I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 138 Social Interactions! Sashi visits Ikuna's house for the first time!
The eyes of Kenji Ito, which had become somewhat deep from years of immersion in officialdom, now revealed sincerity.

He gripped Hiroshi Nohara's hands tightly, as if he were not holding the hands of a young man.

Rather, it is the hope for the future of the entire Omagari City, and even the entire Akita Prefecture.

"Minister Nohara, rest assured! Regarding your grand vision of the 'Akita Inu Culture IP,' I will immediately set up a special task force as soon as I get back! Policies, funding, land—whatever our municipal government can provide, we will provide without hesitation! You...you are the most brilliant mind in our Oguri City!"

This politically conscious statement was echoed by all the municipal government leaders present.

In an instant, praise poured in like a tidal wave, almost completely flooding the Nohara family's small living room.

After another round of warm and friendly greetings, Kenji Ito reluctantly took his leave with his group of subordinates.

However, before leaving, he gave his personal business card to Hiroshi Nohara and earnestly said that if Minister Nohara needed anything, he could call him anytime, as his phone was always on.

The section chiefs followed suit, handing over their business cards one by one.

They were completely different people from when they first arrived, displaying the bureaucratic airs they once had.

And so the grand convoy slowly drove away amidst the envious and awe-inspiring gazes of the entire village.

The courtyard was finally quiet again.

"Phew—" Village Chief Yamada and his distant relatives all let out a long breath in unison, as if they had just gone through a battle that was ten times more tiring than working in the fields.

They looked at the young man who had remained calmly smiling throughout, their eyes filled with the same way they looked at a living legend.

"Hiroshi, from now on... from now on our village will depend entirely on you!" Village Chief Yamada patted Hiroshi Nohara's shoulder heavily, his dark face filled with pride.

After all, these are his own nephews and nieces.

So successful.

So outstanding.

I feel proud of myself!

They glanced at Nohara Ginnosuke, who was still grinning slyly beside them, and their faces showed helplessness.

How could such an outstanding young man be the child of that guy, Ginnosuke Nohara?!

So angry!
After another round of polite, rustic greetings and instructions, the relatives dispersed in twos and threes.

Nohara Tsuru watched the group of people leave, then looked at her own tatami mats, which were already somewhat messy from being trampled on, and her gentle face became even happier and more proud.

"You old lecher!" Nohara Tsuru glared at the old man standing beside her, his small belly protruding and his eyebrows practically pointing to the sky, and said irritably, "Hurry up and sweep the yard! What kind of behavior is this, looking at this mess!"

"Hehe, I got it, I got it." Nohara Ginnosuke was currently immersed in a huge sense of vanity and was in an unusually good mood.

He carried out his wife's instructions without complaint.

He hummed an off-key tune, picked up a broom, and looked so smug that it seemed he wasn't sweeping up fallen leaves, but the future of the entire Akita Prefecture.

Nohara Tsuru shook his head helplessly, then pulled Misae and Ikuna into the kitchen to prepare for the evening's family dinner.

In the living room, only the Nohara brothers remained.

"Brother, come and sit down." Hiroshi Nohara poured himself and his brother a cup of warm barley tea, a hint of a smile in his clear eyes.

Nohara Saji sat cross-legged at the low table. His burly body was tense from the big scene just now. He picked up his teacup and took a big gulp. His honest heart was still pounding wildly.

"Hiroshi, are we... are we really going to do what the mayor and the others said and cooperate on Akita dogs?" His dark face still carried a sense of unreality, as if in a dream.

"Of course." Hiroshi Nohara nodded. Looking at his older brother, who was still in a daze, the helplessness in his heart was washed away by the warmth of their blood ties.

This is indeed how ordinary people see their leaders.

For his eldest brother, who had been honest and simple all his life, everything he experienced today was far beyond his comprehension.

"Brother, go prepare some things," Hiroshi Nohara said calmly, putting down his teacup.

"Prepare what?" Nohara Saji asked blankly.

"Souvenirs"

Hiroshi Nohara gently rubbed his knuckles against the warm teacup: "I bought Juyondai rice in Tokyo, Spanish ham, French cheese, and the new batch of premium rice from our farm. Prepare several portions of each, and package them nicely. Tomorrow, you will drive there yourself and deliver one portion to each of the leaders who came today."

