wavenovel Chapters 1531 and 1540: The more you see, the less likely you are to be fooled!
Chapters 1531 and 1540: The more you see, the less likely you are to be fooled!
Yama-oka Inner Kitchen is very busy today~
Because they were going to hold a so-called "farewell party" for Tsuruko, they prepared a big meal, and to make it more lively, they also invited the Nagayama Kaede family, who had just returned from Shimizu.
The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen as the two nannies, Mari Nonaka and Anka Nakagawa, showcased their culinary skills, with Akina adding her own touches by preparing one or two of her signature dishes.
As guests, Tsuruko and Nagayama Shinkai, along with Natsuka, were in the living room playing with Sayuri and Ren. Sayuri has started to learn to talk now, and she and Ren were chatting happily, babbling away.
Meanwhile, Xiaoxiahua was held in Hezi's arms, and while looking at the two little ones, they chatted about recent events.
"Aunt Hezi, my dad and I went to a really big kindergarten with lots of toys."
Natsuka vividly recounted the scene of going to kindergarten with Naoki Nagayama that day.
"I also made many new friends."
"Dad said I can go to kindergarten next year, but I don't want to wait that long."
"Huh? Hana-chan."
Tsuruko was somewhat surprised.
"But if you go to kindergarten, you'll have to stay for at least half a day, and you won't be able to see your parents and aunties then. Aren't you scared?!"
It's important to know that many children cry when they go to kindergarten, as it's essentially the first time in their lives they've been separated from home for an extended period.
"."
Xia Hua glanced at her mother and the nanny busy in the kitchen, then at her father petting the cats and dogs in the yard. She hesitated for a moment, but quickly regained her confidence.
"Hey, Dad says I'm all grown up now! I'm not scared even if I don't see Mom and Dad for a day!"
"Oh? Looks like Hana-chan is quite brave~"
Tsuruko's eyes darted around; she wanted to tease her niece.
"But going to kindergarten means going for several days!"
"what?"
Xia Hua looked up at her aunt, her brows furrowing. She subconsciously recalled what her father had said, her eyes filled with confusion.
"But that's not what Daddy said!"
"Huajiang, your father might not be too aware that he started school in elementary school!"
Tsuruko was brimming with confidence because kindergartens were only integrated into the education system in the 50s and became widespread in Japan around the 80s. In her hometown, a small coastal city, she, born in 65, was among the first batch of children to enter kindergarten.
"My aunt went to kindergarten when she was little! She was among the first batch of children to go to kindergarten!"
Hana-chan blinked, glanced at Tsuruko, then at Naoki Nagayama outside, and finally decided to trust her father.
"Aunt Tsuruko, are you lying to me that I never went to kindergarten?!"
"How could this be?!"
When Tsuruko is doing something bad, her eyes always light up.
"Kindergarten is a five-day-a-week program, and we only get weekends off. I wouldn't lie to Hana-chan!"
"."
Xia Hua stared at He Zi, a sudden thought flashing through her mind. Although she liked this aunt very much, past experience told her that Aunt He Zi could be funny at times!
So the little guy got off the crane's arm, stood up, and walked towards the eaves of the yard:
"Then I'll go ask Dad!"
"."
"Pfft~"
Yongshan Xinhai, who was listening nearby, couldn't help but laugh.
"Haha, even Hana-chan can't fool Tsuruko~"
"Tch, so young, yet so cunning. I wonder where he inherited that from!"
Tsuruko looked at Naoki Nagayama's figure in the yard, unable to understand it at all. Her older brother had always been quite dull from elementary school to high school, so how did he become such a genius that he even influenced the next generation!
Let's go back a few minutes.
Naoki Nagayama and Kaede Nagayama were petting the cats and dogs and chatting on the veranda in the living room, without needing their help. They were talking about things in Shimizu City.
"My father has become suspicious at the old house and is now stalling for time."
Nagayama Kaede said.
"However, I made some inquiries, and it seems that Kanai only contacted my father. The real estate project seems quite substantial, a tourism development along the Hakone route. They're going to build highways and hotels and stuff."
"There's definitely something wrong with only looking for Uncle Xiong Yuan!"
Naoki Nagayama said,
"There are many wealthy landowners and other rich people in Shizuoka besides Uncle Kumahara. It's just that Uncle Kumahara used to be a member of a gang, but now he's just a wealthy middle-aged man who disbanded the gang."
In some ways, the Japanese underworld can act as a shield; if anyone dares to lie, they will be retaliated with violence.
However, those who leave the underworld or disband their gangs are considered to have "laundered" their identities. As everyone knows, laundering makes one less vulnerable!
