Chapter 58 Home is where the heart is
She no longer had the heart to read the text about the award ceremony and award acceptance.
Overwhelmed by immense joy and excitement, she was completely engulfed.
She did it!
After facing doubts and suppression, she won fair and square with her solid products and the support of everyone!
And it's a double prize!
"Ahhhhh!!" A cheer burst from her chest, accompanied by a burst of breath. Shi Wan jumped up from the sofa, picked up the bewildered Bingbing at her feet, buried her face in his thick, soft fur, her shoulders still trembling slightly with excitement.
"We won! Bingbing! We really won!"
Bingbing was a little breathless from being squeezed so tightly, but she understood that it was a joyful hug, so she tried to turn her head and licked her cheeks enthusiastically.
Tangyuan excitedly circled around her feet, its tail held high, rubbing its head against her legs repeatedly, echoing Shi Wan's words, "We won! We won, meow!!"
The joy of winning the double Golden Claw Award was like the sweetest honey, making Shi Wan feel sweet for a long time.
Congratulatory messages were practically overflowing on the farm's and online store's social media accounts, and orders saw a new surge.
Aunt Li and Xiao Zhang were packing so many orders that their hands were sore, but their faces were always beaming with pride.
"Boss, now our farm has really made a name for itself!" Aunt Li said happily as she skillfully packed the package.
Shi Wan nodded with a smile, feeling a deep sense of reassurance.
But she also constantly reminds herself not to let this sudden fame go to her head.
Honors are an affirmation, but more importantly, they are a responsibility.
She is more rigorous than ever in controlling every step from raw materials to finished product. She even tried to improve the baking process of cat grass biscuits in the system's recipe based on the optimization plan provided by Xinglin, making them crispier and more appealing to cats.
Xinglin remains her strongest support.
He seemed to anticipate the warehousing and logistics pressures that the surge in orders might bring, and optimized the inventory management system in advance, and selected several more efficient and better-serviced logistics companies for Shi Wan to choose from.
When she was checking the data for the new process late at night, Xinglin would always pop up a reminder, telling her that there was warm milk in the kitchen to drink, to dispel the chill and fatigue, and to bring warmth and comfort.
This thoughtfulness and tacit understanding allowed Shi Wan to have a chance to catch her breath amidst her busy schedule, without having to be constantly on edge, afraid of failing everyone's trust.
She started to get into the habit of sharing some trivial things about the farm with him at the end of each workday, just like before. It wasn't just about chatting; she also hoped that Xinglin would remind her in time when she was busy and carried away.
"Agent: Xinglin, Bingbing tried to teach Huanhuan how to catch frisbees again today, but Huanhuan looked at her with disdain for a whole minute as if she were an idiot. Bingbing even came to me to complain, feeling wronged. I'm so happy."
"Agent: I received a message from a customer today saying that her paralyzed old cat has become much more energetic and its fur is smoother after eating rabbit meat food. Seeing this feedback makes me really happy, and all the hard work is worth it."
"Agent: The improved catnip biscuits seem to be more popular. Biscuit ate three in one go and was so full that he kept burping. I was so scared that I almost tried to shove the biscuits out of his throat. I dare not let him eat like that again. Keep an eye on his weight. I think he has gained weight again. He has to lose weight."
His replies are usually concise, yet they always accurately capture the essence of what she's sharing.
Xinglin: Actually, it's not surprising. Bingbing's enthusiasm is always misplaced. She's a bit silly, but very cute.
"Starry Night: The products you make with your heart will gradually reveal their unique value and charm. You must believe in yourself."
"Xinglin: You should pay attention to controlling the amount of snacks Bingbing eats. Her weight monitoring data is already close to the upper limit, and eating more will put a burden on her heart."
This slow and steady communication is like the most tacit comfort zone for the two of them. Shi Wan can confide all the secrets about the farm at will, and Xing Lin does not have to face a sea of data that is always silent and unchanging in solitude.
