"Wow, the economy here is really booming."
As they stepped into the heart of the town—the central commercial district—it became clear that this street was the main attraction. Huang Yunfei's wife was immediately captivated.
Like many women, she had a natural enthusiasm for shopping, and this street was packed with appealing imported goods that made it hard for her to look away.
"This isn't what I expected," Huang Yunfei said with a hint of unease. "I thought this was just another American pastoral town. Where did all these stores come from?"
Compared to his wife, Huang Yunfei was clearly more reserved. He wasn't familiar with the pricing here, and like many Chinese travelers, he instinctively assumed that foreign goods would be expensive.
Though he could afford it, he still felt a twinge of pain for his wallet.
"Winthrop is now a tourist destination, so naturally, it has a thriving shopping district," Jiang Hai explained with a smile. "But don't worry, the prices are very reasonable. Most of the clothing here costs just a few dozen dollars—about a few hundred yuan. The quality's even better than what you'd get in China for the same price. Some items are as low as ten bucks.
"And those basketball shoes? Back home, LeBron's 13th edition costs 1,599 yuan. But here, the regular versions are just $200 on the official site, and the special editions go for $245—more than 300 yuan cheaper. I even saw them on sale recently for $170. They're all made in the U.S., so the quality's much better than those made in Southeast Asia."
Hearing Jiang Hai's explanation, Huang Yunfei and the others were stunned. They had assumed everything here would be pricey, but clearly, the local shopping scene was far more accessible than expected. No wonder so many tourists came here.
"Almost half the stores on this street belong to me, though I've rented most of them out," Jiang Hai added. "If you see something you like, go ahead and get it. Everything here is solid—especially the American ginseng. It's higher quality than what you'd find in China and not too expensive either. A 20-year-old wild American ginseng root goes for about $100. The sellers are Iroquois, a Native American group. It's the real deal.
"There are also some great local crafts, and don't forget to bring back some maple syrup for your parents—it's a must-buy. Clothes are up to you. If you're thinking about getting an iPad, you'll find them here too. But skip the phones; even though they're cheaper by a third compared to China, the network compatibility's an issue. You'd only get limited connectivity back home."
His detailed introduction lit a spark in everyone's eyes. Still, this trip was more about sightseeing for now—shopping would have to wait until they were closer to departure.
After strolling for about two hours, Jiang Hai led them to his go-to Italian restaurant for lunch. To their surprise, the place—once just moderately busy—was now packed.
A flood of tourists, both local and Chinese, had filled the restaurant. Clearly, the chef had skill—otherwise, such popularity would be impossible. The owner, clearly pleased, welcomed Jiang Hai warmly and led him to a private room recently added specifically to accommodate Chinese guests, who preferred more privacy during meals.
Jiang Hai and his guests were treated to a full, authentic Italian meal. Admittedly, if his parents were there, they probably wouldn't have enjoyed the sweet-and-sour flavors—but Jiang Hai and his friends found the dishes refreshing and unique.
Everyone left satisfied. When they received the bill, they were shocked to see it totaled just thirty U.S. dollars—less than two hundred yuan. The price left Xu Wei and the others marveling.
After lunch, the group continued with their original plan: visiting the local gun store.
Located in town, the gun store was just a walk away. But as they passed through the commercial district, they noticed something unusual—Mayor Wallis was walking through town with a group of men in suits and ties.
Every so often, the group would stop to take photos of the surroundings. Jiang Hai also noticed the uneasy expression on Mayor Wallis's face, which piqued his curiosity. Who could make the usually confident and commanding mayor look so troubled?
"Mayor!" Jiang Hai called out, waving.
Wallis turned at the sound of Jiang Hai's voice. When he saw who it was, his eyes lit up with relief and excitement.
"When did you get back?" Wallis quickly wrapped up his conversation with the others and strode over with a smile. With Jiang Hai present, perhaps this situation could be resolved more smoothly.
"Just got back. What's going on?" Jiang Hai asked, eyeing the group suspiciously.
"You've been away for half a month—something came up while you were gone," Wallis sighed.
"What happened?" Jiang Hai asked, frowning as he looked toward the men in suits.
"They're from Celanese. They want to build a factory here," Wallis replied helplessly, casting a reluctant glance toward the group.
"Celanese?" Jiang Hai repeated, puzzled. He'd never heard of them.
At that moment, a middle-aged white man stepped forward and extended his hand.
"Hello, I'm Peter, head of the logistics department at Celanese. We're here to evaluate a potential site for our new factory."
Jiang Hai shook the man's hand politely but remained confused.
"I'm Jiang Hai. I'm not entirely sure what you mean, though."
"In short," Peter explained, "your town's location is ideal. It's close to Boston and the airport, with access to both land and sea shipping. That makes it a perfect hub to serve both the East Coast and overseas markets. That's why we want to invest and build here."
Still not fully understanding, Jiang Hai turned to Wallis.
"Celanese is a chemical company," Wallis whispered. "They're known for high-performance engineering plastics... and other products I can't mention openly."
Jiang Hai's expression darkened instantly.
"Mayor, have you lost your mind? Why would we let a chemical plant anywhere near our land and ocean?" Jiang Hai said sternly, his voice full of disapproval.
Peter quickly tried to smooth things over.
"Mr. Jiang Hai, I believe there's a misunderstanding. Our products are world-renowned. While we are a chemical company, our operations don't pollute the environment—the air, the water, or the land. The U.S. government can vouch for that."
Pollution is no small matter, especially in the West. But Jiang Hai knew better. In this world, there's little that money can't buy—including silence.
A chemical company claiming zero pollution? Only fools would believe that. As for government assurances—those were even less reliable.
"I don't care what the mayor says—I absolutely will not agree to your company setting up here. Period." Jiang Hai said, cutting Peter off with a wave of his hand.
Peter shrugged, seemingly unfazed, but as he turned away, Jiang Hai caught a fleeting glint of menace in his eyes. It was brief, well-hidden—but it was there.
"We'll discuss this again tonight. For now, spend time with your friends," Wallis said quickly, trying to ease the tension now thick in the air.
Jiang Hai didn't say anything more, but he nodded slightly. He trusted that Wallis wasn't a fool.
Surely the mayor understood what was really at stake here. They claimed there would be no pollution—but even without proof, anyone could imagine the damage a chemical plant could do.
Perhaps for others, the risk was tolerable. But not for Jiang Hai.
He had chosen Winthrop for its pristine environment. If a factory came in, it would destroy everything he valued—especially the unique conditions that were helping him "level up." There was no way he would let that happen.
After exchanging a few parting words, Jiang Hai led Fu Yuan and the others toward the shooting range nearby.
As they walked away, the men from Celanese narrowed their eyes and watched them leave.
"Gentlemen, this way please," Mayor Wallis said flatly. "As I said, don't get your hopes up. My people aren't that naïve."
To be continued…