Chapter 597: Getting Better and Better

"No, you're just staring at me—I can't even eat properly. Help me mingle with them…"

After greeting a few more people, Zhang Su helplessly picked up a piece of luncheon meat and shoved it into his mouth, muttering, "They need to stop coming!"

Yu Wen laughed heartily, "Mr. Zhang, that won't do. Everyone wants to express their gratitude. If you'd said no from the start, fine—but telling them halfway through they can't toast will only break the hearts of those still waiting."

When it wasn't serious, everyone loved teasing Zhang Su.

"I can't even eat my own meal, and now I have to worry about whether they're heartbroken…" Zhang Su sighed with a smile.

"Hehehe, no one else can do this. Look, here comes another one—wow, a little girl!"

Zheng Xinyu watched the scene with delight; she was eating the most freely.

Zhang Su turned his head and saw a little girl walking over with a woman, followed by a sturdy boy of about ten or eleven.

The girl was about eight or nine, her face clean—clearly washed that afternoon—but her skin was terrible: dry and cracked from the cold, where ordinary skincare couldn't hold up, especially on such tender skin; many patches were red and peeling, yet none of that dimmed the light in her eyes.

"Uncle, Miss Ping said you saved us. Thank you. Here, this candy's for you, Uncle."

As she spoke, the girl extended her clenched fist toward Zhang Su.

"Thank you, Lord of the Underworld, for saving my life. I have a gift for you too."

The boy beside her stepped forward, holding a crumpled chocolate bar—hazelnut flavor—in both hands.

Zhang Su turned his gaze to the boy. He looked thirteen or fourteen; without this disaster, he'd be in the second year of middle school. His cheeks were also cleanly washed, his skin better than the girl's, and his clothes noticeably neater.

Peng Xiuping, seeing Zhang Su's attention shift between the two children, quickly understood his concern and said, "Big Brother Zhang, we'll never forget your life-saving grace. Please accept the children's gifts—we still rely on you for our future."

Zhang Su looked at Peng Xiuping. After a moment's thought, he sensed the issue. To confirm his suspicion, he asked, "Sister, these two aren't your biological children, are they?"

Peng Xiuping looked about forty, wearing a stylish beret, with messy strands escaping from beneath its brim. At Zhang Su's question, she brushed her hair back, her face hardening with resolve.

"You're right, Big Brother Zhang. The girl is Yu Ziyan. The boy is Zhang Hanshuo. We met inside the Leigou Mall. They lost their families. I lost my child. So we live together, relying on each other."

Zhang Su's brow lifted slightly. The boy's clothes were clean and neat—either he'd changed them when leaving Leigou Mall or after arriving at the village that afternoon. The girl wore a tattered padded jacket. Their facial complexions differed too. Others saw only the firelight, but Zhang Su saw clearly.

It was obvious Peng Xiuping favored boys over girls.

But it wasn't his place to interfere. He smiled, patted both children on the head, took Zhang Hanshuo's chocolate, then placed his hand beneath Yu Ziyan's clenched fist.

Yu Ziyan beamed and opened her hand, revealing two crumpled White Rabbit milk candies falling onto his palm.

"Little sister, you're so thoughtful. These candies must be sweet. Here, I have something good too—take it back and eat it slowly."

Zhong Xiaoshanjian, seeing Zhang Su accept the children's gifts, finally stepped forward to greet the girl and gave her three packs of daily nuts.

Nearby, Zhang Hanshuo's face flickered with quiet disappointment at seeing the girl receive gifts—until a pack of Yuxi cigarettes appeared before him. "Uncle accepted your gift, but I have no food to give you. Take this—not to smoke. Use it to trade with other brothers, sisters, uncles, or aunts for something you like. Understood?"

Zhang Su wouldn't oppose Peng Xiuping's bias just to be contrary. The boy's gratitude was genuine, his eyes shining with admiration. He didn't want the boy to feel left out.

"Understood. Thank you, Lord of the Underworld!"

"Thank you, beautiful sister! Thank you, Uncle Zhang!"

After thanking them, Peng Xiuping led the two children away.

Immediately after, another group stepped forward…

Zhang Su had planned to keep brushing them off, but he looked closer—it was Yang Liehuo leading the reserve squad, the so-called "Ladies' Army." There were men in the group too, just fewer, and Liu Lan—the one Qiu Hui mentioned—was among them.

"Brother Zhang, the entire reserve squad offers this toast: May Tianmayu thrive under your leadership!"

Yang Liehuo led them with enthusiasm, his face flushed with joy.

"All of you will thrive too. Now go back and eat."

Zhang Su's gaze swept across their faces, not lingering on Liu Lan—but his attention rested mostly on her. He detected nothing unusual. Then again, even if someone harbored thoughts, they wouldn't show them here.

…

The banquet lasted two full hours from start to finish. Even the combat personnel on guard rotated in to eat the hot, spicy hotpot. But Zhang Su barely ate a bite—he couldn't. People were too eager. Of course, beneath their enthusiasm lay their own hidden agendas.

They didn't understand: Zhang Su had no time to manage their lives. Those matters would be handled by others.

The bustle beneath Tianmayu Mountain continued. The entire camp celebrated together—a rare sight globally. Most survivor camps teetered on the brink of annihilation.

Faced with the newly strengthened zombies, many camps revealed their weaknesses. Humanity's fragility, stripped of powerful firearms, was laid bare once more.

North of Qincheng, celebrations erupted. South of Qincheng, the situation was grim: frequent movement between survivor camps—destruction, flight, merger.

The sole surviving force in the Shanhai District, the Dragonhead Camp, now fought a desperate battle against zombie hordes pouring in from beyond the passes, relying on the towering ancient city walls.

Of course, the hotpot feast wasn't without disruption. Hundreds gathered in one place inevitably drew zombies. But the numbers were small—only three waves, the largest just seven or eight. They couldn't break through the combat line.

This peace stemmed from the fierce battles of a few days ago. Now, zombies within several kilometers of Tianmayu were scarce—a rare sanctuary, though only temporarily.

Time passed. No feast lasts forever. At ten-thirty, bonfires flickered out one by one—except the great one at the street corner, still blazing. The crowd quieted, emerging from the revelry.

The banquet ended. Everyone returned home. Cleanup would wait until tomorrow. The once-bustling Main Street of Village One now stood nearly empty.

(End of Chapter)