Sharpening the Blade Against the Red Wall: From Hong Kong to Handong

In Kyoto during the Spring Festival of 2002, red walls reflected the snow, creating a rich festive atmosphere. Zhou Jin and Chen Panpan's wedding was held in the Zhou family courtyard deep in the alley. Red lanterns hung high in the courtyard, and red carpets were laid out. Relatives and friends from both families, Zhou Jianguo and Su Tian's old comrades-in-arms, colleagues from the Hong Kong Liaison Department, and leaders and colleagues from Chen Panpan's workplace all gathered together. The scene was lively yet warm.

At the wedding ceremony, Grandfather Zhou Jianguo, dressed in a crisp Zhongshan suit, slowly unfurled a red silk scroll he had personally inscribed. The twelve powerful characters, "Holding hands, growing old together; never forgetting our initial aspirations, forging ahead with determination," were both his expectations for the newlyweds' marriage and his admonitions for Zhou Jin's future. Zhou Jianguo's gaze swept over the couple, and he solemnly said, "After establishing a family, build a career. Protect the warmth of your own home, and remember your responsibilities to your country. May you walk hand in hand through life, living up to your youthful years."

Grandpa Su Tian personally placed a pair of warm, lustrous white Hetian jade bracelets on Chen Panpan's wrist. The bracelets were warm to the touch and exquisitely carved. "These jade bracelets are treasures I've kept for many years. I'm giving them to Panpan today," Su Tian said with a pleased smile. "They symbolize a perfect match, and I wish you both a warm and harmonious life together, with peace and happiness year after year." Chen Panpan's eyes reddened slightly as she softly thanked him. The jade bracelets on her wrists jingled gently with her movements, like whispers of happiness.

The ceremony was simple yet solemn, without any extravagant pomp, but filled with sincere blessings. Zhou Jin held Chen Panpan's hand and made her vows amidst the applause of relatives and friends, her gaze firm yet tender, as if she had grasped a lifetime of peace and prosperity.

After their marriage, Chen Panpan returned to work at the Cultural Affairs Department of the Public Relations Bureau in Kyoto, and the couple began a long-distance relationship. Distance did not diminish their longing; instead, it intensified their mutual affection. A weekly video call became their tradition. On screen, Chen Panpan would share interesting stories from her cultural work or the changing seasons in Kyoto; Zhou Jin would discuss Hong Kong's economic situation and the progress and challenges at work. Every month, Zhou Jin would make time to visit her in Kyoto, even if only for a few days. He would set aside all other commitments to accompany Chen Panpan through the hutongs, eat at traditional restaurants, or cook a simple meal at home, enjoying precious moments together. Occasionally, Chen Panpan would also take advantage of holidays to visit Hong Kong. Zhou Jin would take her for a stroll along Victoria Harbour, enjoying the vibrant night view of Hong Kong, or visit the office of the Liaison Office in Hong Kong, letting her experience his daily work environment. Although each reunion was short, it strengthened their bond.

Meanwhile, Zhou Jin's focus at the Liaison Office in Hong Kong shifted entirely to deepening cooperation between Hong Kong's economic recovery and the mainland. Having weathered the financial crisis, Hong Kong was at a critical juncture of economic adjustment, and the numerous initiatives spearheaded by Zhou Jin built solid bridges for cooperation between the two places. Regarding trade facilitation, he actively coordinated with relevant departments in both the mainland and Hong Kong to simplify customs procedures, extend clearance times, and conduct preliminary preparations for the pilot program of "co-location arrangement," significantly improving the efficiency of goods and personnel exchanges between the two places. For certain bulk commodities, he promoted the implementation of tariff reduction policies, lowering trade costs between the two places and further highlighting Hong Kong's role as a gateway to the mainland.

In the area of ​​financial cooperation, Zhou Jin leveraged his resources to actively connect with mainland financial regulatory authorities and the Hong Kong Banking Association, paving the way for Hong Kong banks to expand their business in the mainland. He spearheaded numerous matchmaking events, assisting established Hong Kong banks such as HSBC and Bank of East Asia in understanding mainland market access rules and facilitating their preparations for establishing branches in the Pearl River Delta region. This laid the foundation for the subsequent large-scale expansion of Hong Kong banks in the mainland. These initiatives not only revitalized the business of Hong Kong financial institutions but also injected new momentum into the mainland financial market.

In terms of fostering technological innovation industries, Zhou Jin keenly seized the opportunity presented by the official opening of the Hong Kong Science Park in 2002, actively promoting Huayao Capital's participation. He led his team to conduct in-depth investigations of companies in the Science Park, selecting a group of promising technology startups and focusing on investing in projects in fields such as artificial intelligence and electronic information. At the same time, he collaborated with mainland research institutions and Hong Kong universities to promote the transformation of technological achievements, helping Hong Kong to break free from its dependence on traditional industries and build a diversified economic structure.

As the coordinator of Huayao Capital, Zhou Jin continued the investment strategy of "adhering to the right path while seeking innovation." He observed that the Hong Kong property market was still in a period of adjustment in 2002, while a real estate project in a prime Kowloon location previously held by Huayao Capital had already appreciated significantly. He decisively sold the project, ultimately making a profit of HK$10 billion, accurately grasping the market cycle. Subsequently, he invested this capital in emerging industries such as the internet and biomedicine—at that time, the aftershocks of the internet bubble were subsiding, the value of high-quality companies was becoming apparent, and the biomedical field was on the eve of a technological breakthrough. These investments not only aligned with the national industrial upgrading direction but also secured long-term returns for Huayao Capital.

In the last month of 2002, the sea breeze in Hong Kong carried a warm feeling. Zhou Jin stood by the window of the Hong Kong Liaison Office, looking at the photo of himself and Chen Panpan on his desk, a smile playing on his lips. This year, he had experienced both the warmth and fulfillment of his family life and the steady progress of his career. The dawn of Hong Kong's economic recovery was gradually appearing, the blueprint for cooperation between the two places was gradually taking shape, and Huayao Capital's asset size was also growing steadily.

He picked up his phone and dialed Chen Panpan's number, his tone gentle: "Panpan, I'm done with work at the end of the year. I'll come back to Kyoto next week to celebrate the New Year with you."

Chen Panpan's cheerful voice came through the receiver: "Okay, I've already tidied up the house and bought your favorite preserved meats. We'll cook New Year's Eve dinner together when you get back."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Jin opened his work notebook, where his grandfather's inscription on the title page caught his eye. "Establish a family and career, but never forget your original aspirations." He knew the road ahead was long, and whether it was protecting the warmth of his family or shouldering the responsibilities of his work, he would carry this original aspiration and move forward steadily. The dazzling night view of Hong Kong outside the window witnessed the city's recovery and rise, and also the perseverance and growth of a man in balancing family and career.