Wang Qiqi had already analyzed the voter base, numbers scratched on scraps in his hand. Those who couldn't afford white rice made up about eighty percent, bowls steaming plain in their kitchens. Over the past half month, Wang Qiqi and Zhao Shupi had basically split that group, votes dividing even. Add in some middle-class civil servants and staffers, plus a handful of rich folks and the daily salvage crews, boots wet from the water, and there was hardly anyone left in the community, screens tapped dry.
Now that Zhao Shupi had scooped up the last batch of voters, fingers quick on phones, Wang Qiqi truly had no more ideas, options running thin. Even so, he felt Jing Shu would, her mind turning steady.
He stared at Jing Shu, nervous she might just shrug helplessly, shoulders lifting slight.
Thankfully, Jing Shu only narrowed her eyes, lids dropping thoughtful, thought for a moment, and said, "You owe me a big favor for this."
"Absolutely, absolutely." Wang Qiqi wiped his sweat, palm sliding across his forehead. There was hope.
What did Jing Shu plan to do?
She turned home, steps quick on the path, returned carrying a platter of fresh green garlic sprouts and a kilogram of milk, the carton cool in her grip. "Come with me."
"You're bringing gifts?"
"You think you can get this done with only a token gift?" Jing Shu rolled her eyes, the motion sharp. "This is the standard for paying a visit right now." The garlic bulbs were neatly arranged, their sprouts over twenty centimeters long, leaves crisp in the air. Pinch a little at dinner, and it was delicious, flavor sharp on the tongue.
This was the post-apocalypse equivalent of visiting a leader or relative before the apocalypse with a bunch of bananas and some milk, packages rustling in bags. When asking a favor, even if you were calling in an old debt, you couldn't show up empty-handed. It was an etiquette passed down from their ancestors, and even the apocalypse couldn't erase it, hands extending full.
Besides, more gifts never hurt.
"High-end setup these days. Folks at our level are lucky to bring a bit of thin porridge," steam thin from bowls.
Jing Shu led Wang Qiqi to Li Yuetian's place, door solid under her knock. He still owed Jing Shu a big favor.
Li Yuetian welcomed them warmly, smile wide at the sight. Li Bailong happily took the garlic, fingers brushing the leaves. "Jing Shu, you're thoughtful. My uncle was just craving garlic sprouts."
He chuckled and kicked Li Bailong lightly, boot tapping leg. "Look at the bad habit you've developed. Every time she comes, you wait for her to bring something."
Jing Shu laughed, sound light in the room. "It's all from home, no big deal. Actually, I came to ask a small favor."
"Sit. Say it straight. If I can help, I will. If I can't, I'll find a way. I won't let what happened last time happen again." Li Yuetian's expression turned serious, brows drawing firm. For Jing Shu to come in person, it couldn't be trivial.
"It's really a small thing. This is an old neighbor, Wang Qiqi. We get along. I figured if someone is going to be Distribution Director anyway, better it be one of our own. He signed up for the election, and right now Banana Community is voting on the Big Data app, screens glowing steady. He managed to snag first place and was about to hold a celebration, but he is about to be overtaken. So…"
Li Yuetian glanced at the numbers and understood, eyes scanning quick. "What are the rules? Can I vote?"
"Anyone registered under Banana Community can vote. Of course you can."
Li Yuetian slapped his thigh, hand thudding loud. "Easy. Li Bailong, get over here. Help me vote."
Li Bailong scampered over and cast a vote for Wang Qiqi, tap firm on the screen.
Wang Qiqi felt constipated with awkwardness, face tightening slight. One vote from Li Yuetian wasn't the missing piece.
"How's that?" Li Yuetian asked, leaning back.
Jing Shu flashed a bright smile, teeth showing quick, snapped a quick screenshot, and sent it to Li Bailong, image clear on the phone. "Perfect. Done."
