Chapter 308: Karuizawa in August (3)
Toru Watanabe turned off the lights and left Xiaolian's bedroom without saying a word.
In the living room, the ladies were chatting about last year's Karuizawa under the bright yellow light.
"It was the Bon Festival then, right?" asked Mrs. Kiyono.
Qingye Rin nodded.
"I don't remember the date, but I remember seeing someone walking the emperor and his wife's horse at the racecourse." Mrs. Kiyono smiled proudly, "Those two people only come to Karui during the Bon Odori Festival..."
At this time, seeing Watanabe Toru coming out, she turned to ask, "Is Xiaolian asleep?"
"Yeah." Toru Watanabe walked to the kitchen counter and took a bunch of grapes from the refrigerator.
"Do you come here for this month every summer vacation?" he asked them at the dining table while washing.
"No." Kujo Miki replied, "Even if I come, I will only stay for three days at most."
"Then why a month this time?" Watanabe Toru washed one and put it in his mouth. It was very sweet.
Kujo Miki raised her eyebrows and glanced at him.
"I understand." Watanabe Toru washed the second one and put it into his mouth.
"Are you planning to finish it all by yourself?" Qingye Rin suddenly asked.
"Hmm?" Watanabe Toru was stunned for a moment, chewing, and holding up the whole bunch of grapes in his hand, "You want them?"
The ladies looked at him.
"If I don't wash it, will you not eat it?"
No one answered, only Mrs. Kujo said, "Wash some more cucumbers."
Toru Watanabe took another cucumber from the refrigerator, washed it, and put it on the plate together with the grapes.
The plate was placed in the middle of the dining table, and the five people were chatting while eating grapes and cucumbers.
"Who's going to buy bread for breakfast tomorrow?" Mrs. Kujo bit the cucumber, making a crisp sound.
Just listen to the sound and you will know how fresh it is.
"I'll go." Watanabe Toru stuffed a grape into Kujo Miki's mouth, and then stuffed another into his own mouth. "I have the habit of jogging in the morning, so it's just right."
"Don't you even give yourself a break when traveling?" Mrs. Kiyono asked in surprise.
"Watanabe-kun, you are already strong enough," Mrs. Kujo said, "and we can't ask you to buy breakfast for a month just because you go jogging in the morning."
Watanabe Toru said nonchalantly: "Morning exercise is not for physical exercise, or rather, not mainly."
"What's that for?" asked Miki Kujo.
"Actually, I don't like morning exercises," Watanabe Toru picked up a cucumber and took a bite. "I started jogging in the morning to overcome the mentality of 'hating to do things I don't like' and to develop a habit of self-discipline."
It seemed as if he heard something incredible. For a moment, the only sound in the living room of the villa was the crunching sound of Watanabe Toru eating cucumbers.
"With enough emotional intelligence and a smart brain, you can force yourself to do things you don't like," Mrs. Kiyono sighed, "Maybe if you rely on yourself alone, your future career will be no less than being the son-in-law of the Kiyono family or the Kujo family."
"No, I'm just an ordinary person," said Toru Watanabe.
"The author of The Great Gatsby once said this." Rin Kiyono ate a grape.
"People who describe themselves as ordinary people are untrustworthy?" Watanabe Toru laughed, "But I am really an ordinary person. My dream before I was sixteen was to become a civil servant. By the way, being a diplomat is not bad either. You can travel around the world with the taxes paid by the people."
"He is indeed an ordinary person." Mrs. Kiyono nodded.
"Yeah." Toru Watanabe leaned back in his chair, eating a cucumber, and agreed comfortably.
Mrs. Kiyono went on to say, “He went to an ordinary high school, was admitted to an ordinary university early, and had an ordinary girlfriend.”
"That's right." Watanabe Toru nodded, "It's just that ordinary."
"Is your girlfriend ordinary?" Mrs. Kiyono asked with a smile.
"I'm more ordinary." Toru Watanabe turned his head to look at Miki Kujo and took a bite of the cucumber.
"Don't try to lie to a three-year-old." Kujo Miki's tone and expression showed that she knew Watanabe very well.
The two ladies couldn't help but laugh.
"Watanabe Toru's words are indeed unbelievable." Mrs. Kiyono said, "Maybe he is with Miki to seize the property of the Kujo family."
Watanabe Toru sat up straight and stopped eating the cucumber: "Aunt Yuko, don't say that!"
"It's very likely." Mrs. Kujo nodded seriously.
These people looked like they were joking, but maybe they had already taken it to heart.
Watanabe Toru turned to Kiyono Rin and said, "R-san, help me! Do you know if I have any!"
Qingye Rin stretched out her snow-white and delicate fingers, took a grape from the plate, glanced at him, and put the grape into her mouth.
"...You'll cause the situation to become misunderstood if you do this." Watanabe Toru said.
Qingye Rin still didn't speak.
"I remember that." Mrs. Kujo nodded.
