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Chapter163
"Who knows? With the heavy snow up north, even the star net has lost connection. It feels like we're isolated from the world."
Fortunately, with a million residents in Jiangnan base, they never felt deserted. With more people, there was strength in numbers.
That evening, Zhou You and Shao Qi attended Long Gan's appreciation banquet. Despite the inclement weather, many more guests showed up than anticipated. Many uninvited guests arrived, forcing Long Gan to add over a dozen more tables to accommodate everyone.
Every guest understood the etiquette of not arriving at a banquet empty-handed. Everyone either brought a red envelope or a gift. Initially, the members of the Dragon Squad were overwhelmed by the unexpected attendees, worried about the cost. However, when they saw the gifts, they realized they were more generous than usual, indicating the guests were well-aware of the customs.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” began Long Gan, “Today marks the gratitude banquet for both me and the Dragon Squad. In the Yunlan Mountain Range, Mr. Zhou You single-handedly saved my team and me. We can never repay this kindness. After discussing with my team, we've decided to regard Mr. Zhou You as our leader and hope everyone can offer him the respect he deserves.” While most knew that the gratitude banquet implied allegiance, none had ever articulated it so bluntly.
However, no one was surprised. Zhou You was destined to become a national idol after today. A capable individual always has followers, and perhaps Long Gan and his team would benefit the most. After all, Zhou You seemed exceptionally competent.
There were many eager to curry favor with him now.
Zhou You's attendance was a sign of respect for Long Gan, recognizing him as a worthy ally. However, he wasn't interested in mingling with the vast number of attendees.
After accepting the toasts from Long Gan and his teammates, Zhou You announced, “I'm grateful for your gestures, but there's no need for excess formalities. We're all brethren. It's our duty to help each other in times of need. Soldiers protect the people, so if we thanked someone every time they helped, our gratitude should first go to the nation and government.”
“These times are tougher than before. Our shared priority should be to unite against the mutated beasts. Personal gains and rivalries are pointless. Wealth is meaningless if our base falls. Our top priority is safety.”
“Everyone here is a martial artist, protectors of humanity. We must prioritize our species' future. I'm honored to be here and hope to assist wherever I can. We can discuss matters of cultivation on the platform, but let's avoid other subjects.” Zhou You's statement clarified his intentions, ensuring no one misunderstood his reasons for being here.
Shao Qi remained silent. This was Zhou You's show. Even though he was seated at the head table, he acted invisible, avoiding communication. Many came specifically for him. As the vice-president of the Martial Arts Association, he wasn’t easily approachable. So this was a rare opportunity for many.
Unfortunately for them, Shao Qi was even more reserved than Zhou You. He didn't respond to gifts placed in front of him. Even when approached by attractive women, he remained unresponsive, focusing solely on his meal. After several unsuccessful attempts, guests stopped trying to get his attention.
Zhou You found this amusing. Shao Qi wasn't naturally cold, but when he chose to be, his aura was unapproachable.
Zhou You sat next to him, using his presence as a shield against unwanted attention. After around ten minutes, the two left early. The stage was set by Long Gan, and they had made their appearance. The conclusion was left to Long Gan.
Chapter 089: Disappearance
That evening, after the banquet, Long Gan and his team returned to base. As they tallied the gifts and money, one exclaimed, “Brother, this doesn’t feel right. This banquet was to thank Mr. Zhou You for saving us, but we ended up gaining so much. Isn't this inappropriate?”
Long Gan checked the ledger, realizing they had indeed profited greatly. The number and magnitude of gifts exceeded expectations. Everyone who attended brought substantial gifts.
“It seems we benefited from Mr. Zhou’s reputation. Xiao Wu, list all the gifts and send them to Mr. Zhou tomorrow. As for the money, donate it to the charity relief fund in Mr. Zhou's name.”
"Donate? What if it's misused? We usually fund some individuals ourselves." Many were skeptical about charity organizations.
Long Gan reassured them, “Don’t worry. Using Mr. Zhou's name, no one would dare misappropriate the funds. Moreover, the fund primarily supports orphans and the elderly, who need this money.”
The next day, news of Zhou You's donation spread across the platform. Only after seeing a statement from the charity's president did people realize the dire situation at the orphanage. They had food shortages, frequent power outages, and were located in a remote area with poor infrastructure.
In the early days of the apocalypse, human mortality was high, leaving many orphans and widows. But governments were dysfunctional then. Later, philanthropists stepped in to help, and eventually, the government took over, ensuring a steady budget for the welfare institutions.
Zhou You commented to Long Gan, “It’s a noble act, but you didn’t need to use my name. I won't stay here long. You’d benefit more from the goodwill.”
Long Gan responded, “Those gifts were for your honor. We wouldn’t have received as much otherwise.”