What did this mean?
It meant that the moment they got off the plane, someone was there to pick them up, while over in Wu City, they'd been standing around for half an hour with nobody paying attention.
Was this really how people treated others?
"President Jing, what do we do? It's freezing, and there's nowhere to get out of the cold."
"President, we don't mind the cold, but some of our delicate herbs aren't being escorted by a vehicle. They'll freeze to death!"
Jing Shu rubbed her hands together, exhaled, and gave Danai a look. "I'll go check with the Medicinal Herb Association people up ahead. The rest of you wait here a little longer."
One transport truck after another loaded various herbs and left. Just looking at the numbers, the amount of herbs here was impressive for the End Times. It was clear this was a powerful provincial association, maybe even tipped off by some inside information.
Around twenty people climbed onto a big bus with "Medicinal Herb Association" written on the side.
The doors were about to close.
Jing Shu ran over, stuck a hand in the door, and stepped in with one foot. "Wait, please, wait a moment!"
Inside the bus, the driver turned and frowned. "What do you want? This is the association's vehicle, strangers aren't allowed to approach."
The rest of the passengers glanced over but were too busy chatting excitedly to notice.
Jing Shu showed her work ID with a smile. "May I ask if the head of the Imperial Capital Medicinal Herb Association is here? I'm the team leader representing Wu City in this competition."
"Team Leader Zhang, the Wu City association is looking for you!" the driver called out.
At the back of the bus, someone moved. A middle-aged man with a refined look rubbed his sleepy eyes, impatience flashing briefly before being replaced with a polite, practiced smile.
He got up and walked over.
"I've read the reports. I already knew that Wu City's team leader was impressive. Representing an entire city at such a young age proves it. I've long admired President Jing! Oh, I'm Zhang Xian, the team leader in charge of transportation and coordination this time. I don't know what you need from me, but anything I can do, I will."
As he spoke, he reached out enthusiastically to shake her hand, his eyes lighting up as he saw her.
Jing Shu ignored him and instead pointed to a batch of supplies outside under the lights, smiling lightly. "Hello, Team Leader Zhang. When will the herbs from Wu City be transported to the competition venue? We've been waiting in this freezing weather for half an hour. Isn't it supposed to be first-come, first-served? Why do the later arrivals get a dedicated vehicle?"
Zhang Xian awkwardly withdrew his hand and looked down. Then he smiled. "Ah, that's not really my decision. You should call the scheduling department. We follow their orders exactly. If you want, I can make a call for you."
"All right, please help me ask." Jing Shu raised an eyebrow.
Zhang Xian made the call, quietly asking about her concern. After hanging up, he grinned. "It's like this: because your report came in later than the Fuhai Association's, they're ahead. Once their herbs are delivered, we'll come get you. A round trip is only five or six hours… You see, a bite teaches a lesson. Next time, report faster."
Jing Shu squinted at Zhang Xian. The person on the other end of the phone hadn't said a word—it had been an empty call.
"So… this guy had connections with Fuhai, which is why their goods went first. Even in the End Times, there were still insiders."
"All right… I see the bus still has a lot of empty seats. Could our pharmacists participating in the competition ride with you first?"
It didn't matter. Priority was priority, even if they got cut in line. They were on someone else's turf—best to keep a low profile, note it mentally, and deal with it later.
Zhang Xian forced a polite expression and smiled at a middle-aged woman seated in the front. "I can't decide this. President Wang from Fuhai will have to make the call. After all, this vehicle is reserved for them. President Wang, what do you think?"
The woman adjusted her glasses and leaned back, serious. "Competition rules forbid pharmacists from different districts from gathering to discuss matters. President Jing, please return and oversee your herbs while waiting for the next vehicle."
Jing Shu frowned at their synchronized response, suspicious. No one hated her or Wu City without reason. Using competition rules as an excuse was obvious.
The transport vehicles had been preempted, and they weren't even allowed on the bus. First day in the Imperial Capital, and they'd already hit obstacles, not knowing who they'd offended.
Zhang Xian glanced at Jing Shu's small hands and made a gesture of invitation. "I'm sorry, President Jing. Please wait for the next vehicle. I'll make sure it comes as quickly as possible."
Jing Shu sighed. "Do we really have to?"
Zhang Xian blinked, confused.
"The person on the phone didn't say anything. You staged this yourself. Yesterday we confirmed the pickup time and place. Even if Fuhai was prioritized, there's no reason to leave our people standing around. Are you trying to give us the cold shoulder? Just to make us stand in the mud for a few hours?" Jing Shu's expression showed utter disbelief. The tactic was too crude, it seemed impossible.
Zhang Xian's face changed drastically. Normally, smart people would notice he was scheming, bite their tongue, and find a way to retaliate later. Both sides kept a polite smile while maneuvering secretly.
But he hadn't expected this young woman to call him out publicly, turning a potential secret rivalry into open hostility. With Jing Shu, there was no turning back.
President Wang, seated elegantly, smiled. Youth, after all, was impetuous. She wondered how Lao Zhou had chosen such a successor. Her smile faded, and she said seriously, "Since you've seen through this, wait for the next vehicle. The association is a place of rules and merit. You're out of line here."
Jing Shu was genuinely surprised. "Aren't you afraid I'll file a complaint about this?"
Zhang Xian shifted nervously. President Wang shook her head calmly, smiling. "You still don't understand what rules are."
The bus remained lively, no one paying attention to the would-be hitchhiker.
After a moment of silence, Jing Shu nodded. "All right, I suddenly changed my mind. I'll be a little reckless this time. Good luck, President Wang."
"Recklessness could cost Wu City a whole shipment of supplies. Think carefully." The middle-aged woman waved her hand, seeing Jing Shu off.