Wang Daxian, who had been signaling his willingness to give up the position earlier in the assessment, once again winked at Jing Shu. She began to wonder if he already knew something in advance.
Did he know that her tobacco would soon become urgently needed, and so wanted to win her favor ahead of time? Perhaps. Whether or not he wanted the position, he had already been internally designated as vice president, so the process was merely a formality. Building good ties with her beforehand wouldn't harm him. Shaking her head, Jing Shu set the thought aside for now.
"Ahem. That's the situation with the new order," Zhou Bapi said, baring his yellow teeth in a wide, triumphant grin. "Looks like after today everyone will be working overtime. I don't need to stress how important this is. The headquarters competition only comes once a year. It decides next year's allocation of strategic resources and your treatment. If we pass the first round, we get more resources and better conditions. If we fail, well, you understand. For now, let us settle the matter of vice president before anything else. Jing Shu, say a few words. Keep it short. Everyone is busy and there is a lot of work ahead. Same old rules. The more you produce, the greater your share of resources."
"Very well." Jing Shu smiled, her lips curving upward. In that moment, she felt victory was already hers. She had never expected heaven to lend her such a hand. She thought she would only get her moment of triumph a month later when the bug infestations began. Yet Central had already issued preventive orders so early.
In her previous life, Wu City had likely failed the first trial. This time, would she once again alter the course of history?
"I don't have any of the seeds listed in the order," someone whispered anxiously in the back of the hall.
"Since the seed storage depot was flooded, the rescued seeds are damp, with less than a ten percent germination rate. Maybe we should try our luck again?"
"There's no time to wait. Maybe we should beg Jing Shu to share some? Her seeds are excellent, and she is clearly a skilled grower. But really, what luck. She happened to plant five entire racks of tobacco, and they are already mature. Looks like the first trial will depend on her."
"No choice but to admit it. With tobacco in her hands, she is destined to become vice president."
The noise gradually faded into silence as the crowd turned their eyes toward her.
Jing Shu cleared her throat and spoke calmly, her voice carrying clearly through the room. "Then I will keep this brief. The tobacco I planted grew a bit more than expected. You can all see the seeds are full and have an extremely high germination rate. If you elect me vice president, I will distribute tobacco seeds and provide guidance if problems arise. As for those who claimed my tobacco was worthless, they will not be included in the distribution. That's all."
Pharmacist Liu's face turned a dark shade of frustration. She really held grudges.
Excited shouts erupted from the crowd. To most of them, it mattered little who held the title of vice president. What mattered was that if Jing Shu was elected, they would receive seeds and guidance. Nothing could be better.
Wang Daxian took the microphone, smiling broadly as he stood beside her. "President Zhou, let us not waste time voting. Just appoint Jing Shu directly. Her skill with tobacco speaks for itself. If we all follow her lead and cultivate tobacco together, we won't need other ingredients. We can produce insecticide straight away. With her guidance, we might easily pass the first trial."
Zhou Bapi chuckled, the sound dry. "That still depends on the opinion of today's visiting leaders."
Director Zhang, with his elderly belly and smiling face like the KFC grandpa's, nodded in agreement. "I agree with appointing Jing Shu. Her cultivation skills are impressive. With her, Wu City's Medicinal Herb Association will certainly secure more resources. That merit alone outweighs any shortcomings elsewhere."
Pharmacist Liu forced a strained smile, though his eyes remained cold. "But shouldn't we ask if anyone objects?"
Zhou Bapi's grin stretched so wide it nearly split his face. "Does anyone object?"
Who would be foolish enough to object? Who would want to refuse seeds?
"I do!" A clear voice rang out, sharp enough to startle the room. Jiao Jiao stepped onto the stage, her single word silencing the hall.
Zhou Bapi frowned. "And why do you object?"
"Honorable president, everything Jing Shu grows belongs to the Medicinal Herb Association. The tobacco she cultivated should be claimed by the Association and distributed directly. Submitting one's crops as contributions is the proper duty of every member. So whether or not we vote for her shouldn't matter. Everyone should receive seeds regardless.
If that is the case, then this has nothing to do with choosing a vice president. Elder Wang has greater authority. I believe he is the one who should lead us." Her words spilled out quickly, carrying a hint of smugness in her expression.
The meaning was clear enough. What was grown belonged to the Association, not to Jing Shu. She had no authority to distribute seeds.
Wang Daxian chuckled, the sound low. "Young lady, how about this. You come work for us without wages, purely for contribution. Would that be acceptable?"
"That. That is impossible."
Of course it was. Who would work without pay?
Jing Shu stepped forward, still smiling. "The Association's regulations state that if you use your own seeds, the harvested crops must be submitted for contribution points, but the next generation of seeds still belongs to the owner. Apologies, but these seeds are mine. I will submit the harvested tobacco, but the seeds remain mine. I have no obligation to donate them."
Jiao Jiao scowled, her brow furrowing. "Impossible! When was that rule created?"
The corners of Jing Shu's lips curved. She had raised this matter with Zhou Bapi two months earlier, reasoning that while she could accept handing over harvested crops, seeds she had brought herself should be returned to her after planting.
At the time, Zhou Bapi had agreed, saying it would encourage workers' enthusiasm. The three vice presidents approved, and the rule was quietly added to the books. Few knew of it since most members had no way to procure extra seeds.
"That was my amendment two months ago. All three vice presidents agreed," Zhou Bapi declared, his voice booming.
Jiao Jiao's face drained of color as she collapsed backward, her eyes wide, while murmurs of complaint spread through the hall. People grumbled that she had stirred up trouble needlessly. If she angered Jing Shu and she withheld seeds, they would have no recourse.
"Any further objections? ... Good. President Tie has something to announce." Zhou Bapi's grin grew even wider.
President Tie took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling. "After today's assessment, we have seen that Jing Shu has the ability to serve as vice president, while Elder Wang certainly also has the qualifications. But Wu City has limited slots. I cannot allow the Medicinal Herb Association here to fall behind. Therefore, I have decided to step down and yield my position. I will move to work at the pharmaceutical factory, leaving this responsibility to those more capable."