Back in the village, the news spread quickly—Lin Wanqiu's fermented bean curd had not only entered the supply and marketing cooperative, but a jar had also been sold! The villagers all gathered around Lin Wanqiu's house, some curiously asking about the taste of the fermented bean curd, while others wanted to ask if they could make it together and earn some pocket money.
Aunt Li held Lin Wanqiu's hand, beaming from ear to ear: "Wanqiu, you're really capable! Maybe all the aunties in our village will benefit from your success in the future!"
“Yes, Wanqiu, if you need any help, just let us know. We have plenty of strength!” Grandpa Wang said with a smile. He still remembered that the last time he was sick, it was the herbal prescription given by Lin Wanqiu that saved him.
Looking at the enthusiastic villagers, Lin Wanqiu was deeply moved. She smiled and said, "Thank you all for your support. If I expand production in the future, I will definitely ask for your help. Then we can make money together and live a good life together!"
The villagers applauded with delight. Shen Tingzhou stood to the side, watching Lin Wanqiu surrounded by the villagers, his eyes filled with tenderness and pride. He knew that Lin Wanqiu had not only opened the door to a side business with fermented bean curd, but also won the villagers' trust and support with her kindness and ability.
In the days that followed, Lin Wanqiu became even busier. Every day, she soaked soybeans, ground tofu, and made fermented bean curd, while Shen Tingzhou was responsible for delivering goods to town and contacting orders. The fermented bean curd from the supply and marketing cooperative sold exceptionally well; in less than three days, two jars of fermented bean curd were sold out. Old Zhou hurriedly sent someone to deliver a message to Lin Wanqiu, asking her to send five more jars and saying that he wanted to sign a long-term supply contract with her.
As Lin Wanqiu saw her money piling up, her confidence grew stronger. She began planning the house construction—first, she'd ask the village bricklayer to inspect the foundation, then she'd prepare bricks, tiles, and timber, and construction would begin next spring. Shen Nian'an also often talked about the new house, saying he wanted to leave the biggest room for his parents, and that his own room would have a small desk for writing and doing accounting.
That night, after Lin Wanqiu had put Shen Nian'an to sleep, she sat in front of the kerosene lamp, carefully sorting through the banknotes she had earned and putting them into an iron box. Shen Tingzhou sat beside her, looking at the increasingly thick stack of banknotes in the iron box, and said with a smile, "At this rate, in another six months, we'll have enough money to build a house."
Lin Wanqiu nodded, leaning on Shen Tingzhou's shoulder, feeling a sense of security. She knew this was just the beginning, and there would be many more challenges ahead—Zhao Jianjun's threat had not yet been eliminated, and the truth behind Shen Tingzhou's mission leak had not yet been uncovered, but as long as the family was together and worked together, there was no difficulty that could not be overcome.
The kerosene lamp's light shone warmly and softly on their faces. Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating everything in the room. Lin Wanqiu looked at the money notes in the tin box and seemed to see a spacious, bright new house, and a family laughing and chatting happily inside. She knew that as long as she worked hard, her dreams would eventually come true, and she, Shen Tingzhou, and Shen Nian'an would surely live a splendid life of their own in this era.
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