Tokyo Three Generations

Sigh, I just hope he lived up to his daughter's good intentions.

"You're mistaken, kid. The Fengchuan Group is a size that no one can run alone, and no one is indispensable. So you need to understand, we're not begging you, nor do we absolutely need you; we're just carefully nurturing you out of respect for the young lady—"

Although his words were a bit harsh, Jun Takasaki knew it was true; he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he was some indispensable genius.

Besides, no matter what, the other party is Xiangzi's father, his elder, and he should give him some face both morally and logically.

“You’re right.” He then bowed slightly, showing humility. “I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity. I will study hard and strive to grow faster so as not to disappoint you.”

"The person you can't let down isn't me," Toyokawa Kiyotaka replied curtly.

However, seeing the arrogant young man lower his head made him feel a little better.

"I'll take you to the company next to complete your onboarding procedures, and then you can stay by my side." His tone softened. "From now on, you'll be the secretary in the president's office, assisting me with confidential matters. You're so young, so you should learn from your seniors and not put on airs like a rich kid in front of others. Be humble and work diligently, understand?"

“I understand.” Jun Takasaki nodded immediately.

"In addition, there is one more thing." Toyokawa Kiyoko then changed the subject, "Your schedule needs to be closely aligned with Shoko's. In other words, whenever she needs your help, you must put down whatever you are doing and prioritize meeting her needs. Other matters can be handled by others."

When I'm carrying out important business, the young lady suddenly decides to ask me to go out and have fun. Am I supposed to just go and have fun? Isn't that a bit too frivolous? Jun Takasaki couldn't help but think to himself.

He didn't know that this was the standard procedure for the Toyokawa family to train sons-in-law.

Because the family has been a single-line family for generations, and all the sons are daughters, the Fengchuan Group has developed its own unique training culture—sons-in-law first work with the previous generation of sons-in-law, gradually become familiar with company affairs, and then are promoted step by step to senior management, entrusted with important responsibilities, and finally "govern the world together" with the new generation of family heads.

In this situation, while the son-in-law's abilities are certainly important, his feelings for his wife (or fiancée) are also crucial, since no one would dare entrust their business to someone they don't know or have feelings for.

Therefore, this seemingly "childish" rule is actually the fundamental guarantee that the Toyokawa family has never made a mistake over several generations.

Looking at the handsome young man in front of him, Toyokawa Kiyoshi felt as if he had returned to twenty years ago.

He was in this same room back then, and he took on the same task in a daze. Now, the past is repeating itself.

I still remember how embarrassed I was when Mizuho called me to play tennis and go to a concert the first time I had to handle an important matter.

When Kiyotaka Toyokawa recalled it, he first felt a sense of warmth, but it quickly turned into heartache.

He has passed away, leaving only himself and his daughter.

I just hope my daughter will be luckier and won't have to suffer such a terrible disaster again...

He looked up again and glanced at the young man opposite him.

Hmph, you probably still think you can get along with everyone, right?

How naive! Since the Toyokawa family has placed you in such a central position, they naturally won't allow you to withdraw so easily.

His daughter is not someone anyone can just flirt with and then run away from; his infatuation and determination must have a conclusion.

You're still young, so let's give you a few years of freedom. But when things really come to that, you won't have a choice anymore," he thought coldly to himself.

134, Nomadic Empire?

When Jun Takasaki walked out of Kiyoshi Toyokawa's study, he still felt a little dazed.

Starting today, I'm going to become a respectable member of society, a proper corporate slave.

He still didn't really feel the reality of it.

After all, working was never a priority in his life plan. He only wanted to enjoy his youth and then take over his father's business when he was in his thirties or forties.

Who would have thought that he would start working when he was only in his early twenties?

Although working for Toyokawa Group is an opportunity that many people dream of, for him it was just a burden.

However, there's nothing we can do about it; after all, it's the path we chose.

Just as he was walking out of the room with a sigh, he ran into Xiangzi, who was standing not far from the door.

Clearly, she was worried that the two of them would argue again, so she waited outside the door.

When he came out, a complex expression of relief and worry flashed across Xiangzi's face.

Seeing her worried about him, Jun Takasaki seemed to instantly lose all his anxiety.

Well, it's okay if I'm a little tired, it's nothing.

"Chun!"

Just as these thoughts were flashing through his mind, Xiangzi quickly came up to him and immediately asked, "How did your talk with Dad go? Did you have any conflicts?"

"What kind of person do you take me for? I didn't come to your house to pick a fight," Jun Takasaki replied with a smile. "Actually, we had a pretty pleasant chat, and everything has been settled."

Upon seeing his reply, Xiangzi instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry, I was just too worried, after all, you two..." She stopped there.

Even if she didn't say it, Jun Takasaki knew what she wanted to say—he had made a scene with her father the first time he came here; then he had another argument with him and refused the proposal to marry into the family; in any case, nothing good ever happened every time he met with Kiyoshi Toyokawa alone, no wonder Shoko was so worried.

