The shop assistants were taking notes diligently, nodding in agreement from time to time. They were all local residents who had long heard of the reputation of "Late Autumn Food Workshop" and cherished the opportunity to work there.
Meanwhile, the main store's business was booming. Not only did local residents frequent the store, but even some businesses in the city were ordering cakes and pastries. Lin Wanqiu was busy until very late every day, but although it was hard work, she felt incredibly fulfilled. Shen Tingzhou saw this and felt sorry for her. Every day after work, he would go home early, prepare meals for her, and help her with the housework.
"You must be exhausted. Sit down and rest, have a bowl of hot soup." Shen Tingzhou brought over a bowl of chicken soup and placed it in front of Lin Wanqiu, his eyes full of concern.
Lin Wanqiu took the soup bowl, took a sip, and the warm soup slid down her throat, instantly dispelling most of her fatigue: "It's alright. Just thinking about the branch opening soon makes me feel full of energy."
Shen Tingzhou held her hand and said softly, "Don't push yourself too hard, your health is the most important thing. After the branch opens, I can help you take care of things more. If we're really too busy, we can hire a few more staff."
Lin Wanqiu leaned on his shoulder, her heart filled with emotion. Ever since Shen Tingzhou "came back to life" and returned to her side, he had been her strongest support. Whether facing difficulties from her in-laws or obstacles on her entrepreneurial journey, he had always stood firmly by her side, supporting and encouraging her.
Two weeks later, the renovation of the East City branch was finally completed, and it was ready to open. The day before the opening, Lin Wanqiu and the staff made the final preparations, filling the shelves with freshly baked pastries, wiping the glass cases clean, and hanging bright red lanterns. Shen Tingzhou, along with Shen Nian'an and Shen Nianxi, also came to help, and the whole family was busy and happy.
"Mom, we're opening tomorrow, I want to put on a show for you!" Shen Nianxi, wearing her new dress, ran around the store like a little butterfly.
Shen Nian'an held a calculator and carefully checked the accounts: "Mother, all the goods have been counted and the prices have been marked. We can start business as usual tomorrow."
Watching the children busily working, Lin Wanqiu was filled with anticipation. She believed that with high-quality products and honest business practices, the Chengdong branch would surely be as popular as the main store.
On opening day, just as dawn was breaking, Lin Wanqiu and her staff arrived at the branch. As soon as they opened the door, many nearby residents came after hearing the news.
"This must be a branch of Wanqiu Food Workshop, right? I've heard the pastries at the main store are delicious, so I came here today to try them!" An old man walked into the store with a smile, picked up a peach shortbread and put it in his mouth. "Mmm, it tastes really good! Crispy and sweet, much better than what I buy elsewhere!"
"I want to order a birthday cake; it's my grandson's birthday next Saturday," an older woman said.
"I want to buy some bread and milk for my child's breakfast," a young mother said as she walked in carrying her child.
The shop assistants greeted customers warmly, and the shop was bustling with activity. Lin Wanqiu was busy introducing pastries to customers, her face always beaming with a smile. Shen Tingzhou helped maintain order, occasionally handing her a glass of water.
By noon, most of the pastries in the shop had been sold. Lin Wanqiu looked at the scene before her, her heart filled with satisfaction. She knew this was just the beginning; in the future, she planned to open more branches in the city, spreading the name "Wanqiu Food Shop" throughout the entire city.
In the following months, Lin Wanqiu opened two more branches in the west and south of the city. Each branch continued the main store's business philosophy, using high-quality ingredients, authentic taste, and warm service, quickly winning the favor of local residents. "Wanqiu Food Workshop" became increasingly well-known, becoming a small but famous pastry brand in the city.
As the business continued to expand, Lin Wanqiu became increasingly busy. She traveled between several branches daily to check product quality, instruct staff, and handle customer feedback. Shen Tingzhou, concerned for her overwork, offered to help manage some of the affairs.
“You’ll be in charge of product development and quality control, and I’ll help you manage the daily operations and finances of the branch,” Shen Tingzhou said earnestly. “That way, you can relax a bit and won’t have to do everything yourself.”
Lin Wanqiu nodded, her heart filled with gratitude. With Shen Tingzhou's help, her life had indeed become much easier. She could now have more time to develop new dessert varieties to meet the diverse needs of her customers.
That day, Lin Wanqiu was in the lab developing new desserts. She wanted to make a low-sugar pastry suitable for the elderly, and after many attempts, she finally succeeded in making a low-sugar walnut cake. This walnut cake has a soft and chewy texture, moderate sweetness, and is rich in nutrients, making it very suitable for the elderly.
She immediately sent the low-sugar walnut cake to various branches for trial sales, and to her surprise, it was very popular with customers, especially elderly customers, who praised the snack as delicious and healthy.
"Wanqiu, your low-sugar walnut cake is so delicious! I have bad teeth and rarely eat snacks, but this walnut cake is soft, sweet and fragrant. I can eat several pieces at a time!" An old lady said to Lin Wanqiu with a smile.
Seeing the satisfied smiles on her customers' faces, Lin Wanqiu felt a great sense of accomplishment. She knew that only by constantly innovating and meeting customer needs could she ensure the business's long-term success.
However, just as Lin Wanqiu's business was booming and she was planning to open another branch in the north of the city, a new challenge was quietly approaching. With the deepening of reform and opening up, more and more modern food companies began to enter the urban market. These companies, with their advanced production equipment, strong marketing teams, and rich product lines, posed a considerable threat to "Wanqiu Food Workshop".
That day, while inspecting the branch store, Lin Wanqiu noticed that there were far fewer customers than usual. Puzzled, she quickly asked the staff, "Why is it so quiet today? Usually, the store is packed with customers at this time."
The shop assistant looked helpless: "Boss, a large chain pastry shop has just opened across the street. It's luxuriously decorated, has a wide variety of products, and is offering many promotional activities. A lot of customers have been attracted there."
Lin Wanqiu's heart sank, and she quickly walked outside the shop to look across the street. There, she saw an exquisitely decorated pastry shop with a prominent sign and promotional posters displayed at the entrance, attracting many customers.
She knew a fierce competition was about to begin. Faced with powerful modern food companies, she had to adjust her strategy as soon as possible to remain invincible in the market.
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