Chapter 61 - 57: The Topic Is Unimportant, Speaking Is What Matters

Chapter 61: Chapter 57: The Topic Is Unimportant, Speaking Is What Matters

The previous owner of Apartment 503 had installed an open kitchen, which, combined with the large floor-to-ceiling windows, made the living room feel exceptionally open and airy.

At this time, the sky was dim, and the last sliver of the fiery sunset on the horizon was about to be extinguished.

In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, a 2.5-meter-long black walnut table occupied the center of the living room.

Six people sat around the long table, three to a side.

Yu Dong sat in the center, with Zhao Youcai on his left and Huang Zhiqiang on his right.

Opposite him was Liu Ye’ye, with Shen Xinyi to his front-left and Zhou Jian Country to his front-right.

The Xiangti Bay Squad’s first post-apocalyptic meeting was held in this setting.

Faced with the ’management and assessment’ issue Yu Dong had raised, four of the others at the table weren’t yet in the right frame of mind.

They were all worried about their families, loved ones, and friends.

Only Zhao Youcai was already rubbing his hands together, ready to make his move.

He glanced around, and seeing that no one was ready to speak, he coughed to clear his throat.

"Dongzi, I’ll state my opinion first."

"My personal opinion was that we shouldn’t have saved these ordinary people, but since you all decided to, okay, no problem. I respect the team’s decision. I even brought that old lady in."

"Those five did nothing and were gifted lives that shouldn’t have been theirs. On top of that, they’ll be getting a constant stream of supplies from us! So they’d better work hard and contribute their value to the team. Only then will they be worthy of all the effort we put in before the apocalypse."

"My requirement for them is simple: obedience! Absolute obedience to our squad! If anyone disobeys... we just toss them out to feed the zombies. Feed one, and the rest will fall in line..."

"Hey, Dongzi, now that you mention it... saving that old lady wasn’t a mistake after all."

Zhao Youcai had a look of sudden realization after he finished speaking.

Yu Dong’s expression remained unchanged as he turned to the others. "What do you all think?"

Having just spent a long time talking with his father and confirming his safety, Huang Zhiqiang had calmed down considerably. He felt particularly compelled to join the discussion after hearing Zhao Youcai’s proposal.

"I don’t really agree, that’s too cold-blooded... Youcai, aren’t you the one who hates capitalists the most? Your whole system is more vicious than a true capitalist. How can you suggest that? We can all just help each other and build our territory together. There’s no need for this."

"Hmph. We’re the ones with the food and weapons, which makes us the biggest capitalists. Naturally, we should do what capitalists do! We didn’t work this hard preparing everything just for them to be freeloaders!"

Seeing Zhao Youcai’s intense emotions and eagerness to debate, Huang Zhiqiang’s tone softened inexplicably.

"Still... there’s no need to be so aggressive. Normal people will listen if you just talk to them reasonably. It’s not like they’re going to turn on us, right?"

"You never know."

Zhao Youcai sneered. ’Based on the people he’d encountered growing up... the saying that human nature is inherently evil wasn’t wrong at all.’

Seeing the two were about to start arguing again, Yu Dong cut them off.

"Ye Ye, what are your thoughts?"

Liu Ye’ye had calmed down by this point. She knew turning into a zombie was the most probable outcome, but she had still held on to a sliver of hope. Ultimately, her luck just fell short.

She had promised Yu Dong that she wouldn’t forget her responsibilities, no matter what happened.

She was a member of this squad.

She was a teammate Yu Dong wouldn’t abandon, even as a Reincarnator.

She had told her father everything today, and her father had told her what to do if he died...

"I think we should be sincere, put ourselves in their shoes, and not treat them differently. We should try living together for a while. Those who fit with our team’s philosophy can stay and survive with us. Those who don’t... we can let them leave."

Zhao Youcai threw his hands up in resignation, but since Liu Ye’ye was beautiful, he could forgive a pretty woman for being a bit kind. So, he didn’t say anything more.

Seeing Yu Dong’s gaze shift to him, Zhou Jian Country looked flustered.