"what?!"

Nohara Saji's mouth gaped open wide enough to fit an egg. His honest face was filled with the pain and bewilderment of a miser being ripped off: "Give...give gifts? Hiroshi, this meal today, with tea and snacks, has already cost quite a bit of money. They are officials, we are citizens. We elected them, so they should serve us. Besides, didn't they all say they would fully support us?"

Seeing his older brother's "I've lost out big time" expression, Hiroshi Nohara helplessly rubbed his forehead.

He knew that trying to reason with this kind-hearted older brother about "human relationships" and "shared interests" was like casting pearls before swine.

“Brother, listen to me.” His voice carried a hint of worldly wisdom: “Just listen to what officials say, don’t believe it all. They’re being polite to us today because I’m useful to them, because I can bring them political achievements. This relationship seems solid, but it’s actually very fragile.”

“When we give gifts, we’re not giving things, we’re giving attitude and favors. We’re telling them that the Nohara family knows the rules and how to behave, and that we’re one of them from now on. With this relationship, many things will go much more smoothly.”

"This..." Nohara Saji nodded as if he understood, though he still didn't quite grasp the intricacies of the situation. But he knew that listening to his younger brother was the right thing to do.

"Furthermore," Hiroshi Nohara's lips curled into a meaningful smile, "our Akita dog breeding base project should officially begin. This matter still needs the green light from the city government."

"You...you're really going to do this?" Nohara Saji's face showed confusion again. "Hiroshi, I still don't understand. We're farming and raising livestock now. Isn't this too much? Besides, Akita dogs...who doesn't keep a few in this rural area? Besides guarding the house, can those things be sold for money?"

“Brother, times have changed.” Hiroshi Nohara laughed, a laugh brimming with the absolute confidence of someone who had achieved a crushing victory: “Do you think we’re raising dogs?”

"what is that?"

"What we're nurturing is a story, a brand, a cultural symbol that can drive all of Japan, and even the world, crazy."

Looking at his brother's face, which still seemed to say "I don't understand," Hiroshi Nohara slowly unleashed his final trump card, a move that would put his brother completely at ease.

"I'm planning to make a movie."

"Movie?!"

“Yes, a movie.” Hiroshi Nohara nodded, his clear eyes sparkling with a wise light that seemed to see into the future: “I’ve already thought of a name for the movie: ‘Hachiko Monogatari’.”

"Hachiko, the loyal dog?" Nohara Sashi scratched the back of his head. This name was as unfamiliar to him as a symbol from another world.

Hiroshi Nohara was not surprised. He knew that in this parallel world, the legend that had moved countless people had not yet been brought to the big screen.

He picked up his teacup, and the rising steam blurred his handsome face, as well as the fleeting glint of light in the depths of his eyes.

He smiled silently to himself.

In 1987, a film produced by Shochiku, titled "Hachiko: A Dog's Tale," raked in an astonishing 2 billion yen at the Japanese box office, attracting over 3 million viewers and becoming the year's highest-grossing film.

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

More importantly, this film, in an almost viral fashion, deeply imprinted the concept of "Akita Inu = Loyalty" into the minds of every Japanese citizen. Overnight, the price of an Akita Inu skyrocketed from a few thousand yen for an ordinary mongrel to hundreds of thousands, even millions of yen, for a luxury pet!

"After all, 'loyalty' is an attribute that has always been advocated in Japanese culture. It's almost a cultural symbol!"

'And I, Hiroshi Nohara, must become the sole rule-maker in this impending storm of wealth that I myself will ignite.'

'Pedigree verification, identity chip, brand packaging...'

Hiroshi Nohara's lips curled into a serene smile, the kind of smile a chess player would give.

'At that time, I won't need to personally sell a single dog. I only need to control the pricing of Akitas and the definition of "purebred."'

"That will be a money-printing machine, even more terrifying than all three of my projects at TV Tokyo combined—a machine that never stops printing money."

He put down his teacup and looked at his older brother across from him, who was still struggling with whether raising dogs could make money. His gaze was like that of a god who had long since reached a higher dimension and was looking down on the entire game in a way that mortals could not understand.

