From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

While waiting for his disciples to finish their breakfast, Feng Zhengming and his uncle checked out of the hotel.

Then they got in the car and left Shouguang city directly.

When the guests who had treated us to dinner last night came to the hotel, I asked them and found out that they had already checked out and left.

This shocked the people who came to the hotel.

"See, I knew that what happened last night would definitely not be hidden from others. I told you not to do those little tricks, but now you've pissed people off and left."

"That's right. I said you can't do that kind of thing. Who is Feng Zhuangyuan? He has a store in a big city. How can he not see through the little tricks you guys are doing?"

"Come on, stop talking nonsense. Now that they're gone, what are we going to do?"

"What else can I do? They've already left, so don't think about it anymore."

"I don't think it's right. Mr. Feng clearly said last night that he would support our vegetable industry. Why did he suddenly leave?"

"Isn't it because of the shit you did last night? Did you make people angry?"

In fact, Feng Zhengming heard it from their words when he was drinking with these people last night.

These so-called big vegetable growers are probably not serious vegetable farmers at all.

Although what they said seemed flawless, Feng Zhengming still caught some problems in their words.

Coupled with what happened last night, Feng Zhengming was even more certain that these people were not representatives of vegetable farmers.

On the way to the countryside, Feng Zhengming expressed some of his own judgments.

"Those people probably want to control the purchasing channels. If they become our suppliers, they can use my reputation to promote themselves and further monopolize the vegetable purchases here."

Uncle San, who was driving, thought about it and agreed with Feng Zhengming's opinion.

“I’m afraid it should be. To put it bluntly, these people are just middlemen like me, but they want to monopolize the acquisition.

In theory, the goal is to organize vegetable farmers so that they can better control the purchase price and help them better control the market.

In fact, they just want to monopolize the vegetable sales channels, buy vegetables from farmers at low prices, and then sell them at high prices.”

Feng Zhengming was very disgusted with such behavior.

"The vegetable farmers work hard to grow vegetables, but they can't get the maximum benefit. Those guys are really abominable."

Xia Hui, who was in the same car, thought for a moment and said, "Master, if we skip them and go directly to the vegetable farmers, if they find out, will they go to the local authorities to stop us from purchasing directly from the vegetable farmers?"

Feng Zhengming: "Don't be afraid. I really don't believe that Shouguang will really support that kind of person."

Uncle San laughed: "Hahaha, don't worry. Have you forgotten that I also have a vegetable company? My company is also registered here. I will go and negotiate with the local authorities when the time comes."

Feng Zhengming: "Yes, Third Uncle, you go and negotiate. With your vegetable company, I believe there shouldn't be any problems."

After some bumpy ride, the car arrived at a vegetable base.

Large tracts of vegetable fields have been covered with plastic greenhouses.

Before entering the base, Feng Zhengming and his team drove around the base.

I have to say that the vegetable base here covers a very large area and the planting has reached a sufficient scale.

After Feng Zhengming and his team entered the vegetable base and communicated with the person in charge of the base.

What surprised everyone was that most of the vegetable farmers here didn’t even know Feng Zhengming’s reputation.

After learning about it, Feng Jiandong couldn't help but sigh: "No wonder the sales channels were monopolized by that group of people. The vegetable farmers here are too honest. They really don't care about anything else and only care about growing vegetables."

Feng Zhengming thought about it and suggested that his uncle go and talk to the people in the village.

Feng Jiandong thought this was right, so they went to talk to the village party secretary.

The village party secretary knew Feng Zhengming and learned that Feng Jiandong was also the owner of a vegetable company.

The village party secretary hurried to greet them and told them some information about the village.

Accompanied by the village party secretary, Feng Zhengming and his colleagues visited the village's vegetable planting base.

Then Feng Zhengming and his team went to some other villages for investigation.

After some investigation, I have gained some understanding of the overall vegetable cultivation.

Vegetable cultivation in each village is on a large scale, and for the sake of differentiation, the vegetables grown in each village are different.

After an on-site inspection, Feng Zhengming was not in a hurry to confirm the purchase.

He and his uncle returned to the city first.

This time they found another hotel to stay in.

After dinner in the evening, everyone got together to discuss what to do next.

"We still need to find a local company and let them contact all the vegetable farmers, so that we can purchase them better."

After listening to Feng Zhengming's words, Uncle San came up with a different idea.

