Chapter 280: Jing Shu’s Vice President Assessment Begins

Among the three types of alcohol, baijiu (white liquor) was the most time-consuming and labor-intensive to produce.

The location for brewing was first resolved, but distilling baijiu gave Jing Shu quite a headache. Fortunately, her grandfather was skilled at handmade crafts. When he heard Jing Shu had no tools for distilling, he immediately started experimenting and tinkering for four or five days before making a distillation apparatus. Though his skills were limited, it was good enough for use.

Therefore, the distilled alcohol wasn’t very strong, but Jing Shu’s goal was to make medicinal liquor anyway.

Red wine could be drunk after 20 days. Since Jing Shu needed baijiu urgently, she brewed it for just a month before starting to soak large amounts of snake wine. In half a month, it would bring her a handsome profit and considerable reputation.

Jing Shu now had many industries. The most profitable was blood mushrooms, but they only produced about a dozen every ten days. The quantity was too scarce and couldn’t be increased. Blood mushrooms were naturally non-cultivable, so Jing Shu’s method of harvesting them like cutting chives was already extraordinary.

She didn’t dare auction them openly but sold them at a fixed price directly to Su Mary under a confidentiality agreement. Otherwise, if others knew she always had blood mushrooms, she’d be targeted.

The red worm feed factory was an investment industry. Though it wasn’t profitable yet, prices would soar after this year, likely becoming Jing Shu’s biggest money-maker.

Next was the medicinal liquor industry. A pound of liquor was priced around 1,500 virtual coins, providing Jing Shu with steady income. This year, giving medicinal liquor as gifts when visiting others was prestigious—more so than popular health supplements. Jing Shu’s first batch received excellent reviews. People like Li Yutian and Su Xiangnan praised its dampness-dispelling effects.

Su Xiangnan exchanged compressed natural gas for medicinal liquor; Li Yutian traded 300 kWh of electricity for a bottle. So medicinal liquor sold easily.

Then there were leeches, but they were still of limited use. They’d become valuable after next year when cold weather caused many to suffer frostbite and ulcers. In a time when most didn’t need medicine, leeches could play a big role.

Finally, the tobacco industry: home-grown tobacco was made into cigars, while the medicinal herb association used tobacco for insecticide.

Now, all houses in Wu City were covered with green moss, and the ground was thick with mold. Stepping on it felt soft like grass. When it rained or was windy, the moss floated in the rain. It was like the song: “Seaweed, seaweed, drifting with the waves, dancing in the surf, no matter the storm, I have my joy.”

Soon, poisonous insects would ravage people’s homes. Those with weak immunity would get infected and die. Tobacco-made insecticides would be in high demand.

Jing Shu thought, since she was in the medicinal herb association, why not plant the most needed herbs? First, to reduce deaths in Wu City. A little tobacco spray could save ten families. If the association developed tobacco extensively, many lives could be saved.

Second, she was about to be assessed as vice president. New officials must make achievements. A vice president should act like one. She had solved difficult problems before, but now if she made some representative achievements, her position would be secure, easing worries about her status.

Therefore, Jing Shu planted tobacco in the experimental field. Soon, it would reach medicinal quality.

In May, Jing Shu’s vice president assessment finally came. She had met all promotion requirements. All her medicinal herbs reached medicinal standards, with records and surveillance.

However, the quota was originally pre-decided. Now that Jing Shu was taking the spot, others were unwilling. When Zhou Bapi told Jing Shu there was an extra interview stage, she immediately understood.

On Thursday, May 16, 2024, daytime temperature dropped to 25°C, nighttime near freezing. The weather was getting colder, and the heavy rain hinted at freezing.

Jing Shu received the vice president interview notice. After sharing breakfast with Zhou Bapi at Su Mary’s—oil naan, fried dough sticks, and hot soup—Zhou Bapi drove his Alpha car, bumping along, arriving at the medicinal herb base before 10 a.m.

Oh, the old medicinal herb association was renamed the medicinal herb base, gathering all provincial drug-related personnel. It was much more crowded and developing rapidly.

“Be careful. I don’t know what tricks Old Tie is playing. To keep his vice president position, he’s using every means.”

“Got it. Don’t worry. I’ll seize this opportunity.”

Jing Shu was determined to grasp this chance. It was her only way to leap forward. Other paths weren’t suitable. Becoming vice president was much easier if she focused on planting.

When Jing Shu and Zhou Bapi arrived, many people surrounded the place inside and out. Jing Shu realized today wasn’t just her assessment; a person from a medicinal herb family was also being assessed.

Meaning, only one of the two would become vice president.

Jing Shu finally understood the delay was to wait for this competitor to qualify, increasing her difficulty.

“Jing Shu, the vice president plays a big role at the medicinal herb base. Chairman Tie agreed to let you solve one opponent as a difficult problem. You solved three, instantly meeting promotion requirements.”

“Today, we mainly assess your planting. The key is to grow what the people need most. Otherwise, even if it’s medicinal herbs, if they’re not common or needed, the vice president position wouldn’t be legitimate,” Chairman Tie said with a smile.

Jing Shu smiled slightly, “You’re absolutely right. Let’s see what both sides have planted.”

“Let’s start with Jing Shu. Everyone, follow me to see what she’s growing and its current demand and effect. Today’s assessment is fair and depends on your votes!”

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