Feng Yifan received a video call from Lin Ruifeng in the evening. It was through Shen Qingluo's narration on the video call that he learned about Ma Youhan's situation.
When Lin Ruifeng was still feeling proud of himself, thinking that he had taken the initiative to accept the challenge without relying on his master's name and power, but wanted to compete fairly with his opponent, Feng Yifan on the other end of the video call suddenly got angry.
"You've been running a stall for a few days, so you must be getting cocky, right? How dare you just accept a challenge so casually? And you're so stupid as to recommend him to those old customers. If he says he's my deputy, then he's my deputy? You didn't even bother to call me to verify it? Did you make yourself stupid by running a stall?"
The master suddenly got angry and scolded Lin Ruifeng, who was originally feeling proud on the other side of the video, so much that he was stunned.
Shen Qingluo next to him was stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help but say: "Look, I told you, you should have called to confirm first. Chef Feng is so famous now, there is no guarantee that there won't be those who cheat the world and steal the reputation. You believe him when he says he is your deputy? You even vouch for him, aren't you stupid?"
Lin Ruifeng is now a little panicked, feeling like he has been cheated by someone.
He was silent for a while, then asked cautiously: "Master, that, that Ma Yuehan, is he really not your deputy?"
Feng Yifan looked at his nervous apprentice on the other side of the video, shook his head helplessly and sighed.
"Okay, that guy's name isn't Ma John, that's a name he gave himself, a weird name that doesn't sound Chinese or Western. His real name is actually 'Ma Xiaolong'.
He can't be considered my assistant. It's just that when I was helping the restaurant with the three-star review, I chose him to help in the kitchen. At most, he was my assistant, so don't be fooled by his words. "
When Lin Ruifeng heard this, he immediately understood that although what the other party said was true, a large part of it was exaggerated by the other party.
Feng Yifan then said to the disciple on the other side of the video: "Since you have agreed to fight with the other party for Lingbi Stone, then you should solve it yourself. I tell you, Ma Xiaolong is a relatively talented person, so since you want to fight, you must prepare well."
Lin Ruifeng nodded on the video: "Okay Master, I will definitely prepare well."
At this time, Shen Qingluo, who was beside Lin Ruifeng, suddenly spoke up: "Uncle-in-law, since you know Ma Xiaolong so well, can you give Ruifeng some ideas? How should we deal with Ma Xiaolong?"
Feng Yifan looked at the video and saw Shen Qingluo squeezing out from beside Lin Ruifeng and pleading with the camera.
He could naturally see that Shen Qingluo was worried about Lin Ruifeng's competition.
After Shen Qingluo said that, Lin Ruifeng quickly said to the video: "Master, actually, I don't need your help. I can do it myself. I also want to see if I can make a breakthrough."
Shen Qingluo was a little anxious and reached out to slap Lin Ruifeng hard.
Lin Ruifeng felt so much pain that he couldn't help but scream in front of the video.
Feng Ruoruo, who was video chatting with Uncle Xiaolin and Sister Shen along with her father, heard Uncle Xiaolin calling out and immediately stretched out her head to ask curiously, "What's wrong with Uncle Xiaolin? Why is he calling out?"
Su Ruoxi on the side also hurried over to hug her daughter and said, "Ruoruo, don't ask. Let Dad and Uncle Xiaolin finish talking first."
Then, Su Ruoxi said to the other side of the video: "You two should be careful, there are children here."
After hearing what Su Ruoxi said, Shen Qingluo felt a little embarrassed for a moment. He could only glare at Lin Ruifeng angrily and signaled Lin Ruifeng to quickly find his master for a solution.
But Lin Ruifeng really didn't want to ask his master for advice. He still wanted to deal with Ma Xiaolong on his own.
So even facing his girlfriend's eyes, he did not give in: "Master, I really can do it, please let me try. If I can't beat the other party, it means that I am indeed not good enough. I will continue to learn from you, Master."
Shen Qingluo was also a little anxious when he heard these words, but he couldn't say anything.
Through the video, Feng Yifan saw the determined gaze of his disciple and the anxious expression of Shen Qingluo over there.
He smiled and said, "Okay, Qing Luo, don't worry. Since Ruifeng is my apprentice, even if he loses this time, I won't kick him out. He is still my apprentice. I am not the kind of person who must make my apprentice win or not allow my apprentice to lose, so just let Ruifeng go ahead and compete."