Without the protection of the gang, in other people's eyes, Nagayama Kumahara is now just a rich former gang member who has been laundered, and he is stupid and easy to fool!
"I'm still here."
Nagayama Kaede looked at her cousin beside her.
"And Naoki, don't they know?"
"What if they're targeting me specifically? Or the entire Nagayama family?"
Naoki Nagayama spoke earnestly.
"Uncle Xiong Yuan is an example of someone who is easily exploited."
"."
Hearing this, Nagayama Kaede's mind became heavy, and she suddenly increased the force with which she petted Nyantaro, causing Nyantaro to jump away and run off.
"Are they really coming for us?"
"I originally thought that making money in emerging industries like entertainment and film, starting a company, and becoming a chaebol would be less resistant as it wouldn't encroach on the interests of other old-school chaebols. But it turns out that's not the case."
Naoki Nagayama said,
"Ever since Little Lotus's full moon celebration, when we showed our trend of becoming a chaebol in front of the entire upper class in Japan, there must have been some people who couldn't stand it."
"However, those established families won't just rush in and fight us all at once; that would only result in mutual destruction. They'll definitely unite with many other forces to encircle and annihilate us."
Recalling the tentacles that had silently reached out to the Nagayama family in the political, financial, and real estate sectors, Nagayama Naoki felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were being hunted!
Once the Nagayama family's funding chain breaks, their political asylum disappears, and their foundation in Shizuoka crumbles, the remaining Kiyu Group in the entertainment industry will be easily divided up.
"It's just that I'm a bit difficult to deal with."
Naoki Nagayama, who is abstaining from gambling, drugs, and prostitution, possesses the most valuable assets of his fans. Unless one resorts to underworld methods, he is very difficult to kill.
However, doing so would lead to rejection from the entire social class, and it might also provoke the enemy to take extreme measures, such as creating the number one assassin of the Showa era!
Naoki Nagayama looked at his cousin:
"Be careful lately, someone might try to smear you with dirty laundry from the underworld, or even Uncle Xiong Yuan!"
"The underworld?"
Nagayama Kaede pursed his lips tightly. It's very difficult to clean up one's ways from the underworld. On the surface, the Nagayama Group has been disbanded, but Melody KTV still employs many former Nagayama Group members!
"Um"
Naoki Nagayama continued,
"It seems that the 'Anti-Organized Crime Law' is already under discussion. Organized crime groups will eventually be eliminated; this needs to be made clear to everyone!"
"I understand. I'll be more careful next time!"
After the conversation, Naoki Nagayama asked:
"By the way, did you find out about the people I sent to investigate?"
"Absolutely not."
"Ha, as expected, Kijima-kun's ninja skills are as excellent as ever!"
"Huh? A ninja?"
Nagayama Kaede exclaimed in surprise.
"Naoki, when did you start keeping ninjas?!"
"Oh? Brother Feng, don't you remember? You've met several times."
Naoki Nagayama reminded him,
"It's that guy wearing the gold Rolex!"
"A gold Rolex."
It seemed as if some keyword had been triggered, and the image of a certain person flashed into Nagayama Kaede's mind.
"Ah!! It's him!!"
"Kuniichi!! Naoki, I had absolutely no idea unless you reminded me!!"
"That's talent!"
"."
As the two were reminiscing, Naoki Nagayama noticed Natsuka rushing over.
"father!"
"Ok?"
Naoki Nagayama released Eitaro, whom he was petting, and hugged the little guy in his arms.
"what happened?"
"Aunt Hezi said..."
The little guy said, panting.
"If I go to kindergarten, I'll be there for five days straight. I won't be able to see my mom and dad for five days! Is that true?"
"Nonsense!"
Naoki Nagayama immediately denied it.
"You can see your mom and dad every day, and the kindergarten is our own family's kindergarten. Hana-chan, you can go if you want, or stay at home if you don't want to!"
Hearing her father's words, Xia Hua's initial worry vanished instantly, and a smile returned to her face.
"Ok!"
"I knew it! Aunt Tsuruko was lying to me!!"
"."
Naoki Nagayama, watching the furtive figure peeking into the living room from afar, couldn't help but agree:
"Yes, some women are the best at lying! Hua Jiang, you need to keep your eyes wide open and always be vigilant!"
"it is good!"
The little one nestled affectionately in Naoki Nagayama's arms, making Kaede Nagayama, standing nearby, quite envious. It's just a pity his little Sayuri isn't old enough to be so clingy yet.
All I could do was hold Eitaro in my arms and stroke him hard as a substitute!
As the sun sets, night gradually engulfs Yamazaki-in.
From afar, one could hear Akina's call coming from the kitchen:
"Naoki-san, Kaede-nii-san, dinner's ready!"