"Zhengming, I think it's better for you to go back first, and leave the matter of vegetable procurement to me. My vegetable company has been established, and all the subsequent matters will be handled by my vegetable company.

This way, if you don’t show up, some things might be easier to discuss.”

After hearing what his third uncle said, Feng Zhengming felt that what his third uncle said made sense.

His goals are indeed a bit too big now, and he has participated in many negotiations, but the final results may not be satisfactory.

And from visiting those vegetable farmers, it is not difficult to purchase directly from them.

But they still need to be organized to complete the overall vegetable supply.

It is even more difficult for Feng Zhengming to deal with these things. He cannot ask the vegetable farmers to supply the goods one by one.

So Uncle San’s method is indeed a better one.

All of them were handled by Uncle San’s vegetable company.

In this way, if there is any problem with the vegetables, Uncle San’s Vegetable Company will be able to handle it more easily.

After all, Uncle San does not have the burden of the reputation of the top scholar that Feng Zhengming needs to bear.

When it comes to business, Uncle San can raise any issue directly.

Feng Zhengming finally agreed with his uncle's suggestion.

"Okay, Uncle, thank you for your hard work. Let's go back first. I'll leave the specific matters to you. After all, business is business. If your vegetable company comes forward, there will be nothing to worry about."

Feng Jiandong: "Hahaha, don't be polite to Uncle San. Don't worry, I will definitely keep up with the supply of your Shanghai store."

Feng Zhengming nodded, and then let his apprentices take a day off and walk around and have some fun here.

Feng Zhengming still went with his uncle to take a look at his vegetable company.

When he arrived at his uncle's vegetable company, Feng Zhengming had to admit that his uncle was really professional in everything he did.

Everything in the company is arranged in an orderly manner.

There are also special vegetable screening and packaging workshops.

The most important thing is that Uncle San specially hired some professional talents to be responsible for the source screening and procurement of the vegetable company.

Feng Zhengming was quite impressed by the entire arrangement of his uncle's company.

"Uncle San, you are amazing. Your company has everything you need. It is very complete in every aspect."

Feng Jiandong smiled and said, "Of course, since we are going to run a vegetable company, we must be professional enough. In the future, maybe Uncle San's company will be able to grow vegetables on a large scale directly."

Feng Zhengming laughed and said, "Sure, Uncle San, if you change your career to growing vegetables, I will let you supply all my stores."

Feng Jiandong immediately pretended to count on his fingers.

"If you think about it this way, it's as if I really went to grow vegetables. That's a really big deal." Feng Zhengming: "Third uncle, think carefully about what you want to do. I'm like grandpa. I never worry about whether you can succeed. We know that no matter what you do, you will succeed."

Feng Jiandong listened to Feng Zhengming's words and said confidently, "Uncle San doesn't need your comfort. I have been doing business for so many years, and I have seen all kinds of storms. I believe I can handle the vegetable company this time."

In the evening, Feng Zhengming took his apprentices to visit the Ganfanpu branch in Shouguang.

The manager of this branch was visibly nervous when he saw Feng Zhengming arriving with his senior sister.

This amused Feng Zhengming: "Hahaha, you don't have to be so nervous. If you are really afraid of making a mistake, then find a chef's uniform for your senior sister and let her do it."

These words amused several apprentices and the people in the branch kitchen.

Xia Hui even rolled up her sleeves and made a gesture as if she was going to go in and take over the cooking.

This scared the chef of this branch.

"Big Sister, please quickly retract your magical powers. Let me do it. I have been waiting for you and Uncle Master to come together. Give me a chance to show my abilities."

Xia Hui smiled and said, "Okay, hold on tight."

The chef in the kitchen immediately started cooking.

Soon, plates of food were brought out and placed in front of Feng Zhengming and the others.

Feng Zhengming didn't pick up his chopsticks, letting his disciples take a look first.

Xia Hui did not say anything in a hurry and chose to let her five fellow apprentices take a look first.

Sun Decai took a look and was the first to speak: "Master, the pork kidneys are fried and juicy."

Feng Zhengming nodded.

Hou Dong took a look and said, "Master, your liver cutting skills are OK, but I feel like there's too much soup."

Feng Zhengming didn't say anything but looked at Xia Hui, indicating that she, the senior sister, should speak.

Xia Hui immediately pointed out the problem: "People were nervous and didn't dare to thicken the sauce."

The chef of the branch standing next to them immediately smiled awkwardly.

