Why Should They Be Paid the Same as Us?

"You're pretty honest." Zhang Jian responded after hearing Xiao Wang's answer.

Xiao Wang could not quite read the emotion in his words and continued, "I'm just telling the truth. Saying I've never left the city or delivered goods is better than claiming I'm an old hand. After all, saying I'm a newcomer will make my companions more cautious and vigilant."

After Xiao Wang finished speaking, the way Zhang Jian looked at him changed slightly. "That does make some sense."

After saying that, Zhang Jian fell silent.

It was not just Zhang Jian. When Xiao Wang said those words, even Sister Hua looked up at him.

Linghu Ke had originally wanted to answer before Xiao Wang. He had thought that, aside from going to school and training at the martial arts hall, how could this junior brother of his possibly handle this kind of seemingly ordinary but actually barbed social encounter?

Yet Xiao Wang's answer surprised him completely. Linghu Ke had been ready to speak up and explain things away, but Xiao Wang had gone in the opposite direction, openly admitting it while also speaking straight to the heart of every deliveryman.

People who delivered goods were not afraid of weak teammates. They were afraid of teammates who did not realize they were weak.

A little while later, there was another knock on the door.

"Come in."

After Sister Hua spoke, the door opened and two people entered.

"Sister Hua."

"Sister Hua."

The two newcomers greeted Sister Hua.

"Sit."

The two sat below Zhang Jian, opposite Linghu Ke and Xiao Wang.

Xiao Wang raised his eyes and looked them over. They were two men, one older and one younger. The older one looked to be around fifty, while the younger one was in his thirties. Neither looked like a martial artist, but their muscles were not weak either.

Xiao Wang glanced at their waists and, sure enough, saw bulges there. He guessed they were gun users.

"Everyone's here. Let's begin."

As Sister Hua spoke, she rose from the chair behind her desk, walked around it, and came forward.

Xiao Wang turned to look at her. Sister Hua was around five feet five, wearing a short skirt. Her legs were slender, long, and straight, making her quite alluring.

She sat down on the sofa at the head of the room and crossed her legs, covering the important parts.

Everyone looked only once before shifting their gazes away. Only the young man in his thirties who had arrived later kept glancing at Sister Hua's upper thighs and chest from time to time.

Sister Hua noticed but did not care. She looked at the group. "You two who came in later haven't introduced yourselves yet, have you? Let's get acquainted first."

As soon as Sister Hua finished speaking, the younger newcomer stood up, bowed slightly toward her, and extended his hand. "Hello, Sister Hua. My name is Xiang Menqing. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Sister Hua glanced at Xiang Menqing. She neither stood nor reached out to shake his hand, merely nodding slightly in response.

It was only after the older man beside Xiang Menqing nudged him with an elbow to remind him that he withdrew his hand and sat back down. Then, with a somewhat arrogant expression, he looked at Xiao Wang, Linghu Ke, and Zhang Jian. "Pleasure to meet you three. Xiang Menqing."

Xiao Wang and the other two then stated their names one by one.

Only after the introductions were over did the older man beside Xiang Menqing rise slightly and introduce himself. "Ding Hanlin."

After everyone had introduced themselves, Sister Hua crossed her legs the other way, and Xiang Menqing's gaze followed the movement.

Sister Hua then looked at them and said, "I'll keep this short. This shipment is headed to Jinheng Town. There will be three cargo trucks. You five, plus two people on my side, make seven people total. The pay is 5,000 Federation credits per person. What do you all think?"

As soon as she said that, everyone's reaction was different.

Zhang Jian remained fairly calm, with little change in expression.

Linghu Ke's eyes narrowed, his expression turning slightly grave.

As for Xiang Menqing and Ding Hanlin, they looked at each other as though they had quite a few objections.

Xiao Wang had no particular reaction. He had never delivered goods, nor had he even left the city. He had only heard Linghu Ke mention Jinheng Town once before. He did not know whether 5,000 Federation credits was cheap or expensive, but it seemed like a lot to him. After all, it was already his adoptive father Zhou Zhengxiong's monthly salary.

Sister Hua looked at everyone. "If you have objections, bring them up now. Don't start complaining after we leave, or worse, start arguing after we set out. That wouldn't be good."

As Sister Hua spoke, her tone suddenly turned cold, as if the temperature in the entire room had dropped.

Zhang Jian, Linghu Ke, and Xiao Wang all remained silent. A moment later, Xiang Menqing spoke. "Sister Hua, I have a different opinion."

"Speak."

"Why should they be paid the same as us?"

As Xiang Menqing spoke, he pointed at Zhang Jian, Linghu Ke, and Xiao Wang, especially Xiao Wang. "This kid probably hasn't even grown all his hair yet. He probably doesn't have any experience. And they're empty-handed, so why should they get the same pay as us?"

After Xiang Menqing finished speaking, he revealed the pistol tucked at his waist.

The room fell silent for three seconds.

Afraid that Xiao Wang might act impulsively, Linghu Ke turned to look at him.

But he discovered that Xiao Wang's expression was unusually calm. There was not the slightest sign that he had been provoked.

What he did not know was that beneath Xiao Wang's calm exterior, he had already locked onto the position of the other man's pistol, ready to give him a little surprise.

But the next moment, a calm voice spoke unhurriedly.

"Does having a gun mean you can definitely beat a martial artist?"

The one who spoke was Zhang Jian. He remained seated, his tone calm. He did not even glance at Xiang Menqing.

Xiang Menqing snorted. "What, are you immune to blades and bullets? Do you have bronze skin and iron bones?"

"I'm definitely not immune to blades and bullets, but you still need to be alive to fire that gun." Zhang Jian made as if to rise and seize the gun.

"Enough."

Seeing that things were taking a bad turn, Sister Hua immediately shouted.

Only then did Zhang Jian sit back down, while Xiang Menqing put away his pistol.

Sister Hua then looked at Ding Hanlin. "Old Ding, do you think the same way?"

Ding Hanlin did not answer, which amounted to tacit agreement with Xiang Menqing.

Sister Hua looked at Xiang Menqing and Ding Hanlin. "We're setting out as a team, so there can't be differences in pay. You can say it's unfair for people with different abilities to receive the same price, but those are my rules. Old Ding, I'll give you two ten seconds to consider it. Agree, and we cooperate. If not, you're free to leave."

As soon as she said that, Xiang Menqing wanted to argue further, but Ding Hanlin immediately stopped him.

Xiao Wang looked at Sister Hua and found that her expression was calm, without the slightest fluctuation. Yet her words carried an imposing force that allowed no argument.

This woman is not so simple.

After seven or eight seconds, Ding Hanlin looked at Sister Hua. "We agree to cooperate. Same pay it is."

At that, Sister Hua finally smiled. "Thank you for your understanding, Old Ding. Then it's settled. Gather here tomorrow morning at eight."

After the discussion ended, everyone went their separate ways.

On the way back, Xiao Wang asked Linghu Ke, "Second Senior Brother, after Sister Hua named the price, your expression seemed a little grave. Was the pay too low?"

Linghu Ke smiled. "It wasn't too low. The price was a little high."