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In the early morning in Sanming, Fujian, the air is thick with mist.

Su Ning and Li Shuihua squatted in front of a breakfast stall on Shaxian Old Street, watching intently the old master chef's movements.

The old man's movements were fluid and graceful—rolling out the dough, filling it, and cooking it, all in one smooth motion.

The tiny flat meat pieces tumbled in the boiling water, resembling little white jade fish.

"Uncle, could you demonstrate the filling recipe again?" Shuihua asked in her newly learned, broken Hokkien, her notebook already filled with seven or eight pages of notes.

The old master grinned, revealing his sparse teeth: "Young lady, you've been asking for three days now. Are you trying to steal my skills?"

Shuihua blushed and was about to explain when Su Ning quickly handed her a pack of Hongtashan cigarettes: "Master, we're from the Northwest. We want to learn some authentic Shaxian flavor to open a small shop back home. I can pay your professor."

The old man took the cigarette, his attitude softening somewhat: "You should have said so earlier!"

He lifted the spice jar. "Look, the key is this pepper powder. It has to be Indonesian to have the right flavor..."

Shuihua quickly wrote it down and then asked for the specific proportions.

Suning quietly stepped aside, took out his camera, and snapped a panoramic photo of the control panel...

This is the seventh small shop he "inspected" in Shaxian this week.

Suning would give the store owner a formula fee for each inspection, because Suning didn't want to have endless disputes over such a small amount of money.

Back at the simple guesthouse, Shuihua immediately sat down at the table to organize her notes.

The three thick notebooks were labeled "Shaxian Snacks", "Lanzhou Ramen" and "Northwest Style" respectively, and were filled with recipes, procedures and even details of the shop layout.

“Brother Ning, I think Shaxian’s flat meat is very similar to our wontons, but the filling is more…” Shuihua looked up and found that Su Ning was marking up a map.

"What are you doing?" Shuihua asked curiously as she leaned closer.

The map of China in Suning's hands is already covered with red and blue markings.

The cities of Xi'an, Lanzhou, Yinchuan, and Xiamen are highlighted in red, with several routes radiating out from them.

“The strategic layout of the restaurant chain.” Suning pointed to the map, “Red represents ‘Northwest Style,’ which focuses on high-end banquets; blue represents ‘Lanzhou Ramen,’ which targets the mass market; as for Shaxian Snacks…”

He paused, then said, "I want to make it the McDonald's of China."

Shuihua's eyes widened: "Mc...McDonald's?"

"It means opening branches all over the country," Su Ning explained with a smile. "At least one branch in every county, so that people all over the country can eat five-yuan noodles and wontons."

Shuihua nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Although she didn't quite understand her husband's grand vision, she trusted his judgment.

The success of "Northwest Charm" over the past six months has proven this point.

"By the way, about trademark registration..." Su Ning suddenly lowered her voice, "Are all the materials ready?"

Shuihua pulled a file folder from deep inside her luggage: "It's all here. The trademark design for Shaxian Snacks, the application form, and the documents from Lanzhou..."

Before he could finish speaking, there was a loud knocking on the door.

The two were startled, and Shuihua quickly stuffed the document bag back into her luggage.

"Who?" Su Ning asked warily.

"It's me." Deputy Director Lin's voice came from outside the door. "Open the door, I have something to discuss."

Suning and Shuihua exchanged a meaningful glance.

Why did Deputy Director Lin suddenly come to see me?
They took leave under the pretext of "inspecting Fujian cuisine," and did not disclose the matter of registering a private company trademark to anyone.

As soon as the door opened, Deputy Director Lin walked in with a gloomy face, his gaze sweeping across the messy room like a hawk's...

An open map, a notebook full of notes, and a camera that hasn't been put away yet.

"Let me explain." Deputy Director Lin pulled a document from his pocket and slammed it on the table. It was a photocopy of Suning's application for the "Shaxian Snacks" trademark.

The air in the room froze instantly.

Shuihua's fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Su Ning remained surprisingly calm, even pouring Deputy Director Lin a cup of tea.

"Director Lin, please have a seat."

