Tokyo Three Generations

Since becoming a single parent with her daughter, she has always regarded her daughter as her hope for the future, raising her daughter at all costs since she was a child, and sincerely hoping that her daughter will shine brightly in the future and be even more outstanding than herself.

Moreover, Su Shi did not disappoint her. She surpassed her in both appearance and talent. Unlike Senmina, she was not so twisted as to compete with her daughter for female glory. Seeing her daughter gradually getting on the right track, she felt only joy and satisfaction—as well as the pride of "I have a successor."

“Su Shi, you did very well, even better than I expected… Although you are still young, I can already see how promising your future will be. Mom is so proud of you.” While praising her daughter, she smiled and gently stroked her face. “Mom can’t teach you anything anymore. From now on, just follow your heart. You can definitely do everything well!”

However, although she couldn't lecture her daughter anymore, she couldn't help but add, "You must be careful to maintain a good relationship with Young Master Chun and Miss Toyokawa. They not only helped you, but they will definitely be your greatest support in the future. Others would kill for friends like that, so don't lose them easily..."

“Yes, I understand.” Nagasaki Motoyo nodded with a smile. “They not only come from privileged backgrounds, but as individuals, they are all people I admire and should emulate. It’s my luck to be friends with them, and I will do my best to help them in the future…”

Chizuru Nagasaki wholeheartedly agreed, but at the same time, another question came to mind.

"By the way, what is the relationship between these two people? Generally speaking, if they didn't have some kind of relationship, Miss Toyokawa wouldn't protect the daughter of a criminal suspect based on just a few words, would she?"

That's a very good question.

This caused a slight gloom to appear on Nagasaki Motoyo's smiling face.

"Yes, they have a very good relationship. They're not only family friends, but also... and Miss Toyokawa has a good impression of him too."

"Oh... I see." Although her daughter spoke haltingly, Nagasaki Chizuru already understood everything.

Then, she looked at her daughter with a hint of worry in her eyes.

No one knows a daughter better than her mother, and she could certainly see that in her daughter's heart, Young Master Chun held a special place.

This is not surprising at all. Which young girl doesn't dream of love? With Young Master Chun's background and the fact that he saved her life, it's perfectly reasonable for my daughter to develop feelings for him.

She even had some expectations for it—after all, if her daughter could really become the lady of the Takasaki family in the future, her life would be considered "perfect".

She had been secretly hoping for it, but now, that idea seemed to have suffered a serious blow.

While her daughter is indeed outstanding and makes her proud, if her rival is Miss Toyokawa… that's a different story. She'd only be overwhelmed by the pressure.

My dear daughter, you're in a real predicament now... She couldn't help but feel a little worried in her eyes.

"Then, what does Young Master Chun mean?" she asked in a low voice.

Nagasaki Motoyo hesitated for a moment, seemingly unsure how to describe it.

After thinking for a moment, she finally gave a vague description.

"He...he doesn't seem to care much about these kinds of issues. He's been very kind to us, and not just to me and Miss Toyokawa, but also to another friend. I feel like he treats us all like younger sisters..."

"Pfft, hahaha..." Nagasaki Chizuru finally couldn't hold back and couldn't help but laugh. "It's not strange to treat you like a younger sister, you're all quite young."

Then, she sighed, "Although I don't know who that other friend you mentioned is, they must be very good-looking, right? From what I've seen, it takes a lot to trigger Young Master Chun's compassion..."

Hearing these words, which were neither a statement nor a taunt, Nagasaki Motoyo couldn't help but laugh.

"So I'm very grateful to you for making me so good-looking, otherwise we might all be dead."

“You’re my daughter. I’m so beautiful, how could you not be?” Nagasaki Chizuru pretended to be angry, glared at her daughter, and then burst into laughter.

However, she soon became worried again. "Daughter, you've always been serious, which is a good thing, but sometimes you take it too seriously... If, I mean if, Young Master Chun really does get close to Miss Toyokawa in the future, please don't take it too hard. You and they are from different worlds. Even if you lose to her, it's not your fault. You're still young, and you have so many choices to make, understand?"

