I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 194 The Shock of the Ikuna Family! Nohara Sashi's Ambition! Akita Inu Prices Skyrocket!
"And what about the other one?" Sakurada Ikuna asked curiously.

“Another type,” Nohara Saji’s lips curled into a confident smile, “is defined by our Nohara Company as a ‘purebred Akita Inu’!”

“We have the most authoritative ‘pedigree evaluation standard’ drawn by Hiroshi himself! We have the unique ‘cultural connotation’ given to them by the movie ‘Hachiko Monogatari’! We have the ‘social status’ endorsed by the mayor, the governor, and even those big shots in Tokyo!”

"So, Ikuna, do you understand?" Nohara Saji's voice was filled with excitement: "What we're selling now isn't the Akita Inu itself! What we're selling is a standard! An authority! A... right to name and price the Akita Inu in the entire Japanese market!"

Sakurada Ikuna listened blankly, her usually sharp mind momentarily unable to process what was happening.

She only vaguely sensed that her seemingly honest and simple fiancé was playing a game, a game she couldn't understand at all, yet one that was incredibly grand and awe-inspiring...

"So...so amazing!" she murmured to herself, her bright eyes now filled with nothing but a deep-seated worship and awe.

She looked at Nohara Sashi with eyes full of admiration.

"And the mayor even said he'll reserve a seat for you in the next city council election!" Sakurada Ikuna exclaimed excitedly, her cheeks flushed red with excitement. "Sashi-kun! You...you're going to be a city councilor! This...this is simply unbelievable!"

Upon hearing this, Nohara Sashi gave a simple, honest smile.

He reached out and gently took his fiancée's hand; the warmth and strength he gave her instantly put her at ease.

"This is all arranged by the mayor," he said softly, his tone calm and humble. "However, we can't tell outsiders about this. No one except our two families, understand?"

“Yes! I understand!” Sakurada Ikuna nodded heavily, her womanly wisdom allowing her to instantly grasp the implications.

She knew that this matter should absolutely not be publicized until everything was settled.

The car slowly drove into a quiet residential area and finally came to a stop in front of a detached house with warm lights on.

"boom--"

The powerful roar of the engine was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

"Brother-in-law!"

Before Nohara Sashi could even get out of the car, a boy who looked about sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in a tracksuit, rushed out of the house like an arrow.

His face, which bore a resemblance to Ikuna Sakurada but was even more sunny and handsome, was now brimming with uncontrollable excitement and enthusiasm.

It was Sakurada Ikuna's younger brother, Sakurada Ikuki, who was still in high school.

"Yuki." Nohara Saji greeted him with a smile as he stepped out of the car. His tall figure made the boy feel particularly safe.

He casually took a beautifully packaged gift box from the back seat and handed it to the boy.

"Here, this is a gift for you," he said with a smile, his affection as warm as that of an older brother.

"Wow! It's the latest 'Shiroi Koibito' chocolate from Ginza, Tokyo! And a limited edition Baumkuchen from 'Nenrin-ya'!" Sakurada Ikuki's eyes lit up instantly. He excitedly took the gift box, his joy almost bursting out of his body: "Brother-in-law! You're so great! I love you to death!"

As he spoke, he eagerly tore open the packaging, looking like a greedy cat, which made Sakurada Ikuna, who was standing next to him, both annoyed and amused.

"Look at you! You've spoiled him again!" Sakurada Ikuna gave Nohara Saji a reproachful look, but her voice was full of sweetness: "He's become so picky about food because of all the feeding you've done to him, he doesn't even eat properly at home anymore!"

Although she was complaining, the happy smile on her face betrayed her secret joy.

"Oh my! Sashi-kun, Ikuna, you're back."

Just then, the door to the room was pushed open.

A kind-looking middle-aged couple, who appeared to be around fifty years old, walked out with smiles on their faces.

These are Ikuna Sakurada's parents, Ken Sakurada and Ryoko Sakurada.

When they saw Nohara Sashi and Sakurada Ikuna, their faces beamed with genuine smiles.

"Dad, Mom," Sakurada Ikuna called out sweetly.

