The story of father and son Zhang Maosheng and Zhang Fenglin started with a very ordinary bowl of tomato and egg noodles.
Zhang Maosheng has loved eating since he was young, and he is very particular about food. At that time, among all the restaurants and shops in Huaicheng, Su Ji was the only one that caught Zhang Maosheng's eye.
In fact, this is not surprising. After all, when Zhang Maosheng was young, Su Ruoxi's grandfather was still the chef of Su Ji.
Zhang Maosheng likes to eat and has a very picky taste, so naturally he looks down on the home-cooked meals at his wife's house.
Therefore, if you don’t go home for dinner for a long time, there will always be some conflicts and frictions between husband and wife over time.
When Zhang Fenglin was about five or six years old, his mother could no longer tolerate his father Zhang Maosheng. After a big fight at home, the two divorced directly.
After the divorce, Zhang Fenglin has been following his father.
Maybe it was because he witnessed his parents quarreling, which left a shadow in Zhang Fenglin's young mind, so that Zhang Fenglin became very rebellious in middle school.
Naturally, like Feng Yifan in the past and Lin Ruifeng now, Zhang Fenglin failed to get into university.
After failing to get into university, Zhang Maosheng made a very overbearing decision, which was to force his son to become an apprentice at Su Ji.
Feng Yifan had never thought that before he went to Su Ji to learn cooking, Zhang Fenglin was once the most valued apprentice of his father-in-law. At that time, his father-in-law was a little interested in teaching him some Su Ji dishes.
Of course, Su Jinrong never thought of recruiting Zhang Fenglin as his son-in-law, because Su Ruoxi was still in elementary school at that time.
However, Zhang Fenglin felt at that time that his father’s quarrels and divorces were all because of Su Ji, so he harbored a resentment towards the small restaurant deep in his heart.
The young and energetic Zhang Fenglin was unwilling to learn cooking at the beginning. He just spent his time casually in Su’s kitchen every day and never studied or practiced the basic skills required by Su Jinrong seriously.
Finally, after studying for almost a year, Zhang Fenglin had not made any progress, which disappointed Su Jinrong.
When Su Jinrong told Zhang Maosheng about this, Zhang Maosheng was very angry and beat his son for the first time.
Afterwards, Zhang Maosheng said to Zhang Fenglin in anger: "I'll give you one more chance to make a simple bowl of tomato and egg noodles. If you can't satisfy me and your master, get out."
Zhang Maosheng probably didn't expect that his angry words deeply hurt Zhang Fenglin.
At that time, the resentment that had been pent up in Zhang Fenglin's heart for many years finally burst out all at once.
Zhang Fenglin was blunt and directly accused his father of always being picky about his mother's dishes because they tasted good, which eventually drove his mother away. Now he was trying to use the same method to drive him away.
However, Zhang Fenglin didn't do it at all. After yelling at his father angrily, he ran away from Su Ji.
Later, Zhang Fenglin went to Shanghai and found his own mother.
But his mother had remarried, and he was looked down upon by his stepfather. When he was introduced by his stepfather to work in a factory, he gradually experienced the hardships of life.
Whenever he was working hard and doing repetitive work on the factory assembly line, Zhang Fenglin suddenly realized his father's intention of sending him to Su Ji to learn cooking.
Since he failed to get into college, his father hoped that he could learn a skill so that he could at least have something to eat and not live a very hard life.
Although he began to understand his father's painstaking efforts at that time, Zhang Fenglin still could not forgive his father for what he had done to him and his mother.
He still hated his father, so he decided to become an apprentice in Shanghai to learn cooking skills, and become the head chef in the best restaurant in Huaicheng, so that his father could see his achievements.
People are often able to unleash terrible potential when stimulated by certain things, even if it is resentment.
So Zhang Fenglin was indeed successful. He completed his studies in Shanghai and also won the grand prize in a cooking competition in Shanghai.
After winning the award, Zhang Fenglin fulfilled the goal he had set for himself, returned to Huaicheng with success and became the head chef of Fujinglou.
Hearing this, Feng Yifan couldn't help but feel that Zhang Fenglin's story seemed quite inspiring.
It is really amazing that a child who was originally unpromising could become a top chef and the head chef of Fujinglou under the blow from his father.
If you think about it carefully, there is no real villain in this inspirational story, and there is no real right or wrong between the father and son.
It’s just that the father’s educational method was problematic, and the son was not able to understand his father’s ideas at the beginning.
