From selling box lunches to becoming a famous Chinese chef

The next day, Feng Zhengming took his fifth senior brother, Cao Zhiguo, on a sightseeing tour of Shanghai.

The two brothers visited almost all the most iconic places in Shanghai.

Feng Zhengming also used his connections to take his fifth senior brother to some special places in Shanghai, allowing him to experience the true prosperity of Shanghai and even witness its extravagance.

After walking around, Cao Zhiguo couldn't help but sigh.

"Only today have I truly experienced what extravagance is. No wonder everyone says this place is huge; it really is huge in a different way."

Standing on the yacht on the river, I looked at the buildings on both banks.

Cao Zhiguo: "Compared to this place, Jinan is like a small rural town."

Feng Zhengming smiled and said, "Fifth Brother, you don't need to think that way. Shanghai is certainly prosperous, but if you live here for a long time, you won't feel that it's better than Jinan."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhiguo immediately laughed: "Hahaha, what you said makes some sense. You yourself said it, so you don't seem to want to go back, do you?"

Feng Zhengming: "I will go back, but I definitely can't go back for the time being."

Cao Zhiguo expressed his understanding: "Your restaurant can only operate here. If it were in Jinan, it probably wouldn't work."

Feng Zhengming: "It's not that it's impossible, but Jinan already has Huiquan Tower, and I don't want to compete with myself."

Cao Zhiguo: "Yes, Zhengming, you have too many resources at your disposal now, and your business is growing bigger and bigger, so you need to consider more things."

At this point, Cao Zhiguo suddenly asked, "Zhengming, have you ever thought about opening a restaurant in Beijing someday?"

Feng Zhengming looked at his fifth senior brother, wondering why his fifth senior brother suddenly asked such a question.
Cao Zhiguo sighed, "To be honest, Zhengming, I've always been unconvinced. When I returned to Jinan from Beijing, I really felt like a failure, but I couldn't swallow my pride."

Feng Zhengming understood; his fifth senior brother wanted him to lead the other senior brothers to the capital.

"Fifth Brother, I can't go to Beijing for the time being. I've agreed to take charge of some reception banquets in Shanghai."

Cao Zhiguo was aware of this as well: "It seems that some people don't want you to come to Beijing."

Feng Zhengming: "I know that some chefs in Beijing definitely don't want me to go, since my going there would overturn the established practices they have long followed."

Cao Zhiguo: "Yes, if you go to Beijing, you will definitely want to be your own boss, which conflicts with their style of treating chefs as chefs and bosses as bosses."

Feng Zhengming: "We can wait a little longer. Perhaps in the future we can open Yanxilou directly in the capital."

Hearing this, Cao Zhiguo looked at his junior brother with some surprise.

Cao Zhiguo had considered going to the capital, but he never thought of opening Yanxilou directly in the capital.

What would it mean if Yanxilou were to open a branch in the capital?
This means that Feng Zhengming is going to open his own authentic Shandong cuisine restaurant in Beijing.

Or to put it more bluntly, Feng Zhengming wants to truly establish his own school of thought.

At that time, Feng Zhengming no longer belonged to any school of Shandong cuisine; he was about to establish his own school.

With this in mind, Cao Zhiguo had even greater expectations for his junior apprentice's trip to Beijing.

"Haha, as expected, Zhengming, you are much more daring and decisive."

Feng Zhengming also smiled: "Fifth Brother, don't worry, we will go to the capital sooner or later. When that time comes, we will find a suitable place in the capital and hang the old signboard of Yanxilou there."

Cao Zhiguo: "Then you will truly surpass your master and the others."

Feng Zhengming: "I'm probably not qualified to surpass my master and his team yet. Their research on cooking is something we still need to learn more about."

Cao Zhiguo nodded in agreement: "That's true. I heard that Master and Uncle Cui are collecting old recipes. They are preparing to compile a history of culinary development and record many old dishes that may have been lost."

Feng Zhengming: "This is a good thing, as it allows us to see the development of cooking more directly."

Cao Zhiguo: "Yes, so during this time, our master and the others have been quite busy, and we haven't seen our master for a while."

Feng Zhengming: "Fifth Brother, when you go back this time, please give Master the things I gave him."

Cao Zhiguo assured him, "Don't worry, I will personally deliver it."

Feng Zhengming: "And those old recipes, which I collected with great difficulty, you should also take them back to your master."

Cao Zhiguo: "I know, I will definitely hand it over to my master personally."

The two brothers went ashore from the river and did some more shopping.

Feng Zhengming paid for Cao Zhiguo to buy things for his family and bring them back, including his senior brothers and their families, especially the children of his brothers.

Cao Zhiguo initially thought that the items in the shops on the streets of Shanghai were too expensive.

He had absolutely no idea what these brands were.

