The morning light of late spring, like scattered gold dust, bathed the Hongqi Production Brigade. Wild grasses on the field ridges were adorned with glistening dewdrops, reflecting a dappled halo of light. In Lin Wanqiu's courtyard, the grapevines had sprouted new green shoots, and dappled sunlight filtered through the layers of leaves, falling on the drying grains, giving them a warm glow.

Shen Tingzhou returned from the county town through the morning mist, his clothes dusty but his brow relaxed. He had just reached the courtyard gate when he saw Lin Wanqiu holding Nianxi's hand, teaching her to identify the flowers and plants in the yard. Nian An sat at a stone table nearby, diligently working on math problems, sunlight illuminating his youthful face, which was filled with concentration.

"Dad! You're back!" Nianxi was the first to notice him, breaking free from Lin Wanqiu's hand and rushing over like a joyful little bird.

Shen Tingzhou bent down and picked up his daughter, kissing her rosy cheek with eyes full of affection. "Nianxi, sweetie, did you miss Daddy?"

"Yes!" Nianxi hugged his neck, her soft voice carrying a hint of coquetry, "Mother said Father went to the city to take care of something important, is it done yet?"

"It's all done, everything's resolved," Shen Tingzhou said with a smile, his gaze turning to Lin Wanqiu who was coming to greet him, his eyes filled with tenderness and gratitude. "Wanqiu, thank you for your hard work."

Lin Wanqiu stepped forward, took the bag from his hand, and gently brushed the dust off his shoulder with her fingertips: "It's good to be back. You must be tired from the journey. Come in and rest for a while. I've saved breakfast for you."

After sitting down inside, Nian'an put down her pen, leaned close to Shen Tingzhou, and asked curiously, "Father, has the matter at the food workshop been resolved? Have the bad guys been caught?"

"It's resolved, and the bad guys have been punished." Shen Tingzhou patted his son's head, his tone filled with relief. "This is all thanks to your mother. Without your mother's calm response and meticulous planning, things wouldn't have been resolved so quickly."

Lin Wanqiu brought over steaming millet porridge and steamed buns, and said with a smile, "Eat quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold. The fact that things were resolved is also due to your efforts. We are husband and wife, and we should work together."

Shen Tingzhou picked up a steamed bun, took a bite, and the familiar taste spread in his mouth, filling his heart with warmth. Over the years, it was precisely because Lin Wanqiu had been by his side that he was able to work hard without any worries. No matter how great the difficulties he encountered, just thinking of her filled him with strength.

After breakfast, Shen Tingzhou told Lin Wanqiu the details of their trip to the county town. "Sun Defa has been detained according to law, and 'Meiweizhai' has been shut down. The industry and commerce department not only clarified the facts for us, but also praised our food shop's honest operation throughout the county. Now our 'Natural Flavor' has an even better reputation."

"This is an unexpected bonus." A smile flashed in Lin Wanqiu's eyes. "Having gone through this crisis, the foundation of our food workshop will be even more solid. In the future, if we encounter similar situations, we will be able to deal with them calmly."

Just then, the village secretary's hearty laughter came from outside the courtyard gate: "Wanqiu, Tingzhou, congratulations! Congratulations on your exoneration!"

The two quickly got up and went out to greet them. They saw the village secretary, along with several village officials, Old Chen, Liu Ersao, and other villagers, walking in in a large group. Everyone's face was beaming with joy, and they were carrying vegetables and fruits they had grown themselves.

"Secretary, fellow villagers, please come in!" Lin Wanqiu greeted warmly.

"We've come to congratulate you!" The village secretary said with a smile as he entered the courtyard. "We heard yesterday that the food processing plant issue was resolved and that bad guy Sun Defa was arrested. We were all overjoyed! We decided early this morning to come and celebrate with you!"

"Yes, Wanqiu, Tingzhou, this is truly gratifying!" Old Chen said with a smile, carrying a basket of fresh strawberries. "These are strawberries I just picked. I'm sharing them with you to celebrate our food workshop overcoming this difficult time!"

Sister-in-law Liu also carried a basket of sesame candy and said, "This is sesame candy I made especially for you. I wish you a sweet and happy life and a booming business!"

The villagers eagerly handed over their gifts, their smiles sincere and warm. Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou watched this scene, their hearts filled with emotion. In their most difficult time, these simple and honest villagers had given them their greatest support and trust; this kindness was more precious than any wealth.

"Thank you everyone, thank you so much!" Lin Wanqiu's eyes reddened slightly. "The food workshop was able to overcome this difficulty without everyone's help. In the future, we will definitely work harder to run the food workshop well and help everyone get rich together!"

"Good! We believe you!" the villagers said in unison, and applause rang out in the courtyard.

After a while, the villagers gradually dispersed. The village secretary, however, stayed behind with a mysterious smile on his face: "Tingzhou, I have good news for you. The county leaders heard about this incident and highly praised your abilities. They specifically asked me to tell you that they plan to promote you to the position of deputy director of the county's Bureau of Commerce, responsible for the management of the county's food industry."

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Shen Tingzhou's eyes: "Really?"

"Of course it's true!" The village secretary nodded with a smile. "This is a great opportunity! Working in the county will not only allow you to better utilize your talents, but also help Wanqiu manage the food workshop's business."

Lin Wanqiu was also overjoyed. She looked at Shen Tingzhou with pride in her eyes: "That's wonderful! Tingzhou, congratulations!"

Shen Tingzhou was filled with mixed emotions. He knew that this position was not only a recognition of his abilities, but also an affirmation of his and Lin Wanqiu's hard work over the years. He grasped Lin Wanqiu's hand and said firmly, "I will definitely do my job well and live up to the trust of the leaders, as well as the expectations of you and the villagers."

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