The spring sun, like gold leaf, bathed the land of the Hongqi Production Brigade, and the blue-brick and tiled houses of Chenji Food Factory gleamed with a warm luster in the morning light. Inside the workshop, the roar of machines mingled with the rising steam, the air filled with the sweet aroma of glutinous rice, the rich fragrance of sesame, and the aroma of cane sugar, weaving together an enticing symphony of flavors. Lin Wanqiu had just finished checking the final details of the auditorium's arrangements; the smooth touch of red silk still lingered on her fingertips. Then, Accountant Zhou rushed in with hurried steps, the hem of his blue cotton jacket fluttering in the wind, his face filled with barely suppressed anxiety and excitement.
"Director Lin! This is incredible!" Old Zhou wiped the sweat from his brow, his voice trembling slightly with urgency. "A lot of villagers have gathered at the factory gate. They all said they saw the wedding candy gift boxes we prepared for Nian'an and wanted to ask if they could buy some to take home—three families are getting married next month, and two others are having a baby's one-month celebration. They all said they were drawn to the appearance of our gift boxes and the food inside!"
Lin Wanqiu was taken aback by his words. Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the jade pendant tied to her waist, the cool touch instantly calming her chaotic thoughts. She looked up at the window and saw that a number of people were indeed gathered outside the food factory gate, huddled together in twos and threes, whispering and occasionally glancing into the factory area, their eyes full of anticipation. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the willow branches, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The swaying figures and the aroma of food in the air intertwined, and suddenly she caught a fleeting glimpse of a business opportunity.
"Old Zhou, keep everyone calm and tell them I'm coming right away." Lin Wanqiu's voice was steady and strong, but a bright light shone in her eyes. She turned to look at Shen Tingzhou beside her, who immediately understood, a look of approval flashing in his eyes. He reached out and smoothed her wind-blown hair. "Go ahead, I'll stay here and keep an eye on the finishing touches in the auditorium. We'll communicate any issues that arise." His palm, still warm from his morning exercise, gently rested on her shoulder, and that silent support made Lin Wanqiu feel even more reassured.
As Lin Wanqiu hurried towards the factory gate, her thoughts raced. In the years since her rebirth, she had gone from barely surviving on the resources of her spatial dimension to establishing a foothold in her food factory, each step taken cautiously yet with unwavering determination. Now, with her son's wedding fast approaching, a time for focused preparation, the needs of her fellow villagers had unexpectedly illuminated a new direction for the food factory. Weddings in the 1960s always emphasized elaborate rituals, but wedding gifts on the market were either monotonous and bland or poorly made. If a special gift box could be launched that combined aesthetics, taste, and symbolism, it would surely fill a market gap.
"Wanqiu, you've finally come out!" Someone in the crowd recognized Lin Wanqiu first and shouted excitedly. The crowd quickly gathered around, each offering their requests. A woman named Wang Xiulian, her face flushed with shyness, took Lin Wanqiu's hand and said, "Wanqiu, my second son is getting married next month. The gift box you prepared for Nian'an is so beautiful, all red, and the pastries inside look exquisite. Could you make some for us too? Price is negotiable!"
An old man wearing a felt hat chimed in, "Director Lin, my granddaughter is having her one-month celebration, and we'd like to give some decent gifts to the relatives who come to congratulate us. Your food tastes good, and the packaging is presentable. We trust you!"
Lin Wanqiu smiled and reassured everyone, "Don't worry, folks, tell me your needs one by one, I'll write them all down." Her gaze swept over the expectant faces of the villagers, and her resolve deepened. Over the years, the villagers had watched her rise from humble beginnings, and their trust in Chenji Food Factory was genuine. She couldn't betray that trust, and she had to seize this opportunity to take the food factory's business to new heights.
Back in her office, Lin Wanqiu immediately summoned Su Wanqing and several key workers from the workshop. A potted green ivy, just sprouting, sat on the windowsill, its tender leaves unfurling in the sunlight, adding a touch of life to the tense moment. Lin Wanqiu explained the villagers' needs and her own ideas in detail. Su Wanqing's eyes immediately lit up: "Sister Wanqiu, this is a brilliant idea! Our wedding candies and pastries are already made with high-quality ingredients and taste excellent; with exquisite packaging, they're sure to be a hit!"
Workshop foreman Lao Zhang, an experienced master craftsman, pondered upon hearing this and said, "Director Lin, if we start mass production, will we be able to supply the raw materials? And what about the packaging? The cardboard boxes we're using now are specially customized for Nian'an's wedding. If we expand production, I'm afraid we'll have to contact the printing factory again."
"Don't worry about the raw materials," Lin Wanqiu said confidently. "We still have plenty of glutinous rice, sesame seeds, and walnuts stored in the space, enough to support the initial production. As for packaging, I remember there's a printing factory in the county town that printed food labels for us before. I'll contact them now and have them expedite the production of a batch of gift boxes in different sizes." She paused, her eyes sweeping over everyone. "We'll have three gift boxes. The high-end one is called 'Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Auspiciousness,' which comes with the best pastries and wedding candies, and the packaging uses a gold foil stamping process with dragon and phoenix patterns. The mid-range one is called 'Perfect Match,' with slightly simplified materials and packaging, but the quality remains the same. The popular one is called 'Happy Marriage,' which is cost-effective and meets the needs of ordinary villagers."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and a lively atmosphere immediately filled the office. Lin Wanqiu immediately assigned tasks: Su Wanqing was responsible for compiling the ingredients and production process for each gift box to ensure consistent taste; Lao Zhang was responsible for arranging for the workshop workers to work overtime to ensure production volume; Lao Zhou was responsible for registering the villagers' orders and collecting payments; and she herself rushed to the county town to contact a printing factory to customize gift boxes.
Before she left, Shen Tingzhou drove her to the village entrance, took a thermos from the trunk and handed it to her: "Drink some water on the way, and be careful. If there are any problems at the printing factory, call me anytime, and I'll figure something out." His eyes were gentle yet firm, like a reliable mountain. Lin Wanqiu took the thermos, her fingertips touching its warm surface, feeling a warm glow in her heart: "Don't worry, I'll be back soon. Take good care of Nian'an and Nianxi at home, and keep an eye on things at the auditorium too."
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