I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 134 Relatives Arrive! Nohara Ginnosuke, Having Had His fun!
The night, like a spilled inkstone, dyed the sky of Daqu City a deep, somber hue.

Inside the Nohara family's old house, the lights were on, and a warm orange glow spilled out from behind the paper sliding door, casting a hazy, poetic glow on the old maple trees in the courtyard.

The family dinner is still ongoing.

The leftover food and overturned wine bottles on the table silently testify to the warmth and enjoyment of this family dinner.

Alcohol is a catalyst for atmosphere.

"...Let me tell you, Tokyo may look bustling, but it's actually quite devoid of human warmth."

Hiroshi Nohara leaned against Misae, his handsome face, which always carried a hint of shrewdness, now flushed with a languid blush from the slight intoxication: "In our TV station, the factional infighting is more dramatic than any TV show. Today you trip me up, tomorrow I'll set a trap for you. They're all so cunning, you can't tell who's good or bad on their faces, but if you don't have the ability, you'll really be trampled underfoot!"

His words startled Nohara Saji and Ikuna, their simple eyes filled with awe at the "danger" of the metropolis.

“However,” Hiroshi Nohara changed the subject, a sly smile playing on his lips, “no matter how hard they try, they can’t beat me, because I don’t play those shady games with them. I let my work speak for itself.”

After all, their strength is undeniable!
She looked at Nohara Saji, who, despite wearing an expensive suit, was still as honest and simple as a bear, and then at her younger brother, who had manipulated the entire Tokyo television industry with ease. Her girlish heart still honestly believed that Nohara Saji was more reassuring!

After all, Nohara Sashi and she, who came from a rural background, were quite compatible in terms of personality!
“My side is interesting too!” Misae seemed to have found an opportunity to show off. She raised her sake cup, her rosy cheeks filled with pride: “Our ‘Future Manga Club’ is now a strategic partner of Shueisha! Even Editor-in-Chief Torishima has to politely call me ‘President Koyama’ when he sees me! Moreover, the new manga assistants in our company are all top students who graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts. They draw quickly and well, and they all admire me very much!”

As she spoke, she puffed out her already quite well-proportioned small chest, and her adorable "praise me, praise me" expression drew another round of good-natured laughter from the crowd.

"Yes, yes, our President Misae is the best." Hiroshi Nohara smiled and pinched her delicate little face, his heartfelt doting affection almost overflowing with sweetness.

"What about you, brother? Is there anything going on at our Nohara Family Agricultural Co., Ltd." Nohara Hiroshi asked, turning the conversation to the man who had been chuckling to himself since earlier.

"Me?" Upon hearing this, Nohara Saji's dark face shone with pride. "Great! That's wonderful! Hiroshi, you have no idea, I'm a celebrity in our Oguri City now! The director of the farmers' cooperative always offers me cigarettes when he sees me; government leaders always invite me to speak about my advanced experience in 'returning to my hometown to start a business' at their meetings. Even that Suzuki guy from the next village who used to always compete with me now respectfully calls me 'President Nohara'!"

He paused, glanced at the boy beside him who was gazing at him with adoration, and his honest, simple heart was filled with immense satisfaction, his voice becoming louder:
"Moreover, Yu Cai has helped me a lot! She not only helped me keep the company's accounts clear, but also used the knowledge she learned while working at the coffee shop to design a particularly beautiful packaging bag with our 'Wild Field Farm' logo printed on it! Now, our rice is selling very well in the high-end supermarkets in the city!"

This boastful remark, brimming with the air of a "husband and wife in harmony," made Yu-na's face flush instantly. She lowered her head shyly and whispered in a voice barely audible, "I... I'm not that good... It's all Mr. Saji's own talent."

Her charmingly innocent demeanor made Nohara Tsuru and Nohara Ginnosuke's smile lines deepen.

Seeing this heartwarming scene, Hiroshi Nohara felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

This grand scheme, which he personally orchestrated and which could change the fate of his entire family, is blossoming and bearing fruit at a speed beyond his imagination.

