Chapter 206 The war is coming
After the sports festival, club training returned to normal, and my mother had been in Otaru for nearly a week.

Nothing happened this week.

After the club practice, Jiuhuayue returned home, took out the key and opened the door.

She came to the living room and saw Mrs. Jiuhua, as usual, sitting on the sofa, leisurely making tea and watching TV.

"came back?"

"Um"

"How was your study today?"

"Study? What else can you do? Studying is just like that. There's no exam and there's no test paper to show you your grades."

"Then sit down first and drink the tea that mom made."

“.”Jiuhuayue resisted inexplicably.

Mrs. Jiuhua smiled and said, "Isn't this what we do these days?"

".It's because you've been acting strange these past few days that I feel uncomfortable."

"Where's Mr. Fujii?"

"He hasn't finished get off work yet. He will stay at school for a while after school."

"In that case, Xiaoyue, please sit down first."

"."

"The green tea I brewed today is the one I brought from Kyoto. It's the flavor that Mr. Fujii likes very much."

".How do you know what he likes?"

"Just ask. There's nothing inconvenient about asking."

"."

"Xiaoyue, are you sure you're not coming? I can teach you how to make a good cup of green tea."

Jiuhuayue's expression wavered for a moment, which was caught by her mother. Her mother smiled slightly. Jiuhuayue realized belatedly that she had been discovered and her face turned slightly red.

".I didn't miss him."

"I haven't said anything yet."

After her mother said this, Jiu Huayue felt even more embarrassed. She quickly calmed herself down and sat next to her mother as if nothing had happened.

"Okay, I'll learn."

"Well, first of all, the water temperature that green tea adapts to is between 70° and 80°. This is because green tea is relatively tender and unfermented. Too high a water temperature will cause these components in the tea leaves to be quickly decomposed or destroyed, causing the tea soup to become bitter."

Mrs. Jiuhua demonstrated and explained at the same time.

She is indeed teaching herself seriously.

Jiuhuayue had never thought her mother was so thoughtful.

New green tea was slowly brewed, but Jiu Huayue kept thinking, since her mother could study the brewing of tea so meticulously, why wasn't she willing to pay more attention to her own thoughts?

If my mother had loved me more and supported my ideas more, the relationship between me and my father would not have become so distant.
Jiuhuayue followed the steps her mother had just given her and brewed a cup of tea.

"Well, well done."

"."

"what happened?"

Jiuhuayue lingered on her mother's face for a few seconds, then retracted her gaze, "Nothing."

She picked up the teacup gently and planned to try the taste of the tea she had brewed.

"How far has the relationship between Xiaoyue and Fujii progressed?"

When Mrs. Jiuhua asked this, Jiuhuayue immediately spat out the green tea she had just drunk.

"What to do?"

"just asking."

"He and I have nothing to do with each other, so don't think too much about it."

"Tell mom not to think too much? Do you mean that every day when Fujii Itsuki comes home, you run to the door to greet him with a smile, cook for him every night, and call him to go to work every morning, urging him to wash and tie his tie?"

".You're spying on me!"

Mrs. Jiuhua's expression was gentle. "I'm just concerned about your life here."

"Then, then you shouldn't always pay attention to what I do!"

Jiuhuayue was very angry, as if everything she did and everything she was thinking could be seen through.

This feeling is very bad.

not good at all.

"So, Xiaoyue, how far has your relationship with Fujii progressed?"

".I won't tell you."

"Going to bed?"

"Mom, you—"

Jiuhuayue was so angry that she was almost mad to death.

What mother would talk to her daughter like that?
But angry and ashamed.

"I don't understand what you're saying."

"Xiao Yue, I'm not kidding. There's no need to be ashamed of this kind of thing. It's better to be clear about it."

Jiuhuayue then realized that her mother was asking a serious question.

".That's none of your business, mom."

"How come it's none of my business?"

"."

"That means it's on."

Jiu Huayue's face turned red, and after a long while she managed to say, "No."

She knew her mother was trying to provoke her, but she couldn't help but retort.

"Xiao Yue, don't think this is strange. Going back thirty or forty years, there were people who became child brides at the age of six, and some had children just after they became adults. As for that kind of thing, it goes without saying that as a child bride, there is no room for resistance."

"What era is this? How can such things still exist?" Jiu Huayue couldn't help but ask.

"How come? Xiaoyue, do you think mom is lying to you? Xiaoyue, if you think about it carefully, you will understand that mom has no need to lie to you about this kind of thing."

Jiuhuayue was skeptical.

"Okay, but why are you asking me this?"

"I just want to know the current relationship between you and Fujii Itsuki."

".After asking this, are you going to use this as an excuse to drag me back to Tokyo? I won't go back, even if you kill me."

Mrs. Jiuhua smiled and looked at her daughter who was looking down. "Xiaoyue, why do you think I didn't even remind you after I noticed your attitude towards Fujii Itsuki?"

Because of what?

What could be the reason?

Jiuhuayue thought about it and seemed to understand, but still found it hard to believe.

".No, that's not right."

"Hmm? Something's wrong."

"Mom, you can't. It's father. Can he be so kind? Can he agree? Uncle has nothing, no money, no power, and even no house to live in Otaru. Will father agree?"

Mrs. Jiuhua looked at her daughter and suddenly lowered her head, but soon raised it again, "Your father doesn't know what you think yet."

"So you, mother, are the only one supporting me?"

"That's right"

"Why? Why did it happen all of a sudden? There was no sign at all."

Mrs. Jiuhua sighed, "Xiaoyue, have you noticed that you are becoming less and less focused on stage?"

"Is it."

