Chapter 209: The First Day of the First Month of the First Year

"The Light Era—seeking light from darkness. The Light Era—excellent!"

Yu Wen nodded firmly and led the applause.

Everyone followed suit, a vague emotion growing within them—something new, something they hadn't felt before.

"Brother Su, if tomorrow is the first day of the first month of the Light Era, shouldn't we celebrate? This counts as New Year's Eve!"

Lu Yubo suggested with a beaming smile.

Zhang Su nodded: "Since we've made the decision, there must be ceremony. If this snow keeps getting heavier, we won't go out tomorrow—we'll hold a grand New Year's feast together. If the weather holds, those who need to go out will go, and cooking will be left to the camp staff!"

"Brother Su, should we call over the liaison village's overseer to join us?"

Wang Xin asked.

"Yeah, Brother Su, this is such a grand occasion—shouldn't we notify the liaison village? They're our subordinate village now!"

"Uncle, how am I not good enough for Lanlan? Why doesn't she like me?"

Zhang Su waved his hand: "No need. The liaison village is going through a leadership transition—Wang Longzhong has a mountain of work. We can notify them later. Tomorrow, let's just enjoy it among ourselves. That's settled. Everyone, rest up."

Lu Yubo stood in the corner watching Pei Lan and Chen Hanzhou stroll together, sneered, and turned to leave—planning to walk around the Shanmen to clear his head—when a voice called out to him.

Zhang Su exhaled smoke and casually tossed a cigarette to Pang Dakun, who sat slumped in the corner, face heavy with disappointment.

Lu Yubo had visited the liaison village today and truly enjoyed it; since the disaster, he hadn't felt the warmth of being adored again—and today, he felt it once more.

Lu Yubo suspected that Tan Huajun had known beforehand about Mo Qianlan coming to see him!

"Free time, Lanlan? Want to go for a walk?"

"Do you have time?" Mo Qianlan asked with a bright smile.

Lu Yubo instantly felt revived. He led Mo Qianlan outside, his hand instinctively reaching to take hers—but after two hesitations, he didn't. Instead, he casually draped his arm over her shoulder.

When a girl invites you willingly, if you have any feelings, refusing makes no sense—taking the initiative is always the better choice.

The group dispersed, most of their chatter centered on the new calendar—something utterly novel to them all.

"Lanlan, what's wrong?"

She had already left with Zhang Ya and Zhong Xiaoshanjian, paying no attention to Mo Qianlan's whereabouts—but could she truly not care?

"Hm?"

"Stop staring—they're gone already!"

Zhang Su sat beside Pang Dakun and placed a hand on his shoulder: "Kid, romance isn't about whether you're better or worse—it's about feeling. Besides, your status chasing Lanlan makes her feel strange, you get that?"

Pang Dakun muttered dejectedly.

"Me? Oh, there's plenty..."

Lu Yubo could be clueless about everything else, but when it came to men and women, he was sharper than a dog—he instantly understood Mo Qianlan's meaning, his heart skipped, his eyes darted around searching for Tan Huajun's figure.

"Sure, let's go for a walk. I heard you used to work at a KTV? Who's your favorite singer?"

Lu Yubo turned around—Mo Qianlan stood there in the light, her plain cotton coat simple, her unadorned face radiating youthful vitality.

"Brother Lu Yubo."

Pang Dakun was Tan Huajun's adopted son, making him Mo Qianlan's adopted younger brother—this relationship was perfectly fine as long as romance wasn't involved.

"But I just think Lanlan's great. I like her."

Pang Dakun took a deep drag on his cigarette.

Zhang Su ruffled Pang Dakun's buzzcut: "Are you bored from resting up in camp lately? Got too much time to waste on nonsense like this? Come with me tomorrow for a walk—clear your head. Stop fixating on who you like—try chasing someone who likes you instead. I guarantee you'll succeed."

"Someone likes me?"

Pang Dakun perked up instantly, his eyes brightening.

"We just absorbed the liaison village—there are plenty of girls and young women. Keep coming and going, show them how sharp and capable you are—someone's bound to like you!"

Zhang Su understood Pang Dakun—sixteen or seventeen, flooded with male hormones, no survival pressure left, now he's thinking about love and romance. Normal.

"Got it, Uncle. I'm going to watch my adoptive mom play landowner. Don't forget what you said—if we can go out tomorrow, take me with you!"

Pang Dakun's mood lifted fast and faded fast—after a little encouragement, he was fine.

