Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 236 - 199: The Abandoned Shrine Overgrown with Weeds

Chapter 236: Chapter 199: The Abandoned Shrine Overgrown with Weeds

Sliding out of the amulet bag were two matching red Hook Jades.

[Acquired Item: Red Hook Jade]

[Special Quest: Encounter the Mysterious Person]

[The long-abandoned Hachiman Shrine in Sakura Hill has recently welcomed an uninvited traveler, who has claimed this territory for himself. Perhaps he can be of assistance to you?]

[Reward: Advanced Skill Card×1]

The elderly Uesugi matriarch, with white hair and a gentle smile, said slowly:

"There are very few quality jades in Japan. It’s said these are remnants from the Warring States period. As for whether they belonged to Uesugi Kenshin, we are not quite sure.

"After all, since your grandfather’s great-grandfather’s generation, the main family has been dispersed for unknown reasons, all the family records completely vanished, leaving only these two red Hook Jades."

"These two stones are to be given to you and little Hanabi as a gift from Grandma."

Uesugi Sakura gently stroked the warm, sleek jade with his thumb, and looked up to say:

"Grandma, about Grandpa—"

The Uesugi matriarch in her simple kimono smiled and shook her head, interrupting him:

"Your grandpa will handle his matters. It’s a hurdle he wishes to overcome on his own. Some things need no excessive inquiries. Just enjoy your vacation here without worry."

"Alright." Uesugi Sakura nodded lightly.

The elderly Uesugi matriarch, with her slow and deliberate manner, waved to Hanamaru Hanabi, who was happily eating oranges behind Uesugi Sakura:

"Little Hanabi, put those aside for now, come over here so Grandma can have a look at you."

Hanamaru Hanabi raised her head, took a juicy bite of the mandarin orange, and then obediently sat on the mat in front of the Uesugi matriarch, softly calling:

"Grandma..."

Hanabi had also come here for vacations before.

The Uesugi matriarch smiled at the little girl who used to ask for hugs: "Come on, stretch out your hand."

"Kaide too." The matriarch slowly called out.

Uesugi Sakura extended his hand to the matriarch.

The Uesugi matriarch smiled kindly at the two in front of her, then placed their hands together.

The elder’s murmurs and blessings came softly:

"Childhood sweethearts can be considered a kind of fateful bond. As children grow up, they often look back on the past times.

"Retrospecting, recalling, everyone cherishes those innocent years gone by, but upon realization, both have moved apart, each with their own life and family.

"The genuine feelings of the past can only be buried deep within the heart."

"Grandma is very glad that your relationship remains so deep, not faded by the familiarity over time.

"Many married couples can’t compare to you in this respect, and that’s what truly makes it precious. Treasure this hard-won bond. The gods have been silently blessing you."

Saying this, the matriarch took out a finely carved and luxurious cedar box from behind her.

Handed it to Kaide.

Uesugi Sakura accepted it with both hands, and the first impression the sturdy little box gave him was—solid.

"What is this...?" Hanamaru Hanabi asked curiously.

The Uesugi matriarch gathered the sleeves of her kimono together, "This is an engagement gift from Grandpa and Grandma for you. It may not be much, but it’s a token of goodwill."

Is the gift... money?

Uesugi Sakura carefully felt the smooth wood in his hand.

Heavy, this weight, this amount seems to be no less than several hundred thousand yen.

"This..." Uesugi Sakura didn’t know if he should accept the money from the matriarch.

Back in China, his mother would have stepped forward to push away the money, saying repeatedly that it was unacceptable.

Then, after a series of polite exchanges, they could only reluctantly accept due to the elder’s insistence.

But here in Japan, in front of the Uesugi matriarch, Uesugi Sakura had to refuse it himself.

"Grandma, Grandpa still needs money, we don’t need these."

"Kaide," the Uesugi matriarch called him by his nickname, "You have helped Grandpa, and now he’s past the hardest times, finding some opportunity. Grandma is just returning the money on his behalf."

"But this must be more than 200,000 yen, right?" said Uesugi Sakura while holding the exquisite little wooden box.

"Haha..."

The Uesugi matriarch, sitting very straight, laughed carelessly, "Otherwise, how would Grandma call it a gift?"

Uesugi Sakura, not one to pretend politeness, said, "Thank you, Grandma."

Sitting obediently, Hanamaru Hanabi also chimed in, "Thank you, Grandma..."

The matriarch laughed even more happily, "Little Hanabi’s call is sweeter."

Afterwards, Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi first followed Uesugi Tomoko to the guest room where they would be staying.

The matriarch seemed to have more words to say to the mothers.

Mrs. Hanamaru was a guest here, but she had stayed many times when visiting Ehime Prefecture, so she was also a familiar face to the Uesugi family.

The three walked along the eaves of the Uesugi family’s Japanese-style residence.

"Aunt, where is the Hachiman Shrine?"

"Hachiman Shrine?"

Uesugi Tomoko pondered for a while before retrieving the memory from distant times, "You mean the one in Sakura Hill? Hasn’t it been abandoned for decades?"

"Decades?"

"It’s a pity, it used to be a very popular place."

"What happened?"

"An earthquake."

Uesugi Tomoko said, "That year there was an eight-magnitude earthquake. All the houses in this area collapsed or were destroyed, and many people died. That scene, I still remember vividly.

"After the earthquake, mourners moved from the ruins of the Hachiman Shrine, the procession extending from the mountaintop to the foothills. We three siblings stood on the mountaintop, watching the long line of lights and candles leading to the coast."

Hanamaru Hanabi walked beside Uesugi Sakura, outside the eaves was the dwarf pine garden surrounding the Uesugi house.

Uesugi Tomoko’s words carried the flavor of an elder reminiscing about the past:

"Originally Hachiman Shrine was supposed to be rebuilt after the disaster, but the Shrine Master’s entire family of six perished in the quake, and we never found anyone to take over this tradition, so the place gradually fell into neglect."

The aunt Uesugi Tomoko, usually full of smiles, couldn’t help but sigh at this moment.

"Alas, speaking of which, your grand-aunt also sadly passed away on that day."

Grand-aunt was Grandpa’s sister.

Uesugi Sakura had never heard of having a grand-aunt.

"Your grandpa doesn’t want to look back, so we siblings don’t proactively mention her; those in your generation like you and Hanabi know nothing of these things."

"..."

The blue sky of Ehime Prefecture is always ocean-like in color.

"These are all in the past. Kaide and little Hanabi, don’t pay too much mind to it."

Uesugi Tomoko: "Do you still remember the little stream where you helped bathe little Hanabi as a child?"

Uesugi Sakura glanced at Hanamaru Hanabi, who shrank her little head, then said to the aunt walking in front:

"I remember, it was just a bit remote."

"Follow that stream upward until you find a Torii with only two pillars left. Go through it, and you’ll reach the abandoned Hachiman Shrine."

Uesugi Tomoko turned her head.

"By the way, Kaide, how did you know about this place?"

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