Chapter 568: Chapter 568

Jing Shu touched her nose and said nothing. She knew what was coming next: the most challenging time of the apocalypse. All she wished for was to quietly make a fortune, eat well, sleep well, and not be troubled or forced to hand over her private stores of food.

"We’ll still keep your Seeds in the storage without charging you a storage fee. You can use them whenever you need to." Jin Tianci then summoned his secretary and drafted a contract on his mobile device, inputting it into the big data system and incorporating the terms they had just discussed. Furthermore, Jin Tianci elevated this matter to Wu City’s highest secrecy level; from now on, only those with the utmost authority could make changes. If anyone dared to touch this twenty percent of the crops, the issue could justifiably be taken to the Imperial Capital.

Jing Shu nodded like a pecking chicken. Even if Jin Tianci hadn’t mentioned it, she would have stored that batch of Seeds in Wu City’s storage anyway.

After all, she really had no other place to store such a large quantity of Seeds. They couldn’t be openly accounted for if kept in her dimensional space, so she would have to find time to secretly transfer a small amount of every type there. One must not put all one’s eggs in one basket. Although her red earthworms had also been stored in Wu City’s facility and had remained perfectly safe, if anything happened to that storeroom, she’d have nowhere to cry if her Seeds were lost.

Once all matters were agreed upon, both Jing Shu and Jin Tianci let out a long breath, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from their minds.

Jin Tianci immediately began arranging the distribution and planting of this batch of Seeds. "We won’t hand these Seeds over to the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry is under too much pressure right now, and they don’t have the time or land for planting. Issue the orders to the Research Department and tell them to use *that* method to plant," he instructed, continuing with more details.

Jin Tianci spoke cryptically, but Jing Shu wondered, Which method? Besides soil cultivation and hydroponics, could there be other ways? Are they reliable? Are they safe? After all, twenty percent of them are mine.

"Be sure to call me when it’s time to plant. I want to come and take a look," Jing Shu said, still feeling uneasy.

"Sure, sure," Jin Tianci responded somewhat perfunctorily, turning his head to continue issuing related tasks. Only then did Jing Shu realize that this batch of Seeds involved many different departments.

Truly a case of ’the boss gives the orders, the subordinates run themselves ragged.’

Jing Shu found a comfortable position to lounge on the sofa. Once these discussions are over, I’ll have the secretary take me to Li Dayou. I need to think carefully about how to repay these people. They’re leaving Wu City in a few days, and it’s likely we won’t meet again.

In the past, people often said that instead of giving specific rewards, it was more convenient to give money directly, so the recipient could buy whatever they wanted.

How about giving Virtual Coin? Jing Shu shook her head. I don’t have much Virtual Coin myself.

In this apocalypse, nothing is more practical as a reward than giving rice directly.

How about giving them rice? Jing Shu immediately shook her head again. How much rice would it take to express my gratitude for such a huge favor? Besides, they can’t carry much on the airplane.

Most importantly, I only have so many bags of rice at home. If I give them away, I won’t have enough for my own family.

So what should I give? Jing Shu racked her brain. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she slapped her thigh. "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime! In this apocalypse, what good is giving a lot of food? No matter how much you have, it will eventually run out!"

At that moment, the door BANGED open, a draft of cold air rushed in, and then it BANGED shut. A familiar voice followed, "Sister-in-law, quickly pour me some hot tea! I’m freezing to death!"

Zhou Bapi’s prominent yellow teeth appeared first. In the adjoining room, Mrs. Jin rolled her eyes and muttered to herself for a moment before returning to her milk tea. Milk is so precious these days, and it’s rare for anyone in Wu City to have the gall to freeload food and drink. Yet today, one person after another has come to discuss business, and they’ve already gone through four pots of milk tea!

Sigh, and that was supposed to be for Old Jin to regain his strength.

"Old Jin’s really splurged on this hospitality tea, using pure milk! If only he’d added a bit more salt, it would be perfect for this chilly weather. TSK TSK," Zhou Bapi remarked, plopping himself down on the sofa.

Only then did he realize Jing Shu was also there. The milk tea he had just sipped nearly sprayed out of his mouth. With great effort, he managed to swallow it, though some went down through his nasal passage. Even though it was uncomfortable, at least it wasn’t wasted. Can’t afford to waste anything!

"Jing Shu, you’re finally back! When did you return?" Zhou Bapi’s expression flickered between excitement and surprise. He put down his milk tea and, grabbing Jing Shu, choked up, "My dear apprentice, it’s so good you’re here! What a coincidence! You have no idea—you’ve been out of contact for over a month! We’ve been calling you non-stop. It was only from Old Jin that we learned you’d gone into the deep mountains, with no telling when you’d be back... We’d almost given up hope!" Dıscover more novels at 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱

"Why didn’t you say anything when you got back? We’ve been looking all over for you; it’s been so hard!" Zhou Bapi put on a pitiful expression, as if he had suffered greatly.

Jing Shu hesitated for a moment. "What could be the matter? I recall arranging everything with the Pharmacist Association. For chicken manure, they can go to my grandmother. What else could they possibly need me for in such a rush?"

Jing Shu was a master of delegation. Her monthly contributions were now covered by chicken manure, which she even supplied in excess. She didn’t need to ’clock in’ at the Medicine Association at all. After all, in the entire Wu City Pharmaceutical Association, aside from the perennially absent and mysterious Director, one Vice President was her mentor, Zhou Bapi, and the other couldn’t control her either.

"You’ve forgotten about the medicinal herb planting competition in the Imperial Capital that was canceled last year, haven’t you? It’s been rescheduled and starts in five days! The Medicine Associations from all twenty-six districts nationwide will bring their entries to compete. This will determine the new round of medicinal herb resource distribution. Old Jin has given a strict order: many of the old, weak, sick, and disabled in Wu City are waiting for these medicines. If we don’t secure more medicinal resources... COUGH COUGH... the Medicine Association won’t retain as many privileges or benefits," Zhou Bapi explained.

Although both involved planting, the benefits and privileges offered by the Medicine Association were much higher than those of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Jing Shu raised an eyebrow. Speaking of privileges, I do have them. My privilege level is quite high, intimidatingly so—even a bit higher than Mrs. Jing’s. But in terms of actual power or responsibilities, I have none. At most, if I were to cause trouble or do something wrong, Wu City wouldn’t handle it directly; the Medicine Association would arbitrate. No other institution has the authority to take action against me, given that I’m also at the Vice President level.

"So soon?" Jing Shu exclaimed, surprised. I thought this matter was shelved indefinitely. I can’t believe it’s starting so quickly. This is really unexpected.

I only got home a few days ago! I still have so many supplies to prepare and so many things to do. It’s already the fourth year of the apocalypse; why can’t they just let me have a few days of peace?

Jing Shu’s face was etched with worry.

Zhou Bapi, however, beamed with delight.

His prominent yellow teeth were particularly glaring as he said, "Exactly! They say they’ve deciphered some mysterious item, and a batch of resources will be distributed as a result. That’s why they’re holding a simplified competition. If you hadn’t returned, we wouldn’t have stood a chance with that. But now that you’re back... HEH HEH... we’re much more confident about securing these resources! Old Jin, if we actually win a prize, you’ll give our Medicine Association some extra benefits, right?"