Chapter 680: Chapter 434: Talking Business
The elders chatted for an hour or two and gradually grew tired. When it was time to sleep, everyone dispersed in small groups, feeling they gained a lot, having tasted the first bite of fresh gossip.
They would keep an eye on developments in the future. Who knows, when the young couple meets the elders, there might be more big news.
Minamoto Tamako tidied up the room and dining table, and when she had some downtime, she couldn’t help but let her mind wander.
What Grandma Hamada said put a lot of pressure on her, and Taira Sakurako’s offhand remark also left her feeling uneasy.
She would meet her grandpa tomorrow. What if things don’t go well?
She shared her anxiety with Fushimi Roku, as they were a couple now and should share their troubles. If Fushimi Roku has any worries in the future, she hopes he can tell her too.
"Still thinking about this?"
Fushimi Roku thought that if he didn’t give her proper guidance, Minamoto Tamako might not be able to sleep tonight. As he laid out the bedding on the tatami, he asked casually, "How old is your grandpa this year?"
"I think... maybe over eighty?" Minamoto Tamako propped her chin and recalled.
"Then he doesn’t have much time left to live. Why care about his opinion? If he doesn’t approve, we’ll return to Tokyo, live how we please, and when he dies, we do whatever we want. If he approves, then All’s Well That Ends Well, and he can enjoy some family happiness before he dies."
Fushimi Roku shook the blanket and spoke irreverently, "I hope he knows what’s good for him, or else he deserves to be a lonely old man."
Minamoto Tamako hurriedly said, "Grandpa doesn’t just have my mom as a daughter; he has two sons too..."
"Then it’s even less of an issue. He’s not missing a granddaughter like you; marrying someone is marrying someone. I’m not a thug or fugitive, and it’s not like the Kujo Family heiress being with me ruins the family’s reputation."
Fushimi Roku lay down, signaling to Minamoto Tamako not to worry so much; he would sleep first.
They were still sleeping on the floor tonight, setting up a makeshift bed in the old house’s living room. Through the paper doors, they could see the moonlight and tree shadows, giving a sense of being in a period drama, or perhaps a rural romantic film.
Minamoto Tamako and Taira Sakurako took a bath and went to sleep as well. They didn’t stir up any more trouble, lying down obediently, probably because of the previous night’s lesson. They wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
The alarm hadn’t gone off the next morning when the sound of a steam whistle came from outside.
Fushimi Roku was woken up; he was always a light sleeper, prone to dreaming, and any little noise would rouse him. Outside, there wasn’t just the whistle but also the sound of vehicles moving, goods being unloaded at the docks, and fishermen heading out to sea...
So annoying!
Fushimi Roku rubbed his eyes, hugged the quilt, and opened the window, letting the noise flood in. He squinted at the dawn light shimmering on the sea, with the bustling harbor along the coast.
Hmph, in a few more years, when the Kujo Family monopolizes the fisheries, you’ll all lose your jobs.
Fushimi Roku, like a vampire, clung to the quilt, hiding from the sunlight in the room, somewhat darkly watching the humans.
It was only five in the morning. Following his usual biological clock, he went to bed at eleven P.M. and had only slept for six hours so far.
He hadn’t expected rural folks to wake up so early, and even the sun seemed to show up earlier than in the city. If he remembered correctly, at this time of year, the sun didn’t rise until six in Tokyo!
Minamoto Tamako and Taira Sakurako, lying on the bedding, turned over simultaneously, using pillows to cover their heads and ears.
"Why did you open the window..."
Minamoto Tamako muttered softly, "It’s so noisy. Close it quickly..."
In the past, Fushimi Roku would have kept the window open with the mindset that if he couldn’t sleep, then neither should anyone else.
But now, he wouldn’t do that. He closed the window, reducing the noise by half. Not because he was more considerate, but because he didn’t want Minamoto Tamako to look ’worn out after a night of torment’ when meeting the Kujo Family Head.
He hadn’t brought earplugs on this trip, and now he was suffering for it.
Fushimi Roku had to tear a few pieces of tissue, plug his ears, and catch a few more hours of sleep.
The sleep that followed was drowsy and restless, as if he were both asleep and awake. Getting up, he had a splitting headache, and his throat was a bit dry.
Every time he slept poorly, Fushimi Roku would think of that "hypnotism" skill. Too bad he couldn’t use it; otherwise, his sleep quality could dramatically improve.
Hmm, maybe he doesn’t have to use it himself; perhaps he could teach it to others...
While brushing his teeth, Fushimi Roku let his thoughts wander.
Minamoto Tamako and Taira Sakurako also got up, taking turns at the bathroom sink to brush their teeth and wash up, then began changing clothes.
Today they were going to meet the elders, so they needed to dress formally.
Minamoto Tamako had her clothes ready in advance. She unfolded a black and gold kimono, put on a white undergarment, frowned while adjusting the belt, stumbled a bit when stepping into her ivory sandals, and had to redo the taiko knot three times before getting it to stay.
Taira Sakurako reluctantly put on a cherry blossom pink goldfish-patterned furisode, the belt making her feel like a puppet on strings. She already had a stiff expression, and in this outfit, she looked even more like a porcelain doll.
She found the clothes cumbersome, rolled up the obstructing sleeves, and tucked them into her belt, revealing a bit of white lingerie underneath.
Fushimi Roku, fastening his tie, looked them over and asked, "Where did these two outfits come from?"
"Of course, Mom got them for me. They’re not cheap; I heard they’re heirlooms, family treasures. Look at this embroidery. It’s real gold thread, you can’t even buy this," Minamoto Tamako said with a hint of pride.
Fushimi Roku responded with an "Oh" and asked, "So what if you accidentally stain it while drinking soda?"