He was indeed nervous, so when thickening the dish, he didn't add enough starch twice. But he didn't dare to add it a third time, so he could only serve the dish with the soup as it was.

Tang Yong also ordered a dish: "Isn't the color of the fried chicken in soy sauce wrong? Should it be darker?"

Feng Zhengming nodded again, and then asked Tang Yong: "If it were you, how would you remedy the situation?"

Tang Yong thought for a moment and said, "Add a little dark soy sauce before serving."

Feng Zhengming: "Not just a little, at most two drops."

After observing for a while, Feng Zhengming and his friends began to taste the dishes in the restaurant.

I have to say that some of the dishes tasted pretty good.

Feng Zhengming warned the store manager after the meal: "Don't be so nervous next time. The key to cooking is to be careful and think about various issues in advance. You need to have a framework in your mind in advance.

For example, what should be put in first? What should be put in later? You have to think it through and do it with confidence. "

The chef nodded seriously and said, "I'll remember it, uncle."

Feng Zhengming gave the chef some more encouragement.

"Work hard, your skills are improving quickly. Maybe you'll be able to return to Quancheng for further training soon, and then you'll have a chance to stay in Huiquanlou."

The chef nodded seriously immediately: "Don't worry, uncle, I will work hard."

Feng Zhengming and his friends enjoyed the dinner at the branch very much.

I also took the opportunity to observe the business of the branch in Shouguang.

I found that this branch is similar to most of the branches in other places, and business is indeed very good.

While eating, Feng Zhengming and his friends met several people from local departments who came here for dinner.

From their conversation, Feng Zhengming understood something.

It seems that the local area is interested in integrating vegetable cultivation and sales.

It's just that there is a little situation that is difficult to coordinate for the time being.

After listening to what they said, Feng Zhengming felt that his uncle's vegetable company did have a good opportunity.

Feng Zhengming did not take the initiative to talk to the other party. He just listened for a while and then led his disciples away.

Didn't even say hello to the chef.

After returning to the hotel, Feng Zhengming contacted his third uncle.

He told his uncle some of the things he had heard.

"This is a good opportunity. Uncle San, it would be better for your vegetable company to connect with the local area so that you can start the acquisition business more easily."

Feng Jiandong nodded: "I know, don't worry, I will go talk to them after you leave."

Feng Zhengming was naturally relieved about his uncle.

So he went back and had a good sleep, and left with his disciples the next day.

Feng Jiandong went to the local authorities a few days later, and only then did they know that Feng Zhengming had left.

I originally wanted to ask Feng Zhuangyuan to help with publicity.

As a result, Feng Zhengming just left.

Feng Jiandong also directly told the local authorities what happened to Feng Zhengming that night.

This made the local leaders very angry, and they immediately arranged for people to conduct a thorough investigation.

At the same time, Feng Jiandong's vegetable company also successfully obtained local support.

With local support, Feng Jiandong's subsequent series of acquisitions naturally became simple.

According to Feng Zhengming's plan, Feng Jiandong did not deliberately lower the price for vegetable farmers, but the vegetables purchased by the vegetable company had to undergo strict inspection and meet the standards in all aspects.

After all the vegetables are purchased, they are sent to the factory for further processing and packaging.

Part of these vegetables will be supplied to Feng Zhengming's several stores in Shanghai.

Feng Jiandong is also planning to launch some of his products into markets across the country.

Feng Jiandong followed Feng Zhengming's advice and targeted the relatively high-end market for vegetables.

Because he inspected the vegetables strictly and the packaging was better, he was able to open up the market very quickly.

Especially with Feng Zhengming's support, Feng Jiandong's Vegetable Company was able to quickly enter markets in various places.

After Feng Zhengming led his disciples back to Quancheng.

He said goodbye to his senior brothers and also encouraged everyone in the kitchens of each store.

Then he, his wife, daughter, and his apprentices returned to Shanghai.

Because next, the renovation of the old villa in Shanghai is almost completed.

Feng Zhengming is about to officially start preparing for the opening of the Old House Restaurant.

After returning to Shanghai, he inspected several stores again. After making sure that there were no major problems with the four stores, he began to concentrate on making various preparations for the Old House Restaurant.

From the courtyard outside to the layout of each room in the old house.

There are also dining tables, chairs, tablecloths, table cloths, and complete sets of tableware that all need to be specially customized.

In order to make this restaurant a real benchmark, Feng Zhengming really put in a lot of effort. (End of this chapter)