"I... I’m fine with anything. You all can decide. Captain Yu Dong, is Mei really... really a lost cause? Can we just go back for a look, just one look! If she’s turned into a zombie, I’ll give up all hope. But what if she hasn’t? Mei is a wonderful person, she can do anything, and she has great core strength. She’d have no problem fighting zombies with us."

Yu Dong nodded, showing he understood.

"Once we’ve settled the immediate issues, we’ll start clearing out the zombies in Building One, step by step. When we do, we’ll go to 1403 so you can see for yourself."

"Okay, okay... Thank you, thank you! I’ll follow the team’s arrangements. Whatever you decide, I’ll do it!"

Just as in the previous life, Zhou wouldn’t state his own opinion when things were uncertain; he would simply follow the group’s decision.

"I agree with... er, sorry, what was your name?"

Shen Xinyi looked at Zhao Youcai sheepishly. She still couldn’t remember everyone’s names.

"Zhao Youcai."

"Oh. Rationally speaking, I agree with Zhao Youcai’s opinion. It would be beneficial for our team—let them do all the dirty, tiring, and dangerous work while we give the orders. How great would that be?"

Zhao Youcai didn’t even have time to be happy before Shen Xinyi continued, "But emotionally... if I weren’t sitting here, but was one of those five people instead, I could never accept being managed like that. I would definitely resist, I guarantee it."

When Yu Dong heard this, a bitter smile touched his lips.

’Yes, she would definitely resist.’

No one knew Shen Xinyi’s fierce, unyielding nature better than he did.

At this, Shen Xinyi gave Yu Dong a strange look.

"I still don’t quite understand that whole Reincarnator business you mentioned, or how I was in this squad in your ’past life,’ or why you trust me... but I feel like me being on this team is a total accident."

"There’s no essential difference between me and those five. We’re all just weak, ordinary people. So I think it’s best to be as gentle as possible... We can make distinctions behind the scenes, but we have to maintain a sense of decency on the surface."

Zhao Youcai clapped his hands once, then immediately threw them up in a gesture of surrender.

"Alright, fine. All that talk for nothing. Before the apocalypse, I was a dog for the capitalists; after the apocalypse, I’m playing saint with you all. This is just my luck."

’He knew it was a lost cause. These people were all too conservative.’

’They didn’t have a shred of capitalist instinct.’

Yu Dong glanced around the table before summarizing.

"Everyone has pretty much shared their opinions. I’ve combined them to form a preliminary plan."

"First, our approach will be founded on trust with the goal of assimilation. We will maintain equal treatment, but they must also participate in the squad’s work."

"Second, just as Youcai said, only we can control the food and weapons. They are not allowed to. This is the core of our power, and we cannot afford any mistakes here. If any problems arise... the priority must be to protect our squad members."

"Third, after a trial period of cohabitation, we will absorb those who align with our philosophy and expel those who don’t. That will conclude their evaluation."

"Does everyone agree with this plan? Please raise your hand if you do."

"Dongzi, once we’re done clearing the zombies in this building, have them all go up to the roof and build a greenhouse for me."

"Of course."

Only after Yu Dong said this did Zhao Youcai’s mood improve slightly.

’At least Yu Dong had adopted some of his ideas instead of just being a pushover.’

’Otherwise, he really would have thrown up.’

Soon, everyone raised their hands, and the plan was approved.

This short meeting also gave Yu Dong a general understanding of his team members’ post-apocalyptic ideologies, especially those of the new additions: Zhao Youcai, Huang Zhiqiang, and Shen Xinyi.

’Zhao Youcai was aggressive, Huang Zhiqiang was soft-hearted, and Shen Xinyi was empathetic.’

’In truth, he had already worked out this plan in his mind.’

’The topic of the first meeting wasn’t important; what mattered was using it to hear the opinions of those three.’

"Oh, right. About me being a Reincarnator... don’t tell them. This information stays between the six of us."

"We’ll tell them a consistent story: that we have a source for advance information and a method to determine if someone will turn into a zombie."

"Now, grab your gear. Let’s go meet the five of them."

Yu Dong handed out tactical knives, one for each teammate, which they tucked into their waistbands.

Each person also held a Gwangju-style expandable baton.