Chapter 20: Matsumae Family

Fujii Itsuki put on the suit he bought when he was working before, tied a red tie, and shaved his beard.

The sky was clear with only a few snowflakes falling.

At 7:17 in the morning, we officially went out.

As Fujii Itsuki walked out of the door with his office computer, he found that the driver had arrived early and was standing at the back door waiting for him.

——The blue and silver Mercedes-Benz Maybach S680.

Just the car for picking up passengers is not something he could afford just by working hard.

"Hello, Mr. Fujii."

The other person's smile and greeting were just right, making people feel the word "respect" from him.

"Hello."

Fujii Itsuki stepped forward, stretched out his hand, and shook hands with him.

"Nagayama Sakura, Mr. Fujii can call me Nagayama. I am responsible for all the affairs of the master's household."

Managing the master's household affairs
That's the housekeeper, right?

Judging from his appearance, the butler is over 60 years old and has a lot of experience.

It can be seen that this "master" loves his daughter very much.

Even as a temporary tutor, the old housekeeper of the family had to take care of it personally.

No wonder he can be paid 50 yen a week.

"Hello, Mr. Nagayama."

Nagayama Sakura looked up and smiled, "I didn't expect Mr. Fujii to live here. It's really surprising."

Fujii Itsuki could tell that there was something else behind the words of Butler Nagayama, but he was not interested in asking.

After all, the surname Jiuhua is so well-known that anyone from Hokkaido would know something about it.

Not to mention rich people like them.

"It's just a temporary stay because of some coincidences."

"Excuse me, how old are you, Mr. Fujii?"

"Twenty-six."

"I've seen your resume. You taught at Mita Metropolitan High School in Tokyo, right?"

"Yes."

"That's right. It's a good school. Although it's a public university, it's well-known for its excellent academic performance and strict management. This way, Master can rest assured."

Seeing that the other party seemed to care about this school, Fujii Itsuki asked, "Is it because your daughter's grades are not good? Or does your daughter's personality need to be controlled a little bit?"

Yongshan shook his head, "That's not the case. I invited Mr. Fujii not to help Miss with her grades, but just to tutor her. Mr. Fujii, please sit in the car first, and we can chat on the way."

"Row."

Fujii Itsuki got into the back seat, and the car started and began driving towards the Teine district of Sapporo.

"The young lady has good academic performance. Mr. Fujii is invited to come and tutor her. The main reason is that the young lady has been recuperating at home for a long time and needs to make up for all the lessons she missed during this period."

"Have you been recuperating for a long time?"

"Yes. It was caused by a car accident half a year ago."

Yongshan Ying was driving the car and sighed, with a hint of worry on her face. "The young lady was originally a member of the school's wind band. Because the band activity ended too late that day, her instructor took the initiative to send them home, but she didn't expect to encounter a drunk driver on the way late at night."

".This is really bad news."

Yongshan Ying nodded gently. "Miss's teacher and classmates all passed away unfortunately. Miss was sitting in the back seat and was the only one wearing a seat belt. So, out of the five people in the car, Miss was the only one who survived."

"."

This incident taught Fujii Itsuki that seat belts are necessary whether in the front or back seat. What if they are used?

Sakura Nagayama turned the steering wheel, turned the car and drove out of Otaru city.

Mountains and farmland began to appear outside the car window.

"The master was terribly frightened by the accident, and the young lady was also frightened. She has been recuperating at home for the past six months. The accident had a significant impact. When the young lady goes back to school, the master will probably not let her go home alone or ride in someone else's car."

The biggest impact of this incident is probably on the people involved.

Fujii Itsuki couldn't imagine a situation where all his teachers and classmates died in a car and he was the only one left alive.

This may be a lifelong psychological trauma.

"The reason I asked about Mr. Fujii's previous school was that I wanted to confirm in person that Mr. Fujii's identity matched my requirements, which means that Mr. Fujii's level can fully meet the requirements of the lady. After all, there is only one week, and the time is relatively tight. Please forgive me, Mr. Fujii."

