Chapter 133: The Happy Nohara Family Feasting And Chatting Freely, And Relieved Tsuru Nohara!
The izakaya’s bento box home delivery efficiency was very high; in less than half an hour, beautifully packaged food boxes were delivered to the doorway one by one.
Hiroshi Nohara paid generously, his posture no longer showing the pained embarrassment he had when facing the menu earlier; in its place was the confidence of being the head of the household.
After all, he was now President Nohara Hiroshi!
However, just as Hiroshi Nohara was preparing to place those expensive-looking grilled skewers and sashimi on the table, Tsuru Nohara came out of the kitchen with a smile, holding several simple blue-and-white porcelain plates.
“No matter how good outside food is, it can’t compare to what we make at home.” She placed a dish of perfectly pickled sweet-and-sour radish, a dish of cold-dressed side dishes made from edamame grown at home after blanching, and a dish of golden yellow and enticing tamagoyaki one by one in the center of the table.
The dishes weren’t exquisite, but they carried an irreplaceable warmth unique to “mother’s taste.”
“Exactly! Exactly!” Ginnosuke Nohara nodded deeply in agreement. He picked up a piece of tamagoyaki and stuffed it into his mouth, squinting his eyes happily and mumbling unclearly, “Tsuru, your cooking is still the best! Those restaurants outside are all flash without substance!”
Despite saying that, his eyes uncontrollably scanned back and forth over the plate of glossy tuna belly sashimi and the grilled chicken skewers emitting an enticing charred aroma, his Adam’s apple rolling up and down uncontrollably.
That hypocritical greedy look once again drew roaring laughter from everyone in the room.
“Alright, alright, how can just these be enough?” Hiroshi Nohara looked at this harmonious scene, his smile growing even gentler.
Like a magician doing a trick, he began pulling things out from the unassuming insulated box at the doorway.
“This is Iberian ham brought back from Spain; it tastes best paired with melon.”
Thin-as-cicada-wing slices of ham, rosy in color with beautiful marble-like fat veins, were elegantly laid out by him on a white porcelain plate.
“This is Italy’s Parmesan Reggiano cheese; it can be paired with red wine or eaten directly.”
A golden yellow chunk of cheese emitting a rich, thick aroma was cut into small pieces by him using professional tools.
“And this: France’s foie gras, Russia’s caviar. I had Ginza’s best Western restaurant prepare them; just spread directly on bread.”
Two crystal-clear glass jars were opened, and that luxurious, tempting aroma instantly transformed this rural farmhouse filled with rustic vibes into a top-tier Michelin restaurant.
“Wow—!”
Misae and Ikuna, these two young girls, simultaneously let out cries full of amazement.
Especially Ikuna, from a poorer background; at this moment, looking at those top-tier ingredients she’d only seen in fashion magazines, full of exotic flair, her pretty big eyes were already brimming with little stars.
Meanwhile, Hiroshi Nohara was stunned speechless by the string of “zeros” on the price tags.
Fortunately, this world had no Huaxia, not even the terrain.
Otherwise, it would have to compete with Chengdu.
Hiroshi Nohara looked at his younger brother acting so nonchalant, feeling as if there was an insurmountable dimensional wall between them.
Only Ginnosuke Nohara, after the initial shock, had his little eyes burst with a scorching light like searchlights!
“Oh ho ho ho—!” He let out a devilish laugh, snatched the shiny black jar of caviar, scooped a big spoonful with chopsticks boldly without looking, and stuffed it straight into his mouth.
“Mmm! Mmm mmm mmm!” He squinted his eyes happily, cheeks bulging like a hamster; the salty, fresh, rich flavor exploded in his mouth, making his whole body feel like it was ascending to heaven.
He laboriously swallowed that mouthful of expensive “black gold,” then glared at his dazed eldest son with a look of utter disappointment.
“Look at you, so useless! This is all your younger brother brought to honor us! Eat up! Eat freely! If we don’t finish these foreign goodies today, it means he’s unfilial to us old folks!”
With that, as if leading by example, he extended his chopsticks again, attacking left and right, stuffing the thin-as-cicada-wing ham slices into his mouth like they were free; his demeanor was like not savoring gourmet food, but fighting a battle for family honor.