"Don't give me that!" Deputy Director Lin waved his hand abruptly, knocking over a teacup and splashing tea onto the map. "I trusted you so much that I introduced you to all the catering resources in Fujian, and what do you do? You're secretly plotting your own schemes?"

Shuihua wanted to explain something, but Su Ning gently pressed her hand down: "Director Lin, have you looked at the business models of McDonald's and KFC?"

This unexpected question startled Deputy Director Lin: "What 'lao'? What 'ji'?"

“American fast food chains have more than 100,000 stores worldwide.” Suning calmly wiped the water stains off the table. “Their success lies in standardization—the taste is the same in every store.”

Deputy Director Lin frowned: "What does this have to do with your secret trademark registration?"

“It wasn’t a secret registration; it was a strategic move.” Suning opened his notebook. “‘Northwest Style’ is a state-owned enterprise, and it has to consider the interests of all parties, so it’s difficult to expand rapidly. But popular foods like Shaxian Snacks and Lanzhou Ramen are best suited for a franchise model.”

As he spoke, he drew a double-ring diagram: "The inner ring is 'Northwest Style,' which focuses on government receptions and the high-end market. It is a state-owned enterprise mainly managed by the Xihai Gu County government; the outer ring consists of the popular fast food brands 'Lanzhou Ramen' and 'Shaxian Snacks,' which operate on low profit margins and high sales volume. They are purely private enterprises. The two complement each other—the former builds the brand, and the latter generates profits."

Deputy Director Lin's expression shifted from anger to confusion, and then gradually to contemplation.

He picked up the sketch drawn by Su Ning, his brows furrowed: "You mean... walking on two legs?"

“Exactly.” Su Ning pressed on, “And the bulk of the profits can be used to support the ‘Northwest Charm’ poverty alleviation project. Just imagine, if Shaxian Snacks could open a thousand stores, each store could supply raw materials to a family in Northwest China…”

Shuihua looked at her husband in surprise.

He never mentioned this "giving back" plan, but it certainly sounded reasonable.

Deputy Director Lin remained silent for a long time before suddenly asking, "Was this also your consideration when you registered 'Lanzhou Ramen' in Xi'an?"

Suning nodded frankly: "The market for ramen is much larger, but it requires coordination with the local community in Lanzhou. I plan to..."

"Wait!" Deputy Director Lin suddenly interrupted him, turning to Shuihua, "Shuihua, go downstairs and buy me a pack of cigarettes."

A clear diversion.

Shui Hua looked at Suning, who nodded slightly.

She had no choice but to grab her wallet and head out, glancing back worriedly as she left.

After confirming that Shui Hua had gone far away, Deputy Director Lin closed the door, his voice suddenly turning cold and sharp: "Su Ning, don't try to play tricks on me. I know exactly what you're thinking."

Su Ning looked at Deputy Director Lin with a dismissive expression and said, "Director Lin, I don't understand what you mean."

Deputy Director Lin narrowed his eyes. "Hmph! You're just pulling these underhanded tricks now... Do you really think I'm a fool?"

Su Ning's hands clenched tightly under the table, but her face remained calm: "Director Lin, I'm not stealing or robbing; it's just normal business activity. As for the trademark registration, it's entirely for the better development of poverty alleviation industries. If you're still worried..."

He took a document out of his briefcase. "And all the shares are in the names of Shuihua and my parents, so it can't be considered as putting personal interests before business."

Deputy Director Lin took the document and reviewed it carefully.

This is a legally binding statement that Suning will transfer 35% of "Northwest Style" and shares of "Shaxian Snacks" and "Lanzhou Ramen" to Li Shuihua and Su Daqiang.

"You rascal..." Deputy Director Lin's expression turned complicated, "What exactly are you after?"

"It's for peace of mind." Su Ning looked directly into the other person's eyes. "I married a girl from Xihai Gu, so I'm a son-in-law of Xihai Gu. Only when the villagers here live a good life will Shuihua be happy."

These words were spoken with such sincerity that even the seasoned Deputy Director Lin was momentarily speechless.

Just then, Shuihua returned with cigarettes, and the tense atmosphere in the room immediately dissipated considerably.

