In the depths of winter in 1982, a north wind whipped up snowflakes like countless fine ice needles, sweeping across the fields and streets of the Hongqi Production Brigade. The field ridges were covered in white snow, leaving only blurred outlines; the old locust tree at the village entrance was wrapped in a thin layer of ice, its branches adorned with glistening icicles that reflected a chilling light in the hazy sky. Inside the "Natural Taste" food workshop, however, was a warm and inviting atmosphere. Steam rose gently from the boilers, mingling with the sweet aroma of processed fruits and vegetables. Workers, dressed in thick overalls, busied themselves with efficient work, the roar of the machines echoing in the enclosed space, radiating a vibrant and energetic energy.

Lin Wanqiu, wearing a maroon wool sweater and a navy blue work jacket, stood in front of the monitoring screen at the planting base, carefully checking the crop growth in the greenhouse. On the screen, lush green strawberry vines climbed the trellises, their bright red fruits plump and juicy; improved cherry tomatoes hung heavily on the branches, some as red as agate, others as yellow as beeswax—a vibrant scene of life. Over the years, she has combined the agricultural techniques of the space with the local soil and climate, cultivating fruits and vegetables that not only have high yields but also taste far superior to ordinary varieties, becoming the core competitiveness of "Natural Delight" food workshop.

"What are you looking at? You seem so engrossed." Shen Tingzhou's voice came from behind, carrying a hint of warmth. He had just returned from the provincial capital, still carrying the chill of the outside air, yet his posture remained upright. A few snowflakes clung to his dark gray overcoat, making him appear even more composed and resolute. He walked to Lin Wanqiu's side, his gaze fixed on the screen, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It seems our greenhouse is doing well. This batch of strawberries will be ready for harvest in another two weeks, just in time for the Spring Festival order peak."

Lin Wanqiu turned around, reached out to brush the snowflakes from his shoulder, her fingertips touching his slightly cool fabric, and said softly, "Yes, this batch of strawberries is for Spring Festival gift boxes in major shopping malls in the provincial capital, so the quality must be well controlled. By the way, how is Mom today? Did you take your medicine on time this morning?"

Mentioning Grandma Shen, Shen Tingzhou's eyes softened: "Don't worry, Sister Li just called. Mom took her medicine this morning and is in good spirits. She's sitting in the yard basking in the sun. Xixi is on winter vacation and she's spending every day with her. Mom's smiles have increased a lot."

Lin Wanqiu nodded, feeling reassured. Since Old Mrs. Shen moved in, she had made the west wing warm and comfortable, replacing the down comforter and electric blanket in the room (claiming they were rare items bought from the south through a friend), and had Sister Li prepare low-salt, low-fat, calcium-rich meals daily according to a nutritionist's diet. Old Mrs. Shen's health improved day by day, and she became more talkative, occasionally even giving Sister Li pointers on cooking techniques. The atmosphere between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law grew increasingly harmonious.

As they were talking, the door to the food shop was pushed open, and a gust of cold wind carrying snowflakes rushed in. Zhang Lan led a tall, thin boy inside. The boy wore a faded blue cotton-padded jacket, the cuffs worn shiny, and the collar loose, revealing a thin undershirt underneath. His hair was somewhat disheveled, with stray hairs obscuring his eyebrows and eyes. His cheeks were red from the cold, and his hands were in his jacket pockets. His eyes held a hint of unease, and a subtle rebelliousness.

This is Zhang Lan's son, Shen Xiaogang.

Zhang Lan, with a fawning smile on her face, rubbed her hands together and walked quickly to Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou, her tone warm: "Wanqiu, Tingzhou, are you busy? I brought Xiaogang over. He heard that the food workshop was hiring, so he came to report to you."

Shen Xiaogang was pushed forward by Zhang Lan. He reluctantly raised his head, his eyes darting around, and whispered, "Auntie, Uncle."

Lin Wanqiu sized up Shen Xiaogang and understood. The boy vaguely resembled the Shen family in his features, but because he had been spoiled by Zhang Lan for a long time, he had become somewhat idle. After graduating from high school, he stayed at home for more than half a year, spending his days either squatting at the village entrance playing cards or wandering around with a group of idle youths. Zhang Lan was so anxious that she repeatedly begged him to let her work at the food workshop.

Shen Tingzhou's gaze fell on Shen Xiaogang, his tone calm yet dignified: "Xiaogang, have you thought this through? Working in the food workshop is not like staying at home; it requires diligence and hard work, and there is no room for opportunism."

Shen Xiaogang pursed his lips, saying nothing, but subconsciously clenched his hands in his pockets. He didn't actually want to work at the food workshop, thinking it was hard and tiring, but Zhang Lan kept nagging him, saying that the food workshop had good pay and benefits, and that it was a family business, so he wouldn't have to put up with outsiders. He couldn't resist, so he reluctantly came.

Seeing that her son remained silent, Zhang Lan quickly smoothed things over: "He's thought it through! Xiao Gang is just shy; he's been looking forward to working at the food workshop for a long time. Wanqiu, Tingzhou, don't worry, I'll definitely discipline him properly and make sure he works hard for you, without ever slacking off!"

Seeing Zhang Lan's anxious expression and then at the reluctance in Shen Xiaogang's eyes, Lin Wanqiu had already made up her mind. She pondered for a moment, then said in a serious yet gentle tone, "Sister-in-law Zhang Lan, since Xiaogang wants to work at the food workshop, we naturally welcome him. But the food workshop has its own rules, and no matter who it is, even if they are family members, they must follow the rules."

She paused, then turned her gaze to Shen Xiaogang, saying each word carefully, "Xiaogang, I know you've just graduated and haven't experienced much hardship. But every achievement in the food processing workshop is earned through the sweat and toil of our workers; there's no such thing as getting something for nothing. If you really want to stay, you'll have to start from the bottom—work in the greenhouse at the planting base, learning fruit and vegetable planting, harvesting, and maintenance from Technician Wang. After three months, and passing the assessment, we'll assign you a subsequent position based on your performance and abilities. Are you willing?"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!