Later, after overhearing some people talking in the store, Cao Zhiguo realized that all the stores his junior apprentice had bought were well-known big brands.

After making the purchase, Cao Zhiguo exclaimed, "Zhengming, you're really rich now!"

Feng Zhengming: "Hahaha, Fifth Brother, isn't the point of making money to spend it? If we don't spend the money we earn, wouldn't all our hard work be for nothing?"

While they were talking, Feng Zhengming had already bought several luxury watches in one go.

"Fifth Brother, take these back and give them to Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, and Sixth Brother. Each of us brothers should take one."

Looking at the new watch he was already wearing, Cao Zhiguo couldn't help but sigh again.

"This is really a good thing; this watch is really expensive."

Feng Zhengming: "It's nothing, Fifth Brother, you can afford it."

Cao Zhiguo: "I can afford it, but I can't bear to part with it."

Feng Zhengming: "Haha, then I, as the junior brother, will buy them and give them to my senior brothers."

These words made Cao Zhiguo feel a little embarrassed.

"That time, my older brother was saying that all of us senior brothers are now being supported by you, our junior brother."

Feng Zhengming: "That's not right. Aren't you all helping me in my shop? Without you, how could I have come to Shanghai? So it should be said that you are helping me."

Cao Zhiguo: "But if it were us, we definitely wouldn't earn that much money, and we wouldn't have that kind of status."

This status is what his senior brothers are most grateful to Feng Zhengming for.

After Yanxilou closed down, the status of the fellow apprentices was bound to decline.

Even though I have skills, I can definitely find a suitable restaurant and won't be out of work.

But they could never have achieved the social status that their fellow apprentices have in Jinan and even the entire Shandong province.

All of this was indeed achieved by Feng Zhengming through his personal efforts for his fellow apprentices.

Nowadays, in Jinan and throughout Shandong, no other school of chefs can compare to the school of Feng Zhengming and his fellow apprentices.

In the chefs' associations across Shandong, almost all of them are head chefs from Feng Zhengming's various restaurants.

In this respect, Feng Zhengming truly made the entire sect proud.

After buying a lot of things, the two brothers returned to their residence together.

Feng Zhengming had intended to let his fifth senior brother rest at home today so that he could make a better return journey tomorrow.

But Cao Zhiguo didn't want to stay at home; he still wanted to go to Feng Zhengming's restaurant kitchen one last time.

Feng Zhengming had no choice but to agree and led his fifth senior brother to the old-style restaurant.

Although the restaurant is not open for business at noon, everyone actually comes to the restaurant to prepare at noon.

Feng Zhengming and Cao Zhiguo came in after changing into their chef's uniforms.

Everyone in the kitchen respectfully greeted Feng Zhengming and Cao Zhiguo.

Looking at everything in the kitchen, Cao Zhiguo once again expressed his feelings to Feng Zhengming.

"This place is really great, it makes me feel like I'm back in the kitchen of Huiquanlou Restaurant in Jinan."

Feng Zhengming smiled: "Everything here is the same as Huiquanlou, or rather, everything in Huiquanlou and the kitchen here is the same as the kitchen of Yanxilou in the past." Cao Zhiguo: "It really is, it feels exactly the same as the kitchen of Yanxilou in the past."

In the past, the apprentices would often talk about how they would uphold everything about Yanxilou in the future, especially what the chefs at Yanxilou taught them.

But now it seems that the best steadfast one is junior apprentice Feng Zhengming.

To bid farewell to his fifth senior brother, Feng Zhengming handed over the kitchen to him once again for the night.

Cao Zhiguo initially hesitated, feeling that he had already realized during his time in the kitchen that he probably couldn't be of much help.

However, Feng Zhengming still trusted his fifth senior brother to just give orders.

"Tonight, including myself, we will all listen to you, Fifth Brother. You can take charge and coordinate, and we will all cooperate with you."

Cao Zhiguo was deeply moved, knowing that this was his junior brother's way of recognizing him.

The fact that they summoned him from Jinan already shows that the junior brother trusts his fifth senior brother very much.

That's why I felt comfortable entrusting the entire kitchen of the old villa restaurant to him.

Let him be the one to provide a safety net for the young chefs.

Although ten days is not a long time, Cao Zhiguo did not do much most of the time.

However, Cao Zhiguo's intervention in some key areas ensured the stability of the restaurant's food quality control.

This already demonstrates the importance of Cao Zhiguo's experience in the kitchen.

Tonight, Feng Zhengming wants to give Fifth Brother a chance, a real opportunity to experience being a head chef.

After some delay, Cao Zhiguo finally agreed.

Based on his experience at Huiquanlou, Cao Zhiguo directed and coordinated the entire kitchen.

There might have been a little bit of awkwardness at first, especially since Feng Zhengming was standing in the kitchen.

When facing his junior brother, Cao Zhiguo felt somewhat insecure.

