From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

When Zhao Chaoxing learned that Feng Zhengming had returned from Yancheng, he immediately took the initiative to visit Feng Zhengming.

Feng Zhengming was not surprised to see Zhao Chaoxing coming to visit him.

During this period, Feng Zhengming upgraded all branches in the province.

The affordable market was given to Zhao Chaoxing's Chaoxingxing fast food chain.

In any case, it gave Zhao Chaoxing a very big piece of cake.

In addition, Feng Zhengming opened several branches in various parts of the province, all of which were also upgraded Zheng Luxing stores.

He only has one branch in each city and does not open more branches to compete with Chao Xingxing for the market.

So from any perspective, Zhao Chaoxing's Chaoxingxing Baozirou fast food chain is the biggest beneficiary.

When visiting Feng Zhengming this time, Zhao Chaoxing also prepared a lot of gifts.

Feng Zhengming smiled when he saw it: "I thought Boss Zhao would bring a share contract with him, asking me to give him a percentage of your Chao Xingxing shares."

Zhao Chaoxing was stunned when he heard this, then he quickly said: "If Feng Zhuangyuan is willing to accept it, I will prepare the contract when I go back."

Feng Zhengming welcomed Zhao Chaoxing into his home with a big laugh.

"Hahaha, just a joke, Boss Zhao, don't take it seriously."

After Zhao Chaoxing entered the room, he saw Luo Qing and took the initiative to greet her.

Then after sitting down, Zhao Chaoxing went straight to the point and expressed his gratitude to Feng Zhengming.

"Thank you, Mr. Feng. I really admire your generosity in giving me the market below. I came here today to express my sincere gratitude to you."

Feng Zhengming smiled: "Boss Zhao, you are really too polite. You don't have to come all the way here to thank me."

After a short pause, Feng Zhengming said frankly: "I upgraded all my stores not for you, but I just think my stores deserve to be upgraded, and I hope to promote my brand, Zheng Luxing."

Zhao Chaoxing nodded: "I understand. The Zhengluxing brand is really great."

Feng Zhengming continued with a smile: "In the past, when I used this brand, I felt that I might not be qualified, but now I think I should be qualified.

I hope to promote the authentic Shandong cuisine, which is also the responsibility I, the national champion of Shandong cuisine, should shoulder."

Zhao Chaoxing said with admiration: "You are right, you are the national champion of Shandong cuisine. If you don't promote Shandong cuisine, no one else is qualified."

Feng Zhengming shook his head: "No, no, any chef who works hard to make Shandong cuisine well is qualified to promote Shandong cuisine.

I have said it for a long time, if Shandong cuisine wants to flourish, it needs inheritance, and more importantly, a steady stream of young chefs. This is the way for Shandong cuisine to flourish.”

At this point, Feng Zhengming looked at Zhao Chaoxing and said, "Boss Zhao, you should also contribute."

Zhao Chaoxing was a little surprised: "Me? What can I do? I have many chain stores, but the products I make are too low-end."

Feng Zhengming immediately encouraged Zhao Chaoxing.

"Boss Zhao, you shouldn't think like that. Although the Chao Xingxing Braised Pork Fast Food Chain does serve braised pork and boxed lunches, it is relatively low-end compared to some big restaurants.

But low-end things don’t mean they don’t taste good. If they are popular among the public, they must be delicious.

So, Boss Zhao, you should strictly strengthen quality control to ensure that the taste of each of your stores is stable.

And make sure you keep your products cheap and of good quality, that’s your biggest trump card.”

Zhao Chaoxing nodded: "I know, my main goal is to ensure that the price is low so that everyone can afford it, and also to ensure that the braised pork and various boxed lunches taste good."

Feng Zhengming smiled and nodded: "In fact, the dishes in the lunch box don't cost much, so as long as you are willing to use the ingredients, the taste will definitely not be bad."

Zhao Chaoxing quickly took the opportunity to say a small request of his own.

"Mr. Feng, can you give us a little guidance? As you know, the chef who makes the lunch boxes here is not very skilled, so I would like to ask you to give us some advice, Mr. Feng."

Feng Zhengming had already guessed the purpose of Zhao Chaoxing's visit today.

After all, Zhao Chaoxing has already opened so many branches in the province.

There was no need for him to make a special trip to thank me.

So he came to see me and thank me.

There must be something I need from myself.

So what could Zhao Chaoxing ask of me?
Feng Zhengming could guess with a little thought that they must be hoping to give some advice on the lunch boxes for his chain store.

Zhao Chaoxing was too embarrassed to ask for the steamed buns.

What's more, if Zhao Chaoxing asked for the recipe of the Feng family's dry rice shop.