“We’re not natural enemies who argue every time we meet; we just sometimes have some differences in our beliefs,” Jun Takasaki shrugged. “But fundamentally, we don’t have any conflicts. We both want to help you and make you happy. So, even when conflicts arise, we always end up agreeing in the end, right? So don’t worry too much; we know how to handle our relationship.”

His words were just a simple consolation, but to Xiangzi, they carried a hidden meaning.

It's only natural for a father to take care of his daughter, so when he says this, doesn't he mean he wants to take over his father's job and continue taking care of himself?

Whether others believe it or not, she believed it.

So, facing him, she smiled so broadly her eyebrows curved upwards, "Yes, thank you both. I'll do everything I can to make you happy..."

There's a sudden surge in sweetness in the air... Why is that...? Jun Takasaki suddenly felt something was off.

The two suddenly fell silent, one out of embarrassment, the other savoring the sweet afterglow. Without prior arrangement, they followed Xiangzi out of the mansion and into the adjacent garden.

Since this wasn't his first time here, Jun Takasaki already knew the layout of the place. As he admired the blooming flowers in the flowerbeds and breathed in the fragrant air, he also sorted out his thoughts.

"Your father said he wanted to keep me by his side as his secretary, and that he would have me assist him in confidential work within the company, but he didn't explain the specifics clearly. So, Xiangzi, could you please tell me what my specific department and scope of authority are?"

Upon hearing Jun Takasaki's question, Shoko immediately understood her father's intention.

Because she knew her parents' situation all too well.

At first, my father followed my grandfather around and gradually became familiar with the group's affairs. Now, my father plans to arrange things for him in the same way.

This shows that the father was truly grooming him to be his future son-in-law.

However, she didn't tell Takasaki Junmei this, but simply answered the question directly, "Well... as you know, the Toyokawa Group is a large and diversified company involved in many industries, which results in a large number of subsidiaries. In order to manage these subsidiaries, in addition to the allocation of shares, a dedicated management structure is also necessary. Therefore, within the group, we have established an office directly under the president, responsible for managing the president's schedule, preparing high-level meetings, and conveying the president's instructions to various subsidiaries and business units. It's essentially a special agency dedicated to the president..."

After Xiangzi's explanation, Takasaki Jun quickly understood.

Large conglomerates like the Toyokawa Group need an organization surrounding the president in order to manage their numerous subsidiaries; it's similar to a "general office" or "secretariat" in a bureaucratic system.

However, it is not entirely the same as a bureaucracy, because a bureaucracy only needs to consider loyalty at each level and carry out the will of the superiors, but a conglomerate, as a capital institution, must consider profits, so it must delegate some authority to its subsidiaries. After all, no matter how powerful the president is, he is still just an ordinary human being. He cannot make so many decisions in different industries in a rapidly changing society, so he must give his subsidiaries a certain degree of autonomy.

In this way, there will inevitably be a power struggle between the parent company and the subsidiaries, and after a long period of struggle, a certain equilibrium will be formed.

The parent company, controlled by the Toyokawa family, maintains a certain degree of constraint on its subsidiaries through equity and articles of association, but does not completely control them (nor can it pursue complete control). The executive officers and managing directors of each business unit have their own authority in their own independent kingdoms, and can act as they please as long as they achieve certain performance targets.

"So, it's like a nomadic empire. Your Toyokawa lineage is the Khanate's royal court, and the subordinates surrounding the Toyokawa lineage are the royal court's personal guard. The board members are the tribes under the empire's banner. These tribes obey the royal court's orders and are also restrained by the royal court's personal guard. But as long as they pay tribute regularly, they can do whatever they want within their own territories, right? And I will become a member of the royal court's personal guard, upholding the royal court's authority and conquering all tribes that do not obey the Great Khan—is that right?"

This ingenious metaphor startled Xiangzi for a moment, but after thinking for a while, she gave Takasaki Jun a thumbs up with genuine respect and praised him, "Jun, it's amazing that you could find such a metaphor... Although it seems a bit crude, it's actually quite apt upon closer inspection. You're really something! That's pretty much it!"

This brilliant metaphor made Xiangzi laugh heartily, but Takasaki Jun did not laugh.

Because his metaphor actually has a second part.

The Mongol Empire, the pinnacle of nomadic empires in history, once ruled over most of the Asian continent at its peak. However, it eventually fragmented into several de facto independent empires due to the infighting and power struggles among its princes over several generations.

Although the Fengchuan Group is large and powerful, it has its own problems. The main family is small, with only three people, including Xiangzi's father and grandfather who are his sons-in-law. Moreover, with only one son per generation for several generations, the blood ties between the Fengchuan relatives have become very thin. The collateral branches of the Fengchuan family and Xiangzi are distant relatives separated by several generations. It is conceivable that there is not much cohesion within the family.

This is precisely why the centrifugal force within the group must already be very strong.

