The early winter dawn pierced through the thin mist, gilding the gray-blue city with a warm golden hue. On the dirt road leading from the Hongqi Production Brigade to the city, a brand-new 28-inch bicycle moved steadily forward, with two bulging canvas bags tied to the back seat, filled with exquisitely packaged boxes, swaying gently with the turning of the wheels.
Lin Wanqiu wore a well-tailored navy blue Lenin suit, a small plum blossom brooch pinned to her collar, her hair neatly styled in a bun, revealing her smooth forehead. A cold wind brushed her cheeks, but it couldn't dispel the brightness and anticipation in her eyes. She turned her head slightly to look at Shen Tingzhou, who was riding alongside her, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Tingzhou, do you think our 'Natural Delight' will be popular at today's exhibition?"
Shen Tingzhou, dressed in a dark gray Zhongshan suit, stood tall and straight like a pine tree. Hearing this, he turned his head and his deep eyes were full of doting: "Don't worry, the quality of our products speaks for itself, and they will definitely amaze everyone." He put a little effort into his foot, and the bicycle steadily passed a bullock cart in front of him. "Besides, with me here, no one will dare to trip you up."
Lin Wanqiu felt a warmth in her heart, and her fingertips unconsciously tightened their grip on the handlebars. Ever since Shen Tingzhou "came back to life" and returned to her side, she felt like she had the strongest support, able to calmly deal with any difficulties she encountered. This food industry exhibition was the largest since the founding of the People's Republic of China in the city, bringing together food manufacturers from all over the country. For "Natural Taste," it was both a stage to showcase its strength and an excellent opportunity to expand its market.
Half an hour later, the two arrived at the exhibition hall in the city center. The Soviet-style building was magnificent, with beige walls and a red roof. A huge banner reading "The First Citywide Food Industry Expo" hung in front of the entrance, its bright red ribbon fluttering in the cold wind. Outside the exhibition hall, a large crowd had already gathered, with people in various costumes streaming in. There were cadres in Zhongshan suits, businessmen wearing hats, and many ordinary citizens carrying canvas bags.
"There are so many people!" Lin Wanqiu stopped her bicycle and exclaimed in amazement. She had never seen such a lively scene before. The air was filled with the aroma of various foods, mixed with people's laughter and chatter, which made her feel excited.
Shen Tingzhou skillfully parked the bicycle in the designated area, locked it, and took the canvas bag from Lin Wanqiu's hand: "Let's go, let's go in and set up the booth." His voice was steady and powerful, giving Lin Wanqiu a strong sense of security.
The two followed the crowd into the exhibition hall, which was a completely different world inside. The huge exhibition hall was divided into individual booths, each with its own unique style. Some were decorated with colorful balloons, some displayed huge product posters, and others had already started making food on site, attracting many visitors to stop and watch.
“Our booth is over there.” Shen Tingzhou’s sharp eyes swept across the exhibition hall, and he quickly found the booth marked “Natural Delights.” It was located in the middle of the exhibition hall, not the most conspicuous, but certainly not in a remote place.
The two walked quickly over and began setting up the booth in an orderly manner. Shen Tingzhou was in charge of setting up the display racks; he worked quickly and soon assembled a wooden display rack. Lin Wanqiu opened her canvas bag and arranged the products inside one by one.
The "Natural Delights" product display instantly attracted the attention of those around. The children's series of colorful fruit and vegetable mini steamed buns were vibrant, with red strawberry, green spinach, and yellow pumpkin flavors. Each one was small and exquisite, like a carefully crafted work of art. The senior series of yam and lotus seed cakes had a warm color and emitted a faint medicinal aroma, looking soft and delicious. The office worker series of nut energy bars had simple and elegant packaging, with the nuts and dried fruits clearly visible inside, making them look mouthwatering.
Lin Wanqiu had also set up a small table in front of her booth, with cut samples, disposable paper plates, and toothpicks on it for visitors to sample. She picked up a piece of yam and lotus seed cake, gently sniffed it, and the rich aroma of rice and the sweet taste of lotus seeds filled her with confidence. These were products she had painstakingly developed, each one embodying her heart and soul. She believed that once people tasted them, they would definitely love them.
"What kind of pastry is this? It looks really good." A middle-aged man wearing a blue work shirt walked over, his eyes fixed on the yam and lotus seed cake with curiosity.
Lin Wanqiu immediately went up to him with a friendly smile: "Comrade, hello! This is our 'Natural Delight' yam and lotus seed cake, made with high-quality yam, lotus seeds and glutinous rice. It contains no preservatives, is soft and easy to digest, and is especially suitable for the elderly." She picked up a sample and handed it to him, "You can try it."
The middle-aged man took the pastry, took a small bite, and the soft, glutinous texture melted in his mouth. The creamy texture of the yam and the sweetness of the lotus seeds intertwined, creating a very rich and mellow flavor. His eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but nod: "Not bad, not bad, it tastes really good! My mother has bad teeth, so she loves to eat this kind of soft, glutinous pastry. Give me two pounds!"
"Alright!" Lin Wanqiu was delighted. She immediately took out some oil paper, skillfully weighed out two jin of yam and lotus seed cakes, wrapped them up, and handed them to the other person. "Comrade, please take this. Welcome to come again next time!"
With the first customer's encouragement, more and more people were drawn to the booth. Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou worked together seamlessly, with Lin Wanqiu introducing the products and greeting customers, while Shen Tingzhou weighed and packaged the products.
"These fruit and vegetable buns look so pretty, are they for the kids?" A young mother walked over with a four or five-year-old girl by the hand. The little girl stared curiously at the brightly colored buns with her big, round eyes.
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