Awakening Zhongli Template, Retiring on Terra

Croissant lacked motivation. Just hearing her title told you she wouldn't earn much from regular deliveries:

"Boss, I don't have time..."

The Emperor's sunglasses slid down his nose as he smirked:

"Hmph, well now you do."

017 Daisy's Temperature (Part 1)

Since the boss had spoken, Croissant had no reason to refuse. Regular deliveries were fine; she was bringing a newcomer along, after all. She'd done it before.

"I understand."

Receiving an affirmative reply, the Emperor nodded in satisfaction. With his hands behind his back, he turned and returned to his office.

On the simple and honest Terra continent, countless bandits and robbers roamed the wilderness between different cities. Yet, Penguin Logistics remained the benchmark of the entire logistics industry, boasting a cargo delivery rate of over 99%.

Due to a small number of couriers, Penguin Logistics operated on a small but refined model. Their target clientele was mostly mid to high-end customers, so the delivery fees were much higher than typical logistics services.

However, high-priced, high-reward big orders weren't always available. If such orders were scarce for an extended period, couriers would occasionally take on regular deliveries.

When things got too busy, they would outsource regular deliveries to Fengchi Logistics. To maintain the company's industry reputation, the Emperor had spent a long time carefully selecting them for cooperation.

Basically, any regular deliveries that others didn't want to take, as well as the Emperor's records and albums, were handed over to Fengchi Logistics for transport. Compared to Penguin Logistics, they were more like a normal international logistics company.

Croissant didn't harbor much negative emotion towards her boss's orders. She kindly extended her hand:

"Mr. Shi, I'll be counting on your guidance from now on."

"Haha, please just call me Shi Lei, no need to be so formal. I don't have any prior experience as a courier, so I should indeed be the one seeking your guidance at work."

Shi Lei shook her hand briefly before quickly letting go. After all, the image of her lifting two grown men and spinning them like pinwheels at the bar that night was still vivid in his mind.

She was a sunny girl, yet she could lift someone far heavier than herself. Seeing the pair of horns on her head, it seemed plausible that she possessed such brute strength.

Croissant opened the employee backend on her computer and continuously refreshed the order list. Seeing no large orders, she picked one from a pile of scattered regular deliveries:

"Shi Lei, what do you think of this one? It's for some painting supplies, an easel, and some old clothes."

"I have no objections. Let's do it your way."

Croissant nodded and called the client. The customer said they were still at work but could sneak out. Their residence wasn't far from the company.

After confirming the details, Croissant and Shi Lei went downstairs. They arrived at the open space in front of the warehouse and got into an orange pickup truck. The exterior paint color of the vehicle matched her hair color perfectly.

After buckling up, Croissant gave a thumbs-up:

"I'm a very steady driver, not as wild as Exusiai, so you can relax."

Shi Lei hadn't seen Exusiai drive, but he had already heard about her reckless driving skills. The memory of everyone desperately trying to stop her outside the bar last time had likely left a scar.

Shi Lei watched the scenery outside rapidly recede. After about ten minutes, they arrived at the designated location.

This area was situated at the border of Lungmen's Upper and Lower Districts, surrounded by blocks of residential buildings. Many working people rented apartments here because the office towers stood like a forest across the street. Being close to their workplaces meant they could enjoy a few extra minutes of warmth in bed each morning.

Shi Lei knocked on the door, but there was no response. Seeing this, Croissant called the client. Shortly after, a woman with a ponytail hurried over:

"I'm so sorry, the boss was doing his rounds and it took a while. You must be from Penguin Logistics, right?"

"That's right."

Croissant flashed her employee ID badge and recited the slogan: "Penguin Logistics, mission guaranteed."

"Alright, alright, we'll be counting on you then."

The woman took out her key and opened the door. Shi Lei brought the paints, easel, and miscellaneous items out and loaded them into the truck.

Croissant confirmed the delivery address and reminded her:

"Ms. Wang, that will be 2000 Lungmen Dollars."

Regular orders didn't pay much, a stark contrast to the big orders that often cost tens or even hundreds of thousands. Earning from dozens of regular deliveries often didn't even match the profit from one large order, which was why their couriers were reluctant to take them.

