In the golden autumn of October, the air is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms. Inside the main factory of "Late Autumn Food Workshop" in the eastern corner of the county town, rows of osmanthus trees are adorned with delicate yellow flowers. The rich aroma permeates the blue bricks and gray tiles, mingling with the mellow fragrance of grains and the refreshing scent of herbs emanating from the workshop, creating a breathtaking autumn scene. The glass windows of the research and development workshop are spotless, and sunlight pours in, illuminating the neatly arranged glassware, precision instruments, and the ancient medical books and modern experimental reports spread out on the workbenches. In the interplay of light and shadow, it seems as if a dialogue of wisdom transcends time.
Shen Nian'an, dressed in a white lab coat, was intently adjusting a newly purchased component analyzer. His brow furrowed slightly, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, his gaze fixed on the fluctuating values on the screen, his fingers rapidly scribbling data in the notebook. The cuffs of his lab coat were rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms, and fine beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, but he seemed oblivious, only occasionally raising his hand to casually wipe them away. Since taking over the functional food research and development project, this had become his daily routine—immersed in a cycle of formula adjustment, component testing, and process optimization, often losing track of time, even needing Lin Wanqiu to send someone to remind him of his meals.
"Nian'an, take a break and have some ginseng tea to replenish your energy." Lin Wanqiu walked in carrying a white porcelain teacup, its rim emitting a faint steam. The aroma of ginseng and honey mingled, warm and lingering. She wore a beige wool cardigan over a navy blue silk shirt, exuding a gentle yet capable air. Looking at her son's focused, almost obsessive expression, her eyes held both relief and undisguised heartache.
Shen Nian'an turned his head, a gentle smile immediately appearing on his face, his tense nerves relaxing a bit: "Mother, you've come." He put down the tweezers in his hand, took the teacup, and felt the warmth spread from his fingertips to his whole body as his fingertips touched the warm cup. "This ginseng tea is really fragrant, Mother, your skills are still so good."
"You're just all talk." Lin Wanqiu gave him a reproachful look, then reached out to brush away the little bit of medicinal powder on his shoulder. "You've been working three consecutive all-nighters. If this continues, your body won't be able to take it. The development of functional foods can't be rushed. What we need is quality, not speed."
“I know Mother feels sorry for me, but this is a crucial time.” Shen Nian’an took a sip of ginseng tea, the rich broth sliding down her throat, and her fatigue dissipated considerably. “Recently, I’ve consulted many ancient medical books, especially the *Huangdi Neijing* and the *Compendium of Materia Medica*, which record many classic combinations of medicine and food. I want to combine this traditional wisdom with modern food processing techniques to develop truly safe, effective, and high-tasting functional foods. The formula has a preliminary direction now, but the ingredient ratios and extraction processes still need further optimization.”
He pulled Lin Wanqiu to the lab bench, pointed to the several glass test tubes arranged on it, and his eyes gleamed with excitement: "Mom, look, these are my three latest samples. The first one is 'Eight Treasures Longevity Cake,' designed for the elderly with sore waist and knees and insufficient qi and blood. It is made with eight kinds of medicinal and edible ingredients, such as ginseng, astragalus, and angelica, combined with high-quality glutinous rice flour and honey. The second one is 'Yam and Gorgon Fruit Cake,' designed for sub-healthy people to regulate their stomach and intestines. It uses iron yam from Taihang Mountain and gorgon fruit from Honghu Lake, with the addition of a small amount of dried tangerine peel and poria cocos. It has excellent effects on strengthening the spleen and stomach. The third one is 'Goji Berry and Mulberry Paste,' which nourishes yin and kidneys, improves eyesight and beautifies the complexion. It is suitable for office workers who often stay up late and overuse their eyes."
Lin Wanqiu picked up a test tube containing a sample of "Eight Treasures Longevity Cake" and examined it carefully. The cake was a light amber color, with a delicate texture and a rich aroma of herbs and rice, which was reassuring. She picked up a little with a toothpick and put it in her mouth. It was soft, sweet, and fragrant, with a mild medicinal taste that blended perfectly with the aroma of rice and honey, leaving a lingering sweet aftertaste.
"It tastes really good, without any of the bitterness of ordinary medicinal cuisine." A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Wanqiu's eyes. "Nian'an, your recipe is really good. It retains the nutritional benefits of the ingredients while also taking into account the taste, which is why consumers can accept it."
“That’s what I’m thinking too.” Shen Nian’an nodded and said seriously, “Many functional foods are unpopular because they taste bad and are hard to swallow. During the research and development process, I repeatedly adjusted the formula ratio and used modern processes such as low-temperature baking and vacuum concentration to retain the nutritional components of the ingredients to the maximum extent, while removing the bitterness of the medicine, so that functional foods can also be a delicious enjoyment.”
Just then, Xiaolin, a core member of the R&D team, rushed in, his face showing a mixture of excitement and anxiety: "Director Shen, something bad has happened! We just tested and found that the ginsenoside content of 'Bazhen Yishou Gao' is unstable, with significant differences between batches. This will affect the product's efficacy and quality stability."
Shen Nian'an's smile vanished instantly, his eyes turning serious. "I understand. Let me see the test report." He took the report from Xiao Lin and carefully examined it, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. Ginsenosides are the core active ingredient of ginseng, and unstable content directly affects the health benefits of "Eight Treasures Longevity Cake," which is absolutely unacceptable.
Seeing her son's serious expression, Lin Wanqiu's heart clenched, but she still gently comforted him, "Nian'an, don't worry. It's normal to encounter problems during the research and development process. We'll figure out how to solve them together. The unstable ginsenoside content, could it be due to differences in the origin and harvesting time of the ingredients?"
“Mother, you’ve hit the nail on the head.” Shen Nian’an looked up, a hint of approval in her eyes. “I’ve already investigated the processing problem, and it’s very likely that the issue lies with the ingredients. Ginseng from different origins and years has vastly different ginsenoside content. The ginseng we purchased previously came from different suppliers, and the quality varied, which led to the instability of the product’s composition.”
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