"nothing."

Fujii Itsuki expressed his regret for what happened to his daughter, and after a moment of silence, he grasped a detail:
"But, Mr. Yongshan, did you confirm that it was half a year ago?"

"That's it."

"The accident happened half a year ago. Does that mean your daughter missed half a year of classes, and I need to make up for it for her within a week?!"

"What's the problem, Mr. Fujii?"

This is a big problem. Very big.

Fujii Itsuki added, "I personally don't have any problems, because I have the tutoring materials left by the previous school. As long as the goal is clear, I can finish the lessons and knowledge points to learn in one day. But the main question is, can your daughter finish the six-month course in this week?"

"Don't worry, Mr. Fujii."

"rest assured?"

Yongshan Ying nodded, looked ahead while driving, squinted her eyes and smiled:

"Mr. Fujii's concerns are not unreasonable, but please don't worry, the young lady will definitely be able to complete these courses."

"."

Fujii Itsuki remained silent.

The content of half a year or a semester can be completed in one week.

Even the most talented students he had ever seen did not have such learning efficiency.

This is no longer a student, this is a learning immortal.

He just didn't believe that someone could have such a high learning efficiency. If someone was really that amazing, could he go straight to a Ph.D. in his teens?

Isn't this a fake job, designed to cheat people?!

Not sure.

After all, Maybach is not fake, and Sakura Nagayama's behavior and words are not fake either.

Let's take it one step at a time. If the car goes to a place that's not right, he'll just get out.

Cross the national highway, drive through the small town, and arrive at the city area.

Not long after, Fujii Itsuki got out of the car.

In fact, he was worrying too much.

Only then did he understand what a rich person was.

The entire Japanese-style courtyard is located on the plain at the foot of Mt. Teine. It is surrounded by an artificial moat that is three meters wide. The high walls of the courtyard extend to the left and right, hidden by evergreen trees, so he can't see the edge at all.

Standing at the gate of the courtyard and looking up, you can also see torii and shrines on the hill in the courtyard.

This is not called a courtyard, it should be called a city.

He wouldn't think it was absurd to put a castle tower in this large Japanese courtyard.

"This whole city belongs to you?"

"It belongs to the master. This place can't even be called a city, it's just a small courtyard."

“You are so humble.”

"Mr. Fujii is joking."

Fujii Itsuki stood in front of the wooden door of the Japanese-style courtyard and saw a family crest composed of four rhombuses.

Wait, isn’t this a Four-cut Diamond Pill?
It is the family crest of the former Hokkaido governor, the Matsumae clan.

Fujii Itsuki's pupils shrank immediately:

"Your young lady's surname is Matsumae?!"

"Yes."

"The Matsumae of Hokkaido Matsumae clan?"

"If there is no second Matsumae in the history of Hokkaido, then the master is the Matsumae mentioned by Mr. Fujii."

"Isn't the Matsumae clan in Matsumae County?"

Nagayama Sakura explained, "The current economic center of Hokkaido is Sapporo. Naturally, the Matsumae family also has property here. In fact, since the 8th year of the Meiji era, the head of the Matsumae family has basically lived here."

In 1875, the eighth year of the Meiji era, railways began to be laid in Hokkaido, industrial and commercial industries began to develop, and an urban area radiating throughout Hokkaido was established with Sapporo as its center.

If everything the butler said is true, this place is most likely the territory of the Matsumae family.

Seeing that he had not yet recovered from his shock, Nagayama Sakura said to Fujii Itsuki with a smile:

"Don't think too much, Mr. Fujii. This is the modern age, the 21st century. Guests of the Matsumae family don't need to follow so many complicated etiquette. Just relax."

"."

The more I say this, the more incredible it seems.

It wasn't just the Jiuhua family, this time he encountered a family that was recorded in history books. Seeing such a luxurious courtyard in the snow, ordinary people like him would more or less have a certain sense of fantasy.

Very uneasy.

"Mr. Fujii, please go in first."

"Row."