"Uncle, Auntie." Nohara Sashiya quickly bowed and greeted them. His humility and politeness pleased the Sakurada couple even more.

"Come in quickly, it's cold outside." Sakurada Ryoko greeted her warmly, holding her daughter's hand and glancing at her tall and composed prospective son-in-law beside her. Her eyes were filled with the satisfaction of a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law with increasing delight.

Hot tea and snacks were already prepared in the living room.

The family sat together in a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

"Dad! Mom!"

Before Ken Sakurada and his wife could even ask, Ikuna Sakurada eagerly began to vividly describe to her parents the "dreamlike" family dinner that evening.

"You wouldn't believe it! Tonight, we're having dinner with the mayor of Daqu City and his wife! And it's a family dinner! Just the four of us!"

As soon as she finished speaking, an expression of disbelief and shock instantly appeared on the faces of Ken Sakurada and his wife!

"Eh?!"

"What?! A family dinner with... with the mayor?!"

Ken Sakurada's eyes widened instantly, and he even subconsciously put down his teacup. The shock made this usually composed middle-aged man lose his composure.

He was already very surprised when he learned that the mayor of Omagari City had visited the Nohara family.

Unexpectedly, his son-in-law, Nohara Saji, had actually managed to get into the mayor's family banquet. The mayor even hosted him alone and brought his daughter along.

It’s simply a fantasy!

Sakurada Ryoko was so excited that she stood up from her seat. She covered her mouth, and her usually gentle eyes were now filled with disbelief and horror!
"Yucai! You... are you telling the truth?!" Her voice trembled slightly, as if she had just experienced a hallucination.

“Of course it’s true!” Sakurada Ikuna nodded excitedly, holding her mother’s hand, her pride and happiness overflowing. “The mayor and his wife are so good to us! They don’t talk about official business, just about everyday things, and they even asked us a lot about our marriage!”

She paused, then dropped another bombshell that was enough to leave her parents speechless.

"Moreover, the mayor also said that when we get married at the end of the year, he... he will personally officiate our wedding!"

"What?!" The Sakurada couple's hearts exploded!
The mayor personally officiated their wedding?!

This...this is simply the supreme glory of bringing honor to one's ancestors and glorifying one's family!
They stood there, stunned, all expressions frozen on their faces for a moment, leaving only one look: ecstasy, a feeling of being overwhelmed by immense happiness!
"This...this is wonderful! This is wonderful!" Ken Sakurada was so excited that he was incoherent. He looked at Satoshi Nohara with an indescribable sense of satisfaction and pride in his eyes.

“Yes! Yes!” Sakurada Ryoko nodded repeatedly. “Sashi-kun! You are really…so successful! For our Ikuna to marry you is the greatest blessing of her life!”

Nohara Sashi blushed with pride at their compliments. He scratched the back of his head with a simple and honest expression, which made him particularly charming at that moment.

"Uncle, Aunt, you flatter me." He spoke softly, his tone calm and humble: "It's all thanks to Mayor Nohara for thinking so highly of our Nohara family."

However, his humility did nothing to quell the excitement in the hearts of Ken Sakurada and his wife.

"And, Dad, Mom!" Sakura Ikuna spoke again, a sly smile appearing on her face as she looked at her parents' excited expressions. "The mayor also said that he's going to reserve a seat for Satoshi-kun in the next city council election!"

"What?! A...a city councilor?!"

Sakurada Ken and his wife trembled violently again, their eyes widening instantly, their faces filled with ecstasy!
They looked at Nohara Sashi with the same eyes they had for a hero who had stepped out of a legend!

"The mayor has only been nominated, there hasn't been an election yet," Nohara Saji said with a simple smile, trying to "cool down" his tone.

However, his attempts to "cool down" the situation did nothing to quell the fervor in his parents-in-law's hearts.

"Nomination?!" Ken Sakurada slapped his thigh, his voice filled with undeniable certainty: "The mayor has personally nominated him! Isn't that a sure thing?!"

