......

Oil City.

Outside the walls, there are materials used to repair the walls. As night falls, they ignite some small oil pits nearby, casting light on the zombies loitering outside the walls.

In the cafeteria.

Old Huang chews his food slowly, seated next to him is a tall, lean teenager.

"Old Huang, why don't we stay here? We don't even know how far the Big Camphor Tree Base is, and what if we encounter zombies on the way?" The tall, lean teenager questions while nibbling on his dry ration, looking puzzled.

Old Huang swallows his food before taking a sip of water.

He whispers, "I'm interested in the four-level system of the Big Camphor Tree Base. What do you think about those people?"

The tall, lean teenager responds with admiration, "They're strong, really strong. And they're very different from the Motorcycle Gang, they must be good people."

Old Huang chuckles and says, "The term 'good people' isn't appropriate. Nowadays, there are no good people in the traditional sense, it's all about surviving.

But these people do have a system and some principles, which is more than enough.

Moreover, since they're strong, we should try to get close to them; only by getting close can we survive longer."

The tall, lean teenager hesitates, "But staying in the Oil City is the same, once the walls are repaired it should be much safer."

"But what if? Eventually, these people will definitely leave, perhaps to them, Oil City is just a checkpoint for obtaining oil. That Big Camphor Tree Base must be much better, and their risk resistance must be higher."

"How do you know?" The tall, lean teenager asks, surprised.

Old Huang expressionlessly replies, "If you have your own house, would you renovate it? But if you rent a house, would you go all out?"

"That's not the same thing..."

Old Huang shakes his head, "Just an analogy. They'll definitely invest more effort and energy into the Big Camphor Tree Base, and we just need to follow them closely. I suspect the Big Camphor Tree Base is not simple, the four-level system actually has provided a relatively stable development path."

The tall, lean teenager nods, seemingly understanding.

Then he looks up to see Jiu Ge and the others, with a glimmer in his eyes.

Originally, Oil City had many people, with little interaction beyond recognition.

The last time Jiu Ge was detained at the Motorcycle Gang's lair, he listened to Old Huang's advice, intending to stay behind again, but upon seeing Old Huang also stay, Jiu Ge and his group decided to stay as well.

This Old Huang, he's never suffered a loss...

Better follow along... the tall, lean teenager thought.

......

Two or three kilometers outside Oil City, there's a small village town, long abandoned.

Most of the people from Oil City originally came from this small village town.

Currently, those saved from the Motorcycle Gang by Li Yu are staying in this village town.

The village town is littered with ruins.

No lights to be found, zombies wander aimlessly on the dirt roads.

The cooperative personnel are hiding throughout the town, tensely watching the zombies outside.

On the right side of the village, there's a small courtyard, its walls relatively intact, with two big trees inside, and two small bungalows behind them.

Inside the bungalows, breathing echoes against each other.

"Wan Nian, have you decided yet? The guys are waiting for you to make up your mind." One rugged-looking man speaks impatiently.

The man called Wan Nian bears a scar on his face.

The moonlight spills through the windows, the scar on his face like a wriggling worm, terrifyingly abnormal.

"Bao, we're actually pretty good now, at least working a day's worth gets us two meals and even a bit to save. Isn't that good enough? Why fight with those freaks?

The Motorcycle Gang was taken down by them, let alone us, we can't defeat them." Wan Nian says hesitantly, sighing deeply.

Bao speaks in frustration, "Come with me."

Wan Nian, puzzled, follows Bao out from the musty room, they walk into the outside, where Bao points to the distant Oil City, its fire light illuminating the sky, a stark contrast to the village's darkness.

Bao, resentful, glances at Oil City, saying, "We were once Motorcycle Gang slaves, they call us cooperative personnel, so why does Old Huang and his people get to stay inside the safe walls, while no one cares about us?

What kind of logic is that? I don't accept it."

Wan Nian sees the lights in the distance, looking at the walls, feeling troubled.

Yet he still says, "After all, Old Huang and his people are from Oil City, they also have to work hard for food."

Bao, increasingly irritated, responds, "Bullshit! Oil City, those people took it from the Motorcycle Gang too, it's got nothing to do with Old Huang, it's just unfair.