Tokyo Three Generations

Even more remarkably, when the female public relations officer planned to start her own business, Mr. T sponsored a large sum of money and remains a regular customer of the new store to this day.

The Japanese pronunciation of the surname Takasaki is Takazaki.

Although the article did not name names, it included several photos that revealed both parties (with their eyes blurred by a black mosaic), and at the very top was a large photograph—

In a booth at the nightclub, the two people had their heads pressed together, facing the camera and showing relaxed smiles.

In addition to the group photo, the report also published photos of many gifts, as well as photos of Mr. T opening a champagne tower to celebrate the lady's birthday, and even thoughtfully included the corresponding prices.

The entire report is rich in information and written in a smooth and coherent style, which is truly admirable.

The report concludes with a thought-provoking statement: "As an adult, Mr. T's choice of how to spend his leisure time is his own business. However, faced with this situation, we cannot help but ask: Where exactly has the tax money of the Japanese people gone?"

This report immediately became a bombshell in the public discourse, sparking widespread discussion online.

Hiroshi Takasaki's name was immediately exposed on the anonymous forum, followed by a barrage of insults in the comments section.

The overwhelming wave of public opinion quickly turned against the Takasaki family, whose reputation was clearly severely damaged.

Meanwhile, at the center of the media storm, the Takasaki family mansion is also caught in a violent tempest.

"Useless! Idiot!"

While cursing, Takasaki Jun picked up his cane and smashed it hard against his son.

The cane struck Takasaki Hiroshi's shoulder with a dull thud, clearly demonstrating that although the old man was frail and old, the force of the blow was astonishing.

He wasn't upset about the money his son spent; he was furious. He could have just been playing around, but how did he manage to give others so much ammunition against him?

Although the other party's retaliation was expected, it was really too much for the son to reveal so many flaws.

However, despite his anger, he remained rational.

He understood that the Obuchi family was trying to "make an example of someone" and severely punish the Takasaki family to scare away those bystanders who were preparing to side with Mogi's faction.

Back then, from the moment he joined the faction, he and Keizo Obuchi belonged to the same school and were members of the same generation of senators, working together for decades.

Now, decades of friendship have turned into an irreconcilable hatred.

However, it doesn't matter. The fiercer the fighting, the more it shows that the Takasaki family has contributed, and the more qualified they are to share the spoils in the new era of factionalism.

After decades of friendship, it's time to sell...

Hiroshi Takasaki cried out in pain as he was hit by the cane, but dared not say anything more and could only lower his head and listen to the reprimand.

But Jun Takasaki couldn't stand it any longer.

"Public opinion suddenly spread like wildfire, and the insults were overwhelming. Someone must have hired online trolls to create hype for the scandal." He explained in a low voice, actually trying to help his father out of the predicament. "It seems that Xiaoyuan's family was also prepared, and they came up with a series of punches right from the start."

This is obvious to everyone; the key is how to solve the problem.

Jun Takasaki did not answer, nor did he make any further moves. Instead, he turned his gaze to Mio Takasaki, who was sitting silently on the sofa.

Then, as an elder, he bowed deeply and said, "Mio, I'm so sorry... I'm counting on you from now on."

Mio Takasaki remained expressionless, but still bowed slightly to her father-in-law. "It's alright, Dad. It's all worth it for me to put in so much effort for this family."

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

That very evening, the Takasaki family's unexpected press conference instantly ignited public opinion once again.

The Takasaki family chose to be interviewed by online media, and the interview was broadcast live on a video website.

Before the live stream even started, a large number of viewers had already entered the room, and the barrage of comments was flying everywhere. Most of them were mocking Takasaki Hiroshi, calling him a "wicked politician" and a "tax thief."

However, when Mio Takasaki, dressed in a kimono, appeared in the video frame, the comments suddenly changed.

"Madam! So adorable!"

This was, of course, carefully planned. As a Tokyo socialite, Mio Takasaki usually wears Chanel haute couture suits, but today, she deliberately wore a kimono. On the one hand, it made her appear dignified and elegant, and on the other hand, it highlighted her gentle and patient "traditional housewife" side in order to evoke the audience's sympathy.