“Yes! Yes!” Sakurada Ryoko echoed, looking at Nohara Sashi with an indescribable sense of satisfaction and pride in her eyes: “Sashi-kun! You are truly… amazing! Our Sakurada family is truly… truly blessed to have a son-in-law like you!”

They looked at Nohara Sashi with eyes filled with indescribable satisfaction and pride.

They knew that their daughter had found a man she could truly entrust her life to.

They also knew that their Sakurada family would usher in an unprecedented and glorious future because of this man!
……

Nohara Sashi didn't chat at Ikuna's house for too long. About half an hour later, the imposing Land Cruiser drew a steady arc in the night and headed towards Nishiogura Village.

Outside the car window, there were familiar country roads, the warmth of the day still lingering on the ridges of the fields, and the air filled with the fragrance of soil and grass.

This tranquility, unique to his hometown, gradually calmed his slightly excited heart, which had been aroused by the mayor's family dinner, and brought him back to a state of peace and warmth.

The Nohara family's old house stands like a silent guardian under the night sky, with only the window lit by an orange lamp indicating the waiting inside.

Nohara Sashi parked the car and got in.

A warm feeling, a mixture of the aroma of food and a hint of wine, wafted over.

However, what greeted him was not the warm greeting he had expected, but rather a... somewhat desolate scene.

His father, Nohara Ginnosuke, was sitting alone at a low table, with a small sake cup and a simple dish of pickles in front of him.

His signature bald head reflected a hint of loneliness under the light, and his usually vibrant face now wore a pitiful expression, like a stray dog ​​whose bone had been stolen by its owner.

He casually popped peanuts into his mouth, occasionally picking up his wine glass, taking small sips, and then letting out a long, sorrowful sigh.

"Ugh--"

The sound was drawn out and filled with melancholy.

When Nohara Sashi returned, Nohara Ginnosuke's eyes lit up for a moment, but quickly the light dimmed again, replaced by a deeper sadness.

He raised his shifty, beady eyes and looked pitifully at his eldest son, letting out another long sigh.

"Sigh... Xiaozhi, you're back." His voice was hoarse, as if he had suffered a great injustice: "Look at me, look at me, I have no status in this family anymore! I can't even have an extra cup of the 'fourteenth generation' wine offered by my own son! Your mother is getting more and more domineering!"

As he spoke, he secretly glanced towards the kitchen out of the corner of his eye. His pitiful look, as if he wanted to tattle but was afraid of being discovered, was simply hilarious.

Looking at his father's comical antics, Nohara Sashi felt only a helpless mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Dad, what's wrong?" He sat down in front of Ginnosuke Nohara.

Just then, the kitchen curtain was suddenly flung open.

Nohara Tsuru came out carrying a bowl of steaming rice and several plates of delicate side dishes, her face displaying a look of utter disappointment.

She gently placed the food on the table in front of Nohara Saji, then gave the old man, who was still putting on an act, a disapproving look.

"How dare you say that!" Nohara Tsuru's voice was clear and powerful, like the sharpest knife, precisely piercing through Nohara Ginnosuke's fragile pretense: "This afternoon, if I hadn't dragged you back, were you planning to spoil the whole movie about Hiroshi for everyone in the village? Look at you, so smug, your tail is practically wagging in the air! As if you're afraid people won't know how successful your son is!"

"I...I wasn't showing off!" Nohara Ginnosuke, his thoughts exposed, blushed and retorted, his voice clearly lacking confidence: "I was...I was sharing! Sharing our family's joy! Letting the villagers share in the happiness! What's wrong with that?!"

"Sharing?" Nohara Tsuru was so angry that her eyebrows shot up. She put her hands on her hips and scolded, "Excessive sharing is just annoying! Didn't you see those old guys playing chess at the village entrance? As soon as they saw you, they ran away like they'd seen a plague god. If you keep talking like that, I'm afraid the whole village will avoid our house tomorrow!"

“I…” Nohara Ginnosuke was speechless, his old face turning bright red.

He knew his wife was telling the truth.

This afternoon, he was indeed overwhelmed by the immense joy, grabbing everyone in the village and excitedly recounting the "glorious deeds" of his youngest son, Hiroshi Nohara. His pride seemed to burst forth from every pore of his body.

