Chapter 1355 - 1227: Zhongying Street

Chapter 1355: Chapter 1227: Zhongying Street

Inside the guesthouse, a door is gently knocked, and upon receiving a response, a short-haired girl in her twenties enters, holding a stack of documents.

"Sister Zhou, we’ve finished everything."

As soon as Zhou Jiao heard this address, she knew the young comrade wanted to go out to play. Usually addressing leaders and directors, only when personal requests come up does the title change.

Actually, as long as they complete the tasks she sets on time, she wants to indulge them. Who hasn’t been young before? Back in the day, she was also tired of being managed from above.

"Where do you want to go this time?"

"Hehe, everyone wants to go to Zhongying Street."

Zhou Jiao slightly nodded, "Let Xiao Wei take everyone’s documents to get the border permits."

"Sister Zhou, you’re the best. On behalf of the comrades, thank you."

Zhou Jiao waved her hand with a smile, gesturing for her to leave.

Hearing the suppressed cheers outside the door, Zhou Jiao smiled silently.

After staying here for a few days, once the work is done, it’s time to relax and explore the famous Zhongying Street, and maybe buy some souvenirs to take back to Beijing.

This place has the special geographic position of being adjacent to Hong Kong, along with the advantage of quality goods at tax-free prices, attracting tourists from all over the country, long hailed as a "shopping paradise."

It’s said that anyone who comes here will try their best to visit Shatoujiao, take pictures, and shop. They say not going to Zhongying Street would be a lifelong regret.

However, for two lifetimes, Zhou Jiao actually hasn’t been, but the fuss made by the little girls stirred her thoughts: she should take a picture while she’s still youthful.

Thus, she picked a non-weekend day, and with the company of a local reception staff member, Zhou Jiao led her young team early to Shatoujiao.

The renowned Shatoujiao Zhongying Street, less than 250 meters long, less than 4 meters wide, is nothing more than a narrow alleyway with storefronts.

To be honest, it’s not as good as the alley at her old home.

At a glance, the awnings on both sides of the street almost connect, the alley crowded with people, although she intentionally avoided the weekend.

The crowd sure is thick!

Before seeing the inside of the shops, different uniformed law enforcement officers from both sides are standing near the entrances. She somewhat understands that each country guards its own.

Isn’t it often said that one side of the alley belongs to the Chinese, the other to the British? See, it’s truly time for the remnants of Man Qing to fondly reminisce about the glory of their ancestors.

The staff accompanying her is also named Zhou, a tall and strong female comrade. At this moment, seeing Zhou Jiao looking at those people, she quietly says, "When it’s time for shift changes or lunch, they leave for a bit, but without an invoice from that side, items will be confiscated when exiting."

Zhou Jiao gave her a grateful smile.

Before coming, she already had her subordinates do some research, each having two special border permits prepared, and had someone exchange a portion of Hong Kong Dollars to avoid embarrassing their unit.

However, she still appreciated the goodwill from the other party.

Too much courtesy doesn’t offend!

She never leaves a handle for others outside.

The lively shopping atmosphere is always exciting, and especially while walking, it’s easy to be dispersed. Zhou Jiao agreed on a meeting place with everyone.

As for whether they will seize the chance to venture to the other side and not return? She isn’t worried, this time those she chose excel not only in work skills but also in ideology.

And for herself, she walks alone, listening to accents from various places, checking things out one by one.

Just now, it was clear that the awnings on both sides almost connected, but looking closer, many differences can be seen. No surprise our country is a big one; the store spaces are more spacious than theirs.

Of course, notably, several state-owned stores are on one side, while on the opposite, there are private ones, small shops crowded with merchandise, prices slightly cheaper.

But stores on both sides are filled with Chinese and foreign goods, a dazzling array.

These goods come from five continents, abundant in variety. Many products offer first-mover advantage, which the mainland still can’t compete on in terms of price and packaging.

Reaching the other side, though the store is small, one can still walk further inside, perhaps suggesting there are even more things, perfect for a treasure hunt.

When it comes to daily goods, firstly there are many people, and secondly, Zhou Jiao isn’t particularly interested. Passing by a gold shop with fewer tourists, she takes a fan surface out of her bag.

Spreading it on the counter, the owner immediately reaches for it, "Comrade, what do you want to do with this?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao smiles amusedly, it’s quite trendy, with even the appellations changing. She slightly nods, asking in Cantonese how much this double-sided embroidery is worth?

The store owner discreetly glances at her; she looks unordinary, and this price is not easy to state. He solemnly gestures for her to wait a bit, "Let me inspect it first."

Zhou Jiao doesn’t mind letting him handle the fan surface. The other’s eyes are sharp, handling it cautiously, and won’t treat her casually.

She herself takes the opportunity to admire the jewelry styles in the store, especially the designs for young women. At home, there are two young guests frequently accompanying her; she should bring some gifts for them.

"How about 5000 Hong Kong Dollars?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao lightly smiles, "Boss, let’s not say that few embroiderers can produce such a piece now; this is Jiangnan Su Embroidery, with a frame it’s a craftwork."

Speaking, she pointed to the law enforcement officers outside, "I can come in and go to the other side too, but it’s troublesome. Give me a fair price; I still want to buy jewelry."

Upon hearing her, the store owner straightforwardly replies, "6000."

"Deal."

Zhou Jiao decisively agrees.

Despite dual-sided embroidery becoming increasingly valuable because of rarity, this piece was collected occasionally and doesn’t quite match her own needlework skills.

The main reason is that she has all types of currency but lacks Hong Kong Dollars, and the price given was neither high nor low, with the other straightforward, she doesn’t drag things out.

Once the price was finalized, Zhou Jiao immediately picked a few gold bracelets and several necklaces she had just fancied, also selecting a few uniquely styled anklets.

In the end...

The store owner rounded off the amount, and she was left to pay an additional hundred Hong Kong Dollars.

Unable to control her spending once she starts, Zhou Jiao laughs, self-soothing that she’s still much better than her mother, isn’t she?

As she leaves the shop, she can’t help but chuckle. Being in charge of anti-smuggling, and then sneaking things into space herself, is this considered breaching one’s own security?

She really wouldn’t bear her items being confiscated at the border.

Off she scurries to a pharmacy just a few steps away.

What does she have that’s most valuable?

Northeast Ginseng!

According to her home during May 1st, hundred-year-old ginseng abroad is already priceless, first due to the country beginning to limit exports, and second, because it’s becoming rarer.

She wasn’t cheating the shop owner, casually selecting a fifty-year-old ginseng from the ’carrot pile,’ she exchanges it for a pile of bird’s nest, fish maw, cordyceps, and American ginseng.

After concluding these two transactions, Zhou Jiao slowly strolled to the electronics shop, buying Zhang Guoqing a color camera and a bunch of films.

Passing by fabric and clothing shops, she noticed her subordinates coincidentally crowded inside, making Zhou Jiao hesitate with a palm to her forehead.

——Should she buy a couple of those flashy Hong Kong shirts for her future daughter-in-law?