care whether Shanghai City promotes his store or not?

On the contrary, he felt that being able to join some industry associations in Shanghai would be helpful to him. Perhaps he could promote the establishment of the magazine he did in Qilu in Shanghai.

In particular, we need to develop a recommendation guide for restaurants and hotels, and conduct some pilot projects in Shanghai.

The recommended guidelines were promoted throughout the province of Qilu.

This should be a different situation from promoting it in Shanghai and gaining widespread recognition.

So Feng Zhengming nodded and agreed to the few people coming from Shanghai tonight.

"Okay, it's our honor to join the industry association in Shanghai. We also hope to represent outsiders and strive for better treatment for outsiders in Shanghai."

Several leaders in Shanghai looked at each other, and then all smiled at Feng Zhengming.

"Of course, as long as Mr. Feng is willing, we will give him more support."

"Yes, right. A skill like yours, Feng Zhuangyuan, is worth promoting."

Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe expressed their gratitude together.

After chatting for a few more words, these local leaders from Shanghai left first.

After they left, the customers who were dining in the restaurant also finished their meals one after another, paid their bills and left.

Wei Ling and Mr. Cai came out of the private room only after most people had left.

Meet Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe again.

Wei Ling smiled and said, "Thank you both chefs for your hospitality tonight. We are very satisfied with your dishes tonight."

Mr. Cai was more direct: "Do you want some photos of us?"

Wei Ling looked at the two singing gods and said, "Yes, two famous singers from Hong Kong are here tonight. We should take a photo together so that we can promote your store in the future."

What they said made the two singing gods couldn't help but laugh.

Maybe for Hong Kong celebrities, people usually beg them to take photos with them.

I didn’t expect that today at Feng Zhengming’s place, they would take the initiative to ask if they wanted to take a photo together?

Feng Zhengming couldn't help but laugh: "I was wondering how we should ask you guys to take a photo together. Thank you so much Mr. Wei Ling and Mr. Cai for suggesting taking a photo together for us."

This gave everyone a way out and made everyone laugh.

Afterwards, Feng Zhengming's camera was taken out, and most people in the restaurant participated in the group photo.

Of course, the most classic group photo is the one where Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe led everyone in the kitchen to take a photo with these stars.

This photo made everyone in the kitchen very happy.

Feng Zhengming reminded everyone with a smile.

"You guys have to perform well. I hope I can enlarge this photo and put it in our store. I want to tell others that you are the best employees in my store and you can join us in entertaining big stars."

These words were a great encouragement to everyone in the kitchen, and everyone responded by saying that they would work hard.

The New Year's Day dinner was over and the last table of big stars had left. Feng Zhengming and his team cleaned up carefully before closing the door and letting everyone go back to rest.

Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe called Zhu Xu, Zhang Lei, Sun Decai and Guan Wei to find a place to have a drink.

Sun Hai and Xia Hui were excluded, leaving them alone in their own world.

Jiang Chengzhe even secretly gave Sun Hai some security tools.

Feng Zhengming and his friends found a quiet little bar to drink together.

Jiang Chengzhe was a little excited while drinking.

"Zhengming, you know what? I am really happy to follow you. You have made me realize the dignity that a chef should have. You have not asked me to kowtow to any guests."

Feng Zhengming could see that Jiang Chengzhe was speaking his true feelings under the influence of alcohol.

"Hahaha, are you drunk? What is there to thank me for? We should be respected enough."

Jiang Chengzhe nodded: "Yes, we should be respected. We are truly the best chefs in the country. We are the best chef team in the world."

Jiang Chengzhe's words also resonated with others present, and everyone raised their glasses together.

"Cheers to our team of the best chefs in the world." "Cheers."

After drinking the glass of wine, Jiang Chengzhe continued, “You don’t know, in Hong Kong City we are famous chefs in name, but in fact we just cook for those rich people.

Even many famous chefs are willing to work as private chefs in the homes of wealthy people in order to make money.

Hahaha, it reminds me of the private chefs in the merchants’ homes in ancient times.

But we are obviously artists, and our cooked food is also a work of art. Why should we become their home chefs?
But we have no choice. Without the money from the rich, how can we become famous chefs?"

Jiang Chengzhe's words expressed his sadness.

He is obviously a chef with aspirations, but in the end he can only be criticized by others.

But he still has to cater to them and find ways to make those rich people willing to spend.

Feng Zhengming could still understand this feeling.

After all, many times, people really have no choice.

So this is why Feng Zhengming did not open a high-end restaurant immediately after arriving in Shanghai, but instead chose to start with fast food that is very close to the general public?

It is precisely because fast food may be looked down upon by wealthy bosses in the first place.

