Su Huan’s goal was very clear.

The largest talent pool in Xinma County was this Xinma Automotive Engineering Vocational School.

Even though it was just a vocational school before the apocalypse, having students who were subpar didn’t mean the teachers were too.

According to Donghuang’s stringent standards, teachers in vocational schools in such regions should at least possess a master’s degree, and most of them held professional qualification certificates. Although their specific abilities were debatable, these people were categorized as applied talents by the country, with a focus on technical transformation.

So, as soon as the situation stabilized on the train, he came out to assess things.

Another reason was to take a good look at the "people" here.

Those alive, looking similar to him, wearing their treacherous intentions on their faces—survivors.

These guys were much more endearing than the old heads from Black Kite.

Evil is evil, good is good, everything is displayed on their faces.

Seeing their current state put Su Huan at ease.

The counter’s greasy table held three small iron plates with leftovers, a deep-fried batter-wrapped item, grilled luncheon meats, and three skewers drenched in soy sauce. They were so black it was impossible to tell what they were.

As Su Huan approached, a few people watched him warily while quickly scarfing down the scant food from the plates.

A middle-aged man with graying hair stepped out from behind a window, his cheeks sunken like a starving ghost, and his eerie green eyes fixed on Su Huan.

"Boss, what would you like to eat?"

Su Huan raised an eyebrow, "What do you have?"

"Fried green leaves, charcoal-grilled luncheon meat, deep-fried meat."

"Fried tree leaves, recently traded luncheon meat from the train... as for the so-called meat..."

Wen Biao gave a disdainful chuckle.

The middle-aged man glared at Wen Biao with a harsh expression, "Boss Biao, aren’t you busy making money? Why come to wreck my little shop?"

"Do you even deserve it?"

Wen Biao retorted ruthlessly.

The middle-aged man glanced at his people in the background, feeling more assured.

Though Wen Biao’s Xinma Gang held power, they, the Horse Doctor, were not inferior to Wen Biao.

So what if this long-haired young man came from the train?

"Just because you’re following a dragon crossing the river, you think you’re a tiger with wings."

The man muttered in a hoarse tone.

The fierce beast tattoo on Wen Biao’s forehead twitched as he pulled the man’s collar forcefully through the metal bars with a bang, nearly pushing the man’s emaciated face through the bars.

With a menacing face, Wen Biao growled, "You’re courting death!"

This action seemed to ignite a powder keg. The sound of gun bolts clicking echoed on the street like a torrential downpour.

Wen Biao and his few subordinates immediately got agitated, pulling out guns and facing off against the Horse Doctor’s men.

Wen Biao hadn’t brought many people because he intended to accompany Su Huan. The skies and grounds were full of the Horse Doctor’s people; his few subordinates didn’t even know who to aim at, sweat pouring down their heads.

"Creak."

A large hand with distinct joints tore apart a steel bar, grabbing a skewer grilling over the charcoal fire.

In the midst of bizarre stares, the conductor took a bite of the skewer.

"It’s rat, a bit fishy, could use more chili."

Su Huan chewed with relish as he commented.

As one of the harder small animals to evolve, rats were the secret to accommodating so many scavengers in the wilderness.

He had eaten plenty of this in his previous life, but in this one, having been pampered by Yu Yue, he had become increasingly picky.

A woman squatting before another stall, picking through goods, turned her head in surprise. Her eyes, beneath her unruly hair, were like two warm glass lamps, releasing a steady light with no sense of threat.

"Aren’t you afraid the rat might be diseased?"

The woman, who had been observing all along, suddenly asked.

Su Huan followed the voice, first catching sight of those calm eyes, then seeing the woman.

There was a wave of Pan-energy emanating from her, seemingly larger than when he first met Jiang Rong.

Aged about fifty, slender, she appeared to be a nimble old lady.

"Perhaps it’s less sick than I am."

Su Huan replied cheerfully.

Though his tone was harmonious, his "Pan-energy Perception" had already swept over the woman seven or eight times.

It was surprising.

The woman was a Tier One Evolver, a powerful old lady.

Moreover, there was another detail that caught his attention—the woman’s stall didn’t have fancy trinkets, but rather odd-shaped, precision components.

"Interested in working for me?"

Su Huan asked directly.

The woman was momentarily stunned by Su Huan’s bluntness, gently shook her head, packed a few components into a black backpack, and got up to walk toward the end of the commercial street.

Su Huan tossed the remaining skewer back, clapped his hands, "Let’s go."

Like a young man out for a midnight snack, he leisurely walked in the direction the woman left.

"Aren’t you leaving?"

Su Huan glanced back at Wen Biao, who was gripping the middle-aged man’s collar.

The latter shivered under his gaze, followed behind him amidst silent and contemptuous looks.

"Would you like to learn more? I can take you there."

Wen Biao quickly adjusted his position.

From grabbing someone aggressively to smilingly guiding Su Huan, his transition was smooth, with no awkwardness visible on his face.

"No need, let’s go straight to Engineer Ma."

Su Huan said plainly.

He already had a rough understanding of the situation in Xinma County.

Anything can be faked, but such deeply intertwined interpersonal relationships and social interactions cannot be.

As long as he confirmed that Xinma County was not a trap set by Black Kite, nothing else mattered.