Kong Tai put away his dejection.
He turned to A Jian and said, "By the way, Uncle A Jian, why are you always wearing a windmill on your head? Can you give it to me?"
"Windmill?"
A Jian paused, then touched the windmill on his head and fell into thought.
Sensing A Jian's state, Kong Tai asked, "Uncle A Jian, what's wrong? Are you reluctant?"
"It's not that I'm reluctant, it's just that this windmill has special meaning for someone."
A Jian snapped back to attention and explained.
"Someone?"
"Yes! A strong, brave person."
By then, Kong Tai knew who he was talking about, but he still asked as if he didn't know.
"Then who is it!"
A Jian looked towards the orange grove behind the village and slowly began to tell Nami's story.
When he spoke of Nami and the windmill, a gentle smile would appear on his face.
When he spoke of Nami joining the Arlong Pirates, hatred would surface.
When he spoke of Nami returning to the village, battered and bruised, he would look pained.
Under the oppression of the Arlong Pirates, Nami became the only beacon of light in his heart and in the hearts of all the villagers.
In fact, they had always known why Nami had joined the Arlong Pirates, and why she returned injured every time she went out.
But they were powerless, unable to help Nami in the slightest.
All they could do was not to be a burden to Nami, so that she could continue with what she believed she could do, what she truly believed she could buy back the village from Arlong.
Even though they all knew it was a mere pipe dream.
But it was Nami's only hope.
This sliver of hope, they could not be the ones to extinguish.
If it had to be extinguished, it had to be slowly.
Because if Nami were to lose all hope, then their only beacon of light would be gone.
Thinking of this, A Jian shook his head, the hatred for the Arlong Pirates fading from his face.
Seeing the smiles on the villagers' faces again on the village road, his face also broke into a smile.
It felt as if they were back to the time before Arlong came.
"Yes, it's all over."
Arlong is gone, Nami must be very happy, he thought!
She would no longer have to go to sea for money.
She would no longer have to draw those damned maps for Arlong.
She could go back to being the little princess of our Cocoyasi Village.
She could be happy when she was happy, sad when she was sad, and no longer had to pretend to be strong.
Thinking of this, A Jian looked at Gu Yina with even more gratitude.
"I really don't know how to thank them!"
A Jian shook his head, dispelling his thoughts, and turned to look at Kong Tai.
"Oh right, I haven't asked you why you wanted this windmill!"
Kong Tai stared at the windmill on his head and said with a smile.
"I just saw you always wearing a windmill on your head, and I was very curious. Also, I was thinking about the pirate flag, and thought we might as well use the windmill as our pirate flag!"
He had indeed seen the windmill and thought of the protagonist of this world, Luffy's Windmill Village, which also had windmills. So he just used a windmill.
Otherwise, what else would he use? A hammer and sickle, or five stars?
While he was familiar with those, they were too easily censored.
Moreover, windmills represent bravery, diligence, progress, loyalty, joy, agility, and love.
They symbolize humanity's love for the sky and fairy-tale happiness.
For him, this was his pursuit.
He also hoped that he and the people he cherished could always be like a windmill.
To be forever free from worries, suffering, and disasters.
To live a life of happiness, joy, and health.
"So that's how it is!"
A Jian hesitated for a moment, then took off the windmill and handed it to Kong Tai.
"Here, take it!"
However, Kong Tai did not take it, but smiled at A Jian and said, "Never mind, Uncle A Jian. I only wanted it as a reference to draw a flag.
"For you, it's a memento of your happy memories with Nami!"
He paused and continued, "I can't possibly snatch a child's toy, can I!"
Looking at Kong Tai's sincere expression, A Jian took back the windmill and re-inserted it into his hat.
It wasn't that he was unwilling to part with it; it was just an ordinary windmill.
Besides, Nami had grown up and wouldn't smile at his windmill like she did when she was little.
This windmill was now just a memento for him.
He hoped that every time Nami returned, she would be able to shed her unhappiness and remain happy, just like when she was a child.
"How about this then, I'll find some cloth later and personally draw you a windmill flag, how does that sound?"
"Oh, how can I accept that!"
Kong Tai looked at A Jian with surprise and joy.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle A Jian."
Hearing that A Jian was willing to help draw the flag, he instinctively felt happy.
Well, it wasn't because his drawing skills were so bad.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's my honor to draw a pirate flag for the benefactor of our entire Cocoyasi Village."
"Then if there's nothing else, I'll go and draw the pirate flag for you now."
It could be seen that he was more eager than Kong Tai, likely pleased to be able to do something for Kong Tai and the others.
Kong Tai quickly thanked him again.
Watching his retreating back, he gleefully raised his wine gourd and took a sip.
"Comfortable."
Then, like a lord, he lay there basking in the sun.
Indeed, the spring sun, even at noon, was so comfortable.
...
The residual sunlight of dusk cast a warm glow.
Several large bonfires had been lit in the center of Cocoyasi Village's main street.
Around the bonfires were piles of roasted meat, fruits, and various seafood.
The villagers, who had suppressed their emotions for a long time, cast aside all pretense.
Some were crying, some were laughing, and some were shouting wildly as if they had gone mad.
They needed to vent.
Ah Hua and the other two were pulled into the crowd by the village youths.
Together with the villagers, they danced a simple yet rustic dance around the bonfire.
Beside a bonfire, Kong Tai sat cross-legged on the ground, drinking from his wine gourd.
Gu Yina was leaning on his shoulder, her face flushed as she watched the people dancing around the bonfire.
She loved this kind of party.
Although she had been busy from noon until dusk, she didn't feel tired at all; instead, she felt a sense of profound satisfaction.
This made her, who had never drunk alcohol before, break her rule and have a few drinks.
Gu Yina looked up at Kong Tai with a hazy gaze.
"Well, Kong Tai,"
Kong Tai turned his head to look at Gu Yina's cute appearance and asked with a smile, "What is it?"
"Do you think I should come up with a title?"
"What title?"
Gu Yina tilted her head and thought.
"Hmm...!"
She frowned in distress, thinking left and right, but couldn't come up with anything.
Then she looked up at Kong Tai, her beautiful big eyes showing a hint of helplessness.
She grabbed his arm and shook it incessantly.
"I can't think of one, Kong Tai, why don't you come up with one for me!"
"Alright, alright, stop shaking me, or I'll fall apart."
Kong Tai looked at Gu Yina and said with a chuckle, "Our adventure group is called the Free Pirates, and our flag is a windmill."
"Mmm..."
He stroked his chin and thought, then his eyes lit up.
"Then I'll call you the Statue of Liberty!"
As soon as he said it, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Hahaha...!"
Gu Yina didn't know why Kong Tai suddenly burst into laughter.
But seeing him laugh, she also giggled foolishly.
"Statue of Liberty? Sounds pretty good e=(´o｀*))) Sigh!"