Finally, after everyone kept their distance from him, he was reluctantly dragged home by his wife.

Seeing that he couldn't win the argument, Nohara Ginnosuke immediately changed tactics, turning his aggrieved, shifty eyes toward his only "savior".

“Xiaozhi…” His voice suddenly became pitiful, filled with the loneliness and helplessness of being abandoned by the whole world, “Look, look at your mother! She… she’s treating me like this now! I… I really have no status in this family anymore!”

Nohara Sashi looked at his father's dramatic performance and couldn't help but laugh.

He shook his head helplessly, his dark face filled with doting affection for his lovable old man.

"Alright, alright, Dad, Mom, stop arguing." He smiled and tried to smooth things over, then looked at his mother with a reassuring gaze.

Looking at his eldest son's calm yet somewhat tired face, Nohara Tsuru's anger subsided considerably.

She sighed softly and sat down next to Nohara Saji. A hint of worry and curiosity appeared on his usually stern face.

“Xiaozhi, let’s not talk about your dad.” She asked softly, her tone full of concern: “How did it go tonight… tonight you had dinner with the mayor? Nothing went wrong, right? He… he didn’t give you any trouble, did he?”

In her view, dining with the mayor was like entering a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, a perilous journey where the slightest misstep could incur the mayor's wrath.

Upon hearing his mother's question, Nohara Ginnosuke immediately perked up his ears. His shifty eyes were fixed on his eldest son, his curiosity practically bursting forth.

"Mom, don't worry, everything is going smoothly." Nohara Saji smiled憨厚ly. He picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the side dish his mother had made. The familiar taste made him feel at ease.

As he ate, he recounted his experiences of the evening in detail.

"As Hiroshi instructed, I presented the twenty-five finest Akita dogs to the mayor. He was very pleased and immediately decided to invite me to dinner at 'Shofu-tei'."

"Shokaze-tei?!" Nohara Tsuru exclaimed in surprise, her usually gentle eyes now filled with shock: "That...that's the most expensive restaurant in our Omagari City! I heard that a meal there costs several months' salary for an average person!"

“Yes!” Nohara Saji nodded, feeling a surge of pride as he looked at his parents’ shocked expressions. “And, when it came time to settle the bill, it was the mayor himself who paid. He said it was a small token of his appreciation and that we shouldn’t be polite with him.”

"What?! The mayor is paying for it himself?!"

Nohara Ginnosuke's eyes widened instantly, and he slapped his thigh so hard that the sound almost shattered the entire room.

His face, slightly flushed from the alcohol, was now filled with unbelievable ecstasy!
"Hahahaha! I knew it! I knew it!" He burst into laughter, his voice filled with triumphant satisfaction. "Even the mayor is inviting my son to dinner! And he's even offering to pay! What does this mean?! It means that the Nohara family is no longer what it used to be! We... we're now important figures! Hahahaha!"

That heartfelt sense of pride made him feel as if he were floating on a cloud, looking down on the entire city of Daqu.

However, a trace of worry still lingered on Nohara Tsuru's face.

She frowned, her face filled with unease: "Xiaozhi, tell Mom the truth. This... this, is there something wrong with it? The dogs we gave away were just a few country dogs, no matter how well we took care of them, they weren't worth much. But the mayor, he's been inviting you to dinner, saying he'll officiate your wedding, and even talking about becoming a city councilor, oh my god, this... this is so abnormal. I just don't feel at ease."

Having lived most of her life, the old lady deeply understood the principle of "not accepting rewards without merit."

This sudden "favor" made her feel flustered.

"Oh dear! You old woman, you're all talk and no action!"

Upon hearing this, Nohara Ginnosuke immediately waved his hand impatiently. He curled his lip, but his shifty eyes now gleamed with a shrewdness that seemed to have seen through the ways of the world.

"What do you know!" he said smugly, hands on his hips, looking like a strategist pointing out the flaws in the country. "Those officials are all as cunning as monkeys. Would they do a losing business? The reason the mayor is so good to my son is because... because my son is useful now!"

