Shen Tingzhou picked up his daughter, gently patted her back, and comforted her, "Xixi, be good. Your brother will be back during the holidays, and he will bring you a gift." His gaze was fixed on the ticket gate, his eyes filled with concern.
Lin Wanqiu gazed in the direction her son had disappeared, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She remembered Nian'an's frail appearance as a child, the first time he carried his schoolbag to school, and the image of him burning the midnight oil to prepare for exams. Now, this little boy who once needed her desperate protection had grown up and was about to face life's challenges on his own. She believed that Nian'an would definitely achieve great things in university, delve deeply into the field of food engineering, and become an outstanding talent. The jade pendant at her waist remained warm and lustrous, as if conveying strength and confidence to her.
After a long while, Lin Wanqiu finally withdrew her gaze, took Shen Tingzhou and Shen Nianxi's hands, and slowly walked towards the exit of the train station. "Let's go, let's go home." Her voice carried a hint of weariness, yet was also full of anticipation. She knew this was not a farewell, but a new beginning. She looked forward to the day her son would return after completing his studies, hoping he would bring advanced knowledge and ideas back to "Natural Flavors," and together with her, propel this company, which carries the dreams of two generations, to new heights.
As the car drove back, Lin Wanqiu watched the scenery rushing past the window, her heart gradually calming down. She began to plan her upcoming work: the research and development of a new batch of children's nutritional pastries had entered a critical stage, requiring her personal attention; the market share of low-sugar healthy foods needed to be further expanded, and partnerships needed to be established with more distributors; talent recruitment at the R&D center could not be neglected, and more talent needed to be reserved for the company's long-term development.
Shen Tingzhou saw through her thoughts and held her hand, saying, "Don't overwork yourself. Nian'an has grown up and can take care of herself. You don't need to worry too much. Work is important, but you also need to take care of your health."
Lin Wanqiu turned her head and looked into her husband's gentle eyes, her heart filled with warmth. "I know," she said with a smile, "it's just that I'm used to worrying, and it's really a bit hard to adjust all at once. But don't worry, I'll take care of myself."
After returning home, Lin Wanqiu didn't rest for long before throwing herself into work. She first went to the research and development center to check on the progress of the children's nutritional pastry development. In the laboratory, Professor Li was leading the research team in final adjustments. Seeing Lin Wanqiu enter, Professor Li smiled and said, "President Lin, you're here. After repeated experiments, the formula for the children's nutritional pastry has been basically finalized. The taste and nutrition have met the expected goals, and we can now begin small-batch production."
Lin Wanqiu nodded, picked up a sample and tasted it. It was soft, sweet, and fragrant with a natural fruity aroma, and rich in nutrients, making it very suitable for children. "Very good," she said with satisfaction. "Then arrange for small-batch production as soon as possible and launch it on the market to test its effectiveness. In addition, conduct thorough market research, collect consumer feedback, and adjust the formula and process accordingly."
"Okay, Mr. Lin," the head of the R&D team replied quickly.
After leaving the R&D center, Lin Wanqiu went to the sales department to discuss the marketing plan for low-sugar health foods with the sales manager. The sales manager reported that the low-sugar health foods had achieved good sales results in many provinces and cities across the country, and many distributors hoped to expand their cooperation. After listening, Lin Wanqiu said, "This is good news. We should seize this opportunity to further expand our market share. We can consider setting up directly operated stores in some key cities to directly reach consumers and improve brand awareness and influence. At the same time, we should strengthen cooperation with e-commerce platforms and expand online sales channels."
The sales manager nodded repeatedly: "Mr. Lin, you're right. We'll develop a detailed promotion plan right away."
In the days that followed, Lin Wanqiu threw herself into her work, as if only being busy could temporarily make her forget her worries about her son. Shen Tingzhou saw this and felt heartache, often reminding her to rest and even taking the initiative to help her with some of her work. Shen Nianxi was also very sensible, calling her brother every day to share her interesting stories from school and reassure him.
After arriving at Jiangnan University, Shen Nian'an quickly adapted to his new environment. He diligently followed his parents' advice, studied hard, actively participated in various school activities, and got along well with his roommates and classmates. He devoted a significant amount of time each day to the library and laboratory, earnestly studying his major and honing his experimental skills. He also proactively contacted professors in the Food Engineering department at Jiangnan University, expressing his desire to participate in research projects. The professors greatly appreciated this diligent, studious, and thoughtful young man and quickly agreed to let him join their research teams.
Shen Nian'an excelled in the research team. He possessed not only solid theoretical knowledge but also strong practical skills, quickly becoming a key member of the team. He often wrote down the problems he encountered in his studies and research and used his weekends to call Lin Wanqiu and Professor Li for advice. Lin Wanqiu always patiently answered his questions and shared her own experiences and insights in food research and development. Professor Li also provided him with professional guidance, helping him solve problems encountered in his research.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it's late autumn. Autumn in Jiangnan is a tapestry of vibrant colors, a truly beautiful sight. Shen Nian'an has adapted well to university life and studies, and his progress in his field is remarkable, earning him high praise from both teachers and classmates. He often sends postcards home, sharing his experiences at school, his words brimming with a thirst for knowledge and aspirations for the future.
Lin Wanqiu was filled with joy upon receiving her son's postcard. She knew that her son had not disappointed her expectations, and was diligently working in the field of food engineering, taking step by step towards his dream. She was also even more determined to make "Natural Flavor" even better, laying a solid foundation for her son's future development.
That day, Lin Wanqiu was working on documents in her office when Shen Tingzhou walked in, holding a calendar. "Wanqiu," he said, "next month is Mom's 80th birthday, we need to make some preparations."
Lin Wanqiu looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "Yes, I almost forgot. Mom is turning eighty this year, it's a joyous occasion, we must make sure it's a big celebration and make her happy." She put down the documents in her hand and began to plan, "We can have a banquet at the hotel and invite relatives and friends to celebrate. In addition, we need to prepare a generous birthday gift for Mom, and we also need to decorate the venue nicely to make the birthday banquet both grand and warm."
Shen Tingzhou nodded: "That's what I was thinking too. We can discuss the specifics slowly. Also, should we ask Nian'an to come back?" Wanqiu thought for a moment and said: "Let him focus on his studies. He's at a crucial stage of his studies and research right now. Going back and forth would waste too much of his time. Let him spend some quality time with Mom when he comes home for vacation."
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