Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Orchard Fruit-Picking Task

The sheer fury in her voice stunned everyone; just a moment ago, she’d been so painfully shy.

Aunt Phoebe hurried over. “Oh, I’m so sorry, dear. It’s all my daughter-in-law’s fault for being so clumsy!” She shot Sue-Ellen a look. “What are you waiting for? Apologize!”

Sue-Ellen, startled by Renee Jennings, bowed again and again, her voice trembling. “I’m truly sorry, Ms. Jennings. It was all my fault. I lost my grip.”

[What’s going on? Why is Rachel… why is she so fierce? Is this still Rachel?]

[Wouldn’t you be mad if someone got your pants dirty?]

[No, it’s just that Rachel is usually so gentle. No matter what happens, she’s always considerate of others. She has a great personality. I’m a fan because of her personality, but this… I’m having a hard time getting used to it.]

[Don’t tell me she’s another one who’s just faking her persona?]

…

Renee Jennings came to her senses, coughed twice, and quickly helped up Sue-Ellen, who was still bowing and apologizing. “No, I’m sorry. I have a cold lately, so I’ve been in a bad mood. I hope I didn’t scare you.”

Sue-Ellen still looked deeply apologetic. “It probably won’t wash out. These pants are so expensive, let me pay you for them.”

’If I actually take Sue-Ellen’s money on the show, I’ll get tons of backlash for picking on her.’

“It’s fine. I have other clothes.”

Sue-Ellen said, “Let me take you upstairs to change first.”

The clothes Sue-Ellen wore were all simple styles, no match for her own carefully selected outfits, but Renee Jennings had no other choice.

Ford Warren’s family prepared a very sumptuous breakfast. All the guests ate their fill, and Jared Woods even let out a long burp.

“Is everyone full?” the guide asked. “Next, I’ll announce the task.”

“Our task this time is once again related to the tickets for the return trip.”

Chelsea Raines shivered. “It’s not digging potatoes again, is it? It was so hot last time, I got several shades darker. Forget digging potatoes, I get annoyed just seeing them now.”

The other guests’ expressions also grew grim; clearly, their last experience digging potatoes hadn’t been a good one.

“It’s not digging potatoes.” The guide held up a task card. “For this task, the guests and junior guests will need to split into two groups. The guests will go to Ford Warren’s orchard to pick fruit and sell it at the market to earn money for their return tickets. Meanwhile, the junior guests will take our baskets into the village to find ingredients for dinner.”

Margaret Jennings frowned. “This isn’t any easier than digging potatoes…”

Naomi Kenway looked at her son with some concern, not expecting they’d have to complete the task separately again.

Unexpectedly, Ian went up to the guide, took a basket, and then stood with the group of junior guests. “Mom, I’m going to do the task.”

It was a completely different scene from before. Naomi Kenway hurried after him. “Ian, you…”

“Mom, I don’t think I’m scared anymore.”

Naomi Kenway froze for a moment, then smiled with relief. “Ian’s grown up.”

Watching Ian Shaw’s departing figure, Naomi Kenway felt an indescribable mix of emotions.

Riding a tricycle cart to Ford Warren’s orchard, Naomi Kenway was still thinking about how Ian was doing.

Ruby Preston, at her side, patted her shoulder. “Nicole, I know you’re worried, but kids have to grow up eventually. We need to learn to let go and let them grow.”

Naomi Kenway nodded.

’Ian was becoming more outgoing, and that was a good thing. It was just that, as a mother, she couldn’t escape the anxiety that came with his “firsts”.’

*

Ford Warren’s orchard was dozens of acres large; they had only arrived at one section of it.

The cart stopped, and Naomi Kenway hopped off.

The guide had already arrived ahead of them. “There are apples, pears, lots of fruit here. Everyone can pick whatever you like!”

Ruby Preston suggested, “Since we’re trying to earn our travel fare, why don’t we team up? If we can make a few hundred, we can charter a van straight back to Veridia. It’ll save us the hassle of waiting at the train station.”

Naomi Kenway nodded. It was true; waiting for trains and making transfers was a pain.

No one had any objections.

Renee Jennings hesitated, her eyes darting toward Naomi Kenway. “But… what if someone slacks off? Wouldn’t that drag down everyone’s progress?”

Naomi Kenway looked directly at her. “Who are you referring to? Why don’t you just say it?”

“N-nothing…”

Ruby Preston frowned at Renee Jennings, her tone laced with displeasure. “Everyone will pull their own weight. That won’t happen. Besides, we’ve known each other for so long, it’s normal for us to help each other out.”

In her eyes, Renee Jennings’s behavior was no different from pouring cold water on their plans.

“If you’re not happy with my suggestion, you don’t have to participate,” Ruby Preston added.

Renee Jennings’s mouth fell slightly open. She felt utterly wronged, but said, “No, I agree.”

The guests got to work, shouldering huge wicker baskets. When the baskets became too heavy to carry, they set them on the ground, picking the fruit and then putting it inside.

Renee Jennings was dripping with sweat. Suddenly, she looked around. “Where’s Naomi Kenway?! Where did Naomi Kenway go?!!”

All the guests stopped what they were doing and called out Naomi Kenway’s name a few times.

Chelsea Raines was sweltering. She wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Don’t tell me Rachel was right? Did Naomi Kenway sneak off to rest under a tree again? She has zero team spirit!”

Chelsea Raines didn’t like manual labor either, having done more than her fair share of it working in the fields as a child. But even she knew not to drag others down. Who knew Naomi Kenway could be so shameless, planning to reap the rewards without doing any of the work.

Margaret Jennings instinctively defended Naomi Kenway. “I doubt it. She’s probably just picking fruit nearby.”

Renee Jennings sighed. “At a time like this, Pearl, you’re still trying to defend Naomi Kenway. She just can’t change her lazy nature. When she had to work alone, she had no choice but to try hard. Now that she has us to do the work, of course she’s going to get lazy! I mentioned this exact problem earlier, but nobody believed me.” She shot a meaningful look at Ruby Preston.

The live stream for Renee Jennings’s channel was also filled with voices angrily cursing out Naomi Kenway:

[Ms. Kenway really can’t change her ways.]

[I thought Naomi Kenway had changed. How could she be like this? Is she slacking off so openly just because it’s a team effort? The work she’s not doing has to be picked up by the other guests.]

[Where on earth did Naomi Kenway go?]

[Just kick Naomi Kenway out. It’s too bad Hazel Preston thought so highly of her. Our Rachel saw through Naomi Kenway’s true nature from the start.]

Chelsea Raines said, “Let’s not partner with Naomi Kenway anymore. A person like her is just a shameless deadbeat.”

Ruby Preston was still hesitant. She didn’t think Naomi Kenway was that kind of person.

“Why is everyone gathered here?”

Naomi Kenway’s confused voice drifted over. She was seen walking over from a distance, the basket on her back filled to the brim with fresh, dew-kissed cherries.

Chelsea Raines’s jaw dropped. “It’s all apples and pears around here! Where did you get cherries?!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep