Science: The Little Shota of the Maori Family

The next day.

It's a nice day with a clear sky and wind.

Mrs. Yoshida came down from the apartment building dragging her suitcase, and Ayumi followed behind her holding a piece of breakfast cake.

"Mr. Mori...Huh? Toru? Miss Ran? You are here too?" Mrs. Yoshida said in surprise when she saw Toru Watanabe and Ran getting out of the car.

"Since school is on vacation, Xiao Che and I want to go out and have some fun." Xiao Lan explained, "It won't cause you any trouble."

"How could that be?" Mrs. Yoshida said with a smile, "I am the one who is causing you trouble. By the way, our village holds a samurai festival at this time of year. If you are interested, you can stay at my house."

"This...will it be too disturbing, after all..."

Mrs. Yoshida understood what Xiaolan meant and shook her head, "No, there are plenty of rooms at home, and there are no hotels in the village. We can't rush back overnight."

"Dad." Xiaolan looked at Kogoro Mouri. This kind of thing was not something she could decide.

Maori Kogoro coughed dryly and said, "Well, I'm sorry to bother you, ma'am. It's almost time, let's go."

"it is good."

"That's great, Toru, we can go to uncle's house together." Among the few people, Ayumi was in the best mood. Perhaps because she didn't have a deep affection for her uncle, even though she knew she was going back to attend a funeral, there was no trace of sadness on her face. After sitting in the car with Watanabe Toru, she handed over the cake in her hand and said, "Toru, do you want some cake?"

"No, I've already had breakfast." Watanabe Toru declined, "You eat."

"Okay." Ayumi took a bite of the cake and her eyebrows curved: "It's delicious."

"Ayumi." Mrs. Yoshida, who was sitting next to her, warned, "Don't act naughty when you get to your uncle's house. We're not going back to play this time, okay?"

"I know, Mom." Ayumi nodded obediently.

……

In the evening, the setting sun gradually sinks to the west, and the orange-red light illuminates everything red, and the earth seems to be covered with a cicada-wing-like glow.

After a long journey of nearly ten hours, Watanabe Toru and his group finally arrived at Mizawa Village, the village where Mrs. Yoshida's hometown was located.

The air is filled with silence.

The gurgling water in the canal made a pleasant sound. All around were farmlands, with vegetables such as broad beans planted on the ridges.

"It's so beautiful here, and the air is so good." Xiaolan leaned her head out of the window slightly, took a deep breath, and an expression of enjoyment appeared on her delicate face.

Mrs. Yoshida smiled and said, "There are no entertainment facilities or restaurants here. The only place you can spend money, besides the vending machines, is a snack shop. If you stay here for two days, you will be bored and want to go back..."

As Mrs. Yoshida explained, we began to see houses and white smoke rising from the air. It must be the owners preparing dinner.

In front, a man wearing samurai armor was walking, holding a wooden sword in his hand. Perhaps because the armor was heavy, he was not moving very fast.

"Why is that person dressed like this?" Xiaolan asked curiously.

Mrs. Yoshida took a look and said, "He must have returned from the Samurai Shrine. Legend has it that our village was founded by a samurai during the Warring States Period. After his death, the villagers built a Samurai Shrine in his honor. Every year at this time, villagers wear armor and go to the shrine to pay homage, and a grand ceremony is held."

"So that's how it is." Xiaolan suddenly realized.

Under the guidance of Mrs. Yoshida, we finally arrived at the home of Mrs. Yoshida's brother.

This is a traditional He family mansion that looks quite old. White spirit-calling banners and white lanterns hang from the eaves. Before entering, I can hear the sound of wooden fish and the low chanting of monks coming from inside.

Mrs. Yoshida couldn't help but feel sad. She whispered, "The last time I saw my brother was last year. I never thought that our separation would be forever..."

Watanabe Toru and the others were silent, and even Ayumi, who had been chattering all the way, fell silent at this time.

"Akiko?" A sudden voice broke the silence.

A woman in a plain kimono came out of the house, followed by a man and a woman. They must be guests who came to pay their respects.

"Sister-in-law." Seeing the woman, Mrs. Yoshida broke away from her sadness, wiped her eyes, and said, "I'm back."

"I'm glad you're back, I'm glad you're back." Takashima Chimi approached and took Mrs. Yoshida's hand, her eyes passing over Ayumi, Watanabe Toru and the others: "Ayumi is here too, who are these people?"

"Sister-in-law, this is Mr. Maori, his daughter Xiaolan, and Xiaotuo who is staying at their house." Mrs. Yoshida introduced: "If it weren't for Mr. Maori's help this time, Ayumi and I wouldn't have been able to come back so easily."

Takashima Chimi sighed: "Thank you for your hard work. It would be better if Fujiya was still here."

Yoshida Fujiya is Mrs. Yoshida's late husband.

Mrs. Yoshida pursed her lips, as if she didn't want to mention this name any more, and said, "Sister-in-law, please arrange a place for Mr. Maori and the others to live."

"Okay, I'll ask someone to arrange it right away."

076. Xiao Che, would you like to take a hot spring bath together?

"Dad, should we go and pay our respects later?"

In the guest room arranged by Chimi Takashima, Xiaolan asked Kogoro Mouri while taking clothes out of the suitcase and putting them into the closet.

Maori Kogoro stood at the window, looking at the mountains in the distance. Hearing this, he hesitated and said, "There's no need for that. We don't know this family."

"But wouldn't that be impolite? After all, we're living in someone else's house."

"Hmm... Let's go burn some incense later."

Dong Dong Dong….

There was a knock on the door.

Xiaolan went over to open the door.

"Ah...it's Ayumi and Aunt Yoshida. Why are you here? Please come in."

"Sorry to bother you." Mrs. Yoshida and Ayumi walked in.

Mrs. Yoshida had changed into a black kimono, her eyes reddened, likely from crying. Ayumi also donned a black jacket. Though not as sentimental as her mother, she remained relatively quiet due to the surroundings. Seeing Toru Watanabe, she didn't approach him as enthusiastically as before.

"Madam." Kogoro Mouri walked over from the window.

Mrs. Yoshida forced a smile and said, "Mr. Maori, I apologize for the poor hospitality."

"No, no." Maori Kogoro waved his hand. "I just told the two children that if it's convenient, I'd like to go and burn some incense for your brother."

"Of course it's convenient." Mrs. Yoshida said, "If my brother knew that Mr. Maori saw him off, he would definitely be grateful."

Forget about this kind of gratitude.

Maori Kogoro muttered in his heart: "Then I'll change my clothes."

……

Inside the mourning hall.

Chimi Takashima and two young men in black suits were kneeling on the futon.

Mrs. Yoshida led Watanabe Toru and the other two over and said, "Sister-in-law, Mr. Maori wants to burn some incense for my brother."

"Ah..." Takashima Chimi quickly stood up: "Thank you for your help, Mr. Maori."

"It's us who are disturbing you." Maori Kogoro took the burning incense and said, "I walked forward and bowed three times to the spirit tablet and portrait of Mrs. Yoshida's brother, then placed them in the incense burner."

Watanabe Toru glanced at the man in the portrait.

He was probably in his forties, with a fair and beardless face, deep eyes, and eyebrows that were about 60% similar to Mrs. Yoshida. He was a handsome uncle.

It’s a pity that he died young.

At this time, a man in a solemn kimono came over. He was short and thin. He said to Takashima Chimi, "Madam, dinner is ready. You can eat anytime."

"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Kitahara." Takashima Chimi nodded and said, "Take Akiko and Mr. Mori and the others over first."

"how about you?"

"I'm Heisuke, and Youta will be staying with Ryuichi for a while."

"Okay." Kitahara Jun looked at the portrait and nodded.

Takashima Chimi then introduced Mrs. Yoshida, "Akiko, this is Mr. Kitahara Jun. After your brother passed away, it was thanks to Mr. Kitahara's help that Heisuke, Yota, and I would not have been able to handle so much."

