A security deposit equaled rent paid in advance by an awakened user, so even after going out on an adventure for a few months, there was no need to worry about losing the house.
Calculating based on that, the cash she needed to prepare was quite high—at least five thousand.
If she couldn’t rent a single room, she would have to go for a one-bedroom with a standard kitchen and bathroom.
A three-month deposit plus one month’s rent upfront meant four months of rent, plus acquiring some new furniture—since furniture certainly couldn’t be duplicated out of thin air—so adding it all up, a budget of five thousand might not even cover it.
When this number popped into her head, Bai Bai let out a sigh.
What to do? She was feeling a bit anxious.
Five thousand—where was she going to earn that in a short time, unless she sold grain in bulk?
Bai Bai shook her head; that was impossible.
Even if she had channels, she could only sell in small quantities. For a bottom-tier awakened user, selling three to five bags a month was already enough to draw attention, so it couldn’t serve as the primary source of cash.
It was better to focus first on earning 180 yuan to cover next month’s rent for her room in the tenement building, lest she fail to move and lose her current living space as well.
The last seven days of every month were when next month’s rent was due. Bai Bai counted on her fingers and realized it was only about five or six days away.
Paying early was naturally better—paying early meant no long lines, whereas waiting until the last moment meant queuing up at the building manager’s office, which would only waste time that could be spent making money.
Thinking about making money, Bai Bai suddenly noticed the aroma of cooked food in the air.
Snapping back to reality, she realized that while lost in thought, she had unknowingly walked away from the residential complex and reached an area packed with small restaurants.
Since she was already here, she decided to see if she had the luck to pick up an order, which would take care of her meals for today and tomorrow.
Bai Bai rubbed her hands together excitedly and began asking store by store.
She walked down the street asking everywhere, but was turned down at every turn.
Made-to-order dining deliveries depended heavily on the delivery person’s appearance, and a bottom-tier spatial user as bedraggled as Bai Bai wasn’t even within the shopkeepers’ realm of consideration.
Whether shopkeepers or buyers, who would want to see their food handed over by someone looking practically like a beggar?
Even though it was the end of the world, people cared even more about food safety.
Bai Bai’s only gamble was that her mental energy was fully charged right now—maybe a soft-hearted boss would give her a chance to catch a break.
Despite repeatedly getting rejected, Bai Bai held her temper and continued from store to store, eventually stopping in front of a packed restaurant. She couldn’t walk any further; the delicious scent wafting out made her stomach rumble loudly.
Just as she walked up to the counter before even opening her mouth, the boss behind the counter frowned and waved his hand like driving away a fly.
“Off you go, off you go! We don’t give orders to strangers here.”
Bai Bai didn’t argue. Just as she was about to turn around, the curtain to the back kitchen was lifted, and an employee stepped out holding a large bag of packaged food in each hand.
“Boss, Captain Zhang’s order is ready, but all our delivery guys are out and none have returned yet.”
The boss froze for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the two large bags the employee placed on the counter, then raising his eyes toward Bai Bai outside the counter.
Bai Bai had originally intended to go wait outside, but the employee’s words made her halt immediately.
Only then did the boss carefully size up Bai Bai.
Though displeased with her disheveled appearance, those bright eyes full of energy made her seem reliable.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, time was ticking.
“You…” The boss gritted his teeth. “You’re a stranger. If you want to take this order, deposit 100. Bring back the signed receipt, and I’ll give you a 5% delivery fee.”
Bai Bai pulled out her money without hesitation, counting out 100 yuan from a neatly folded stack of small bills and placing it on the counter.
This was yesterday’s 78 yuan plus what she earned from today’s two orders, just over 100.
The boss’s expression softened considerably.
If she could produce the cash, her plight was limited even if she was bottom-tier—she might just be an unlucky soul down on her luck for the moment.
Bai Bai stowed the meals, took the order receipt, and set off immediately.
Captain Zhang’s address wasn’t particularly close, but not too far either—a fifteen to twenty-minute walk.
Bai Bai walked at her pace, easily doubling the two big bags of hot food in her space along the way.
Thinking of the delicious food about to reach her mouth, her steps grew much lighter.
Following the directions all the way, she soon spotted Captain Zhang’s group.
It turned out to be an adventurer team.
They looked quite powerful, possessing two “monster trucks”—pickups with oversized tires that could cross mountains, climb slopes, and handle rough terrain effortlessly.
Their energy consumption was correspondingly high, and being able to maintain two such vehicles spoke volumes about the team’s strength.
Seeing Bai Bai approach, team members standing on the outer perimeter immediately stepped forward to stop her.
“Halt! What are you doing?”
“Is this Captain Zhang’s team? I’m here with your food delivery.”
“You? Food delivery?”
“Yup.” Bai Bai lowered her hands, each holding a large bag. “I paid a 100 yuan deposit to take this job. The delivery fee will be paid by the boss back there.”
“Old Fifth, it’s fine, take it.”
A voice came from behind.
“Captain?” Old Fifth turned his face in suspicion to ask.
“It’s fine. Look at her eyes—much more energetic than yours.”
Old Fifth turned back around and sized Bai Bai up once more.
“Heh, true enough. Down on your luck, huh?”
Bai Bai shrugged.
“Tell me about it. Who doesn’t hit a streak of bad luck sometimes?”
She raised her wrists.
“Do you want these or not?”
Old Fifth hurriedly took them over.
Bai Bai pulled out the receipt again.
“Who’s signing?”
“Captain!”
Old Fifth called out, then plunged into the crowd of team members with the two large bags of food.
Captain Zhang stepped out from the group—a burly man who scribbled a few incomprehensible symbols, even more abstract than an artistic signature.
Bai Bai took back the receipt, turned around, and headed back to complete the job.
Upon receiving the signed receipt, the restaurant boss didn’t waste words; he returned her deposit and paid her the delivery fee.
Bai Bai walked out of the restaurant, intending to find a quiet spot to properly enjoy her first real meal since transmigrating.
Simultaneously, she recalled Captain Zhang’s group assuming she was just an unlucky soul temporarily down on her luck.
That actually seemed like a pretty good persona, didn’t it?
Just as she was feeling pleased with the idea, she caught a glimpse of someone approaching her with quick, small steps out of the corner of her eye.
She immediately took a step to the side, looking sideways at the person and speaking calmly.
“What do you want?”
The person instantly froze in place, bowing slightly with a flattering smile, face grinning before a word was spoken.
“Sister, do you have any spare goods to sell?”
“Are you a scalper?”
“Heheh.” The person nodded. “Just a small-time operation.”
Thinking back to the persona idea she had just considered, Bai Bai touched her face.
“Let me ask you something.”
“Go ahead, Sister.”
“What makes you think I have goods on me? Looking as bedraggled as I do, shouldn’t people be dodging me left and right?”
“Ah, Sister, what are you saying! Looking at those bright, energetic eyes of yours, even if you’re disheveled, it’s only temporary. In times like these, who doesn’t hit a bad streak? As long as a person is alive, they’ll turn things around sooner or later.”
Bai Bai pretended to be flattered, nodding in agreement before shifting the conversation back to business.
“What do you buy?”
Hearing that there was a chance—and likely good stuff—the person perked up instantly.
“Anything and everything! Hard currency is best: grain, salt, sugar, daily necessities—unopened full packages are best, no loose odds and ends.”