Fortunately, Feng Zhengming voluntarily left the kitchen and went to the restaurant to entertain some guests.

Moreover, Feng Zhengming did not hide anything from any of the guests tonight.

He told everyone directly that his senior apprentice was the head chef for tonight.

Most of the restaurant's customers are understanding of this.

For customers who don't understand, Feng Zhengming will proactively apologize and refund their deposit for the private room.

Most people still prefer to stay and have dinner tonight.

Because everyone knows that even if Feng Zhengming doesn't personally cook, the dishes served at his old-style restaurant are absolutely unparalleled in Shanghai.

No restaurant or eatery in Shanghai can compare to it yet.

Besides, since it was Feng Zhuangyuan's senior brother who was in charge of cooking, everyone thought it shouldn't be bad.

In fact, Cao Zhiguo's skills are indeed excellent.

Cao Zhiguo personally prepared almost every dish tonight.

From supervising apprentices in the kitchen as they cut and prepare ingredients, to personally seasoning the food for young chefs during the cooking process.

And some small design touches by Cao Zhiguo himself on the final plating.

It must be acknowledged that Cao Zhiguo's experience instantly boosted his confidence and yielded positive results.

Several Shanghai gourmets who came especially tonight also praised Cao Zhiguo's culinary skills.

"It tastes really good, Chef Cao's cooking skills are excellent."

"Yes, yes, it really is Senior Brother Feng Zhuangyuan. His skills seem even better than Feng Zhuangyuan's."

"It's really good. These dishes are very flavorful, but they don't overpower the other flavors."

"Haha, all I can say is that the flavor is very layered."

"It tastes great when paired with Lao Li's wine."

Hearing the approval of these gourmets, Cao Zhiguo felt even more confident.

Led by Feng Zhengming, he personally came out to express his gratitude to the several gourmets.

"Thank you all for coming tonight. Please continue to support my junior's restaurant in the future."

The gourmets smiled and encouraged them.

"Chef Cao, you must come often in the future!"

"That's right, Chef Cao comes here often, so we can try some different flavors."

"Chef Cao's skills are better than Feng Zhuangyuan's in making authentic Shandong cuisine."

"Or perhaps Chef Cao is the senior apprentice?"

Feng Zhengming: "Haha, I also think my senior brother's skills are better than mine."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhiguo quickly replied, "No, no, Zhengming, you can't just say things like that. My skills are still a bit inferior to yours."

Seeing Cao Zhiguo's nervous expression, everyone burst into laughter.

Finally, Cao Zhiguo served a classic dish of braised sea cucumber with scallions to several Shanghai gourmets.

Naturally, the scallion sauce for his braised sea cucumber was also his own creation.

Several seasoned gourmets in Shanghai were able to discern the differences between them.

They were all able to accept the flavor of Cao Zhiguo's scallion sauce.

After seeing off the gourmets and other guests of the restaurant one by one.

The restaurant is closing for the night.

Cao Zhiguo, standing in the kitchen, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Phew, this is much more tiring than what I did at Huiquan Tower."

Xia Hui couldn't help but laugh and joke, "Your senior uncle is more tired than you are in the kitchen of Huiquan Restaurant because Huiquan Restaurant has the eldest senior uncle in the kitchen. You, fifth senior uncle, don't have to manage the kitchen yourself most of the time."

Cao Zhiguo was taken aback by what he was told, then smiled and nodded.

"Xia, you're absolutely right. In the kitchen of Huiquan Restaurant, I mostly listen to my senior brother."

Feng Zhengming: "Fifth Brother, if you have the chance, come more often and keep an eye on these young people to gain some experience."

Cao Zhiguo immediately laughed: "Hahaha, I will definitely come again if I have the chance, but I don't need to come too often. I think I am more suitable to be the senior brother's assistant. It is too hard to be the head chef myself."

Fifth Senior Brother is self-aware.

When things didn't go well for him in the capital, he immediately returned to Jinan.

Later, he was willing to stay in the kitchen of Huiquanlou and work with his senior brother, which shows that he was very clear about his own limits.

When it comes to cooking skills alone, Cao Zhiguo might not convince many people.

He even felt that, apart from his fellow apprentices and master, and the master chefs of Jinan, Cao Zhiguo would never lose to any of the other head chefs in Jinan restaurants.

But when it comes to managing the kitchen, including overseeing large banquets, and mentoring apprentices, Cao Zhiguo knows he's not up to the task.

After Fifth Brother enjoyed the chef's meal at the old-style restaurant, Feng Zhengming saw him off on his return train the next day.

Cao Zhiguo concluded by saying to his junior brother, "Zhengming, we all believe in you. You will truly establish your own sect and lead us to even greater heights."

Feng Zhengming waved goodbye, saying, "Fifth Brother, don't worry, I will continue to work hard." (End of Chapter)