Chapter 52: The Official Establishment of Guangping Street Gathering Place
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
When w.a.n.g Xiong and his group returned, it was already around seven in the evening.
During this period, Lu Ming and Zhang Chengcheng, along with Yang Guan, Qin Lie, and Wei Jiming, brought back all the food from the Zhang family’s gathering place.
As w.a.n.g Xiong was making arrangements for the survivors, he also communicated with Zhang Chengcheng.
w.a.n.g Xiong briefly explained what he saw and heard at Cheng Shen’s gathering place. He hoped that Zhang Chengcheng could provide some psychological counseling for those women, and Zhang Chengcheng readily agreed.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chengcheng also mentioned something else.
Lu Ming took about one-fifth of the supplies and brought them back home…
This puzzled w.a.n.g Xiong, and he could not quite understand Lu Ming’s actions.
To this, Zhang Chengcheng chuckled and said, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
w.a.n.g Xiong instantly understood.
In short, a busy day pa.s.sed quickly.
The next day.
It was the 32nd day of the apocalypse calendar, Wednesday.
When Lu Ming finished his breakfast and peeked out of the window on the second floor, he witnessed the following scene.
A bustling street scene.
Under Zhang Lixin’s lead, the men began constructing a defensive perimeter and moving zombie corpses.
Under Meng Jie’s guidance, the women boiled porridge in big iron pots or cleaned the rooms.
Zhang Chengcheng, w.a.n.g Xiong, and Li Zitong hung a banner at the Zombie Strike Array outside Lu Ming’s house. Through the sunlight, Lu Ming could vaguely make out the words.
[Warm congratulations on the official establishment of the Guangping Street Gathering Place!]
Lu Ming:”???”
Scratching his head in confusion, he heard Zhang Chengcheng’s voice coming from downstairs.
“Brother Lu! Are you done eating?”
Zhang Chengcheng seemed to have a special ability – every time Lu Ming peeked out the window without revealing himself, Zhang Chengcheng always managed to spot Lu Ming…
Being discovered, Lu Ming no longer pretended.
He simply opened the window and looked downstairs.
“What’s going on?”
After saying that, he pointed at the banner and heard w.a.n.g Xiong explaining, “Brother Lu, there are more people here now and it finally feels like a gathering place. I thought we should finalize this today, and from now on, this place will be called Guangping Street Gathering Place. It will give everyone a sense of belonging.”
A sense of belonging was very important…
It gave the survivors a feeling of home.
Of course, Lu Ming did not really understand or have any interest in this kind of thing.
He said, “You guys carry on.” Just as he was about to go downstairs and start exercising, he heard w.a.n.g Xiong speak again, “Oh, by the way, Brother Lu, after the workout today, you have to say a few words and then cut the ribbon…” Lu Ming:”???”
I have to give a speech?
What position do I hold to give a speech?
Of course, it was not necessary to delve too deep into whether he was worthy or not. The main point was that Lu Ming really did not like these kinds of occasions.
After some thought, Lu Ming went downstairs and got out of the house. As he prepared to start today’s exercise, he casually chatted with w.a.n.g Xiong. “Can I not give a speech? I don’t know how to give speeches…”
However, w.a.n.g Xiong had helped him so much, and a direct and rigid refusal seemed a bit ungrateful. It wouldn’t be good.
Zhang Chengcheng, who was standing nearby, pursed her lips and smiled. “I’m just teasing you, Brother Lu. You don’t have to give a speech. When the time comes, you can just cut the ribbon and leave the speech to w.a.n.g Xiong.”
Lu Ming heaved a sigh of relief.
Zhang Chengcheng and w.a.n.g Xiong exchanged a subtle glance.
Lu Ming’s reaction was not unexpected, because Lu Ming had always been a simple person.