On this day, Shi Wan received a formal invitation from the "Golden Claw Mark" organizing committee, hoping that she would attend the awards ceremony and industry exchange meeting to be held soon, and speak on stage as one of the award representatives.
Upon receiving the invitation, Shi Wan's emotions, which had just calmed down, were stirred up again.
Should I go on stage and speak?
Facing so many industry veterans, media, and peers?
Her first instinct was to refuse.
She was used to being on the farm, surrounded by cats and familiar land, rather than standing in the spotlight.
She complained to Xinglin about it.
"Agent: The organizing committee actually invited me to speak at the awards ceremony! This is truly a nightmare for those with social anxiety. Couldn't they just send me the certificate directly? Why is there even an awards ceremony? And that industry exchange meeting—I didn't see anyone speaking on stage on TV. Aren't they all just gathered in one place, elegantly raising their glasses, subtly exchanging ideas, and that's it?"
This time, Xinglin's reply did not come immediately.
He seemed to be thinking.
His reply didn't appear until quite a while later.
"Xinglin: This is an opportunity for more people to understand your ideas. In fact, you are already one of the most outstanding people in the industry. You are invited to speak because you deserve it. They probably hope that everyone in the industry can be like you, working diligently and researching better things to create a virtuous cycle."
His words prompted Shi Wan to think.
She didn't realize what her award meant or what it changed.
Only after Xinglin's reminder did she suddenly realize that this was indeed a great opportunity.
If her experience can guide everyone towards a better and more ethical direction, then the industry will have far fewer unscrupulous entrepreneurs like Zhou Jianming.
"I understand," Shi Wan said, her tone very firm.
"Agent: I will prepare my speech carefully. After I finish writing it, please take a look at it for me. I'm afraid it won't be good enough."
Xinglin's reply was very prompt.
"Starfall: OK, call me anytime, I'm always here."
Shi Wan hissed, finding his "call me anytime" phrase rather amusing.
In the days that followed, Shi Wan began to prepare her speech seriously.
She didn't look for any templates; she simply recalled every step of establishing the farm, the difficulties she encountered, the progress she made, and the countless healing moments brought by those furry friends.
As she wrote, she realized that she actually had a lot to say, and these were all things she truly loved and was striving for in her life.
Bingbing and Tangyuan knew she was busy with a new job.
While Bingbing was brainstorming ideas on the computer, she quietly lay down at her feet, without making a sound. She lay there for a while and then suddenly fell asleep.
Tangyuan was as clingy as ever, insisting on acting as a reviewer. She would jump onto the table and stare at the screen all the time, and would even pat the keyboard and screen with her paws.
His serious demeanor almost made Shi Wan believe that this silly child could actually read.
On the day of the awards ceremony, Shi Wan chose a simple and elegant beige suit, and tied her long hair up to reveal her smooth forehead and slender neck, making her look capable yet gentle.
She hadn't dressed herself like this in a long time, and the completely transformed person in the mirror seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
When Aunt Li and Xiao Zhang saw her, they both kept praising how beautiful she was.
Wang Zhizhi directed her to take many photos, and only let her go when she was really about to leave.
Bingbing circled around her, meowing excitedly.
Tangyuan squatted to the side, tilting its head to examine her, and finally meowed with satisfaction, which meant it had passed.
The venue was larger than she had imagined, with dazzling lights and elegantly dressed people.
Shi Wan sat alone in the assigned seat, her palms slightly sweaty.
She could feel the scrutinizing gazes from those around her—some curious, some inquisitive, and perhaps even disdainful.
After all, among many well-known large companies, her farm is like a girl next door who has accidentally wandered into a lavish banquet.
She took a deep breath and subconsciously touched her chest, trying to calm her racing heartbeat.
She was too nervous.
Xinglin's chat box popped up on its own.
"Starfall: Don't be nervous, take a deep breath and calm down. You have to believe in yourself. You are the king in your field."
Shi Wan was stunned for a second, and then a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
Xinglin always seemed to trust her more than she trusted herself.
Soon it was her turn.
