sinovels Chapter 1351, page 1360: So, girls should be raised in comfort and wealth!
Chapter 1351, page 1360: So, girls should be raised in comfort and wealth!
Chapter 1351, page 1360: So, girls should be raised in comfort and wealth!
The fireworks of Showa 62 still seem to be shining in the night sky, and the continuous chimes still seem to echo in my ears. However, when I open my eyes again, it is already Showa 63.
On the first day of the new year, the snow in the yard made the bedroom windows light up earlier, but the house's constant temperature system kept out all the cold, making it so warm that you didn't want to get out of bed even in the dead of winter.
From the small room next door came whimpering sounds and meows from Nyantaro. Xiaoxiahua had woken up!
However, in the bedroom at this time
"Hmm," Naoki Nagayama said, holding Akina in his arms, "Akina, Hana-chan is awake."
"Hmm~"
Akina, with her eyes closed, made a nasal sound of dissatisfaction, mumbling incoherently in her sleep.
"It's Naoki-san's turn today."
"? It's New Year's Day today, shouldn't the order of childcare be reset?"
"The reset should start with Naoki-san first."
"."
In the warm bed, the young couple cuddled together with their eyes closed, each trying to pass the responsibility of caring for the child to the other. Winter blankets have a magical power, and besides, neither of them wanted to get up early on New Year's Day after a long night's sleep.
Before the two could decide a winner, the now-grown Xia Hua couldn't wait any longer. After whining for a while without anyone coming over, she climbed off her crib and ran to the bedroom to complain about her heartless parents:
"Dad, Mom's up!!!"
The little guy stood on tiptoe and reached his hand towards Naoki Nagayama's face, his chubby little hand even trying to grab his father's nose. Naoki Nagayama could no longer sleep.
Opening his eyes, Naoki Nagayama saw the little one beside the bed, lifted the blanket with one hand, and scooped the little one up with the other, pulling him directly under the covers.
"Come in you!"
He casually turned around and squeezed himself between Akina and himself!
After the little one exclaimed in surprise, he let out a clear laugh, and Akina, who was in the bed, also laughed.
The first day of the new year began amidst the sounds of playful banter in bed!
After getting up and washing up, Nagayama Naoki and Akina took Natsuka downstairs for breakfast.
Because fire is considered a symbol of misfortune in Japanese tradition, the kitchen is not supposed to be used for cooking; people only eat the dishes prepared in advance for the New Year.
However, in modern society, if you don't need fire, you can use a microwave oven or an induction cooker. If you have a child at home, you can't let her eat cold food.
After a flurry of activity, a steaming hot breakfast was served, and Naoki Nagayama went out to retrieve a thick newspaper, which he then read while eating his breakfast.
"really."
Naoki Nagayama pointed to the front-page report and said,
"The news of Akina winning the triple crown is on the front page!"
Akina leaned over for a look, and sure enough, the newspaper featured a photo of her receiving the trophy, along with an exaggerated headline: "Triple Crown Winner! Unprecedented, Setting a Record in the Entertainment Industry, Nakamori Akina Wins the Japan Record Award for the Third Consecutive Time!!"
"Haha, that's a really clever title!"
"The first newspaper of the new year should naturally have something new!"
Naoki Nagayama looked at the newspaper and suddenly said,
"Why don't we frame this newspaper and put it in the display case?"
Hearing this, Akina became somewhat awkward:
"That would be so embarrassing! The guests would think I'm showing off!"
"Hahaha, it's something to brag about!" Naoki Nagayama laughed. "This record is unprecedented, and it might never be broken again!"
With the fast pace of life, the entertainment industry is changing rapidly, making it extremely difficult to remain at the top for three consecutive years.
“Of course there will be!”
Akina, on the other hand, was quite confident.
"I think both Yukiko-chan and Shizuka-chan have great potential."
"I hope so!"
After casually browsing around, Naoki Nagayama put down the newspaper and continued eating his breakfast.
After they had almost finished eating, he said to Akina:
"We'll go back with Brother Feng tomorrow. Today, besides visiting the temple, we also need to pay a New Year's visit to someone's family."
"Ah."
Akina, of course, already knew this, so she nodded.
"I've already prepared the gift."
"Wait, wait a little longer before we set off!"
Actually, I could have just paid my respects to the gods and Buddhas today and then come back to rest. Apart from the New Year's greetings from my neighbors, I don't usually visit other people's homes on the first day of the New Year.
However, this year is a little different. Because he was working for me, Nakai Genta was placed under house arrest in New York and was unable to return.
So, as the boss, you need to visit his home early to offer New Year's greetings. This is no longer just a custom, but a responsibility.