However, simple people were not suitable to be leaders… This was the result of the discussion between w.a.n.g Xiong, Zhang Chengcheng, Zhang Lixin, and Meng Jie last night…
Thinking about his future role and responsibility, w.a.n.g Xiong suddenly felt overwhelmed.
It was a fulfilling and challenging morning.
At 10:30, the exercise session ended. Lu Ming hydrated himself and opened his personal information panel.
Name: Lu Ming
Strength: 56.7 (58.1) f.
Physique: 57.4 (58.8) J.
Agility: 50.8 (52.2) J.
Fitness Lv9 (600/900).
Hand-to-hand Combat Lvi8 (1420/1800): Strength and stamina increased by an additional 1.8 points.
When he was exercising with w.a.n.g Xiong, particularly in the aspect of hand-to-hand combat, was really boosting Lu Ming’s skill proficiency.
The high level of hand-to-hand combat proficiency caused Lu Ming’s strength and stamina to increase exponentially.
“It’s another day full of power!”
With his attributes increasing, Lu Ming was in a good mood. Just as he was about to go home, he was stopped by w.a.n.g Xiong.
w.a.n.g Xiong smiled and said, “Brother Lu, you don’t have to give a speech, but you should at least come for the ribbon-cutting, right?”
After a slight dilemma, Lu Ming nodded and agreed.
The establishment of a gathering place should have been a big event.
But now that they were in the apocalypse, the resources were indeed limited. In addition, most of the survivors were from Cheng Shen’s gathering place. They had experienced many hardships, and this kind of trauma could not be healed in a short period of time.
Therefore, they kept it simple.
After lunch, a total of 60 people in the gathering place arrived at Lu Ming’s house.
Everyone was either holding their bowls or gathered in groups of twos and threes, whispering to each other.
Until w.a.n.g Xiong stood on the mud wall.
He looked down at the people below, his gaze sweeping over familiar and unfamiliar faces.
After a brief moment of contemplation, w.a.n.g Xiong smiled and said, “Today is a day worth celebrating.
“It’s been more than a month since the apocalypse began. We have experienced the confusion at the beginning of the apocalypse together and witnessed the dangers and ugliness of the apocalypse.
“Fate brought us together, allowing us to gather on this street and live in the houses on this street. In the future, we will also face the dangers of the apocalypse together and embrace our shared destiny and future together.”
Lu Ming had to admit that w.a.n.g Xiong had changed a lot.
When they first met, Lu Ming only thought of w.a.n.g Xiong as a skilled fighter, young and hot-blooded, and a little rash.
But now, seeing w.a.n.g Xiong confidently speaking on the earthen wall,Lu Ming suddenly realized that w.a.n.g Xiong was much more dignified and steadier than before.
“Maybe, people can change.”
This was the only explanation for the change in w.a.n.g Xiong.
As he thought about it, he listened to w.a.n.g Xiong continue his talk.
“From the beginning of the apocalypse until now, each of us has our own experiences, difficulties and pain. We have different experiences, but I want to say that we should let bygones be bygones. The fact that we can stand here now means that we are ready to embrace a new beginning together.”
When everyone in Cheng Shen’s gathering place heard this, they either looked pensive or their eyes turned red.
From last night until now, they had been at a loss when they first moved, but now, they had gradually gained some acceptance of this place.
w.a.n.g Xiong’s words were undoubtedly the final nail in the coffin.
This was a form of acceptance.
It was also a process of integration.
w.a.n.g Xiong did not say much more.
He concluded, “So, with everyone as witnesses, I announce that Guangping
Street Gathering Place is officially established.”
Applause erupted.
w.a.n.g Xiong smiled at everyone and then looked at Lu Ming. Seeing this, Lu Ming, accompanied by Zhang Chengcheng, walked to the banner.
Taking the scissors handed to him by Zhang Lixin, Lu Ming made a few gestures and clumsily cut the banner in half.
Under the sunlight, Lu Ming looked at the people and saw smiles on their faces.
And so, Lu Ming smiled too..