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Chapter 322: What? You Want to Eat Until You're Stuffed?
Chapter 322: What? You Want to Eat Until You're Stuffed?
“These… are we allowed to eat all of this?!”
Hui Na was completely captivated by the food, asking in disbelief.
The food Lida brought included Devil Fruits, candies, neatly wrapped meat skewers, and several boxed meals.
Xiao Lin widened his eyes, pointing at the Devil Fruits with determination. “I know those! They’re fruits that grow on trees—I’ve seen identical ones before!”
“Don’t talk so much. Just hurry and eat. Eating when hungry is perfectly natural. How could we not eat?”
Lida’s face flickered with reluctant pain, but she urged them forward.
Yet the sheer amount of food left the three children hesitant. They wanted to grab it, but their hands hovered, afraid to reach out.
“Why aren’t you grabbing it?” Kuro asked suddenly.
“No—”
Su Zhan shook his head, his voice trembling slightly. “It’s too much… really too much. We… we’re scared to take it.”
“Take it.”
A hoarse voice suddenly called from behind.
An elderly man appeared, thin and wiry, saying, “If it’s them, there’s no problem.”
“Grandpa Ushida!” the three children exclaimed.
The old man wore a patched hemp robe and carried a hoe. Though frail-looking, his eyes were sharp and lively.
“So you’re Navy? Haven’t seen Navy officers around here in a while.”
The elderly man approached, glanced at Kuro, then bowed deeply. “Thank you so much for the food, Navy officer!”
“Really, Grandpa Ushida!” Su Zhan blurted excitedly. He looked at the food, then at Lida and Kuro, took a deep breath, and bowed ninety degrees. “Thank you for the food—we really, really needed this!”
The other two children followed suit, bowing before starting to gather the food.
“Old man, you know who we are? I thought this village was clueless.”
Kuro, chewing on a cigar, eyed the elderly man.
“I saw you when you were little, Navy officer. Just call me Ushida.”
Ushida paused, eyeing the dead deer the Navy officers had brought, the arrow still lodged in its head, before continuing,
“Navy officer… you’re here for young Ju Geng, aren’t you?”
“Grandpa Ushida!” Su Zhan cried. “Why would you say that out loud?!”
Ushida shook his head. “It’s fine. I saw what happened earlier—they saved you. I trust that these Navy officers won’t harm young Ju Geng.”
Kuro glanced at the children, then at the eerily silent village. “Old man, tell me what’s going on here.”
“Please, follow me.” Ushida turned and walked ahead.
“Hey, brat, why aren’t you eating?” Lida frowned, noticing the three kids clutching the food without taking a bite.
“We have many people waiting. We can’t just eat by ourselves. Plus, this food is for Ju Geng Sister.”
Young Hui Na inhaled the scent of the food in her arms, swallowing hard as she hugged it tighter, as if fearing it might vanish.
As the group walked toward the village, the sky had turned to twilight, the sinking red sun casting golden light across the quiet settlement.
The village buildings looked dim and lifeless, with no sign of movement.
“Navy officer, there are very few adults left here,” Ushida said slowly. “Our village… has none at all.”
“Because of the war, all the strong men were sent to the frontlines,” he continued. “Those remaining were taken by Insect Country as laborers. That’s why only we remain.”
“How do you survive normally, old man?” Kuro glanced around. “Looks like you’re barely feeding yourselves. Doesn’t Insect Country care?”
“Insect Country’s rules are set, Navy officer.” Ushida smiled bitterly. “Everything here belongs to the nobles. We have no right to decide for ourselves. The fields have no harvest, so Ju Geng had to risk hunting for food. If you want to blame someone, blame me. It was my idea.”
“I’m not here to bother you. Just wanted to see for myself and return something to her.”
Kuro pointed at the dead deer behind them.
“Eh? Really?!” Su Zhan gasped. “You really aren’t here to arrest Ju Geng Sister? Of course, you saved us and gave us food! Navy officer, you’re a good person!”
“Uncle—”
“Hey! Who told you to call him ‘uncle’?!”
Kuro’s eyebrow twitched as Lida scolded Su Zhan, glaring at him. “Don’t you know how to speak properly? If I’m an older sister, how can he be an uncle?!”
“Ouch!” Su Zhan winced, rubbing his head. “What’s wrong with calling him uncle? I have an uncle about his age too!”
He continued with hope in his voice, “But my uncle will come back. Usually, laborers return after three years. This year, they’ll come back with plenty of food. Ju Geng Sister won’t have to risk herself every day anymore. I’ll bring lots of food to thank her!”
“Me too! Me too!” Hui Na chimed in firmly. “When my fathermother comes back, I’ll bring even more to thank Ju Geng Sister!”
“I’ll…”
Xiao Lin spoke softer than the others, but his expression showed the same determination.
Ushida watched them, smiling warmly. “My son was taken as labor too. When they all return, our village will return to how it was before—no longer like this.”
Hope shone in his eyes.
The light in that gaze left Kuro silent.
“We’re here, Navy officer.”
Ushida stopped at a large house. As Kuro peeked through a hole in the wall, he saw the interior clearly.
In a main hall, a woman in a white robe and red trousers knelt surrounded by children.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I didn’t catch any prey today.”
“It’s okay, Ju Geng Sister!” the children replied. “It’s too dangerous for you to hunt for us.”
“Yeah, Ju Geng Sister! We’re fine. You need to take care of yourself too.”
The children surrounded her, pleading.
Ju Geng shook her head. “I’ll go out again tonight. For now, just endure.”
“Ju Geng.”
Ushida spoke suddenly from outside.
The woman seemed not to hear. She gently stroked a child’s head, smiling tenderly.
“Ju Geng!” Ushida called again.
Still, she appeared oblivious.
Ushida inhaled deeply and shouted, “Ju Geng!!!”
“What? You want to eat until you’re stuffed? Let me think about it.” Ju Geng paused mid-stroke, looking at the child.
“I… I didn’t say anything,” the child blinked, turning his head. He pointed at Ushida outside, “It was Grandpa Ushida.”
(End of Chapter)
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