Seeing this adorably contrasting scene, everyone couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into hearty laughter.
In an instant, this old house full of traces of years was filled with laughter and joy, toasts clinking, and harmonious bliss.
After three rounds of drinks and five flavors of dishes.
Everyone ate and chatted happily, and the topic naturally shifted to the Nohara family’s most core business now.
“…Now, the land under our ‘Nohara Agricultural Corporation’ already totals twenty acres.”
Hiroshi Nohara set down his sake cup, a look of pride and seriousness belonging to a doer appearing on his dark face flushed from alcohol: “Last week, I negotiated with Yamada family’s second son next door; their five acres will be transferred to us after the autumn harvest. Also, Uncle Suzuki from the neighboring village—his son works in Osaka and isn’t coming back—so his ten acres of prime paddy fields, he’s agreed to sell to us. All procedures went smoothly with the green light from the agricultural cooperative.”
He paused, glanced at Ikuna beside him who was looking at him with adoration, and his honest heart was filled with immense satisfaction, his voice growing louder:
“As per your instructions, Hiroshi, I’ve greeted the persons in charge of several surrounding villages. Any idle land, we want it all! I reckon by year’s end, our company’s land can at least double to fifty acres! Next year, I’ll strive…I’ll strive to push it to two hundred acres!”
“Good!”
Ginnosuke Nohara slapped his thigh hard, his old face beaming with pride enough to turn heads across all of Akita Prefecture: “Not unworthy of being Ginnosuke Nohara’s son! Ambitious! Two hundred acres! Then, our Nohara family will be one of the top landlords in Omagari City! Hahaha!”
“That’s truly great.” Hiroshi Nohara just listened calmly, a satisfied smile on his lips.
Old Man was right.
But this Omagari City, though called a city, was just a small town-level city in his previous life’s Huaxia.
Just eight or nine towns and villages combined.
And became Omagari City.
Population just over eighty thousand.
So, once they had two or three hundred acres, they would indeed be major landlords.
Of course, Hiroshi Nohara also knew that two hundred acres, in this era, was a drop in the bucket for those agricultural giants with hundreds of hectares.
But in his strategic vision beyond this era, this was a key chess piece capable of shaking the entire Neon power structure in the future.
‘After the economic crisis, the Neon government will inevitably issue a series of policies to protect agriculture for social stability. Grain, especially staple rice, acquisition prices will rise to unprecedented heights. Then, just national grain subsidies will make these large agricultural corporations profit immensely.’
Hiroshi Nohara picked up his sake cup, the clear liquid reflecting his bottomless eyes.
He analyzed in his mind.
‘More importantly, the agricultural cooperative. This organization seemingly serving farmers is actually a massive political monster controlling millions of votes. Whoever controls the land, employs more farmers, gains greater right to speak within the agricultural cooperative. And right to speak ultimately converts to direct political influence.’
‘Then, our Nohara family’s foundation will no longer be just that seemingly prosperous but actually fragile cultural empire in Tokyo. But this land, the most solid, most reliable black soil.’
Thinking of this, Hiroshi Nohara felt the current pace was still too slow.
“Elder Brother.”
Hiroshi Nohara set down his sake cup and said, “Speed up land acquisition; if money’s short, tell me anytime. While everyone’s eyes are still on the cities, while countryside land is still worthless like cabbage, use the fastest speed for primitive capital accumulation. This opportunity won’t last.”
“Mm! Got it!” Hiroshi Nohara nodded vigorously, his dark face full of absolute trust in his younger brother.
Though he still didn’t quite understand why.
But just follow through.
“Um… Hiroshi.” But Hiroshi Nohara scratched the back of his head, a suppressed confusion finally appearing on his honest face: “I still can’t figure it out. Tokyo housing prices change daily; newspapers say our Neon Country is about to buy up all of America! Everyone’s rushing to the cities, buying houses, stocks. Why… why are we dumping all our money into this unwanted wasteland? Isn’t this… throwing money into water?”
This question full of simple values made everyone present subconsciously quiet down.
Misae wasn’t interested in this; she just blinked her curious big eyes, looking at this one then that, feeling whatever Hiroshi-kun said must be right.
