Chapter 535: Negotiations at the Gate

Tan Junjie replied, “The people sent by the Territory Management Department won’t inspect areas without the lord’s approval.”

“Alright, Territory One approves.”

Zhou Xun answered, “Territory Two approves.”

Xia Qing pressed the button. “Section Three approves.”

When it came to Section Seven, Ji Li pressed the button. “Territory Seven does not approve.”

Territory Eight’s assistant, Zhou Zhaoping, also pressed the button. “Territory Eight does not approve.”

With no one left from Territory Nine, Territory Ten took over. “Territory Ten approves.”

Tan Junjie continued, “Section Seven and Territory Eight, if you refuse entry, the Territory Management Department won’t be able to confirm the real crop losses, and your territories won’t be eligible for compensation. Please consider carefully.”

“Territory Seven understands. We do not approve.”

“Territory Eight understands. We do not approve.”

Territory Seven didn’t allow the Territory Management Department inside for two reasons. First, they’d installed an air filtration system in their greenhouses, so Devastation Snow had no effect on their crops inside. Second, Section Seven was part of the P3 Lab, and the greenhouses might be growing highly sensitive plants that outsiders couldn’t be allowed near.

As for why Territory Eight didn’t agree…

Xia Qing stuffed the sheep’s wool and wolf fur into separate bags. She figured Xin Yu’s reasons were, first, that Territory Eight simply didn’t have much farmland and, second, she didn’t want the management folks disturbing her birds or messing with the factory’s workflow.

By the way, after Territory Two’s helicopter was blown up and Xu Pin was killed, Sufeng Squad sent people to investigate just once and then nothing. Yang Jin had been staying here for ages, yet Tang Lu hadn’t shown up to chase him down.

Put those two things together, and it’s clear something must’ve happened recently with the Tang family or Sufeng Squad. They were obviously too busy to get involved.

Xia Qing decided she’d keep a close eye on the construction team and the management taskforce tomorrow, see if they let slip anything useful while chatting.

At ten the next morning, Tan Junjie sent a notice on the lords’ channel. “Section Three, the inspection team will arrive at your south gate in fifteen minutes. Please open the gate on time.”

“Received.”

Xia Qing arrived at the south gate right on time, only to find seven extra people standing with the inspection team.

Of them, Xia Qing didn’t know the names of four, but she recognized them as Sufeng Squad members. All four were armed, clearly there to provide security for the inspection team.

Standing front and center were two women and a man. The man with perfect posture and a calm face was named Zhou Qianpeng.

Back in the Safe Zone, Xia Qing had seen Zhou Qianpeng plenty of times—always bowing and scraping at Tang Zhengrong’s side, glaring at regular folks. When she’d returned for the Crop Trade Fair, he’d been busy fawning over Department Chief Jiang Quan instead.

No doubt about it, Zhou Qianpeng was in league with Tang Zhengrong and Jiang Quan. Yet today, with no leaders in sight, he was actually putting on airs of authority.

The other two women in the team were both new faces, each dressed in sealed protective suits.

From behind the iron mesh gate, Xia Qing pointed at the armed Sufeng foursome, face blank. “Those four are not allowed inside my territory. The others, please show valid ID. I need to confirm your identities.”

If those Sufeng armed guards got in, they could cook up an excuse to attack Xia Qing’s evolved wolves or sheep. She was not about to take that risk.

Zhou Qianpeng nodded slightly, explaining in a gentle tone, “Because Miss Xia’s territory has evolved wolves, we’re required to have designated protection.”

His way of speaking was straight out of Tang Zhengrong’s playbook—pure bureaucratic double-speak.

Xia Qing nodded as well, calmly replying, “All the evolved animals in my territory are already shut away. If you’re still concerned, the inspection team can come in with you and keep you safe. If that’s still not enough, I can just withdraw my offer of entry and save us all the trouble.”

For all his acting, Zhou Qianpeng let a flash of anger slip through his eyes. Xia Qing caught it easily. “If you don’t let us inspect, we can’t verify your crop losses and there won’t be any compensation later.”

Tan Junjie, looking all business, asked, “Captain Zhou, do you accept Section Three’s terms? If not, we can move right on to the next territory.”

Forcing a smile, Zhou Qianpeng gave a small nod. “We’ll cooperate. Captain Tan, please assign someone to look after our three-person team.”

Tan Junjie held out his hand. “Please show your IDs and submit to inspection.”

Now Zhou Qianpeng was downright furious. “Even the female members have to be searched by your people?”

There weren’t any women in the inspection team. Tan Junjie consulted Xia Qing. “Miss Xia, could you search the female members?”

Xia Qing nodded. “I can handle it.”

She checked their IDs and snapped photos, then frisked the two women and inspected their belongings, finally letting the inspection team escort the trio into the territory. Afterward, she locked the iron gate behind them.

“Tch, this woman really thinks she’s all that ever since she cozied up to Hu Zifeng and Zhang San. What now?”

“She used to be nothing, now she’s struttin’ like she owns the place. Let’s report in and hold position.”

They had barely gone a few steps inside before Xia Qing overheard the Sufeng foursome gossiping outside the gate, though she pretended not to notice. She led the inspection team toward the fields.

One of the team members, walking right behind Xia Qing, asked coldly, “How many acres of farmland does Section Three have in total?”

Her name was Li Chang, Xia Qing had just unclipped a mini camera from a button on her protective suit. Li Chang had spoken in the same tone then, saying it was standard issue.

Xia Qing calmly replied, “Seven point six acres.”

The other female inspector pressed, “Does that include the terraces up on the hillside?”

This woman, named Chai Shuling, looked a few years older than Li Chang. When Xia Qing found her camera, she simply took it off herself and handed it to the Sufeng squad outside.

Xia Qing answered, “That includes the terraces, greenhouses, and covered sheds.”

Zhou Qianpeng asked with feigned concern, “Miss Xia, you were given the largest plot, but you haven’t cultivated much. Are you short on manpower? Do you need the management department to send people over?”

Xia Qing glanced back at him. “No need.”

Zhou Qianpeng smiled and nodded, though he was cursing her in his head. The file hadn’t lied—this woman was a withdrawn, violent lunatic. She trusted no one, cared nothing for others, and would rather raise two beasts than let anyone step foot in her territory.

How did she ever get Zhang San on her side? Maybe Zhang San only cares about looks.

First, Xia Qing took the trio to the still rain-covered greenhouses to inspect the damage to the Green Lantern Wheat, Yellow Lantern Wheat, and Yellow Lantern Rapeseed.