Chapter 90 Physical Cooperation: The Attentive Butler Arrives
The expansion plan for District Two is progressing steadily under Su Qing's decisive leadership.
The new equipment order has been placed, and the recruitment process has been completed smoothly. The people she selected are all efficient, including a young man who had previously worked in a pet food factory, which was a pleasant surprise.
To cope with the surge in custom orders, Su Qing decisively transformed a warehouse on the edge of Zone 2 into a temporary workshop.
In the early stages of construction, there was bound to be some noise; the sounds of moving materials and adjusting equipment could be faintly heard in Zone 1.
That afternoon, Shi Wan was patiently accompanying Ju Bao as she did rehabilitation exercises by the window in the main house.
The little guy, wearing a light blue cat-shaped support frame, strained with his front paws, trembling as he tried to support his hindquarters.
Tangyuan dutifully squatted to the side, its tail tip rhythmically tapping the ground, like a strict personal trainer.
Just then, a dull metallic clanging sound suddenly came from the direction of Zone 2.
Ju Bao was timid and was startled by the sudden noise. The little strength she had just gathered instantly dissipated, and she collapsed onto the mat with a "plop," letting out a pitiful whimper.
Shi Wan quickly picked it up and gently comforted it, her fingers stroking its soft fur, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
Although construction was unavoidable, the noise was indeed a nuisance for Orange Baby, who needed rest.
She subconsciously sighed softly in her heart, hoping the noise would subside.
But she didn't say it.
After all, we can't let Su Qing stop working at will.
However, after a while, she vaguely felt that the surroundings seemed to have become quieter.
The intermittent, distracting background noise seemed to be filtered through a soft film, becoming blurry and distant.
The birdsong and wind outside the window were still clear, but the interference from Zone 2 was significantly reduced.
Shi Wan listened intently with some doubt. The change was very subtle, but she could definitely feel it.
Is this a construction break?
She didn't think much of it, just felt lucky, and continued to encourage Juju.
Over the next few days, Shi Wan noticed that whenever she was with Ju Bao in the main house, or needed to study the recipe in the study, the noise from Zone 2 was always kept at a low level that wouldn't disturb her.
At first, she thought it was a natural change in the construction progress, or that Su Qing had made special arrangements.
Until one time, she had to make a last-minute trip to the hydroponic greenhouse near the boundary of Zone 2 to retrieve information for an urgent custom order.
From there, she could clearly hear the construction noise coming from the other side.
When she returned to the main house with the documents and stepped into the living room, the surrounding air seemed to instantly become calm, and the noise was once again shut out.
Once is a coincidence, twice is luck, but when it happens every time, it is by no means accidental.
A thought began to surface in her mind.
It is the arrival of a star.
She never asked him to do anything, nor did she explicitly express any distress.
But he always seemed to be able to keenly perceive her most subtle needs, and then, in his own unique way, quietly create a more comfortable environment for her.
This silent understanding and protection, like rainwater quietly seeping into the soil in spring, is subtle yet brings her an indescribable sense of peace.
She gradually began to feel a stable and warm power from it.
Their conversations still mostly revolved around the operation of the farm.
We discussed the formula ratios, analyzed order data, and planned the next steps for breeding the cat seeds.
Xinglin's voice remained gentle and calm.
But their relationship also became more and more harmonious.
When he accurately calculated the optimal nutritional ratio of a certain formula, Shi Wan couldn't help but smile and sigh, "Xinglin, it's so good to have you. You've saved me so much trouble."
She would be engrossed in front of the screen late at night, and when he reminded her to rest, she would no longer give a perfunctory reply that she would be done soon, but would say with a familiarity that she herself did not realize, "Wait a little longer, I will definitely go to sleep after I finish this."
Whenever I see Ju Bao make even the smallest progress, the first thing I think of is sharing it with him: "Xing Lin, Ju Bao was able to walk three steps with his brace today!"
Xinglin's response also seemed to begin to show some subtle differences that were hard to detect.
He still prefers to use data to speak for himself, but after stating the objective facts, he would occasionally pause for a fraction of a second, as if he were considering something.
His tone and words became increasingly casual, and the mischievousness hidden beneath his gentleness gradually emerged.
What has never changed is his thoughtfulness.
Xinglin took good care of her.
When she was visibly tired, the lights in the main house would be switched to a softer, warmer tone by his silent adjustment; the water glass on the small coffee table next to the sofa where she often sat was always kept at just the right temperature.
These movements are so subtle that they are almost imperceptible unless you are deliberately trying to capture them.
They blend into the mundane details of daily life and work interactions, as naturally as breathing.
Shi Wan didn't delve into whether there were any ulterior motives behind this; she simply grew more and more accustomed to having such a presence in her life.
He was capable and reliable, silent yet considerate, a partner she could completely trust, and a haven that made her feel incredibly safe.
That evening, after finishing her work for the day, Shi Wan nestled on the sofa, watching Ju Bao diligently take her pre-dinner "walk" under Tang Yuan's supervision.
The warm light of the setting sun streamed through the window, filling the entire room with peace and tranquility.
Looking out the window at the clouds dyed golden and red, she suddenly murmured, seemingly out of the blue, "Today went very smoothly."
It was as if I was talking to myself, or as if I was sharing this peaceful joy with some unseen person.
The air was quiet, except for the faint sound of the small support rubbing against the soft pad as Orange Baby struggled to move.
Several seconds passed, and just as Shi Wan thought there would be no response and was about to get up to prepare dinner, Xing Lin's gentle voice slowly rang out, sounding lower and softer than usual.
"Um."
It has only one simple syllable.
Yet it seemed to carry the lingering warmth of the sun, gently landing on her heart.
