Chapter 570: Chapter 570

"Huh?" Jing Shu blinked. "No choice?"

Zhou Bapi nodded. "Only vice-presidents and above can lead a team, and you’re the most available right now. You also heard that I need to prevent a parasite outbreak. It’s foreseeable that Wu City and its surroundings will soon experience this virus too. If we don’t nip this virus in the bud, it will become very troublesome."

Jing Shu shrugged. "Okay then, I’ll lead the team." Last time I made a hurried trip to the Imperial Capital, I didn’t even get off the plane. You could say that, aside from a layover there, I didn’t do anything. I was just thinking, since I’m going to the Imperial Capital, should I take the time to enjoy myself? Seeing the Imperial Capital after the apocalypse would be quite nice. But now it seems like there won’t be any time for fun. This time, going to the Imperial Capital is for serious business.

Zhou Bapi gulped down another pot of milk tea. "Old Jin, I should hurry back to the Medicine Association. You need to send a few people from the Disease Prevention Center to our Medicine Association. If we discover any patients with parasites, we’ll be better prepared on our end."

Jin Tianci waved his hand. "You better hurry then."

"Jing Shu, come on, head back to the Medicine Association with me."

"Wait... I still need to find Li Dayou and the others," Jing Shu said hurriedly.

Jin Tianci laughed. "Oh, Jing Shu, I forgot to tell you. The direct flight Li Dayou and his group are taking is the same one you’ll be on for the competition in the Imperial Capital. You’ll all go together, so anything can be discussed then. Plus, it’ll save you trouble if you bring any gifts directly with you, right?"

Jing Shu raised an eyebrow. "Such a coincidence? Hmm... that works. I can give them a nice surprise then." I didn’t know Li Dayou and his group would arrive today, so I didn’t bring anything. But now I can bring everything directly onto the plane for them as thank-you gifts; that’s perfect. And by then, it won’t be an issue of them feeling hesitant to accept valuable gifts either.

Jing Shu was truly busy that day.

Her journey to the Medicine Association had also been incredibly bumpy. By the time Jing Shu finally got back home, it was late at night. Everyone was asleep, but Grandma Jing had left a pot of rice in the kitchen for her. It had cooled and been reheated several times. If it were anyone else, Grandma Jing wouldn’t have wasted the precious gas, but this was her darling granddaughter. Eventually, Grandma Jing, exhausted, had fallen asleep.

Jing Shu returned home and didn’t turn on the lights. She first rubbed her hands together, breathed warm air onto them, and cupped them over her ears. The outside was frigid, while the villa was too warm. Soon, her skin began to itch and ache. Her body’s old affliction was its proneness to chilblains; despite her utmost care, the sudden temperature change irritated her skin, causing it to turn red.

It took a while for her to feel better. Then, she started gobbling up the leftover rice, her mind occupied with the task Zhou Bapi had entrusted to her earlier that day.

The competition in the Imperial Capital involved showcasing medicinal plants grown by individuals or teams, divided into group and individual events. As long as the Medicine Association’s big data contained records proving that the medicinal materials were indeed grown by you or your team, you were eligible to participate. Then, rankings would be determined by scores based on various data points of the medicinal materials, as well as their value, practicality, and other aspects. But it definitely wasn’t a competition of who had the most expensive item, or where someone could win just by presenting a ginseng. For both group and individual events, the more of the currently needed medicinal materials one could present, the better.

"But let me give you the low-down." Zhou Bapi had cautiously looked around to ensure no one was listening before continuing in a whisper to Jing Shu, "This sudden event from the Imperial City Pharmaceutical Association isn’t simple. From some insider information I managed to obtain, the rules aren’t just what I mentioned. I spent a good deal of tobacco to get a critical piece of information from that old scoundrel."

Jing Shu raised an eyebrow. It’s just a Medicine Association competition, isn’t it? Just like before: whoever makes the greatest contribution leads and gets a ton of resources. Could the competition really have some new trick up its sleeve? Could there be some hidden agenda?

"That old scoundrel said that for this competition, we should take all the medicinal materials we can—the more, the better. It will be beneficial. It seems this competition is related to quantity, so this time, take everything we can, including the semi-processed products."

That was why they had chartered a large airplane specifically to transport all sorts of medicinal materials.

Jing Shu began her busy preparations for the trip to the Imperial Capital. She had already relayed all necessary instructions at the Medicine Association the previous day. Jing Shu just needed to meet up with the designated people at the scheduled time. The most update n0vels are published on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒·𝗇𝗲𝘁

Jing Shu acted as a hands-off manager. Meanwhile, at the Medicine Association, her little follower, Wang Danai, who had since become a permanent team leader, was busily directing and coordinating everything on site.

Government-modified cargo trucks arrived one after another to transport various medicinal materials to the airplane.

The Medicine Association was bustling today. After news spread about the trip to the Imperial Capital for the competition, the association conducted a screening process and selected 9 contestants from over 600 planting Pharmacists. Today, these contestants brought out the medicinal materials they had long prepared, to be sent to the Imperial Capital for the competition.

"Sister Danai, the trucks are already full, and there’s no room left for some of the medicinal materials."

"Who brought all those piles of Bodhi Trees? They aren’t even high-value medicinal materials, just trees. Can’t they be moved?"

"Exactly, the Bodhi Trees are taking up too much space."

"Bringing Bodhi Trees to compete in the Imperial Capital? Is that a joke? Such worthless materials! Even bringing one devalues us. People in the Imperial Capital will think Wu City has nothing better to offer."

Wang Danai, holding the material list, felt a headache coming on. Someone else approached and said, "The prominent medicinal families over there can’t even load their ginseng. Should we unload some of these Bodhi Trees?"

Just as some people were about to start unloading—and they were about to unload items specifically requested by Vice President Jing Shu—Wang Danai grew anxious. "Put those down! Everyone, put them down! Those Bodhi Trees were specifically requested by President Jing. They cannot be unloaded!"

Upon hearing it was President Jing, the area quieted for a moment, only for an even louder discussion to erupt immediately after.

"Is that the Boss Jing who contracted for more than half of the medicinal crops planted by our Association? I joined late, but I heard that many of our Association’s medicinal plant varieties were replenished by this Boss Jing."

"Boss Jing? Isn’t she the one who provides the daily fertilizer? What a remarkable person! It’s a pity that in the two years I’ve been with the Medicine Association, I’ve only seen her a few times."

"I heard Boss Jing has done many legendary things. She’s very fierce—even kicked out the previous vice president—and has strong backing."

"She used to beat people without batting an eye and would act before speaking. You know Qin Feifei, right? Even someone as formidable as her steers clear of Boss Jing."

"Are you crazy? Dare to mess with her things? Do you know the consequences? Let me tell you, the people who tried ended up in a miserable state."

"Yes, yes, the things President Jing wants to bring must be very important. Let’s try to squeeze more into the other trucks."

In just a few seconds, those who had been talking about unloading the items were immediately cowed. Harmony was restored. Wang Danai blinked. President Jing only visits a few times a year. Why are the rumors about her so frightening? Jing Shu... she’s actually a very sweet person.