He replaced the pork belly that he loved so much with the recipe from Feng’s Dry Rice Shop.

That was tantamount to him admitting that his cooking skills were not as good as those of Feng’s dry restaurant.

This is equivalent to completely admitting defeat to Feng Zhengming.

This is also the last bit of pride in Zhao Chaoxing's heart.

They cannot just give in to Feng Zhengming; they must insist on using their own recipe to make the steamed buns in their own chain stores.

However, Zhao Chaoxing felt that he could still ask Feng Zhengming for advice on the other boxed meals in the store.

Hearing Zhao Chaoxing speak, Feng Zhengming nodded calmly and agreed.

"Okay, I think it's better to do this. I may train a group of apprentices every six months according to the requirements of the province. Then I will assign them to you, Boss Zhao. How do you think?"

Zhao Chaoxing was stunned.

He originally wanted Feng Zhengming to give him some guidance.

Unexpectedly, Feng Zhengming actually sent some apprentices to his store.

This was a situation Zhao Chaoxing had not expected.

And this is good news for Zhao Chaoxing's branches.

Zhao Chaoxing now has too many branches across the province.

Naturally, there was some staff shortage in the store.

If Feng Zhengming is willing to give him a group of trainee apprentices.

This immediately solved the manpower problem faced by Zhao Chaoxing.

Moreover, the apprentices who have interned in Feng Zhengming’s store must have impeccable skills.

At least making boxed lunches won't be a problem.

"Thank you, thank you so much Mr. Feng. You really helped me a lot."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, “Actually, I should say you helped me a lot.

After all, with so many trainee apprentices, my store doesn’t need that many people. Having your many branches to help take them in also solves some of my problems.”

Zhao Chaoxing took the initiative to extend his hand to Feng Zhengming: "Feng Zhuangyuan, let's have a pleasant cooperation and make Shandong cuisine better together."

Feng Zhengming and Zhao Chaoxing shook hands: "Okay, let's work together."

Then Feng Zhengming gave Zhao Chaoxing another idea.

"Boss Zhao, I'll give you another suggestion."

Zhao Chaoxing nodded: "Okay, Mr. Feng, the advice you gave me is definitely worth learning."

Feng Zhengming went on to say: “My advice to you is to first run the store in the province well, and make sure that your reputation is good. You need to build up your Chao Xingxing reputation.

Then you will open a branch in Beijing."

"Go to Beijing?" Zhao Chaoxing was a little surprised. Feng Zhengming nodded seriously, "Yes, your Chaoxingxing Braised Pork fast food chain is actually very suitable for going to Beijing."

Zhao Chaoxing was very surprised: "Feng Zhuangyuan, why don't you go to the capital yourself? Instead, you let me go to the capital?"

Feng Zhengming smiled: "I am not suitable to go to the capital."

Zhao Chaoxing still didn't quite understand.

Feng Zhengming simply explained it more directly.

"I am a person with sharp edges and corners. I don't know how to be smooth in dealing with people, and I will not give up my own pursuits just to please certain people.

So I am destined not to go to Beijing, I can only go to the south, to Shanghai to better showcase my own things. "

After saying this, Feng Zhengming added: "Or should I say, I am more suitable to go to Shanghai and fool some of the fools there."

These words immediately amused Zhao Chaoxing.

"Hahaha, Mr. Feng, you are such a joker. How can your dishes be a scam?"

Feng Zhengming explained with a smile: "I have four stores in Shanghai, three of which are places that provide good quality and cheap dining for outsiders in Shanghai.

But the store I opened on Restaurant Street is designed to attract rich people to come and pay their bills.”

Zhao Chaoxing felt really unbelievable when he heard Feng Zhengming say this.

However, Zhao Chaoxing is now the owner of many chain stores in the province.

He put himself in the shoes of a boss and quickly understood.

"Hahaha, Feng Zhuangyuan is indeed good at joking. You use one store to build up a good reputation and make others think that the dishes in your store are top-notch cuisine. This will also benefit the other three stores.

Even your branches in our province, and the branches you open in other places in the future, will be blessed by the reputation of that store."

Hearing what Zhao Chaoxing said, Feng Zhengming also laughed.

“Boss Zhao is a smart man, there are some things we don’t need to make clear.

That’s why I said, I’m not suitable to go to Beijing. I don’t like the social etiquette in Beijing. I prefer to rely on my own skills to create my own brand.”

Zhao Chaoxing asked again: "Then why did Feng Zhuangyuan suggest that I go to the capital?"

Feng Zhengming explained: "It's very simple, because the format of your branch store is very suitable for Beijing."

Zhao Chaoxing was a little surprised: "Very suitable for Beijing?"