Nagasaki Motoyo knew that her mother was worried that after losing to Miss Toyokawa, her daughter would be unable to cope with the situation and would not be able to get over it, so she was giving her a heads-up in advance.

To be honest, she herself had struggled with this issue at first, but after a while, she managed to resolve it on her own and emerged from the internal conflict.

She has her own way of surviving.

"Mom, don't worry. I know what I should do... In short, I will try my best. I will strive to be the best Nagasaki Motoyo, to make myself shine, to become a Nagasaki Motoyo who deserves to be liked by everyone... Similarly, I will catch up with Jun's footsteps, become an elite talent of the country, and help him move forward. This is not only to repay a debt of gratitude, but also to realize my own value in life. And then, I will be qualified to say that I deserve to stand with him."

After saying these words, she smiled slightly again, "And even if I lose after going to that point, I will have no regrets and will not hate anyone... On the contrary, if my two favorite people get together, I will be very happy. They are my favorite couple! I will stand by their side and watch over them and take care of them for the rest of my life. That kind of life is not bad, is it?"

This is also her truest thought.

She will do her best to win, but if she loses, she can only accept that she lost to Toyokawa Shoko, because she will not be convinced by anyone else.

If they really do end up together, she will bless and protect them, becoming an indispensable support to them.

Hearing her daughter's sincere confession, Nagasaki Chizuru was completely dumbfounded. She wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say.

Regardless, it's a good thing that my daughter wants to improve herself and become a future national elite.

As for other things... sigh, my daughter is already this age, I can't manage so much anymore.

As long as she feels happy, then let her be.

So she didn't say anything more, just nodded slightly.

"Okay, then I can only wish you all the best."

"You've been talking about me the whole time. How are things going on your end?" Nagasaki Motoyo asked with a smile.

“What else can I do? I can only do the same things all day long. I can’t go anywhere. All I can do is take a walk by the lake.” Nagasaki Chizuru sighed helplessly. “But no matter what, this kind of life is much better than being in prison. As long as I can get through these two years, I can go back to the life I love! Let’s just consider this a period of rest and recuperation.”

Motoyo Nagasaki gazed intently at her mother.

In Tokyo, although my mother was a white-collar professional, her complexion was not good because of the fast pace of life, high pressure, and frequent social engagements. However, after moving here, her life became simpler, she no longer needed to socialize, and her food and air were closer to nature.

Although her mother constantly complained about this life, which was tantamount to house arrest, Nagasaki Motoyo actually felt that this kind of life was better for her.

However, some people are destined to be restless. She could not change her mother's ambition and her longing for big city life.

"Then I'll walk with you," she suggested.

So, the mother and daughter left the apartment and took a walk around the lakeside paths. Along the way, Nagasaki Motoyo told her mother some interesting things that had happened recently, making her mother laugh continuously.

However, no matter how heartfelt the reunion, there will eventually be a time for farewell.

Nagasaki Motoyo will eventually have to leave her mother again and return to Tokyo.

As the sun set, she suppressed her reluctance and waved to her mother, "Goodbye, Mom! I'll come see you again next time I have the chance."

"Goodbye, my darling daughter~" Nagasaki Chizuru seemed a bit more cheerful. "I'll ask Jun-sama to take good care of you... Do your best, I'm so proud of you!"

And so, as the evening glow fell, Nagasaki Motoyo bid farewell to her mother once more and returned to her own life.

58. The Struggle for Power

Just as Jun Takasaki finished enjoying his trip to Akita and was leisurely boarding the Shinkansen back to Tokyo, his father, Hiroshi Takasaki, far away in Tokyo, was troubled by a sudden incident.

Wataru Takeshita, the leader of the Heisei Research Institute (formerly known as the Keiseikai), had been hospitalized for a long time due to late-stage esophageal cancer, but his condition has suddenly deteriorated, and he is clearly nearing his end.

