Chapter 28: A New Path Begins, A Life Amidst the Fireworks
After the team disbanded, Chuanshen, once a lead rendering artist who used to strain his eyes red in front of a computer monitor, resolutely bid farewell to his familiar design workstation and stepped into the entirely new and unfamiliar realm of food delivery.
At first, wearing that conspicuous delivery uniform, Chuanshen felt filled with trepidation. Standing on the bustling, traffic-choked streets and staring at the delivery order in his hand, he felt as if he had been thrust into a world completely different from the one he had known. During his very first delivery, he scrambled clumsily through crowded hallways and nearly lost his way; by the time he reached the customer's door, breathless, he was already several minutes late. Seeing the customer's dissatisfied expression, he felt a surge of guilt and apologized profusely. In that moment, he deeply understood the hardships of this profession.
However, there was an unyielding spirit deep within Chuanshen. To familiarize himself with the delivery routes as quickly as possible, he would wake up early every day, riding his electric scooter through the city’s vast network of streets and alleys, memorizing the locations of every residential complex and office building, and carefully studying the shortcut suggestions on his map app. Before long, he could skillfully navigate the complex roads to find the most efficient routes, and his delivery efficiency improved dramatically.
In the course of his deliveries, Chuanshen encountered a wide variety of people and events, these trifles lighting up his somewhat weary life like stars. Once, he received an order for a hospital with a note that read: "Please hurry, my family is waiting for this meal, thank you for your hard work." Chuanshen’s heart tightened; forgetting everything else, he sped through the streets and delivered the meal as quickly as possible. When he saw the grateful smile of the patient in the ward and heard the family’s repeated thanks, an unprecedented sense of satisfaction welled up within him. He realized that this seemingly ordinary job carried, at this moment, the heavy responsibility of delivering warmth and hope.
Another time, a torrential rainstorm hit, leaving the roads severely flooded, and many delivery riders paused their service. But thinking of the customers who might be waiting at home hungry, Chuanshen gritted his teeth and dashed into the downpour. Midway, his scooter accidentally stalled in a deep puddle. He simply got off, waded through knee-deep water, and pushed the vehicle forward step by agonizing step. Though drenched to the bone, he kept the delivery box tightly protected. When he appeared at the customer's door, dripping wet, the customer was not only surprised but moved to tears. Instead of a single word of reproach, they handed him a towel and insisted on giving him an extra tip. At that moment, Chuanshen felt the kindness and empathy between people, and all his hardships transformed into tears of gratitude.
As time went by, Chuanshen got to know a group of fellow delivery riders who braved the wind and rain just as he did. During breaks, they would gather together to share stories and delivery tips. They chatted about everything under the sun, their laughter echoing through the streets and alleys. From them, Chuanshen saw the resilience and optimism of life, a strength that infected him and made him gradually fall in love with this job, so full of the warmth of human life.
Although he occasionally misses the days when he fought side-by-side with his team in the studio, chasing design dreams, Chuanshen understands that every chapter of life has its own unique value. Today, in this delivery journey, he has found his own direction. With his running footsteps, he measures the warmth of the city; with each meal delivered on time, he transmits love and care, writing his own distinctive chapter of life.