The warm February morning light bathed the dirt road of the Hongqi Production Brigade, melting the thin frost on the surface into glistening specks. Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou pushed a bicycle, four celadon bottles strapped to the back seat, filled with freshly brewed soy sauce. The dark brown liquid swirled gently, releasing a rich aroma. They were heading to the county supply and marketing cooperative to have the soy sauce tasted by the director—a crucial step in determining whether it could be sold in bulk.

"Wanqiu, don't be too nervous. Our soy sauce tastes so good, Director Wang will definitely like it." Shen Tingzhou noticed Lin Wanqiu frequently touching the porcelain bottle on the back seat of the car, knowing she was nervous, so he slowed his pace and gently comforted her. He was wearing a clean blue work uniform, his posture upright, his eyes full of trust in Lin Wanqiu—watching her busy at the soy sauce workshop these past few days, personally handling every step from selecting beans to fermentation to sun-drying the sauce, he knew better than anyone how good the quality of this soy sauce was.

Lin Wanqiu nodded, but her fingertips were still a little cold. "I'm not worried about the taste of the soy sauce. I'm afraid the supply and marketing cooperative's orders will be too few, and our soy sauce workshop won't be able to keep going. You know, the villagers are all counting on the soy sauce workshop to make money. If there are fewer orders, everyone's enthusiasm will definitely be affected." She looked up at Shen Tingzhou, her eyes full of worry. "Moreover, we spent a lot of money buying soybeans and earthenware jars before. If the soy sauce doesn't sell, we won't be able to recover these costs, and our lives will be difficult."

Shen Tingzhou stopped and reached out to grasp Lin Wanqiu's hand, the warmth of his palm instantly dispelling the chill from her fingertips: "Don't think too much. Let's try the supply and marketing cooperative first. Even if Director Wang orders a small amount at first, it's okay. We can let the residents of the county try it first. Once everyone knows our soy sauce is delicious, orders will naturally increase. Besides, Secretary Zhao said he would help us promote it. With the support of the commune, we can definitely succeed."

Looking into Shen Tingzhou's determined eyes, Lin Wanqiu's worries gradually dissipated. She knew Shen Tingzhou was right; the most important thing now was to deliver the soy sauce to the supply and marketing cooperative and get Director Wang's approval for their product. She took a deep breath and gripped the handlebars tightly again: "Let's go, let's get there early, don't keep Director Wang waiting."

The two rode their bicycles along the dirt road towards the county town. Passersby noticed the celadon vase on the back of their bikes and curiously peered inside, some even asking, "Wanqiu, what's in that vase? It smells so good!"

Lin Wanqiu replied with a smile, "It's our own homemade soy sauce, and it tastes great. We're sending it to the supply and marketing cooperative to sell today, so you can buy it in the county town from now on."

The passersby looked surprised: "Really? That's great! The soy sauce on the market is either bland or has a strange taste. If your soy sauce is delicious, we'll definitely buy it every day!"

Hearing everyone's praise, Lin Wanqiu felt even more confident. She knew that as long as the soy sauce's taste was appreciated by everyone, she wouldn't have to worry about sales.

More than half an hour later, Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou finally arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative in the county town. The cooperative was bustling with people, and the shelves were filled with all kinds of goods, from grain and cloth to daily necessities. Lin Wanqiu immediately spotted Wang Jianguo, the director of the supply and marketing cooperative, standing behind the counter. He was busy weighing salt for customers, with a kind smile on his face.

"Director Wang, hello!" Lin Wanqiu stepped forward and greeted him politely.

Wang Jianguo looked up and saw them. He quickly put down the scale in his hand and said with a smile, "Wanqiu, Tingzhou, you've finally arrived! I was telling my colleagues yesterday that if your soy sauce didn't come soon, I would go to the commune to find you." He pointed to the table next to him, "Please sit down and bring out the soy sauce so I can try it. I've been wanting to try your homemade soy sauce for a long time."

Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou placed the celadon bottle on the table. Lin Wanqiu opened a bottle of soy sauce, and a rich aroma instantly filled the air, attracting the attention of the surrounding customers. Some even couldn't help but sniff, saying, "This soy sauce smells so good, much better than the soy sauce I buy at home!"

Wang Jianguo was also drawn by the aroma. He picked up a small bowl, poured in a little soy sauce, smelled it first, then dipped a bit with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The moment the soy sauce entered his mouth, its rich, savory flavor spread across his tongue, perfectly balanced in saltiness, without a trace of off-flavor—it was better than any soy sauce he had ever tasted before. He couldn't resist dipping a little more, closing his eyes to savor it, a look of delight spreading across his face: "Great! Fantastic! Wanqiu, your soy sauce is absolutely amazing! It tastes even better than the soy sauce from the county factory, and even better than the soy sauce I used to eat in the provincial capital!"

Hearing Wang Jianguo's praise, the surrounding customers gathered around, some even asking, "Director Wang, is this soy sauce really that delicious? Can we try some too?"

Wang Jianguo smiled and said, "Of course! Everyone should try it, so you can all know that our county produces such good soy sauce!" He picked up a few small bowls and poured a little soy sauce for each of the customers around him.

After tasting the soy sauce, the customers all praised it highly: "It's so delicious! This soy sauce would be especially fragrant when used to dress cold dishes or braised meat!"

"My child doesn't like to eat, but if I use this soy sauce to make fried rice, he'll definitely eat an extra bowl!"

"Director Wang, when will this soy sauce be available for sale? I'd like to buy a bottle to try today!"

Seeing everyone's enthusiasm, Wang Jianguo was overjoyed. He knew the soy sauce would definitely sell like hotcakes, bringing more income to the supply and marketing cooperative and boosting the commune's sideline businesses—a win-win situation. He looked at Lin Wanqiu and said solemnly, "Wanqiu, I've ordered your soy sauce! I initially planned to order 500 jin to test the waters, but it seems 500 jin won't be enough. I'll order 1000 jin directly! When can you deliver?"

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