"I heard from Xiao Xiao that Zhou Bapi specially recruited her back, but that still does not give her the face to hold a title and never show up for work. Xiao Xiao lost a regular staff position because of her. President Tie, you have to stand up for her," Jiao Jiao said, hands on her hips, her figure neat and eye catching against the backdrop of the crowded canteen. She stood tall, her voice carrying over the morning clatter of ceramic bowls and metal spoons.
The once quiet Medicinal Herb Association looked completely different today. The silence that used to hang over the grounds had been replaced by the constant movement of a growing population. Houses around it were suddenly occupied, likely the people Zhou Bapi mentioned who had migrated from elsewhere to seek refuge. Wu City was still comparatively lucky, only half submerged under the encroaching waters. Some places had been drowned entirely, the structures swallowed by the rising tide, forcing people to move to nearby cities in better condition.
The northwest was remote, a stretch of land that felt far removed from the heart of the chaos. Wu City wanted to consolidate the population here, otherwise scattered settlements would be hard to govern in these times of crisis.
Wu City was also far from the border. Closer to the border, many foreigners had probably fled in recently, drawn by rumors of plentiful food that supposedly waited for them here. Cough. In truth, the food we had was no different from the rest of the world's, just as scarce and just as precious.
Thinking of that, Jing Shu had to admire those foreigners a little. In the very year when food was most abundant, they had already begun eating reserve rations, depleting their stores before the real trouble began. Unlike the people of China, who had a survival sense in their bones, always stocking up for the lean years that they knew would eventually come. Like squeezing toothpaste, we released a little only when things were nearly impossible to bear, stretching every grain and every drop of oil.
"Right, there is a very rich cache over there, I heard it has everything. High calorie food, survival gear, all kinds of emergency supplies," the thought flashed through Jing Shu's mind, bright and sharp.
If she could dig that up, it would be a fortune beyond imagining. Jing Shu almost drooled at the mental image of rows of canned goods and sturdy equipment.
The Medicinal Herb Association had built its own canteen, a sturdy structure that smelled of steam and damp stone, and seven in the morning was breakfast time. People flowed in to get their meals, their boots thudding softly on the floor. Jing Shu saw today's breakfast was thin porridge and a proper cold dish of greens with mushroom, the steam rising in pale curls from the communal vats.
It was indeed much better than what ordinary people ate out on the streets, where even a bowl of clean water was hard to find.
Jing Shu had just reached the canteen door when she ran into this group and heard the words President Tie. She knew then that this must be the backer behind Xiao Xiao, finally returned to reclaim his territory.
Compared to Zhou Bapi's Fire Cloud Evil God hairstyle with a few straggly hairs clinging to his scalp, President Tie was a true bald man. The skin of his head was pulled taut, and the back of his head folded into three or four rolls of fat that shifted when he turned.
A bald head and a balding head were not the same.
A shaved head could grow hair back if left alone. A balding head shone like a marinated egg, oily and bare, with hair that would not grow no matter how much effort was spent on it.
President Tie was truly as rotund as an iron ball, his silhouette nearly perfectly circular. He panted when he walked, his breath coming in short, rhythmic huffs, even fatter than the slimmed down Fat Girl from Building No. 25.
In the apocalypse, every fat person was definitely well off, a living testament to their access to resources.
President Tie's voice was soft and syrupy, sliding through the air with an unsettling smoothness. "Since she was specially recruited by President Zhou, and has the power to come when she wishes and not come when she wishes, she must be extremely capable. Perhaps she is a descendant from a family of medicinal growers.
You all need to open your eyes and avoid offending those who should not be offended.
Jing Shu, I know her. She is the most naturally gifted grower I have seen. President Zhou already briefed me. This junior named Jing Shu is to be trained as a vice president. She will even get one of the national competition slots.
Think about it. Problems even President Zhou could not solve, this genius solved. Things President Zhou could not cultivate, she cultivated. Is that not real skill? If I hear anyone badmouthing Jing Shu again, be careful, I will punish you."
Smiling, a wide and practiced expression that did not reach his eyes, President Tie waddled over. "Jing Shu, I am optimistic about you. Everyone, if you have questions, learn from her. Listen to her guidance more. She is the upright representative of Wu City. Those other types outside cannot compare." With that, he strode off with his great belly leading the way, looking genuinely appreciative of Jing Shu as he moved through the crowd.
Jiao Jiao snorted under her breath, her eyes narrowing as she watched the exchange. "Dont get cocky. My sister's matter is not over between us." It was hard to imagine that the charcoal dark, manlike Xiao Xiao and this dainty woman were sisters, so different were they in appearance and manner.
The move was classic killing by praise, elevating her so high that others would naturally want to see her fall.
Jing Shu had thought President Tie would make things hard for her while Zhou Bapi was away. Unexpectedly, he did nothing openly, and even praised her once in a crowded canteen where everyone could hear. The intention was vicious, designed to breed jealousy and resentment among the hardworking staff.
What time was it now?
It was when talent from other cities had just arrived and wanted to show themselves, eager to prove their worth in their new home. With one performance like this, President Tie had stacked all the aggro on Jing Shu, painting a target on her back for every ambitious newcomer.
Sure enough, the moment President Tie left, Jiao Jiao began whispering to those nearby, adding oil to the fire as she spread the story, thoroughly helping Jing Shu become famous for all the wrong reasons.
"She has special privileges now. She can come whenever she wants. So impressive. We work more than a dozen hours a day, and she does nothing and still gets paid."
"There are seven regular staff positions in Wu City including the president. She got one of them knocked out. She has real face. President Zhou went along with whatever she wanted without a word."
"She is cultivating several varieties now, and she even boasted she is definitely taking the vice president seat."
Even a clay figurine has some fire in it, let alone someone as hot tempered as Jing Shu. The world was strange. Keeping to yourself did not guarantee peace. On the contrary, trouble sought you out even when you were standing perfectly still.
But Jing Shu could not be impulsive here. She couldn't swagger up and say, "Yes, I said that, and believe it or not I will have you removed too," even though she had the ability to do it if she truly pushed.
"Nonsense. It was clearly Xiao Xiao who was in the wrong." Wang Danai arrived at the critical moment, her voice cutting through the murmurs like a knife.
"Papaya milk in hand too, I see," Jing Shu sighed deeply, a little envious of the woman's vitality. It was as if a pair of snow white rabbits were bouncing toward her as Wang Danai marched forward.
As a seasoned old employee, Wang Danai had some say in the association, and people turned to listen. With her vivid, dramatic account of the previous events, she ended up in a full on shouting match with Jiao Jiao, the two of them trading barbs in the center of the canteen, while Xiao Xiao still did not show her face. No one knew where she had gone.