Shi Lei walked out of the room, carrying the bag of sausages as he sat in the passenger seat. Before long, Croissant had finished moving all ten paintings. As the pickup gradually drove away, he asked:
"Should we make the delivery first, or sell the paintings first?"
"Let's head back to the company and put the sausages in the Safe House freezer. It's almost three o'clock, so we need to hurry to the calligraphy and painting market to check the value of these paintings. If they sell well, we can keep buying stock from him in the future."
Shi Lei drew back his neck in surprise.
"So you saw the value in these paintings from the beginning? You weren't just being kind?"
"Of course. I occasionally deal in calligraphy and paintings too. An artist who only paints daisies can still find admirers if they perfect their craft. They may not compare to famous masterpieces, but once they're properly framed, selling them for one or two thousand Lungmen Dollars won't be a problem. That gives him more income while earning us some pocket money. If I'm not making money, then who is?"
He had already experienced Croissant's marketing tactics and knew she had a sharp head for business. She had probably worked out a detailed follow-up plan the moment she decided to take the paintings.
"Mm, I trust your judgment."
"Hehe, once we make some money, I'll buy you a drink."
The two drove back to Penguin Logistics and put the sausages in the freezer. Then they hurried to the calligraphy and painting market in the Upper City, where they fitted the ten daisy paintings with high-end frames.
Croissant knew plenty of connections and did not hesitate when bargaining with the shopkeeper. Shi Lei had truly broadened his horizons, watching step by step as the paintings turned into something far beyond his reach.
By the time they finished, it was already four-thirty. The calligraphy and painting market closed at six, so they had to make every minute count.
He helped Croissant pick a remote spot. The good locations had long been claimed by other vendors. They laid out the ten paintings in turn and waited for distinguished customers to come by.
Shi Lei assisted from the side and once again witnessed her exceptional sales skills. He learned a great deal.
Whenever an interested customer asked about a painting, Croissant would first quote five thousand. When they turned to leave, she immediately called them back and asked for their offer. In the end, she put on a reluctant expression as though she were taking a huge loss and sold it for two or three thousand. Even after deducting the costs of framing and packaging, there was still profit to be made.
Her acting was so exquisite that even the Oscars owed her a golden statuette.
In just half an hour, they sold five paintings, completely covering the loss on the shipping fee for that ordinary delivery.
Croissant never mentioned the two thousand Lungmen Dollars the old man had given them again. Shi Lei guessed she had already returned it, so he tacitly chose to forget it as well, pretending the matter had never happened.
Their stall sold paintings at an astonishing rate, quickly drawing the envy and covetous gazes of some nearby vendors. Some people could not stand seeing others make money more than losing money themselves.
A middle-aged man with cat ears approached them with two brawny members of his race.
"Friends, what line are you from? Selling paintings here—have you paid your respects to the local boss?"
Remember to come by for five updates tonight at midnight.
Extra chapter preview.
There will be five updates at midnight on December 5. Remember to come by!
Over ten thousand words in total, so everyone can read to their heart's content.
To ensure quality, the author has already unleashed every ounce of strength. The Great Silence has been incredibly difficult to endure. Could readers who made it this far spare a finger to cast a vote?
PS: There are no saved chapters, so the final chapter may be delayed, but it will definitely be posted before 1:00 a.m. on the 5th.
Lonely midnight.
Writing online.
Delicate author.
Waiting to be fed votes.
See you at midnight. Don't miss it~
The Warmth of Daisies, Part Two
Today had truly been eye-opening. Even setting up a stall to sell paintings could involve paying respects to a local boss. There was nowhere without the martial world.
Small cliques like this were trying to build an entirely new set of rules on top of the existing framework, which clearly violated the contractual spirit of commerce.
Forget Rex Lapis—even Shi Lei would never approve of such privately agreed-upon unspoken rules.
Croissant gave the man a casual glance and remained silent. She had left her hammer and shield in the pickup. Otherwise, she really wanted to smash in the heads of these Feline cats!
The three men crowded around the stall and shouted, drawing the attention of nearby vendors. Their expressions ranged from curiosity to concern as they silently worried for the two young people.
The two guards stood to either side, their faces full of flesh and their eyes gleaming fiercely as they barked:
"Master Du asked you a question. Are you mute?"
"Heh, they're probably too scared to say anything."
A faint smile rested on Shi Lei's lips as he quickly came up with a response and said respectfully:
"Master Du, sorry about that. We just arrived in this fine place and don't understand the rules. How about we find somewhere quieter and discuss this matter of paying respects? There are so many people watching here. If people start gossiping about you behind your back, it would damage your reputation if word got out."
The middle-aged man's slit pupils narrowed as he smiled.
"Heh, you brat know what you're doing. Fine, let's go. I know a place."
Croissant looked hesitant, but when she saw the sly grin Shi Lei revealed as he lowered his head, she immediately understood. She gathered up the five daisy paintings and followed them toward the edge of the market.
Before long, Master Du and his men stopped in front of a gap between the backs of two shops.
It was over ten meters long and less than a meter wide, with a concrete wall sealing off the far end. Once someone entered, it was a dead end.
They had brought electric batons and daggers. Dealing with two unarmed young people should have been effortless.
Shi Lei stepped inside first, with Croissant following behind him. Master Du and the others blocked the only exit and chuckled softly.
"Young man, don't fuss over temporary gains and losses. Hand over some money now and consider it a payment to avert disaster. Otherwise, don't blame the Calligraphy and Painting Trio for getting rough!"
What a ridiculous title.
Shi Lei mocked them inwardly before asking:
"Do you know who the two of us are?"
