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The atmosphere inside the Greenhouse grew somewhat awkward, with both sides wearing exaggerated expressions, yet neither revealing their true intentions. Song Jiu and the Guard Boy exchanged smiles that seemed to challenge each other.
"Are you calling me?" the Guard Boy feigned surprise, glancing around before adding, "You must have mistaken me for someone else."
"There’s no need to beat around the bush. I understand your suspicion towards outsiders," Song Jiu said, his gaze filled with sincerity, as if he were genuinely hurt by the guard's probing. He sighed, "The world has changed, and finding a place to settle is not easy. If you’re facing difficulties, I won’t impose any further. Sigh." By the end of his statement, he appeared to be genuinely moved, pretending to wipe away a nonexistent tear from the corner of his eye.
Jiao Ziqian stood there grinning foolishly, unsure whether to leave or confront them, so he could only watch Brother Jiu put on a performance.
"Where are you currently staying?" the Guard Boy asked after a moment of contemplation.
"Roaming around without a fixed home," Song Jiu replied with a sorrowful expression. "Last night we found a place in the county town, but by the early hours, we were chased out by Zombies. Only a few of us managed to escape."
"Zombies?" The Guard Boy's attention shifted slightly as he asked curiously, "We send people periodically to clear out the Zombies nearby; it seems pretty safe in the county town."
"It’s not just Zombies; there are also other threats."
The Guard Boy's eyelids twitched as he raised an eyebrow at Song Jiu and asked, "You’ve encountered other types of Zombies?"
"Yes, we have," Song Jiu replied.
The Guard Boy scrutinized them for a moment longer before turning and leaving the Greenhouse. The armed men remained rooted in place like iron towers, their guns still aimed at the small group.
" Brother Jiu," Jiao Ziqian felt increasingly uneasy and hesitated for a long time but still couldn't bring himself to admit defeat.
"Don’t rush; let’s wait and see," Song Jiu thought to himself as he felt uncertain. He had sensed the Guard Boy's probing but didn’t quite grasp his intentions. To him, whether they accepted them or not seemed like a trivial matter that didn't warrant such circumlocution.
Xin Mengfan was feeling stifled and wanted to exchange information with Song Jiu. Unfortunately, most of the guards' gazes were fixed on her, and she dared not make any sudden moves for fear of misunderstanding.
After about ten minutes, the Guard Boy returned alone.
"From now on, we’re all family; don’t take what happened earlier to heart," he finally wiped off his false smile and gestured for the guards to lower their weapons. Striding toward Song Jiu, he extended his hand. "Let me introduce myself again; my surname is Zhu. I’m the Squad Leader of the Us Patrol Team; just call me Xiao Zhu."
Song Jiu held the rough hands, calloused and worn, and said, "Song Jiu."
"This name is interesting. Since it's lively today, let me treat you all to a welcome. We won't return until we're drunk!" Xiao Zhu laughed heartily, patting Song Jiu on the shoulder, and didn't forget to apologize to Jiao Ziqian: "I apologize for any offense earlier; please bear with me."
"Haha, haha." Jiao Ziqian was never good with words, and since he couldn't refuse a smiling face, he could only chuckle awkwardly to show his magnanimity.
"Come on, take her down." Xiao Zhu didn't mind Jiao Ziqian's attitude. He waved over two people to take the rope from Song Jiu's hands and escorted Xin Mengfan out. Just before leaving, Xin Mengfan turned back to glance at Song Jiu, who subtly blinked in response. Understanding the cue, Xin Mengfan returned a faint smile.
Not only did Xiao Zhu look young, but he was also quite young in age. As they made their way into the camp, the four of them became somewhat familiar with each other. At just twenty-one, he was two years younger than Song Jiu, yet his demeanor was quite mature, exuding the charm of a seasoned veteran. Song Jiu knew that speaking too much could lead to mistakes, so he mostly listened while Xiao Zhu chattered away enthusiastically about the camp's situation. Although he seemed overflowing with warmth, most of what he said was obvious to anyone with eyes and held little value.
