Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

In this era, the dazzling world outside can still lead many people astray. After all, things are indeed better outside the country.

Take the 1980s, for example. Hong Kong's GDP had reached $28.8 billion, while Shanghai, the best city in mainland China, only had $20.8 billion. Other places were far below this figure.

As for per capita GDP, it was even higher. Hong Kong has a high population density, but its per capita GDP still reached an astonishing $5,700. During the same period, mainland China only had $194, and Shanghai only had $1,819. Therefore, even the most economically developed Shanghai could not compare with Hong Kong.

This is not just a simple GDP indicator, but also a difference in economic and production structures. Hong Kong's rise was based on the financial industry, along with tourism, trade logistics, and so on. Even its film industry was far ahead of the mainland.

Coming to Hong Kong for the first time, one can easily be dazzled by the bustling, vibrant world, the tall buildings, the bright lights, the streets full of right-hand drive cars, boldly dressed women, and well-dressed men.

Fun?

Zhang Feng was a little nervous: "Leader Pan, we're here to work. Wouldn't it be bad to have fun?"

"What's wrong with that?" Leader Pan said, "It's not easy to come out once, so we have to relax a bit. Just treat it as a trip. Oh, and there's shopping too. We need to buy a lot of things to take back!"

This task was jointly undertaken by the foreign affairs department and the bank. Leader Fang entrusted the matter to Leader Pan, who then found someone from the bank. He didn't look for those old acquaintances who had been to Hong Kong before, but instead found a young man. Why?

Wasn't it because he saw that Zhang Feng was young and strong and could carry more things back? This trip would definitely be full of rewards.

"We can't buy things that can be bought on Zhongying Street. We have to buy some fresh foreign gadgets," Leader Fang said. "Xiao Zhang, you just follow me, and I won't let you suffer."

The earliest batch of Hong Kong purchasing agents appeared on Zhongying Street.

In the spring of 1979, the old man drew a circle in the south. In this circle, there was a small street 250 meters long and three or four meters wide, bordered by a monument, belonging to both sides.

This is Zhongying Street. Not just anyone can come here. You need to apply for various permits. Only people from public institutions and units can easily obtain permits. However, there is one exception, which is the native residents who were born and raised here.

Each household was allocated one or two yellow permits. They could go as far as Shatoujiao. This group of people became the earliest purchasing agents, and all kinds of fresh gadgets were brought over through these people.

Fabrics, instant noodles, umbrellas, MSG, soap, skirts, stockings, etc., flowed continuously to the mainland through Zhongying Street, especially fabrics, with a daily turnover of hundreds of thousands!

This group of people also became the first to get rich.

In the mainland, most people didn't have such a mindset yet. However, Leader Pan, who was in the foreign affairs department, was different. They had seen the world. Didn't they have to bring back some things every time they went on a business trip? The foreign goods they brought back were very profitable!

The matter was completed in half an hour, and Leader Fang took Zhang Feng straight to the mall.

"A tape recorder! Sharp GF777, this is a high-end product. In the malls in the capital, it sells for more than two thousand yuan!" Zhang Feng couldn't help but say when he saw the things on the shelves.

"Buying it here with Hong Kong dollars, converted into RMB, is only a few hundred yuan," Leader Fang said. "Bringing this thing back can earn you more than a thousand yuan!"

For someone whose salary was only a few dozen yuan, earning more than a thousand yuan was absolutely unimaginable!

"Leader Fang, this is too... unbelievable," Zhang Feng said, swallowing.

"This is paradise," Leader Fang said. "Since you like it, let's buy this tape recorder first."

Soon, Zhang Feng was loaded with things. Sharp GF777 in his left hand, three Sanyo single-cassette players tied together in his right hand, and a Toshiba TV on his back...

"Aviator sunglasses, these are very popular. We have to buy some to take back!" Leader Pan said, reaching into his pocket, only to find that the foreign exchange he had brought was all spent!

"Alas, we can only buy these. As foreign films are introduced into our country, aviator sunglasses will also become popular. It's a pity we can't bring them back," Leader Pan shook his head repeatedly.

"Not enough money? I'll cover you! Boss, give me twenty pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses!" At this moment, a crisp voice sounded. The first half of the sentence was in Mandarin, and the second half was in Cantonese, spoken very fluently.

Leader Pan curiously looked over. The speaker was a fashionable woman with wavy hair, looking incredibly sexy and alluring.

"You are... Xiao Cao?" Leader Pan said, "Cao Xuemei?"

Leader Pan met Cao Xuemei by chance on his first business trip to Hong Kong. At that time, Cao Xuemei's high heel got stuck in a sewer grate, and Leader Pan happened to pass by and helped her. Cao Xuemei only handed him a business card at the time, and then there was no further contact.

Unexpectedly, they met here!

"Yes, why didn't you contact me?"

"Xiao Cao, you can see that I'm from the mainland and rarely come here."

"Since you're here, I have to repay you. Let me treat you to a meal?"

"No, no, thank you for lending me money to buy sunglasses. I'll pay you back next time I come."

"Don't be so polite. There's a cart noodle place near the mall. I'll take you there."

Zhang Feng was tired and hungry. After sitting down, he ate two big bowls. Leader Pan and Cao Xuemei chatted while eating.

"My father is from the mainland, and my mother is from Hong Kong, so I can speak Mandarin, Cantonese, and English," Cao Xuemei introduced herself enthusiastically. "By the way, Mr. Pan, are you an official in the mainland?"

"Not a big official, just receiving foreigners in the foreign affairs department."

"Really? No wonder you're different from other bumpkins from the mainland. So you're a diplomat. Who have you seen recently?"

"Recently? Recently, I've been responsible for receiving tycoons from the Middle East. Those people are really rich! They buy our tanks, buying a hundred at a time, just like buying cabbage."

"Yes, there's abundant oil there, and millionaires are everywhere. But since they've gone, they certainly won't just buy a few tanks."

"That's true..."

Sharp GF777, high collectible value