Secondly, fast food can be closer to the market and test its own skills through the market.

More importantly, fast food can help Feng Zhengming gain quick recognition.

Just like the two stores he has in Shanghai now, they have almost been recognized by most people.

With the foundation of public recognition, Feng Zhengming no longer has to worry about business.

There is no need to curry favor with rich people as Jiang Chengzhe said.

Jiang Chengzhe expressed his frustration.

He finally became happy.

"Hahaha, come on, let's drink. Tonight we finally let those people know that our store treats everyone equally. Our store is a store that everyone likes. We don't need those big bosses to flatter us."

Feng Zhengming smiled: "This is also because our store is located in Shanghai."

Jiang Chengzhe was stunned when he heard this, and then he couldn't help but look sad.

"Zhengming, you are deliberately trying to disgust me, right? You want to tell me that it wouldn't be so easy if it was opened in Hong Kong City."

Feng Zhengming said bluntly: "Yes, that's what I wanted to say, isn't it?"

Jiang Chengzhe was helpless: "Yes, yes, you are right."

Feng Zhengming stopped attacking Jiang Chengzhe and reached out to pat him.

"Okay, don't think too much. We have already proved ourselves. Let's keep working hard. We will make our store better and bigger step by step.

We want to create our own brand and become our own boss. We don’t want to work for any boss.

We also want to help ambitious chefs so that they can get better treatment and gain greater respect.”

Jiang Chengzhe and several people present raised their glasses excitedly.

"Yes, we must be the strongest."

After this New Year's Eve passed.

Next, a storm really broke out in Shanghai.

The New Year's Day dinner held in Feng Zhengming's restaurant was soon known to some people and reported.

Even reporters from TV stations and newspapers started coming to interview us.

Feng Zhengming felt helpless about this.

Reporters came every day and blocked the door, so we couldn’t do business.

In desperation, Feng Zhengming could only accept an interview with a local TV station in Shanghai.

I plan to make things clear all at once so that no one comes to me again.

The TV station also takes this matter very seriously.

So Shanghai TV station specially arranged people.

During the preparation period, the business of Feng Zhengming's two stores really exploded.

Feng Zhengming did not hang up the photos of himself with Hong Kong stars.

But he knew that someone in the store had already spread the news.

That’s why there are so many fans who think they can meet celebrities in Feng Zhengming’s store, so they go to Feng Zhengming’s store specifically, hoping to see if they can meet the big star.

Feng Zhengming and others also felt helpless.

The key is not to drive those people away.

Fortunately, Feng Zhengming did not hang up any photos of himself with celebrities, and he asked the waiters not to say that any celebrities had visited.

In this way, after a short period of madness,

When those fans felt that they could no longer see the stars in Feng Zhengming's store, they gradually dispersed.

Feng Zhengming's store finally returned to its former tranquility.

After settling down some issues in the store, Feng Zhengming, Jiang Chengzhe and the chefs in the kitchen went to the TV station for an interview.

Before the interview, the TV station gave Feng Zhengming and his team a lecture.

It can be considered as a rehearsal of lines with them in advance.

Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe both had experience, so they did not reveal anything wrong.

However, other young chefs still said some things that they shouldn't have said.

Fortunately, most of them were corrected during the rehearsal.

Feng Zhengming and his team of chefs appeared on a Shanghai TV station, which also attracted a lot of attention.

So after the program was recorded, many people stayed in front of the TV to watch it when it was broadcast.

Even many people from Qilu, relatives and friends all watch Shanghai TV.

In an interview, the first thing to do is naturally to ask questions that many people are concerned about.

During the New Year’s Day dinner, were there any celebrities visiting the store?
Feng Zhengming answered directly: "It is true that there are celebrities visiting the restaurant, but they all booked tables in advance and did not behave in an excessive manner just because they are celebrities.

So I think a lot of people should learn from celebrities. We are a restaurant. If you don’t want to eat, please don’t come to our restaurant to block celebrities.”

This was said on TV and naturally caused quite a stir.

After the program was broadcast, many people actually abused Feng Zhengming.

I think Feng Zhengming is being a big shot and that he is just a cook.

Feng Zhengming did not respond to this.

As the saying goes, when you are famous you are prone to gossip, but Feng Zhengming knew very well that he didn't need to pay any attention to it.

Because there are more people who support him and will speak for him.

Soon people began to speak up for Feng Zhengming.

Those who support him say that he is a truly good chef who does not bow down and acts in a servile manner and who truly relies on his skills, and that he is a well-deserved national champion.

With the support of others, Feng Zhengming's fame gradually increased and he became a more respected chef. (End of this chapter)