With the intrusive guests gone, the birthday banquet was both a success and a joyful occasion.
As the end of the year approached, Shen Mingzhu also prepared New Year gifts for all the guests.
In addition to the candies and cakes produced by her own food factory, there were also the newly cured bacon and sausages from this year.
She bought grain and free-range pork from rural farmers and cured them with Moutai liquor and a secret blend of spices. Whether steamed, stir-fried, or used in braised rice, the unique aroma of the bacon was enough to make children from the next street cry with envy.
The cured meats were also the first takeout items offered by the restaurant.
Shen Mingzhu had registered the trademark "Shenji Xiangwei" two months earlier, and starting from the next year, she would begin mass production and sales.
After the meals were finished, some guests took their New Year gifts and left early, while others stayed on to relax.