In the early autumn of 1994, a refreshing breeze swept through the city streets, completely dispelling the lingering heat of late summer. The leaves of the plane trees, tinged with a pale golden hue, swayed gracefully in the sunlight, casting dappled shadows like a meticulously painted oil painting by nature. Inside the "Natural Taste" food factory, a bustling and orderly scene unfolded. The popularity of low-sugar healthy foods continued to rise, and newly developed children's nutritional pastries entered their final testing phase. Workers, their faces beaming with energetic smiles, deftly delivered delicious and healthy treats to countless families. However, in the Shen family's courtyard, a faint sense of melancholy permeated the air, creating a subtle contrast with the crisp autumn air.

That morning, before dawn was fully broken and the morning star was still twinkling on the horizon, the lights in the Shen family's house were already on. Lin Wanqiu, dressed in an elegant light gray suit, her hair neatly tied in a bun, exuded a gentle tenderness, befitting her usual decisive and efficient businesswoman persona. She was squatting beside her suitcase, carefully placing neatly folded clothes inside, her movements as gentle as if she were handling a rare treasure. Each piece of clothing had been carefully selected, including casual wear suitable for everyday life, formal attire for formal occasions, and several thick coats in preparation for the damp and cold winters of Jiangnan.

"Mom, you don't need to bring so many clothes. There are washing machines at school; I can wash them myself." Shen Nian'an stood to the side, watching her mother's busy figure, her heart filled with emotion and reluctance. The boy wore a white shirt and black trousers, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his face still showing a hint of youthful naiveté, yet unable to conceal his anticipation for the future. He had already grown into a tall man of 1.8 meters, his brows still faintly revealing Shen Tingzhou's composure, yet also carrying the intelligence and agility of Lin Wanqiu.

Lin Wanqiu looked up, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes, but she still smiled and said, "It's always good to bring a few more clothes. The weather in Jiangnan changes quickly, so you'll have something to wear if the weather changes. You've never been very good at taking care of yourself since you were little, so you can't be careless at school. Remember to change your clothes on time and pay attention to personal hygiene." As she spoke, she took out a small first-aid kit from the wardrobe, which contained common medicines such as cold medicine, fever reducers, gastrointestinal medicine, and band-aids. "Take this first-aid kit with you. It'll be useful in case you feel unwell. Remember to take the medicine according to the instructions, and if it gets serious, you must go to the hospital. Don't try to tough it out."

Shen Tingzhou entered the room, holding a brand-new laptop, and handed it to Shen Nian'an: "Take this with you. It'll be useful for your studies, and it'll be easy to contact home if anything happens. When you get to school, make good use of the computer to look up information and learn, but don't get addicted to games." His voice was steady and powerful, carrying the unique authority and love of a father. These past few days, he had specifically consulted a friend who knew about computers, installed commonly used software on the computer, and downloaded a lot of study materials for food engineering, all to make his son's academic journey smoother.

Shen Nian'an took the computer and nodded heavily: "Dad, I understand. I will definitely make good use of it to study." He could feel his parents' deep love, which was like warm sunshine, illuminating his path forward and making his reluctance to part even stronger.

Wearing a pink dress and with two cute pigtails, Shen Nianxi rubbed her sleepy eyes and ran in, hugging Shen Nian'an's arm tightly. "Brother, you must remember to call me and send me postcards! I will study hard, and when you come back for vacation, I will perform the new dance I learned for you." The little girl's voice was soft and sweet, filled with deep affection, and her eyes were slightly red, clearly reluctant to see her brother leave.

Shen Nian'an bent down, picked up his younger sister, kissed her on the cheek, and said with a smile, "Okay, I will definitely call you every day and send you a postcard every week. Xixi, be a good girl and study hard. When I come back, I will bring you specialties from Jiangnan."

Looking at her two children, Lin Wanqiu was overwhelmed with emotion. The frail little boy who once needed her protection had grown into a young man about to embark on his studies; and the toddler girl who had just learned to speak had blossomed into a lively and adorable young lady. Time had flown by so quickly, catching her somewhat off guard. She recalled the time when she had just been reborn, struggling to survive in a drafty mud-brick house with four-year-old Nian'an. Back then, she had never imagined that one day her son would be admitted to a prestigious university, leave this small town, and pursue a wider world. The jade pendant at her waist gently pressed against her skin, its warm luster seemingly possessing a calming power, gradually calming her chaotic emotions.

The atmosphere at the breakfast table was warm and quiet. On the table were soy milk, fried dough sticks, eggs, steamed buns, and red bean buns—Shen Nian'an's favorite—all made by Lin Wanqiu herself that morning. No one spoke much, yet everyone could feel the deep affection and reluctance in their hearts. Shen Tingzhou placed an egg on Shen Nian'an's plate, saying, "Eat more. You'll be on a train for several hours later; don't get hungry."

Lin Wanqiu also put a red bean bun on her son's plate: "This is your favorite. Eat more, because you won't be able to taste your mother's cooking at school." Her voice was slightly choked up as she tried to suppress her emotions.

Shen Nian'an picked up a red bean bun, took a bite, and the familiar sweetness spread across his tongue—it was the taste of his mother, the taste of home. His nose tingled, and he almost cried, but he forced himself to hold it back and ate his breakfast in large mouthfuls. He knew that his parents felt the same way he did—a mixture of reluctance and anticipation—and he couldn't let them worry.

After breakfast, Shen Tingzhou carried the suitcase to the car. Lin Wanqiu carefully checked it again to make sure nothing was left behind before letting Shen Nian'an get in. The car slowly drove out of the residential area and headed towards the train station. Inside the car, Lin Wanqiu sat next to Shen Nian'an, constantly reminding her: "Once you get to school, adapt to the new environment as soon as possible, get along well with your roommates, help each other, and communicate calmly when conflicts arise, don't be impulsive. Study hard; food engineering is a highly specialized field, you must delve deeply into it, don't just dabble in it. Listen attentively in class, take good notes, and spend a lot of time in the library and laboratory after class, research more materials, do more hands-on practice, and combine theoretical knowledge with practice."

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