"Director Lin, here's your cigarette." Shuihua carefully placed the Hongtashan cigarette on the table.

Deputy Director Lin glanced at the cigarette, then at the young couple before him, and suddenly sighed, "Fine! I, this old man, will not concern myself with your affairs. However..."

He pointed to the trademark application documents, "We need to add 'Northwest Style' as a joint applicant for this one."

Suning nodded without hesitation: "No problem."

After Deputy Director Lin left, Shuihua immediately closed the door, leaned against it, and let out a long sigh: "Brother Ning, did he find out...?"

"It's alright now." Su Ning put his arm around her shoulder reassuringly. "Tomorrow we'll meet with some experienced chefs from the Shaxian Catering Association to finalize the cooperation."

Shuihua nodded, then suddenly remembered something: "By the way, is the 'giving back' plan you mentioned earlier true?"

Suning smiled but didn't answer directly: "Shuihua, do you know why I insist on registering these trademarks?"

The water splashed and shook its head.

“Because flavors have roots,” Su Ning said softly. “Like the wontons of Shaxian, the ramen of Lanzhou, the fried dough twists of Xihai Gu… they carry the memories of a place. I don’t want these memories to be diluted by commerce, so I must protect the roots first.”

Shuihua seemed to understand, but she knew her husband was doing something important.

She opened her notebook and continued to refine the recipe she had learned that day.

Under the light, her profile was focused and gentle.

Su Ning looked at his wife, his eyes filled with tenderness.

He quietly took another document from the hidden compartment of his luggage...

Registration certificate of "Ningxia Shuihua Catering Group Co., Ltd".

Outside the window, the night in Shaxian County was deepening.

Neon lights flickered in the distance; that was the newly established commercial street.

In 1992, the tide of the market economy was sweeping across every corner of China, and this small town in northern Fujian was no exception.

The next morning, when Shuihua woke up, she found that Su Ning had already organized all the materials and was writing and drawing at the table.

Seeing that she was awake, Su Ning excitedly waved: "Shuihua, come and see this!"

The paper contains a detailed design drawing of a "central kitchen"...

Raw materials are procured centrally, semi-finished products are processed centrally, and formulas are standardized.

“I’ve done the math. If we can build two central kitchens in Xi’an and Xiamen, covering all stores within a 500-kilometer radius…” Suning’s eyes gleamed. “Within three years, we can have ‘Lanzhou Ramen’ and ‘Shaxian Snacks’ spread across half of China!”

Infected by her husband's passion, Shuihua was also eager to try: "How about Lanzhou noodles?"

“That’s the next step.” Su Ning smiled as he put away the blueprints. “Let’s go see the master craftsmen from Shaxian today. Remember, we’re now the inspectors for ‘Northwest Style,’ so don’t mention the trademark.”

As the two left, neither noticed that in the teahouse across from the guesthouse, Deputy Director Lin was talking on his mobile phone in a low voice: "...Yes, he registered several trademarks...It's too perfect, too perfect to be real...Don't worry, I'll keep a close eye on it..." On the other end of the line, an old voice said something, and Deputy Director Lin's expression immediately turned serious: "Understood. I will take action if necessary."

After hanging up the phone, Deputy Director Lin looked out the window.

On the street, Suning was considerately helping Shuihua flag down a taxi; they looked like an ordinary young couple.

But who would have thought that this young man from the Northwest was weaving a nationwide catering network?

What unsettled Deputy Director Lin even more was his vague feeling that there was another unseen hand behind Su Ning, orchestrating all of this...

……

A remittance of 30 million yuan suddenly appeared in the ledger of Ningxia Shuihua Catering Culture Company.

Shuihua stared at the number and checked it three times, her fingers trembling slightly.

The remitter was "Xiamen Shanhaiqing Investment Co., Ltd.", and the remarks stated "equipment purchase payment".

The problem is that the company has not purchased any equipment from Xiamen recently.

“Brother Ning, this…” She took the bank receipt and approached Su Ning, who was in a meeting.

In the conference room, branch managers from various regions were reporting on the expansion of "Shaxian Snacks".

Su Ning glanced at the receipt, her expression unchanged: "Leave it in my office for now, we'll talk about it tonight."

