Chapter 307 Recruiting Female Chefs
The first batch of chefs who came to Baohualou for further training returned to Yuecheng after completing their training. Yuecheng Second Commercial Bureau held a summary meeting.
He Yunbang, Ma Yaoxing and Luo Guoqiang pushed back and forth over who should speak on their behalf. Finally, Yue Ning made the final decision and pushed Ma Yaoxing up.
Seated in the audience were the leaders and chefs from various hotels and restaurants in Guangdong City, and Luo Shichang, the chief chef of the retirement home, was also there.
Ma Yaoxing came to the stage. He was born with a handsome appearance. He worked as a chef in Hong Kong for the past two years and went to France for further studies at a Michelin three-star restaurant. Now he came back to serve as the head chef of Fuyunlou. He was in high spirits at the time.
"Hello, leaders, seniors, and colleagues! I am Ma Yaoxing, a young chef who has been scraping fish scales for three years and cutting meat for seven years at Fuyunlou. I once thought that this would be the end of my life, learning a mediocre skill and working as a chef in a small restaurant. But even so, I still practiced hard unconsciously. When I was tired and discouraged when I saw no hope, I would continue to practice after being discouraged. In the end, I was still just a cutter. Until Ningning and Uncle Hua came to Fuyunlou to communicate." Ma Yaoxing looked at Yue Ning in the audience, "The first time I met Ningning, I had a bad temper and spoke in a sarcastic tone. I always felt that she was relying on family inheritance to "practice with" us."
He lowered his head and chuckled, then raised his eyes to look at the audience: "But as soon as she made a move, I knew I had met an expert. Just like that, she brought me to Gangcheng and started two years of learning. As long as I was willing to learn, Ningning, Uncle Hua and all the chefs taught me everything they knew. I also met Chef Lu from Beijing and Chef Chen from Taiwan, and I myself became a chef sought after by Gangcheng diners. Ningning said that opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared, and it was because I never slacked off that she chose me. She also said that this opportunity came from the support of the superior unit. Without the support of the leaders of the Second Commercial Bureau, there would be no such exchange, let alone where I am today."
Luo Shichang, who was in the audience, listened to these words and recalled the quarrel at home last night.
The eldest son has returned from further studies in Hong Kong and will soon work as a chef in the Beijing State Guesthouse. This honor is comparable to a scholar winning the top spot in the imperial examination.
Since the reopening of Fook Yun Building, the Hong Kong side sent a chief chef and the mainland side sent a manager. The Hong Kong chief chef has much more say than the mainland manager. All major matters are decided by Zhang Junming. If he is not sure, he will ask Hong Kong City for instructions. The mainland side rarely interferes.
Luo Shichang's wife Zhang Lifen and youngest son Luo Jiaqiang, one is a cashier in Fuyunlou, and the other is an apprentice in the kitchen. Yue Ning came back several times, and the couple had begged her to take Jiaqiang to Hong Kong City. Yue Ning only said: "You have to make a living with your ability, and you have to go to Hong Kong City with your ability. Guoqiang can go because his skills meet the requirements; Jiaqiang can't pass the selection, so he doesn't have this opportunity."
In the eyes of others, the couple took Guoqiang to the northwest and persuaded him to marry Yue Ning, intending to "eat up the whole family". However, the grandparents and grandchildren of the Yue family remembered the old relationship of Mr. Luo and still brought Guoqiang to Gangcheng, carefully trained him, helped him become a talent and recommended him to the State Guesthouse. This was repaying evil with kindness. If it were someone else, they would definitely not give such an opportunity.
But the family was in a mess. The youngest son resented their favoritism and always said, "All the benefits went to my elder brother."
Last night, the couple asked their eldest son to talk to the Yue family and let the younger son go to Gangcheng. The eldest son asked the younger son to cut vegetables, but after watching him, he said, "With his level, he can't enter Baohua Building at all. First, calm down and practice basic skills. Fuyun Building is different now. It is enough to learn skills. Even Ningning's friend Afa was placed in Fuyun Building to lay the foundation. Once the basic skills are solid, you can naturally go out after passing the assessment."
After hearing this, the younger son threw down the kitchen knife and punched his brother: "Why did you get to go to Fuyun Building, to Gangcheng, and to the State Guesthouse? I am also Luo Changfa's grandson, why do all these favors only fall on you?"