This Takeshita Wataru is no nobody; he is the younger brother of former Prime Minister Takeshita Noboru.

In 1985, Takeshita Noboru broke away from the control of his mentor, Kakuei Tanaka, and formed his own political force. He actively courted politicians within the Tanaka faction and appointed his half-brother, Takeshita Wataru, who was 22 years younger than him, as his secretary, grooming him as his successor.

As Takeshita Noboru rose through the ranks in the 80s and became prime minister in 1987, the Takeshita faction (also known as the Keiseikai, to which the Takasaki family belonged) gradually gained dominance within the Liberal Democratic Party.

However, with the bursting of the bubble economy in the 90s, the Japanese public became increasingly angry with the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which also damaged the reputation of politicians from the Tanaka-Takeshita faction. At the same time, infighting within the factions was intense during this period, with many members of parliament losing their elections or leaving the party, and the factional power also declined.

Although the faction was held up by the two leaders, Ryutaro Hashimoto and Keizo Obuchi, in 2000, with the deaths of Noboru Takeshita and Keizo Obuchi, and the rise of powerful figures Yoshiro Mori and Koizumi, the Seiwakai, the arch-rival of the Keiseikai, finally overthrew the Keiseikai's rule and has maintained control of the mainstream political arena ever since.

After his brother's death, Takeshita Wataru took over his brother's political legacy. After years of accumulation and preparation, he eventually rose to the position of leader of the faction, ruling the entire faction, which is the "boss" of the Takasaki family.

However, since the power of the factions was no longer what it used to be, despite Takeshita Wataru having controlled the factions for more than a decade, he had no chance of becoming prime minister. In the cabinet, he only held minor positions such as vice minister of finance and minister of disaster recovery, and was almost completely cut off from the core power of the country.

If the "boss" is like this, the underlings are naturally not much better off. The Takasaki family is no longer as glorious as it was 20 years ago. Takasaki Jun retired in 2012, letting his son take over and lie low on his own territory, content with just being able to support the family business and pass it on peacefully.

And now Takeshita Wataru is finally about to finish his life.

He could simply close his eyes and end it all, but the living have far too many things to consider.

Hiroshi Takasaki was not grieving for the dying clan leader, but rather troubled by the upcoming succession struggle within the clan.

Don't misunderstand, he wasn't actually vying for the position of clan leader. Although he was already a resource councilor after inheriting the family business, his seniority and resources were not particularly deep within the faction, and he couldn't command the crowd.

Moreover, he himself knew that his reputation had always been bad, he had no popular prestige, and no one would recommend him as a leader.

His dilemma was deciding which side to take with the future winner.

As the patriarch's condition worsened, various powerful factions within the patriarchal clan had been stirring with activity for days. He had heard many rumors of secret collusion, and he knew that he would inevitably be drawn into it as well.

Although he may seem like a carefree person who only cares about enjoying himself, Hiroshi Takasaki is not entirely unprepared for this.

He had already found out that Takeshita Wataru intended for Obuchi Yuko, a female member of his faction, to succeed him after his death.

Given the high regard the clan leader held for her, Yuko Obuchi was certainly no nobody—in fact, she was the daughter of former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.

The Takeshita and Obuchi families have a deep historical connection. Back then, Obuchi Keizo was supported by Takeshita Noboru all the way to become prime minister.

Takeshita Wataru clearly also had the idea of ​​helping Obuchi Yuko take the lead, and then having her pass the family lineage to the Takeshita family heir in the future.

Hiroshi Takasaki actually had no objection to this practice of transferring power between families—because he himself was a second-generation member of parliament, and this was his job.

However, things that seem obvious are not so easy.

Because within the factions, there are also tough challengers.

That challenger was none other than the current Foreign Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi.

