From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

Chapter 896: Preparations for Opening a High-end Restaurant
Feng Zhengming and Jiang Chengzhe agreed to give him a two-week vacation so that he could relieve his fatigue.

Feng Zhengming announced the news publicly after the business closed in the evening.

Other people in the store had no objection to this news.

After all, when Feng Zhengming is not in the store, Jiang Chengzhe is in charge of all the store's affairs.

This includes counting some of the store’s inventory after closing every night, as well as the final cleaning and locking of the store.

These seemingly simple tasks require great patience.

After all, every day's busyness is hard for everyone.

Others can change clothes and go home after their hard work and cleaning the store.

But Jiang Chengzhe needs to wait until everyone leaves before he can do an inventory of everything in the store.

You may not feel anything for one or two days, but if you don’t have enough patience for a long time, it will be hard to stick to it.

This is what a restaurant chef has to do.

If a chef cannot do these things himself, how can he ensure the quality of the dishes produced in the kitchen the next day?

Feng Zhengming also gave corresponding rewards to other people.

For example, give a bonus to everyone who helps win the outstanding restaurant.

"This bonus is to thank everyone for their joint efforts, which enabled our restaurant to win the Shanghai Excellent Restaurant Award. After all, the reward of reputation alone is definitely not enough."

Everyone in the store was very happy to hear that bonuses were going to be given out.

After everyone had finished cleaning the restaurant inside and out, Feng Zhengming asked everyone to go back and rest.

He, Jiang Chengzhe and Xia Hui who stayed in the store took inventory of the warehouse.

During the inventory process, Feng Zhengming came up with some new ideas.

"We are still short of staff, so we need to recruit some more apprentices so that we can take turns in the kitchen. Otherwise, it would be too tiring to watch over the store all the time."

Jiang Chengzhe also agreed with this idea, but he was a little worried that hiring new people would increase costs.

"Right now, the salary expenses of our employees already account for half of our store's operating income. If we recruit more people to work in shifts, we will need to increase this part of the expenses, and the cost will also be raised."

Feng Zhengming thought for a moment and said, "If it increases by 10 to 20 percent, it should be fine."

Jiang Chengzhe was a little surprised: "What about you? Don't you need to make money?"

Feng Zhengming smiled: "Of course I need to make money. After all, I still have a mortgage to pay in Shanghai."

Jiang Chengzhe: "Yes, you spend 60 to 70 percent of the store's revenue on employee salaries. How much money do you have left for yourself?"

Feng Zhengming continued to smile: "And there are dividends for you and Xia Hui."

Xia Hui couldn't help but say, "Uncle Master, I don't actually need a share of the profits."

Feng Zhengming immediately said: "No, you must accept your dividends."

Jiang Chengzhe: "Aren't you being too hard on yourself? This is your store after all. You can run it without us."

Feng Zhengming shook his head: "Without you, I wouldn't be able to run such a good business. Don't worry about me. I have four stores in Shanghai and more than a dozen stores in our province."

After hearing what Feng Zhengming said, Jiang Chengzhe had no choice but to accept it.

"Okay, okay, you're the boss, you have the final say."

In Jiang Chengzhe's opinion, Feng Zhengming's approach is not worth the cost.

His store in Shanghai has been recognized by Shanghai officials and the public.

This store could definitely make him more money.

But now Feng Zhengming insists on distributing most of the revenue to employees.

This is something most restaurants wouldn't do.

Just like when Jiang Chengzhe was in Hong Kong before, the so-called top chefs in Hong Kong all sold dishes in their own restaurants at quite a high price.

But they make so much money that they can't pay their store employees very high wages.

As for many apprentices who apply for jobs, some of them are not paid at all and are only provided with food and accommodation.

But Feng Zhengming’s store is different.

Even if they are apprentices, he will give them a good salary.

Feng Zhengming will also rent a house as a dormitory.

In addition, the store also provides two meals for employees at noon and in the evening.

In other words, being an apprentice in Feng Zhengming's store means saving some wages and spending almost nothing.

Of course, the store’s requirements for apprentices are extremely high.

It's not like other stores where you can just post an advertisement and anyone can apply.

Apprentices in all of Feng Zhengming’s stores must be graduates of vocational schools majoring in cooking.

You also need to pass Feng Zhengming's assessment before you can enter the kitchen as an apprentice.