However, in this warm and joyful atmosphere, Yu-na seemed to suddenly remember something. She glanced at the wall clock, and a hint of unease, which was out of place with the joyful atmosphere, quietly appeared in her clear eyes that always carried a gentle smile.

It's almost 10 o'clock.

Her home is quite a distance from here.

Although it's convenient to have Mr. Sasaki driving, it's still a bit late, and it's a bit...

"Oh dear, it's already this late."

Nohara Tsuru, a mother with a more perceptive mind than anyone else, noticed the girl's unusual behavior almost immediately.

She put down her wine glass, and a hint of concern and authority, typical of an elder, appeared on her face, which always wore a gentle smile.

“Xiaozhi.” She looked at her eldest son, who was still bragging to his father about how powerful he was now, and gave the order in an unyielding tone: “It’s getting late, you should take Yucai home. It’s not safe for a girl to walk alone at night.”

"Huh? Oh!" Nohara Saji suddenly realized what was happening. He glanced at the girl beside him who was looking at him with gratitude, and his honest heart instantly understood.

He suddenly stood up, and a sense of responsibility, a characteristic of a man, appeared on his dark face, which was flushed from alcohol.

"Okay! I'll get right away..."

However, before he could finish speaking, his large hands, which were about to reach for the car keys, suddenly stopped in mid-air.

He scratched the back of his head, a look of awkwardness and exasperation appearing on his otherwise resolute face.

"Um... Mom..." His voice weakened slightly because of his guilt, "I... I just drank alcohol, I can't... I can't drive."

"..."

The entire room instantly fell into an eerie, deathly silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.

Yu Cai's already rosy cheeks turned bright red in an instant, like a branding iron that had been heated to a high temperature, the heat almost setting her on fire.

She subconsciously lowered her head, her girlish heart pounding wildly, almost leaping out of her throat.

Of course she knew what this meant.

Hiroshi Nohara and Misae exchanged a glance, both seeing a knowing, mischievous smile in each other's eyes.

Looking at their seemingly honest and unassuming eldest brother, who was actually more cunning than anyone else in crucial moments, four words simultaneously came to mind—

Well done!

However, in this atmosphere filled with ambiguity and romance, Nohara Tsuru's majestic voice rang out once again, like a thunderclap.

"If you can't drive, you can't drive."

She had a stern face, and her usually gentle eyes now shone with the authority of a traditional matriarch from a large family.

"Neither of you are going back tonight."

She paused, and under the astonished gazes of the two, slowly announced her final verdict: "Ikuna, you sleep with me. Sasuke, you sleep with Daddy."

"what?!"

Nohara Sashi and Ikuna exclaimed in disbelief almost simultaneously.

Hiroshi Nohara, as if seizing an opportunity to shine, raised his hand high like a primary school student answering a question, with an innocent smile on his face: "Then... what about me? Can I sleep with Misae?"

Upon hearing this, Misae blushed and instinctively snuggled closer to him, her shy, girlish demeanor saying it all.

This stark contrast, like the sharpest knife, precisely pierced the already fragile hearts of Nohara Saji and Ikuna.

The two lowered their heads simultaneously, their faces so red they were almost bleeding, practically burying themselves in their chests. Their embarrassed expressions of anger that they dared not speak out caused Hiroshi Nohara and Misae to cover their mouths and laugh uncontrollably.

"That's unreasonable!"

Just then, Nohara Ginnosuke's roar, full of disappointment and frustration, finally burst out!
He pointed at his eldest son, who was still standing there dumbfounded, his thick eyebrows furrowed into a knot: "Look at you, so useless! Such a good opportunity..."

"shut up!"

However, before he could finish speaking, he was forcefully shut down by Nohara Tsuru's murderous shout!

She glared fiercely at her own troublemaking old man, the warning in her eyes enough to freeze the Siberian chill.

