The crisp, early winter sunlight pierced through the thin mist and bathed the cobblestone streets of the county town in a warm golden hue, illuminating the gray-tiled shops on either side. Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou walked side by side in the morning light, the occasional clear ring of their bicycle bells breaking the tranquility of the streets. A few pedestrians were already scattered across the streets: peddlers carrying loads, women with vegetable baskets, and cadres in Zhongshan suits hurrying along. Each face bore the marks of everyday life, blending with the wisps of smoke rising from distant chimneys to create a vibrant, bustling scene.
"Tingzhou, do you think Mr. Wang from 'Fuyuanzhai' would be willing to cooperate with us?" Lin Wanqiu gripped the canvas bag in her hand, which contained carefully prepared samples of intangible cultural heritage delicacies—a small bundle of handmade noodles as thin as hair, a jar of amber-colored traditional rice wine, several fragrant plum blossom pastries, and a detailed cooperation plan. Her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible trepidation, but her eyes shone with unwavering determination. Since transmigrating to the present day, from struggling to make ends meet to managing a food workshop, every step had been fraught with peril. Now, joining forces with a time-honored brand in the county was both an opportunity and a challenge; she couldn't afford the slightest mishap.
Shen Tingzhou slowed his pace, turned to look at her, his eyes full of gentle encouragement: "You've brought utmost sincerity and a high-quality product, plus the commune's support. Boss Wang is a shrewd man; he won't miss the business opportunity. Even if he disagrees, we still have 'Lao Shunxing' and 'Dechanghao'—there will always be someone who appreciates their value." He gently patted her shoulder, the warmth of his palm seeping through the thin fabric of her clothes, easing Lin Wanqiu's anxiety considerably. Over the years, no matter what decisions she made, Shen Tingzhou had always been her strongest support, and this certainty gave her even more confidence.
The two walked east along the street and soon arrived at the entrance of "Fuyuanzhai". This was an old shop with decades of history. Above the facade hung a black plaque with gold lettering. The three large characters "Fuyuanzhai" were vigorous and powerful. Although weathered by time and the edges had developed an old patina, they still exuded the solemnity and grandeur of an old brand. The shop's wooden doors were old-fashioned double doors, carved with exquisite lotus scroll patterns. The deep lines of the carvings were covered with the dust of time. Two strings of faded red lanterns hung above the door, swaying gently in the breeze, adding a touch of melancholy to the ancient charm.
Lin Wanqiu took a deep breath and gently pushed open the slightly ajar wooden door. The shop was dimly lit, filled with a faint aroma of pastries mixed with the scent of old wood, carrying the weight of time. Behind the counter sat an elderly man with gray hair, wearing a dark blue silk jacket, fiddling with an abacus, his fingers dancing nimbly across the beads, making crisp clicks. He was Wang Henian, the owner of "Fuyuanzhai". On the shelves on both sides of the counter, various pastries and candies were neatly arranged, but the variety was somewhat limited, mostly common peach shortbread, sesame cakes, and fruit candies, with rather old-fashioned packaging and few novelties, which seemed inconsistent with the shop's long-established reputation.
"Comrade, what would you like to order?" Wang Henian looked up, his gaze falling on Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou, carrying a hint of businessman's shrewdness and a barely perceptible wariness. He had been running "Fuyuanzhai" in the county town for decades and had seen all sorts of people. Now that the old brand's business was declining, he couldn't help but be more cautious about visits from strangers.
Lin Wanqiu smiled sincerely, slowed her pace, and spoke in a humble yet firm tone: "Hello, Mr. Wang. My name is Lin Wanqiu, and I am the head of 'Wanqiu Food Workshop' in the Hongqi Production Brigade. This is my husband, Shen Tingzhou. We are not here to buy anything today, but to discuss a cooperation with you."
"Cooperation?" Wang Henian put down his abacus, adjusted his reading glasses, and sized Lin Wanqiu up. The woman before him wore a neat corduroy jacket, her eyes revealing competence and sincerity. She didn't possess the timidity of a rural woman, but rather a worldly-wise composure. But then he thought, what right does a rural food workshop have to negotiate cooperation with his established brand? His tone couldn't help but carry a hint of disdain: "What kind of cooperation can a rural workshop like yours possibly have with my 30-year-old 'Fuyuanzhai'?"
Lin Wanqiu didn't seem to care about his attitude and continued to smile as she said, "Boss Wang, I know that 'Fuyuanzhai' is a well-known old brand in the county. Decades of operation have built up a strong customer base, a golden brand that many people would kill for. However, I've noticed that the variety of products in your shop is indeed a bit limited, and the flavors are rather traditional, which doesn't seem to appeal to young people. Our food workshop has recently unearthed a batch of intangible cultural heritage food recipes, all of which are old techniques passed down from our ancestors. They have both historical significance and unique taste. At the tasting event we held a while ago, both the elderly and young people praised them highly."
She paused, took out samples from her canvas bag, and arranged them one by one on the counter. She continued, “I think we can collaborate to launch co-branded products. We will provide the formula and technical guidance, while you will provide the production site, equipment, and sales channels. We will jointly invest, share the risks, and split the profits equally. During production, we will send technicians to supervise the entire process to ensure that the essence of traditional craftsmanship is preserved. When selling, the packaging will be printed with both the ‘Fuyuanzhai’ and ‘Wanqiu Food Workshop’ trademarks, which will not only highlight the quality of the time-honored brand but also emphasize the characteristics of intangible cultural heritage cuisine. In this way, ‘Fuyuanzhai’ can be revitalized, and our intangible cultural heritage cuisine can be known by more people. It’s a win-win situation.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Henian's disdain deepened. He picked up a plum blossom pastry, held it between his fingertips, and weighed it lightly. His tone was somewhat perfunctory: "Intangible cultural heritage food? I've been running 'Fuyuanzhai' for decades. What kind of food haven't I seen? Your rural workshops have limited conditions. Can the things you make meet the quality standards of a time-honored brand? Don't ruin my 'Fuyuanzhai' reputation."
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com