novelraw Chapter 51: An Unexpected Decision
Chapter 51: An Unexpected Decision
After parting ways with Lewis, Leon walked toward the town, still thinking about that momentary look of confusion on Lewis’s face when Leon asked when he could expect payment for his shipped goods.
It was obvious that the mayor, who had promised to help transport and sell Leon’s farm produce, wasn’t quite as hands-on as he claimed to be. As for the payments Leon later received in the mail—whether they truly came from Lewis himself or were sent under his name—he had no way of knowing. But honestly, it didn’t make much difference to him. As long as the money came in, that was enough.
George’s home, Leon recalled, should be fairly close to the Starfruit Saloon. After all, he had met Evelyn near the saloon, and given her age, she wouldn’t be tending a garden too far from home. She had also mentioned that she lived in a detached house.
So all Leon had to do was look for a standalone house near the saloon. With that range in mind, he soon found the place and pressed the doorbell.
A sturdy young man answered, about the same height as Leon, with a bright smile and rather impressive arm muscles.
“Hello, stranger. Can I help you?” the young man asked, looking at Leon with curiosity.
“My name’s Leon, the new farmer in town. I’m here to visit Grandma Evelyn and Mr. George,” Leon introduced himself, making sure to state his purpose.
“Oh, so you’re Leon! Grandma’s mentioned you. I’m Alex. Come on in.” Alex clapped a hand on Leon’s arm and warmly ushered him inside.
Once Leon stepped in, Alex called out in a booming voice, “Grandma! Grandma! That Mr. Leon you’ve mentioned so many times is here to see you!”
At his shout, Evelyn appeared, pushing a wheelchair with a bald old man seated in it. When she saw Leon, her face lit up.“I was wondering when you’d finally visit. Welcome, Leon.”
After bringing the wheelchair forward, Evelyn greeted Leon, then introduced the man in the chair. “This is my husband, George—a grumpy old fellow, but a good man.”
“Hello, Mr. George,” Leon said politely. George simply gave him a brief glance and a nod, which counted as a greeting.
Leon wasn’t surprised. George had always been this way—losing his legs had been a heavy blow, and he was deeply traditional, wary of strangers. Still, Leon suspected that the real reason for the coldness lay in the past relationship between his grandfather and Evelyn.
“It’s a pity you missed lunch. Why don’t you stay for dinner? You’ve met Alex, my grandson—about your age. You two could talk and get to know each other,” Evelyn offered, motioning for Alex to entertain their guest.
Leon quickly shook his head. “Thank you, but I have things to do later. Actually, I came here today for a personal reason.”
Spending the whole afternoon here didn’t fit into Leon’s schedule, so after politely refusing, he explained his real purpose.
“You want to buy George’s old bicycle?” Evelyn repeated in mild surprise, her eyes instinctively turning toward her husband.
George caught her look and nodded. “Alright. But I won’t sell it—he can have it.”
Evelyn stared at him in surprise. She’d expected him to refuse outright, but not only did he agree, he was even willing to give it away for free. That baffled her.
“Grandpa, aren’t you really fond of that bicycle?” Alex piped up, voicing what Evelyn hadn’t said. Growing up with George, Alex knew just how much his grandfather cherished that old bike.
Even after losing the ability to ride, George still had Alex haul it down from the attic every few days so he could maintain it himself. After more than twenty years, it still looked almost brand new, proof of how much he valued it.
Leon was puzzled too. He wasn’t naive—when he saw Evelyn hesitate, he’d already prepared himself to leave empty-handed. He hadn’t expected George to agree so readily, and Alex’s words only deepened the mystery.
George, still wearing a stern face, explained to both his wife and grandson.
“Yesterday Lewis came to ask me about the abandoned mines. He mentioned Joja Corporation’s illegal mining, and the possible danger it could bring to Pelican Town. Normally, Lewis wouldn’t have paid much attention. But this farmer, after discovering the problem, went to him and urged him to take action—and even called for strict punishment for Joja.”
He turned to Leon. “You may have just arrived in Pelican Town, but you already see yourself as part of it. Your suggestion to punish Joja for illegal mining is absolutely in the town’s best interest. I’m grateful you pointed out something Lewis overlooked. It might save more than a few miners’ lives. So I’ll give you that bicycle as thanks.”
Alex still looked a bit confused, but Evelyn immediately understood. Leon had struck George’s deepest soft spot. George had devoted his life to Pelican Town, and he loved this land more than most.
And since he had lost his legs in a mining accident, Leon’s proposal to stop Joja’s illegal operations wasn’t just protecting the town’s future—it was protecting future miners from the same fate George had suffered.
Evelyn smiled warmly. “Then it’s settled. Alex, could you bring the bicycle down for Leon to take with him?”
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