He paused, his tone becoming even more smug: "Didn't you hear what Hashi said? The mayor even said he wanted to recommend Hashi for a city council position! What does that mean?! It means the mayor wants to win over our Hashi, and wants the Nohara family to become his people!"

Nohara Saji looked at his father's "brilliant" appearance and gave him a simple, honest smile.

He knew that although his father seemed unreliable on ordinary days, he could always get to the heart of the matter on certain key issues.

“Dad is right.” Nohara Saji nodded, looking at his mother’s still worried face, and explained with a smile, “Besides, Hiroshi had already foreseen all of this. He said that what we need to do now is sell Akita dogs.” He paused, then slowly uttered the number that was enough to petrify the old couple once again.

"Moreover, one will sell for one million yen."

"Ouch!"

Upon hearing this, Nohara Tsuru nearly jumped out of her seat. Her usually gentle eyes were now filled with disbelief and horror: "One...one million yen?! Just...just the kind of mongrel we keep in our backyard?!"

She felt that her worldview had been completely overturned at that moment.

“Yes, one million yen.” Nohara Saji nodded, finding it amusing to see his parents’ shocked expressions.

"This...this is way too expensive!" Nohara Tsuru muttered to herself, her well-maintained face filled with confusion: "What kind of person would spend so much money to buy a mongrel?"

Nohara Saji looked at his mother's incomprehensible expression and gave her a bright smile.

“People in Tokyo will definitely buy it,” he said softly, his tone calm yet firm.

"A Tokyoite?" Nohara Ginnosuke and Nohara Tsuru exchanged a glance, both seeing the same confusion in each other's eyes.

"Are Tokyoites... really that stupid?" Nohara Ginnosuke couldn't help but mutter, his voice filled with a simple yet direct skepticism towards "city people": "Spending a million yen to buy a country dog ​​from our Akita countryside?"

Seeing his parents' adorable, puzzled expressions, Nohara Saji finally couldn't help but laugh heartily.

"That's what my brother says." He scratched his head, an embarrassed smile appearing on his dark face. He imitated his brother Hiroshi Nohara's "unfathomable" tone and slowly uttered the word that he himself seemed to understand only vaguely.

“He said that this is called… ‘the consumption philosophy of a Beijing tycoon with port benefits.’”

"With port benefits... Lord Jing?"

Nohara Ginnosuke and Nohara Tsuru murmured the unfamiliar word repeatedly, their weathered faces filled with an even deeper sense of bewilderment.

They felt their brains, long since obsolete, completely burn out at that moment.

Seeing his parents' adorable blank expressions, Nohara Sashi stopped keeping him in suspense.

He smiled again in a simple and honest way, and then, in the simplest and most straightforward way, revealed the answer.

"He said... he's stupid and has too much money."

"Pfft—Hahahahahaha!"

After a brief silence, a deafening burst of laughter erupted from inside the room!
Nohara Ginnosuke laughed so hard he almost fell over, tears welling up in his eyes. Nohara Tsuruya covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking incessantly, his usually dignified face now filled with barely suppressed laughter.

Looking at their eldest son's honest yet sly face, their hearts, already somewhat numb from countless shocks, were completely filled at this moment with the purest emotion called "joy."

They knew that this home, though simple, was filled with the most sincere kinship and trust.

……

Two or three more days passed. In the Tokyo TV production building, in Hiroshi Nohara's office, which was like an independent kingdom.

It was late at night, but the office was still brightly lit.

Hiroshi Nohara sat behind his desk, holding a cup of hot tea, his gaze calmly sweeping over the newly faxed statistical report on the opening week box office of "Hachiko Monogatari".

The report's staggering figures, like the most dazzling stars, completely illuminated the night sky of the entire Japanese film market.

First-week box office: 3.5 billion yen!
This number has already surpassed the total box office of "Seven Samurai" in its first month of release!
It not only set a new box office record, but also raised the ceiling of Japanese domestic films to an unprecedented and terrifying height!

"good."

Hiroshi Nohara simply commented, putting down the report in his hand, his clear eyes remaining completely calm.

