The orange grove was not far from Genzo's house, and the three kids arrived in about ten minutes.
"Bellemere, we're here!" As soon as they reached the entrance of the orange grove, Nami shouted inside.
"Bellemere, Ryuen's injuries are healed, so he came to help us too!" Nojiko added.
The three kids ran into the orange grove and finally saw the busy Bellemere.
Hearing Nami and Nojiko's voices, Bellemere stopped working.
"Why are you here? Kid, your name is Ryuen, right? Are your injuries healed? Why are you running around with them?" Bellemere looked at Ryuen with a serious expression.
A kid who fell from such a height into the sea couldn't recover so quickly, so she was a bit angry.
Seeing Bellemere's angry look, Ryuen felt a bit warm inside. She really was a good person.
Nami and Nojiko, seeing Bellemere's angry look, immediately stood quietly to the side, not daring to speak for Ryuen.
"Um... Bellemere, I'm really healed, that's why I came with them. If you don't believe me, you can check." Ryuen said softly, shrinking his neck.
Mainly because Bellemere's gaze was a bit scary. She was a gentle person, but very strict with her kids.
Nojiko and Nami had been scolded by Bellemere many times. Of course, she was just scaring them, but sometimes her tone was very strict.
Bellemere didn't say anything. She put down her tools, untied Ryuen's clothes to check his body, to see if he was lying.
In no time, Bellemere had taken off Ryuen's shirt and the bandages wrapped around him, then she started examining him.
She wanted to check if Ryuen's bones had healed. Yesterday, when she applied medicine to Ryuen, she felt several broken bones.
"Strange~ It seems they really have healed, that's impossible..." After checking for a while, Bellemere's face was full of confusion.
"I know why, Bellemere. Ryuen healed so fast because he ate a Devil Fruit!" Ryuen was about to answer, but Nami quickly replied to Bellemere.
"Ryuen, how did you get a Devil Fruit? I get it now, no wonder you fell from the sky yesterday. Did you eat a flying-type Devil Fruit?" Hearing Nami's words, Bellemere suddenly understood.
"Uh... yes, I fell from the sky yesterday because I wasn't very skilled. Thank you for saving me, Bellemere." Ryuen explained and bowed to Bellemere.
"So that's it... no wonder. But it was Genzo who saved you, not me. He saw you fall into the sea and jumped in to save you right away." Bellemere said with a smile.
"Yes! Nami told me. I will repay Genzo in the future!" Ryuen replied immediately.
He was not someone who didn't repay kindness, and Genzo and Bellemere were indeed good people. Otherwise, Cocoyasi Village wouldn't have chosen Genzo as the sheriff.
"It's okay. Just take good care of yourself, Nami, and Nojiko. Oh, by the way, you flew here, so do you need to fly back?" Bellemere asked.
"I know, let me tell you, Bellemere. Ryuen can't go back. His home was robbed by pirates, and they took thirty billion Berries!" Nami said, winking at Ryuen.
Ryuen's face darkened. This little girl, why couldn't she come up with a better story?
"Thirty billion Berries?"
"Poor child, just stay here from now on. This way, Nami and Nojiko will have another playmate." Bellemere was very surprised.
Hearing about the thirty billion Berries, Bellemere was shocked, but as someone who had been on the battlefield, she quickly adjusted her mindset.
After speaking, Bellemere hugged Ryuen, trying to comfort him with her warm embrace.
"Um... Bellemere... I'm fine. I've already come to terms with it. I'll take good care of Nami and Nojiko in the future!" Ryuen said with difficulty.
Mainly because Bellemere was hugging him tightly, pressing him into her chest, making him feel a bit suffocated.
"That's good. From now on, we're a family. Alright, let's get to work. Finish early and go back. Today, we'll make a good meal for Ryuen!" Bellemere let go of Ryuen, seeing that he had indeed come to terms with it.
"Yay!!" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ɴovel(ꜰ)ɪre.nᴇt
"Work, work, then go back early to eat meat!" Nami was very happy. She knew there would be something delicious tonight!
The three little ones then started working, weeding, bagging, and picking some ripe fruits.
"Nojiko, you too. And Ryuen, your injuries just healed, be careful, okay?" Bellemere reminded the three kids.
"We understand, Bellemere~" the three kids answered.
Seeing this, Bellemere was very happy. She looked at Ryuen and felt relieved when she saw him working too.
She had heard that Ryuen's family lost thirty billion berries! This meant Ryuen's family was very wealthy, and she was worried he wouldn't do this kind of work.
Now, seeing Ryuen working hard, Bellemere smiled and started picking oranges.
In the afternoon, Genzo came over. He was the village sheriff and didn't need to look after the orchard, so he would come to help Bellemere when he had time.
This time, he just brought lunch. After asking about Ryuen, he left the orchard.
He was the only sheriff in the village, so he had to patrol often and couldn't stay away for long.
"Bellemere, I think Genzo likes you," Ryuen asked softly.
"Ryuen, don't say that, or I won't make you good food tonight!" Bellemere pretended to be angry.
She wasn't stupid, she could see Genzo's feelings, but she had Nami and Nojiko now.
Bellemere teasing Genzo.
"I won't say it, Bellemere, don't be mad." Ryuen pulled back his neck and continued weeding the orchard.
At this time, Nami quietly approached Ryuen and whispered, "Ryuen, Nojiko and I know Genzo likes Bellemere, but we don't know why Bellemere doesn't agree."
"Nami! I heard that!!" Bellemere's angry shout came from not far away.
Scared, Nami and Ryuen immediately separated and continued working honestly.
Bellemere shook her head, a trace of helplessness flashed across her face, then she continued picking oranges.