“Big brother.” His voice was calm, yet carried a confidence that drew the attention of everyone in the room: “You don’t need to know why.”

"You just need to trust me."

"Then, build this breeding base for me, which is about to change the fate of the entire Akita Prefecture, beautifully."

……

The next morning, when Nohara Saji returned from outside with light dark circles under his eyes but full of energy, his "presidential" demeanor had become even more natural.

He parked the imposing Land Cruiser steadily in the courtyard, carrying several well-packaged gift bags in his hand.

"came back?"

Hiroshi Nohara was sitting on the porch, enjoying the unique tranquility of the countryside in the early morning.

A cup of warm barley tea and a few crisp birdsongs are enough to wash away all the noise and restlessness of the city.

"Yes!" Nohara Saji nodded heavily. He sat down next to his younger brother, his dark face filled with barely suppressed excitement and emotion: "Hiroshi, you're amazing! Today I finally understand what enthusiasm is! Those officials were very enthusiastic when they saw me too!"

Like a student eager to report his learning experience to his teacher, he embellished his account of the gift-giving trip that morning, which was full of "social niceties."

"You didn't see it! As soon as I arrived at Chairman Suzuki's house, his wife, who is usually so arrogant, beamed with joy the moment she saw what I was carrying! She was serving me tea and water, treating me like a close relative!"

"And then there's that bank manager, Oshima. When I delivered the things there, he was scolding his good-for-nothing son. But as soon as he saw me, he immediately changed his tune, grabbed my hand, and insisted that I stay for lunch!"

He paused, and a strange, wry smile appeared on his honest face:
"The most outrageous one was Mayor Ito. When I arrived at his house, he wasn't there; his wife opened the door. Guess what? As soon as the mayor's wife heard I was your older brother, she invited me inside without saying a word and chatted with me for over half an hour! She asked me how old I was, whether I was married, and... she even said she wanted to introduce me to someone!"

"Pfft—" Hiroshi Nohara almost spat out his tea.

Seeing his older brother's embarrassed expression, as if he had almost become the mayor's son-in-law, he could no longer hold back and burst into a hearty laugh.

"Hahaha! It seems that you are now the most eligible bachelor in Daqu City."

"Go to hell!" Nohara Saji's old face flushed red, and he punched his younger brother in annoyance.

After the laughter subsided, Hiroshi Nohara's smile faded, and a knowing glint appeared in his clear eyes: "It's good that the mayor's wife is being polite to you."

"Ok?"

"This shows that our 'investment' has already taken effect." Hiroshi Nohara's voice was calm. "The fact that the mayor's wife accepted our gift and was so friendly means that Mayor Ito himself has tacitly accepted our 'alliance.' From now on, our 'Nohara Agricultural Co., Ltd.' will be a golden brand that no one dares to easily touch in Omagari City." Nohara nodded, seemingly understanding.

Although he still didn't quite understand the intricacies of the situation, he chose to listen to his younger brother, Hiroshi Nohara.

“Alright, you’ll understand these things gradually.” Hiroshi Nohara patted his older brother on the shoulder, steer the conversation back on track: “Continue buying land, and get the breeding base on the agenda as soon as possible. If you don’t have enough money, go to President Oshima. If he dares to say even a single ‘no,’ just call me directly.”

"Yes!" Nohara Sashi nodded heavily.

Seeing his brother's energetic appearance, Hiroshi Nohara felt a warm feeling well up in his heart.

The family matters have finally been completely settled.

He could finally reinvest all his energy back into that battlefield that truly belonged to him, a battlefield brimming with endless possibilities.

He returned to his room, a Japanese-style room that still retained the look of his childhood, filled with a lazy atmosphere of tatami mats and sunlight.

He didn't think about the complex business plans, nor did he pay attention to the work reports pouring in from Tokyo.

He simply sat down quietly at the low table, spread out a sheet of snow-white drawing paper, and picked up the paintbrush that he had long regarded as his companion.

The brush tip dipped in ink flows smoothly across the paper like clouds and water.

A train station, a lonely Akita dog waiting, and an owner who will never return...