"Thank you, Mr. Kitahara." Mrs. Yoshida said gratefully.

Kitahara Jun waved his hand. "Mr. Takashima took great care of me when he was alive. I can't remain indifferent to his accident. However, I can only do my best. Madam, I will take Mrs. Akiko and the others over first."

"Okay." Takashima Chimi nodded.

……

Inside the room, seeing the sumptuous dinner on the Japanese-style table, Maori Kogoro's eyes lit up: "There are so many delicious foods, I must have a few more drinks tonight..."

"Dad." Xiaolan said angrily and warned Mouri Kogoro with her eyes.

Kogoro Mouri scratched his head in embarrassment.

Mrs. Yoshida sat down and poured wine for Maori Kogoro herself: "It's okay, just treat it as if you are at home. It doesn't matter if you get drunk."

"That's right." Maori Kogoro quickly agreed: "After driving for a whole day, drinking is the best way to relieve fatigue."

Xiaolan sighed softly. It seemed that her father was going to get drunk again tonight.

"Xiaolan." Mrs. Yoshida looked at Xiaolan again and said, "Would you like to go to the hot springs together after dinner?"

"Hot spring?" Xiaolan was stunned: "Is there a hot spring at home?"

"Yes," Mrs. Yoshida said with a smile, "My brother bought this house because he was attracted by the hot springs here."

"I see. But, doesn't Aunt Yoshida have to attend the wake later?"

"It's okay." Mrs. Yoshida tucked her hair behind her ears. "Sister-in-law, Heisuke, and Youta can take care of the funeral hall. I'll go and replace them later."

The men and women of Wano Country all have a special liking for taking a bath. After hearing what Mrs. Yoshida said, Xiaolan agreed: "Okay, I haven't taken a hot spring bath for a long time."

"Then it's settled. Let's eat first. I wonder if the food suits your taste."

The dinner took more than an hour to finish.

As Xiaolan expected, Kogoro Mouri was drunk again. He lay on the tatami with a red face and started snoring.

Xiaolan was annoyed: "Dad, really, never knows how to control himself."

"It's okay, let Mr. Maori sleep here." Mrs. Yoshida said, "Let's go take a bath first, and then wake Mr. Maori up. Xiao Tetsu, do you want to come with us?"

P.S. This should be the last free chapter. It will be available in the afternoon if nothing goes wrong. I hope you can support me by placing an initial order. Thank you.

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077, Dispute

Except for gays, no man would refuse to take a hot spring bath with two beautiful women.

Watanabe Toru was ecstatic inside, but on the surface he was shy and timid: "This..."

"Why, are you afraid that your aunt will eat you?" Mrs. Yoshida asked with a smile.

"No, that's not it..."

"Then let's go together." Mrs. Yoshida turned her gaze to Xiaolan: "Xiaolan should be okay, right?"

"Yeah." Xiaolan nodded.

She and Toru Watanabe would occasionally take a bath together at home, so naturally they didn't feel embarrassed.

"Then let's go back to the room and get some clothes. Ayumi and I will come find you later."

"it is good.".

……

The hot spring pool was built in the backyard of the house.

In order to emphasize the natural features, the pool is made entirely of stone, with bushes and quaint ground lamps between the stones.

It is surrounded by high bamboo fences.

Although it obstructs the view and loses the sense of openness, it is a necessary sacrifice compared to being seen by everyone.

Watanabe Toru and the other three sank into the hot spring water. Xiaolan and Mrs. Yoshida tied their long hair into a bun at the back of their heads and leaned comfortably against the rocks.

"It feels so good." Xiaolan sighed comfortably, "I feel like all the troubles in my body have been discharged."

Mrs. Yoshida's eyes passed over a certain part of Xiaolan's bulge: "Xiaolan has troubles too?"

"Well, sometimes." Xiaolan smiled embarrassedly.

"Is it related to feelings?"

"Ah...this..." Xiaolan's cheeks flushed and she stammered, not knowing how to answer.