Song Jiu had prepared for this; he didn't expect to gain useful information right upon entering. Since Xiao Zhu was willing to feign enthusiasm, he didn't hesitate to express false gratitude in return. Jiao Ziqian, remembering Luo Yu's instructions before they set off, responded to Xiao Zhu's questions with mere "mm-hmm" and "uh-huh," lacking the bravado he had shown in the Greenhouse. Meanwhile, A Hai and another guy were even more reserved; on one hand, they instinctively felt wary about entering enemy territory, and on the other hand, to ensure their signal flares remained safe within them, they had to keep their stomachs tight and their postures upright without any time for idle chatter.
Passing through a thick Brick Wall, Xiao Zhu led the four through a slightly narrow path into the camp's interior Main Square.
The flat ground paved with red bricks almost covered the entire square. In the center stood a miniature version of the Trevi Fountain, its lifelike sculptures rivaling those of the original. Although there was no water in the fountain, this group of sculptures added considerable charm to the square. From outside, one couldn't see what lay within; Song Jiu had imagined it would be simple wooden houses among trees but realized how wrong he was upon closer inspection. Compared to other shelters he had seen before, this place felt like an extravagant resort.
Who had ever seen a shelter adorned with neatly arranged tiles, equipped with iron fences and tempered glass? Who had heard of a camp hiding from Zombies that had running water? What kind of people would tend flowers at their doorsteps in an environment plagued by Zombies, or why would there be a buffet-style square resembling a social gathering deep in the mountains like Old Lin?
The group stood dumbfounded as they gazed at the crowd singing and dancing behind the fountain sculpture, their minds blank.
Several children dressed in brand-new outfits chased each other around the fountain statue while a big golden retriever wagged its tongue and followed them around; buildings on either side shared a consistent architectural style—some bright and some dim—with doors wide open. The lush greenery of the Green Belt added two vibrant lines of scenery to the square. A long table was set up at an angle along one side of the square, covered with white tablecloths and laden with trays filled with various foods. The night breeze carried delicious aromas that wafted over to Song Jiu and his companions; around a hundred people wandered freely among the tables—men and women of all ages—each face glowing with genuine joy under the flickering firelight.
Jiao Ziqian swallowed hard as he looked at the well-dressed crowd and then glanced at his disheveled self; surprisingly, he felt a bit embarrassed.
Previously only able to vaguely hear voices from behind the partition wall, standing in the center of the square truly made him experience what Xiao Zhu had described as a "festive atmosphere." At one end of the long table were semicircular rows of bus seats where several calm-looking middle-aged individuals sat together holding something dark in their hands that resembled instruments.
"Come on, let's go take a look." After waiting for some time beside them and feeling quite pleased with their reactions, Xiao Zhu, filled with pride, boasted: "This is nothing! Do you know how we celebrated last New Year's Eve? Firecrackers, fireworks, outdoor barbecues!"
"Aren't you afraid that a horde of Zombies will come and wipe you all out?" Jiao Ziqian gulped hard again as echoes of "outdoor barbecue" lingered in his mind.
"What's there to be afraid of? During that season, even the Zombies are hibernating, so why can't we have some fun?" Xiao Zhu said with a puzzled expression, jokingly adding, "Are you all this cautious in winter too?"
"A cautious approach ensures a long journey," Song Jiu replied with a humble smile, his eyes betraying a hint of envy. "Even if the Zombies are dormant in winter, making too much noise could still wake them up."
"Hey, that's true," Xiao Zhu said with a proud grin, waving his hand as if pointing out the landscape. "But we have weapons, and even if they wake up, what can they do?"
"Right now is actually the season when Zombies revive, and there are more of them wandering around. Aren't you being a bit too conspicuous?" A Hai couldn't help but interject. Although the lively crowd was infectious, they still hadn't forgotten the perilous situation they were in. This lifestyle was indeed enviable and appealing, but compared to life itself, it was still worth more.
"Just relax," Xiao Zhu said lightly, leading the four of them through the bustling crowd. As they walked, he continued, "You didn't understand earlier; that's normal. Let's not talk about that today—I'm sure you haven't eaten yet. I'll take you to have something good. We'll rest tonight and tomorrow I'll show you around."
"Should we meet the leader here?" Song Jiu asked tentatively.