On the way, Nagayama Sakura talked a lot with Fujii Itsuki about the Matsumae family.

Including how the Matsumae clan continued to consolidate its strength after the Meiji Restoration, how it chose its development direction during the Industrial Revolution, and how it fled abroad during the war.
Nagayama said that compared to the chaebols that have always had strength and financial heritage, their Matsumae family is more like an emerging family with a rich history but has developed relying on the trends of the new era.

Simply put, the Matsumae family experienced a rebirth. They declined in the past, and then returned to their past status in modern times in recent decades.

Fujii Itsuki was quite interested in what he heard, because these were contents that were not often recorded in historical documents.

Entering the courtyard, Fujii Itsuki saw a huge straight approach in the middle of the courtyard, with cherry trees planted on both sides.

Cherry blossom trees covered in snow stretch out into the distance on both sides, ending in a bright red torii gate that leads directly to the shrine on the top of the mountain.

If it were spring, it would be even more beautiful here.

It’s a pity that it’s the wrong season now. The cherry trees have all lost their leaves and the trunks are bare.

When he got closer, he realized that the shrine was outside the courtyard, separated from the residential area.

This cherry blossom approach leads directly to the shrine, with a gate blocking the middle.

The shrine was separated from the residential area probably because the surrounding residents had to worship at the shrine.

Fujii Itsuki looked up at the snowy shrine on the hill, which was half hidden by the shadows of the trees.

There is an observation deck behind the shrine. If you stand there and look down, you can probably see the entire garden and half of the Teine area.

It must be beautiful.

"Then this shrine must be Matsumae Shrine."

"Yes."

"Is Matsumae Shrine also moving here?"

"Yes."

"Are the Raikuni Toshitachi and Toyotomi Hideyoshi's bronze seal also placed here?"

After hearing this, Nagayama Sakura couldn't help but admire, "Mr. Fujii is really knowledgeable. That's right. Because the head of the Matsumae family is here, the three famous trees, the Phoenix Dance Pine, the Wolong Plum, and the Xiangyun Pine, are also placed here for worship at the shrine. The ones displayed in Matsumae County are replicas for tourists to visit, and they will only be handed over when necessary for celebrations."

Matsumae Shrine enshrines the first head of the family, Takeda Nobuhiro, and the pioneers who built Hokkaido, that is, the ancestors of the Matsumae family.

At that time, the Matsumae clan was not called the Matsumae clan, but the Uyizaki clan.

Hokkaido is not called Hokkaido, but Ezo.

This group of people, namely the Matsumae family, were the first group of people who came from Japan to open up Ezo. They are a genuine aristocratic family that has been passed down to this day.

Fujii Itsuki followed Nagayama Sakura into the reception room.

When drinking tea here, you can turn your head and see the shrine and the shrine observation deck on the hill through the quaint eaves.

The snow and the scenery complement each other in a very elegant way.

Butler Yongshan personally made a pot of tea for him.

"I have other things to take care of. Please wait here for a moment, Mr. Fujii. The young lady should still be practicing at the moment. I will bring her here soon."

"learn."

"Then I will leave first. Mr. Fujii just wait here for a while."

"Ah."

Butler Nagayama opened the door and left. While drinking hot tea, Fujii Itsuki began to observe the interior of the Japanese-style courtyard.

The overall interior is very simple, whether it is the cushions, the small tea table, or the Chinese calligraphy hanging on the wall.

There are two samurai swords, one long and one short, enshrined in the center. I wonder if they are famous swords passed down from ancient times.

There is a corridor outside the door, with two floors in front and back, and a sliding glass door on the outside to keep out the cold.

The beams extending out from under the eaves are made of old cypress wood, wrapped in copper and decorated with carvings.

Fujii Itsuki didn't expect to end up in such a place.

How did that guy Nonaka get the commission from the Matsumae family?

However, these are not things that Fujii Itsuki needs to consider now. He just needs to do his job well and help the eldest daughter of the Matsumae family to finish the lessons she has missed in the past six months.

