Consumer demand from this huge garrison provided the foundation of the economy for local residents. Shops offering recreation, dry goods, laundry services and the like served this market, and soldiers returning to Taiwan from duty in Kinmen brought back souvenirs of special local products like peanut "tribute candy," kitchen knives made from artillery casings and shrapnel, and kaoliang liquor.
這麼龐大的軍隊，日常的消費就成了當地居民的主要經濟來源，娛樂、雜貨、洗衣等等，甚至特產貢糖、菜刀、高粱酒，都是軍人返台的紀念品。