“…”
Kiyono Rin stared at Watanabe Toru with clear eyes, 'Do you need me to tell you whether this is true or not?' - conveying this message.
Watanabe Toru turned his head and looked at Kujo Miki: "Miki..."
"Grape."
Toru Watanabe stuffed a grape into her mouth, and Miki Kujo began to chew it nonchalantly.
"Although Watanabe-kun is going for a morning run, we can't really let you go to buy bread alone." Mrs. Kujo said, "Let Miki go with you."
"I won't allow Xiao Lin to do nothing by herself. Let's take turns." Mrs. Kiyono smiled. "It's the same when taking out the garbage at night. There are so few street lights here, and there are bats. Watanabe-kun, as a boy, has to go every day, and the rest of you can take turns."
"I can do it alone." said Toru Watanabe.
"Watanabe-kun, we are equal, so the housework must be shared between us. Only in this way can we spend a happy month."
After talking to Toru Watanabe, Mrs. Kiyono turned to Mrs. Kujo and said, "If Toru Watanabe is the only one working, it will make people feel that he is a son-in-law and a country boy, so we treat him as a servant. What do you think?"
"I think you are a vixen." said Mrs. Kujo.
"Thank you for the compliment." Mrs. Kiyono smiled.
She then asked Kujo Miki and Kiyono Rin: "Do you two have any objections?"
"Yes." said Kujo Miki.
"Well, you are Watanabe-kun's girlfriend, so of course you have opinions. Watanabe-kun can't be alone, he will be like a servant; if you have any opinions about us accompanying him, then you, Miki, will accompany Watanabe-kun every day."
Toru Watanabe felt strange about what Mrs. Kiyono said, but he was sure there was something more to it.
Sure enough, Mrs. Kiyono spoke again: "It's okay to take out the garbage at night, but buy bread every morning. Meiji, can you get up?"
"..."Kujo Miki.
This is indeed a very serious and practical problem that must be faced.
"Watanabe-kun, we take turns every day, and Xiaolian will follow her," Mrs. Kiyono clasped her hands happily, "It's decided."
At this time, Mrs. Kujo said lightly: "The rule is two people, but there is no upper limit. Anyone can go if they want."
"Fox spirit!" Mrs. Qingye gave her a reproachful look.
"It's the same with you." Mrs. Kujo raised her hand. "It's a pleasure to work with you."
"It's a pleasure working with you." The two ladies high-fived happily.
Qing Ye Lin glanced at Kujo Miki and said with a smile: "I have the habit of getting up early."
"You think I can't do it?"
"You get up early, so I can sleep in."
Looking at Kiyono Rin's smile, Kujo Miki had already guessed what she was going to say next.
"But I get up early. You have to get up early."
really.
If it were Koizumi Aona or Asu Mai, Kujo Miki would definitely not get up early, just like when Watanabe Toru said that Asu Mai would come to Karuizawa Asu Mai, she didn't take it to heart at all.
But Qingye Rin must be kept an eye on at all times.
It’s the curse of the winner, and it’s also the curse of having your opponent be Kiyono Rin – a beautiful girl as good as she is, who is really annoying.
On August 2, the second day after arriving in Karuizawa, Kujo Miki did not get up.
Having been Watanabe Toru's sister for a long time, and being used to getting up late, five o'clock in the morning was too unfamiliar to her - even if she had to go to school, she would not get up until eight o'clock.
Watanabe Toru called her, and she sat up with her eyes closed, but after a while, she lay back down.
"She didn't get up?" Qing Ye Lin hugged her elbows with both hands, "I thought she could hold on for at least a day. I overestimated her."
"You go and mock her, and she will definitely get angry."
"Do you want me to go?" Kiyono Rin looked at Watanabe Toru with a smile.
"We're just buying bread together. It doesn't matter if you don't go."
"You were only in Ochanomizu for one day."
"Running?" Watanabe Toru changed the subject.
"Ride a bicycle." Qingye Rin rejected it without hesitation.
Karuizawa was shrouded in mist in the early morning and it was actually a bit cold.
She was wearing a long-sleeved white shirt, the French style, with beautiful pleats on the chest, and the white cuffs were tight around her wrists, which were not a bit fat.
The choice of cufflinks is also unique, making the shirt more elegant.
The lower body is matched with a light blue long skirt, and a bow is tied with a light green ribbon on the slim waist, which hangs naturally on the left side.
Her outfit is exquisite and sophisticated, yet also casually matched, making her look noble yet natural and fresh.
Watanabe Toru looked at it several times.
"Does it look good?" Qingye Rin grabbed the sleeves of her shirt, twisted her slender waist, and the hem of her skirt began to turn gently.
"It's like Karuizawa with the fog just dissipating," said Toru Watanabe.
"Have you seen it?"
“I haven’t seen it, but when everyone hears it, they think it must be very beautiful.”
"Based on your level of love talk, I can only give you 8 points for this sentence."