Those classic scenes that moved millions of viewers in his past life are reproduced on this small piece of paper in his brushstrokes, like film reels that have been fast-forwarded.

He doesn't need to think, he doesn't need to compose a picture.

Because all the stories and all the scenes had long been etched into his soul like the deepest imprints.

All he had to do was be the most faithful recorder.

……

As evening approached, the setting sun painted the sky a warm orange-red.

The Land Cruiser cruised smoothly along the country road, and outside the window were vast expanses of lush green rice paddies, rippling with golden waves in the evening breeze.

The atmosphere inside the car, however, was not as tranquil as the scenery.

Sakurada Ikuna sat in the passenger seat, 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.

She looked at the man beside her, who was focused on driving. His resolute profile appeared even more composed and reliable in the afterglow of the setting sun.

But it felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on her heart.

She recalled the overwhelming family dinner at the Nohara family's house yesterday.

I remembered that god-like "brother-in-law" who could get the mayor to personally visit him with just a few words.

I remembered that "sister-in-law" whom I had only met for the first time, but whose clothing, demeanor, and speech all exuded a confidence and composure that was completely different from mine, belonging to the elite women of the metropolis.

He also recalled the Nohara family's terrifying wealth, often measured in "hundreds of millions," and their grand blueprint that could change the future of the entire Akita Prefecture.

And what about yourself?

An ordinary country girl, whose parents are farmers, whose most valuable possession is probably their old tractor that has been used for more than ten years.

The gap between myself and Mr. Saji, or rather, between myself and the Nohara family, is simply... too great.

This gap, like an insurmountable chasm, loomed over her heart, causing her already sensitive heart, made somewhat sensitive by love, to be completely overwhelmed by a bitter tide of "inferiority complex."

"What are you thinking about?"

Nohara Sashi's deep and resonant voice pulled her back from her endless reverie.

Although he wasn't as meticulous as his younger brother, his simple, farmer-like heart allowed him to directly sense the girl's emotional changes.

"N-nothing...it's nothing." Yu-na quickly shook her head, forcing a somewhat forced smile.

Nohara Sashi did not press the matter further.

He simply slowed the car down a bit, then took out several beautifully wrapped gift boxes from the storage compartment in front of the passenger seat.

"Here, this is for your aunt and uncle." He handed over the box, his dark face showing a kind of honest, even somewhat clumsy, earnestness: "Inside, there's some 'Juyondai' sake that my brother brought back from Tokyo, as well as some Spanish ham and cheese. He said that city people like these things, and I don't know if your aunt and uncle will be able to eat them."

He paused, then, as if remembering something, scratched the back of his head, a blush of embarrassment appearing on his resolute face.

"Um... Yu Cai, I... I was thinking, in a few days, I'll find a proper time to visit your parents. I'll mention to them... the idea of ​​our two families getting together."

These simple words, full of sincerity and respect, were like the warmest ray of sunshine, instantly dispelling all the gloom in Yu Cai's heart!

She stared blankly at the man beside her, who, though not good with words, proved his feelings with the most direct and reliable actions. Instantly, his eyes, which had been somewhat dim, shone with a star-like brilliance once more!

She suddenly realized how ridiculous her earlier self-conscious and delusional thoughts were.

No matter how powerful the Nohara family is, they are still the Nohara family.

What she loved was the man in front of her, who, despite wearing a designer suit and driving a luxury SUV, was still, at heart, the simple, reliable Nohara Sashi who would be happy for half a day because of a glass of lemon soda she made herself.

"Ok!"

She nodded heavily, her voice trembling with emotion.

She didn't say anything more, but simply held the heavy gift boxes in her arms. Her heart, which was already completely filled with immense happiness and a sense of security, felt more at ease than ever before at this moment.

……

The Sakurada family's farmhouse is a typical Showa-era wooden building. Although it looks a bit old, the courtyard is spotless, and a few carefully pruned bonsai trees silently demonstrate the owner's diligence and simplicity.

When the imposing Land Cruiser slowly came to a stop at the door, the Sakurada couple, who had been waiting inside for a long time, came out to greet it almost immediately.

"Oh, isn't it Sashi-kun?"