Ikuna’s clear eyes, always with a gentle smile, flashed with deep shock.
Also from the countryside, she knew better than anyone what twenty acres meant to an ordinary farmer.
It was nearly a family fortune accumulated over generations of effort.
And now, the Nohara family—or rather, this “little uncle” in front of her who seemed a few years younger than herself—had accomplished this seemingly impossible task in just a few months, even expanding his territory at an even more terrifying speed.
This boldness, this vision, had long surpassed what she, a country girl, could comprehend.
She looked at the young man calmly sipping sake.
She suddenly felt that being with Mr. Hiroshi might be the most correct and luckiest decision of her life.
“Hmph, what do you know!”
At that moment, Ginnosuke Nohara’s voice full of “kingly aura” broke the silence like thunder.
He glanced at his eldest son still puzzled over whether “land” or “houses” were more valuable, his thick eyebrows identical to his son’s twitching smugly up and down like two dancing caterpillars.
“Let me tell you, Hiroshi! Us Nohara men do things with ‘scope’! Your brother Hiroshi, what kind of man is he? He’s a big shot who can stir storms even in a place like Tokyo! Can his vision be like us old country fogeys fixated on our one-third acre?”
He paused, drained the expensive “Juyondai” in his cup, his weathered old face beaming with pride enough to turn heads across Akita Prefecture.
“Listen to your brother, no mistake! He says buy land, we buy land! He says this land will turn into gold later, it definitely will! Our Nohara family is about to become one of the top landlords in Omagari City! Then, you as president, going out with fanfare, more imposing than the mayor! That’s how Nohara men should be! Hahaha!”
Ginnosuke Nohara didn’t understand economic crises, government subsidies, or the agricultural cooperative’s impending growth.
Not even strategic planning or long-term layouts.
Ginnosuke Nohara only knew.
Now.
Their Nohara family had its own stock company, lots of land, could be major landlords!
Just that simple.
Just that direct.
Simply bandit logic!
But this speech full of bandit logic acted like the strongest heart stimulant, instantly dispelling all doubts in Hiroshi Nohara’s heart.
Looking at his smug old man, and Ikuna beside him covering her mouth in light laughter, his honest heart was thoroughly filled with immense happiness and pride.
Yes, he might not understand complex economics or grand principles.
But he knew he had an omnipotent younger brother.
That was enough.
“Good! I’ll listen to Hiroshi! Tomorrow I’ll go find Uncle Suzuki and sign the contract!” He stood up abruptly, drained his beer, and his dark face reignited with the doer’s blazing fire!
Seeing this adorably contrasting scene, Misae and Ikuna couldn’t hold back, exchanged a glance, and saw heartfelt, happiness-filled smiles in each other’s eyes.
The entire Nohara family was immersed in a warm atmosphere full of hope and longing.
The young man who orchestrated all this just watched calmly, a light, chess master’s smile on his lips.
He knew this grand game he personally set up, enough to change the family’s destiny, had just placed its first insignificant chess piece.
The real feast was yet to come.
……
“Oh dear! My memory!”
In this harmonious atmosphere, Tsuru Nohara suddenly seemed to remember something major, slapped her forehead hard, and a look of “almost missed something big” anxiety appeared on her usually warm-smiling face.
“What time is it! Quick quick, turn on the TV! Almost missed it!” She said while deftly grabbing the remote control.
Her solemn demeanor made it seem like what was about to air wasn’t a TV program, but an Olympic final concerning family honor.
“Hm?” Hiroshi Nohara and Misae exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other’s eyes.
What must-see program was on at this time?
However, Ginnosuke Nohara, Hiroshi Nohara, and even Ikuna nearby all sat up straight like receiving a mysterious command, staring intently at the old CRT television, their anticipation and nervousness even thicker than when discussing the two hundred acres’ ownership earlier.
Tsuru Nohara skillfully tuned to Tokyo Television Station.
A catchy, devilish electronic tune simple enough to brainwash in three seconds burst cheerfully from the old TV’s sound system without warning.
“Oh, it’s this.”
Hiroshi Nohara’s lips curved into an uncontrollable smile.