"Sigh, Brother Su, you've got everyone else planned out—what about me, your loyal sidekick? Can't you fix me up too?"

Seeing Pang Dakun leave, Wu Lue stood up from the corner and shrugged helplessly.

Zhang Su smiled at the gaunt Wu Lue: "You deserve it. Who told you to start trying to take advantage of others? Now no one wants to hang out with you, right?"

Ever since the camera installation incident, Wu Lue had been strongly condemned by all the women in camp. Now, apart from Tan Huajun, every woman treated him coldly—though this attitude was only private; they still maintained basic communication for security duties.

"I've reformed, Brother Su! Really changed my ways. Help me out, will you?"

Wu Lue grinned sheepishly.

"Luezi, in the apocalypse, women aren't scarce—men are. Your job is to grow stronger. What you need will come." Zhang Su clapped Wu Lue on the shoulder.

Wu Lue scratched his head, doubtful: "But that doesn't make sense, Brother Su—look at our camp, we've got way more men than women. How are men scarce?"

"That's nothing yet. It's only been three months. Wait six months and see! Women generally have weaker combat ability—even in survivor groups, most handle logistics. We men bear the burden—we go out to scavenge, fight zombies. Think about it: one stays safe in camp, the other always heads out—whose life is more dangerous?"

Zhang Su shrugged with a strange expression—he didn't mind shouldering the male burden, because he'd enjoyed the privileges that came with it.

Wu Lue nodded thoughtfully after listening: "So... if we just survive, we win?"

"Exactly. Like old wars—you want to be a general? Don't die on the battlefield. As long as you come home alive, wealth and beauties will follow. So train hard, stay sharp on missions, don't get taken down—or you'll end up with nothing."

"Got it, Brother Su. Don't worry—I'm terrifyingly strong now!"

"Get lost..."

Zhang Su slapped Wu Lue's head—just like he used to in the convenience store—and went back to his room to rest.

The next morning, Zheng Xinyu was the first to wake in the warm room. She walked to the window, pulled back the curtain, puffed out her cheeks—the ground showed not a single speck of snow. If they hadn't seen the snowfall last night, they'd have thought it never happened!

She hoped the snow would keep falling, so Zhang Su wouldn't have to go out scavenging, and they could hold a peaceful New Year's feast in camp. If the snow continued, the camp's food supply wouldn't be a problem, and the Qinglong Corps couldn't risk coming to collect their dues—giving them temporary peace.

Snow would also hinder the zombies' movement—perhaps they could safely weather the winter.

In short, if the snow kept falling, it would be perfect. But it stopped—and left no trace at all...

Yet while no trace remained in human eyes, subtle changes were quietly unfolding—like the zombies.

"Happy New Year!"

With the new calendar established, everyone in camp naturally followed it—greeting each other with "Happy New Year" as the first words.

To an outsider, this would seem absurd—but to those on Tianma Island, it felt right. Cutting ties with the past to embrace the future, or finding solace in the ruins of the old world—it didn't matter. The past was done. Together, they were forging a new era: the Era of Light!

"What a stupid snow—fell like nothing. Back to work!"

Zhang Su finished breakfast in the dining hall and said to the group: "Tan Hua, Master Jia, Guo Dachao, Pang Dakun, Zhao Dezhu, Zhang Ya, Wang Xin—get ready. We leave in ten minutes."

New Year's Eve was important, but with their current lifestyle, comfort was still far off. Even on the first day of the new year, they had to go out and work.

"Hey!"

Zheng Xinyu stepped behind Zhang Su, hands on her hips: "You're taking both head chefs away—how are we supposed to make the New Year's feast?"

"Yeah, Brother Su, if Tan Hua and Master Jia leave, who's gonna cook?"

"At least leave one of them!"

Everyone in camp knew Tan Huajun and Jia Shiqin cooked well—not quite master chefs, but among home cooks, they were top-tier. After all, several others couldn't even make fried rice with eggs...

"You say that, but me... heh, I don't mind!"

Zhao Dezhu was about to protest—he cooked pretty well too—but then he thought: finally, a chance to get out and wander around. If he got stuck cooking, that'd be miserable. He shut up fast.

"Let's do something different today! Hot pot! Didn't we bring back a ton of meat and veggies from Xiang Zhuangzi? If we don't use them now, they'll spoil. Throw it all in—a big pot, three tables, let's go! Hahaha!"

Eating hot pot in freezing weather? Pure luxury. The camp had all the ingredients—even the hot pot base packs had been hauled back from Niuziquan Town. A simple yet grand feast!

(End of Chapter)