Zhang Ruiyang

Biodata

Background / History

Life with his grandmother

Zhang Ruiyang was raised by his grandmother during Zhang Yi’s imprisonment. She taught him basic characters, songs, manners, and rules against accepting gifts from strangers. Other children did not want to play with him, leaving him accustomed to being alone 1 9 11 32 34.

After his grandmother died, Ruiyang remained locked inside their home with her body. Unable to understand her death, he tried feeding her biscuits and removing the maggots from her body. He survived on leftovers, snacks, raw eggs, and eventually raw rice until Zhang Yi found him. When his father subsequently became ill, Ruiyang also fed him raw rice 1 2 8.

Ruiyang continued to believe that his grandmother had gone away for treatment and would return. He carried photographs so that he would not forget her face 3 9.

Rescue by Nan Shao

Six months before Zhang Yi recounts the incident, Ruiyang became separated from his father during a trip to have his grandmother cremated. He wandered into a road, where a Ferrari running a red light nearly struck him. Nan Shao’s Maybach knocked the Ferrari aside, and Nan Shao led Ruiyang to safety. This earlier rescue was why Zhang Yi recognized Nan Shao when they met again 17.

Survival in Wangyang Town

Two months after the apocalypse began, dwindling access to clean water forced Zhang Yi to leave Ziyun County with Ruiyang. They settled in a cramped shack on the edge of Wangyang Town, where Zhang Yi hunted zombies to buy food and water 1 2 8.

While his father was away, Ruiyang spent most of each day in a concealed hole behind the shack. He followed instructions to hide at approaching footsteps and answer only Zhang Yi. When an intruder searched their home, he remained hidden even after the room fell quiet, correctly recognizing that the stranger was still nearby 1 2 3.

After Nan Shao joined them, Ruiyang quickly became attached to him through sharing food and spending time together. Later, Ruiyang became unwell and remained dizzy after being cooled with water. Following their reunion, Zhang Yi decided to stop leaving him concealed at home and announced that he would take him along on future outings. Li Muran, moved by meeting Ruiyang, also joined the group 8 9 19 20.

A new home

When the group moved into a rented house, Ruiyang retrieved his hidden toy, food, and water bowl before leaving. He enthusiastically explored the new rooms and courtyard, especially enjoying a three-legged rattan chair that he could crawl beneath 29.

During a trip to the trading market with Nan Shao, Ruiyang offered a cracker to help acquire a mysterious black stone. Nan Shao alone could sense its life-energy fluctuations; later experiments showed that it absorbed his wood-type ability but rejected the abilities of Meat Tower Chen and Li Muran 31 38 39.

With the group settled, Ruiyang accompanied Zhang Yi and Nan Shao on a hill scouting trip and visited the entrance of a cave. He later exercised with Li Muran and practiced a crane exercise from a book while the adults trained 34 47.

Appearance

• Build: Small and underdeveloped, with a thin face and scrawny hands 1 3 8.
• Hair: Yellowed by malnutrition at his introduction 1.
• Eyes: Large, dark, and bright, framed by long lashes 1 10 34.
• Early condition: Frequently covered in dirt, with cracked lips during the family’s severe water shortage 1 9.

Personality

Ruiyang is affectionate and persistently generous despite deprivation. He saves water for Zhang Yi, insists that his father and Nan Shao taste his apple before he eats, and tries to return extra rice when he notices his father’s empty bowl. He also recognizes the cost of supplies, objecting when Nan Shao uses more precious drinking water to wash his hands 2 8 9 33.

He follows his father’s safety rules without complaint and takes his grandmother’s instructions seriously. Even when tempted by an apple, he initially refuses Nan Shao’s gift because she taught him not to accept things casually. His caution extends to concealing food and lowering his voice so that thieves will not hear what the family possesses 3 8 9.

His vigilance coexists with childish curiosity and playfulness. He eagerly investigates the new home, wants to see inside the cave, sings songs taught by his grandmother, and plays at being a tiger. Although he has witnessed zombies eating people, his limited understanding of death makes those sights less frightening to him than the adults expect 22 29 31 34 43.

Abilities & Skills

Concealment and awareness

Ruiyang relies on hiding and careful listening while alone 1 2.

• Detects an intruder’s continued presence by hearing their breathing after other noises stop 2.
• Conceals himself, food, and water in the hole behind the shack 1 10.
• Has memorized Zhang Yi’s repeated safety instructions well enough to recite them word for word 3.

Basic literacy

His grandmother taught him some written characters; Zhang Yi and Nan Shao continue his lessons using discarded books 11.

• Recognizes familiar characters, including words for directions and actions 11.
• Uses martial arts manuals as reading material; their presence does not establish martial proficiency 11.

Exercise and coordination

Ruiyang begins simple physical practice after the group moves into its rented home 47.

• Runs up and down the mountain with Li Muran until he becomes too tired to continue 47.
• Practices a crane exercise from a book, shakily balancing on one leg with his arms spread like wings 47.

Personal Belongings

• Ultraman toy — A cherished toy he plays with in the shack, hides from strangers, and retrieves when moving 1 2 29.
• Photograph of Zhang Yi — Shows his father in police uniform; Ruiyang keeps it in a trouser pocket 3.
• Family portrait — The family’s only group photograph, depicting his father and grandparents. Ruiyang preserves it to remember his grandmother 3.
• Food and water reserves — Keeps small supplies in his hiding place, including apples, biscuits, bran cake, and a water bowl 29.

Relationships

• Zhang Yi — Father and primary protector. Ruiyang trusts him deeply, welcomes him home enthusiastically, and tries to ease his burdens by sharing supplies and tapping his sore arms 2 29 50.
• Grandmother — Former caregiver, deceased. Ruiyang remembers her teachings and proudly praises her singing and paper-cutting, while continuing to expect her return 3 9 34.
• Nan Shao — Earlier rescuer and later caregiver, called “Handsome Uncle” and “Uncle Pumpkin.” He shares food with Ruiyang, teaches him characters, carries him on outings, and supervises him during Meat Tower Chen’s treatment 9 11 17 30 31 39.
• Li Muran — Trusted adult whom Ruiyang calls “Auntie.” She watches over him, gives the group eggs for him, and takes him out to exercise 19 20 21 47.
• Meat Tower Chen — An older family acquaintance called “Uncle Fatty.” Ruiyang comforts him when he cries, worries about his wounds, and encourages him to recover so that he can learn the “big bear” exercise 22 30 47.

Notable Quotes

“If Daddy doesn’t come back, I hide in the hole and wait for Daddy.” 19

“Daddy, I’ll pound them for you, and then they won’t be sore.” 50