Nohara Ginnosuke shuddered for a moment, and the smug expression on his face froze. He quickly picked up the teacup and pretended that he had not said anything just now, and that he was just a quiet and handsome man who was obsessed with the tea ceremony.

Watching this dramatic scene unfold, both Nohara Saji and Ikuna felt a little disappointed.

Ikusa actually wanted to say that she could do it...

But Nohara Tsuru held Ikuna's hand as if she were looking at her own daughter, her gentle face filled with relief as she said:
“Yu-na, I’m doing this for your own good. You two are in love, but you’re not officially engaged yet. A girl’s reputation is more important than anything else. Our Nohara family is a respectable family, and we can’t let people talk behind your back.”

These heartfelt words instantly brought tears to Yu-Cai's eyes.

She knew that this was her future mother-in-law's most sincere love and care for her.

"Auntie...I...I understand." She nodded, her voice choked with emotion.

"In that case..." Nohara Tsuru looked at her obedient and sensible appearance and liked her even more.

As if she had made up her mind, she suddenly clapped her hands, a resolute look appearing on her face:
"There's no time like the present! With Hiroshi and Misae here, the Nohara family is all here. Ikuna, you see, I wonder when your parents are free? We could go over and visit them. Our two families can sit down for a meal together and officially finalize your marriage! What do you think?"

"Eh?!"

This sudden pressure to get married was like a real atomic bomb, exploding in Yu Cai's already pounding heart!

She subconsciously looked up at the man beside her, who was also somewhat stunned by this sudden happiness. She didn't say anything, but just nodded shyly.

"Great! That's wonderful!" Nohara Sashi couldn't hold back any longer and let out a cheer filled with barely suppressed, almost beast-like ecstasy!

Like a child who had received a beloved toy, he paced back and forth excitedly in the small Japanese-style room. His simple and somewhat silly appearance caused everyone in the room to burst into good-natured laughter once again.

"but……"

In the midst of this festive atmosphere, Nohara Tsuru seemed to suddenly remember something. She turned her head and looked at Misae beside her, a look of apologetic affection appearing on her gentle face.

"Misa-chan, I'm so sorry. It seems that Hiroshi, as the younger brother, should get married first. But according to the customs in our village, the older brother should always be the first. So, you and Hiroshi will have to wait a little longer."

“Auntie, please don’t say that.” Misae quickly waved her hand, her delicate little face full of sincerity and understanding: “I understand. Hiroshi and I are happier than anyone else that my brother has found his own happiness. We…we’re not in a hurry.”

This statement not only expresses respect for the traditions of elders, but also aptly demonstrates one's knowledge and reasonableness.

Looking at the two future daughters-in-law in front of him, each more sensible and considerate than the last, Nohara Tsuru suddenly felt a sense of happiness.

She knew that her greatest blessing in this life was perhaps not having two successful sons, but meeting these two wonderful girls whom her sons could entrust their lives to.

Only Hiroshi Nohara, watching this heartwarming and traditional scene, was secretly complaining to himself.

'Still so traditional...' He picked up his wine glass, the clear liquid reflecting his slightly speechless gaze.

"In my past life, in that world, I, 'Hiroshi Nohara,' was almost thirty when I married Misae, who was in her early twenties. My older brother was even worse off; he was forty when he married Ikuna, a divorced woman with two children."

He took a sip of sake, the spicy liquid sliding down his throat, bringing a touch of clarity befitting a time traveler.

"Now, because of my appearance, all of this has happened ahead of schedule. My older brother met his destined lover at twenty-eight; and I, at twenty-three, have already firmly locked that little woman who should have appeared in the future by my side."

"In a few years, when the economic crisis sweeps the nation, and when the waves of declining birthrates and aging populations completely shatter the last traditional barriers of this country, the so-called 'order of seniority' and 'traditional etiquette' will all become laughable historical terms."

'By then, being able to grasp the happiness before your eyes will already be an immense luxury.'

Thinking of this, Hiroshi Nohara pursed his lips.

It seems that I can still take advantage of this opportunity to make plans in advance and make my capital more abundant.