Feng Yifan was puzzled because the story should have a relatively perfect ending at this point. But why did the apprentice say that Zhang Fenglin kicked Uncle Zhang out of the house
Seeing the puzzled look on Feng Yifan's face, Zhang Fenglin naturally understood what he was puzzled about.
Sighing, Zhang Fenglin said helplessly: "It was because of that bowl of noodles. I was a little arrogant at that time. After becoming the chef of Fujinglou, I went to my father's house..."
The turn of events that followed was something Feng Yifan had never expected.
Zhang Fenglin was indeed a bit arrogant at that time. He went to his father's house to make a bet and even asked his father to give him the house if he lost. He also had to move out of the house that carried Zhang Fenglin's memories of his warm and dilapidated family since childhood.
But this time, the father and son made a bet that they would each make a bowl of "tomato and egg noodles".
At that time, Zhang Fenglin said bluntly that since his father was such a good eater, he should make a bowl of food himself to see if he could taste it as professionally and deliciously as he did when tasting food.
The story ends here and there is no need to say more. Feng Yifan can also guess the final outcome.
If every good eater could cook as well as a chef, all the chefs in the world would probably be out of work long ago.
Now Feng Yifan understood why in his memory, Zhang Maosheng always seemed like a lonely old man, living alone in a house rented in the alley behind the old street.
In that father-son duel, there was no way Zhang Maosheng could win.
The old man would not bow his head to the possible contempt of his son, and he resolutely gave up the house and moved out of his previous home. He would rather rent a small house and never apologize to his son.
Digging up this old story also made Feng Yifan sigh.
Unexpectedly, there is such a story in the home of Zhang Maosheng, the most loyal fan of Su Ji.
Feng Yifan thought about it, smiled bitterly, clasped his fists towards Zhang Fenglin and said, "I never thought that you are still my senior brother."
There was a bit of awkward atmosphere at first, but after Feng Yifan said that, Zhang Fenglin was stunned for a moment, then a wry smile appeared on his face.
After laughing, Zhang Fenglin said, "Chef Feng, please don't make fun of me. In the final analysis, it's just like what my father said back then. I never really loved cooking and I lacked the desire to keep improving. That's why I was eliminated from Fujinglou."
Feng Yifan thought for a moment and asked, "So, Brother Zhang, have you ever thought about easing your relationship with your father?"
Zhang Fenglin raised his head and looked at Feng Yifan with some surprise.
Before he could speak, Feng Yifan continued, "I know that Uncle Zhang was indeed wrong in the past. His temper was too tough, and he lacked tolerance and patience towards you, Brother Zhang, and your mother.
But I think that you are father and son after all, and the divorce between Uncle Zhang and your mother is a marital conflict, which no one can explain.
As for Uncle Zhang's treatment of you, he was just a strict father who was a little too harsh on his son. His intentions were good, but he used the wrong method.
Besides, you kicked Uncle Zhang out of the house, which can be regarded as a way to vent your resentment, right?"
After listening to Feng Yifan's words, Zhang Fenglin fell into silence. In fact, he had long wanted to improve his relationship with his father.
But before, because he was the head chef of Fujinglou, he was somewhat unwilling to lower his posture. Now that he was like this, he felt ashamed to see his father.
Feng Yifan probably saw Zhang Fenglin's thoughts and said, "Brother Zhang, many things are just a matter of taking a step. The key is who takes the first step and when?"
Zhang Fenglin looked at Feng Yifan, his eyes revealing a willingness.
Feng Yifan went on to say, "Uncle Zhang is old after all, and it's not easy for him to take this step first, so maybe you, Brother Zhang, are really needed."
Zhang Fenglin instinctively opened his mouth to agree, but then he hesitated for a moment and finally said, "Let me think about it carefully. Don't worry, I will definitely go, but I need to sort out my thoughts."
Feng Yifan didn't want to force anything, so he just said to Zhang Fenglin, "Okay, then Brother Zhang, please think about it carefully."
After that, Feng Yifan ordered all kinds of river fish from the seafood boss, and also ordered some seafood. After the purchase was completed, he said goodbye to Zhang Fenglin and his apprentice, and left with Lin Ruifeng.
Liu Quan followed his master and did not dare to speak at this time. He could only stand there quietly.
However, after listening to the master's story, Liu Quan was also shocked. He didn't know how to describe his feelings at this moment facing the master.
As for Feng Yifan and his apprentice, they first agreed on a time with Zhang Qiang, who was responsible for delivery. Then they left the market, rode their bicycles, and rushed back in the early morning light.