He was patient and drank his tea quietly.

After waiting for about an hour, Butler Yongshan did not show up.

Logically speaking, the other party should be very punctual.

Fujii Itsuki continued to wait, but after half an hour, there was still no movement.

He finished his tea, so he got up and prepared to go out to see what was going on.

Walking out of the living room, Fujii Itsuki began to look for a way out along the corridor inside the room, occasionally admiring the view of the Matsumae family's courtyard.

The dwarf pine trees in the small courtyard are well maintained, standing proudly under the white snow.

To the right, it looks like a study.

Turn left. It's a big room, empty, I don't know what it's used for.

Further to the right, it seems to be another reception room.

The Matsumae family's house is so big that I don't even know how many living rooms it has.

Then turn left. Wait, where am I now?

Fujii Itsuki looked around and realized that he was lost.

He was puzzled as to why the house was built like a maze.

With the idea that he would eventually find his way back if he kept going down, Fujii Itsuki continued walking forward.

He had now come to the outskirts of the complex, outside of which were leafless cherry trees and the large approach leading directly to the shrine.

There is a crimson torii gate at the foot of the mountain, and cherry blossom trees in the snow stretch out on both sides of the road.

No matter how many times you see it, you will always find this scenery quite quaint.

But Fujii Itsuki had no shoes and was sure he couldn't go down, so he turned back and chose another route.

After strolling around for another five minutes, a young girl suddenly came towards me from the corner.

She was very beautiful, and the word "pretty" was appropriate to describe her appearance. She was dressed in simple and clean feather clothes, with a golden crown on her head shining, and her small, soft lips were smooth and red.

She stood in front of him, her puzzled look so clever and moving.

"You are--" The girl tilted her face slightly.

Before Fujii Itsuki could say who he was, the girl covered her face with her hands and laughed softly, "I understand, you are Mr. Fujii that Sakura said last night, right!"

After saying this, the girl bowed slightly and saluted. The dazzling gold ornaments on her head sparkled as she nodded.

"Hello, Mr. Fujii."

".Greetings."

Fujii Itsuki was not used to it because the grammar used by the girl was very formal and traditional. This was modern times and no one would use the word "Gui An" to greet someone.

Moreover, the girl in front of him looked only fifteen or sixteen years old. She was not very tall, only about 1.6 meters, very short.

But her tone of voice, behavior and manner all give people the feeling that she is extremely mature.

Like a little adult.

"Ah, that's not right. I should call you Mr. Fujii. I just told my father that when dealing with people of status or when asking for something from them, you need to use their professional title."

After saying this, the girl bowed again.

"Are you Miss Matsumae?"

"Matsumae Shinharu."

“It’s a nice name.”

But why did he always feel that the name "Xinchun" was familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere.

"My heart dances with the wind, as graceful as a willow. Thank you. Mr. Fujii's name should have a origin, right?"

"From a novel."

"Then I guessed correctly. I'm sorry to have kept Mr. Fujii waiting for so long. Sakura-no-ha had something urgent to do and was called over by my father. Now I'm the only one here. I saw that you were not in the tea room. I guess you must have been waiting for a long time. I'm really sorry to come out and walk around."

The girl bowed again.

So polite
"That's fine, but Ms. Matsumae, you're wearing a miko costume, right? Your name is Chihaya Toei. Did you just attend a festival?"

Matsumae Shinchun folded her sleeves in front of her, looked at the other person with her starry eyes, and said generously, "We visit the shrine every week to mourn and respect our ancestors. It is also a tradition in our family. My mother did the same when she was my age. Of course, I was just practicing for the New Year celebration."

"I see."

"Teacher Fujii, please go sit in the tea room. I'm going to change my clothes and come back later."

"."Fujii Itsuki did not move.

"Do you have any questions, Mr. Fujii?"

".How do I get to the tea room?"

Matsumae Shinchun was stunned for a moment, then a smile appeared on her face, "I'm very sorry, I didn't think it through, I'll take you there first."

(End of this chapter)