From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

A few days later, my third uncle Feng Jiandong came to Shanghai with the truck that was delivering food to Feng Zhengming's store.

When Feng Zhengming learned the news, he drove his wife and daughter to the cargo yard to pick up his third uncle.

Sitting in Feng Zhengming’s new car in Shanghai, looking at the scenery of Shanghai outside the car window.

Feng Jiandong couldn't help but sigh: "It's really a big city. Shanghai is indeed better built than ours. There are also many more people on the streets than ours."

Feng Zhengming was driving when he heard his uncle's words. He asked with a smile, "Uncle, you have been to Shanghai before, why are you suddenly so emotional?"

Uncle San: "I suddenly felt something. On the way here, I was thinking that you and the two old men are all in Shanghai. The house suddenly seems empty and a little deserted."

Feng Zhengming: "Uncle San, are you also planning to come to Shanghai?"

Uncle San: "I can't come. My business is in my hometown. What will happen to my business if I come?"

After a brief pause, Uncle San went on to give another reason.

"Shanghai is somewhat xenophobic and a little bit scornful of the poor. They are polite to bosses from the south, but they look down on us from the north."

Luo Qing, who was sitting in the back seat holding her daughter, suddenly spoke.

"Uncle San, you're right. When I first came here, many people looked at me with disdain when I spoke on the street."

Uncle San: "Right, some locals in Shanghai are like that."

Luo Qing: "But later, we lived here for a while, and it seemed that the neighbors were quite nice to us."

Uncle San laughed: "Hahaha, that's because they've seen your strength, know that your husband is the top scholar in the country, and you bought an old house to live in, so of course they're polite to you."

When Feng Zhengming heard his third uncle talking about the old villa, he told him that he wanted to buy an old villa and open a high-end private restaurant.

After hearing this, Uncle San was a little surprised: "Zhengming, do you still want to buy an old house?"

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Yes, that old house is quite big. I think we can buy it and renovate it inside, and then turn it into a private restaurant."

Uncle San fell silent.

After a period of silence, Uncle San spoke again.

"That old house you're interested in isn't cheap, is it?"

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, the other party's offer is indeed not low."

Uncle San: "If you take out a loan, the pressure will be great. And have you ever thought about it? Can you really make money by opening a high-end private restaurant in an old house?"

Luo Qing spoke first: "Third Uncle is actually showing that he has his own brand, so he should be able to make money."

Feng Zhengming took over the conversation: "Uncle San, I will tell you the truth, if other chefs were to run this restaurant, even if they had a big boss to support them, I'm afraid that restaurant would hardly make any money.

But if it were me, I would still be confident that I could make money, but the profit would definitely not be as good as my other stores.”

Uncle San: "Are you so confident?"

Feng Zhengming: "I do have some confidence. Third Uncle, you may not know how profitable my four stores are."

Luo Qing was in the back row telling her uncle about the profits of the four stores in Shanghai.

"All four stores have a profit of more than 50%, and the other three stores outside the Western Restaurant Street are even higher, with some close to ."

Uncle San was a little surprised: "So high?"

Feng Zhengming nodded: "Yes, because there are many people in Shanghai, our Western restaurant on the street deliberately controls the number of guests it receives. The other three restaurants are all fast food restaurants, so they receive more guests."

Uncle San asked: "If you open that high-end private restaurant, how much will your profit be?"

Luo Qing replied: "I'm afraid there are only 20 at most."

Uncle San: "20 is already a lot."

Luo Qing explained: "But Uncle San, we still have to pay the mortgage."

Uncle San was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Looking at it this way, 20 is indeed too little. You still have to pay the employees' wages and give them some conditions in terms of treatment."

Uncle San thought for a moment and said, "Can you raise the price? With Zhengming's current fame and your use of the old house, it shouldn't be difficult to raise the price of vegetables, right?"

Feng Zhengming: "Of course I can raise the price, but I don't want to set the price too high."

Uncle San was a little puzzled: "You don't want to set the price too high? But you are a high-end private restaurant, do you plan to set the price the same as your other stores?"

Feng Zhengming: "That's not the case, but I don't want to charge too much. I want to keep the price at a level that most people can afford to spend once after gritting their teeth."

Uncle San was really surprised to hear what Feng Zhengming said.

He turned his head and looked at Feng Zhengming who was driving.

After a long time, Uncle San still felt that Feng Zhengming’s pricing was inappropriate.