Guoqiang didn't argue with his brother, and still patiently advised: "Jiaqiang, the Yue family doesn't owe us anything. Grandpa adopted Uncle Zhirong because he didn't want to go to Hong Kong City, so Grandpa Yue went to Hong Kong alone. The separation between Grandpa Yue and Uncle Zhirong was caused by Grandpa. But Grandpa Yue and Ningning didn't bear grudges. They just remembered that Grandpa treated Uncle Zhirong like his own son and taught me without reservation. This is their generosity. But we can't expect others to be infinitely tolerant. As long as you learn the basics well, Ningning will definitely give you a chance. Ah Jian and Ya Ming are now on the chef list and have become shift chefs. Ah Xing returned to Fuyun Building as the head chef. He is one of the best chefs in Baohua Building. With him around, are you still afraid that you won't learn anything?"
How could Luo Jiaqiang listen to these words? Although Zhang Lifen listened to some of them, she was still worried: "Shichang, Ma Yaoxing hates you to the core. He is now the head of Fuyun Building. How are we going to live in the future?"
Luo Guoqiang sighed helplessly: "No, Ah Xing is not that kind of person."
But who would listen to him at this moment? Zhang Lifen kept talking about Ma Yaoxing's hatred for Luo Shichang. Luo Jiaqiang looked at the situation that was so different from his brother's and squatted on the ground crying.
After crying, Luo Jiaqiang put forward a condition: he didn't want to stay in Fuyunlou anymore. Here, he was "Luo Changfa's grandson" and "Luo Guoqiang's younger brother", and he was still an apprentice in his early twenties. He wanted to follow his father to the retirement home.
Luo Shichang couldn't sleep: he didn't want his son to go to the retirement home, trapped by his side, and have no future; but if he stayed in Fuyun Building and fell into Ma Yaoxing's hands, he didn't believe that Ma Yaoxing would let bygones be bygones and sincerely teach Jiaqiang.
Listening to Ma Yaoxing's speech on the stage, he became more and more certain: This kid must be holding a grudge!
Ma Yaoxing went to Fuyunlou to work, and his personnel relationship was in the mainland, so he was considered a mainland employee. Song Ziqiang asked Yue Ning whether she would send a representative from Hong Kong, but she said: "Fuyunlou and Baohualou are originally from the same lineage. Ah Xing is a talent cultivated by both places. I feel relieved to have him. The same is true for Uncle Bang."
Hongan Hotel has been completed and is still under renovation. After attending the summary meeting, He Yunbang returned to Gangcheng. Yue Ning sent him to work at Gangcheng Hongan Hotel. When Yuecheng Hongan Hotel is completed, he will be the executive chef to adapt to the hotel's catering operations in advance.
A few days later, Yue Ning heard that Luo Shichang had used his connections to get the Luo family to the retirement home. She shook her head helplessly: People always judge others by themselves. Although Ma Yaoxing was indeed a little narrow-minded and could only say a few harsh words, he was not as bad as Luo Shichang, who could not even provide basic guidance.
Nakamura Mii took over the endorsement of Ning Xiaochu instant noodles, and Ning Xiaochu sponsored her concert tour. Cui Huiyi was pregnant and it was inconvenient for her to travel long distances, so Yue Ning went to Tokyo with Qiao Junxian to watch the concert. Before leaving, she reminded Cui Huiyi: "Since you are sponsoring, don't put up advertisements at the scene, just give the fans a pure enjoyment."
Inside the Tokyo Budokan, the dome lights were bright, and the spotlights were on Nakamura Mii. Her fingertips lightly touched the piano keys, and the prelude flowed like a spring. The moment she opened her mouth, her ethereal voice echoed in the hall.
Song after song, Yue Ning waved her banner and shouted "Mei Yi-san". At the end of the concert, Nakamura Mei Yi returned to the stage amid cheers, and Yue Ning shouted "Encore" at the top of her lungs.
The next day, Japanese and Hong Kong newspapers reported the event. The accompanying picture showed her face twisted with excitement. Although it was not pretty, it made Japanese fans feel close to her: it turned out that this girl was just an ordinary person who was crazy about idols like them. Nakamura's team also revealed that it was Yue Ning who insisted on not putting any advertisements on the scene, leaving a pure space for fans.
"Oh my god! What a rich yet caring little cutie!"
Upon hearing that the "little cutie" had lost her voice, both Nakamura Mii's fans and Yue Ning's supporters couldn't help but feel distressed.
This wave of popularity was exactly what Yue Ning wanted. She had already prepared her next plan.
Po Wah Restaurant has branches in Osaka and Tokyo. The chefs are all selected from Hong Kong and have trained in top Japanese restaurants in Japan. They are well versed in the tastes of Japanese diners and stick to the essence of Chinese cuisine. Po Wah Restaurant is a must-visit for Japanese tourists visiting Hong Kong. Now that it has opened in Japan, the number of customers is not inferior to that of several stores in Hong Kong.