"Not just yet; our personnel structure is quite complex here, and it can't be explained in a few words. Just stick with me for these couple of days," Xiao Zhu replied. He seemed to be well-liked; along the way, people greeted him frequently, and he returned their greetings with a warm smile while introducing the four newcomers behind him.
As they passed a long table, Jiao Ziqian couldn't resist reaching out to grab a greasy chicken leg from a tray. Nearby, several elegantly dressed girls shot him disdainful looks and snickered as they stepped aside.
"Do you two want some?" Jiao Ziqian asked without caring about their judgment. Chewing with grease dripping from his mouth, he generously invited A Hai and another Young Man to join him. The two behind could only watch enviously but had no choice but to decline politely.
To say that Song Jiu's team was among the poorest would be inaccurate; since forming their group, they rarely wandered around anymore and had previously established their own camp. While it wasn't as lavish as this place, they had enough to eat and occasionally enjoyed wild game. Though it might not look appealing, the taste was definitely authentic. However, food does taste different in various environments; for instance, this chicken leg could be savored while watching the joyful crowd singing and dancing here, whereas back at their camp they would have to gobble it down quickly while perched on tree branches—no time even to wipe their mouths in case of emergencies.
Although Jiao Ziqian hadn't drunk any alcohol, he felt almost intoxicated by the aroma of the roasted chicken leg that seemed to seep into his bones. He devoured it whole, crunching on the bones and savoring every bit of flavor before spitting out the remnants onto the ground. Song Jiu had no words left for his gluttonous companion and pretended not to see him while maintaining an interested demeanor as he listened to Xiao Zhu boast; A Hai and another Young Man kept their eyes darting through the crowd, occasionally whispering comments like "That one has a nice figure but lacks Dream Fan's flair," or "This one's not bad either, but I still prefer Sister Luo."
After exchanging some insincere pleasantries, Song Jiu's group finally squeezed out of the crowd. They were all sweating profusely while Jiao Ziqian was covered in grease. Seeing them look at him, he patted his belly contentedly and let out a loud belch.
" Brother Jiu, capitalism is great," Jiao Ziqian said with his eyes squinting into slits from laughter, his mouth stretching almost to his neck. Given how things were going, if Xiao Zhu brought him a plate of Roast Suckling Pig next, this guy might even sell out Song Jiu and the others.
Song Jiu punched him playfully and scolded with a laugh, "At this rate of eating, they'll kick us out in no time."
"That can't happen; this is just getting started," just then Xiao Zhu emerged from the crowd and overheard Song Jiu's teasing. He came over and threw an arm around both Song Jiu and Jiao Ziqian while exhaling a strong scent of alcohol. "This is our usual fare; we won't go hungry at night—just grab something to drink with."
"I see there are quite a few people here; it can withstand the consumption," Song Jiu smoothly picked up the conversation and directly asked about the supplies.
"Hey, our supply chain is a mess," Xiao Zhu said, cutting himself off with a burp. Once he got his breath back, he seemed much more alert and quickly changed the subject, pointing to a flat-roofed red Brick House ahead. "That's our Cafeteria."
Song Jiu felt a pang of frustration but reminded himself not to be anxious. He shifted his attention to the Cafeteria, which resembled a coffin.
This cafeteria was the only building he had seen so far that had a distinctly different style. Its exterior walls were not tiled but rather coated with smooth cement. It stretched about ten meters wide, with two double doors on either side and square ventilation windows tightly shut. Inside, flickering candlelight could be faintly seen.
"Let me give you your first lesson," Xiao Zhu stopped in front of the Cafeteria, pointing mysteriously inside and whispering, "In our camp, you might not have to pay much attention to the boss, but remember, never offend our chef."
"Why? Is the chef your boss's lover?" Jiao Ziqian, who had a big mouth and couldn't hold back after filling his stomach, exclaimed indignantly, "That's so impressive."
Creak~
The Cafeteria's door made a soft sound as it slowly opened a crack, revealing a white chef's hat peeking through.
"Sister Jia," Xiao Zhu called softly, stepping back two paces. "Uh, we have newcomers; I brought them to eat."
"Oh, come in," the chef's hat lifted as she scanned the room with gentle eyes and smiled warmly. She opened the wooden door wider and pointed at Jiao Ziqian, who was about to step inside. "You, out."
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