When the interview began, Mio Takasaki first bowed to apologize to all the viewers.

"Everyone, I am truly sorry that my family has caused so much confusion and trouble for the public recently. I am here today to give this interview not because my husband is hiding behind public opinion, but because the whole incident started because of me. As the person directly responsible, seeing my husband suffer such criticism, I simply cannot remain silent. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of clarifying and defending my husband..."

Next, the host began asking the husband about his frequenting nightclubs.

Since the photos were already circulating everywhere, Mio Takasaki wasn't foolish enough to deny them; instead, she took full responsibility for them herself.

“My family is in the liquor business and has a large distribution business for imported liquors, so we have very close ties with many nightclubs in Tokyo. Therefore, in order to build connections for our family business, I would occasionally invite my husband to attend events. Of course, this is just normal social interaction and has absolutely nothing to do with business transactions. As for the idea that my husband would give gifts, that is pure nonsense, because those gifts were originally given by us to thank the nightclubs for their patronage.”

"And what about their intimate behavior?" the host asked again.

“Since you’re going to a nightclub, sometimes you have to go along with the atmosphere. You can’t cause trouble for others,” Takasaki Mio replied. “Besides, that Ms. Luna is a very good friend of mine. My husband was just encouraging her to keep working hard out of the kindness of an elder… Part of the money she used to open her shop was sponsored by me. It has nothing to do with my husband. I can prove it with bank records.”

At this point, Mio Takasaki clenched her fists, nearly bursting with anger, but outwardly she maintained her composure. "Of course, my husband is usually too approachable and lacks decorum, which I often criticize him for. But we've been married for over 20 years, and I know him very well. He's an extremely gentle and considerate husband. The claim that he frequents nightclubs is utter nonsense! In the end, it's just social engagements, and most of the time he only goes because I begged him. So, seeing him suffer so much criticism today because of me breaks my heart..."

When she said, "I feel like my heart is breaking...", Mio Takasaki genuinely sobbed. It was both an act and a reflection of her true feelings.

Then, she raised her sleeve, gently wiped away her tears, and then bowed deeply to the camera.

"Gentlemen, because of my rashness and willfulness, such a great commotion has been caused, and my husband has also been implicated. I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart. All the responsibility lies with me... I will reflect on my mistakes in the future and will never make a similar mistake again."

Those who don't know the truth might think she's wiping away tears because she's heartbroken for her husband, but those who do know will only feel even more heartache for her.

Jun Takasaki was watching the live stream, but he couldn't bear to watch this scene any longer, so he turned off his phone.

He knew why his mother was so willing to sacrifice her dignity.

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

Mio Takasaki's live apology video, driven by certain individuals, quickly became a new hot topic in public opinion.

In the video, she took all the blame upon herself, which many people did not believe, thinking it was a publicity stunt. But in any case, she did manage to mitigate a lot of the negative public opinion.

Young people don't care about good or bad; they just think the lady is really beautiful and speaks nicely. Middle-aged and elderly people praise her as the most responsible traditional wife for the family, worthy of being a daughter-in-law of a prestigious family.

As for the truth? In the internet age, who cares? Public opinion is never short of hot topics.

However, in a luxury mansion in the suburbs of Tokyo, a young girl watched the entire apology video with an unusually heavy heart.

"These people are really something else. Why do they have to dig so deep about something that's only a few hundred million? Do they have to embarrass everyone?"

After watching the video, Toyokawa Shoko was filled with righteous indignation and couldn't help but slam her hand on the table.

After cursing, she rewound the video to the frame where Mio Takasaki was wiping away tears, and then froze the frame.

Seeing how distressed Takasaki Mio was, she felt deeply sympathetic and genuinely pitied this aunt she had never met.

Being a congressman's wife isn't all glamorous; there are actually some tough things involved.

It seems that everyone in the world has their own sorrows, and even the rich and powerful cannot escape them...

After a moment of sighing and reflection, she finally made a decision.

Then, she stood up, left her room, and walked down the corridor of the mansion to her father's study, where she raised her hand and knocked.

