In Rome, she tasted a pastry made with honey, which had a sweet and unique flavor. She wondered if she could combine honey with osmanthus flowers to develop a new osmanthus honey cake.
The investigation trip was incredibly fruitful for Lin Wanqiu. Her notebook was filled with market data, consumer feedback, and product development ideas. Shen Tingzhou stayed by her side throughout, helping her with translations, communications, and handling various tasks, serving as her strongest support.
That evening, the two sat on the balcony of a small hotel in Rome, watching the outline of the Colosseum stand quietly in the moonlight in the distance, with a faint fragrance of flowers carried by the evening breeze.
Lin Wanqiu leaned on Shen Tingzhou's shoulder, flipping through the notebook in her hands, a satisfied smile on her face. "Old Shen, this trip was really worth it!" she said excitedly. "I not only saw the scenery of all over the world, but also found a direction for expanding into overseas markets."
Shen Tingzhou held her hand and said gently, "As long as you like it, I will accompany you to the ends of the earth." He paused and then said, "However, expanding into overseas markets is not an easy task. Domestic food factories need to expand their production scale, and the packaging, transportation, and distribution channels of the products all need to be replanned. I'm afraid we'll be quite busy after we return to China."
Lin Wanqiu nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "I'm not afraid of being busy." She looked at Shen Tingzhou and said earnestly, "We survived those difficult days back then. Now, as long as we are of one mind, there's nothing we can't accomplish." She paused, then added, "Nian'an has grown up, he's steady and reliable, and it's time for him to take on more responsibility for the food factory. This time when we go back, I want him to lead the establishment of the overseas branch. Southeast Asia has a large Chinese population and a high acceptance of Chinese food, so perhaps it can be our first stop in expanding into overseas markets."
Upon hearing this, a hint of approval flashed in Shen Tingzhou's eyes. "Good idea," he said. "Nian'an is a smart and capable child with a business mind; he will definitely be able to shoulder this important task."
The moonlight bathed them both, casting a silvery glow. Lin Wanqiu gazed at Shen Tingzhou's handsome profile, her heart overflowing with happiness and contentment. She thought, this must be what a peaceful and fulfilling life looks like. With a beloved partner by her side, children surrounding her, and a career she loved, this life was enough.
"Old Shen," Lin Wanqiu said softly, "Once we sell Shenji's food all over the world, let's find a beautiful place with clear waters and green mountains, build a small house, and plant osmanthus trees all over it. Every morning, we'll watch the sunrise together; every night, we'll watch the stars together, okay?"
Shen Tingzhou lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his voice so gentle it could melt water. "Okay," he said, "I'll do whatever you say."
A gentle evening breeze wafted through the air, carrying the sweet and soft aroma of osmanthus cakes from the balcony. This aroma mingled with the melodious singing that drifted from afar, composing a symphony of love and dreams that belonged to them.
In Lin Wanqiu's mind, a grand blueprint had begun to take shape. She seemed to see Shenji's food products on shelves all over the world; she seemed to see Nian'an leading Shenji's team to build a modern food processing plant in Southeast Asia; she seemed to see more and more foreigners falling in love with traditional Chinese cuisine.
This round-the-world trip not only made up for her long-standing regret with Shen Tingzhou, but also opened a new chapter for Shenji Food Factory to go global.
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