The whistles of ocean liners echoed across the Huangpu River, as waves, carrying a salty sea breeze, lapped against the cobblestones of the dock, splashing up tiny droplets. Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou stood side by side on the deck, gazing at the gradually blurring coastline, their clothes fluttering in the wind. Light footsteps sounded behind them, and Shen Nian'an strode in carrying a thick stack of documents. The young man was tall and straight, his former shyness gone, replaced by a maturity and competence beyond his years. A thin layer of sweat glistened on his forehead, but he showed no sign of panic. He handed the documents to Lin Wanqiu, his voice clear as an autumn sky: "Mom, this is a market research report on food products from Southeast Asian countries that I've compiled, along with a contact list for overseas Chinese chambers of commerce. Please take a look, Dad."
Lin Wanqiu took the document, her fingertips tracing the neat handwriting on the pages, a warm tide welling up in her eyes. She still remembered the first time she met this child; he was as thin as a bean sprout, wearing faded coarse cloth clothes, hiding in a corner, looking at her timidly, his eyes full of fear and unease. Now, only a few years later, that little boy who didn't even dare to speak loudly had grown into a capable young man, his features still faintly resembling Shen Tingzhou's heroic spirit, yet infused with his own resilience. She raised her hand and gently wiped the sweat from the boy's forehead, her voice so soft it could melt water: "You've worked so hard, Nian'an. These past few days, you've been staying up late organizing materials, and you've lost a lot of weight."
Shen Nian'an grinned, revealing two small, shallow canine teeth. His eyes crinkled, giving him a somewhat childlike appearance. "Mom, I'm not tired. I'm happy to help you and Dad." He paused, his gaze fixed on the surging sea, a burning light in his eyes. "You said you wanted Shen's pastries to spread their fragrance all over the world. There are many Chinese people in Southeast Asia, and they are very receptive to our traditional snacks. This place can definitely be our first stop in the overseas market."
Shen Tingzhou stepped forward and patted his son's shoulder, the warmth of his palm carrying the steady strength unique to soldiers. Looking at the young man before him, his eyes were filled with relief and pride. He remembered how, when he returned incognito, he felt immense guilt watching Lin Wanqiu struggle alone with her child. Now, his son had grown into a capable and resourceful adult, able to share their burdens—this was the greatest fortune of his life. "Good foresight," Shen Tingzhou's deep, pleasant voice said with approval. "Southeast Asia is adjacent to our country, with convenient transportation, and the power of the Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce should not be underestimated. The fact that you thought of contacting them shows you've put a lot of thought into it."
Shen Nian'an scratched his head, a blush creeping onto his face. "Dad, I learned all this from you and Mom. You taught me to be steady and thorough in my work, and Mom taught me to be honest and trustworthy in business. These days, I've been learning from the seniors at the Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and I've realized there are so many intricacies to doing business." As he spoke, he opened the document in his hand, pointed to the annotations, and analyzed earnestly, "Singapore has the highest percentage of Chinese people, a highly inclusive food market, and a well-developed port trade, making it suitable as a transit point for us. Durian from Malaysia and mangoes from Thailand are local specialty fruits. If we can incorporate these fruits into our pastry making, it will definitely be welcomed by consumers."
Lin Wanqiu nodded repeatedly, her smile deepening. Watching her son speak so confidently, an indescribable pride welled up within her. This was her son—intelligent, sensible, and responsible. She reached out and took Shen Tingzhou's arm, leaning on his shoulder, gazing at the father and son before her, a happy smile curving her lips. The sea breeze carried the sweet aroma of osmanthus cake from the cabin—a treat she had specially prepared for her son. The soft, sweet fragrance permeated the air, mingling with the salty sea breeze, weaving a warm and touching scene.
After several days at sea, the ship finally arrived in Singapore. The port was bustling with activity, people of all skin colors moving about, and the air was filled with the atmosphere of multiculturalism. Towering palm trees swayed in the wind, and dappled sunlight filtered through their verdant leaves, casting golden dappled patterns on the cobblestone pavement. Chen Nian'an, carrying her suitcase, walked at the front, communicating fluently with the port staff in Cantonese and English, her every move exuding composure and confidence.
Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou followed behind him, exchanging a smile. Shen Tingzhou said softly, "This child has grown up." Lin Wanqiu nodded, her eyes full of laughter, "Yes, he has grown up. We should let go and let him go out and explore."
The group arrived at the headquarters of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce, a quaint, arcade-style building with exquisitely carved patterns on its vermilion wooden window frames. A black plaque with gold lettering above the entrance bore the powerful inscription "Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce." The Chamber's president, Mr. Chen, was already waiting at the entrance. Over sixty years old but in excellent health, dressed in a well-fitting Tang suit, he warmly greeted Shen Tingzhou and his party, saying, "Mr. Shen, Ms. Lin, and Mr. Shen, you must be tired from your journey!"
Shen Tingzhou stepped forward and shook hands with Mr. Chen, his tone sincere: "President Chen, I'm truly sorry to have troubled you to wait for me." Mr. Chen waved his hand and laughed heartily: "Not at all! The pastries from your Shenji Food Factory are famously delicious in our overseas Chinese community. It's an honor for our Chamber of Commerce to cooperate with you." As he spoke, his gaze fell on Shen Nian'an, his eyes full of admiration, "This must be young Mr. Shen, right? Truly a hero among young people! At such a young age, you already possess such foresight and vision; you are destined for greatness."
Upon hearing this, Shen Nian'an quickly replied humbly, "President Chen, you flatter me. I still have much to learn, and I will rely on your guidance in the future." Old Mr. Chen laughed heartily and patted Shen Nian'an on the shoulder, "Good! Good! It's rare to see such humility in a young man! Come on, let's go inside and talk."
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