The midsummer night breeze, carrying the rich fragrance of gardenias and the fresh scent of rice paddies, drifted over the imposing three-story office building of Wanqiu Food Workshop Co., Ltd. In the plaza in front of the building, the red ribbons from the daytime opening ceremony had not yet been removed. The evening breeze caused the ribbons to flutter, like clusters of burning flames, making the gilded characters on the building shine even brighter. Inside the office building, the boardroom on the top floor was brightly lit. Crystal chandeliers cast countless golden rays, illuminating the long mahogany conference table with a shimmering glow. The celadon tea set on the table emitted fragrant steam, and the air was filled with a solemn yet warm atmosphere.
The conference room was packed. Shareholder representatives, dressed in sharp suits, stood solemnly; senior management, in formal attire, looked on with anticipation; even the county's director of industry and commerce and town government leaders were present, their eyes filled with high hopes for this local enterprise. Lin Wanqiu sat to the left of the head of the table, wearing a moon-white silk cheongsam embroidered with lotus blossoms, which accentuated her slender figure. The sharp edges of her early entrepreneurial days had faded, replaced by a gentle and refined elegance honed by time. Her fingertips lightly rested on the table as her gaze slowly swept over everyone, finally settling on Shen Tingzhou beside her. The two exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with unspoken tenderness.
Shen Tingzhou, dressed in a dark black suit, stood tall and straight like a pine tree. His gaze was steady and powerful. When it landed on the young and upright figure in the center of the conference room, his eyes surged with an indescribable pride.
That figure was none other than Shen Nian'an.
He wore a tailor-made light gray suit, which accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, making him appear even more handsome and upright. The once thin and timid child had now become a young talent with a calm and sharp demeanor. He held a thick company development plan in his hand, his fingertips slightly white, clearly showing some nervousness, yet he still stood tall, his gaze meeting everyone's eyes firmly.
Su Yue'e sat in her seat, cradling the sleeping Shen Nianzu in her arms. The little boy wore a dress embroidered with tiger heads, his delicate face beaming with a sweet smile. Su Yue'e's gaze was fixed on Shen Nian'an, her eyes filled with worry and expectation, her palms already damp with sweat. She thought of her husband, who had often stayed up late these past few days preparing his campaign materials, of him practicing his speeches in front of the mirror, of his resolute words as he held her hand and said, "Mom has sacrificed so much for this factory, I must take her place." A bittersweet warmth welled up in her heart.
The murmurs in the meeting room gradually subsided. The director of the county's Administration for Industry and Commerce cleared his throat, picked up the microphone, and his loud voice resounded throughout the room: "Distinguished shareholders and representatives, we are gathered here today to hold the first board election meeting of Wanqiu Food Workshop Co., Ltd. As we all know, Wanqiu Food Workshop's achievements today are inseparable from Ms. Lin Wanqiu's painstaking efforts. Now that the company is listed and its scale is expanding, in order to propel the company to a broader stage, we need a young, energetic, and visionary leader to lead the company on a new journey."
He paused, his gaze falling on Shen Nian'an, his tone appreciative: "Mr. Shen Nian'an graduated from the Provincial University of Finance and Economics and worked in international trade in Singapore for many years, accumulating rich experience in market operations. More importantly, he has studied business management under Ms. Lin Wanqiu since childhood, is familiar with every business process of the food workshop, and has unique insights into the company's development. Next, please welcome Mr. Shen Nian'an to deliver his campaign speech."
A thunderous applause erupted. Shen Nian'an took a deep breath and slowly walked to the microphone. He looked up, his gaze sweeping over the familiar faces in the audience—there were villagers who had watched him grow up, veteran employees who had fought alongside his mother, leaders who had given the company strong support, and his parents, sitting in the main seat with gentle yet firm eyes.
His heartbeat gradually calmed down, and his voice rang out clearly and powerfully: "Respected leaders, shareholders, and seniors, good afternoon. I am Shen Nian'an."
His voice, transmitted clearly through the microphone, filled every corner of the conference room. "I think most of you here have watched me grow up. I remember when I was little, I followed my mother to the small workshop at the entrance of the village, watching her get up at three in the morning to knead dough and steam cakes, her clothes soaked with sweat; I remember when the food workshop first encountered a crisis, someone maliciously spread rumors that there was a problem with the quality of our products, and my mother took me to apologize to each household and showed us the test reports to prove our innocence; I also remember a sentence my mother often said - making food is about having a conscience."
Shen Nian'an's voice was choked with emotion. Her gaze swept across the familiar fields outside the window, as if she could see her mother pushing a small cart through the streets selling pastries, and witness the arduous journey of the food workshop from a dilapidated little workshop to the listed company it is today.
“Over the years, I’ve ventured into Singapore, where I’ve seen a broader market and learned more advanced management concepts. But I always remember that my roots are here, on this land that gave me birth and nurtured me.” His tone grew increasingly firm as he held up the business plan in his hand. “This is my five-year development plan for the company. First, we will establish standardized production workshops and introduce modern production equipment to improve production efficiency while ensuring product taste. Second, we will expand our sales channels, not only covering major cities in China but also selling our osmanthus cakes and shepherd's purse spring rolls overseas, letting the world taste the flavors of China. Third, and most importantly, we will not forget our original aspirations and continue to lead the villagers of Hongqi Production Brigade to prosperity, expand the raw material planting base, and enable more people to live a good life through their own hard work!”
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com