……

The first rays of sunlight in the morning, like golden threads washed by water, pierced through the thin window paper, casting dappled light and shadow on the tatami mats.

Outside the window, the crisp chirping of birds replaced the hustle and bustle of the city, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and grass after the rain. Taking a deep breath, it felt as if all the stale air in my lungs could be washed away.

"Hmm, I was sleeping so soundly." Hiroshi Nohara slowly opened his eyes.

The soft, fragrant body nestled in his arms, like a lazy cat, was fast asleep, with a sweet smile still lingering on her pretty face that always carried a touch of naivety.

He carefully withdrew his arm and was about to get up when a burst of suppressed, boastful bragging came from the courtyard outside.

"...Let me tell you, my son Hiroshi is no ordinary person!"

It was Old Man Nohara Ginnosuke's voice, full of magic, now booming with energy, as if afraid the people in the next village wouldn't hear: "You know TV Tokyo? The biggest TV station! He's the 'department head' there now! He oversees dozens of people! All those directors and screenwriters have to respectfully call him 'Department Head Nohara'!"

Several clearly visible black lines instantly appeared on Hiroshi Nohara's forehead. He helplessly rubbed his forehead.

"Oh dear..." Misae was also woken up. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, listened to the noise outside, and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She leaned close to Hiroshi Nohara's ear and whispered, "Hiroshi-kun, Uncle... seems to be even better at showing off than you are."

"Ignore him." Hiroshi Nohara shook his head with a wry smile. He knew that his old, lewd father had been holding back all his life, and now that he finally had something to brag about, he was afraid that if he wasn't allowed to brag to his heart's content, he would be suffocated.

The two smiled at each other, got dressed, and opened the paper sliding door.

In the courtyard, Nohara Ginnosuke stood with his hands behind his back, his small belly protruding, like a general inspecting troops, surrounded by four or five seemingly simple and honest country men.

The men looked up, their faces filled with awe and envy, as if they were looking at a living legend.

"Oh dear! Hiroshi's awake!"

The sharp-eyed Ginnosuke Nohara was the first to spot them, and he waved enthusiastically. His weathered old face radiated a pride that would make the entire Akita Prefecture take notice: "Come, come, Hiroshi, come here quickly! Let me introduce you. This is our village chief, Mr. Yamada! And these are your second great-uncle's distant relatives, they all watched you grow up!"

Hiroshi Nohara felt helpless, but put on a gentle smile and stepped forward, bowing to each of the elders.

"Good morning, Village Chief Yamada and all my uncles."

"Oh dear! I don't deserve it! I don't deserve it!"

The village chief, Yamada, a dark-skinned, slightly overweight middle-aged man, quickly waved his hand, his face now plastered with an almost fawning smile: "Hiroshi-kun, you are truly... truly young and promising! The entire city of Omagari is proud of you!"

He rubbed his rough, calloused hands together, his eyes filled with barely suppressed shock and envy, his voice rising an octave: "I just heard from Brother Ginnosuke that you're in Tokyo now, earning over five million yen a month... a month?! My God! That's... that's more than our entire village's annual revenue! It's... that's truly amazing!"

"puff--"

Hiroshi Nohara almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

He glared at his father, who was standing smugly to the side with his eyebrows practically pointing to the sky, feeling utterly helpless.

Can you just say that casually?

Who knew that this unconventional father would actually use it as something to brag about and spread it around everywhere!

Looking at the awe and envy in the eyes of his relatives, Hiroshi Nohara knew that any explanation he gave would be futile.

He could only force a smile and say modestly, "Not at all, it's all just good luck, plus the appreciation of the station leaders. Compared to the hard work of all my uncles and elders in the countryside, my achievements are nothing."

He also took the opportunity to flatter the elders present.

Sure enough, the smiles on the faces of those relatives grew even brighter, and they waved their hands repeatedly, saying they didn't deserve such praise.

After exchanging pleasantries, Village Chief Yamada finally rubbed his hands together and revealed the true purpose of his trip.

