As the Winter Solstice approaches, the festive atmosphere of the New Year is gradually intensifying. On the morning of December 19, the staff canteen at Nylon Technology Company was filled with warmth and bustling with excitement as a Winter Solstice dumpling-making event—combining fun and competition—kicked off enthusiastically, allowing employees to feel the company’s care amid the traditional holiday spirit.

The event venue had already been meticulously prepared, with various ingredients and tools neatly arranged and categorized. The filling ingredients—such as large chunks of meat, radishes, eggs, and chives—were fresh and enticing; all the necessary seasonings—including green onions, ginger, sesame oil, refined salt, monosodium glutamate, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and five-spice powder—were fully stocked. Dough, flour, rolling pins, trays, lunch boxes, and other utensils were also ready for participants to help themselves as needed. Along the long tables, induction cookers were neatly lined up, and stainless steel pots filled with clear water stood quietly, waiting only for plump dumplings to be dropped in, releasing a delightful aroma and warmth throughout the room. The event was organized into teams of four, with a total of 20 teams participating. Thus began an exciting dumpling-making competition!

After the officials from the Party and Mass Work Department and the Organization and Personnel Department explained the competition rules, everyone orderly collected the ingredients and tools they needed. As soon as the starting whistle blew, each team quickly got into the swing of things, with clear divisions of labor and a well-organized workflow. You mixed the dumpling filling, he kneaded the dough, I rolled out the wrappers, and you shaped the dumplings. The employees kneading the dough demonstrated expert skills, working the dough smoothly and firmly until it was perfectly smooth and elastic, then cutting it into uniform-sized portions. Those rolling the wrappers moved their hands swiftly and precisely, producing one after another evenly thick and thin dumpling wrappers. As for those wrapping the dumplings, each had their own special techniques—fingers flying rapidly, creating perfect pleats and sealing the dumplings in one seamless motion. Some teams focused on speed, shaping their dumplings simply and neatly; others paid meticulous attention to detail, crafting dumplings with evenly spaced pleats that looked like true works of art. Still other teams let their imaginations run wild, creatively shaping dumplings into unique forms such as ingots or crescent moons. While everyone worked busily, they also teased each other playfully, laughter and cheerful chatter rising and falling throughout the room. The entire restaurant was filled with the savory aroma of dumpling filling and the festive joy of the occasion.

This event is not merely a fun-filled experience—it also features a rigorous judging process. Teams will be evaluated comprehensively based on both the quantity and quality of dumplings they’ve made, and the winning team will receive well-deserved rewards. As time passed, one by one plump dumplings were neatly arranged on trays. After the dumplings were cooked, everyone savored the fruits of their labor, their faces brimming with a deep sense of accomplishment and pride.

This winter solstice dumpling-making event not only allowed employees to fully immerse themselves in the joy of traditional folk customs, but also brought colleagues closer together through collaborative competitions and strengthened team cohesion. Everyone expressed that they would carry this warmth and vitality into their work, contributing with even greater enthusiasm to the company’s development.