Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 16: Family matters, but also daily life

When Gu Ming came back, he could already smell the faint aroma of food in the house. He opened the door and found that the house had changed compared to yesterday. The places that needed cleaning had become brand new, and the necessary bedding such as quilts and pillows had also been bought.

"Furuya-kun? Welcome back."

It took Gu Ming a few seconds to realize that it was Shaqin who was talking to him.

Looking at the figure in the kitchen, Gu Ming also bowed.

"I am back."

Being in such a situation, he said these words naturally, almost as if the words were waiting for him in his throat.

Several dishes were already placed on the low table. Gu Ming couldn't recognize them all, but the only thing he could be sure of was that they were probably home-cooked meals here.

——Do you want me to help?
Gu Ming originally wanted to ask this, but Shaqin had already brought up a bowl of soup.

As soon as he smelled the aroma of sauce, Gu Ming knew what it was.

Miso soup, Japanese people love to drink this.

Miso is essentially a sauce with no foul smell.

Of course, miso soup cannot be considered a delicacy, it is just a home-cooked dish. Miso soup is like the standard soup that every restaurant has. It is indispensable and not very popular.

Miso is just the base, anything can be put in miso soup.

Tofu and kelp are just the most basic version. You can also add a variety of local ingredients such as okra, small fish, and shrimp.

Generally speaking, if we talk about soup, it must be this.

"I made snow mackerel and soup, and also tried to make fried steak. I wonder if it will suit Furuya-kun's appetite."

She introduced the dishes one by one. Gu Ming looked at the white, velvety substance on the mackerel and asked, "What is this?"

Shaqin explained: "If you grind the white radish with that, it will become like snowflakes."

Gu Ming immediately understood.

Gu Ming pointed at something that looked like soy sauce in a small dish and asked, "So, what is this blackish stuff?"

Shaqin explained: "Eggplant dip is a very suitable side dish to eat on this hot summer day."

Gu Ming felt more relieved: "Is that so..."

Cut the steamed eggplant into strips and simply marinate it, and it will be a side dish that can relieve the heat in the summer. Whether it is used as a side dish or eaten directly by lazy people, it is fine.

It was a sumptuous dinner, and it looked like it was prepared with great care.

Gu Ming sat down, ate slowly, and occasionally chatted about what happened today.

"Come to think of it, I did meet someone I didn't like very much today."

Gu Ming briefly talked about Haruo Nakajima.

"He's a suit actor who once starred in Godzilla and is a very influential figure at Toho. How should I put it? He's considered a senior figure in the industry. I wanted to pay him a visit, but, how should I put it, I ended up getting blackmailed."

To be precise, Gu Ming did not feel blackmailed because he bought souvenirs.

He felt ripped off because he spent money to go to the billiard room.

Holding your breath is a simple thing to do, but if no one tells you, it will take a long time to think of it.

After all, the truth is worth a thousand gold, but it is worthless if it is revealed, so Gu Ming doesn't care about this matter.

He was annoyed at having to pay to go to a place like a billiard room.

Shaqin, on the other hand, looked serious.

"Speaking of which, since he is a senior, we should still show the necessary respect."

"I do respect him..." Gu Ming muttered.

I respect him, but unfortunately, he doesn't respect me!

"But playing pinball isn't a good thing. My father once said that people who enjoy playing pinball lack self-control and are obsessed with simple excitement, which means they won't have a bright future. Back then, he had a student who was obsessed with playing pinball at a parlor. He ended up getting beaten up by the Yakuza for breaking a machine there. They demanded compensation, but he couldn't afford it, so my father had to bring him back. That parlor is still operating, and business seems to be even better."

Gu Ming listened and kept it in mind.

A billiard parlor where a family is taken care of by the Yakuza, who beat and threaten people.

Ok……

Keep this in mind; it might come in handy someday. Gu Ming saw today that when Nakajima Haruo gets upset, he takes it out on his machines. He's sure to end badly if he breaks Yakuza's machine.

"Speaking of students." Gu Ming looked at Shaqin in front of him and asked him with a hint of curiosity: "So, the store manager's father is a teacher?"

"...I guess so. But he never admits it himself."

Shaqin still seemed unwilling to talk about this matter and slowly lowered her head.

Gu Ming didn't ask any more questions and continued to eat peacefully.

Shaqin sat sideways opposite, chewing the eggplant carefully, and the sound of her chewing was almost inaudible.

She wore ankle-length white socks, and even the slightly loose socks couldn't hide her delicate arches.

Gu Ming thought that it was probably because Japanese people love to take off their shoes because they sleep on tatami mats.

Whether at home or outside, I really like taking off my shoes.

……

……

After dinner and cleaning up, Gu Ming walked Shaqin back home just like before.

Tokyo in 1976 is not Tokyo in 2016. It is not peaceful.

"Then I'll be heading back." Sachin bowed slightly and said, "There are pickled vegetables in the refrigerator, and the rice is in the kitchen pantry. Oh, and... the communication fee has been paid, and the phone over there is now operational. If you need to call, you can use it anytime. If anything happens, I'll use it to notify Furuya-kun."

Gu Ming nodded continuously and watched her leave before taking a car back to his residence.

Gu Ming found it difficult to describe what this feeling was like. It was all about family matters, trivial and yet inseparable.

Basically, it's a feeling of "home".

After returning home, Gu Ming took a quick look and found some side dishes packed in glass jars in the refrigerator, and a bag of wrapped rice in the basement storage room in the kitchen.

Although the housing complex is a building, the kitchen will still have a separate storage room dug on the ground to store rice and some long-lasting vegetables.

This is a unique storage habit developed by the Japanese in a small space.

Gu Ming shook his head slightly, not thinking any more about it, and simply stretched his body as part of his daily exercise.

Any skill will be forgotten if it is not practiced. Gu Ming has become accustomed to this daily exercise, making sure that every muscle in his body remembers the movements.

It was not until after nine o'clock that Gu Ming simply took a shower and went to sleep peacefully.

At the moment he fell asleep, Gu Ming was still thinking that it was different from the temporary mattress in the warehouse.

The feeling of having my feet on the ground makes me sleep more peaceful.

In a blink of an eye, it's dawn.

When he opened his eyes, it was exactly seven o'clock, just like Gu Ming's habit in the past.

He washed up briefly and was about to cook breakfast when his phone suddenly rang, which really startled Gu Ming.

“Who will call me…”

Gu Ming walked over and answered the phone with some suspicion.

He was not used to introducing himself, so he didn't say anything.

The sound of Shaqin came from the other end.

"Furuya-kun, are you awake? I'm Sachin."

"Oh!" Gu Ming said with relief: "Manager, what's wrong?"

"Wang Gu called and said they have something urgent to discuss with you. I've already given them their number. I don't know what it is, but from Mr. Narita's voice, he seems really anxious."

After a brief conversation and hanging up the phone, Gu Ming couldn't help but touch his stomach.

I haven’t had breakfast yet!

"No choice, go and have a look."

Gu Ming sighed, stuffed two eggplants into his mouth, changed his clothes, and went out to Wangu Company.

(End of this chapter)