After breakfast, Naoki Nagayama and Akina wrapped the little one up tightly and then took her out to Meiji Shrine, which was not far away, as their New Year's visit site.
Much of the snow on the main roads has been cleared, but the sides of the roads and the grassy areas in the parks are still covered in white snow. Pedestrians outside the car windows are all wearing cotton-padded clothes, hats, gloves, and scarves, and white vapors are constantly being exhaled from their exposed faces.
On the sacred path of the Imperial Garden, people came to pay their respects shoulder to shoulder, all hoping to bring good luck in the new year.
This wasn't Xia Hua's first visit, but she clearly had no memory of it. Sitting on her father's shoulders, she looked at the tall trees around her with great curiosity, her bright black eyes constantly scanning the scenery of Meiji Shrine.
Naoki Nagayama himself was indifferent to such pilgrimages, but Akina was a very superstitious person. She earnestly led her husband and daughter to pray at the shrine, hoping for good luck in the new year and that Hana and the baby in her belly would grow up healthy.
"Please bless Naoki-san and Hana-chan with good health in the new year."
After washing her hands with cold water in the purifying basin, Akina placed Fukuzawa Yukichi into the offering box and then sincerely prayed for blessings.
"I hope my baby grows up healthy and I hope it's a boy!"
Perhaps thinking of her husband's affection for their daughter, Akina added another sentence.
"Girls just need to be healthy too! Please!"
With two soft taps, the worship and blessing ceremony was completed.
"Naoki-san, are you really not going to visit the shrine?"
Akina felt somewhat helpless seeing that Nagayama Naoki was holding Natsuka and not participating in the prayer.
“Me?” Naoki Nagayama shook his head. “Didn’t I say I’m a writer, and I follow Confucian principles of respecting ghosts and spirits while keeping them at a distance?”
Regardless of any powerful gods or bodhisattvas, the Emperor Meiji and Empress enshrined at Meiji Shrine absolutely have no power to protect him! Naoki Nagayama can confirm this.
"All right."
The rest of the visit was more like a stroll; the family wandered around the shrine, stopping occasionally to buy souvenirs, and finally, we got a "Ōmikoshi" fortune slip as a New Year's memento.
The villa district of Setagaya is where Nakai Genta recently bought his new home.
Nakai Genta is an only child. His parents, wife, and children live together in a three-story, antique-style villa, making it a relatively traditional Japanese family.
This year, without Nakai Genta, the pillar of the family, the New Year celebrations felt somewhat quiet, and even the morning visits to temples lacked enthusiasm.
When will Father return?
Shota had asked many times before the new year, but Suzumi couldn't give a clear answer, only reassuring him, "It'll be soon, it'll be soon."
The news that Naoki Nagayama would be visiting was already confirmed before the Lunar New Year.
"That Naoki Nagayama."
Hiroto Nakai, his hair already gray, asked while drinking tea in the tatami room.
"He's Yuan Tai's boss, right? He's the one who sent Yuan Tai to New York to manipulate the stock market?"
As a veteran Japanese, Hiroto Nakai believes in working honestly and earning high salaries and pensions through a seniority-based system. He never touches investments like stocks.
"Hi!" Suzumi brought over the tea and snacks, answering her father-in-law's question, "To be precise, Yuan Tai and Naoki-san are partners. Yuan Tai also has shares in Shuyou Capital."
"You're going to New York to make a lot of money?"
"Hi"
"That's why he still can't come back."
"That's part of the reason."
After all, Suzumi and Naoki Nagayama were friends, so she explained to her father-in-law,
"Yuanta and Naoki-san made money together. Yuanta also made a lot of money this time. After they come back, the Nakai family will be a truly wealthy family!"
With his own money and dividends combined, Nakai Genta's family can rise directly from an ordinary wealthy family to the ranks of established rich people.
It's the kind of "old money" whose laughter you can tell just by listening to it, the kind of wealth they've accumulated that can last for three generations or more.
Hearing his daughter-in-law's words, Nakai Hiroto's lips twitched slightly, but in the end he didn't say anything.
Ever since his son started Tree Friends Capital with Naoki Nagayama, the family's wealth has skyrocketed, far exceeding his wildest imagination.
He would have to save every penny of his life to afford this villa in Setagaya, but his son has been living in it for just a few years, and has even bought more than one.
Now, the pillar of the family has long since shifted to Nakai Genta!
"Then why did he come to wish us a Happy New Year today?"
"Because Yuan Tai is in New York, I wanted to come and visit my family."
"It's similar to how ancient rulers would comfort the families of generals fighting abroad."
"Hahaha, what era are we living in now? Those feudal dependency relationships don't exist anymore!"
"Of course there is, it's just done in a different way."