Li Bailong posted the screenshot of "Li Yuetian voted for Wang Qiqi" to the three stationed groups of the Second Detachment, post uploading fast. He added no extra words, but Wang Qiqi suddenly understood. It was as if the voice message read: The boss has voted. What are you waiting for?
Within moments, Wang Qiqi's phone exploded with notifications, pings ringing constant.
His numbers surged, and in no time Zhao Shupi was left in the dust again, gap widening wide. He gaped, mouth open at the screen, feeling like happiness had fallen from the sky.
Of course. He had forgotten the thousands of soldiers still stationed around Banana Community and their families, uniforms crisp in the mall. They were a special, massive group, often overlooked precisely because of their status. They lived in the big mall outside Banana Community, halls echoing loud. The living conditions were average, but they never lacked good food, plates full steady. If Wang Qiqi had waited any longer, Zhao Shupi would have snapped them up first.
With business finished, chairs scraping back, Jing Shu rose to leave. Seeing Li Yuetian rubbing his thigh, palm pressing slow, she added, "Half a month at most. The medicinal wine will be ready." Li Yuetian finally smiled in satisfaction, corners lifting wide.
After a brief scare, Wang Qiqi ascended to the supposedly "pre-decided" seat of Distribution Director, slapping quite a few faces in the process, echoes sharp in meetings. Wang Qiqi had stepped on everyone to reach the top. Especially since Zhao Shupi had burned a pile of virtual coins and still failed, one could only imagine how Zhao Shupi would come after him, glares fixed hard.
"That chair won't be easy to sit in," Jing Shu said, voice even.
"I know. But I still have to fight for it," Wang Qiqi said, posture straightening firm.
As Distribution Director of Banana Community, Wang Qiqi, squeezed by three levels of government, papers piling high, still managed to purge three people and fill three slots, names crossing out quick, promoting fellows like Young Madam I have a Baby and Wang Xuemei.
With help from locals of the original community, voices familiar in halls, he finally had some say. Wang Qiqi even planned to bring over his younger brother, Wang Baba.
But while Wang Qiqi was still struggling in the political whirlpool of Banana Community, meetings dragging long, Jing Shu suddenly remembered she hadn't visited the Medicinal Herb Association in over ten days, days blurring full.
She had been busy hunting materials, sub humming through water, then going to Chu Zhuohua to refit the RV, tools clanging loud, all while worrying about cultivating blood mushrooms, caps watched close. She had practically forgotten her main profession.
Zhou Bapi had also disappeared lately, steps gone from the halls. Rumor had it he had found something good and ran off after it, trail vanishing quick. Fine. Time to swing by the Medicinal Herb Association.
At four in the morning the next day, Jing Shu's eyes snapped open, darkness thick outside. Her mind was crystal clear as she lay in bed and began Rubik's Cube practice, pieces turning smooth in thought.
The 4 a.m. "curse" had lasted a month, clock ticking punctual. In the past, whenever she failed to get up, strange things would happen. Lately, as long as she woke at 4 a.m., her mind turned razor sharp. If she went back to sleep and skipped practice, trouble followed. If she practiced, nothing happened.
She took it as heaven's reminder. Practicing the Rubik's Cube at 4 a.m. helped her grow stronger.
Her Rubik's Cube recovery speed had indeed improved lately, twists faster in the quiet. It wouldn't be long before she could level up. Then she would finally unlock all the secrets.
At six, after a hearty breakfast at home, steam rising warm from bowls, Jing Shu piloted the amphibious shark submarine to the Medicinal Herb Association, engine thrumming steady. Her parents both headed to work, doors closing behind. Both had been busy. Third Aunt went to the canteen for her shift, apron tying quick. Wu You'ai got coaxed out of bed by the smell of tangyuan and ate breakfast too, spoons dipping soft.
Everything looked normal, a fresh start to a new day, light breaking slow. But this day would prove anything but ordinary for Jing Shu's family.
"Oh, look who finally showed up since getting hired. President, aren't you going to rein in this so-called Jing Shu?"
"Who is she, so full of herself?"