On the screen, the huge stage blazed with lights; two hosts regarded by Neon nationals as “happiness spokespeople” opened the show with their signature infectious smiles.
It was exactly Super Change Change Change second season’s third episode.
“Of course, this Super Change Change Change is now a famous program for our whole family—no, for all of Omagari City! Every Saturday at 2:30 PM, it’s a must-watch!” Ginnosuke Nohara proudly thumped his chest: “This is a program my son produced!”
Everyone in the room laughed.
Ginnosuke Nohara and Tsuru Nohara, this couple, both looked proud.
Hiroshi Nohara and Ikuna also shared in the glory.
Including Misae.
Looking at Hiroshi Nohara now with adoration.
“Mm, everyone keep watching the program.” Hiroshi Nohara’s lips curved slightly; this felt great too.
This was the feeling!
The program jumped straight into the most exciting segment at the start—announcing the final winner of last week’s second episode competition.
“…After professional scoring by our one hundred on-site judges, and a total of one million seven hundred thirty-six thousand four hundred twenty-one popularity votes cast by national audience friends via telephone and pager!”
Host Eiri Ka’s voice was loud, full of unquestionable authority; she raised the envelope high amid countless expectant gazes, announcing the final answer word by word.
“The team winning Super Change Change Change second season second episode weekly championship and advancing to the national finals is—from our capital Tokyo’s ‘Human Washing Machine’ team! Congratulations!”
“Yay!”
With male host Hachiri Gushin’s energetic victory pose, golden confetti rained down from above the stage; the Tokyo reps in ridiculous tights hugged and cried in the deafening cheers!
“Sigh…”
A sigh full of “as expected” sounded inopportunely in the Nohara family living room.
Ginnosuke Nohara picked up his empty “Juyondai” cup, smacking his lips feebly; his face, just full of pride, now showed the helplessness and unwillingness of a local commoner.
“I knew it.” He pursed his lips, his thick eyebrows drooping like defeated caterpillars: “Tokyo team again. These guys have the advantage with numbers.”
He pointed at the data bar scrolling voter counts by region at the screen bottom, his voice sour enough to choke: “Look, just Tokyo region’s popularity votes nearly match the total from our entire Tohoku six prefectures combined! How to compete? Purely bullying us country folk!”
At his words, Hiroshi Nohara and Ikuna nodded subconsciously, similar looks of “unwilling but resigned” on their honest faces.
Akita Prefecture, along with the entire Tohoku region, was minuscule like dust before Tokyo’s behemoth devouring national resources.
This natural disadvantage from population base couldn’t be overcome by any creativity or effort.
“Dad, you can’t say that.”
Hiroshi Nohara saw his family’s united indignation but kept his light smile.
He refilled his old man’s empty sake cup and explained unhurriedly: “Popularity votes matter, but judges’ professional scores also weigh fifty percent. Last week, Hokkaido’s ‘Snow Woman’ team overtook higher-popularity Nagoya team with creativity points, right? Ultimately, it’s a stage where creativity speaks.”
This explanation was airtight, soothing the family’s hurt local pride while perfectly upholding the program’s fairness.
Of course, this was just for show.
In Hiroshi Nohara’s super-era strategic vision, behind these seemingly fair rules hid a cold reality full of capital logic.
After all, Neon this country was, bluntly, a deformed spindle.
Hiroshi Nohara picked up his sake cup, the clear liquid reflecting his bottomless eyes.
Kanto region centered on Tokyo held nearly forty percent of national economic output and population.
Kansai region centered on Osaka and Kyoto held another twenty percent economy.
The remaining six major areas, dozens of prefectures, just scraps of the last forty percent.
So-called “national carnival” was essentially a capital game where top players set rules, mid-tier ran along, bottom-tier provided traffic.
What Hiroshi Nohara needed—or rather, Tokyo Television Station needed—was ratings, advertising fees, buzz.
And eighty percent of that concentrated in Kanto and Kansai super urban circles.
Of course rules favored them.
‘As for fairness?’
Hiroshi Nohara’s lips curved in an icy arc.
In this world, there was never absolute fairness.
Only absolute strength.
These dark stratagems he wouldn’t voice.