"dad."

"Xiangzi? What's the matter? Come in." Toyokawa Kiyoko's voice immediately came from inside.

Toyokawa Shoko went inside, first bowing slightly to her father, and then looking up at him.

"Dad, did you watch Mrs. Takasaki's press conference?"

"I've read it." Toyokawa Kiyoshi nodded, then sighed with some emotion, "Madam really had it tough... She risked her life for her husband, that's remarkable. But, it's more for her son than for her husband."

Xiangzi hadn't thought of this yet, but after her father reminded her, she suddenly realized and felt even more sympathy for the lady.

This is motherly love... just like a mother loves her child.

"Father, the Takasaki family has suffered such a calamity, and they must be in dire need of comfort right now. How about you take me to visit them?"

This sudden request startled Toyokawa Kiyokazu. "This is not a good idea! They are currently embroiled in a scandal. If we rashly visit them, and word gets out, wouldn't we be asking for trouble?"

“I know that visiting now might cause controversy, but so what? It’s precisely at times like these that we should give Mr. Takasaki’s family our full support. That’s how we fulfill our duty as family, isn’t it?” Toyokawa Shoko argued logically. “Besides, do we have anything to fear from the media? The advertising department’s annual budget can’t be wasted, can it? If anyone tries to slander us, we’ll have Aunt Bai Ze step in and make them regret it.”

Seeing his daughter's stern expression, Toyokawa Kiyoko finally realized that his daughter was really angry.

"But..." he still hesitated.

“Dad…” Toyokawa Shoko grasped her father’s hand and shook it gently. “They’ve helped us a lot before, so it’s only right that we return the favor, isn’t it?”

"I don't think he's ever helped me at all..." Toyokawa Kiyoko muttered under his breath.

“Dad…” Toyokawa Shoko shook her head twice more.

Under his daughter's relentless advances, the father finally gave in.

Well, it's not a big deal anyway. Let's just offer our condolences. Who can blame our own family for anything?

After thinking it over, he finally nodded. "Sigh, alright, I'll do as you say. Is that alright?"

"Okay! Thank you, Dad!" Seeing that her father had agreed, Toyokawa Shoko finally brightened up and smiled happily.

After laughing for a moment, she frowned, clenched her small, slender fist, and then waved it lightly in the air. "These reporters are like flies drawn to filth, always prying into people's privacy and making everyone miserable. They're so annoying! If they keep spreading rumors, I'll give them a good beating!"

Seeing his daughter's sullen face, Toyokawa Kiyoko felt as if he were watching a kitten hissing. Although the occasion was inappropriate, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

69, an unexpected surprise?

After the press conference, the Takasaki family returned to silence, keeping a low profile to avoid being harassed by outsiders and to prevent revealing any further clues.

However, although the Takasaki father and son stayed at home, they were not idle at all. The two of them frantically contacted various relationships, inquired about the development of public opinion, and the attitudes of their political allies.

Mio Takasaki's "self-sacrifice" had a huge effect, just as expected. Although the outside world did not believe her story, the pitiful image of a "traditional wife" tearfully protecting her husband earned the Takasaki family a lot of sympathy.

Furthermore, aside from frequenting brothels, Takasaki Hiroshi did not have any major scandals (which is understandable, as he has not held any important positions in recent years, so it would not be easy for him to create any scandals), so the attacks against him quickly lost public interest.

Some people were questioning the source of the huge expenses, but Mio Takasaki's statement, "My family is rich, and I paid for it myself," was enough to silence the critics.

As a result, the overwhelming attacks surrounding the Takasaki family gradually subsided. It is foreseeable that in about a week, the peak of the controversy should be over, and then the public will start chasing new hot topics.

Offline, good news also came. Mogi contacted Takasaki Jun through intermediaries, expressing his gratitude to the Takasaki family for their "righteousness" and his sympathy for the retaliation suffered by Takasaki Hiroshi. He said that he would fulfill his promise and join forces to retaliate as soon as conditions allowed.

