Priority

Li Weiming clutched the first-class boarding pass, ripped in two, standing in the bustling departure hall of Lijiang Airport, feeling like a joke discarded by the times.

As an executive at a multinational corporation, he was a frequent flyer, and first class was practically his second office. He was accustomed to priority check-in, priority boarding, priority everything – "priority."

But today, his "priority" had failed.

It all started with a sudden blizzard that caused widespread flight delays. Li Weiming's original flight was canceled, and he was reassigned to another flight departing later.

When he reached the boarding gate with his new boarding pass, a young ground crew member stopped him.

"Sir, I'm sorry, but first class is overbooked on this flight," the ground crew member said expressionlessly.

Li Weiming frowned. He knew overbooking was common, but he never thought he would be the one "sacrificed."

"I'm in first class. I have priority," Li Weiming emphasized.

"I know, sir. But this is a special situation. We need to prioritize some... more important passengers." There was a subtle, almost imperceptible, peculiarity in the ground crew member's tone.

"More important?" Li Weiming raised his voice. "What passengers are more important than first class?"

The ground crew member didn't answer, but simply pointed towards the inside of the boarding gate.

Li Weiming followed her finger and saw a group of people in uniform streaming in. They wore prominent work badges on their chests that read "XX Medical Rescue Team."

Li Weiming's heart sank. He knew these people were going to support the earthquake-stricken area in the neighboring province.

"So, you're going to 'sacrifice' me to accommodate them?" Li Weiming's voice dripped with sarcasm.

The ground crew member remained expressionless: "This is the decision from above. We are just executing it."

"Executing?" Li Weiming scoffed. He pulled a business card from his wallet and handed it to the ground crew member. "Take a good look at who I am."

The ground crew member took the card, glanced at it, and then did something that left Li Weiming dumbfounded – she ripped the business card in half, right in front of him.

"Now, you are just like this boarding pass," the ground crew member said calmly.

Li Weiming was stunned. He had never imagined being so "humiliated."

He furiously took out his phone, ready to file a complaint, only to find that the signal bars showed zero.

It turned out that, to ensure smooth communication for the rescue, the base stations near the airport had temporarily adjusted their signal coverage, prioritizing the communication of the rescue teams.

Li Weiming completely broke down. He paced back and forth in the departure hall like a trapped beast, but he was helpless.

Just then, a voice sounded behind him: "Sir, are you alright?"

Li Weiming turned around to see an elderly man dressed in simple clothes, carrying a worn-out canvas bag.

"I'm fine," Li Weiming said curtly.

"You seem very anxious. Is your flight delayed?" the old man asked with concern.

Li Weiming gave a wry smile and told the old man what had happened.

The old man listened, remained silent for a moment, and then took out a crumpled piece of paper from his canvas bag and handed it to Li Weiming.

"Young man, take this."

Li Weiming took it and saw that it was a handwritten "ticket." It was scrawled with the words "Lijiang – XX (Earthquake Zone)," and signed "Volunteer Lao Wang."

"This is..." Li Weiming looked at the old man with confusion.

"I'm a volunteer going to the disaster area to help. I was supposed to take the train, but the train service was also suspended. I heard there were rescue team planes at the airport, so I came to try my luck," the old man explained. "This 'ticket' is something I made myself, hoping to move the staff and let me hitch a ride."

Li Weiming looked at the crude "ticket" and then at the old man's weathered face, and suddenly understood something.

He threw the torn first-class boarding pass into the trash can and said to the old man, "Let's go, Lao Wang. Let's try our luck together."

They walked side-by-side towards the boarding gate, and in Li Weiming's heart, a new kind of "priority" was quietly rising.

Whether that flight eventually took off, or whether Li Weiming caught a "ride," was no longer important.

What mattered was that, at that special moment, he finally understood that some things are more important than first class, more prioritized than "priority."