Even with such harsh conditions, there are still quite a lot of people who use connections to get in.

Thinking of this, Jiang Chengzhe no longer felt that there was anything wrong with Feng Zhengming's behavior.

"The apprentices in our store can probably be put in the kitchens of some restaurants and become chefs. Even in the kitchens of some big restaurants, they can at least be chefs who can cook."

When Xia Hui heard Jiang Chengzhe say this, she nodded in agreement.

Feng Zhengming smiled: "Otherwise, how can we become an excellent restaurant in Shanghai? Next, we have to become the best restaurant in Shanghai and become the signature restaurant of Shandong cuisine in Shanghai."

Jiang Chengzhe: "Then what should I do?"

Feng Zhengming lightly punched Jiang Chengzhe.

"Of course you have to follow me and open a high-end restaurant together. We want to open the best top-class restaurant in Shanghai. Have you forgotten?"

Jiang Chengzhe certainly did not forget that this was his original intention to come to Shanghai to follow Feng Zhengming.

“Are you planning on opening a fine-dining restaurant?”

Seeing Jiang Chengzhe's excited face, Feng Zhengming nodded: "Yes, I am ready to start the preparations. Just you and I are not enough. We need to find a few more chefs from other local cuisines."

Jiang Chengzhe was a little confused when he heard this: "Looking for chefs from other cuisines? Will they be willing to join us?"

Feng Zhengming: “So we need to look for something that can collide with our ideas.”

Jiang Chengzhe couldn't help but feel that this might be difficult.

"It's probably not easy to find one, right? You should have come into contact with chefs from other places. In fact, most chefs across the country don't have your pursuit."

Feng Zhengming smiled: "Including yourself?"

Jiang Chengzhe was stunned for a moment, and Xia Hui beside him couldn't help laughing out loud.

But in the end Jiang Chengzhe nodded.

"Yes, including myself. To be honest, I just wanted to make money with my cooking skills. You know my family is not well off. I started learning cooking because I wanted to make money so that my parents could live a good life."

Feng Zhengming asked: "Is it different now?"

Jiang Chengzhe nodded again: "Because I met you, I have some pursuits."

Feng Zhengming: "That's enough. If you can change your mind, others can too."

Without waiting for Jiang Chengzhe to speak, Feng Zhengming continued to express his thoughts.

"We are not in a hurry in this regard. We will join the WTO next year, and development may accelerate thereafter. At that time, we will look for and recruit a group of young chefs with ideals from all over the country. Once we have enough manpower, we will open our high-end restaurant.

With sufficient economic support, our high-end restaurant can be established.”

Jiang Chengzhe agreed with this point.

"You're right. It takes a stable and upward economic environment for people to be willing to pay for high-end restaurants."

Feng Zhengming: "So you can take a two-week break and help me do some research, either in Shanghai or outside of Shanghai. Didn't you always say you wanted to see the mountains and rivers of the motherland? Just go and take a look."

Jiang Chengzhe was stunned, then looking at Feng Zhengming's smiling face, he also smiled.

"Okay, then I will make good use of the two-week vacation and go out for a good walk. This will allow me, a person born in Hong Kong, to travel around the country."

Feng Zhengming smiled and reminded: "Don't go too far, you only have two weeks to rest."

Jiang Chengzhe was stunned, then said to Xia Hui beside him: "Look at your uncle's true nature, he still wants us to work for him."

Xia Hui laughed beside him: "Chef Jiang, this shows that Master Uncle can't do without you, and the restaurant also needs you."

This made Jiang Chengzhe happy again: "That's right, the store can't do without me."

Feng Zhengming saw Jiang Chengzhe’s face full of smiles.

"Have a good rest. Don't worry too much about what I told you. For the next two weeks, you should mainly rest. As for finding a like-minded young chef? We need to investigate this slowly."

Jiang Chengzhe nodded: "Don't worry, I will definitely make good use of the two weeks to rest."

Finally, after Feng Zhengming and his team counted the inventory, Feng Zhengming directly called the supplier to arrange for the delivery of the goods the next morning.

Then he drove Jiang Chengzhe back to the apartment he rented in Shanghai.

He then drove Xia Hui back to the house she and Sun Hai shared in Shanghai.

By the way, I also went to the store that Sun Hai is in charge of to take a look.