Yu Cai's mother, a slightly plump middle-aged woman with a kind smile on her face, greeted us warmly.

Beside her stood a dark-skinned, lean man who seemed somewhat taciturn; he was Yu-na's father.

His eyes, somewhat cloudy from years of hard work, were sharp like a hawk's, scrutinizing the young man who got out of the car.

He had heard from his daughter that this young man named Nohara Saji was an honest and hardworking farmer who ran his own small agricultural company. He was diligent and ambitious.

He was actually satisfied with his daughter's choice.

In this fast-paced era, finding a down-to-earth, hardworking young person is far more reliable than those slick, smooth-talking city boys.

Money or not is not important.

The most important thing is character.

However, when his gaze fell upon the man who stepped out of the driver's seat, dressed in a sharp Armani suit, exuding an aura of "company president" that seemed completely out of place with the rustic atmosphere...

He was completely stunned.

This...this is the "honest and simple farmer" that my daughter was talking about?
That aura, that outfit, that...that car!

Looking at the Toyota Land Cruiser, a vehicle that could be considered an "alien visitor" in the entire Daqu City, his heart, which belonged to the old farmer and had long been worn down by reality, was completely shattered by an unprecedented sense of bewilderment!

"Dad, Mom, I'm home. This is... Mr. Saji."

Yu Cai carried the heavy gift boxes, her little face flushed as she introduced them.

"Hello uncle, hello auntie."

Nohara Saji scratched the back of his head somewhat awkwardly, a hint of naivety and nervousness appearing on his dark face as he made his first visit.

He handed over the several equally beautifully packaged gift boxes, his voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment: "Um... Uncle and Aunt, it's nice to meet you for the first time. I didn't know what you liked. These are some local specialties my brother brought back from Tokyo. They're just a small token of my appreciation, but I hope you'll accept them."

The Sakurada couple fell completely silent.

They stared blankly at the pile of exotic "local specialties" they had only ever seen on television and in fashion magazines.

That bottle of "Juyondai" sake packaged in a rustic wooden box, that slice of Spanish ham exuding an enticing salty aroma, that piece of Parmesan Regano cheese brimming with rich flavor, and that box of Tokyo Wagyu beef with the "A5" mark and beautiful snowflake-like marbling...

They felt as if their brains had been completely turned into a paste by a high-speed blender!
This...this is hardly a "local specialty".
This is clearly a bunch of walking Fukuzawa Yukichi!

"This...this is too valuable! We can't accept it!"

Yu Cai's mother was the first to react. She quickly waved her hand, her usually kind face now filled with disbelief and horror.

"Yes, yes!" Yu Cai's father also seemed to wake up from a dream. He looked at the young man in front of him. Although he looked honest, he was capable of making ordinary farmers like them struggle for a lifetime. The old man's heart, which was already full of vigilance, was taut like a fully drawn bowstring at this moment!
He even began to suspect that this young man might... have some other motive.
Seeing the panicked look on his future in-laws' faces, Nohara Saji's honest and simple heart instantly became anxious.

He hurriedly explained, "Uncle and Aunt, please don't misunderstand! This...this is really just a small token of my brother's appreciation! He...he works at Tokyo TV, earns a lot, and spends money lavishly. He said that on our first visit, we must be very polite and not embarrass the Nohara family."

These simple and honest words left the Sakurada couple speechless.

Looking at the man before them, who, despite being dressed in designer clothes and driving a luxury car, was still, at heart, a simple farmer who blushed easily when nervous and spoke from the heart, their already wary hearts softened slightly at that moment.

This young man may not be as "complicated" as they imagine.

He just... has a younger brother who is overly "exaggerated".

"Alright, alright, stop standing at the door, come in and sit down."

In the end, it was Yu Cai's mother who broke the awkward silence that was filled with the "smell of money".

She carefully carried the pile of "local specialties" that they could boast about to their neighbors for a lifetime into the house, as if it were a sacred offering.

After realizing Nohara's kind and honest nature, she felt a greater sense of approval towards him.

Especially after seeing the genuine love in Nohara Saji's eyes as he looked at Ikuna, she knew that her daughter might have finally found a wealthy husband she could entrust her life to.

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(End of this chapter)