“Mr. Wang, the quality isn’t judged by words, it’s by taste.” Shen Tingzhou stepped forward, his voice steady and powerful. “These samples are all handmade using traditional techniques, without any preservatives or additives. Why don’t you try them yourself before making a decision?”
Wang Henian took a bite of the plum blossom pastry with some skepticism. The crispy outer layer melted instantly in his mouth, releasing a rich wheat aroma. The sweetness of the filling was just right, neither cloying nor overpowering, with a subtle hint of osmanthus fragrance. The texture was far more delicate and complex than the peach pastries in his shop. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He then picked up a noodle, held it to his nose, and inhaled its aroma. A pure wheat fragrance wafted up, without any off-flavors. He poured himself a small cup of rice wine, took a sip, and the sweetness of the rice wine spread in his mouth, carrying a warm sensation and a lingering aftertaste, without the sourness of commercially available rice wine.
After tasting several samples, Wang Henian's disdain gradually disappeared, replaced by deep surprise and approval. Having worked in the food industry for decades, his sensitivity to taste far surpassed that of ordinary people. The craftsmanship and taste of these samples were indeed rare gems, especially the handmade noodles, which were as thin as hair yet not easily broken. After cooking, they would surely be smooth and chewy, something that ordinary workshops could never produce.
"These things are indeed well made." Wang Henian put down his wine glass, his gaze towards Lin Wanqiu becoming more serious. "Tell me, how exactly do you want to cooperate? How will the formula be calculated? How will the technology be transferred? How will the profits be split?"
Lin Wanqiu was overjoyed, knowing that things had taken a turn for the better. She quickly took out the cooperation plan and handed it to Wang Henian: "Mr. Wang, take a look, this is the cooperation plan we have proposed. We will provide the formula for free, but the production process must strictly follow our standards, and there can be no cutting corners; in terms of technology, we will send experienced craftsmen to personally guide you until your workers have fully mastered it; in terms of profits, considering that you will provide the venue, equipment and sales channels, we are willing to give you a discount, you take 60% and we take 40%. Moreover, we will also be responsible for product innovation and research and development, and regularly launch new varieties to ensure market competitiveness."
Wang Henian took the cooperation proposal, put on his reading glasses, and began to examine it carefully. As he read, he tapped the counter lightly with his fingers, his brows sometimes relaxing and sometimes furrowing. Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou stood to the side, patiently waiting for his reply, the only sound in the air the ticking of the clock.
“I have no objection to the profit sharing.” After reviewing the proposal, Wang Henian looked up at Lin Wanqiu. “But I have a few requirements. First, the production process must be open and transparent. Your technical staff must be stationed at ‘Fuyuanzhai’ to ensure that every batch of products meets the standards. Second, the pricing of the co-branded products must be reasonable and not too high. They must be affordable for ordinary people and not tarnish ‘Fuyuanzhai’s’ reputation for being approachable. Third, during the cooperation period, you cannot cooperate with other pastry workshops. This is an exclusive cooperation.”
After a moment's thought, Lin Wanqiu readily agreed: "No problem! Boss Wang, we can meet all your requirements. In the food business, we value integrity and quality the most, and we would never ruin the reputation of either of our companies for short-term gains. As for the exclusive cooperation, we originally wanted to focus on making the 'Fuyuanzhai' co-branded products good, so naturally we will not cooperate with other workshops."
Shen Tingzhou added, "Mr. Wang, we sincerely want to cooperate with you long-term. If the cooperation goes smoothly, we can also expand into other markets together and promote the 'Fuyuanzhai' brand and intangible cultural heritage cuisine to more distant places."
Wang Henian remained silent for a moment, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes. He had run "Fuyuanzhai" for decades and had a deep affection for the shop. Seeing the business declining day by day, he was anxious. Lin Wanqiu's proposal was indeed very attractive; these intangible cultural heritage foods could truly inject new vitality into the shop. However, he was also worried that he would lose control of the shop after the cooperation, since the recipes and techniques were in the other party's hands.
Lin Wanqiu noticed his concerns and said proactively, "Mr. Wang, please rest assured, we are partners, not superiors and subordinates. We will discuss all major decisions regarding production and sales with you. Moreover, we can sign a formal cooperation agreement, clearly outlining all the terms to protect the rights and interests of both parties."
Wang Henian nodded, finally making up his mind: "Alright, I'll trust you this once! I hope we can cooperate happily and restore 'Fuyuanzhai' to its former glory."
"Definitely!" Lin Wanqiu extended her hand and shook hands with Wang Henian. Wang Henian's palms were rough and strong, bearing the thick calluses from years of kneading dough—a unique mark of an old craftsman. Lin Wanqiu was filled with mixed emotions. This was not just a collaboration, but a heavy responsibility. She was responsible not only for her own food workshop, but also for the time-honored brand "Fuyuanzhai," and even more so for the old craftsmen and consumers who trusted her.
After the collaboration was officially launched, Lin Wanqiu immediately took action. She selected several skilled workers from the food workshop and, together with veteran artisans such as Grandpa Li and Grandpa Zhang, moved into "Fuyuanzhai" to provide technical guidance. Most of the workers at "Fuyuanzhai" had many years of experience in food production and learned quickly, but they still needed the veteran artisans' patient guidance on some details of traditional techniques.
Grandpa Li was in charge of guiding the production of handmade noodles. He led the workers from the very beginning, starting with selecting the flour, emphasizing that only refined flour milled from the year's new wheat, high in protein, could be used to ensure the noodles' chewiness. When kneading the dough, the ratio of salt to water had to be precise to the gram, the water temperature had to be controlled at around 25℃, and the kneading force and time were also strictly required. At first, the workers were dismissive, thinking it was just kneading dough, anyone could do that. But the dough they made using their own methods was either too dry and prone to cracking, or too runny and unable to hold its shape. Only after practicing repeatedly with Grandpa Li did they gradually master the tricks of the trade.
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