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Think about it, first of all, in terms of taste, Beijing is influenced by our Shandong cuisine to a certain extent, and secondly, the format of your branch stores can reduce your costs.

You won’t have the burden of my reputation as a top scholar, and you can just run a small street shop. Your products will still be popular in Beijing if they are of good quality and low price.”

Inspired by Feng Zhengming, Zhao Chaoxing couldn't help but feel that what he said made a lot of sense.

I am very happy that the Bazirou fast food chain can indeed enter the Beijing city.

"Thank you for your advice, Mr. Feng. I will consider it carefully. However, I will first manage the branches I have now. We must ensure the taste and quality of each store."

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Yes, quality and taste are very important. Boss Zhao must stick to the bottom line."

This sentence was Feng Zhengming's way of warning Zhao Chaoxing.

Let him not ignore quality and taste for the sake of expansion.

Zhao Chaoxing also accepted it sincerely: "Don't worry, Mr. Feng, I will definitely enforce it strictly."

In the end, Feng Zhengming just accepted some gifts from Zhao Chaoxing.

As for the money he originally wanted to give, Feng Zhengming naturally did not accept it.

After Zhao Chaoxing left, Luo Qing came out from the inner room holding her daughter.

"I never knew that Zhao Chaoxing had really grown his business after not seeing him for a few years."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "If it weren't for me, he would have been able to establish the Chao Xingxing brand in the province a long time ago."

Luo Qing was a little puzzled: "Does he really have that ability?"

Feng Zhengming shook his head: "This is not a question of ability."

He took his daughter who was stretching out her little hands from his wife's arms.

Feng Zhengming put his daughter on his lap.

"In fact, if we really want to open a branch, Zhao Chaoxing's Chaoxingxing Baozirou fast food chain is the right way to go. My branch model is not something that everyone can do."

Luo Qing nodded: "That's right. Others don't have your skills, and they can't train the young chefs around you."

Feng Zhengming shook his head again: "These are not the most important."

"Then what is the most important thing?" Luo Qing was a little puzzled.

Feng Zhengming answered seriously: "The most important thing is that I have a good master and a group of good brothers who are willing to help me. Without their help, it would be difficult for me to accomplish it alone."

Luo Qing could only admit this.

Feng Zhengming’s success is indeed inseparable from the help of his master and senior brothers.

It can even be said that at least half of the young chefs in his branch were trained by his senior brothers.

It is indeed almost impossible for others to follow Feng Zhengming's example and open branches.

"So normally, if they want to open a branch, they must follow Zhao Chaoxing's model. But because of my presence, my store also sells braised pork, so Zhao Chaoxing's expansion was blocked."

Luo Qing asked: "Then you gave him advice and offered to send some apprentices to his shop. Would that be a shame?"

Feng Zhengming laughed: "Hahaha, that's not the case, I let the apprentices go to his shop so that those apprentices who have been trained have a place to go.

After all, I have a limited number of branches, and some apprentices really can't find a suitable place to go after training.

It just so happens that Zhao Chaoxing has many branches, so he was asked to help take in some apprentices. "

Only then did Luo Qing understand Feng Zhengming's real intention.

"So you actually guessed that Zhao Chaoxing would come to your house? You were waiting for him to come to your house, waiting for him to ask you for help and guidance?
You took the opportunity to propose that the apprentices you trained be arranged to his chain stores?

Solve some of the apprenticeship problems, and allow those apprentices to gain good practical experience, and then select the best ones to return to your store? "

The wife spoke out all her thoughts.

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "You guessed it all right. This is my plan."

Luo Qing couldn't help laughing: "You are really good. You tricked Zhao Chaoxing and he even thanked you."

Feng Zhengming responded: "He knew my plan, but he still wanted to help me because he had so many branches and he really needed the apprentices I could provide to help."

Feng Zhengming was not wrong about this. Zhao Chaoxing went home after visiting him.

After telling his wife, Zhao Chaoxing also felt that Feng Zhengming was taking advantage of Zhao Chaoxing.

But Zhao Chaoxing was very straightforward when speaking to his wife.

"Being used by Feng Zhuangyuan shows that we are valuable. Besides, our branch really needs Feng Zhuangyuan's apprentices. With those apprentices, the dishes in our branch can be made better.

Even if it is a box lunch, if the food is not delicious, it will not attract enough customers just because it is cheap.

We opened so many branches because we needed enough customers to patronize them.”

And Zhao Chaoxing also has his own pursuits in his heart.

"We can't always be a fast food chain. If we can have a group of good chefs in the future, we can also run a restaurant or even take over a time-honored restaurant. By then, our Chao Xingxing brand will become more famous." (End of this chapter)