Yue Ning sighed: Japan in the Showa era was full of gold. If we don't pick it up now, when will we? The popularity is enough, and it's time for Ningyan to land, but more chefs are needed.
On the third day, a Japanese newspaper published a full-page recruitment advertisement for Baohua (Japan) Catering Management Company. In the photo, Yue Ning stood in the center, with this year's Chef King Chen Jinying, the third runner-up Sun Yuke, and Baohualou celebrity chef Fan Xiuqin on both sides.
The slogan is concise and powerful: "Baohualou (Japan) is recruiting female chefs, sisters, we look forward to your joining us!"
The conditions state: For experienced candidates, the age limit can be relaxed to 45 years old, while for those without experience but with ambition, the maximum age limit is 30 years old.
The same advertisement was published in newspapers in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Yue Ning, who was already very popular due to her concert in Tokyo, sparked a new round of discussion due to the news that "Baohualou is recruiting female chefs".
In the Tokyo TS Radio studio, Yue Ning, wearing a professional suit, was interviewed.
The host asked: "Why did Ms. Yue specifically note that she was recruiting female chefs?"
She said with a professional smile: "As you all know, I studied under Professor Wan Boda, an expert on East Asian economic issues. I looked up relevant information and found that the employment rate of Japanese women has continued to rise since 1975, and this year is the sixth year. Women are calling for equality in the workplace, but industry discrimination is still prevalent, especially in the chef industry. It just so happens that I opened a restaurant in Japan, and Ning Yan, a subsidiary of Baohualou, plans to settle in Tokyo and Osaka in two years. I hope that Ning Yan in Japan can have top female chefs like Chan Kam Ying like Baohualou in Hong Kong to break the industry's prejudice."
The host nodded: "So you are promoting industry change through practical actions?"
"Rather than promoting change, it's better to create opportunities," Yue Ning said with a smile. "Just like when I came to Hong Kong from the northwest, no one was optimistic about my taking over Po Wah Lau. But not only did I take it over, I also transformed Po Wah Lau from a traditional restaurant in Mong Kok into an international catering group within two years. If I can do it, so can my sisters."
The audience applauded. The host asked, "What is the meaning of the word 'sisters' in the advertisement?"
"At Baohualou, region and qualifications are not important. The only criteria are cooking skills and love for food." Yue Ning looked at the camera, "'Sisters' represents equality and cooperation. The chefs of Baohualou are all partners. We have a complete incentive mechanism to enable every chef to grow together with the brand."
The host glanced at the prompt board and said, "According to a survey, less than 12% of Japanese cuisine practitioners are women. Do you think Baohualou alone can change the current situation?"
"When I first arrived in Hong Kong, there was no female chef in the kitchen of Baohualou. Now, female chefs account for 31%. Change is never the business of a single company. Baohualou is willing to be a leader and has the strength to be a leader."
"But the employment rate of Japanese women drops sharply after marriage. How can we convince families to support their daughters to become chefs?"
"Women are independent individuals. They have the right to choose, rather than waiting to be 'allowed'. Sociologists should resonate with this point." Yue Ning said with a smile, "The women around me are all working: my partner Miss Sophie is studying at the University of Tokyo, Chef Chen Jinying is about to study at EM Lyon Business School, my boyfriend's mother runs Hong'an Famous Brands Discount, and my sister-in-law is in charge of Lide Food. I have never thought of becoming a full-time wife after marriage. What we pursue is not to sacrifice the family, but to give women the freedom to choose."
"A listener is calling, would you like to answer it?"
"Please answer it." Yue Ning has lived two lives and has never been afraid of confronting others.
A trembling voice came from the phone: "I am the listener Sato Misaki, 20 years old, currently working as an apprentice in a bento shop..."
Hearing the voice of a cute girl, Yue Ning immediately responded: "Hello, Misaki-san!"
"I've been following you guys. I'm not Chinese. Can I learn Chinese cooking?"
"Of course! The recruitment conditions are not limited to Chinese. If you join Baohua Building, you can not only learn Chinese cuisine, but also Japanese cuisine, French cuisine, and Spanish cuisine." Yue Ning smiled and said, "We look forward to your application."
This interview took place at a time when Japanese society was calling for the "Equal Employment Law for Men and Women", and Yue Ning's remarks once again sparked heated discussions on gender equality.
The recruitment advertisement for Baohua Building was like a huge rock thrown into a lake, causing waves in Japan during the Showa era.
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