"It is clear that your pricing does allow more people to taste dishes that may be considered expensive delicacies, but isn't that lowering your own status a bit?"

When Luo Qing heard what her uncle said, she couldn't help laughing in the back row.

"Hahaha, see, isn't it the same as what Third Uncle told me? I said that your pricing must be a bit of a self-depreciation. You are considering the purchasing power of the general public, but they may not appreciate it."

Uncle San: “Yes, in fact, if you buy an old house like that to run a high-end private restaurant, it is destined not to be a restaurant for the general public.

Besides, you have opened quite a few restaurants and hotels for the public over the years. As a national champion in cooking, can your cooking skills be worse than those of Kong Xingli and Cheng Guosheng?

They are all going for the high-end route now, how can you still price lower than them?"

Feng Zhengming knew that what his third uncle and his wife said was correct.

However, he said: "Even if we raise prices, our profits will still not be very high."

Luo Qing echoed in the back row: "Yes, Third Uncle, you should know that such high-end restaurants serve a limited number of customers, so the profit margin is destined not to be very high."

Uncle San smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. If you make Zhengming famous, you will naturally attract many wealthy people in Shanghai to spend money."

Feng Zhengming laughed along, "That's true. Shanghai is indeed a place of decadence and extravagance."

Uncle San: “That’s right, after all, this has always been a place facing overseas, a paradise for adventurers, and a paradise for the rich.

Then it is clear that you want to let the rich enjoy the food that truly belongs to heaven in your restaurant."

I have to say that Uncle San is worthy of having been in the foreign trade business for many years, and many of his ideas are really advanced.

Moreover, some of Uncle San's ideas can collide with Feng Zhengming's bolder ideas.

Perhaps when Feng Zhengming himself expresses these thoughts, others may not understand them.

But since my uncle's ideas resonate with mine, others will naturally understand it better.

Feng Zhengming drove his third uncle directly to his eldest uncle's house to meet the two grandfathers first.

As a result, the two grandfathers were not very excited when they saw Uncle Third.

Instead, they were all very happy that Feng Zhengming brought his wife and children to visit them.

Especially when they saw the little girl Feng Nuanyu, the two great grandfathers really liked her.

The two old men welcomed their grandson and granddaughter-in-law Feng Zhengming and Luo Qing, and they also liked their great-granddaughter.

It was a bit awkward to have Feng Jiandong standing next to me.

"Dad, Uncle Situ, aren't you happy to see me?" Feng Zonghe looked at his son and said, "You're here. After all this time, you finally remembered your dad and your Uncle Situ?"

This question made Feng Jiandong feel both amused and helpless.

Grandpa Situ laughed: "Hahaha, come on, third brother, come in together. Don't be jealous. Xiao Youyou is a child after all, and is more important than an adult like you."

What else can Feng Jiandong say?

He could only carry the things he brought and follow them in.

After entering the house, Feng Jiandong couldn't help but sigh: "Brother, this house is really nice."

Feng Zonghe immediately took over the conversation: "This place is only for your eldest brother and his family to live in, not for them."

Feng Jiandong nodded: "It's not just about being rich to be able to live here."

After handing the things to his eldest brother's aunt, Feng Jiandong followed her into the living room of the house.

After sitting down, Feng Jiandong reported the situation in Quancheng to his father.

In fact, it was also a way to tell Feng Zhengming about the situation of the Quancheng store.

After hearing this, Feng Zonghe nodded: "With Zhengming and several other brothers in Quancheng, there is really no need to worry. Zhengming is really lucky that there are brothers willing to help him."

Feng Jiandong couldn't help but say, "Dad, Zhengming is also very good to his fellow brothers. If it weren't for Zhengming, how could his fellow brothers be so famous now?"

The father immediately glared at Feng Jiandong and said, "What are you talking about? How can you say that?"

Grandpa Situ smiled and said, "It should be said that Zhengming and his senior brothers have achieved mutual success. Without his senior brothers, Zhengming would not have been able to come to Shanghai from Quancheng with peace of mind.

But without Zhengming's fame, his fellow apprentices would not have been able to gain the fame they have today after Yanxilou closed down."

Feng Zhengming also nodded: "Yes, my senior brothers and I have achieved mutual success. I am really grateful to my senior brothers and sisters. Without them, I would not have been able to come to Shanghai like this."

Grandpa: "Just remember the kindness of your senior brothers, and give them the profits and fame that are due to them. They are a community with you, and you should share honor and disgrace."

