Stepping into the Chamber of Commerce's reception room, a faint scent of sandalwood wafted through the air. The room was furnished with antique-style mahogany furniture, and several ink paintings adorned the walls, their brushstrokes revealing a rich tapestry of Chinese culture. A servant served steaming hot oolong tea, its clear broth exuding a mellow aroma. Mr. Chen picked up his teacup, took a sip, and set it down, saying directly, "Mr. Chen, Ms. Lin, and Mr. Chen's son, regarding your Shenji Food Factory's plan to establish a branch in Singapore, our Chamber of Commerce has already discussed it. We fully support your idea, and we can provide support in terms of venue and networking resources."

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Shen Nian'an's eyes. He quickly took out the plan he had prepared and handed it to Mr. Chen: "President Chen, this is my proposed plan for establishing a branch company. We plan to build a modern food processing plant in Singapore, using the most advanced production equipment in the country, and strictly control product quality. At the same time, we will combine the taste preferences of Southeast Asian consumers to develop new products, such as durian osmanthus cake, mango mung bean cake, and so on."

Mr. Chen took the project proposal and carefully reviewed it, his brow sometimes relaxing, sometimes furrowing slightly. Shen Nian'an stood to the side, his palms sweating with nervousness. He knew this was the first time he had independently led such an important project, and he couldn't afford to fail. Lin Wanqiu noticed her son's nervousness, reached out and grasped his hand; the warmth of her palm gave him immense strength. Shen Nian'an turned to look at his mother, his eyes filled with gratitude. Lin Wanqiu smiled slightly and gently shook her head, signaling him to relax.

After a while, Mr. Chen put down the proposal, his eyes full of admiration: "Mr. Chen, your proposal is very detailed and well thought out. In particular, your concept of 'localized research and development' is very visionary. We overseas Chinese miss the taste of home the most when we are in a foreign land. Your pastries have both the flavor of home and the local characteristics, so they will definitely be very popular."

Chen Nian'an finally felt relieved. He let out a long sigh of relief, and a bright smile appeared on his face. "Thank you for your recognition, Chairman Chen!" he said. "We will definitely work hard and live up to your expectations."

In the days that followed, Shen Nian'an threw himself into the preparations for the branch company's establishment. He would get up before dawn every day, leading workers to inspect factory sites and traversing every street and alley of Singapore. Singapore's weather was hot and humid; the sun was like a giant fireball, scorching the earth. Shen Nian'an's skin became tanned dark, and sweat poured down his forehead like broken beads. His shirt was repeatedly soaked and dried, leaving a layer of white salt stains.

Lin Wanqiu felt heartbroken seeing her son working so hard. Every day, she would personally cook mung bean soup for him to cool him down in the summer heat. Shen Tingzhou used his connections to help his son contact equipment manufacturers in China, ensuring that the production equipment could be delivered to Singapore on time. With the couple's support, Shen Nian'an's work progressed very smoothly.

After several days of site selection, Shen Nian'an finally chose a location for the factory in an open area not far from the port. The location offered convenient transportation for raw materials and finished products, and the surrounding infrastructure was also excellent. Having finalized the location, Shen Nian'an immediately began recruiting workers. He specifically prioritized hiring children of overseas Chinese, not only because of their deep affection for Chinese culture, but also because they could better understand Shen's business philosophy.

At the recruitment fair, a young overseas Chinese woman in her early twenties caught Shen Nian'an's attention. Her name was Lin Yue'e; she had delicate features, wore a simple cloth dress, and stood timidly at the back of the crowd, holding a resume. Shen Nian'an stepped forward and asked gently, "Young lady, would you also like to apply for a job?" Lin Yue'e looked up at the handsome young man before her, her cheeks slightly flushed, and nodded. "Yes, sir. I heard that your Shenji Food Factory is recruiting workers, and I'd like to give it a try. I often help my mother make pastries at home; I can make osmanthus cake, mung bean cake, and some Southeast Asian desserts."

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Shen Nian'an's eyes. He took Lin Yue'e's resume, examined it carefully, and said with a smile, "Very good! You're hired. You can start work tomorrow." Lin Yue'e was so excited she almost jumped up, bowing repeatedly, "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

Seeing Lin Yue'e's overjoyed expression, Shen Nian'an felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He recalled his own childhood, the longing for a stable job that he deeply understood. He secretly resolved to run Shenji's overseas branch well, not only to let more people taste the flavors of their hometown, but also to provide employment opportunities for more overseas Chinese children.

Construction of the factory was in full swing. On the construction site, machines roared, and workers toiled tirelessly. Shen Nian'an visited the site daily, meticulously inspecting each step of the process to ensure the quality of the project. His conscientiousness and responsibility earned him unanimous praise from the workers. Everyone said that although Mr. Shen was young, he was extremely reliable.

Meanwhile, product research and development was also in full swing. Shen Nian'an, along with Lin Yue'e and several other overseas Chinese workers, conducted repeated experiments in the laboratory. They combined the rich sweetness of durian with the soft and sweet texture of osmanthus cake, and after dozens of adjustments, finally developed durian osmanthus cake. This cake has both the traditional flavor of osmanthus cake and the unique taste of durian; one bite is sweet but not cloying, with an unforgettable aftertaste.

Shen Nian'an brought freshly baked durian and osmanthus cakes to Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou. "Mom, Dad, try some." His eyes were full of anticipation. Lin Wanqiu picked up a piece, took a small bite, and the soft, chewy texture melted on her tongue. The aroma of durian and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus intertwined, leaving a lingering aftertaste. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Delicious! So delicious! Nian'an, you're amazing!" Shen Tingzhou also tried a piece, nodded, and said with approval, "Not bad, the flavor is very unique. It will definitely be popular with consumers."

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