This composure and calmness made it seem as if what he saw was not a number that would drive anyone crazy, but just some ordinary work reports.

However, at that moment, the office door was suddenly pushed open.

Kitagawa Yao, the most lively and gossipy young employee in Nohara's independent production department, was standing panting at the door, her face filled with barely suppressed excitement and elation.

She waved a document in her hand, a document that seemed to hold the fate of the entire TV Tokyo network in its hands.

"Minister! Minister!"

Kitagawa Yao's voice trembled slightly, a sign of extreme excitement: "A...major incident! A major incident has occurred!"

Upon hearing this, Hiroshi Nohara raised an eyebrow. He looked at Kitagawa Yao's excited and incoherent appearance and found it amusing.

"Oh? What big event happened? Is it that 'Hachiko Monogatari' broke box office records again?" Hiroshi Nohara asked softly, his tone carrying a perfectly timed tone.

"No! No! No!" Kitagawa Yao shook her head violently, her bright eyes flashing with an almost frenzied light: "It's a hundred times more... a hundred times more exciting than breaking box office records!"

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the overwhelming joy in her heart, and then, in an almost reverent tone, slowly uttered the news that was enough to drive anyone crazy.

"Minister! Our Nohara family's Akita dogs... are selling like hotcakes!"

"what?!"

Even Hiroshi Nohara, who had long anticipated the market for autumn dogs, couldn't help but feel a slight tremor in his usually calm heart upon hearing the news.

He looked at Kitagawa Yao, a hint of surprise flashing in her clear eyes.

"Selling like hotcakes? Tell me more," he asked in a deep voice.

"Hi!" Kitagawa Yao responded emphatically, her young face filled with pride: "Minister! You have no idea! Ever since 'Hachiko Monogatari' was released, our department's phones have been ringing off the hook! Everyone's asking where they can buy an Akita Inu! They all say they want to buy one that's as silly and cute as Hachiko!"

She paused, her tone becoming even more excited: "Then, this morning, your elder brother, President Nohara Saji, as you instructed, announced the sale of the first batch of fifty Akita dogs! And the price... the price is set at one million yen per dog!"

"And the result?" Hiroshi Nohara pressed, his heart pounding slightly.

"The result..." Kitagawa Yao's face instantly blossomed into a radiant smile, her joy almost bursting forth from her body: "The result? In less than an hour! All fifty Akita dogs were sold out! And countless people are queuing up, hoping to buy a second or third batch!"

"Some people have even offered two million, three million, or even five million yen just to acquire a purebred Akita Inu!"

"Oh? That's good?" Hiroshi Nohara's lips curled up slightly.

Although he had some expectations about the market for Akita dogs, he never imagined that they would become this popular!
Akita dogs, each costing one million yen, sold out in just one hour?!
Someone even offered five million yen?!
Advertising and scarcity marketing are indeed effective!

"And, Minister!" Kitagawa Yao's voice rang out again, her ecstatic joy almost lifting the entire office upside down: "You have no idea! Right now, all the rich and famous people outside are proud to own an Akita Inu from our Nohara Family Co., Ltd.! They all say that it's not just a pet, but a symbol of status! A reflection of taste! It's... the best proof of their 'loyalty' and 'affection'!"

As Hiroshi Nohara listened to Yao Kitagawa's description, the shock on his face was gradually replaced by a deep sense of satisfaction.

He knew he had succeeded.

He successfully transformed the Akita Inu, an originally ordinary dog ​​breed, into a highly sought-after cultural symbol.

He successfully propelled Nohara-ya Co., Ltd., an previously little-known agricultural company, onto the stage of Japan and even the world.

He successfully laid a crucial piece for the Nohara family and for his own future.

"Minister! Minister!"

While Hiroshi Nohara was deep in thought, Yao Kitagawa's face showed a hint of awkwardness, like a little girl who wanted to say something but couldn't.

Her bright, sparkling eyes, like the most sophisticated radar, carefully scanned Hiroshi Nohara's expression. He looked just like a kitten that wanted to steal some dried fish but was afraid of being discovered by its owner.

