bookbashuk Page 183
Page 183
"My mother went to find a parking space; she should be here by now."
"I haven't seen anyone from the Shimada family except for your nominal stepmother."
Chinatsu Fuchigami corrected, "That woman isn't. A mistress who takes over doesn't deserve the Shimada surname, so she's not my stepmother, not even in name."
"That's it."
"As for the Shimada family, they should be getting to know each other better in the private room."
Feng Zejian cut a piece of beef and put it in his mouth.
"Aren't you going?"
“I don’t have the surname Shimada, so what does the Shimada family’s business have to do with me?”
"You certainly managed to spot it cleanly."
"That is."
At this moment, Yuan Shang Zhezhi strode over.
"You're here."
The two looked at it, and smiles appeared on their faces.
"Mother."
"Sister, you are here."
Yuan Shang broke off a branch and came to the two of them.
"I was looking for a parking space just now. There were quite a few people here today, and it took me a while to find a parking space."
"Chika, have you gone to see your grandfather?"
Chika Fuchigami looked away guiltily.
"I've seen it. If you don't believe me, ask Feng Zejian."
Feng Zejian gave an awkward but polite smile.
"Chika, if you weren't guilty when you said that, I would definitely stand by you, but the signs of your lying are too obvious."
"Sister, Chika didn't go."
Yuan Shang Zhezhi calmly looked at his daughter.
"You have five minutes to eat, then come with me to see your grandfather."
Chika Fuchigami pouted and started eating in silence.
Breaking a branch from the abyss is gentle, yet also severe.
Five minutes later, Chika wiped her mouth, got up, and followed Oreki.
I break off a branch on the bank and gaze at the wind and marshland.
"Little brother, we'll head over now."
"Ah."
The mother and daughter went to a private room deep inside the hall.
Yuan Shangzhe knocked on the door, and the door to the private room opened. It was Gong Yabo who opened the door.
The two nodded to each other.
Yuan Shangzhe led Yuan Shangqianxia into the private room.
The private room was spacious with a large round table.
Seated at the head of the table is today's birthday celebrant, the head of the Shimada family, and next to him sits the matriarch, Shimada Yoshimi.
Shimada Nagakage smiled when he saw Fuchigami break off a branch.
"Isn't this a broken branch? It's been so long! This old man has been thinking about you every day, and I'm so glad you've finally come."
He broke off a branch on the bank and revealed a standard smile.
"It's truly an honor to be thought of by the old man."
As he spoke, he took a long gift box out of his bag.
Chapter 232 Dating Five Boyfriends
"I didn't have anything to buy for the old man, so I asked a friend to buy the main body of a thousand-year-old ginseng as a birthday gift for him."
"May the old man enjoy boundless happiness and longevity, and may the Shimada family prosper and flourish."
Yuan Shang Zhe Zhi handled the appearances perfectly, leaving no room for criticism.
Yuan Shang broke off a branch and touched his daughter.
After realizing what was happening, Chika Fuchigami continued, "Chika wishes Grandpa and Grandma a long and healthy life, and that their lives get better and better."
At this moment, the matriarch of the Shimada family said, "If you and your daughter could come back, life would definitely get better and better."
Chika Fuchigami was speechless. She had already picked out half of the points, but her grandmother still managed to find an opening. Her grandmother really knew how to seize every opportunity.
He broke off a branch by the abyss, a smile on his face.
"I've been too busy lately, so I haven't taken Chika to visit your parents. If we have time, Chika and I will definitely visit them."
Shimada Nagakage smiled kindly and said, "Zhezhi, you're already this old, don't overwork yourself."
"Thank you for your concern, sir. Qianxia is growing up and spending more and more money. Our savings have been almost used up on the mountain. We can't afford to let this girl squander money if we don't earn more."
The phrase "breaking a branch on the bank" implies something, both openly and subtly.
At this moment, Chika Fuchigami said, "Mother, I've recently taken a liking to a piano."
"You silly girl, didn't I buy you one before? Why did you buy another one?"
Fuchikami Chinatsu smiled slightly.
“Mother, that’s different. It’s an antique piano. I’ve played antique pianos since I was little, and it feels special to play them. Father was so good to me. He gave me the valuable antique piano and gave the new, cheaper one to Qian Dong.”
"You child, you're talking nonsense. Antiques are for looking at, not for playing with."