This man is quite remarkable. Although he did not have a distinguished family background and was just an unknown member of parliament when he first started out, he rose through the ranks thanks to his skillful social maneuvering and strong resource allocation ability. He eventually became the secretary-general, second only to the chairman, which is equivalent to the second-in-command in the faction. Moreover, he was valued by the current prime minister and summoned to the cabinet to become a minister.

With family background and connections on one side, and ability and connections on the other, supporting either seems reasonable.

Just when he was worrying, an uninvited guest arrived, making his headache even worse.

That's right, the vice president of the faction, Yuko Obuchi, personally came to build a house for the Takasaki family.

You don't need to ask to know what she's here for.

However, whether you know it or not, you must receive them warmly.

So he had someone respectfully invite the other party into his reception room.

Yuko Obuchi is nearly fifty years old, and she is wearing a custom-made suit that is understated yet luxurious.

Although some wrinkles are visible on her face, she still looks radiant, and between her brows one can see an ambition that rivals that of any man.

She did not come in alone, but with a secretary.

The secretary didn't come empty-handed either; he was carrying a suitcase.

Upon seeing the suitcase, Hiroshi Takasaki frowned slightly.

However, he remained outwardly calm and composed.

"Mr. Xiaoyuan, it is a pleasant surprise and an honor for me to have you come to our home. I wonder what brings you here?"

“Mr. Takasaki, I’ve come here sincerely to ask you for help.” Yuko Obuchi didn’t waste any words and went straight to the point.

Then, she gave her secretary a wink.

The secretary immediately opened the suitcase.

Sure enough, Hiroshi Takasaki confirmed his earlier guess at a glance—

Those were stacks of brand-new 10,000 yen banknotes.

"How traditional..." he thought to himself.

But that's normal.

Starting with its founder Kakuei Tanaka, the Heisei Ken school has been known worldwide for its black money and corruption.

Because illicit funds cannot be brought to light, politicians within factions prefer to use cash with untraceable origins as a political resource.

During Kakuei Tanaka's lifetime, rumors circulated that this "Dark General" had a room full of cash in his luxurious mansion—although the rumors were exaggerated, there was indeed some basis to them.

Following his example, the huge sums of cash circulated among his disciples and followers, or were carefully hoarded away.

Of course, this is not just a problem of the Tanaka faction; almost all factions are doing similar things. After all, in any country and in any era, politics is essentially a matter of money distribution.

Having seen similar scenes before, Takasaki Hiroshi was neither shocked nor flustered when he saw a box full of banknotes. He just hadn't expected the other party to be so undisguised.

It seems she can't wait to take her place... Takasaki Hiroshi thought to himself.

This is not surprising. As the daughter of a former prime minister and the head of a faction, Yuko Obuchi has always considered herself a princess of a faction since her debut, and naturally believes that she will inherit the position of the faction leader.

However, because she had neglected to cultivate relationships with her colleagues over the years, she finally became a minister, but was forced to resign due to a scandal involving the misappropriation of donations (see Chapter 16 of this book for details). Her reputation and career suffered a severe blow, and she was regarded as incompetent by others in the faction, with many doubts raised about her.

Because she knew that many people were dissatisfied, she hoped to act swiftly and decisively to determine the successor as the leader of the faction at this juncture.

It seems that winning over the Takasaki family is part of the whole plan.

Gao Qihao glanced at the box briefly, estimated its volume, and then, based on his extensive experience, quickly calculated that the stacks of ten-thousand-yuan bills inside were worth over two hundred million.

He didn't seem panicked; he just looked at Yuko Obuchi with a questioning gaze, waiting for her to continue.

Seeing Takasaki Hiroshi's expression, Obuchi Yuko smiled gently and explained in an extremely soft tone.

"Mr. Takasaki, as you can see, there is 20 million in cash here. Moreover, this is only a deposit. If you can vote for me when the factions elect a new chairman, I am willing to give you 2 billion. And rest assured, no one will be able to trace it back."

20 billion... to buy one of my tickets? Takasaki Hiroshi's heart suddenly trembled.