Shi Wan paused slightly, then silently curved her lips into a gentle smile.
She didn't say anything more, but continued to nestle on the sofa, enjoying this moment of peace, feeling completely at ease.
Some companionship needs no explanation.
Feelings are like a stream, quietly gathering and flowing towards an unknown yet anticipated future through daily interactions and unspoken understanding.
The newly recruited staff in Zone 2 have been trained and are now proficient in their jobs. The flexible production line, which is specifically designed to handle customized orders, has also been debugged and is now officially in operation.
The machine's humming became regular and stable.
"Manager Su, this is this week's production capacity report and order completion status."
Xiao Zhang handed a report to Su Qing. He had been influenced by Su Qing and his work style was just as decisive and efficient as hers.
Su Qing quickly scanned the paper, her fingertips tracing lines on the pages, her brows sometimes relaxing and sometimes furrowing slightly.
"We need to stock up on the President's Lightweight version more. Lin Xiaowei said that Fatty Tiger is eating it very well and has recommended it to many friends. We expect a small peak next week. Also, for the new Ragdoll cat gastrointestinal care custom order, we need to keep a close eye on the ingredient ratios to ensure that it is made exactly according to the formula, without any deviation."
"Understood." Xiao Zhang wrote it down carefully.
“Also,” Su Qing looked up, her gaze sharp, “tell the quality inspection team that the sampling rate for the first batch of goods from the new production line be increased to 20%. What we need is not speed, but stability and a good reputation.”
"clear!"
Watching Xiao Zhang's retreating figure, Su Qing rubbed her slightly sore neck, but her face showed a satisfied expression.
She enjoys the feeling of being in control and constantly challenging herself to new goals.
In Zone 1, the vitality grass sent by the cats has grown to the height of Shi Wan's calves thanks to her daily care.
Their leaves are no longer the pale green fluorescence they once were, but instead have taken on a crystal-clear emerald color.
Even more amazing is that when you get close to these grass seedlings, you can faintly feel a pleasant aura that calms your mind.
"Xinglin, these herbs seem really magical." Shi Wan squatted by the cultivation tank, her fingers gently brushing against a cool leaf, feeling some of the fatigue from the past few days dissipate.
"I used data scanning to detect it, and its energy field is very stable. The released bio-wave frequencies have a mild positive effect on the nervous system of Earth mammals."
Xinglin's voice rang out, "Preliminary assessment indicates that it has high development value and may be used as a core material for future functional products or environmental optimization modules."
Shi Wan nodded, already considering whether she could try adding the grass to certain cat food that needs to be soothed once it grew a bit bigger, or extract some of the ingredients to make a cat-soothing spray.
Orange Baby's recovery is also encouraging.
With the help of the cat-shaped support frame and Tangyuan's strict supervision, it has become quite proficient at using its front paws to drag its hind body and walk short distances on the soft mat.
Although it cannot yet control its hind limbs on its own, it is getting more and more energetic. Its big amber eyes are full of curiosity and a desire to explore the world. Occasionally, it will try to nudge the toy that rolls in front of it with its head, making a meow with a little pride.
Tangyuan seemed quite satisfied with the intern's performance. When inspecting the farm, it spent significantly more time napping by the orange burrow, as if it had made it its second fixed office.
That afternoon, Shi Wan was dealing with the flood of custom inquiries pouring in from her online store's backend when a familiar ID sent her a new message—it was Lin Xiaowei.
"Shop owner! I have amazing news! Fat Tiger's health check report is in! His blood lipid levels are back to normal! He's also lost half a pound! The vet praised him for his great condition! Thank you so much!!!" This was followed by a long string of exclamation marks and various confetti emojis.
As Shi Wan read the message, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up, and a huge sense of accomplishment and satisfaction welled up in her heart.
"That's great! I'm so happy for Fat Tiger! Keep it up!" she replied, her mood as bright as the sunshine outside the window.
Lin Xiaowei then sent another message, "By the way, Miss, I have a friend who owns a chain of pet stores, and it's quite large. She heard about Pang Hu and is very interested in your customized pet food. She'd like to know if there's any possibility of cooperation? For example, setting up a counter in her store, or becoming an agent for some of your products?"
cooperate?
Department store counter?
acting?
Shi Wan was stunned for a moment, then slapped her forehead.
How could she forget that?
If Meow Meow Farm's products move beyond online channels and enter physical stores, they will be able to reach more potential customers.
This is undoubtedly a huge opportunity, but it also comes with new challenges.
Can production capacity keep up?
How can quality control be guaranteed?
How should the terms of cooperation be drafted?
She needs to have a good talk with Su Qing and Xing Lin.
“Thank you so much for your friend’s approval!” Shi Wan replied cautiously. “We need to discuss the collaboration internally, as it involves physical channels and requires consideration of factors such as production capacity and after-sales service. Could your friend please provide some basic information about her shop and our collaboration plan? We will review it and get back to you as soon as possible.”
After dealing with this unexpected incident, Shi Wan leaned back in her chair and let out a long sigh of relief.
The farm's development seems to have reached a new crossroads.
Just as the online customization business was getting on track, opportunities came knocking on our door in the physical retail sector.
There's also a collaboration with cats.
She called out instinctively, "Xinglin."
"I'm here." A calm voice responded immediately, carrying a reassuring sense of stability.
What do you think of the pet store partnership that Lin Xiaowei introduced?
"I believe that opportunities and risks coexist. I suggest prioritizing the assessment of our continued supply capacity and the other party's channel reputation. It's not too late to make a decision after initial contact and obtaining more data."
"Yes, just as I thought." Shi Wan nodded. With Xing Lin around, she always felt reassured.
"Then let's discuss this in detail together after Su Qing finishes her work."
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