"You still don't read enough books." Watanabe Toru said, "Let's go, I'll run and you ride a bike."
"I have somewhere I want to go on the way."
"We are going to buy bread, Master Kiyonokami."
"It's right across from the bakery, Karuizawa Bookstore."
"Then you have to go."
Toru Watanabe was jogging in front, and Rin Kiyono was following slowly behind on a bicycle.
The bakery named "Truffle BAKERY" that the ladies specifically mentioned is very far away from the villa area, and it feels like it's in the middle of nowhere.
In the mist, I could see the warm yellow light and smell the aroma of freshly baked bread.
"There are a lot of people." said Toru Watanabe.
"You wait in line, I'll go to the bookstore first?" Qingye Rin parked the bicycle in front of the store.
"Can't."
The two of them lined up together.
Amid the rich aroma of truffles and cream wafting from the store, Kiyono Rin introduced Watanabe Toru to life in Karuizawa.
The Sunday mass in the Catholic church, the wedding ceremony in the Stone Church, the Elm Street town where violinists or guitarists often perform in the open air...
When it was their turn, they bought the most popular truffle bread, chocolate croissant, etc., and packed them in newspaper-like packaging bags.
When Kiyono Rin was holding the bread, the store clerks and customers always glanced at her.
She looked like a noble lady from the Middle Ages.
"Let's go to the bookstore." After leaving the store, Qingye Rin said.
"Let's go to the bookstore." Toru Watanabe nodded in agreement.
For those who love reading, visiting a bookstore is really a wonderful thing.
During the two , he was thinking about visiting the bookstore.
Karuizawa Bookstore, a bookstore owned by Tsutaya, is located near the Truffle Bakery, just across the street.
This bookstore is not big and provides coffee and breakfast. Many customers who are ready to buy bread or have bought bread linger inside.
The types of books are very comprehensive, and most of them are books and magazines related to Karuizawa, which makes people want to pick them up and read them.
In addition to books, there are also many folk arts and porcelains.
“Most of the books are written by local writers, and the porcelain and handicrafts are also the works of local craftsmen. Almost all of them are elements of Nagano Prefecture.” Qingye Rin explained softly, holding a woven basket.
"It's interesting, but not pretty." Watanabe Toru also lowered his voice.
“I like natural objects.”
"Maybe it's a product of the assembly line."
“This possibility cannot be ruled out.”
The two stood side by side in front of a cabinet, talking in low voices.
Toru Watanabe picked up the book next to the basket, opened it and saw that it introduced the customs and culture of Nagano Prefecture.
"It's interesting to put the books and things together," he said.
Qingye Rin put the bread directly into the basket.
"Bought it?" asked Toru Watanabe.
"I bought it." Qingye Rin nodded.
The two of them picked out a few more books. Watanabe Toru remembered what he had promised Xiaolian last night, and bought some photographs of Karuizawa's scenic spots.
"This." Watanabe Toru picked up a book, "This is the person your mother mentioned last night."
On the cover of the book are Emperor Akihito and his queen.
The two men, with silver hair, stood side by side, smiling at the camera.
"They met here." Qing Ye Lin turned a page and pointed to the picture and said to Watanabe Toru, "Here, there is also this tennis court."
After reading it, Watanabe Toru put the book back and said with a low laugh:
"When I'm 30, this place will be filled with magazines and books with my photos on them, and Karuizawa's slogan will be changed to 'Karuizawa, the place where Toru Watanabe visited when he was 17 and has been a holiday destination every summer since'."
Qingye Rin laughed twice pleasantly.
"Don't believe it?" Watanabe Toru asked.
"And then, who will stand next to you?"
"R-san, we are here to buy books."
"I came to buy bread."
"You are always right, Amen."
“Amen is Christianity.”
"What does Catholicism shout?"
“Amen to Catholicism too.”
"Are you kidding me?"
"No, I'm just bullying you for your lack of knowledge."
On the way back, the fog dissipated.
The moist wind, mixed with the smell of grass and trees, passed by;
The quaint villa is hidden in the woods on both sides. The bird sounds become crisp and the morning light shines through the leaves and branches.
The tree-lined path leading to the villa is quiet and poetic.
The two turned into the path and saw the villa. Xiaolian was squatting in front of a phoenix grass with beautiful sunlight shining on it.
"Ding-ling, ding-ling," she turned her head and looked over when she heard the sound of a bicycle bell.
"Archer! Sister Lin!" She stood up and ran over.
Qingye Rin got off the bicycle: "Xiao Lian, what was Tokyo called before?"
Xiaolian said excitedly: "We know, we know! It's Edo!"
“In what year was Edo renamed Tokyo?”
Xiaolian was stunned for a moment, then hesitated and said, "A long, long time ago, in 1621?"
"It was September 1868." Qing Ye Lin handed her the basket in the frame. "If you answer wrong, you will be punished to take the bread back to the house."
"Bread?! We want to eat it!"
