Chapter 1354 - 1226: Unexpected Reunion with an Old Classmate

Chapter 1354: Chapter 1226: Unexpected Reunion with an Old Classmate

A group of people followed her everywhere, and Zhou Jiao knew deep down that she wouldn’t be able to complete her task.

In truth, she strongly agreed with the old leader’s firm and heavy punishment of illegal and disciplinary behaviors, serving as a warning to the world. But time was the issue, there really wasn’t enough of it.

After taking a break for the day, Zhou Jiao found an excuse to slip away. With her past experience in frequently collecting supplies, this small matter truly posed no challenge to her.

After dressing up in disguise, she neither went to any isolated place, fearing for her life, nor did she seek any civilians to chat and understand public sentiment—that was work for the big leaders.

She casually picked a small restaurant.

While the bowls in the South couldn’t compare to those in the Northeast, having a large coarse bowl, both the noodles and the dishes suited her taste.

Accompanied by a bowl of shredded meat soup noodles that cost her two liang of food stamps and fifty cents, which was a bit pricey, she listened around. Either the owner had relatives overseas who struck it rich, or the wife in the west was being unfaithful.

Zhou Jiao ate her noodles with enjoyment, listening to the gossip. Had they not been whispering, she would have leaned forward and listened more closely as a stranger.

Honestly, if one was determined to find out about any corrupt behavior, no matter how carefully people concealed it, there were still traces to be exposed.

For example, how much salary does a public official earn in a month, yet your children ride motorcycles, living lavishly outside—do you really think it’s May Day at her home?

—Does your son transform generators, or do you truly have family wealth?

Secretly noting down a few names, Zhou Jiao circled back to several small shops, using the opportunity of buying goods to chat in dialect with the locals.

Such actions, she performed every other day alone, and by the completion of this surface-level inspection task, she more or less had an understanding.

The special zone, undoubtedly the first choice is transportation being more convenient, especially the international travel, which led to a large amount of smuggling with the opening of national borders.

This is truly not surprising. Back in the day in such situations, she wasn’t unaware of similar occurrences, and now, it’s even easier.

The entanglements within are extensive, with serious involvement from entire families and even some prominent local figures being implicated.

The items involved are no longer just household electronics and everyday products; even old overseas clothes that haven’t been sanitized, etc., have repeatedly caused severe conflicts with border soldiers.

After concluding the trip to Jiuzhou Port, a few days later, she led the team to the small fishing village renowned in later generations.

The two thousand construction soldiers newly transitioning, set up camp amid barren mountains and forests, enduring mosquito bites at night in humble bamboo sheds, and laboring at construction sites during the day.

These pioneers overcame unimaginable difficulties, erecting high-rise buildings on this land, creating the "Special Zone Speed" of building a floor every three days.

Nearby, many buildings rose up, along with roads, factories within industrial zones, and the launch of a cargo terminal connecting directly to Hong Kong.

Making this fishing village a budding modern industrial town in a short time, it has been elevated to a new sub-provincial city.

Compared to Jiuzhou Port, in just two years, it has already established its inherent "Shekou Model". Its development is more rapid, next to Hong Kong, its prosperity rivals that of inland large cities.

Here, she unexpectedly encountered an acquaintance, an investor from Hong Kong named Song Lin.

After twenty years, an old classmate incidentally met again.

A male voice spoke, "Hello, madam, are you Miss Zhou Jiao?"

Zhou Jiao was startled to the point of freezing; had it not been bustling downtown, she almost aimed her wooden crate! Fortunately, she quickly realized she was shopping, not on a mission.

"It’s Song Lin, the one sitting behind Xiao Wu, Shen Shilin’s deskmate, who later dropped out, do you still remember?"

Had Song Lin not explained so, Zhou Jiao truly wouldn’t have recognized the successful-looking middle-aged man in front of her as the scrawny student back then.

She let out a joyful laugh, "Old classmate, you’ve made it big?"

"Recognize me now." Song Lin let out a joyful laugh, "Not as much as you both, I just get by. I knew I wouldn’t mistake you, you’re as always, unchanged for decades. Talented lady, have a cup of tea at the upstairs tearoom?"

"Sure."

Zhou Jiao knew he had figured out her identity, and if she recalled correctly, this guy owed her husband a huge favor, yet she wondered why he hadn’t contacted them.

Thus she didn’t waste time talking, and followed him into the tearoom ahead.

Song Lin didn’t ask for a private room; he specifically led her to a corner seat in the hall, while a young man accompanying them remained outside.

Seeing this, Zhou Jiao’s eyes flashed, she looked at Song Lin with a faint smile.

"Xiao Wu didn’t come along this time? I haven’t even thanked him in person for saving my life back then."

As soon as he spoke, he recounted the past kindness, and Zhou Jiao shook her head with a smile, "I’m unfamiliar with men’s friendships. He’s currently stuck in Beijing; if you’ve got something to say, mention it at the class meeting later."

Song Lin gazed in surprise, his eyes wide open, "Our old classmates still have reunions?"

"Of course, you’re the only one missing from the full class now." As for that female classmate who had an affair, she’s too embarrassed to come.

"That’s great, after being away for so many years, I’ve dreamed of those times. Last year when the local situation relaxed, I couldn’t care for anything else and came back right away.

I visited our school once, it was difficult to inquire about old classmates nowadays, but heard about some of your feats from the new college students."

After Song Lin finished, he lamented, "Luckily I decided to take a stroll today, or I would have missed you too."

"Why didn’t you reach out to us? It’s all in the past now." Zhou Jiao shifted the topic, "How many kids now? Are you settled in Hong Kong?"

"Yes, I have four kids, three girls and one boy. They’re all in high school now."

Discussing their children, during a lull, Zhou Jiaoyuan originally wanted to outright inquire about the Zhang Family in Hong Kong, but with many concerns, she kept quiet.

After some twists and turns, the information gathered indirectly coincided with the list of foreign-funded enterprises stationed, with the Zhang Family in Hong Kong either non-existent or not intending to enter the mainland market.

However, her family’s Lawyer Xue’s reputation was robust, reportedly having a lively time abroad over the past two years. In Song Lin’s words, he’s a top-tier figure.

She could only hope Song’s family remained a small bourgeoisie, unable to access aristocratic families like the Zhang Family, or else her husband might be greatly disappointed.

Though it’s a reunion, after all, there are differences between men and women, not much to talk about, after chatting with him for a while then parting, Zhou Jiao went to the river bank, gazing at the distant opposite shore.

The distance was already so near, if fate brings her to meet the young man turned elder, she wouldn’t know how to face him.

Meeting but unable to recognize each other, maybe Zhang Guoqing is just as apprehensive in foreign lands, not daring to ask about the past, otherwise why didn’t he mention a word before leaving?