Hiroshi Nohara couldn't help but chuckle at her adorable appearance.

"What's wrong, Kitagawa-kun?" He put down his teacup and asked gently, "Judging from your expression, is there some 'big event' you want to report to me again?"

"Oh dear, Minister, please don't tease me." Kitagawa Yao's cheeks flushed slightly, and she stuck out her tongue mysteriously, saying, "Um... Minister... there's something I don't know if I should tell you."

Her bright, sparkling eyes were darting around, her keen workplace sense and gossip making her appear exceptionally lively.

"Oh?" Hiroshi Nohara raised an eyebrow slightly; this hesitant manner was not in line with Kitagawa Yao's personality.

"Speak, what is it?" he said softly.

Kitagawa Yao took a deep breath, as if to encourage herself, and then said quickly in an even softer voice, "It's...it's Deputy Director Asumi, and Managing Director Takada, and...and many, many other leaders from the production department! They...they all want to ask you, that...that Akita Inu, are there any more?"

After she finished speaking, she immediately lowered her head, looking just like a little spy delivering a message, afraid of being dragged into some kind of "war" between high-ranking officials.

Upon hearing this, Hiroshi Nohara gave a knowing smile.

He knew that these usually high-ranking figures had finally succumbed to the charm of the Akita Inu.

However, due to their status, they were too embarrassed to speak directly to him, their "subordinate," and could only try to gauge his opinion through Kitagawa Yao, who acted as a "messenger."

Hiroshi Nohara found this air of superiority amusing.

"I thought it was something serious." Hiroshi Nohara just smiled calmly, his clear eyes remaining completely undisturbed.

He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, as if what he heard was not a request full of social niceties, but just an ordinary work report.

“Of course.” He said softly, “I already had my brother reserve a batch of the best Akita dogs. They’re meant to be given to the leaders of Tokyo TV, as well as to the seniors who have always supported me.”

"Eh?!"

Kitagawa Yao suddenly raised her head. She never expected that Nohara Hiroshi had actually... had arranged everything all along?!
"Minister! You...you're amazing!" Kitagawa Yao was so excited she couldn't speak coherently. She looked at Nohara Hiroshi with eyes full of fervent admiration: "You...you're simply a god! How...how can you think of everything in advance?!"

Hiroshi Nohara simply smiled and shook his head: "It's nothing. Even if they hadn't said anything, I had already made preparations in advance."

Interpersonal relationships and social customs are a crucial aspect of society. Since we are part of it, we must naturally abide by its rules.

Moreover, he knew that what he was giving away now was not just Akita dogs, but also favors, connections, and the foundation for his Hiroshi Nohara Independent Productions to establish itself in TV Tokyo and even the whole of Japan.

He understood all of this very well.

Hiroshi Nohara also smiled and said, "Not only the people at TV Tokyo, but also the leaders of Tokyo Metropolitan Government, such as the Minister of Public Relations, Mr. Fujiwara, and even... Governor Koike, I have prepared a 'small gift' for them."

"what?!"

Kitagawa Yao's eyes widened again; she felt as if her heart was about to jump out of her throat.

Giving gifts to the leaders of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government?!
This...this is simply too audacious!
"Minister! This...this won't do!" Kitagawa Yao was almost in tears. She waved her hands frantically, her voice filled with worry: "This is a crucial time for the Tokyo gubernatorial election! If you go to give gifts now, wouldn't that be...wouldn't that be bribery?! If those election opponents catch us doing this, then...the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Hiroshi Nohara couldn't help but laugh when he saw her adorable, sweaty face.

“Alright, Kitagawa, don’t worry.” He said with a smile, his tone full of confidence: “Of course I know that we can’t act rashly at this time. So, this ‘small gift’ will be sent out after the public’s enthusiasm for Akita dogs has cooled down a bit, after the Tokyo gubernatorial election has settled down.”

He paused, a faint smile curving his lips. His composure and confidence made him stand out. "At that time, what will be given out will not be a bribe, but... icing on the cake, a helping hand in times of need, a... just the right amount of favor."

