During their time in Moscow, Shen Tingzhou took Lin Wanqiu to see famous landmarks such as Red Square, the Kremlin, and Lenin's Mausoleum. At each stop, Lin Wanqiu couldn't resist taking out her notebook and meticulously recording everything she saw and heard. She not only noted the magnificent architecture and beautiful scenery, but also paid close attention to local dietary habits and food markets.
She discovered that the Soviet diet consisted mainly of bread, potatoes, and meat, with a preference for strong flavors. Sweets were primarily made with honey and jam, and there were very few delicate pastries like those from China. This sparked an idea in her mind—Chen Ji's osmanthus cake, mung bean cake, peach shortbread, and other pastries had a delicate sweetness and exquisite craftsmanship. Would they be popular if introduced to the Soviet market?
Once the idea took root, it grew wildly like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. She began to pay attention to food stores in Moscow, observing the packaging, prices, and sales of the pastries. She discovered that most local food packaging was simple and plain, even somewhat rough, while Chenji's pastries, if given exquisite packaging, would definitely stand out among the many foods.
Shen Tingzhou saw through her thoughts and said with a smile, "Are you thinking about your food factory again?"
Lin Wanqiu's cheeks flushed slightly as she nodded. "Old Shen, do you think we could sell our pastries here?" Her eyes sparkled, as if they held two stars, filled with anticipation and longing.
Shen Tingzhou pondered for a moment and said, "The Soviet market is different from the domestic market. Policies, tastes, and distribution channels are all issues that need to be considered. However, it's not impossible to give it a try." He reached out and ruffled her hair. "If you really want to do it, I'll help you inquire. I have a few old comrades-in-arms in the Soviet Union who might be able to help."
Upon hearing this, Lin Wanqiu was so excited she almost jumped up. She grabbed Shen Tingzhou's arm, her eyes crinkling into crescents: "That's wonderful! Old Shen, you're so kind!"
Shen Tingzhou was amused by her appearance and reached out to gently pinch the tip of her nose: "You, when it comes to your food, you're like a child."
In the days that followed, Shen Tingzhou contacted his old comrade-in-arms from the Soviet Union. That comrade, now working for a trading company in Moscow, warmly welcomed them upon hearing their purpose. With his old comrade's help, Lin Wanqiu was able to visit several large food wholesale markets in Moscow.
The market was bustling with people, and a dazzling array of food items were on display. Lin Wanqiu carefully observed the packaging, price, and sales volume of each food item, diligently taking notes. She noticed that people here were very curious about food from China, especially the beautifully packaged and uniquely flavored pastries, which attracted a lot of attention.
She took out a small box of osmanthus cake from her storage space and carefully handed it to a passing Soviet woman. The woman took a bite with some skepticism, her eyes instantly lighting up. She gave a thumbs-up and said in broken Chinese, "Delicious! So delicious!"
This scene boosted Lin Wanqiu's confidence even further. She took out several boxes of pastries of different flavors and shared them with those around her. After tasting them, everyone praised them highly and asked where they could buy them.
Seeing this, his old comrade-in-arms smiled and said to Shen Tingzhou, "Old Shen, your wife's pastries are really good! If they could be introduced to the Soviet market, they would definitely sell like hotcakes!"
Looking at the beaming smile on Lin Wanqiu's face, Shen Tingzhou's eyes were filled with pride. "Then I'll have to trouble you for a while," he said sincerely, shaking his old comrade's hand.
Before leaving Moscow, Lin Wanqiu reached a preliminary cooperation agreement with his old comrade-in-arms' trading company. The other party agreed to first import a batch of Shenji pastries for trial sales, and if the response was good, then proceed with large-scale cooperation.
With this fruitful experience, Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou embarked on their journey to Eastern Europe. They visited Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and other countries. In each place, Lin Wanqiu made sure to explore the local food markets, sample local delicacies, share Shenji's pastries with the locals, and gather their opinions and suggestions.
She discovered that while the dietary habits of Eastern European countries differed slightly from those of the Soviet Union, they shared a similar interest in traditional Chinese pastries. Pastries with floral aromas such as osmanthus and rose were particularly popular among female consumers.
In Budapest, Hungary, Lin Wanqiu met a local overseas Chinese. Upon learning that she was the founder of a food factory from China, the overseas Chinese woman was very excited, taking her hand and expressing her longing for the food of her hometown. "Young lady, your pastries are so authentic! If you could open a branch in Budapest, it would definitely be a hit!" The overseas Chinese woman's words made Lin Wanqiu's idea even clearer—she wanted to sell Chenji's food all over the world!
Heading west, the two arrived in Western Europe. The romance of Paris, the elegance of London, and the antiquity of Rome captivated Lin Wanqiu. But her mind remained focused on exploring the food markets. On the streets of Paris, she sampled local macarons and crepes; in London's tea houses, she drank authentic English black tea; and in the alleyways of Rome, she savored delicious pizzas and pasta.
After tasting each new delicacy, she meticulously analyzes its flavor profile and preparation process, considering how to combine it with Shen Kee's food offerings to create new products that will be more appealing to consumers. In a Parisian pastry shop, she was deeply inspired by the exquisite packaging and unique shapes of macarons. She thought that if Shen Kee's pastries could also adopt such refined packaging, it would definitely elevate the product's image and added value.
In London, she discovered that locals really enjoyed pastries during afternoon tea. This gave her the idea of perhaps launching a pastry set perfect for afternoon tea, paired with Chinese herbal tea, to meet consumer demand.
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