From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Feng Zhengming was somewhat surprised to see that Xia Hui was unwilling to go to Xindian.

However, he was not in a hurry to talk to Xia Hui.

After all, once the new store has chosen a location, the subsequent renovation will also take some time.

Feng Zhengming planned to treat Xia Hui and Sun Hai to a meal with his wife during his break and have a good talk with her.

Before talking to Xia Hui, Feng Zhengming went home in the evening and told his wife about the matter.

After hearing this, Luo Qing gave her own guess.

"Could it be that Xia Hui wants to continue to stay in the Western Restaurant on the street and learn more about concepts from Jiang Chengzhe so as to prepare for taking over the restaurant in the future?"

Hearing his wife say this, Feng Zhengming also felt a little helpless.

"I didn't say I was going to give her the restaurant on the street, did I?"

Luo Qing smiled: "Didn't you make a promise to her and Sun Hai before, saying that if they really wanted to be in Shanghai, you would arrange a store for them?

Then Xia Hui said she wanted the restaurant on the western street, and you told her it was okay. "

Feng Zhengming was a little amused: "I didn't say I wouldn't arrange anything for her in the future, did I? But now I'm giving her the Western restaurant on the street to take charge of, can she take it over?"

Luo Qing thought for a moment and asked, "Isn't Xia Hui's cooking skill very good now? I think the pig's trotters she makes should be very good looking."

Feng Zhengming looked helpless: "I know her skills are fine, so I want to take her to the new store and let her and Sun Hai have a good experience in the new store, so that the two of them can have the experience of running a store.

How can we let them take charge of the Western Restaurant Street stores if they have no experience in managing and operating a store? "

Luo Qing nodded and felt that what her husband said was correct.

"Then you should explain it clearly to Xia Hui. I think if you explain it clearly to her, she won't refuse to go to the new store."

Feng Zhengming was still a little worried: "Tell me, does Xia Hui have any other ideas?"

"Other ideas?" Luo Qing thought carefully, "She shouldn't have any other ideas, right? Since she chose to come to Shanghai with you, she should be willing to learn from you.

Besides, she and Sun Hai are in a confirmed relationship now. If the two of them get together in the future, it would be great for them to learn how to run a store."

After his wife said this, Feng Zhengming couldn't think of what other ideas Xia Hui might have.
He could only leave it to his wife and ask her when the time comes.

"Well, wait for Xia Hui and Sun Hai to come home, I will tell her first, and then you find a chance to ask Xia Hui alone. Don't let her be unwilling to speak out her thoughts, otherwise everyone will be unhappy."

Luo Qing nodded seriously and agreed: "Okay, I'll talk to her then."

In the next few days, Feng Zhengming didn't talk much about going to the new store, and every day was the same as before.

Two days later, Xia Hui first found Feng Zhengming to talk to him.

"Master, I don't want to go to the new store. I feel that my cooking skills are not good enough to be the head chef of a new store. I know that Master wants to train Sun Hai and me.

I think it would be better for Sun Hai to go to the new store, and for me to stay in this store on Western Restaurant Street."

Feng Zhengming looked at her in surprise when Xia Hui took the initiative to find him and said this.

"Are you afraid that I won't let you and Sun Hai take over this store in the future? Actually, when you go to the new store, I also hope that you can practice in the new store and learn how to run and manage a store."

Xia Hui immediately said, "No, uncle, I know you want to train me."

Feng Zhengming was helpless: "Then can you tell me why you don't want to go to Xindian?"

Xia Hui said again: "I just feel that I am not suitable to be the person who manages a store. I am more suitable to be in the kitchen. I don't want to leave the kitchen. I want to learn more in this store on Western Restaurant Street."

Feng Zhengming was somewhat surprised to hear Xia Hui's answer.

Because everyone has more or less the expectation of becoming a chef in a restaurant in the future.

But when it came to Xia Hui, she actually didn't want to manage a store.

However, after Feng Zhengming thought about it, he could probably understand Xia Hui's thoughts.

Xia Hui still wants to further improve her cooking skills.

She felt that if she moved to the new store, she might have to be responsible for the management and operation of the new store, which would prevent her from devoting herself to the study of culinary skills.

Especially after leaving this store on the western restaurant street.

Xia Hui told Feng Zhengming her thoughts very frankly.