This news acted like a shot in the arm, greatly encouraging the Takasaki father and son. After all, as long as they could get through this difficult time, their family could ride the wave of power during the next generation's leadership transition and rise to prominence along with the rest of the family.

Compared to this prospect, what do the ridicule and insults we are receiving now matter?

During this period, the person who suffered the most in the Takasaki family was naturally Takasaki Mio. While the Takasaki father and son had the future political success to rely on, she could only taste that bottomless sense of shame alone.

Going on a live stream to defend her husband's infidelity and womanizing to everyone, and even referring to a Ginza hostess as her friend, was tantamount to public execution for someone as proud and arrogant as her. Perhaps, for her, being beheaded in public would have been more comfortable.

What's even more ridiculous is that she can't show her anger and pain; she has to continue to pretend to be a "virtuous wife" and help her husband get through the crisis.

That's why, as soon as she got home after the show, she turned off her phone. She didn't want to watch the live broadcast or any news or comments about it anymore, and she didn't even want to answer calls from her best friends. For her, even sympathy now only made her feel angry and ashamed.

She just wanted to be isolated from the world, so she stayed at home and didn't go anywhere, so she wouldn't have to face the strange looks from the outside world.

Jun Takasaki understood his mother's pain, so he rarely went out during this time, instead staying at home to be with her. Although he knew that his mother was a strong and stubborn person at heart, and that once she made a decision, she would not regret it or think too much about it, he still hoped that he could help her alleviate some of her mental pain through his companionship and comfort—after all, this pain was essentially caused by him.

On this day, Takasaki Mio and her son Jun were in the study. Takasaki Mio held a brush and was writing on the paper with great concentration, while Takasaki Jun stood to the side, quietly watching his mother write.

From her student days, Mio Takasaki loved calligraphy and was a member of the school's calligraphy club. After becoming the wife of a member of parliament, she not only sponsored calligraphy activities, but also sometimes picked up a pen and wrote a few lines herself when the mood struck her.

Takasaki Jun had been learning calligraphy since he was a child, so she was naturally considered his teacher, as she had been supervising him since he was young.

—Incidentally, one of the reasons Takasaki Jun chose her as his daughter-in-law was because her interests and hobbies were relatively traditional and matched the aesthetic preferences of the elder Takasaki.

Under Jun Takasaki's watchful gaze, his mother's pen danced across the paper, writing down words one after another.

"At forty-four, with a thin face and graying hair, I was exiled to Jiangzhou as a county official. I was abandoned by the times because of my incompetence, and why am I so frail and weak before I'm even old?"

Ah, this is Bai Juyi's "Exile".

Since ancient times, Bai Juyi's poems have been highly sought after in Japan. From emperors and nobles to ordinary literati, everyone has been eager to read them. Even in "The Tale of Genji," his poems are quoted extensively. In modern times, his poems are still frequently included in Japanese textbooks. As a member of the calligraphy club, Takasaki Mio naturally used his poems to practice her writing when she was studying.

Mio Takasaki wrote this poem not only to "chase her idol," but probably more so because she was moved by the scene.

The characters reflect the heart. Looking at the cursive script on the paper, although it is round and full, there is always a sense of pent-up emotions.

At this moment, her state of mind is probably as bewildered and pained as Bai Juyi's when he was demoted. Thinking of this, Jun Takasaki felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart.

After finishing writing, Mio Takasaki put down her pen, looked up at her son, and asked with a smile, "How was it, son?"

“It doesn’t match up at all,” Jun Takasaki replied.

"Hmm? What do you mean?" The mother's face immediately darkened after being doused with cold water.

"Although your age is close to what it sounds like, you are radiant and beautiful. How could you possibly be associated with descriptions like thin face, age spots, or premature aging? Please stop belittling yourself."

"You little rascal! You're even playing these tricks on your mother now!" In an instant, Takasaki Mio went from great sorrow to great joy, then glared fiercely at her son. "Where did you learn these tricks?"

“Isn’t this because you taught me so well…” Jun Takasaki replied with a smile.

"Nonsense, I never taught you such glib talk." Mio Takasaki couldn't help but laugh, then deliberately put on a serious face.