If this price were outsourced to Fengchi Logistics, it would be around 1200 Lungmen Dollars. The difference went straight into the Emperor's pocket.

The woman scratched her forehead, looking embarrassed:

"I'm so sorry, I rushed out and forgot to bring money. Could we change it to cash on delivery? The delivery address is my home, my dad will pay."

Shi Lei immediately recognized that the woman was acting, trying to save on the delivery fee. But this was his first delivery, so it was better to say less and see how Croissant handled it.

"Ms. Wang, we can change it to cash on delivery. However, if no one is home, we will have to return the goods."

"My dad will definitely be home, you can just go there directly. I have to get back quickly since I snuck out from work. I'll be going now."

With that, the woman turned and left.

Croissant got into the pickup truck, started the engine, and glanced at the rearview mirror as she reversed. At the same time, she explained to Shi Lei:

"In principle, we could refuse to change it to cash on delivery and reject the order. But since this is your first delivery, it wouldn't be good to go back empty-handed. Don't learn this from me in the future, okay?"

"Understood."

The delivery address was in District 28 of the Lower City, which fell under the category of the slums. It wasn't far from here, about a thirty-minute drive.

Shi Lei wondered why she needed logistics. If she was bringing things home, she would have brought them back after several trips.

The two arrived at the delivery address but didn't rush to unload. Croissant got out of the car, confirmed the house number, and rang the doorbell.

"Ding dong."

"Who is it? Is that you, Ju?"

An old man's excited voice came from inside, followed by the sound of a cane tapping on the floor. Shortly after, a grandfather in his sixties or seventies opened the door. Seeing two strangers, his eyes held undisguised disappointment:

"You are..."

"Sir, are you Ms. Wang Ju's father? We're from Penguin Logistics. We're here to deliver some easels, paints, and miscellaneous items for her. Please sign here."

"Oh, oh, alright. Please come in."

Seeing that the old man had trouble walking, Shi Lei decided not to unload at the door and helped carry the items inside.

Beyond the threshold was a corridor about a meter wide. There was no flooring, and at first glance, it had a greasy sheen. The kitchen countertop was covered with a few white tiles, their edges already chipped. The old wooden furniture looked aged, not appealing, but it was functional.

"Put it here, thank you, young man."

Shi Lei carried the items into the designated room, which had an attached balcony and looked like a studio.

Easels and the floor were covered with paintings of various sizes. Without exception, the subject matter was daisies, depicted from different angles and backgrounds.

Seeing the old man's difficult living situation, Croissant bit her lip, deciding she had to be the one to deliver the bad news:

"Your daughter chose cash on delivery. You'll need to pay the shipping fee, which comes to 2,000 Lungmen Dollars."

"Oh, alright. Please wait a moment."

The old man nodded and entered the adjacent bedroom, leaning on his cane. After a moment, he put on a pair of reading glasses and came out carrying a military-green plush coat. Using the natural light, he fumbled in his pocket for crumpled bills. A ray of sunlight illuminated his aged, shar-pei-like skin, revealing the blue veins beneath.

For a young person working hard in Lungmen's Upper District, 2,000 Lungmen Dollars might be the cost of a meal with friends. But for an elderly person living in the slums, it was enough to cover more than half a month's living expenses.

Croissant's expression was a little strange. After looking around the room, she suddenly asked:

"Sir, these paintings are quite beautiful. Did you paint them?"

"Yes, but they're nothing compared to my daughter's."

"They're already amazing. They look like they were taken by a camera. Are you a professional?"

The old man smiled happily at the compliment. The crow's feet at the corners of his eyes were deep, and he revealed sparse teeth:

"No, my daughter is the professional. A few years ago, I fell at home and my left leg developed a chronic condition. I can't get around much, so painting is my only hobby now."

"Sir, could I discuss something with you? I'll buy these paintings for 200 Lungmen Dollars each to offset the shipping fee. Would that be acceptable?"

"Oh, but how can I allow that?" The old man frowned, his face etched with worry. "Aren't you supposed to submit the shipping fee to the company? Will you be penalized for this?"

Shi Lei saw Croissant's gaze and immediately understood. He realized she wanted to make up the difference by selling the paintings herself, reducing the impact of the high shipping fee on the old man's life.