"Uncle Master, I know that this restaurant on Western Restaurant Street is your most important restaurant in Shanghai. You and Jiang Chengzhe spend most of the time in the kitchen of this restaurant researching new dishes.

Even if a new dish is proven to be suitable for launch in this store, you may not necessarily launch it in other branches.

So if I leave this restaurant on the Western Restaurant Street, I won’t be able to participate in the research and development of your new dishes, and I won’t be able to learn how to cook new dishes in the first place.”

After listening to Xia Hui's words, Feng Zhengming finally understood why she was reluctant to go to Xindian.

It turned out that Xia Hui knew that if she went to the new store, she would not have more opportunities to participate in the development of new dishes by Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe.

Apparently after following Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe in Shanghai for a year, Xia Hui has become accustomed to participating in the research and development of new materials.

Because by developing new dishes with Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe, you can gain more advanced ideas.

Especially in this restaurant on the Western Restaurant Street, Feng Zhengming will use a lot of high-quality ingredients here.

The addition of a large number of high-quality ingredients makes it easier for Feng Zhengming and his team to carry out research and development.

But if she went to Xindian, Xia Hui knew very well that Xindian followed the model of the store at the train station.

It’s not that the model is bad, that model can also help you hone your skills.

You can make classic traditional dishes more skillfully.

The most important thing is to make your skills more stable.

For most chefs, stability in their cooking skills is the key to their success as a chef.

But Xia Hui obviously wants more than just to keep her job.

She wanted to keep up with the pace of Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe.

She wants to be a chef with a lot of creative ideas like Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe.

So she was unwilling to go to the new store and wanted to continue staying in the store on the Western Restaurant Street to learn more about research and development from Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe.

Xia Hui expressed her thoughts and stared at Feng Zhengming for a while.

She was looking forward to Feng Zhengming giving an answer.

She wanted to continue working in the kitchen of this Western Restaurant on Restaurant Street.

She hopes to become Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe's assistant and work with them in developing new dishes.

Facing Xia Hui's gaze, Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Okay, if you really want to stay here and endure the hardships with us, then we will let you stay in this restaurant on Western Restaurant Street."

Xia Hui was immediately excited when she heard this: "Okay, okay, I can endure the hardship, thank you, uncle."

Feng Zhengming could only say: "Then you have to discuss it with Sun Hai. I must let Sun Hai go with me to Xindian. If you don't go, I will let Sun Decai go as well. It might be a bit hard for him to go to Xindian." Hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Xia Hui was obviously still somewhat worried about Sun Hai's situation.

"Then I'll have a good talk with Sun Hai and see if he's willing. We can separate first."

Feng Zhengming smiled and nodded: "Yes, you need to make this clear to Sun Hai. He may stay in Xindian for a long time."

Xia Hui asked doubtfully: "Master, will Sun Hai be in Xindian from now on?"

Feng Zhengming nodded: "If he can run and manage the new store well, I might indeed let him stay in the new store and let him be in charge of the branch."

"What about Sun Decai?" Xia Hui obviously didn't want to be separated from Sun Hai forever.

"How long has Sun Decai been with me? He still has a lot to learn. It's impossible for him to become the head of a branch so quickly."

Without waiting for Xia Hui to speak, Feng Zhengming reminded her seriously.

"You have to understand that the person in charge of a branch must have sufficient qualifications and skills. You and Sun Hai are the most suitable, as well as Zhu Xu and Guan Wei from the store at the train station. Even Zhang Lei cannot be the person in charge of a branch for the time being."

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Xia Hui also understood.

Becoming the branch manager was a sign of Feng Zhengming's high regard for him.

From the perspective of future development, it is a good thing for Sun Hai to become the head of a branch.

Even from the perspective of the relationship between him and Xia Hui, and their future development.

It is also a very good thing that Sun Hai became the head of a branch.

So no matter from which perspective, it will be a good thing for Sun Hai.

Xia Hui was also a little hesitant. She didn't want Sun Hai's career to be hindered because of her.

Feng Zhengming saw that Xia Hui was very hesitant and conflicted.

He soothed her, "Okay, you, talk to Sun Hai again. If you two want to be together, you will definitely need to make some adjustments. Once the new store is decorated, just give me your answer."

Feng Zhengming returned home in the evening and told his wife what Xia Hui had taken the initiative to talk to him about.

After hearing this, Luo Qing stood on Xia Hui's side.

"I support Xia Hui's choice. Why can't female chefs have their own creativity? She is now able to work independently in the kitchen, which shows that female chefs are no worse than male chefs.

