Chapter 185: Making Trouble for the Person in Charge
Xie Changning immediately raised the stakes, demanding to know what the official meant.
The rivalry between the two nations was a constant, but it had yet to spill out into the open.
Especially since the two nations were still in a so-called honeymoon period, this official could only make trouble behind the scenes. He couldn’t let it become an international incident.
So, after being threatened by Xie Changning, all he could do was shoot her a vicious glare before turning to leave.
After he left, Xie Changning stood there for a long time, her brow furrowed.
’It looks like today’s lot drawing won’t go smoothly either.’
’Since he couldn’t stop us from reaching the semi-finals, he’ll definitely try to tamper with the labs.’
But Xie Changning wasn’t particularly afraid.
She composed herself and said to the people behind her, "Let’s go. It’s almost time for the drawing. We’d better rub our hands for good luck and draw a really great lab."
"Yeah!"
Xie Changning changed the subject, and everyone’s focus shifted to the laboratories prepared by the United States.
A total of eight countries had made it to the semi-finals.
The team led by Xie Changning wasn’t the last to arrive, but they stood out the most in the crowd of white faces.
Everyone knew a team from China would be participating this year, and they were already curious. Their curiosity turned to frowns when they saw the team was led by the very young Xie Changning.
’China must be incredibly stupid.’
’Sending a youngster like her to compete against seasoned experts is just handing them a free win.’
Some even began to hope they would be matched against China; it would be an easy ticket from the round of eight to the final four!
Malicious gazes remained fixed on Xie Changning.
Xie Changning stared straight ahead, ignoring the thoughts and looks from the people around her. Her gaze was fixed on the enlarged photographs at the front of the room.
The photographs showed the laboratories prepared by the event organizers.
Although they were basic, they looked considerably more advanced than the labs in China.
Xie Changning was quite satisfied.
"Wow, they look so high-tech!" Cheng Jinghao whispered to the person beside her.
The others nodded in agreement.
"Are we really going to be doing our pre-competition prep in a place like this?"
"I’m already getting excited."
Xie Changning didn’t dampen their enthusiasm, instead listening quietly as the person on stage announced the competition rules in a language her team members didn’t understand.
Xie Changning sat there, writing down every sentence the announcer spoke.
After writing down all the rules, she tapped the desk of the person beside her. "Take a look. These are the competition rules. Memorize them."
Xie Changning’s words cut their conversation short.
The team members quietly passed the written rules among themselves.
Meanwhile, Xie Changning was called up to draw lots.
Unsurprisingly, the laboratory Xie Changning drew was in a more remote location.
Xie Changning wasn’t particularly concerned. ’If they want to cause trouble, it won’t matter whether the lab is in a busy area or a deserted one.’
’It’s all too easy for the organizers to make a move.’
After drawing their lab assignment, Xie Changning led her team away from the area and followed a staff member to find it.
When they arrived at the lab, she pushed the door open.
The scene that met their eyes was a layout identical to the one in the photographs.
The team members were ecstatic. They rushed into the lab excitedly, looking all around.
Xie Changning entered last. After stepping inside, the first task she assigned was—
"Do a thorough inspection. See if there’s anything wrong with the equipment so we can get it replaced promptly. We’ll put off actually settling in for now."
Hearing Xie Changning’s words, the team members finally calmed down.
The lab itself was secondary. The main issue was that the official from the United States clearly had it out for them!
Remembering the look the man had given them as he left, the team members instantly sobered up. Their excitement was gone, replaced by a vigilant search for any flaws in the laboratory.
The lab looked fine on the surface, but who knew if they had tampered with the instruments.
And so, everyone began to meticulously hunt for problems.
Xie Changning stood at the back, surveying the room. In her mind, she was already designing the afternoon’s layout, as well as...
...some useless "decorations" that would highlight a Chinese aesthetic.
’She knew placing those items would look unprofessional, but sometimes, unprofessional is more acceptable than a hidden danger.’
Once she had the layout figured out, Xie Changning began to sketch it out on the side.
Years ago, Xie Changning had briefly studied Qimen Dunjia with her mentor, so she knew a few simple arrangements.
She put this knowledge to use as she drew.
’There was no helping it; sometimes, "Feng Shui" was important too.’
Just as Xie Changning finished her sketch, the others came over to her.
"Ms. Xie, you were right. There’s a problem with the machines here."
The one who spoke was their best technician, Mu Sijin.
He listed all the equipment that needed repairs for Xie Changning.
Xie Changning set aside the items they could repair themselves and wrote down a consolidated list of everything that needed to be replaced. She prepared to find the person in charge to request the swaps.
’Those guys were too underhanded; they had to be watched personally.’
Xie Changning pointed out the repairable machines to Mu Sijin. "These are the ones we can handle. We’ll fix them ourselves. They’re too critical to be left to the organizers."
"Got it!"
After giving out her instructions, Xie Changning turned and went to find the person in charge, list in hand.
The coordinator greeted Xie Changning politely when he saw her.
"Hello. Much of the equipment in our lab is damaged. I hope you can arrange for some replacements."
As she spoke, she handed him the list.
The coordinator glanced down at the list, then looked up at Xie Changning. "That can’t be right. We provide standardized equipment for all labs. How could yours have so many broken items?"
He eyed her suspiciously as he spoke, questioning the validity of her claim.
Without wasting any words, Xie Changning pulled a few broken components from her pocket and handed them to him.
One look and the coordinator could see they were, in fact, damaged.
Only then did he apologize to her.
As they were speaking, the teams from the other countries began to arrive.
Xie Changning flashed them a brilliant smile. "When you get to your labs, make sure you check the equipment thoroughly. The organizers seem to have missed quite a few things, and some items are even broken."
The coordinator: "!"
’Is she allowed to just say that out loud!?’
The coordinator hastily tried to explain to the others that it was all a misunderstanding.
Unfortunately, these were all technical specialists; they weren’t interested in his excuses.
’If every team has damaged equipment, it’s a failure on the part of the organizers.’
’But if only China’s lab has damaged equipment, then it’s deliberate targeting, and this competition has no integrity whatsoever!’
The faces of the other team leaders darkened.
’For such a prestigious competition to resort to underhanded tricks is simply crude! It cheapens the whole event!’
The coordinator glanced at Xie Changning, then had no choice but to placate the crowd before going to deal with the "oversights" in China’s lab.
After he left, the team from the United States, feeling thoroughly embarrassed, hurried into their own lab to escape the pointed stares from the other national teams.