Shuihua hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

This is the third mysterious remittance in six months, totaling nearly 50 million yuan.

Whenever asked, Suning always casually changes the subject.

As night fell, the lights in the Xi'an headquarters building gradually went out, except for the chairman's office on the top floor, which remained lit.

Suning closed the computer screen: "Shuihua, today's remittance is the final start-up capital. With it, the central kitchen for Lanzhou noodles and Shaxian snacks can be completed on time."

"But where did this money come from?" Shuihua insisted, "From that 'Shanhaiqing Capital'..."

“It’s an old friend’s company.” Su Ning stood up and walked to the window. “Shui Hua, there are some things I can’t say right now. But believe me, this money is from a clean source.”

"..."

Shuihua watched her husband's retreating figure.

The neon lights outside the window cast his shadow on the wall, making him appear exceptionally lonely.

After three years of marriage, for the first time she felt she couldn't understand this man.

"I'll go check out the R&D center." Shuihua finally decided to put her questions aside for the time being. "The master chef from Lanzhou will be inspecting the ramen soup base tomorrow."

"it is good."

As Shuihua stepped out of the office, she breathed a long sigh of relief.

The elevator went down to the third floor, and the R&D center was still brightly lit.

Through the glass wall, she saw the technicians busily working around a large pot of soup.

That piece of equipment, worth 800,000, was purchased using the mysterious remittance.

"President Li!" Xiao Zhang, the technical supervisor, waved excitedly when he saw her. "Come and see! This soup ingredient analysis equipment is really amazing. We have finally selected the most perfect soup ingredient formula."

Water splashes as they enter the laboratory.

The electronic screen next to the equipment displays 26 parameters, including temperature, recipe, and saltiness/umami level...

This is the standard procedure she broke down into for making Lanzhou noodles over three months.

"Mr. Li, would you like to try some?" Xiao Zhang brought over a bowl of freshly cooked experimental ramen.

A splash of water picked up a chopstick.

The noodles are chewy, the soup is clear and bright, the flavor is perfectly balanced, and the aroma of chili oil is irresistible.

With your eyes closed, it's almost impossible to tell that this is mass-produced food from an industrialized market.

"Have Grandma Ma and the others tried it?" Shuihua asked.

“I tried it.” Xiao Zhang lowered his voice. “The old lady cried on the spot and said, ‘Our ancestors’ craftsmanship has become science.’”

A prickling sensation appeared on her nose.

She recalled her days in Xihai Gu, where even a bowl of white flour was a luxury.

Today, this delicious treat, which once only existed in our imagination, is being brought to the whole country through standardized production.

The following morning, the construction site of the central kitchen on the outskirts of Xi'an was filled with the roar of machinery.

This 50-acre factory will become the first heart of "Lanzhou Ramen's" expansion across the country.

Suning and Shuihua, wearing safety helmets, accompanied the inspection team from the Lanzhou Catering Association on a visit.

"Our goal is for every franchise to taste exactly the same as the original Lanzhou store," Suning said, pointing to the assembly line being installed. "The soup base packets are delivered centrally, the noodles are freshly pulled and cooked, and the chili oil..."

“Director Su,” a veteran worker from Lanzhou suddenly interrupted him, “you’re using machines to replace manual labor, does this noodle dish still have a soul?”

The scene suddenly became quiet.

All eyes were on Suning.

“Master Ma, that’s a good question.” Su Ning calmly walked to the worktable. “What do you think is the soul of ramen? Is it the experience of the Lanzhou master chefs, or…”

"It's all about the heart!" Master Ma patted his chest. "A person who makes noodles must put their heart into it!"

Su Ning smiled and turned to Shui Hua: "Please let our General Manager Li answer this question."

Shuihua was surprised to be called out, and her face immediately turned red.

But she quickly calmed down: "Master Ma, I grew up in Xihai Gu, and I ate coarse grain buns since I was a child. The first time I ate ramen was when my cousin, who was studying in Lanzhou, brought it back for me..."

Her voice was soft yet firm, “At that time, I thought, how wonderful it would be if all the children in my hometown could eat noodles like this.”