"Um... Hiroshi-kun."

His tone carried a hint of cautious probing: "We heard that your eldest brother, Sachi, is currently representing your 'Nohara Agricultural Co., Ltd.' to buy up large amounts of idle land in our city. You see... our families are all related. Our few acres of poor land have been abandoned for several years since our children went to the city. We were thinking that instead of letting it grow weeds, why not... why not sell it to your company? It would be a way to contribute to the Nohara family's business."

As he spoke, his shrewd eyes subtly swept across Hiroshi Nohara's face, a hint of calculation hidden deep within them.

"Of course, as for the price... we're not asking for much. It's just... you see, we're all family after all, so could the price... be slightly... just a tiny bit higher than the market price?"

These words instantly created a somewhat awkward atmosphere in the courtyard.

A barely perceptible hint of embarrassment appeared on Ginnosuke Nohara's face, which had just been filled with pride.

Although he liked to boast and show off, when faced with real money, his thrifty, old-farmer-like heart still subconsciously tightened.

He looked at his youngest son with longing in his eyes, a mixture of anticipation and worry.

He knew that the one who truly held the reins of this family now was his youngest son, whose abilities had long since surpassed his own.

Looking at his relatives, whose faces were filled with expectation and calculation, Hiroshi Nohara understood perfectly.

This is human nature.

It was also the "sweet price" he had to pay for returning home in glory.

Without the slightest hesitation, a smile warmer than the autumn sun bloomed on his face.

Just think about the future value of these fields.

So what if the price goes up?

"Village Chief Yamada, uncles and elders, what are you saying?"

His voice was gentle as he said, “We are all one family, and family members don’t speak like that. Your willingness to entrust the land to our Nohara family for management is the greatest trust you have placed in us. I, Hiroshi, must not betray that trust.”

He paused, and under the increasingly intense gazes of those men, slowly extended a finger.

"Well then. I'm not sure what the market price is. But I can make a promise to everyone here. On top of the market price, I, Hiroshi Nohara, will personally subsidize one million yen per acre. Consider it a small token of my respect as a junior to my elders."

"boom--!"

one million!

This number, like a real atomic bomb, exploded in everyone's minds!

The village chief and his relatives gasped almost simultaneously, their weathered faces filled with disbelief and horror!

They thought that getting an extra 100,000 or 200,000 would be considered a stroke of good luck.

Who knew that this young man would ask for...one million!

That's a huge sum of money that they might not be able to save even after ten years of hard work farming!

"Hiro... Hiroshi-kun... you... what is this..." Village Chief Yamada was so excited that he couldn't speak coherently, his dark face flushed red.

“Village Chief, please don’t refuse.” Hiroshi Nohara smiled and waved his hand, as if he had just said one hundred dollars, not one million. “Money is a small matter. The most important thing is that we can be a family, living in harmony and supporting each other. In the future, when our ‘Nohara Agricultural Co., Ltd.’ grows bigger, we will need your help. It would be truly good if we could all get rich together.”

These words were spoken frankly and magnanimously, and they warmed the hearts of everyone present!
"Good! Good! Good!" Village Chief Yamada slapped his thigh hard. All the scheming on his chubby face had vanished, leaving only heartfelt gratitude and respect. "Hiroshi-kun, don't worry! From today onwards, you are the benefactor of our entire Nishiogura Village! From now on, the affairs of your Nohara family are the affairs of our whole village! If anyone dares to gossip or speak ill of us behind our backs, I, Yamada, will be the first to object!"

"It is! It is!"

"Hiroshi is truly the pride of our Nohara family!"

"If you need anything in the future, Hiroshi, just let me know!"

For a moment, praise came like a tide.

Those relatives looked at Hiroshi Nohara as if he were a living Buddha, their eyes overflowing with gratitude.

They left, full of gratitude and carrying with them the promise that would change the course of their lives.

The courtyard was finally quiet again.

As Nohara Ginnosuke watched his relatives leave, a deep, unyielding pain crept onto his once proud face.

