Lin Wanqiu took the approval form, which read, "Approval granted for the Hongqi Production Brigade to establish the 'Hongqi Food Workshop,' with a business scope of: handmade pastries, biscuits, and candies, wholesale and retail." She finally breathed a sigh of relief. Shen Tingzhou carefully reviewed it, and after confirming that there were no problems, he signed his and Lin Wanqiu's names.

After leaving the Industry and Commerce Administration Office, the two drove the horse-drawn carriage back to the village. On the way, Shen Tingzhou suddenly said, "Actually, I have an old comrade-in-arms who works at the county's Industry and Commerce Administration Office. He saved my life when we were on a mission before. If we encounter any problems when registering with the county, I can ask him for help to ensure that the license is issued smoothly."

Lin Wanqiu was taken aback for a moment, then understood his thoughts—he was afraid that things might change if things dragged on, and if Zhao Jianjun were to find someone in the county to cause trouble again, they still needed a safeguard. She held Shen Tingzhou's hand, her eyes welling up with tears: "You've thought of everything so carefully. With you here, I'm not afraid of anything."

Shen Tingzhou looked at her with gentle eyes: "You've carried too much on your own before. Now that I'm back, I'll definitely protect you and Nian'an, protect our family, and protect the hopes of our fellow villagers."

When the carriage entered the Hongqi Production Brigade, the villagers were already waiting at the village entrance. Seeing the two return, they all gathered around, asking, "How did it go? Did the license come through?" Lin Wanqiu held up the approval form in her hand and said with a smile, "The approval is in! We'll get the license from the county in a few days, and we can start building the factory!"

The villagers cheered immediately, and Uncle Zhang said excitedly, "Great! I'll go and call the old bricklayer and carpenter right away, and we'll start clearing the foundation tomorrow and try to get the factory built as soon as possible!" Aunt Li also said with a smile, "I'll tell the women in the village tonight that once the factory is built, we'll start learning to make new pastries, and we're sure we can sell them for a good price!"

Nian'an ran out from the crowd and threw himself into Lin Wanqiu's arms: "Mom, can we build the factory now? Will I be able to help you with the bookkeeping in the workshop?" Lin Wanqiu picked up her son and kissed him on the cheek: "Yes, our Nian'an will be the workshop's little bookkeeper from now on. You have to study arithmetic well, and you can't make any mistakes in the accounts."

As the sun set, golden rays bathed the village rooftops, wisps of smoke rose from chimneys, and the air was filled with the aroma of cooking. Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou stood in the open space at the village entrance, watching the busy figures of their fellow villagers, their hearts filled with anticipation. Although the license application had encountered a minor setback, it had thankfully been resolved without serious consequences. Now, all they had to do was build the factory and, once the license was in hand, the workshop could officially begin operations. Their good days, and the good days for their fellow villagers, were drawing ever closer.

Looking at the smile on Lin Wanqiu's face, Shen Tingzhou said softly, "Tonight I'll write a letter to my old comrade-in-arms in the county and ask him to keep an eye on the license matter to ensure everything goes smoothly." Lin Wanqiu nodded and leaned on his shoulder, "Okay, I'm at ease with you here."