"Maybe I'm confusing antiques with vintage."
The mother and daughter's charade caused the faces of the people present to shift between gloom and joy.
At that moment, Chifuyu Shimada and Yuki Nagumo walked in.
The mother and daughter from Yuan Shang stood aside in tacit agreement.
Although there were seats for two people, the two of them stood.
Chifuyu Shimada and Yuki Nagumo, the golden couple, greeted Nagakage Shimada and Ei Shimada, offered their blessings, and then presented them with their gifts.
The two men sat down amidst the laughter of the two elderly people.
After a while, the door to the private room opened again.
He was also a sprightly old man, dressed in a traditional black men's kimono, who walked in.
A young man, also dressed in a kimono, was accompanying her.
Everyone in the room stood up.
The visitors were Lei Mingqiandao, the head of the Lei family, and his eldest grandson, Lei Mingyin.
"Brother Qiandao, you've really done me a favor by coming here."
Lei Mingqian sat in the seat reserved for him.
“It’s one thing if you don’t come the last few times, but it would be really inexcusable if you didn’t come for your brother’s 70th birthday.”
"Brother Qiandao, you're getting younger and younger."
"Over eighty years old, what's so young about that?"
"Brother Qiandao, if you hadn't said anything, who would have known you were over eighty?"
Chika Fuchigami leaned against the wall, feeling a little bored.
He then looked at his mother.
Yuan Shangzhe saw through Yuan Shangzhe's intentions and shook his head in refusal.
Then Shimada Yoshimi praised Raimyo Sendo's grandson.
"Yin is getting taller and more handsome as he grows up."
Lei Mingyin looked quite aloof, but his gaze kept glancing at Yuan Shang Qianxia, intentionally or unintentionally.
The elders present also saw everything and understood the situation.
However, Shimada Nagakage and Shimada Yuuki dared not act as matchmakers.
The mother and daughter had bluntly taken away the subtle hints they had just given.
If we try to bring them together again now, who knows what kind of embarrassing situation we might end up with.
Lei Mingqian looked at Yuan Shangqianxia, who seemed utterly bored.
“Little girl, I remember you are Changjing’s granddaughter, Shimada Chinatsu.”
Yuan Shangqianxia glanced at Lei Mingqiandao.
“I changed it a long time ago. I took my mother’s surname. My current surname is Yuanshang, Yuanshang Qianxia.”
Although what Chika Fuchigami said was true, it was still quite embarrassing to say it out loud.
Do you have a boyfriend?
Lei Mingqian asked directly, which could be considered as him risking his reputation for his grandson and playing the role of a troublesome elder.
A hint of anticipation appeared on Lei Mingyin's usually cold and stern face.
Chika Fuchigami was taken aback.
"Grandpa Lei, which one are you referring to?"
This sentence left the people in the room speechless.
"Which one is..."
"Here's the thing, I've been dating five boyfriends so far, and I'm planning to date one more. I'll date one a day from Monday to Saturday, and I'll spend my Sundays alone. Grandpa Leiming, if you have any good boyfriend candidates, you must recommend them to me."
Nan Yun Youqi pursed her lips; if there weren't so many people, she would have burst out laughing long ago.
Lei Mingqian gave an awkward laugh.
"Haha, definitely, definitely."
At this moment, Toyokoto Shimada, who had not appeared until then, finally made his appearance.
Shimada Toyokoto was dressed in a black suit and sported a trendy hairstyle typical of modern young people, making a special effort to look dashing as he entered.
In reality, he's just a little bit stronger than a normal person.
"I apologize for being late. I wish my father and mother boundless happiness and prosperity, and may they enjoy a hundred blessings every day."
"Uncle Leiming, you're here too."
"Long time no see, Toyokoto."
"Uncle, you are even more robust than Father, and your complexion is quite rosy. You look like you are only in your forties or fifties."
Lei Mingqian was amused.
"You're quite the smooth talker, kid."
Chika Fuchikami felt contempt in her heart.
That's quite the flatterer.
Shimada Toyokoto looked at the mother and daughter.
"Zhezhi, Qianxia, why don't you find a place to sit? There are seats inside."
Yuan Shangzhe chuckled lightly, "I've been having some back problems lately from sitting in the office, and the doctor told me I can't sit for long periods of time."
Chika Fuchigami chimed in, "My thighs hurt when I sit on a stool, but they don't hurt when I stand."