Sun Hai's store closes later than the Western restaurant on the street.

Feng Zhengming first dropped Jiang Chengzhe off and then drove over. The store was still being cleaned.

After entering the store, Feng Zhengming conducted a careful inspection.

"Not bad, it seems that Sun Hai, you have adapted to being a store manager during this period of time."

Sun Hai felt a little embarrassed.

"Uncle Master, I am just following your previous request to the store over there and making requests to everyone in my store."

Feng Zhengming laughed: "Hahaha, that's right. You have to remember that you are the store manager here, so you have to have the final say and have absolute authority."

Sun Hai: "We should discuss some things together."

Feng Zhengming: "So your restaurant was not selected as one of the excellent restaurants in Shanghai."

Sun Hai was stunned by what he said.

Xia Hui helped to explain.

"Don't you understand? What Uncle Master means is that you can perfectly implement Uncle Master's standards, but if you discuss it with others, the standards may be implemented distortedly."

Xia Hui's words made Sun Hai suddenly realize that there were some problems in the store.

Feng Zhengming then called everyone in the store out.

At this moment, Feng Zhengming was no longer as friendly as before.

His eyes became very sharp.

The gathered employees were a little scared.

Feng Zhengming did not get angry, but just warned calmly.

“I know that Sun Hai is a loyal man. You will definitely have a more comfortable life under his leadership than in my other stores.

He told me that he would discuss many things with you.

This is because he is honest, but I don’t want anyone to take advantage of his honesty to cause trouble in my store.”

Even though he didn't get angry, Feng Zhengming's words were still powerful, shocking everyone in Sun Hai's store.

Feng Zhengming did not give up and still wanted to give the store employees a warning.

"When I was away from Shanghai, there was a restaurant selection in Shanghai. Among my four restaurants, only your restaurant did not receive good reviews. I think you should know what happened.

Let me state again that Sun Hai is a store manager whom I trust. No matter what mistakes he makes, I will forgive him as long as they are not illegal.

But you are different. You are paid a high salary by me, and if you make a mistake, I can fire any one of you. "

Feng Zhengming's words this time were very direct.

“So don’t let me know that you’re doing something behind my back, and don’t always think of taking advantage of Sun Hai’s loyalty to gain benefits for yourself in the store.

I'm telling you again, I'm leaving this store to Sun Hai. I can replace all of you except him."

The employees in the store finally understood at this moment.

Sun Hai has a different weight in Feng Zhengming's heart.

And it cannot be replaced by others.

In the past, some people in the store did some secret tricks, trying to take advantage of Sun Hai's loyalty and cause the store's business to decline.

This will cause Feng Zhengming to distrust Sun Hai's abilities, and then someone else may have the opportunity to replace Sun Hai as store manager.

But Feng Zhengming's words today have already made his attitude clear.

That is, he would rather replace everyone in the store than replace Sun Hai, the store manager and chef.

This shattered the secret plans of some people.

Feng Zhengming finally glanced at everyone and asked, "Do you remember what I said?"

No one dared to say anything, and they all answered in unison: "Remember."

Feng Zhengming asked everyone to go back to work.

Sun Hai's face was full of guilt when facing Feng Zhengming.

"Uncle Master, I didn't manage the store well."

Feng Zhengming smiled and reminded: "Don't tell me that you plan to give the position of store manager of this store to someone else."

Xia Hui was a little worried for Sun Hai, fearing that he would really give up his position as store manager.

Sun Hai was smart this time: "No, no, I understand that my uncle is training me. I will not give up the position of store manager. I will also work hard to learn how to be a good store manager."

Feng Zhengming then nodded with satisfaction.

"Remember that you are the store manager and the chef. This store is yours. You must learn how to manage your store and not let others influence your judgment. If you want to learn from me,

Then I have to learn to be stubborn and insist on running the store my way."

Sun Hai nodded seriously and agreed: "I know, Junior Master."

Feng Zhengming did not stay in the store, nor did he ask about the rest of the matters in the store. He completely left them to Sun Hai and left Xia Hui to help him.

He drove home first, and then called Zhu Xu and Zhang Lei respectively to tell them that he would go to their stores tomorrow.

After everything was arranged, Feng Zhengming took a shower and walked quietly into the bedroom.

(End of this chapter)