When Shen Qingluo heard what Feng Yifan said, he felt a little relieved. At least Lin Ruifeng would not be kicked out just because he lost the competition.
But after thinking about it, she was still a little worried: "Uncle, can't you really teach me some sure-win tricks?"
Feng Yifan said with a smile: "Do you think I didn't teach Ruifeng seriously before?"
Shen Qingluo quickly said, "No, no, I know you must be very strict, and Ruifeng must have learned a lot from you."
Feng Yifan nodded: "Well, do you think Ruifeng didn't study hard?"
Shen Qingluo thought for a moment and said, "I should learn it well. I think the fried rice Ruifeng makes now tastes great."
Feng Yifan nodded again: "So, I taught you seriously, and Ruifeng also studied hard, so what do you have to worry about? It doesn't matter if your skills are not as good as others. The best you can do is to start over and study hard. No one can learn it all at once. Any chef can only grow after years of immersion in culinary research."
At this point, Feng Yifan said to his apprentice: "Ruifeng, go for it. It doesn't matter if you lose, just make some adjustments and you can go one step further and go further."
Lin Ruifeng agreed: "I know Master, I will definitely do my best."
At this time, Feng Ruoruo, who was held aside by her mother, was already a little impatient and wanted to talk to Sister Shen Qingluo on the video. However, because she was worried that her father had not finished speaking, the little girl did not dare to speak casually, and could only wait quietly in her mother's arms.
Feng Yifan noticed his daughter was a little anxious, and said to the other side of the video with a smile: "Okay, that's it, Ruifeng, let's go ahead and compete, we'll stop here, Ruoruo should chat with Sister Shen, Qingluo, you can have a good chat with Ruoruo and your aunt."
After saying that, Feng Yifan handed the phone to his wife and asked her to video chat with Shen Qingluo with her daughter.
Seeing his daughter's happy face, Feng Yifan got up and left.
As he walked out of the house, he hesitated for a while and took out his wallet. In the wallet was a small phone book with a lot of phone calls recorded on it.
However, Feng Yifan held his wallet and thought for a moment, but in the end he did not look for his phone.
Just as he put his wallet back into his pocket, his cell phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
Feng Yifan could probably guess who was calling.
After a brief hesitation, he answered the phone.
There was silence on both sides of the phone for a while.
Finally, the person on the other end spoke first: "Hello, is this Chef Feng?"
Hearing the voice, Feng Yifan already knew the other party's identity. It was Ma Xiaolong who came to China to set up a stall to compete with Lin Ruifeng.
"Ma John? When did you get such a name?"
Ma Xiaolong said quickly on the other end of the phone: "I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have come uninvited, Chef. I have already quit my job at the restaurant abroad, and before I left, I had successfully gained the chef's recognition, so I wanted to come to you and continue to follow you."
Feng Yifan was silent for a while and then said, "Actually, you can stay in the restaurant. They will give you better treatment and more opportunities."
Ma Xiaolong was obviously a little excited: "No, Chef, I am willing to follow you."
Feng Yifan didn't know how to answer the other party for a moment.
In fact, in the memory of another life, Ma Xiaolong did become Feng Yifan's deputy and always followed Feng Yifan. It can be said that when Feng Yifan was once in pain because of the loss of his family, it was Ma Xiaolong who helped him in his most difficult period.
But now everything has changed, and everything and everyone around me has changed as well.
Ma Xiaolong is a very capable person, and he has always been very loyal to Feng Yifan.
Or should we say that Ma Xiaolong really admires Feng Yifan. In Ma Xiaolong's mind, Feng Yifan is always his idol. He is willing to give everything for his idol, and he will stand firmly on his idol's side no matter what difficulties he faces.
Ma Xiaolong's talent was equally amazing, which Feng Yifan had already seen when he first met him in that restaurant abroad.
However, Ma Xiaolong is a rather arrogant person, which may be the reason why Feng Yifan doesn’t like him that much.
So when in the restaurant, Feng Yifan not only asked Ma Xiaolong to follow him to try out new dishes, but also to participate in the tasting of new dishes.
At other times, Feng Yifan almost never let Ma Xiaolong help with cooking.
During most of the restaurant's business hours, Feng Yifan would not let Ma Xiaolong participate in cooking at all. He would instead let Ma Xiaolong do some finishing work and use the leftover ingredients to prepare staff meals.