Feng Zhengming: "Grandpa, don't worry, I will. I wanted to invite my brothers to come to Shanghai, but they are unwilling to come."

Uncle San: "It is impossible for them to leave their homeland. If they wanted to leave, they should have come out when Yan Xi Tower was closed."

Grandpa Feng: "Yes, didn't your second, third, and fifth brothers all go out? They all had to return to Quancheng in the end. They have become accustomed to the pace of life in Quancheng, so it's understandable that they don't want to leave."

Feng Zhengming then mentioned to the two grandfathers that he wanted to buy an old Western-style house in Shanghai and open a high-end private restaurant after renovating it.

The two grandfathers looked at each other after hearing this.

Grandpa Situ spoke first this time: "Those old houses in Shanghai are not cheap now, right?"

Feng Zhengming nodded and told the quotation that Mr. Rong had given him before.

Grandpa Situ: "It's really not cheap. This price could buy a building in Quancheng, right?"

Uncle San: "It's almost enough to buy a building."

I thought Grandpa Feng would object, but this time he actually said, "Take some time, Zhengming, take us over to have a look."

Grandpa's words surprised Feng Zhengming, Luo Qing, and Uncle Three who was present.

Grandpa Situ, on the other hand, was not very surprised.

"Hahaha, don't be surprised. We two brothers have been living in Shanghai for a while. We go out for a walk when we have nothing to do and learn about the situation in Shanghai.

Moreover, we can clearly learn a lot of information from your uncle Zhengming.

So we all think that Shanghai will definitely develop better and better in the future and will become a place where wealth gathers.”

Grandpa Feng took over the conversation: "You opened a high-end restaurant like that in Shanghai. With your fame, it will definitely be very attractive and can also achieve your idea of ​​establishing a benchmark for high-end Chinese restaurants."

Feng Zhengming suddenly realized that his two grandfathers were indeed quite advanced in their thinking.

They do have good vision and can see through many things.

Especially Grandpa Situ, who has been abroad for many years, he has a clearer understanding of the future development direction.

Just as Feng Zhengming proposed at the beginning, he wanted to establish a standard system for Chinese restaurants.

Grandpa Situ has always been very supportive of his approach.

Because Grandpa Situ knew very well that if the overseas restaurant standards were introduced into China, domestic Chinese cuisine would inevitably become unrecognizable because it had to cater to other people's standards.

This point coincides with Feng Zhengming's idea.

The difference is that Feng Zhengming knows what the future will be like.

Grandpa Situ made his inference entirely based on his experience overseas.

This is the different ways of thinking brought about by different perspectives.

For many things, it’s not that there are no examples to learn from, but most people may not be able to access them.

After Feng Zonghe arrived in Shanghai, he walked around the streets of Shanghai with Brother Situ.

It was at my eldest son’s home that I was exposed to more advanced information.

Many of his past ideas are also changing.

Therefore, Feng Zonghe also believed that Feng Zhengming's idea was not wrong.

His decision to go south instead of north was a very good idea.

If Feng Zhengming went north to the capital.

He will be facing a somewhat rigid and old-fashioned industry background.

Although there are indeed many excellent chefs gathered in the capital.

But precisely because there are so many outstanding master chefs gathered here, seniority is the key to succession in the capital.

If the system launched by Feng Zhengming in Shanghai were put in Beijing, it would be constrained in many aspects.

But in Shanghai, he can be more free.

Although there are people supporting him behind the scenes, the Chefs Association will not impose too many restrictions on him.

The successful launch of Shanghai's restaurant recommendation guide and its acceptance by most people is a good example.

If it were in Beijing, I'm afraid that in order to launch such a restaurant guide, the chain of interests involved would be very large, and in the end it would not be possible to achieve complete autonomy at all.

Feng Zonghe looked at Feng Zhengming and said, "Next, you need to open your own high-end restaurant. Use your restaurant as a benchmark to determine the rating standards for high-end restaurants and hotels in Shanghai.

This will give your other recommended guide more recognition.”

Feng Jiandong was a little surprised: "Dad, you are so fashionable now. You actually know everything that Zhengming is doing?"

Feng Zonghe smiled: "Shanghai is an interesting place. I can learn more every day."

When Grandpa Situ heard this, he also started laughing.

The little girl in the great grandfather's arms saw that both great grandfathers were laughing. Although she didn't understand, she immediately laughed along and even stood on the great grandfather's lap and danced. (End of this chapter)