From a human nature perspective, what motivation would they have to continue risking their lives for their master? They might as well try to undermine as many others as possible. Even if they can't break away from their master and work independently for the time being, at least they can fill their own coffers.

Therefore, this empire, seemingly flourishing and prosperous, is actually fraught with crises...

Of course, Jun Takasaki kept these words to himself and didn't tell Shoko directly.

Some things, if said aloud, will only spoil the mood.

To cheer Xiangzi up, he deliberately made a joke, "So, Xiangzi, you are the princess of the royal court, the future Khan. The future of the entire Khanate rests on your shoulders. You can't afford any mishaps... otherwise, the world will be in chaos."

Hearing him say that, Xiangzi blushed slightly, but she still managed to suppress her shyness and replied, "Then you must protect me well..."

“Yes, of course.” Takasaki Jun continued jokingly, “Then how about you make me a commander of ten thousand? I’d like to experience what it’s like to lead a region.”

"Is that all you want to do is be a commander of ten thousand?" Xiangzi just rolled his eyes at him. "Hmph, what an unambitious man! He'd rather be granted land and made a king!"

After they finished speaking, the two of them couldn't help but look at each other and burst into laughter.

=========================================

Soon, it was time for the monthly internal meeting of the Toyokawa Group's board of directors.

On this day, the heads of various business units of the Toyokawa Group, namely the executive directors and managing directors, will gather at the company headquarters to hold a meeting with the president.

One after another, luxury cars drove into the Toyokawa Group's headquarters building and disappeared into the private underground parking garage. Then, the drivers and their secretaries got out of the cars, took the elevator, and headed straight for the private conference room next to the president's office.

These executives and managing directors, some of whom are relatives of the Toyokawa family, and others who have worked their way up to their current positions over the years, may look different, but each of them has at least several hundred or several thousand employees under them. They usually act arrogantly, but after arriving at this building, they all restrained their arrogance and didn't dare to breathe loudly.

One by one, people walked in, and after nodding to each other, they didn't exchange many pleasantries but sat down.

More and more people came in, and soon the long conference table was almost full.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the arrival of today's main characters.

At that moment, Junya Takasaki and the Toyokawa father and daughter stepped out of a Maybach.

This was his first time stepping into the Toyokawa Group headquarters building.

It's impossible to say that I wasn't nervous at all.

However, when he saw that both Toyokawa and his daughter had calm and indifferent expressions, they were clearly used to it all.

It's not surprising that Toyokawa Kiyoko has such composure. After all, nearly twenty years have passed since he joined the Toyokawa Group. He has been in management for so long and is extremely familiar with everything here, so it's impossible for him to be nervous. Xiangzi, on the other hand, is different. Strictly speaking, she is still only a first-year high school student. The fact that she can develop such composure shows that she is also slowly growing.

If Xiangzi can do it, then of course I can't fall behind.

So he straightened his head and became more energetic.

He didn't notice that after he looked at Xiangzi, Xiangzi was also secretly looking at him.

Today, although it was Chun's first time working, she was not nervous at all.

He was wearing a sharp suit, but unlike the overly solemn black suit and tie he wore at the funeral that day, he was wearing a custom-made dark gray Italian-style suit, and the tie was changed to a blue-gray striped silk tie (the one in the cover photo...).

He looks so handsome... She couldn't help but secretly admire him.

Today, it's just the two of us attending together. Even though this guy probably doesn't know the significance of it, what will other people think when they see this?

Thinking of this, Xiangzi felt secretly delighted, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

"cough."

At this moment, Xiangzi heard her father cough softly beside her. It was clear that her father had noticed her unusual behavior and was reminding her not to make a fuss.

She was slightly embarrassed, but quickly regained her composure and returned to her previous calm and collected demeanor.

Then, led by the secretary, the three of them entered the president's private elevator, which then carried them rapidly toward the president's office.

A short while later, the meeting room door was opened.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone inside, the president of the Toyokawa Group and the future head of the family appeared before them.

Everyone immediately stood up from their seats and bowed in unison to the two men.

Good morning, President!

Good morning, young lady!

The shouts in unison almost shook the entire office.

Facing the group of middle-aged and elderly men in suits, Xiangzi had no appetite for anything. She simply bowed slightly to them with the solemnity befitting a head of the household, just like her father, and then sat down in her seat without saying a word.

At this moment, Jun Takasaki was somewhat at a loss.

Because no one had told him beforehand where he should be.

He certainly wouldn't be so arrogant as to think there's a seat for him right now, but then again, where should I stand?

Just as he was still confused, Toyokawa Kiyoshi turned his head slightly and gave him a wink.

Then he finally snapped out of his daze, took a few steps back, closed the door, and stood in the doorway, right behind the father and daughter's seats.

It was at this moment that the people present finally noticed that there was one more person.

Because of the sudden appearance of a new face, and because of his excessive youth, many people present began to look at him. However, no one was so impolite as to look him in the eye; they simply observed him privately.