He leaned closer to his youngest son, lowered his voice, and muttered in a tone full of "spendthrift" sarcasm, "I'm telling you, Hiroshi... weren't you a little too impulsive just now? One million... that's no small sum. Do we... do we even have that much money in our accounts?"

Although he liked to show off, when faced with real money, his thrifty, old-farmer-like heart still subconsciously tightened.

"Dad, you need to think long-term."

Hiroshi Nohara simply smiled and said, "The extra money we're spending now isn't just buying land, it's buying people's hearts. With the support of these relatives and the entire village, our 'Nohara Agriculture Co., Ltd.' can truly stand firm on this land."

He paused, looking at his father's face, which was still filled with worry, and slowly revealed the final trump card that would put his father's mind at ease.

"Besides, if we don't have enough money, we can take out a loan."

"A loan?!" Nohara Ginnosuke's eyebrows shot up instantly, his small eyes flashing with the instinctive fear of debt typical of traditional small farmers: "No way! Absolutely not! Our Nohara family has always lived honest and upright lives, never owing anyone a single penny! Loans have incredibly high interest rates, and if... if we can't repay them, we'll be bankrupt!"

“Dad, times have changed.” Hiroshi Nohara shook his head helplessly. He knew that talking to the older generation about “capital operation” and “financial leverage” was like casting pearls before swine.

He could only use the simplest and most direct method to dispel his concerns.

"Don't worry, the agricultural cooperative has a low-interest loan policy specifically for agricultural companies like ours. The interest rate is very low. Moreover, with my current income and credit, let alone tens of millions, even hundreds of millions from the bank wouldn't be a problem."

Hundreds of millions?!

Nohara Ginnosuke was completely stunned.

He stared blankly at his youngest son, who spoke of "hundred million" as if it were an everyday occurrence. His heart, already weathered by reality, was utterly torn apart at this moment by an unprecedented, enormous chasm called "generation gap."

He felt like he was really getting old.

'Waaaah!'

Just then, the sound of a steady car engine came from the yard.

Nohara Sashi's imposing Land Cruiser slowly came to a stop at the entrance.

He got out of the car, and on his usually honest, dark face was now wearing a blissful smile that he couldn't suppress, like that of a fool.

He seemed to be floating on clouds, and his walk was somewhat unsteady.

"Hey, isn't this the Nohara family's great Casanova back?" Nohara Ginnosuke instantly snapped out of the shock of the generation gap. He looked at his eldest son's absent-minded appearance, his thick eyebrows twitching up and down triumphantly like two caterpillars ready to dance.

"How was it? You went to take your future wife to work first thing in the morning. How was it? Did... something good happen?"

He seemed to have guessed something.

"Dad!" Nohara Saji's old face flushed red. He glanced at his younger brother who was still beside him, and his dark face turned liver-colored again.

He stammered for a long time, but in the end he couldn't resist the overwhelming joy in his heart. He leaned close to his father's ear and whispered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Um... Dad... I... when I was delivering Yu Cai to the store just now, she... she kissed me."

"That's it?" Nohara Ginnosuke pursed his lips upon hearing this, his eyes filled with disdain and disappointment.

He let out a long sigh, a sigh that carried the deep helplessness of someone who had been through it all.

"Next time, if something good happens, just say 'something good has happened.' As for details like kissing or holding hands, you don't need to report them to me. I... I don't want to hear them."

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something, and patted his eldest son's shoulder heavily, his voice carrying a genuine sense of solemnity.

"However, Sasuke, remember this. Since that girl is with you, you have to be responsible for her. We men of the Nohara family can be poor, can be stupid, but we absolutely cannot do anything to betray our women. Understand?"

"Yes!" Nohara Saji nodded heavily, his dark face filled with the absolute responsibility of a man.

"..." Nohara Hiroshi still helplessly turned his head to look to the side.

What's there to celebrate about a kiss?
I have to say, my older brother is really an easy-going and good man.

(End of this chapter)