In the early winter of 1985, a chill crept across the land, yet it did not dispel the warmth of the Red Flag Production Brigade. Tender green shoots sprouted from the wheat seedlings in the fields, stretching in the gentle breeze like a thin green carpet spread across the earth. Inside the "Natural Taste" food workshop, the festive ribbons before the vermilion gate still fluttered, now with a warmer sheen. The machines in the workshop hummed rhythmically, but with less of the previous urgency, replaced by a more composed and orderly rhythm. After more than a month of hard work, all the backlogged orders had been successfully delivered. Although the employees still wore signs of fatigue, their eyes shone with the ease and satisfaction of completing their tasks.

The conference room in the office building was nicely heated, its warm atmosphere enveloping everyone. Lin Wanqiu sat at the head of the table, wearing a beige wool sweater and a camel-colored wool coat. Her long hair was loosely tied back, and a gentle smile graced her eyes, making her appear less sharp and more approachable than usual. On the conference table in front of her were several tourist route planning maps. The vibrant pictures depicted verdant mountains, clear waters, pavilions, and towers, drawing frequent glances from the department heads present.

Shen Tingzhou sat beside her, dressed in a dark gray Zhongshan suit, his posture upright, a gentle smile on his face, his gaze frequently falling on Lin Wanqiu, full of doting and support. During this time, watching her work day and night for the order, he felt both heartache and pride. Now that the order was successfully completed, she wanted to arrange a trip for the employees, and he naturally gave his full support.

"Everyone," Lin Wanqiu cleared her throat, her voice gentle yet firm, "After more than a month of hard work, we have successfully completed all orders, whether they were additional domestic orders or large-volume overseas orders, all of which were delivered on time, in good quality, and in the required quantity. This is inseparable from the hard work of everyone here, and even more so from the hard work of every employee in the workshop."

Her gaze slowly swept over everyone, her eyes filled with sincere gratitude: "These past few days, everyone has been working from dawn till dusk, putting in extra hours without a single complaint. Everyone has been shining in their own positions, contributing their strength to the development of 'Natural Flavors'. I know everyone has worked hard. So, after discussing it with General Manager Shen, we decided to give all employees a long vacation and organize a trip for everyone to relax."

"Tourism?" The words had barely left his lips when a low gasp of astonishment filled the conference room, and disbelief crossed everyone's faces. In those days, tourism was a luxury for ordinary people; most never traveled far from home in their lives, let alone participated in a group tour.

Director Zhang of the production workshop blushed with excitement as he rubbed his hands together. "President Lin, is it true? Can we really go on a trip?" He had lived most of his life and had never been anywhere except to deliver goods to the provincial capital. He had long yearned for the outside world.

Sales Manager Li couldn't hide his excitement: "President Lin, this is such a pleasant surprise! We never expected you to arrange a trip for us!" He usually travels for business and has been to many places, but it's all for work, and he never has time to really explore. He was so happy to be able to travel with his colleagues this time.

Seeing everyone's excited expressions, Lin Wanqiu's smile grew even brighter: "Of course it's true! Not only will we be traveling, but all expenses will be covered by the company, and we'll even give everyone a subsidy. This trip is meant to allow everyone to relax and enjoy the beautiful landscapes of our motherland, as well as strengthen the bonds between colleagues and enhance our team's cohesion."

She paused for a moment, then continued, “We have selected three tour routes, and you can choose according to your own preferences. The first is to go to Suzhou and Hangzhou, which is known as ‘Paradise on Earth,’ and the beautiful scenery of West Lake and the gardens of Suzhou are worth seeing. The second is to go to Qingdao, where you can see the sea, feel the sea breeze, and taste fresh seafood. The third is to go to Xi’an, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, with historical sites such as the Terracotta Army and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, where you can experience a rich historical and cultural atmosphere.”

As she spoke, she asked the staff to distribute the tour route map to everyone: "Please take a close look at the route descriptions and report your choices to Xiao Zhang in the office before tomorrow. We will arrange the itinerary and accommodations based on your choices. In addition, considering that some employees have elderly people and children at home and want to bring their families along, the company also supports this. Family members can enjoy the employee discount on expenses."

"That's wonderful!" Everyone was overjoyed to hear that family members could bring their children. Mr. Wang, a long-time employee, said excitedly, "I've wanted to take my wife to see West Lake for so long. She's heard so much about how beautiful it is since she was young, but we've never had the chance. This time, our dream can finally come true!"

Shen Xiaogang excitedly added, "I want to take my wife and child to Qingdao to see the sea. My son has never seen the sea before, he'll definitely be very happy!"

The meeting room was filled with excitement as everyone enthusiastically discussed the three tour routes, their faces beaming with happiness. Lin Wanqiu watched this scene with a sense of satisfaction. She knew that employees were the company's most valuable asset; only when employees felt the company's care and warmth would they have a stronger sense of belonging and cohesion, and thus better contribute to the company's development.

Shen Tingzhou held her hand and said softly, "Wanqiu, you've thought of everything. Everyone has worked so hard these past few days, this trip is just in time."

Lin Wanqiu turned to look at him, her eyes full of tenderness: "I just did what I was supposed to do. Our company's achievements today are inseparable from the efforts of every employee. Letting them relax and strengthen their relationships is also beneficial to the long-term development of our company."

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