Chapter 1241: Paying Through the Nose

"Two years haven't changed a thing, Director Zhang—you're as impressive as ever. Truly enviable."

At five in the afternoon, Xia Qing and her group arrived at the Guiwu Organic Fertilizer Plant. After some back-and-forth, they finally met the plant director, Zhang Zhenghong. Zhou Zhaoping stepped forward with a warm smile to exchange pleasantries.

"Director Zhou!"

Zhang Zhenghong, Director of the Planting Department of the Guiwu Agricultural Hall and concurrently Plant Director of the Organic Fertilizer Plant, broke into a smile and stepped forward to extend his hand. "What wind has blown someone as important as you to my little temple?"

The last time Zhang Zhenghong dealt with Zhou Zhaoping was two years ago, when he led a delegation to the Hui-2 Heavy Industries Group to purchase agricultural machinery. At the time, Zhou Zhaoping, then Board Secretary of Heavy Industries, had come out to receive him, so the two were old acquaintances.

This was also why Xia Qing had brought Zhou Zhaoping along after learning she was being sent on a mission to Guiwu. As the saying goes, seeing is believing. The materials described Zhang Zhenghong as "stout," but seeing him in person, Xia Qing realized he was several sizes rounder than the chubby figure she had pictured in her mind from the famine years.

The ability to accumulate that much fat meant this man was never short on food.

In the eyes of many who had survived eleven years of natural disaster, a fatty like him was food. If Zhang Zhenghong walked alone through the back alleys of the outer city, he'd surely have strips of flesh cut off by people starving enough for their eyes to glow green—a direct weight-loss method.

Zhou Zhaoping smiled warmly. "Director Zhang is as modest as ever. I resigned from my position at Heavy Industries last year. I'm currently the agent for Hui-3 Territory No. 8 and secretary of the Territory Alliance, and I also handle some odd jobs within my abilities at the Hui-3 Pharmaceutical Plant."

"Oh, right, right! Look at my memory! Last time our base's deputy base commander went to the Hui-3 Pharmaceutical Plant to grab medicine, he came back and mentioned this. You're not Board Secretary anymore—you're Chairman now."

Zhang Zhenghong gave his round, fat head a light pat and looked toward the young woman with an expressionless face, who was being protected by a group of evolvers wearing combat protective suits and black protective face shields.

"Director Zhou, who is this?"

Zhou Zhaoping's tone remained unhurried and measured, very capable of holding the room. "This is the Director of our Hui-3 Ninth Planting Center, Xia Qing."

That newly promoted top sniper from Hui-3 Base, the one who likes to be blunt?!

Zhang Zhenghong instinctively glanced behind Xia Qing. Seeing the sniper rifle on her back, he took the initiative to exchange pleasantries. "Director Xia, I've long admired you."

Zhang Zhenghong's rank was higher than Xia Qing's, but the other party was a guest and also Hui-3's top combat power, so he gave Xia Qing plenty of face by greeting her first.

Xia Qing nodded calmly. "Director Zhang, the Base Commander sent me here to follow up on the shipment of the 135 tons of premium crab-shell fertilizer we ordered from you. After we paid this morning, your plant said the entire shipment would be loaded and sent over today or tomorrow. How much has been loaded so far?"

Truly worthy of being the blunt top sniper—absolutely no wasted words.

"Director Xia, shall we go to my office to talk?" After Xia Qing nodded, Zhang Zhenghong looked somewhat awkwardly at the bodyguards behind her. "This is a protected unit within the safe zone. These people you've brought..."

Xia Qing replied expressionlessly, "Your plant is a Level-2 security unit. According to the relevant base management regulations, special forces members may enter carrying weapons."

After Xia Qing finished speaking, the 10-person special forces squad protecting her pulled open the concealed clasps on their left shoulders, revealing Hui-3 Special Forces arm patches to identify themselves.

Then Yang Jin, standing to Xia Qing's right rear, raised his hand and removed his black protective face shield, introducing himself with a smile. "Yang Jin of Hui-3's Azure Dragon Squad. Unarmed."

Tang Huai, standing to Xia Qing's left rear, also removed his black protective face shield. "Tang Huai of Hui-3 Territory No. 12. Unarmed."

Xia Qing had brought Tang Huai because, when she was in the Soil Research Department, Tang Heng had proposed sourcing crab-shell fertilizer from the Hui-5 Organic Fertilizer Plant, since the fertilizer there was of high quality. The Tang family territory and the safe zone's plantations both purchased from here. He also said their family had dealt with Zhang Zhenghong before the natural disaster, so they were old acquaintances and knew his ways well.

Tang Heng was on a mission now, so Xia Qing had brought Tang Huai along.