So she can also become a chef with her own menu like you and Jiang Chengzhe."

Feng Zhengming really had no way of refutation with his wife's words.

"I have never discriminated against female chefs. I have seen Xia Hui's efforts, so I agreed to let her stay in the kitchen of the western restaurant so that she can learn more creative things.

But if he stayed in the western restaurant on the street, he would definitely have to separate from Sun Hai.

Sun Hai I still hope he can take over a branch store. "

Luo Qing thought for a moment and said, "How about I talk to Xia Hui and see if she is willing to separate from Sun Hai temporarily?"

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Let her and Sun Hai communicate on their own first. After all, it will be their business in the future, and we can't interfere too much. I hope they can solve it themselves."

Luo Qing nodded and agreed: "Okay, then we'll wait and see what happens."

The next day, Sun Hai took the initiative to find Feng Zhengming.

Feng Zhengming also guessed that Sun Hai would take the initiative to find him.

Sun Hai got straight to the point: "Uncle Master, I am willing to go to the new store with you. I will work hard to learn the management and operation of the store, and I will try to take over the new store."

After hearing these words, Feng Zhengming asked: "So, you and Xia Hui have discussed this?"

Sun Hai nodded seriously: "Yes, let her stay in the store here. She will learn things faster and have her own ideas. She can improve her skills better if she stays in the store here."

Feng Zhengming asked: "You really don't think that this is unfair to you?"

Sun Hai laughed: "Master, you know me, I'm still a little stupid, I'm slow to learn new dishes, so it's really not suitable for me to continue staying in this restaurant on Western Restaurant Street."

After listening to what Sun Hai said, Feng Zhengming began to look at him with a new respect.

People have self-knowledge.

Sun Hai is obviously the one who knows himself.

He is well aware of his abilities.

Sun Hai has solid skills and can cook classic dishes very well.

But the shortcoming actually lies in the word "solid".

Sun Hai is not flexible enough. He does not have an active mind like Xia Hui and Jiang Chengzhe. He cannot keep up with Feng Zhengming's many ideas and have a collision of ideas with Feng Zhengming.

There is nothing we can do about this, as everyone has their own strengths.

Basically, let alone Xia Hui, even if Jiang Chengzhe seriously competes with Sun Hai in basic skills, I'm afraid he may not be Sun Hai's opponent now.

That's why Feng Zhengming wanted Sun Hai to go to Xindian, as he was the one who could support the branch.

Now Sun Hai himself has agreed and is willing to go to Xindian to learn operation and management.

Feng Zhengming nodded and said, "Okay, since you and Xia Hui have discussed it, let's follow this plan. You and I will go to the new store, and Xia Hui will stay in the store here."

Sun Hai quickly expressed his gratitude to Feng Zhengming: "Thank you, Junior Master."

Feng Zhengming smiled and patted Sun Hai on the shoulder: "Don't be polite to me, we are all family. You are my third brother's apprentice, call me Junior Uncle, I will definitely try my best to take care of you."

After discussing this matter, Feng Zhengming told Jiang Chengzhe about it.

Jiang Chengzhe actually agreed to let Xia Hui stay in the store on Western Restaurant Street.

"Xia Hui is very talented in creativity. I also think that she should not be in charge of any new store. She should stay with us. When you are not in the store temporarily, she can cooperate with me better."

Feng Zhengming smiled and reminded: "Don't have any unreasonable expectations of others."

Jiang Chengzhe said righteously: "Hey, hey, hey, am I that kind of person? I admit that I admire Xia Hui, but to be honest, I have never thought of finding a female chef as a girlfriend."

Hearing Jiang Chengzhe say this, Feng Zhengming smiled and nodded: "Okay, I'm relieved that you don't have this plan."

Jiang Chengzhe was also a little amused and helpless.

He even couldn't help but think in his heart: Should I also find a partner?
I can't always let others misunderstand me, and I can't always just watch Feng Zhengming show off his love in front of me all day long.

The renovation progress of the two new stores is still very fast, after all, there is the store at the train station as a reference.

The new stores were located on two popular streets in Shanghai.

And together with the two stores already owned by Feng Zhengming, they form a quadrilateral, located in four areas of Shanghai, and basically will not affect each other's business.

After the renovation was completed, Feng Zhengming led everyone to visit the two branches. (End of this chapter)