Chapter 241: Pay Attention to Your Image

"Su-ge, I feel like everyone's in a low mood…"

Zheng Xinyu lay in bed wrapped in a quilt, her head exposed, speaking softly.

The dark room was warmed by heating, not cold, but far from hot; even with zombie corpses as fuel, usable energy remained limited—better to conserve it, drip by drip.

Zhang Su sighed lightly; he too had sensed the shift in everyone's mood. Just moments ago, they'd been fired up, eager to confront the Azure Dragon Corps—but now, the mass relocation of the West Camp had dampened their spirits.

"This isn't good. We're about to deal with the Azure Dragon Corps—we need to lift everyone's spirits!"

"If it's just about adjusting moods, it's not hard."

Zhang Su said to Wang Longzhong.

Clap. Clap.

Everyone put down their bowls and chopsticks and burst into enthusiastic applause, showing full support for Zhang Su's decision.

Zhong Xiaoshanjian said.

"Su-ge, ten thousand years!"

In the past, whether at school events or company team-building activities, people had always been unenthusiastic—but in the apocalypse, entertainment was scarce, making a social gathering invaluable.

Indeed, as Zhong Xiaoshanjian said, sometimes after waking, he'd just swish mouthwash around, rinse his face with water, and call it hygiene; his clothes were worn only for warmth, and often, the corners and edges were tidied up by Zheng Xinyu and Zhong Xiaoshanjian.

"I have an immature idea," Zhong Xiaoshanjian turned over to face Zhang Su. "The United Village moved in early due to special circumstances, too hastily to hold any ceremony. Why not use this chance to host a social gathering? Give everyone a chance to relax—and let our single men in the camp meet the girls from the United Village."

"Awesome!"

"You're the backbone of this entire camp, the leader, the figurehead—do you know how powerful your influence is? For example, back when I worked at the hospital, even the middle managers were always polished and sharp. If the leaders were sluggish and disheveled, the energy they radiated would be negative. Just trust me tomorrow—try it, and you'll see results!"

Zhong Xiaoshanjian's first suggestion to Zhang Su was self-image improvement; her second was the camp's overall image.

"Huh? What's up?"

Zhong Xiaoshanjian shook her head, serious. "Back when we were fleeing for our lives, it was understandable we couldn't care about these things—but now it's different!"

"Tonight we'll hold a social gathering to welcome our fellow villagers from the United Village—let everyone get to know each other, have some fun!"

"Su-ge, there are still some details I need to mention—don't think I'm nagging. Men don't usually care about these things, but they're actually crucial…"

"And there's also…"

Zhang Su nodded. "A social gathering sounds good, but… what about our food reserves?"

"How was it?" Zhong Xiaoshanjian set down her tray and sat beside Zhang Su, speaking softly. "The effect was good, right?"

Clap-clap.

Hearing Zhong Xiaoshanjian's suggestion, she instantly recalled the class events from her school days, her heart filled with longing.

Zhang Su asked curiously.

Zhang Su clapped his hands to get everyone's attention, then stood up. "Since most of you are here, I'm announcing something."

Yu Wen led the applause. "Mr. Zhang truly thinks what we think and acts as we wish—everyone, show your full spirit and clap!"

To make Zhang Su look energetic, Zheng Xinyu had even applied a light blush to his cheeks, giving him a rosy, vibrant look—as if he'd just drunk half a pot of ginseng soup!

Zhang Su gave a strange expression, grinning. "You think this is a public company? With things the way they are, who has time for such nonsense?"

"Fine, let's do it then—no delay, schedule it for tomorrow!"

"You're underestimating the power of image."

Then Zhong Xiaoshanjian mentioned several seemingly minor details that, if handled well, could subtly shift the entire camp's emotional atmosphere.

Zhong Xiaoshanjian had worked in a big hospital and had experience with similar events.

Zhong Xiaoshanjian said softly.

Spiritual and cultural development is essential for any human community. Though no one said it outright, everyone had long been yearning for some form of entertainment.

Zhang Su made the decision: boosting camp morale was urgent.

"Fine, I'm open to advice—let's try it. Besides me, what else?" Zhang Su asked.

Walking into the dining hall for breakfast, Zhang Su greeted everyone as usual—but where before he'd merely nodded blankly, today he waved with a bright smile. His optimism shone like a rising sun, illuminating everyone and radiating positive psychological cues!

In this process, Zhang Su clearly sensed a different atmosphere.

"Haha, we just finished the New Year feast, and now we've got a social gathering—this life, one word…"

"Don't worry—the stockpile is sufficient. The social gathering is mainly about fun: one small cup of wine per person, just enough to get pleasantly tipsy, a few performances to liven things up, and that's enough to get everyone active. Once they're lively, they'll just do their own thing. You or Teacher Yu can say a few words afterward—it'll be perfect!"

Zhang Su turned his head and asked.

"Old Wang, don't go to Madianzhuang today—take your people and clean up the camp, set up the venue!"

??

After hearing the news, everyone froze for a moment, glancing at each other in silence—then a wave of cheers erupted.

Last night, not only Zhang Su had been thinking about morale—Yu Wen had slept over an hour less, brainstorming several plans, ready to discuss them with Zhang Su today. He was thrilled his idea had been preempted and wholeheartedly supported it.

Zheng Xinyu's eyes lit up. She'd once thought it pointless to gather and sing and dance—she'd rather sit alone in front of her computer. But after losing the internet, she realized how vital human connection truly was.

It's undeniable we face problems now—but only by facing them positively can we welcome a better tomorrow.

The next day, the sky was clear. Zhang Su stepped out of his room, dressed more carefully than ever. Zheng Xinyu and Zhong Xiaoshanjian had carefully chosen a coat for him—perhaps a bit chilly, but he looked sharp, not the flashy kind of sharp, but truly invigorated.

Clap-clap-clap.

"Your attire, appearance, and demeanor directly affect every person in the camp. Haven't you ever noticed that before?"

The diners in the hall involuntarily paused their eating.

"Good!"

"Looks like your hospital training theories really work. Today, you take charge—gather a few people and clean up the camp!"

"I think this idea's great!"

It was a very subtle change—if measured by game stats, both joy and morale had risen sharply; the dining atmosphere clearly reflected the shift.

Zhang Su nodded firmly. A group of upbeat companions was infinitely better than a crowd of gloomy faces.

"Huh? Xiaoshan, do you have an idea?"

Though the apocalypse had left everything in ruins, the more broken things were, the more we must rebuild our safe camp to resemble the world we once knew—to give everyone the belief that "we live well, our home is warm and clean, and we must protect this sacred peace!"

Wang Longzhong beamed. "Guaranteed! Su-ge, I'll go tell them right away—they'll be thrilled!"

This social gathering not only lifted camp morale but also helped the United Village residents quickly develop a sense of belonging, shifting them from "I'm from the United Village" to "I'm from Tianmayu."

(End of chapter)