This Japanese Monogatari Isn't Lame
Chapter 472 - 312. If You Say So, Then It Is (4000 words)

Chapter 472: Chapter 312. If You Say So, Then It Is (4000 words)

Beichuan Si stepped forward and called out to the courtyard,

"Excuse me, is anyone there?"

His voice wasn’t loud, yet it caught the attention of a small figure crouched in the corner, weeding.

Beichuan Si looked over.

It was a little girl with a mushroom haircut, looking to be around twelve or thirteen.

Could this possibly be Shikizaki Chuncai?

Beichuan Si’s expression changed, but he did not rashly enter the small courtyard; he stood outside and called out, "Excuse me, is this the Shikizaki family?"

Seeing Beichuan Si look over, the little girl trembled slightly, and with an air of two parts caution and three parts fear, she carefully nodded at Beichuan Si: "...Yes."

Seeing Shikizaki Chuncai looking like a frightened hamster, Beichuan Si didn’t press her, but after scanning the surroundings, he asked, "Is it convenient for me to come in now? I have something I’d like to discuss with your guardians."

Upon hearing Beichuan Si’s words, Shikizaki Chuncai went pale, her eyes filled with panic as she looked at Beichuan Si, and her little hoe slipped to the ground without her noticing.

She shook her head vigorously, "No, it’s not convenient, Grandma and Grandpa have gone down to work in the fields."

Shikizaki Chuncai edged two steps towards the entrance, as if she was ready to run inside at the slightest movement from Beichuan Si.

This child was truly sincere, directly informing Beichuan Si that no one was home.

"Do you know when the elders might return? I will find another time to visit."

"Noon... they’ll be back for lunch."

Shikizaki Chuncai’s small form had completely retreated behind the door, but she still honestly answered Beichuan Si’s question.

"I see, then I shall return at noon to visit."

Beichuan Si nodded to Shikizaki Chuncai and then left without hesitation.

With only the young Shikizaki Chuncai at home, it was inappropriate for Beichuan Si to enter alone, so he chose to leave temporarily and wait for her guardians to return.

Moreover, considering Shikizaki Chuncai’s demeanor... there was probably a reason for it.

Beichuan Si already had some ideas, but he didn’t rush things.

He would first go for a meal, then return for the visit, by which time he estimated Shikizaki Chuncai’s guardians would be home.

At the gate, Shikizaki Chuncai watched Beichuan Si’s retreating back and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

With Grandma and Grandpa not at home, it was up to her to protect the house.

Seeming to remember something, Shikizaki Chuncai shrank her neck and closed the yard’s gate completely.

Elsewhere.

Beichuan Si took the opportunity to wander around the small village.

This township had places to stay and included some small restaurants.

These restaurants mostly catered to locals, offering many local dishes.

For example, hot spring fried eggs and Yamanashi buckwheat noodles, and because most of them were small eateries, the menus were revised and processed, making the noodles particularly rich in flavor and the variety of seasonal vegetables ensured Beichuan Si had a very satisfying meal.

"It’s time to leave."

Having eaten his fill, Beichuan Si stood up and made his way back to the Shikizaki residence.

This time he met the Shikizaki family’s guardians, as he had wanted to.

It couldn’t have gone otherwise... after all, the guardians were already waiting at the entrance with a group of villagers.

The villagers clutched sticks, rods, bamboo swords, and other weapons, looking vigilant as if bracing for something.

Beichuan Si glanced at their primitive and crude tools for driving people away and walked forward unconcerned, saying directly, "Excuse me, I am Beichuan Si, here for a visit."

The villagers, seeing the solitary, empty-handed and backpack-wearing young Beichuan Si, couldn’t help but exchange glances.

This... wasn’t quite what they were expecting. They had thought that someone had come to demand payment from the Shikizaki family again, but instead...

The lean old man leading them waved his hand, signaling for the villagers to lower their weapons and asked with uncertainty, "You are here to visit our family?"

"Yes," Beichuan Si replied succinctly.

"You’re not here for money?" The lean old man straightened his back and asked again for confirmation.

"Yes," Beichuan Si nodded once more.

Everyone fell silent.

This was... a bit awkward.

"Please, have some tea." The kindly faced elderly woman offered Beichuan Si some tea.

"Thank you." Beichuan Si gave a symbolic sip of tea and looked up.

As he thought, the lean old man was Shikizaki Chuncai’s grandfather, named Shikizaki Taku, and the elderly woman was Shikizaki Chuncai’s grandmother, named Shikizaki Mariko.

Now, Shikizaki Chuncai sat between them, bowing her head and not daring to look at Beichuan Si.

Amid the awkward atmosphere, Shikizaki Taku cleared his throat and looked at Beichuan Si, taking the lead to speak: "Mr. Beichuan, I’m sorry about earlier..."

He trailed off, finding it difficult to continue.

Shikizaki Taku had thought that the same people who came to collect debts every year had arrived, which is why he called his neighbors over to drive them away, but it turned out that Beichuan Si was genuinely just a young man coming for a visit.

Beichuan Si waved his hand nonchalantly, his expression calm: "I understand."

He had looked around when he came in and could tell that the Shikizaki household didn’t seem particularly affluent. They didn’t have the means to pay off that huge debt, so their readiness to drive someone away was perfectly understandable.

After all, it wasn’t Shikizaki Chuncai who had borrowed the money, but the anonymous woman ’Kawako’ who had incurred the debt.

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