He just smiled, watching his family relax under the seeming fair explanation, sighing inwardly.
This was reality.
As long as his family thrived, it was fine.
The TV program continued.
One creative idea after another, whimsical yet grounded in life, like an endless imaginative blizzard, bombarded all viewers’ senses!
The Nohara living room soon drowned again in pure joyful laughter.
“Hahaha! This ‘whack-a-mole’ is genius! Just like when I was young in the arcade!” Ginnosuke Nohara laughed till he bent over, nearly dropping his grilled chicken skewer on the tatami.
“Yes yes, that actor playing the mole has such rich expressions.” Ikuna covered her mouth in bell-like giggles, her clear eyes full of pure amusement.
Misae laughed till she toppled, nearly hanging on Hiroshi Nohara, her unreserved cute antics making him barely restrain himself.
Good thing family was around, or he’d have taken care of this girl right there!
At that moment, on screen, an Okinawa rep team mimicked an elephant spraying water in the sea using simple blue bed sheet and white foam, lifelike.
The childlike, imaginative scene drew hot applause from the live audience.
“Hmph, elephant again.”
Ginnosuke Nohara snorted a mix of alcohol and disdain from his nose, drained his pricey “Juyondai,” his old face showing “my idea was stolen” indignation.
“Let me tell you, if Tsuru hadn’t stopped me, my idea would’ve been a hundred times better than this lousy elephant!”
“Oh?” Hiroshi Nohara was stunned: “Father, you have some secret family skill we don’t know?”
“Of course!”
These words ignited Ginnosuke Nohara’s show-off bomb!
He stood abruptly, anger from belittled artistry on his weathered face.
“My idea is a true artistic treasure handed down generations in our Nohara family! Back then, your great-grandpa won out among dozens of your great-grandma’s suitors with this skill!”
As he spoke, his thick eyebrow twitched up and down uncontrollably, eyes full of pride for the ancestral skill.
However, Tsuru Nohara and Hiroshi Nohara beside him darkened visibly at “ancestral skill.”
“You… you old rogue! You’re not thinking of performing… that in front of the kids, are you?!” Tsuru Nohara’s voice stuttered, her warm face turning stormy.
“Dad! Don’t… don’t do anything rash!” Hiroshi Nohara panicked, glancing subconsciously at still-clueless Ikuna, his dark face turning liver-red.
“Heh heh heh…”
Ginnosuke Nohara chuckled devilishly, ignoring the family’s warning glares; after rustling sounds, he spun around!
He lifted his white T-shirt, revealing his decently maintained belly despite being over fifty.
“Elephant~ Elephant~ why’s your trunk so…”
“Shut your mouth—!”
A roar full of shame, fury, and despair accompanied a soft cushion descending precisely, smashing hard onto Ginnosuke Nohara’s immersed artistic old face!
Tsuru Nohara couldn’t hold back!
Like a fully enraged lioness, she clamped her husband’s nonstop mouth, her usually gentle eyes blazing with all-consuming fire!
“I… I was wrong! Tsuru! I really was wrong! Let go! In front of the kids and daughter-in-law, give me some face!!”
Ginnosuke Nohara’s survival-pleading whimpers came muffled from under Tsuru Nohara’s seemingly soft but iron-strong little hand.
Seeing this adorably contrasting scene, Hiroshi Nohara, Misae, and Ikuna couldn’t hold back, exchanged glances, seeing heartfelt happiness-filled smiles in each other’s eyes.
The entire Nohara family immersed in a warm atmosphere full of warmth and joy.
Tsuru Nohara exhaled long inwardly, relief like aftermath of a disaster.
‘Good thing… good thing Hiroshi and Hiroshi didn’t inherit this old rogue’s embarrassing art.’
She looked at her two grown sons—one steady as a mountain, one wise as the sea—and her mother’s heart finally relaxed.
‘This “ancestral skill” that’d make our Nohara family unable to show face in all of Omagari City—it’s time it got lost.’
Tsuru Nohara pinched Ginnosuke Nohara’s temples hard while sighing in relief at the “family inheritance skill” about to be lost.
How could such a thing be passed down!
Too embarrassing!