"It's alright, sir. The paintings have their own spirit and are worth this price. Would you be willing to part with them?"

018 The Temperature of Daisies (Part 2)

"Oh dear, you two..."

Even though he knew Shi Lei and Croissant meant well, the old man still looked troubled. His body was hunched, and he lowered his head as if he had done something wrong.

Business is business, and personal matters are personal. Using the paintings to pay for shipping meant that the delivery people would have to pay out of their own pockets. At his age, the old man understood this clearly and didn't want to take advantage of their kindness.

"Young lady, young man, I know you're both good people. If you truly like the paintings, I'll give them to you. The money that needs to be collected should still be collected."

"No, it's fine. Just take ten paintings."

Croissant wanted to use the paintings to cover the cost, leading to a disagreement. The old man thought for a moment and then said:

"Young lady, how about this? You take this 2,000 Lungmen Dollars for now and pay the shipping fee. I'll also commission you to deliver some sausages to my daughter.

My legs are bad, and I can't take them to her. The shipping fee for the sausages can be offset by these paintings, along with some sausages. You're considering my situation, and I can't make things difficult for you either, can I?"

His proposed solution was very thoughtful.

It covered the cash-on-delivery shipping fee and also acknowledged the favor the two had done for him. Additionally, by initiating a private order to deliver sausages, the shortfall in the shipping fee could be covered if the logistics company inquired later.

Croissant hesitated for a moment, then looked at Shi Lei for his opinion:

"What do you think?"

Shi Lei believed the plan was feasible. If she was adaptable, she would find a way to return the Lungmen Dollars before leaving, rather than insisting on getting paid back.

"It's a good suggestion."

With both parties agreeing, things proceeded smoothly.

Croissant stayed in the studio to select ten paintings to take back to the pickup truck, while Shi Lei accompanied the old man to the kitchen next to the corridor.

In the corner stood an old, green and white refrigerator, so old that the paint had peeled off its surface. The old man, leaning on his cane, slowly squatted down, intending to open the freezer compartment below the refrigerator. As he was old, bending over was a strenuous task.

Shi Lei tried to help, but the space around the refrigerator was too narrow for him to squeeze in and lend a hand.

"Why don't you step back and let me do it?"

"No, I'm fine."

The old man, while tugging at a drawer frozen shut with ice, started chatting with him:

"When my daughter was little, she loved my homemade sausages the most. Just a small piece like this could go with a big bowl of rice. I knew she was a picky eater, so I'd marinate them in advance every year. Seeing her eat happily made me happy too."

He sighed lightly at this point. His voice, raspy with phlegm, sounded like a worn-out bellows that had worked for decades:

"Xiao Ju is doing well for herself now. I heard she's been promoted, got a raise, and lives in a big house. It's just that she's been working overtime so much during the Lunar New Year that she hasn't been back for two years."

Recalling the room he saw when he took the order and Wang Ju's stingy behavior, Shi Lei had already sensed something was amiss.

Children, of course, only share the good news and not the bad. How they're doing out in the world is something only they themselves truly know. His eyes flickered slightly, and he didn't expose the lie.

"Crash~"

The old man yanked the drawer open with force, nearly falling backward. Fortunately, Shi Lei was quick, reaching out to steady him:

"Careful there, sir."

The old man thanked him profusely and opened the sausages wrapped in plastic bags. They were bundled into small bags of five pounds each, for a total of ten bags.

"There are fifty pounds here, take it all. If you could leave half for her, I'd be eternally grateful."

Terra is plagued by frequent natural disasters, and the wilderness is overrun with beasts and bandits. Logistics and transportation in this world have always been expensive, far from comparable to the logistics companies Shi Lei knew before his transmigration.

Before the rise of the modern courier industry, the earliest logistics and transportation were handled by security escorts. Several hundred Lungmen Dollars couldn't even afford the most ordinary escort.

The old man worried that the shipping fees would be too high, and that not much of the sausage would reach his daughter after deductions. This concern for his beloved daughter, which was evident in every other sentence, deeply moved Shi Lei.

"Sir, please keep ten pounds for yourself. What if she comes back for the New Year and you don't have any sausages?"

With that, he grabbed two small bags and pressed them into the old man's hands. The old man was helpless and could only reach out to accept them.