Kitagawa Yao stared blankly at Nohara Hiroshi, her usually sharp mind momentarily unable to process what was happening.

She only vaguely sensed that her excessively young minister was frighteningly shrewd and calculating in terms of interpersonal relationships and political maneuvering.

"Minister...you...you are so amazing." She murmured to herself, her bright eyes now filled with nothing but heartfelt admiration.

"Alright, Kitagawa, you can go now," Hiroshi Nohara said with a light laugh, glancing at the time on his watch. "I still have some things to take care of."

"Hi, Minister!" Kitagawa Yao bowed again, then turned and left the office with light steps.

As the office door was gently closed, Hiroshi Nohara's smile gradually faded.

He knew that Kitagawa Yao's worries were not unfounded.

Politics is always the most complex and dangerous game in the world.

Although he has already stepped into this game step by step, he still needs to remain extremely vigilant and cannot relax in the slightest.

He picked up the phone on his desk and dialed his older brother, Nohara Sashi's, number.

He wanted to tell his older brother about his next plan.

He wants to open several fixed Akita dog pet stores in Tokyo.

He wanted to completely integrate the Akita dog, a cultural symbol that originally belonged only to Akita Prefecture, into the very fabric of Tokyo, this international metropolis.

He wants Nohara Corporation to be the biggest and only winner in this cultural and economic feast!
The call was answered quickly.

"Hello, is this Hiroshi?" Nohara Sashi's honest yet excited voice came from the other end of the phone: "How's it going on your end? I heard your movie broke 3.5 billion yen in its opening week?!"

"Yes, that's right, brother." Hiroshi Nohara chuckled.

Upon hearing this, Nohara Sashi's tone became even more excited: "Hiroshi, you're amazing! Our Nohara family's Akita dogs are selling like hotcakes! One million yen a dog, and people are still scrambling to buy them! I've been answering so many calls these past two days that my hands are almost sore!"

"Yes, brother, everything is as I expected," Hiroshi Nohara replied softly, his tone calm.

He explained to his older brother in detail his plans to open a pet store in Tokyo and his future development direction.

Nohara Saji listened quietly, his honest face filled with trust in his younger brother.

“Okay! Hiroshi! I understand!” he replied firmly, his tone resolute. “I will definitely do as you say! Don’t worry, I will never hold you back!”

He paused, a hint of pride in his voice: "Oh, right, Hiroshi, I have some good news for you. A few days ago, Mayor Kenji Ito of Omagari City personally invited Ikuna and me to his family dinner! He also said that he will reserve a seat for me in the next city council election! And when we get married at the end of the year, he will personally officiate our wedding!"

Upon hearing this, Hiroshi Nohara smiled with satisfaction.

He knew that his older brother, Nohara Sashi, was no longer the farmer who only knew how to bury himself in farming.

He has gradually grown into a partner who can stand on his own and fight alongside him.

“Very good, brother, you did a great job.” Hiroshi Nohara spoke softly, his tone full of encouragement: “However, brother, you must also remember. City councilor or officiant, these are just empty titles. What our Nohara family really needs is a solid foundation.”

He paused, his tone becoming more serious: "So, brother, what you need to do now is continue to proceed steadily, continue to acquire Akita dogs, and continue to breed Akita dogs. At the same time, you must also continue to acquire land! The more the better! Don't be afraid to spend money! If possible, I hope you can become the... president of the farmers' association in our Omagari City, and even the entire Akita Prefecture!"

"The head of the farmers' association?!" Nohara Sashi's voice was filled with surprise again.

“Yes, Chairman of the Farmers’ Association.” Hiroshi Nohara’s voice was calm and firm: “Only by controlling the land, the local reputation and resources, and the Farmers’ Association Chairman’s ability to manage farmers and agricultural products, can our Nohara family stand invincible in this torrent of the times.”

Nohara Sashi listened quietly. His heart, which had long been numb from countless shocks, was once again ignited by an unprecedented emotion called "ambition."

"Hey! Hiroshi! I understand!" he replied emphatically, his voice brimming with fighting spirit and passion.

(End of this chapter)