The morning light of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, carrying the warmth of the Spring Festival, shone through the window lattice into the counter of "Late Autumn Food Shop." The sesame brittle on the shelf still gleamed with an oily sheen, and the sweet aroma of red date paste mingled with the spiciness of ginger candy, brewing a rich New Year's flavor in the air. Lin Wanqiu was weighing peanut candy for a customer, her fingertips covered with fine sugar powder, when she looked up and saw Shen Tingzhou leading Shen Nian'an in, the father and son still carrying the chill of the outdoor air.

"Dad!" Shen Nian'an broke free from Shen Tingzhou's hand, ran behind the counter, and held up the small ledger in her hand. "I've recorded today's accounts. We made five yuan more than yesterday!" The handwriting on the ledger was crooked, but each stroke was written carefully, and a small smiley face was drawn at the end.

Shen Tingzhou bent down and ruffled his son's hair, his gaze falling on Lin Wanqiu's fingertips covered in sugar frosting. A gentle look appeared in his eyes: "You've been busy all morning, take a break. I just went to the alley entrance and bought some soy milk and fried dough sticks. Eat them while they're hot." He placed the food box on the counter. The fried dough sticks wrapped in oil paper were still steaming, and the aroma of soy milk instantly dispelled the sweetness in the air.

Lin Wanqiu wiped her hands, picked up a fried dough stick, and took a bite. The crispy texture spread on her tongue, and she felt a sense of peace. Since opening on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the shop's business had been exceptionally booming. They were busy from morning till night every day. Shen Tingzhou either helped serve customers in the shop or went to the workshops in the village to coordinate the supply of goods. Although the couple was tired, they were full of energy.

“Oh, right,” Shen Tingzhou said suddenly, taking a sip of soy milk, “Yesterday I went to the county to deliver goods and ran into an old comrade-in-arms from the army. He now works at the supply and marketing cooperative in the city and said that the city is planning a new commercial street, and many shops are available for rent.” He put down his bowl, took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket, on which his comrade-in-arms had written the address and general plan of the commercial street. “I was thinking, since our store in the county is already stable, should we take this opportunity to open a branch in the city?”

Lin Wanqiu's hand paused mid-air, her eyes lighting up instantly. The city was far more bustling than the county town, with a denser population and stronger purchasing power. Opening a shop in the city would not only expand their business but also further enhance the "Wanqiu" brand. But then she hesitated: "Opening a shop in the city is good, but we don't have enough manpower. The shop in the county town needs someone to look after it, and the workshop in the village can't do without Brother Zhou and Sister Liu. If we open a shop in the city, who will manage it?"

“I’ve already thought about this.” Shen Tingzhou unfolded the slip of paper and pointed to the address on it. “My comrade said there’s a residential area next to the commercial street. We can rent a small courtyard to live in, which will allow us to look after the shop and also bring Nian’an and Xixi over. As for manpower, I’ve discussed it with Brother Zhou. He said his son, Zhou Ming, can come to the county town to look after the shop. Zhou Ming is young and learns quickly. We can also have Sister Liu bring a few more reliable women to keep the workshop’s production stable.”

Looking at the address on the slip of paper, Lin Wanqiu's worries gradually dissipated. She recalled her days running a culinary studio in the modern world before she transmigrated. Back then, she dreamed of promoting her skills to a wider audience, and now, in this era, that dream seemed to be getting closer and closer. "So... are shop rents in the city expensive? Do we have enough funds right now?"

“My comrade said there are initial rent discounts, and our store in the county town is profitable every day. Plus, the workshop gives commissions to the county food factory, so the funds should be enough.” Shen Tingzhou held her hand, feeling the warmth of his touch. “Most importantly, the market in the city is huge, and our baby food and snacks will definitely be more popular there. Just imagine, if our stores can open all over the region, or even the province, then our lives will be truly secure.”

Seeing the anticipation in Shen Tingzhou's eyes, Lin Wanqiu's own heart was ignited. She nodded vigorously, "Okay! Let's open a branch in the city! We'll go to the city tomorrow and talk to your comrade about the specifics."

The next morning, Shen Tingzhou and Lin Wanqiu left their shop in the county town to Zhou Mingzhao, and together with Shen Nian'an, took the earliest long-distance bus to the city. The bus bumped along the dirt road, and the scenery outside the window changed from low bungalows to two-story buildings. There were more bicycles on the roadside, and occasionally a few trucks could be seen driving by, giving it a strong urban feel.

Shen Nian'an peered out the car window, his eyes brimming with curiosity: "Mom, the buildings in the city are so tall! They're even taller than the ones in the county town!" He pointed to the department store in the distance and exclaimed excitedly, "Dad, look at that building! Isn't it taller than the old locust tree in our village?"

Shen Tingzhou smiled and nodded, then reached out and hugged his son: "Once we open a shop in the city, I'll bring you here often, and I'll also take you to the department store to buy new clothes."

Lin Wanqiu leaned on Shen Tingzhou's shoulder, watching the street scenes flash by outside the window, her heart filled with anticipation. In her previous life, she was used to living in a modern metropolis. After transmigrating to the 1960s, although she tried her best to adapt to rural and county life, she still missed the convenience and prosperity of the city. Now, having the opportunity to settle down in the city was not only an expansion of her business, but also a longing for a new life.

As the car entered the city, the streets widened, lined with shops of all colors, and bustling with pedestrians—much more lively than the county town. Shen Tingzhou's comrade-in-arms was already waiting at the bus station entrance. Dressed in a crisp Zhongshan suit, he immediately greeted Shen Tingzhou warmly: "Tingzhou! We've been waiting for you!"

"Old Yang, thank you for your hard work." Shen Tingzhou shook hands with his comrade-in-arms, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then introduced Lin Wanqiu and Shen Nian'an to each other.

Old Yang smiled and looked Lin Wanqiu up and down: "I've heard Tingzhou say that his wife is a capable woman who runs the food store in the county town very well. Seeing her today, I can confirm that her reputation is well-deserved." He led the three of them toward the commercial street. "Let's talk as we walk. The commercial street is just ahead. They're paving the road now, and it's expected to be completed next month. Then they'll hang up uniform signs, and it'll look very impressive."

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!