When you were out in the world, influence and background mattered. Since these two young people dared to speak like that, perhaps their family backgrounds were not ordinary. In the protection racket business, one had to know when to bully the weak and fear the strong. Master Du was uncertain. After examining them for a moment, he shook his head and asked:
"May I ask which family's young master and miss you are?"
Shi Lei spread his hands and used a Rock Spine to block their retreat.
"You don't know who we are, yet you still dare demand money? You've got some nerve. So that means we can beat you however we like, right?"
"Damn it, it's Originium Arts! Run!"
Master Du's face turned pale in horror. He tried to flee, only to be blocked by the thick stone pillar. What had been three men surrounding two instantly became the opposite.
When dealing with bad people, proper methods were not the way to go.
Croissant could have beaten the two burly men senseless through brute force alone, let alone now that she had a shield protecting her. She was completely unafraid of electric shocks or blades, like a war god in the alley.
Shi Lei's lips curled slightly as his eyes filled with amusement.
"So, what do you say, Master Du? Do you want dignity without substance, or substance without dignity?"
Before collecting protection money, they had long prepared themselves mentally for occasionally running into someone tougher. These self-proclaimed righteous young people were often magnanimous. As long as they admitted defeat and apologized, it would usually pass. At worst, they would get beaten up without suffering any lasting injury.
"May I ask, little brother, what does dignity without substance mean?"
"Simple. Dignity means I let you go now and leave you with enough face. But from now on, every time I see you here, I'll beat you up. How hard I hit will depend entirely on my mood."
Master Du's face turned ugly. He had not expected the other side to cut off every route of retreat, and he swallowed hard.
"Then what does substance without dignity mean?"
"I strip you naked and drag you around the calligraphy and painting market for a lap. If you can keep hanging around here despite everyone's stares, then I won't hit you when we meet in the future. That way, you lose your dignity, but keep your substance."
"Pfft."
Croissant covered her mouth and laughed, completely lacking any sense of sympathy.
She had not expected this new colleague to look honest on the surface while being so wicked underneath.
Still, she did not dislike it.
"I..."
Shi Lei had no interest in wasting more time on lackeys, so he summoned another Rock Spine to block the way.
"I'll give you ten seconds. If you haven't decided by then, I'm stripping your clothes. Ten, nine, three..."
Master Du looked miserable. Why had it jumped from nine straight to three? This brat was deliberately messing with him, wasn't he?
"Two..."
Shi Lei did not think he needed to be reasonable with them. His rules were the rules.
"One..."
"I—I want dignity! I want dignity!"
There was an old saying in Yan: as long as the green mountains remained, there would be no shortage of firewood.
If he really had to walk around naked, he would become a laughingstock not just in the calligraphy and painting market, but everywhere else too.
"I'll give you half a day to pack up. If I see you again tomorrow, you'll face the consequences."
"Yes, yes, I'm leaving right now."
Master Du did not even dare help his companions, who lay on the ground groaning continuously. He simply turned and left.
Roleplay Value gained: 2 points
The dignity-and-substance plan was purely Shi Lei's personal twisted amusement. Still, in terms of upholding the spirit of contracts, it fit Rex Lapis's style.
Seeing Master Du flee in panic, Croissant burst out laughing.
"You're really interesting."
Messenger often encountered people looking for trouble. If he did not want to take lives, he generally just beat them until they submitted. But the nasty trick Shi Lei had proposed today had directly escalated things into a mental attack.
Shi Lei returned to his usual cheerful state, picked up the daisy paintings resting against the wall, and asked:
"Are we still selling?"
"Forget it. It's already past five. Let's go deliver the sausages, and after that, I'll treat you to dinner."
Shi Lei was getting a free meal, so there was no way he could refuse. He immediately agreed.
"Hehe, then I'll be troubling you to spend some money tonight."
"No problem, no problem. We're coworkers, after all."
When the two returned to the calligraphy and painting market, they found many vendors looking their way and whispering among themselves. Some even came over to offer cigarettes, hoping to curry favor under the pretense of making friends.
They had no intention of replacing Master Du and continuing his protection racket, so they immediately got into the pickup and returned to Penguin Logistics.
Croissant parked outside the building and let Shi Lei enter the Safe House to carry out twenty jin of sausages.
Since the two thousand Lungmen Dollars in shipping fees had been returned, taking half was not excessive. If anything, they were losing money.
After closing the door, he put the plastic bag of sausages in the back and brought up Wang Ju.
"That female customer from today, Wang Ju—you remember her, right? From what I observed, I think she isn't doing very well. But she's too embarrassed to tell her family about her situation, so she lied to the old man and said she would stay behind to work overtime during the New Year."
Croissant started the engine, looking puzzled.
"Why are you telling me this? Do you have something planned?"
Shi Lei did not hide anything and told her the entire plan.
"We only need to do this, this, and that."
Croissant laughed so hard that she rocked back and forth, slumping over the steering wheel.
"Hahahaha, you're way too wicked!"
The Warmth of Daisies, Finale
November 29, 5:30 p.m.
Wang Ju received a call from the restaurant, went downstairs to pick up a boxed meal, and returned to the company looking exhausted.
Her working hours were supposed to be nine to five, and she should have been off work by now. But under normal circumstances, she could not leave until eight or nine at night. Especially when everyone else worked overtime and she did not, it was easy to be ostracized by coworkers and managers.
The worst part was that even with overtime, the hourly pay was not high.
After being scolded by her supervisor twice, Wang Ju could only helplessly join the company-wide rat race.
Before you continue