But although Ma Xiaolong only does these things every day, he has no complaints at all and even does his work without complaint.
Later, when the restaurant was about to start the three-star selection process, Ma Xiaolong was finally reused by Feng Yifan.
During the entire judging process, Ma Xiaolong became Feng Yifan's only assistant. Many times, after learning that the judges had arrived, Feng Yifan would not allow anyone else to interfere. Only he and Ma Xiaolong would cook together and then present the dishes to the judges.
Under the leadership of Feng Yifan and with the full cooperation of Ma Xiaolong, the restaurant finally won three stars.
Ma Xiaolong originally thought that Feng Yifan would stay in the restaurant and he could continue to stay with Feng Yifan.
However, after receiving the three stars, Feng Yifan resigned and left. He did not even go on stage to receive the three stars.
Ma Xiaolong never thought that Feng Yifan just wanted some money to return home.
Feng Yifan's departure was very sudden. Apart from handing his resignation to the boss, he didn't even tell anyone in the restaurant.
After Feng Yifan left, Ma Xiaolong was the person in charge of the restaurant for a long time.
Although he lacks fame and qualifications and cannot directly serve as the head chef, as someone who can help Feng Yifan, he can be said to be the absolute master in the restaurant's kitchen.
At first, Ma Xiaolong enjoyed the feeling of being able to command and dispatch everyone in the kitchen, including the successor chef.
Moreover, with his talent, Ma Xiaolong is indeed able to replicate every dish of Feng Yifan very well.
Therefore, the restaurant valued him very much and gave him very high salary and benefits.
But after a long time, Ma Xiaolong began to feel empty and he began to get tired of the feeling of cooking, because he found that he could not escape Feng Yifan's influence no matter what. Every dish had to be made strictly according to Feng Yifan's original method, and every step and detail could not be changed.
After a long period of repetition, Ma Xiaolong felt that he was not like a chef at all, but more like a photocopier.
In the end, Ma Xiaolong chose to leave and he submitted his resignation to the restaurant owner.
At first the restaurant owner hoped to keep him.
But later, Ma Xiaolong was very determined, and the boss also found a more suitable chef, so he agreed to Ma Xiaolong's request to leave and gave him a good salary.
After leaving the restaurant, Ma Xiaolong went to many places, trying to find his own way to break through.
But unfortunately, no matter where he cooks, he seems unable to escape the influence of Feng Yifan.
He could cook delicious dishes easily and win praise from many diners, even some extremely picky gourmets. But after calming down, he would find that the dishes he made were still taught by Feng Yifan, and he had not made any unique innovations.
On the phone, Ma Xiaolong told Feng Yifan frankly about the difficulties he encountered.
After listening to the other party's predicament, Feng Yifan could roughly understand what he was thinking.
After thinking seriously for a moment, Feng Yifan said, "You should set up a stall in the small market first. When you can set up your stall well, maybe you will understand your problem."
Ma Xiaolong was silent for a while on the other end of the phone, but he couldn't help asking, "If I beat Lin Ruifeng, can I be your apprentice?"
Feng Yifan laughed after hearing this: "Hahaha, actually you are already a very good cook, why do you have to be my apprentice? Haven't you always wanted to escape my influence? So if you become my apprentice, how are you going to escape my influence?"
Ma Xiaolong hesitated. Feng Yifan's words also made him hesitate.
After hesitating for a long time, Ma Xiaolong said, "I really hope to become your apprentice, and to be able to work with you again and get three stars with honor."
Feng Yifan didn't think too much about it and said calmly, "That's very hard. I'm tired. I don't want or need to get three stars again. I enjoy the time I spend with my family now, so I don't want to run a three-star restaurant anymore."
Ma Xiaolong was a little surprised by this answer. He didn't expect Feng Yifan to say that.
After a brief silence, Ma Xiaolong asked again: "But Su Ji's decoration, don't you really want it?"
Feng Yifan smiled and replied, "My wife designed the decoration of Su Ji. I think it's great. I hope that in the future, I can run my father-in-law's restaurant well, enjoy a peaceful time with my wife and daughter, and let diners enjoy delicious food in our restaurant quietly."
Ma Xiaolong fell silent again, he didn't know what to say.
Feng Yifan finally said: "Okay, that's it. I hope your stall business will be prosperous."