ONE PEICE: LONG ROAD

Xibei Village at Noon

"Hey, Kunke! Come out and greet the guests," called a dark-skinned young man, his voice ringing through the quiet air outside Kunke's grocery store.

Inside, Kunke, a stout man with a full beard, was just finishing his meal. The loud voice interrupted his peace. Grumbling, he pushed himself up from his chair and came out of the back room, irritation etched on his face.

"Oh, it's you, Jon," Kunke said gruffly, spotting the familiar figure. "Can't you ever buy your supplies at a better time than this? You always come in when I'm eating."

Jon, the young fisherman, scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry about that, Kunke. You know my mother-in-law can be forgetful. She started cooking and realized we were out of salt, so she sent me running."

Kunke sighed, muttering about inconvenient customers, but he reached into the cabinet and tossed a small sack of salt to Jon. "Here you go, kid. Don't let her send you out for something silly like this again."

Jon caught the salt with a grin, fished out a few coins, and handed them over. "Thanks, Kunke. I owe you one." With that, he turned and jogged off toward his home at the base of the hill.

Kunke pocketed the coins absentmindedly, about to return to his meal, when he noticed something peculiar on the road leading into the village. A long, battered fishing rod poked into view, swaying with each step its owner took.

"Little Sibe is back," Kunke chuckled, leaning casually against the counter. Stroking his beard, he added, "Bet he didn't catch anything again. Poor boy."

"It's almost here! That's Xibei Village!" exclaimed Sibe, a boy of about ten, excitement lighting up his face.

Next to him, a tired-looking boy named Wang Li trudged along, his stomach growling audibly. "I smell food," Wang Li mumbled, clutching his stomach. "I'm starving…"

Hearing his friend's plight, Sibe nodded solemnly. "Now that you mention it, I'm hungry too." His enthusiasm faded into a look of despair as both their stomachs protested loudly.

They approached the outskirts of the village, where Kunke stood watching. Spotting Sibe, the older man called out, "Hey, little Sibe! What's the catch today?"

Sibe's head shot up at the familiar voice. Grinning, he waved back enthusiastically, then grabbed Wang Li's hand and pulled him along toward Kunke.

"Uncle Kunke!" Sibe chirped. "I didn't go fishing today. Instead, I saved someone! This is Wang Li—he's my new friend."

Kunke raised an eyebrow and peered at Wang Li. "Saved someone, huh? And where are you from, kid?"

Wang Li looked up, confusion clouding his eyes. "I… don't know."

Kunke stroked his beard thoughtfully. "You don't know? How'd you end up here then—"

"He lost his memory, Uncle Kunke!" Sibe interrupted, eager to explain. He'd already learned much about Wang Li on their walk and was happy to share.

Xibei Village, nestled on a lush, fertile island in the East Blue, was a small community of only about 50 households. Unlike most coastal settlements, the villagers here relied on agriculture rather than fishing. The island's rich soil yielded abundant harvests of grains and fruits, making it unnecessary for most families to venture out to sea. Fishing was left to a select few, like Jon, who would trade their catches during the village's Harvest Day—a festive event held in the village square around the central fountain.

"Well," Kunke said after a moment of thought, "if you're here, you're welcome to stay until you get your memories back. Haha, welcome to Xibei Village!" His laughter boomed as he slapped Wang Li's shoulder.

"Thank you, Uncle Kunke," Wang Li said softly, his nervousness evident.

Seeing his new friend's apprehension, Sibe gave him an encouraging pat on the back—though a bit too forcefully, causing Wang Li to stumble. Curiously, Wang Li noted that his body no longer felt sore, even after hours of walking.

"Don't worry," Sibe said with a grin. "Uncle Kunke may look like a bandit, but he's one of the nicest people around!"

Kunke, bristling at the description, scowled. "Have you eaten yet, kid?" he asked Wang Li.

Wang Li shook his head.

"Come on in," Kunke said, turning toward his house. "I was just sitting down for a meal. Wife! Add two more sets of plates. Sibe and his new friend are eating with us!"

Hearing this, Sibe abandoned his plans to invite Wang Li elsewhere and eagerly dragged his friend inside. Kunke's wife, Aunt Xili, brought out extra plates and smiled warmly at Wang Li. "Welcome, dear. Make yourself at home."

At the table, the meal began… or rather, Wang Li devoured it.

Kunke, Sibe, and Xili stared in astonishment as the ten-year-old polished off plate after plate at lightning speed.

Kunke finally broke the silence. "Is this boy even human? He eats more than Sibe—and that's saying something!"

Sibe, usually quick with a retort, only nodded, his chopsticks frozen mid-air as he watched the spectacle.

When Wang Li finally looked up, his mouth still full of rice, he said innocently, "Why aren't you eating? The food is delicious!"

Kunke's mouth twitched. You ate everything, kid!

Xili sighed and rose to prepare more food. Meanwhile, Wang Li wondered why his body seemed to move on its own during the meal, as though driven by an unfamiliar force.

It was the most satisfying meal he'd ever had, and though his abrupt behavior puzzled him, he couldn't help but laugh along with the warmth of his new friends.