The midsummer breeze, carrying the fragrance of ripening wheat, swept across the fields of the Hongqi Production Brigade and past the brand-new blue-brick walls of the "Late Autumn Food Workshop." Outside, the old locust tree cast a dense canopy, dappled sunlight filtering through its layers of leaves, weaving a flowing tapestry on the ground. The workshop's doors were wide open, the golden signboard bearing the inscription "Late Autumn Intangible Cultural Heritage" gleaming in the sunlight, complementing the two vermilion palace lanterns beside the entrance and drawing passersby to pause and admire it.

The courtyard was bustling with activity, yet orderly. Workers, dressed in uniform moon-white overalls, busied themselves in various workshops, kneading dough, drying it, and packaging it, their movements skilled and focused. The air was filled with the aroma of wheat from handmade noodles, the mellow fragrance of traditional rice wine, and the sweet scent of plum blossom pastries, all intertwining to create a rich and enticing scent—the unique aroma of "Late Autumn Food Workshop," the fragrance condensed from Lin Wanqiu's years of painstaking effort.

Standing by the window of the R&D workshop, Lin Wanqiu gazed at the vibrant scene within, her eyes filled with satisfaction. She wore a well-tailored light purple polyester shirt, a small pearl brooch adorning her collar. Her long, black hair was neatly styled in a bun. Time seemed to have been exceptionally kind to her, leaving only barely perceptible fine lines at the corners of her eyes, which only added to her mature and gentle charm. Over the years, the food workshop had grown from a small operation to a company with three production workshops and over fifty workers, expanding from the county to the region, and even reaching the provincial capital—every step had been solid and powerful. All of this was inseparable from her and Shen Tingzhou's collaborative efforts, the dedication of the veteran artisans, and, most importantly, the support and trust of her consumers.

"Mother, what are you looking at? You seem so engrossed." A clear voice sounded from behind, carrying the unique vigor of a young person, yet also revealing a touch of composure.

Lin Wanqiu turned around, a gentle smile immediately spreading across her face. The young man before her was tall and straight, dressed in a navy blue Zhongshan suit. His features hinted at Shen Tingzhou's heroic spirit, yet possessed her own gentle and refined grace. He had fair skin, a high nose, thin, well-defined lips, and bright, star-like eyes that sparkled with intelligence. This was her son, Shen Nian'an.

Shen Nian'an is no longer the thin, timid little boy who dared not speak loudly. After years of careful care and good education, he has not only grown tall and strong, but also become cheerful and confident. More importantly, he inherited Lin Wanqiu's intelligence and Shen Tingzhou's composure, making great strides in his studies and eventually graduating with excellent grades from a prestigious university in the provincial capital with a major in Food Science and Engineering.

"Nian'an, you're back." Lin Wanqiu stepped forward and naturally straightened his collar. Her fingertips touched his warm skin, and an indescribable sense of pride and emotion welled up in her heart. "You rushed back right after graduation, aren't you tired?"

“Not tired, Mother.” Shen Nian’an shook his head with a smile, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Just thinking about joining the food workshop soon and working with you makes me not tired at all.” He paused, his gaze sweeping over the various instruments and raw materials in the research and development workshop, his eyes filled with anticipation. “Mother, is this our research and development workshop? It’s even more organized than I imagined.”

“Yes, this was just expanded last year,” Lin Wanqiu said with a smile. “The equipment inside was all bought from the provincial capital through your father’s connections. Although it’s not as advanced as the ones in universities, it’s already one of the best in our county.” She took Shen Nian’an’s hand and walked to the workbench, picking up a handful of freshly made handmade noodles. “Look, these are buckwheat noodles that Grandpa Li and his workers have newly developed. They have a chewy texture and are more nutritious. They’ve been very popular with consumers since they hit the market.”

Shen Nian'an took the noodles, examined them carefully, and then smelled them. He nodded and said, "Mom, the craftsmanship of these noodles is indeed exquisite. The wheat aroma is pure, without any off-flavors. However, I think there's room for improvement in the smoothness of the texture." He put down the noodles, his eyes becoming serious. "During my university years, I did many experiments on grain processing with my professor. I discovered that by adjusting the fineness of the grinding and the moisture content of the dough, we can make the noodles smoother and easier to digest."

A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Wanqiu's eyes. She knew her son was studying a specialized subject in university, but she hadn't expected him to be able to combine theory with practice so quickly. "Nian'an, what you said makes a lot of sense. Do you have any specific improvement plans?"

“Yes!” Shen Nian’an immediately took out a thick notebook from her backpack, opened it and handed it to Lin Wanqiu. “Mom, this is some experimental data and research reports I did during my university years. It records in detail the effects of different grinding degrees and different dough moisture on the taste of noodles. I also developed a specific improvement plan based on the actual production conditions of our food workshop. Please take a look and see if it is feasible.”

Lin Wanqiu took the notebook and carefully flipped through it. The handwriting was neat and clear, the data was recorded in detail and accurately, and the improvement plans were well-organized and highly feasible. The more she read, the more satisfied she became, her excitement beyond words. This was not only proof of her son's academic success, but also hope for the future development of the food workshop. She had always hoped to have professional talent join the workshop, combining modern science and technology with traditional craftsmanship to give intangible cultural heritage foods a stronger vitality, and Nian'an's return had fulfilled this wish.

"That's wonderful, Nian'an!" Lin Wanqiu closed her notebook, tears glistening in her eyes. "This plan is excellent. It preserves the essence of traditional handmade noodles while incorporating modern science and technology. It's completely feasible. I believe that after improving it according to your plan, our noodles will definitely be even more popular with consumers."

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