Applause broke out from the crowd below. The sound echoed through the wide hall as hundreds of hands came together in a rhythmic thrum.
Wang Daxian was invited to speak first. As a senior from one of Wu City's old medicinal families, he had grown up cultivating herbs and had a natural affinity for them. He was known for his gentle demeanor, yet the first words he spoke on stage were:
"I often hear President Tie praising Jing Shu. The younger generation truly surpasses the older. President Tie has sharp eyes, and I must admit, I also greatly admire this young friend, Jing Shu."
From the audience, Wang Xiaoxian rolled her eyes, her lips pressing together in a thin line.
"If we weren't grading according to market demand, and we looked only at cultivation skill, I would admit that what I have grown isn't as fine as what Jing Shu has cultivated. Her skills are more advanced. Moreover, her crops reach medicinal maturity in about half a year, while mine take much longer, require greater investment, and are rare and expensive herbs that ordinary people can't afford. So for everyone to score me so highly, this old man feels unworthy."
Applause swelled even louder. The vibration filled the room. The two were supposed to be rivals, yet Jing Shu hadn't expected him to praise her so openly.
"From what I see, Jing Shu is more suited to cultivating diverse crops. She has broad knowledge, while I only specialize in rare herbs like ginseng and codonopsis, which aren't suitable for large-scale promotion. To be honest, this makes me less fit for the position. I think Jing Shu is more suited to being Vice President. Look at her choices. Bodhi, tobacco, honeysuckle. All urgently needed in our country's current situation. With disease spreading, we need these herbs most. Promoting them requires her guidance. So I think everyone should cast their votes for Jing Shu."
Jing Shu's mind raced as she stared at the old man. What on earth was happening? Weren't they supposed to be competitors? Why is he helping her instead? She stood there, a little dumbfounded, her fingers curling slightly at her sides.
President Tie's hand wiped sweat from his face, his movements hurried. What is this old man playing at? After all those words, was he seriously handing the position to Jing Shu?
When Wang Daxian finished speaking, he even winked at her as he stepped down, his eyes crinkling behind his spectacles. Jing Shu couldn't help feeling there was some hidden reason behind his actions.
She walked up to the stage still a little dazed, her boots clicking softly on the floor. Looking out over the sea of faces, some curious and others gloating, she felt the weight of so many gazes. After everything that had happened, her name had gradually spread throughout the Medicinal Herb Association.
And now that the Medicinal Herb Base had merged with the Ta City branch, there were hundreds more people here. Many of them had been defeated by her before, and so their feelings toward her were complicated. Some admired her while others resented her. Unfortunately, this vice president selection hadn't anything to do with Ta City, so the few familiar faces she had known weren't present today.
Jing Shu cleared her throat, just about to speak, when a piercing alarm sounded. The shrill noise cut through the air. President Tie and Zhou Bapi hurried off to the control room, while the audience erupted into chatter.
"What has happened now? Another emergency order from central government?"
"Probably. The last time was four months ago. I remember it was to urgently manufacture a batch of casein calcium for distribution to the public. After all, since the blackout, no one has had sunlight for over a year. Without sunlight, calcium deficiency becomes unbearable."
"Orders from above always come first, no matter what."
Listening to the murmurs around her, Jing Shu narrowed her eyes as she quickly understood. This alarm wasn't danger. It was a direct order from central government.
Thinking about calcium reminded her that in previous years the government had issued vitamins and calcium tablets annually. So that's how those had been produced; under urgent orders like this.
The speeches were interrupted. The two vice presidents had gone to the control room to receive the file, while Jing Shu waited idly with the rest, her gaze shifting around the room as the tension mounted.
Before long, President Tie returned with sweat pouring down his face, his legs visibly trembling as he stepped back into the light, while Zhou Bapi looked triumphant, almost giddy.
After making several phone calls, Zhou Bapi finally said to President Tie, "It's your choice—are you going to say it yourself, or shall I announce it?"
President Tie gritted his teeth, exhaled slowly, and closed his eyes. "I will do it myself."
"Heh." Zhou Bapi straightened the few hairs on his head, walked up to the podium, switched on the projector, and said, "Apologies, but we need to insert an urgent order just received from Central."
The document appeared on the screen, the light flickering against the walls. The blood-red characters gave everyone an oppressive feeling as they stood out against the white background.
Holding the microphone, Zhou Bapi continued: "Because of months of torrential rain in the Jiangnan region, moss has grown unchecked, breeding countless bugs and poisonous mushrooms. These bugs have infested homes. Some carry HPV, some carry the H25 virus. Every day, tens of thousands die, and hundreds of thousands fall ill.
Therefore, Central has issued an urgent command; each provincial capital must immediately cultivate insecticidal herbs. Priority must be given to certain medicinal plants, and within two months the designated quantity must be met to qualify. This trial will also serve as the first round of selection. The top ten provincial capitals to meet their quotas will earn the right to compete in the next stage."
Now Jing Shu understood why the vice president position had originally been reserved for Wang Daxian. He was supposed to represent Wu City in this competition. The purpose was clear. It was about resources. Whoever won would secure more resources and gain prestige. Whoever lost would have to settle for scraps. Even if it was only medicinal resources, in the apocalypse, medicine determined survival.
But the project had suddenly changed. The first test now required them to produce a massive quantity of effective insecticide within two months.
Jing Shu's brow furrowed. In her previous life, Wu City hadn't produced insecticide until more than two months later, after countless people had already died, and even then the supply was scarce.
That must have been because the Medicinal Herb Association had failed to meet the demand.
The file scrolled on, listing dozens of required herbs. At the very top, tobacco was prominently placed, indicating it would be needed in large quantities.
The atmosphere in the hall turned tense and silent. The air felt heavy.
Faces flushed as no one knew what to say. Especially Pharmacist Liu, who had just dismissed her tobacco crop as worth only one point. Yet here it is, tobacco, ranked first among Central's urgent needs.
Although Wu City hadn't yet faced such infestations, the moss around the city had already grown thick. It's only a matter of time before bugs began to swarm.
Director Zhang's eyes glanced subtly at Jing Shu, but he chose not to say a word.