The early autumn morning mist shrouded the Hongqi Production Brigade like a light veil. The new factory of "Natural Flavor" food workshop was faintly visible in the mist. The building, with its blue bricks and gray tiles, exuded an orderly and imposing air, yet it could not conceal the solemnity between Lin Wanqiu's brows. Shen Tingzhou, who had just returned from the county town, handed her a letter from a foreign trade company. On the yellowed letter paper, the feedback from the overseas client was clear and distinct, striking their hearts like a heavy hammer.

"Simple packaging, short shelf life, and insufficient taste stability"—these twelve words succinctly pinpointed the product's shortcomings in the international market. Lin Wanqiu's fingertips traced the paper, her knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure. The joy of the first batch of products selling well hadn't completely faded when real challenges immediately followed. She knew that the international market was like rowing against the current; if you didn't move forward, you would fall behind. If she couldn't make timely improvements, the hard-won overseas sales channels might be lost.

“Foreign consumers have far more stringent requirements for food than we imagine.” Shen Tingzhou’s voice was somewhat somber. He had just learned from the foreign trade company that two overseas distributors were hesitant to renew their second batch of orders due to concerns about the competitiveness of their products. “Our existing handmade packaging and traditional craftsmanship may be popular in China, but they are not enough in the international market.”

Lin Wanqiu remained silent for a long while. When she looked up, the confusion in her eyes had disappeared, replaced by a resolute determination: "The technology and equipment must be upgraded! This is not only to keep the orders, but also to ensure that 'Natural Flavor' can truly gain a foothold in the international market." She turned and walked towards the workshop, watching the workers still using traditional methods for filling, sealing, and packaging. Her mind became increasingly clear—manual operation was inefficient and prone to errors, and traditional sealing techniques could not effectively isolate the product from air, which was the root cause of the short shelf life.

The first hurdle to overcome in introducing advanced technology is funding. Although the food workshop is quite profitable, most of their savings have already been invested in the new factory. Purchasing a large sum of money for equipment would undoubtedly strain their cash flow. Shen Tingzhou frowned as he calculated: "A set of automated packaging production line, vacuum sealing equipment, and low-temperature sterilization equipment will cost at least 50,000 yuan, not including subsequent technical training and maintenance costs."

Fifty thousand yuan was an astronomical sum at the time, but Lin Wanqiu did not back down. She convened a meeting of the workers, laying out the current situation of the overseas market and the necessity of technological upgrading. "Now we are facing a life-or-death test. We either stand still and be eliminated by the market, or we grit our teeth, upgrade, and usher in a new life!" Her voice was firm and powerful. "I have decided to take out all the savings of the food workshop and apply for a loan from the bank to bring in the advanced equipment!"

The workers were in an uproar upon hearing this. Some worried about the risks, while others questioned whether it could succeed. Old Chen was the first to stand up in support: "Late Autumn, I believe in you! You taught me how to grow strawberries scientifically back then, which is why we have such a good life today. I'm the first to support this technology upgrade!" Sister-in-law Liu chimed in: "We've worked with you for so many years, and we've long considered 'Natural Flavor' our own home. If we don't have enough money, we can chip in!"

Seeing the trust in the villagers' eyes, Lin Wanqiu felt a surge of warmth in her heart. Ultimately, everyone agreed to upgrade the technology, and many workers even offered to temporarily advance part of their wages to alleviate financial pressure. Shen Tingzhou also leveraged his position in the county's Bureau of Commerce to actively communicate with banks, and successfully secured a low-interest loan of 30,000 yuan, based on the food workshop's good reputation and future export prospects.

After resolving the funding issue, finding suitable technology and equipment became a new challenge. At that time, advanced food production equipment was scarce in China, and most of it relied on imports, which were not only expensive but also had very limited procurement channels. Shen Tingzhou traveled around, contacting provincial and municipal foreign trade departments to inquire about equipment procurement information; Lin Wanqiu, on the other hand, immersed herself in the skill panel in her space, browsing through information on modern food production technologies, hoping to find a breakthrough.

Inside the space, a vast amount of agricultural and food processing knowledge unfolded like a galaxy. Lin Wanqiu focused on studying vacuum packaging technology, low-temperature sterilization processes, and automated production lines, gradually gaining direction. She discovered that the core advantage of advanced foreign equipment lay in precise control and efficient sealing, and these technological principles were not unreplicable; it was simply that China lacked mature manufacturing processes.

“Perhaps we can adopt an ‘import + improvement’ approach,” Lin Wanqiu told Shen Tingzhou. “First, we can import key equipment and core technologies from abroad, and then modify them according to our actual needs. This way, we can ensure the effectiveness while reducing costs.” Shen Tingzhou agreed wholeheartedly and immediately contacted a German equipment supplier through the foreign trade department. The supplier agreed to provide a small to medium-sized automated production line and send technical personnel to provide guidance.

While waiting for the equipment, Lin Wanqiu was not idle. Following the technical information in her spatial dimension, she organized preliminary training for the workers, explaining the operating principles and precautions of the automated equipment; at the same time, she renovated the workshop, replanning the layout to ensure efficient operation after the equipment was installed. Shen Tingzhou, meanwhile, was busy handling various procedures for importing the equipment, coordinating with customs, tax authorities, and other departments to ensure its smooth arrival.

In late autumn, the container carrying advanced equipment finally arrived in the county town. As the massive truck slowly drove into the Hongqi Production Brigade, the entire village erupted in excitement. Villagers surrounded the truck, curiously examining the "foreign machines," their eyes filled with anticipation. German technicians followed closely behind, bringing detailed installation diagrams and operating manuals.

The installation and commissioning work was extremely complicated, and Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou accompanied them throughout the process, spending every day in the workshop. The technicians explained the equipment principles in broken Chinese, and Lin Wanqiu took careful notes, repeatedly asking questions when she encountered something she didn't understand, sometimes even arguing with them for a long time over a single detail. Shen Tingzhou was responsible for coordinating all parties to ensure the smooth progress of the installation work.

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