"Hey, I'm coming right away!"
Shimizu City.
Kijima Kyō didn't go back to the hotel to rest today because the person he was following, Kanai Yoshiteru, actually went to a club in Motomachi, Izu Oshima!
In small towns like Shimizu, there are no clubs; only the proprietresses of izakayas and inns act as part of the madam role, comforting men's hearts.
Port areas like Motomachi are where tourists gather, hotels, restaurants, and clubs are located.
Following behind Yoshiteru Kanai, Kijima Kyō didn't attract much attention. He found a booth nearby, ordered a drink, and kept an eye on Yoshiteru Kanai's actions from time to time.
"The girls here."
Kijima looked at the girls inside the club, somewhat disappointed.
"None of them are as pretty as the landlady of the Shimizu Inn! Typical small town."
Meanwhile, Yoshiteru Kanai also ordered drinks and called a young lady to keep him company, occasionally letting out lewd laughter as if he really came to have fun!
Just over ten minutes later, a middle-aged man in a custom-made suit walked in and headed straight for Yoshiki Kanai's booth.
"Has Kanai-san already started drinking?!"
"Haha, Fujita-san, you're late! I had to kill some time! Come on, have a drink!"
The two greeted each other with smiles, appearing very close, like old friends. After a few drinks, they became even more amiable.
After getting the young lady away, the two started chatting:
"How is the Kanai-san plan progressing?!"
"We've encountered an obstacle!"
Yoshiteru Kanai sighed.
"That Kumahara, his son is back from Tokyo! He's seen it all, he's not so easy to fool now!"
"Melody's son?"
"Yes, you seem to know a lot about finance!"
"What?! A mere son of a Yakuza, and he knows about finance?!"
The middle-aged man named Fujita was full of surprise. In his impression, those Yakuza only knew how to fight and kill, compete for power and collect protection money. To the upper echelons of Japan, they were just a group of black gloves that could be used and discarded!
"Yes, after all, you can't open Melody KTVs all over Japan if you don't know anything."
Speaking of this, even Yoshiteru Kanai was full of admiration, remarking that Kaede Nagayama had actually managed to innovate a new type of nightclub that combined karaoke with bars and clubs.
Then, before anyone else could react, they rapidly expanded, leveraging the Yamaguchi-gumi's reputation to survive the initial phase and prevent others from copying them.
Even though it has separated from the Yamaguchi-gumi, it has managed to establish itself as one of the top large-scale chain entertainment clubs in the country, thanks to its connections with local governments and powerful figures.
Even though other competitors have also built KTVs, My Melody's reputation is so strong that they're no longer afraid.
"It was just a fluke!"
Fujita slammed his wine glass down.
"The Anti-Organized Crime Law will be released next year. When that happens, any KTVs under My Melody Group that are identified as being affiliated with the Yamaguchi-gumi will be shut down! Even the Nagayama family's ancestral home will be seized."
"Huh? But didn't the Nagayama family disband their club and leave the Yamaguchi-gumi?"
Yoshiteru Kanai exclaimed in surprise.
"What, it can still influence them?"
"Do you think you can just leave the underworld whenever you want?!"
Fujita laughed dismissively.
"Whether or not they make the list will be entirely up to us!"
"But Shuyou is in politics."
"Heh, by then, it'll be good enough if our tree friend can even save himself; he won't have time to worry about anything else."
"."
Fueled by alcohol, the two men talked at length.
They showed absolutely no regard for the Nagayama family, or the Tree Friends who would follow.
They also discussed that Yoshiteru Kanai should intensify his persuasion efforts against Kumahara Nagayama, and that the Fujita family could cooperate if necessary.
The Lake Ashi skyline hotel chain was originally a project operated by the Fujita family. Although the road has now been handed over to the government, it is still easy to have some influence over it.
"This route is already a well-known tourist route. If the surrounding land hadn't been bought by the Yongshan family, we wouldn't have had to go to so much trouble!"
Fujita's face was already flushed, and he was slurring his words.
"Once these lands are mortgaged and the banks take them back, we can buy them back at a lower price. It's better than arguing with the Yongshan family."
I don't know if they're just careless, but they actually said that right there in the club, and from beginning to end, they didn't even consider the Nagayama family, not even bothering to have a proper talk with them.
"They're nothing but opportunists, mere descendants of the Yakuza, yet they dare to dream of becoming a noble family?!"
"Do they even deserve it?!"
Kijima Kyō, who was leaning against the shadow of the next booth, had heard all of this clearly.
"Surname Fujita"
Kijima Kyō drank the wine in his glass.
"Are there any Japanese conglomerates with the surname Fujita?!"
(End of this chapter)