If nature seems hard to predict, worldly events also do not necessarily turn out the way people hope. "From front line to transit point, Matsu's niche is to play functional roles," says Tsao Yi-hsiung, a member of the Lienchiang County Assembly.
「由前線到兩岸交通的轉運站，馬祖長期扮演一種『功能性』的角色，」連江縣議會曹以雄議員指出，開放小三通前，馬祖人企盼台商和大陸觀光客能帶來商機。