Chapter 52 Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland 15

"laugh--"

With the familiar sound of pressure release, the heavy doors of the hospital slowly slid open.

When Zhou Jue led the seven newly recruited survivors into the G-floor lobby, everyone was stunned by the sight before them.

Bright lights dispelled the gloom outside, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime. The floor was spotless, reflecting images clearly. There was no trace of blood or decay in the air; instead, there was a faint smell of disinfectant.

Wang Yong was leading a few people as they carried boxes of bottled water and compressed biscuits out of the corner storage room and neatly stacked them against the wall.

Li Xiang sat at a makeshift workbench in a corner of the hall, with several disassembled computer towers in front of him, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

Zhang Lan was organizing various medicines and medical equipment in an area separated by a screen, and a simple medical station was already taking shape.

Everything here is full of order and vitality.

It's like two different dimensions compared to the chaotic and desperate world outside.

"Gurgle..."

An untimely sound broke the silence.

The young man named Zhao Dezhu clutched his stomach, staring wide-eyed at the mountain of food piled up in the corner, his mouth practically watering.

The others weren't much better off. The muscular man stared at the food, his Adam's apple bobbing. The little girl in the family of three pointed directly at the cookies and said to her mother in a childish voice, "Mommy, food..."

"Boss, you're back!"

When Wang Yong saw Zhou Jue, he immediately put down what he was holding and walked over quickly, his eyes full of respect.

"Okay." Zhou Jue nodded, turned to the side, and pointed to the newcomers behind him: "Let me introduce you, these are the new members."

She looked at the seven survivors who were still in shock.

"This is a shelter, and from today onwards, you are all part of it. Now, everyone, introduce yourselves, state your names and your pre-apocalyptic occupations."

The cold voice brought everyone back to their senses instantly.

The elderly woman was the first to step forward, bowing slightly: "My name is Sun Jing. I was a community grid worker before I retired."

A muscular, fit man stepped forward, carrying a baseball bat: "My name is Lei Hu, a fitness coach."

The family of three also came out. The man said somewhat reservedly, "My name is Liu Jianguo, and I am... an accountant. This is my wife, Wang Li, and my daughter, Liu Xiaonian."

The girl who wrote the SOS also mustered up her courage: "My name is Lin Wei, and I am a senior in college."

Finally, there was the loud and boastful Zhao Dezhu, who puffed out his chest and said with a face full of pride, "My name is Zhao Dezhu! I own a company! Boss, from now on I'll be your most loyal little brother!"

Zhou Jue ignored what he said next and directly ordered Wang Yong: "Wang Yong, you assign them some work. Where's Chen Shuqi?"

"Reporting to the boss, Attorney Chen is taking inventory of supplies on the B1 level. She said there are still some leftover rice and flour from the cafeteria in the warehouse there, and we need to take stock of them."

"Let her come up here; she'll assist you in managing personnel and resources from now on."

"Yes!" Wang Yong readily agreed.

Just then, Chen Shuqi, dressed in a professional suit and looking very capable, walked up the stairs. When she saw Zhou Jue, she nodded first, then her gaze swept over the seven newcomers, and a hint of worry appeared on her face.

She walked over to Zhou Jue and whispered, "Boss, I just finished counting. Including the new members who arrived today, there are sixteen of us in total. Currently, all the food we can find on G floor and B1 floor, including snacks, compressed biscuits, and rice and noodles, if we eat them sparingly, will only last for seven days at most."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for everyone present to hear clearly.

The newlyweds, who had just been thrilled to have found a safe place, instantly froze their smiles.

Seven days.

This number, like a boulder, weighed heavily on everyone's heart.

Chen Shuqi continued, "Boss, I know you're strong, but we can't rely on you alone to go out and collect supplies. The more people there are, the greater the consumption. I suggest that we must establish a dedicated search team as soon as possible to take the initiative and find more food and survival necessities. At the same time, the shelter also needs a clear division of labor to ensure efficient operation."

Zhou Jue looked at Chen Shuqi with a hint of approval in his eyes.

As expected of a lawyer, his thinking was clear and his logic was meticulous; he saw the core of the problem at a glance.

This is exactly the kind of talent she needs.

“You’re right.” Zhou Jue’s voice rang out in the hall: “From now on, the shelter will be divided into four temporary teams.”

"First, the search team. They are responsible for going out to collect all usable supplies. Team leader: Wang Yong."

Wang Yong stepped forward, chest puffed out and head held high: "I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

"Second, the medical team. They are responsible for the health management of everyone and the treatment of the wounded. The team leader is Zhang Lan."

Nurse Zhang Lan paused for a moment, then nodded vigorously: "I...I will do my best!"

"Third, the logistics support team. Responsible for the statistics, distribution, daily maintenance and personnel management of supplies within the shelter. Team leader: Chen Shuqi."

Chen Shuqi pushed up his glasses: "Understood."

"Fourth, the mess hall. They're responsible for everyone's meals and ensuring the proper use of food. You... you said you were the chef?"

From the crowd, a middle-aged man of normal build stepped forward; he was one of the earliest survivors in the hospital. While everyone else was pale and emaciated, this man of normal build—no wonder he was a chef!

"Boss, my name is Li Dahai, and I used to be the head chef of the restaurant."

"Okay, Li Dahai, the mess team leader."

"For the team's manpower, you can start by choosing from the existing people."

Four teams, four team leaders, quickly set up the framework of the shelter.

Everyone sensed that this makeshift team was developing into a formal organization.

After arranging everything, Zhou Jue prepared to leave. She had more important things to do.

But Zhao Dezhu came up again, all smiles, and asked, "Boss! Boss! Now that our team is established, shouldn't we have a catchy name? And our shelter needs a name too, right? That way, when people say, 'I'm from the XXX Shelter, XXX Team,' how prestigious will that be!"

As soon as he said that, everyone realized what he meant.

Yes, it needs a name.

A name represents a sense of belonging and identity.

"Boss, why don't you come up with this name?!" Zhao Dezhu looked at Zhou Jue with sparkling eyes.

Zhou Jue: ...Thanks for the invitation, but I'm terrible at naming things, so I guess I'll just leave it at that!

"Ahem... The shelter is a place where we all live together, let's think of a name together!"

Wang Yong immediately suggested, "Let's call it 'Hope'! Hope Shelter! We represent the hope of humanity!"

Lei Hu retorted in a gruff voice, "Too soft! If you ask me, we should call it 'Battle Axe'! Battle Axe Squad! It sounds fierce!"

Lin Wei tentatively raised her hand: "How about 'Dawn'? It means we can wait for a new dawn..."

In an instant, everyone expressed their opinions, and names such as "Dragon City," "Guardians," and "Avengers Alliance" emerged, each one more juvenile and abstract than the last.

The argument went on and on, and no one could convince anyone else.

Finally, everyone's eyes fell on Zhou Jue.

"Boss, you decide! Whatever you say the name, that's what we'll call it!" Zhao Dezhu looked at her expectantly.

Zhou Jue felt a headache coming on.

What she's worst at is naming things.

Thinking back to when she was reading novels on Yangshizi, she spent over an hour trying to come up with a screen name, only to find it all taken! Frustrated, she simply used a name randomly generated by the system, and she's been using it ever since!

Looking at the expectant gazes of the crowd, she fell into deep thought.