On the way, both the master and the disciple were silent at first.
After riding past two intersections in silence, Lin Ruifeng couldn't help but speak first: "Master, do you think that Zhang Fenglin will apologize to Uncle Zhang?"
Feng Yifan shook his head and said, "I don't know either. For example, when it comes to family conflicts, it's harder to tell right from wrong, and everyone has different ideas, so no one knows what the outcome will be."
Lin Ruifeng suddenly asked: "Is it like Uncle Rong and Master's aunt?"
Feng Yifan smiled and said, "It's not the same actually. After all, Auntie and we are already relatives, and Zhang Fenglin and Uncle Zhang are father and son, so their relationship is obviously closer."
Lin Ruifeng thought about it and nodded.
Feng Yifan continued, "Besides, I don't think my aunt is qualified to ask for the old plaque."
Lin Ruifeng immediately said, "Yes, I think so too. Master, your aunt lost to Uncle Rong back then, so the old plaque was inherited by Uncle Rong fairly and squarely, so she shouldn't have come back to ask for it."
Lin Ruifeng couldn't help but continue, "Besides, she has such a big company and so much money, why would she embarrass Uncle Rong and you?"
Feng Yifan actually knew it in his heart. Sometimes it was just the unwillingness to let go of the obsession that was at work.
Not wanting to think too much about his aunt, Feng Yifan began to think again, should he push Uncle Zhang and Zhang Fenglin to reconcile? And how should he push this matter forward
After thinking about it, Feng Yifan really felt a little embarrassed.
In the past, Zhang Fenglin resented his father, and Uncle Zhang did some things wrong. Now, Zhang Fenglin feels guilty towards his father, and Uncle Zhang may not be willing to forgive his son.
In this kind of thinking, they unknowingly returned to the back alley of the old street. The master and the apprentice also rode all the way to the door of Su Ji's back kitchen.
Although Zhang Qiang arrived a little late, his car was already waiting outside the back kitchen door.
Feng Yifan didn't want to delay Zhang Qiang any longer, so he quickly opened the door and moved all the goods into the kitchen with his apprentice and Zhang Qiang.
After moving the goods, Zhang Qiang quickly said to Feng Yifan, "Brother, the crystal braised pork you gave me the other day really made my dad eat it so well. He has been obsessed with it for the past two days. I couldn't even taste a piece of it."
Feng Yifan laughed when he heard this: "If you want to eat it, I'll give you another piece today."
As he said that, he went in, took out the crystal braised pork from the refrigerator, quickly cut off a piece, cut it into thin slices, packed it up and handed it to Zhang Qiang at the door.
"Okay, these are enough for your family to eat for a while. I'll give you new ones later."
After Zhang Qiang took it, he felt a little embarrassed: "Brother, how can I feel embarrassed? How about this, brother, you tell me how much money it is, and I'll give you the money. My dad scolded me for not paying last time."
Feng Yifan waved his hands and said, "Giving money is insulting your brother, right? Do you think your brother is poor and can't afford these pieces of meat?"
When Zhang Qiang heard this, he realized that he could no longer pay.
"Well, thank you so much, brother."
Feng Yifan responded with a smile: "You're welcome. If you want to eat it again in the future, just come over. When the next batch is ready, I guarantee that your family will have enough to eat."
Zhang Qiang smiled and said, "Okay, you guys are busy, I'll go back first."
After watching Zhang Qiang drive away, Feng Yifan went to sort out the materials bought for the Lin family's breakfast shop, and said to the land: "Let's go, hurry to your house and start, otherwise it will be too late."
Lin Ruifeng also came to his senses, quickly took the ingredients from his master, then quickly walked out and went back to the next room.
Feng Yifan locked the kitchen door again and went to help at the Lin family breakfast shop next door.
After entering the house, Feng Yifan found that Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin were already busy. Not only had they prepared the dough in advance, but they had also roughly processed the stuffing, just waiting for Feng Yifan and Lin Ruifeng to come back so that they could mix the ingredients and start wrapping the dumplings.
Seeing that everything was ready, Feng Yifan said to his apprentice, "Okay, you mix the ingredients yourself today. Let me see if you have mastered it."
With the experience of making the "Guo Le Shrimp Balls" yesterday, Lin Ruifeng naturally did not refuse this time and decisively did it himself.
This time, Lin Ruifeng made almost no mistakes and successfully mixed all the fillings in one go.
Master Feng Yifan was naturally very satisfied.