Just as the two were talking, Grandma returned from shopping with Shota, who was carrying a New Year's toy—a Totoro plush toy.
"Grandma, why are you buying things for Shota again? You already bought a ton before the New Year!"
"Shota said that all the kindergarten kids had them, so I bought them."
Like all grandmothers, Grandma Nakai dotes on her grandson and fulfills almost any request he makes.
"."
Lingmei shook her head and didn't say anything more. Instead, she squatted down and spoke to her son.
"Shota, hurry up and tidy up. Uncle Naoki will be coming over later, and he'll be bringing Natsuka with him. You can let her see your toys!"
"Todoroki?!"
Shota immediately cheered up. Having attended many gatherings with the Nagayama family, he naturally remembered this little girl.
"I'll get right on it!"
With that, he quickly ran upstairs to his room.
When Naoki Nagayama arrived by car, Suzumi and Shota were already waiting at the door.
"Naoki Kuwana Sauce & Flower Sauce! Happy New Year!"
"Rinmi-chan, Happy New Year! Why are you out here?"
After Akina got out of the car carrying Natsuka, she quickly asked,
"It's so cold outside!"
"He only came out after hearing the engine."
Naoki Nagayama also came over with gifts from the trunk, and Suzumi Nakai warmly welcomed the Nagayama family inside.
"Come on in, it's warmer inside."
"Hi"
As Naoki Nagayama walked in, he overheard Akina asking Hana-chan if she recognized the young man.
After putting down the gifts and entering the main hall and Japanese-style room, Naoki Nagayama formally greeted the two elders of the Nakai family, whom he had never had the chance to meet before.
"Uncle Nakai, Auntie, Happy New Year! I'm Nagayama Naoki, a good friend of Yuan Tai-san."
"Happy New Year, Naoki-kun."
"This is a gift that Akina carefully selected; please accept it."
"Have a heart"
After exchanging greetings, Naoki Nagayama finally got down to business:
"I am very sorry that Yuan Taisang is stranded in a foreign country and unable to reunite with his family!"
“Yuan Tai-san can’t come back from New York for the time being, but I’ve already hired a well-known law firm and formed a legal team to help with the case.”
"In addition, with the help of the government's connections and diplomatic mediation, I believe an agreement can be reached soon, and he can return in a few months at the shortest and half a year at the longest."
Hiroto Nakai and his grandmother listened together, and when they heard Naoki Nagayama's sincere apology, they felt slightly relieved.
Then, upon hearing that it would be another six months before I could return, I began to worry again.
"What if we can't reach an agreement? Will Yuan Tai go to jail?!"
"Please rest assured regarding this."
Naoki Nagayama promised,
"If we can't reach an agreement, I will take some extreme measures to bring Yuan Tai-san back directly!"
In this day and age, laws, regulations, and surveillance are not as comprehensive, and the United States is a country of immigrants with all sorts of backgrounds. If he were really convicted, Naoki Nagayama would have no choice but to spend money to smuggle someone back from the United States!
However, it seems that Nakai Genta will no longer be able to travel to the United States after this.
"."
Although no extreme measures were mentioned, the elderly couple, Nakai and his wife, felt much more at ease and began chatting with Naoki Nagayama.
Meanwhile, Akina had already brought Hana-chan to Shota's room.
Shota adored the beautiful little girl and brought out all his precious toys and treasures.
They even generously let Hua Jiang choose from a variety of toys, including Transformers, baseballs, picture books, and various toy cars.
"Hua Jiang, whatever you like, I'll give it to you!"
That obsequious manner is just typical of a sycophant!
Xia Hua, on the other hand, watched curiously for a while, casually rummaging through the toy box. She didn't seem to care much about the toy cars or anything like that, and she seemed to have all the drawing books at home.
Then she suddenly picked up a Totoro plush toy and waved it at Akina:
"Mom, look at this! Totoro!"
"Oh? Flower sauce likes this?!"
Shota saw that Natsuka immediately took a liking to the Totoro plush toy he had just received, and although he felt reluctant, he still pretended to be magnanimous and said...
"Since Hana-chan likes it, then let's give it to Hana-chan!"
Xia Hua shook her head at this moment:
"I have ten of these!"
Naoki Nagayama naturally brought home all the Totoro plushies from the series and gave one set of ten to Natsuka, all with different designs!
Shota's eyes widened when he heard this.
"Ten?"
"Yes, that's why I don't want to!"
"."
Xiao Xiangtai was stunned, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.
Therefore, girls should be raised in a wealthy and comfortable environment!
This way, it won't be easy for other little boys to trick you out of your money with just a toy!
Akina and Suzumi watched this scene with smiles, thinking that it was truly a childhood friendship.
(End of this chapter)