What… what was going on? Did that staffer just flip personalities? One second he looked all serious, the next he turned so eager it caught everyone off guard.
Xiao Liu cleared her throat with a prim little cough, stepped forward like a bodyguard and said, "The Red Nematode Patties worth three point six million virtual coins are in the parking lot outside. Our people are already waiting to hand everything over. Please hurry, this is a big job."
Red Nematode Patties were dirt cheap, so there were tons of them.
"Alright, alright, I'll call someone to handle it right now. You all can rest here for a bit. Wang Hong, tell them to stop being so strict and just do a rough count, we're all pressed for time. And we really need this kind of bulk food. Miss Jing, you're amazing, you solved our biggest problem at the perfect moment. If you have even more patties, could you sell us some extra?"
The staffer wasn't just enthusiastic, he was practically groveling. The college classmates behind Jing Shu stared like they'd just watched a magic trick.
Jing Shu was surprised as well. She paid her monthly debts to the town by sending patties, so she asked, "I remember the town government and I have a cooperation agreement."
The staffer gave an embarrassed smile. "We're with the administration, the enforcement logistics department. Your cooperation is with the higher offices. Different departments. They send us a little every month, but honestly, we can barely supply food to the workers now."
"For this deal, who gets the profit?" she asked.
The staffer answered honestly. "As long as we pay back the old bankruptcy and closure debts, everything else is our department's profit. The higher-ups only want the debts cleared. Whatever's left is ours."
Jing Shu nodded. "Xiao Liu, check how many red nematodes we have left."
Xiao Liu typed rapidly, then said, "Boss, we've got a little over two million virtual coins worth left, so a bit over two hundred tons of Red Nematode Patties."
Tons? Tons? Who in the apocalypse still counted food in tons?
The people behind her were stunned into silence. They didn't usually eat this kind of bottom-tier food, but they knew each patty cost only one point five virtual coins. Dirt cheap. But hundreds of tons? That number was terrifying.
Everyone's eyes shifted when they looked at Jing Shu again. Lan Shao stiffened, his expression darkening as he stared at the ground, lost in his own thoughts.
"Hundreds of tons… how much is that?"
"Isn't Jing Shu from the Medicinal Herb Association? When did she start making patties?"
"Seriously, did she monopolize all the patties in Wu City?"
While her classmates were still reeling, the staffer on the other side blinked at her with twinkling eyes. As expected of a bigshot. If it were rice, he'd be depressed because he couldn't afford it. But something cheap and filling like this was exactly what they needed.
Jing Shu nodded. "If I manage to use all of it today, you can treat the rest as profit. If not, I'll sell whatever's left at virtual coin price."
In short, she wasn't taking any patties back home.
"Really? That's amazing! Thank you, thank you so much! Wang Hong, tell those brats to get ready to unload. They're done checking? Good, I got it. Miss Jing, this transaction's complete. We'll report it now. My name's Wang Miao. If you ever need help with anything in administration or logistics, just call me. You idiots have no sense, go light a furnace for Miss Jing!"
In an instant, several people rushed in carrying a small stove, placing it by Jing Shu's feet and adding coal.
"Miss Jing, please rest. They've finished counting everything. For the mansion's address, tell Wang Hong later, he'll handle the delivery. If you need anything, just find him. I'm assigning him to you. I'll go process the paperwork."
The man walked off and left behind someone whose sole job was to serve her. The group of classmates stood there stunned. People could do that? This was too insane.
Jing Shu's setup instantly expanded, complete with a grill, snacks, and a reclining chair. All she lacked was someone to give her a massage.
"Bigshot, I didn't know you were hiding so much. I never thought the affordable Red Nematode Patties I eat every day were your product. Bigshot, since we're classmates, can you give me a discount? My family's low on food, I wanna buy some in bulk," Jiang Changke said, bouncing forward eagerly.
"Pah! Jiang Changke, you never do anything and you eat patties? You just wanna resell them. Shameless. You'll lick anyone for money."
"Exactly. Pay your debts, Jiang Changke."
Jiang Changke waved his hand dismissively. "Get lost, I'm talking to the bigshot here. You'll regret not understanding the situation. It's too late to start kissing up now."
Lan Shao stood up and cleared his throat lightly.
"Jing Shu, so you're the one making Red Nematode Patties. That's incredible. It seems we misunderstood you before. I want to officially apologize. My negligence caused you to be treated unfairly these past few days. I'm truly sorry. I'll explain everything in the group chat."
He paused. "Also, as compensation, I want to send your family five hundred units of electricity. If you need anything in the future, I'll help."
"Wow, Lan Shao's being generous."
"Electricity's so expensive now. We get only half an hour a day, it's not even enough to charge stuff."
Jing Shu rested her eyes, a little amused. These people were softer than she expected. But it made sense. If she weren't in the patty business, Lan Shao wouldn't have lowered himself like this. He probably wanted to buy some patties at the lowest price. The town could barely support its workers, never mind powering his grid.
Xiao Liu stepped forward, blocking his view and said sternly, "Your apology's too late. If you'd apologized when we were being treated unfairly, that would've been different. Our boss won't accept your apology. Please return to your seat and don't disturb her rest."
She added, "And don't even think about hitting us up. The Red Nematode Patty business is a fixed cooperation with the town, not open to outsiders. So even if you beg my boss, it won't work."
In a few sentences, she shut every door in Lan Shao's face. His plan to apologize, give a gift and get some cheap food collapsed instantly. Patties were cheap, rice was too expensive to hand out as wages.
Lan Shao had never been humiliated like this, especially not by a college classmate's assistant.
His face flushed, veins bulged. "You… you're not Jing Shu. Who said you get to speak?"