Zhen-Wei spent his early years working hard in Taipei. He sold cars, worked in credit card sales, and later spent some time in the real estate industry. He gained experience in sales, but real estate was unstable—there was only a two- to three-month base salary, and the rest depended on commission. To make ends meet, he also took part-time jobs, such as cleaning septic tanks. By chance, he met an older fellow from Changhua in Taipei who suggested he learn a trade. That man happened to know some business owners who made puffed rice snacks, so Zhen-Wei decided to give it a try. He apprenticed for two to three months and then ordered a tricycle to start selling on his own.

A few years later, a second benefactor appeared. His neighbor, Brother Jiang, the vice president of an agricultural cooperative, asked Zhen-Wei to teach cooperative members how to make puffed rice snacks. One member, Master Zhang, experimented after learning from Zhen-Wei and created an unexpectedly crispy texture. Zhen-Wei acted quickly and joined the cooperative, exchanging knowledge with his "apprentice" for six months. "At first, I felt too shy to ask directly. I just watched him work from a distance. But he invited me over, saying we should help each other and shared his techniques with me."

After leaving the cooperative, Zhen-Wei spent another six months refining and innovating his techniques. "The key is to make it crispy without it falling apart everywhere when eaten." "What sets my puffed rice apart from traditional ones is the crispiness—if it's not crispy, it's not good."

Zhen-Wei emphasizes that he buys rice, peanuts, and other ingredients directly from farmers, without going through middlemen, to ensure freshness. "I'm pretty picky. I can confidently say my ingredients are free of residue and contamination—I only use ingredients that pass inspection." He also works with other young farmers in Changhua to promote food and farming education, helping consumers understand whether the food they eat is healthy. They mainly visit schools to hold interactive sharing sessions and have already held over a hundred events.

As his techniques have improved, Zhen-Wei’s puffed rice snacks now come in various innovative flavors using different ingredients. He looks forward to continuing to grow together with young farmers in Fuxing Township.

Zhen-Wei Puffed Rice Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/I7145