The other non-special-forces personnel also reported in one by one. "Huo Zhun of Hui-3 Territory No. 31. Unarmed."

"Wang Man of Hui-3 Territory No. 31. Unarmed."

"Zhang Hongda of Hui-3 Territory No. 35. Unarmed."

"Guo Chongjun / Su Sibao of Hui-3 Ninth Planting Center. Unarmed."

This... did they come to negotiate or to seize the fertilizer?

Zhang Zhenghong's smile could no longer hold. "Captain Yang, Young Master Tang, Squad Leader Wang, what is the meaning of this?"

Azure Dragon Squad's Yang Jin was this top sniper's boyfriend, so him coming along was understandable. But why had Tang Huai and Wang Man come together?

The reason Zhang Zhenghong addressed Wang Man as "Squad Leader" was that the Hui City Flood Dragon Special Forces were currently stationed in the most dangerous coastal area of Guiwu Base. Wang Man had been serving there with the special forces for over four months, and they had met several times.

Yang Jin smiled and answered very frankly, "I heard the Black Panther Squad is here with you. I wasn't comfortable, so I came along to take a look."

Tang Huai put on his father's mannerisms and put on a faint smile. "Part of this batch of fertilizer our base purchased from you belongs to our Territory Alliance, so I came along to take a look."

Wang Man picked up the thread expressionlessly. "Same."

The Territory Alliance again—what level of department is that? Why hadn't he heard of it? Zhang Zhenghong put his smile back on and invited this group into his office.

After entering the office, Yang Jin, Zhou Zhaoping, Tang Huai, and the others all stood behind Xia Qing. This was the negotiation strategy they had agreed on during the flight.

Today's battle would be led by Xia Qing, with Yang Jin and Zhou Zhaoping assisting.

Strategy: fast, accurate, ruthless—strike straight at the vital point!

Zhang Zhenghong sat across from this expressionless top sniper, felt enormous pressure, and stopped beating around the bush, getting straight to the point.

"Director Xia, I'm truly sorry. The clerk who took your base's Agricultural Hall procurement call this morning was newly hired. She wasn't familiar with the procedures and accepted the payment without confirming the plant's inventory. She didn't know that when you placed the order, our plant only had 15 tons of premium crab-shell fertilizer left in stock. What do you say about this..."

What a fine pot to toss the blame into. That pot had too many holes. Xia Qing didn't pick up the thread—there were too many flaws—and asked directly, "Have the 15 tons of premium crab-shell fertilizer been shipped?"

Ah... ah?

Zhang Zhenghong was stunned for a moment before explaining, "If Director Xia has the authority, I'll have someone process the outbound shipment immediately and send it to the airport."

Zhou Zhaoping, standing beside Xia Qing, spoke again. "Director Zhang, please rest assured. The Hui-3 Base Commander has already granted Director Xia full authority to handle this fertilizer procurement contract."

"Good, that's good. Director Xia is so young and already entrusted with important responsibilities by Base Commander Qi—your future is boundless. I'll have someone process the outbound shipment right away." Zhang Zhenghong stood up, ready to use this opportunity to leave the office and leave this group hanging.

Yang Jin, standing to Xia Qing's right, also spoke up. "Director Zhang, you're too kind. Such a small matter doesn't require you to make a personal trip—a phone call would do."

Zhang Zhenghong smiled again and squeezed his rolls of fat back into his chair. "If Director Xia trusts me, of course I have no problem."

Xia Qing spoke calmly, "I certainly trust your ability. However, your plant employees' competence is what I don't trust. Tang Huai, Huo Zhun, Wang Man, Zhang Hongda—go to the warehouse to inspect the goods. Watch the outbound shipment and loading, then escort the trucks to the airport."

"Yes." This was also the task assignment made on the way here. Tang Huai was most familiar with these procedures, so he was the best person to handle it, while the others protected his safety.

Zhang Zhenghong hadn't expected Xia Qing to be so uncooperative. His face darkened again. "Secretary Liu, take them over."

"Yes."

After Secretary Liu led Tang Huai and the four others, along with two fully armed special forces soldiers, out of the office, Zhang Zhenghong began to show them the door. "Director Xia, shall I have someone refund the payment for the 120 tons of crab-shell fertilizer now?"

Xia Qing raised her hand. Guo Chongjun, standing behind her, immediately opened his document bag, pulled out a document printed on the plane, and placed it in Xia Qing's hand.

Xia Qing placed the printed paper on the desk, slid it across, and pushed it in front of Zhang Zhenghong.

"In addition to the 1.2 million points payment, please have Director Zhang refund a total of 2,092,900 points to the original account, including the 480,000 points in compensation for breach of contract for alternative procurement losses, the 350,000 points in work-stoppage losses, and our travel expenses for this business trip."