Chapter 574: Chapter 574

What did this mean? It meant that while others were met as soon as they deplaned, her Wu City contingent had been waiting for half an hour, completely ignored. Were they really going to be this disrespectful?

"President Jing, what should we do? It’s so cold, and there’s no place for us to take shelter and keep warm."

"President, it’s fine if we’re a bit cold, but I’m worried about some of the delicate medicinal materials. Without a dedicated vehicle, they might freeze to death."

Jing Shu rubbed her hands together and blew on them, then gave Danai a meaningful look. "I’ll go visit the people from the Medicine Association up front. The rest of you wait here a little longer."

One transport vehicle after another was loaded with various medicinal materials and driven away. Judging by the sheer quantity, acquiring so many medicinal supplies in the apocalypse was truly impressive. Clearly, this was a well-supplied Medicine Association branch from a major provincial city. Maybe they received some insider information?

About twenty people boarded a large bus emblazoned with "Medicine Association."

The bus doors were just about to close.

Jing Shu sprinted forward, her hand shooting out to block the closing door. She wedged a foot inside and poked her head in. "Wait a minute, please wait!"

On the bus, the driver turned, frowning. "What do you want? This is the Medicine Association’s dedicated bus. Strangers aren’t allowed near."

Although everyone on the bus glanced over, they were chattering excitedly amongst themselves and didn’t pay much attention.

Jing Shu produced her work ID, smiling. "Excuse me, is the person in charge of the Imperial City Pharmaceutical Association here? I’m the team leader for the Wu City Pharmaceutical Association participating in this competition."

"Team Leader Zhang, someone from the Wu City Pharmaceutical Association is looking for you!" the driver called out.

In the last row, a pair of legs stirred, and a man stood up. Jing Shu looked up to see a scholarly-looking, middle-aged man rubbing his sleepy eyes. A flicker of irritation vanished from his face, instantly replaced by a forced smile.

The man rose and walked towards her.

"I read the files and knew the team leader from the Wu City Pharmaceutical Association would be someone remarkable. To represent an entire city at such a young age, you must possess exceptional abilities. I’ve long admired President Jing’s reputation!

"Oh, by the way, I’m Zhang Xian, the team leader responsible for transportation and coordination for this competition. What can I do for you? If it’s within my power, I’ll certainly help."

As he spoke, Zhang Xian approached Jing Shu. When he got a clear look at her face, his eyes lit up, and he eagerly extended his hand for a handshake.

Jing Shu ignored the gesture, instead pointing to a batch of supplies under the lights outside. She smiled faintly. "Hello, Team Leader Zhang. When will our Wu City Pharmaceutical Association’s medicinal materials be transported to the designated competition venue? We’ve been waiting in the freezing cold for half an hour. Shouldn’t pickups follow a first-come, first-served principle? Why were those who arrived after us collected by dedicated vehicles first?"

Zhang Xian retracted his hand, not at all embarrassed. He looked down at the supplies, then chuckled. "Oh, you’re asking the wrong person about that. You should call the dispatch department. We only act on their orders and strictly follow their pickup schedules. How about I call and ask for you?"

"Yes, please do," Jing Shu said, raising an eyebrow.

Zhang Xian made a call, audibly repeating Jing Shu’s questions. After a moment, he hung up and said with a beaming smile, "Here’s the situation: since you reported your arrival later than the Fuhai Pharmaceutical Association, you’re scheduled after them. They’ll come for you once Fuhai’s materials are delivered. It should be about a five or six-hour round trip... You see, you live and learn. Make sure to be quicker next time."

Jing Shu watched Zhang Xian with narrowed eyes. The other end of his phone call had been silent—he had faked it.

So... this man has connections with the Fuhai Pharmaceutical Association, and that’s why their goods were transported first? she mused. Even in the apocalypse, nepotism still exists.

"Then... I see this bus has many empty seats. Could our pharmacists, who are here for the competition, catch a ride back with you?"

Well, it’s just a matter of who goes first, Jing Shu thought. Getting cut in line isn’t the end of the world. Now that we’re on their turf, it’s best to lie low, take note of this, and settle it later.

Zhang Xian put on a troubled expression and turned with a smile to a middle-aged woman seated in the front row. "I can’t make that decision. Chairman Wang of the Fuhai Pharmaceutical Association has to decide. After all, this bus is specifically for them. Chairman Wang, what do you think...?"

The middle-aged woman pushed up her glasses, her posture reserved. She spoke sternly, "According to competition rules, pharmacists from different Medicine Association regions are prohibited from congregating and discussing matters. President Jing, you should return to your materials and wait for your dedicated transport."

Jing Shu frowned at the colluding pair, slightly puzzled. There’s no hatred without cause in this world. Logically, there’s no reason for them to target me or Wu City specifically. Using the competition rules as an excuse... it’s clearly a pretext.

They’ve denied us the transport vehicles and refused us seats on the bus. My first encounter in the Imperial Capital is a setback, and I don’t even know who I’ve offended.

Zhang Xian glanced at Jing Shu’s small hands with a hint of regret and gestured for her to leave. "Then I’m truly sorry, President Jing. Please disembark and wait for our next trip. I promise I’ll be back as quickly as possible."

Jing Shu sighed. "Must it really be this way?"

Zhang Xian blinked, not understanding.

"No one spoke on the other end of your call; you were putting on a one-man show. We confirmed the time and place for pickup with your side yesterday. Even if you had to prioritize the Fuhai Pharmaceutical Association temporarily, there’s no reason to leave our people completely unaccommodated and hanging .

"Why are you deliberately making things so difficult for us? What benefit is there for you in merely delaying us by half a day? Is it just to make us stand in the mud for a few hours?" Jing Shu revealed a look of utter befuddlement. Such tactics are too crude. It doesn’t seem likely.

Zhang Xian’s expression changed drastically. Normally, when smart people realized he was playing dirty, they would grit their teeth, take their leave, and look for an opportunity to strike back secretly. Both sides would maintain a facade of cordiality while scheming behind the scenes, never openly calling each other out.

If their interests aligned, they might even become friends.

But he hadn’t expected this naive girl to expose him publicly, instantly turning their conflict into bitter enmity. Zhang Xian knew there was no turning back with Jing Shu; she had successfully made an irreconcilable enemy of him.

The composed Chairman Wang chuckled. She’s young and impetuous, after all. How could Old Zhou choose such a successor? She wiped the smile from her face and said solemnly, "Since you’ve seen through it all, you should get off and wait for the next vehicle. The Medicine Association is a place where rules and strength matter. No matter how you look at it, you’re in the wrong here."

Jing Shu was genuinely surprised. "Aren’t you afraid I’ll file a complaint about what you’ve done?"

Zhang Xian looked uneasy, but Chairman Wang remained calm, shaking her head with a smile. "You still don’t understand what ’rules’ mean." The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝙣𝙚𝙩

The bus remained noisy; no one even paid attention to this person who had boarded, seemingly trying to hitch a ride.

After a moment of silence, Jing Shu nodded. "Alright then, I’ve suddenly changed my mind. I’ve decided to be willful this once. Good luck to you, Chairman Wang."

"Being willful could cost Wu City all its supplies. You should think carefully before acting." The poised middle-aged woman waved her hand, dismissing Jing Shu.