She pointed to the factory buildings outside the window: "This place can produce 100,000 soup packets every day, which means that 100,000 children across the country can taste this happiness just like I did back then. Isn't this the greatest 'heartfelt gesture'?"

Master Ma was stunned, then burst into laughter: "Good! Well said! This old man is convinced!"

After the inspection team left, Su Ning quietly grasped Shui Hua's hand: "President Li, you spoke very well."

Shuihua smiled and said, "Just telling the truth."

As the two were talking, the secretary rushed over: "Director Su, General Manager Li, something has happened at the Xiamen branch!"

"..."

It turns out that the first directly operated store of "Shaxian Snacks" on Zhongshan Road in Xiamen was besieged by the local catering association.

The other party claimed that "people from the Northwest don't understand the flavors of Southern Fujian" and threatened to forcibly close the shop.

“I’ll handle it myself.” Su Ning frowned. “Shui Hua, you stay and keep an eye on the progress of the central kitchen.”

Shuihua shook her head: "No, I'll go this time. I compiled the Shaxian recipe myself, so I know it best. Besides, it's not appropriate for you to show up in your current position."

Suning hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "Bring your legal team. Remember, we have all the necessary paperwork, so don't worry."

That afternoon, Shuihua flew to Xiamen.

To everyone's surprise, this girl from Northwest China, who once struggled to speak fluent Mandarin, rendered the local catering association speechless at the mediation meeting with her fluent business terminology and precise cost analysis.

As she explained the franchise policy of "Shaxian Snacks" in detail...

Free training, direct supply of raw materials, profit sharing...

Many opponents were immediately swayed and became interested in cooperation.

"Mr. Li," the president of the Xiamen Catering Association privately approached Shui Hua after the meeting, "you two are quite something. But..."

He hesitated, then added, "Be careful of Deputy Director Lin. He has deep connections with certain forces in Xiamen."

Shuihua's heart tightened: "What do you mean?"

The president shook his head, refusing to say more, and simply handed her a business card: "Call this number if you need help."

Full of questions, Shuihua returned to Yinchuan.

As soon as I exited the airport, I saw the good news on the company's LED screen: "Lanzhou Ramen" has exceeded 500 stores nationwide!
To her even greater surprise, Suning and all its employees lined up in the square to welcome her.

The celebratory banquet that evening was filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and lively conversation.

Shuihua, carrying a glass of juice (she was allergic to alcohol), watched as the spirited Su Ning moved among the guests.

Deputy Director Lin also arrived, his face flushed from drinking.

"President Li! You've married a remarkable man." Deputy Director Lin suddenly leaned over, reeking of alcohol.

Before he could finish speaking, his assistant helped him away.

But those words were like a thorn, stuck in Shuihua's heart.

She recalled the old photograph of him in a suit and tie, the mysterious remittance of three million, and the meaningful warning from the chairman of the Xiamen association…

Outside the window, the night sky over Yinchuan is dotted with stars.

Further away, thousands of light boxes advertising "Lanzhou Ramen" and "Shaxian Snacks" illuminate the streets and alleys of China like stars.

Back in his hometown of Xihai Gu, Su Daqiang was showing off the latest model radio his son had sent him to his neighbors: "Listen! CCTV is reporting on our 'Northwest Scenery'!"

On the radio, the announcer spoke clearly and distinctly: "...Ningxia Shuihua Catering Culture Company has innovated its poverty alleviation model, helping 100,000 farmers escape poverty and become prosperous..."

Grandma Ma sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), chewing on the beef jerky her grandson had sent from Lanzhou, beaming from ear to ear: "That girl Shuihua, I knew she was going to amount to something from a young age!"

Only Ma Hanshui squatted in the corner, silently smoking and listening to the radio reports, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

He pulled out his old Nokia phone from his pocket and dialed a number he hadn't contacted in a long time: "Hey, is this Li Dayou? We should have a serious talk."

The spring breeze of 1993 blew across the gullies of the Loess Plateau and also across the glass curtain walls of high-rise buildings along the coast.

On this ancient yet young land, a new chapter is unfolding in a legend about food and wealth, tradition and modernity.

...(End of chapter)