When the host announced "Cat Paw is open for business, Shi Wan," she stood up and walked steadily toward the podium.
The light shone on her, and it was somewhat dazzling.
She adjusted the microphone height, looked up, and glanced at the blurry figures below the stage before spotting the promotional image for Meow Meow Farm on the giant screen at the front of the venue.
She took the photos.
The catnip field is bathed in sunlight, and Bingbing and Huanhuan are playing on the ridge.
The picture is filled with warmth and love, and you can see many blurry kitten shadows in the corners.
In an instant, all the tension vanished.
That was her world.
Her heartbeat suddenly became calm and slow, and Shi Wan began to speak slowly.
Her voice was soft yet firm, unhurried, and carried a power that inspired confidence.
She talked about her initial motivation for running the farm, about the cat staff on the farm, why she insisted on making hypoallergenic food, and how she repeatedly adjusted the recipe for cat grass biscuits...
The neat and orderly text in the manuscript has been transformed into a more intimate narrative, flowing naturally like a stream, carrying her most sincere feelings for the farm.
She paused at the end of her speech, looking at the familiar light and goodwill in the eyes of many people in the audience, and then raised her voice slightly.
"...My farm may be small, but our love for every life is immense. We simply want to protect the purest health and happiness of our furry friends in the most natural way. This award belongs to every employee on the farm, both two-legged and four-legged, and also to every customer who trusts and supports us. Thank you all."
After a brief silence, enthusiastic and sustained applause erupted from the audience.
The applause contained less doubt and disdain, and more respect and recognition.
Shi Wan bowed slightly amidst applause and stepped down from the podium.
When she returned to her seat, her legs still felt a little weak, but she felt an unprecedented sense of ease and pride.
She did it.
Xinglin's chat box popped up again on its own.
Xinglin: That was a great talk, everyone listened very attentively. Shiwan, you were really amazing.
Shi Wan couldn't help but smile as she read those words.
She was starting to get used to Xinglin's praise.
Xinglin always had an inexplicable trust in her, believing that she could do everything well.
After the awards ceremony, Shi Wanwan declined several social engagements, eager to return to the farm.
As she drove back to that familiar land shrouded in night, she could see the warm lights of the small building in the distance.
As soon as I parked the car, Bingbing rushed out like a cannonball, stood up and pounced on me, its tail wagging wildly, and it kept making "woof woof woof" noises, I had no idea what it was trying to say.
Tangyuan was also squatting under the porch light. When she saw her return, her serious little cat face relaxed.
He walked lightly over and circled around her legs, the tip of his tail gently hooking her trouser leg.
Her voice was soft and gentle, "You're back. Mimi missed you so much today."
Shi Wan then noticed that there were still quite a few "high beams" in the darkness.
The kittens are all waiting for her to come home.
"I'm back." Shi Wan squatted down and hugged the two little ones who were closest to her.
Hmm, it's quite heavy.
But feeling their familiar warmth and scent, Shi Wan's heart finally settled down.
All the noise and glory pale in comparison to this warm embrace.
After spending some time with the kittens who stayed behind, Shi Wan went into the small building.
On the living room table sat a small, exquisite gift box, with a note underneath in Aunt Li's handwriting.
"Congratulations on winning the award, boss! This was delivered by Flash Delivery this afternoon; they said it was a congratulatory gift for you."
Shi Wan curiously opened the box. Inside was not an expensive item, but a handmade ceramic cup. The cup was a soft milky white color, with cute hand-painted images of Bingbing and Tangyuan on it, and a few tender green cat grass plants next to it.
There is a line of small characters engraved on the handle of the cup.
Home is where the heart is at peace.
No signature.
But she knew who it was.
She picked up a cup and went to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of warm water.
Holding the cup, feeling the unique sentiment conveyed within, she looked up at the tranquil starry sky outside the window, a smile curving her lips.
Honors are good, applause is good too.
But the best thing is that no matter how high she flies or how far she goes, there will always be a starry sky and a group of lives here to light her way home, giving her the strongest embrace and protection.
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