"In the past, you always focused on performing, but in the past two years, your state has become increasingly wrong. I really want to persuade you to go back to the past, at least you can still find some goals and directions in this. In recent years, the economy has declined, the yen has continued to depreciate in the international market, and your father's business has become increasingly difficult. Once you are not in the state, he will inevitably vent his anger on you.
"I understand all of this. As Long Yi's wife, I should support his actions. But sometimes, I just can't stand the way he treats you."

"."

Jiuhuayue was silent.

"Why are you telling me this now?"

"I'm sorry, Xiaoyue."

".Apologizing doesn't solve the problem, so what's the point of apologizing?"

Jiu Huayue felt like something was blocking her heart. She really wanted to question her mother, but when she saw her mother's expression, she couldn't say anything.

She was silent for a long time before she stood up.

".I'll go sit in the pavilion outside for a while."

"Well, let's go."

Mrs. Jiuhua watched Jiuhuayue stand up, and watched her open the doors and windows of the living room, walk to the small pavilion in the yard and sit down, leaving only her back looking towards the sunset.

After waiting for about ten minutes, Mrs. Jiuhua got up, walked outside and came to her daughter.

"Are you feeling better?" Jiu Huayue heard the question and took a deep breath.

"It's so strange. I want to be angry with my mother, but I find that I can't be angry at all. I feel that I have been so tired for so many years. I practice hard every day. After returning home, I would be happy if I could get a compliment from you, mother.

“But the praise is less about encouragement and more about urging me to be better and more outstanding.
"I came to Otaru alone. Mom, you came to Otaru to see me with great difficulty, and it was also to ask me to go back to practice."

"I'm sorry, Xiaoyue. I know it's a little late to apologize."

"Mom, can you tell me why you are suddenly willing to tell me all this this time?"

Mrs. Jiuhua explained: "It's not that it happened suddenly. In fact, I couldn't stand it since the day Long Yi hit you."

Jiuhuayue turned around to look at her:

"So when the uncle came to Tokyo to see me, you didn't try to stop him?"

“That’s part of the reason.”

call.
After everything was said, Jiu Huayue felt as if the heavy weight in her heart had suddenly fallen away.

That's right.
Why do we keep dragging our feet on a problem that can be solved with just a few words? Is it because the distance between us is gradually increasing?

Two people who were once close fell into a cold war because of a quarrel. Those conflicts that could have been resolved through communication gradually became irreversible as time went by.

Indifference and silence accumulate bit by bit over a long period of time.

Eventually, the relationship between the two became completely alienated.

Jiu Huayue felt that this was the relationship between her and her mother.

".Well, I still want to thank my mother for telling me these things. After I said some of the words, I felt that it was not a big deal."

"Then Mom still wants to thank Xiaoyue for being willing to listen to me for so long."

"Just because I thank you, mom, doesn't mean I can completely forgive you."

"It's a good thing that you can speak normally."

After the relationship between mother and daughter improved, they chatted for a few more minutes and talked about Fujii Itsuki again.

".Mom, will you really support me?"

Mrs. Jiuhua smiled, "Then Xiaoyue, you need to first tell me what you really mean to Fujii. You like him, right?"

".No, no."

"Xiaoyue, it's meaningless if you still talk to your mother like this now."

Jiu Huayue was not someone who would hesitate for too long, so she admitted it directly:
"Yes, that's right, I just like him."

Mrs. Jiuhua kept smiling, "It seems that my eyes have been of some use these days. Even though he is ten years older than you?"

"Yes!" Jiu Huayue nodded seriously, "Even though the uncle is ten years older than me."

"What do you like about him?"

"I don't want to give examples. I like it because I like it."

"It has to be him?"

".Mom, why are you asking so many questions?"

"Ask more clearly so I can help you."

".help me?"

Mrs. Jiuhua smiled but said nothing. Jiuhuayue was really curious about what her mother would do with her.
Persuade the uncle?
In fact, I don't need any help. I just need to confirm my relationship with the uncle. Now all that's missing is time, right?
But since her mother was willing to support her, Jiu Huayue was still happy to accept it.

anyway
It can be considered as family support.

"How to do?"

Mrs. Jiuhua didn't say it explicitly, "Tomorrow is Saturday."

Jiuhuayue is patient.

the next day.

Fujii Itsuki got up on time and even put on his clothes for going out. When he picked up his phone, he noticed that today was Saturday, a day off.

Once we return to the normal teaching schedule, we will inevitably become busy and tired. I'd better take a good rest today.

Fujii Itsuki walked out of the bedroom and happened to see Jiuhua Yue and Mrs. Jiuhua busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen. There were already a few side dishes on the table.

Something is wrong.
Doesn’t Xiao Jiuhua have a bad relationship with her mother?

This has been going on for a week.

How come we can suddenly make breakfast together?
After walking out and saying hello, Fujii Itsuki sat down at the dining table with the mother and daughter.

He took a sip of the tofu soup.

This taste.
It must be said that as a housewife, Mrs. Jiuhua’s cooking skills are truly first-class.

Do you want to let Xiao Jiuhua learn from her mother during this period?
"Mr. Fujii."

"Hmm?" Fujii Itsuki put down his chopsticks.

Mrs. Jiuhua looked serious and continued, "I'm going to the welfare home today. I wonder if Mr. Fujii wants to go with me?"

"To the welfare home?"

Fujii Itsuki was just wondering when he realized something was wrong with Xiao Jiuhua around him.

This girl, what is she so happy about all of a sudden?

"Yes, it's a rare trip back home, so I still have to go visit the dean."

At this moment, Fujii Itsuki suddenly remembered that when she first met Jiuhuayue, the dean told her that she knew Jiuhuayue's parents and they were old acquaintances.

Fujii Itsuki thought about it carefully and nodded in agreement, "Okay, I haven't visited the director since she was discharged from the hospital, so I'll go see her."

Mrs. Jiuhua nodded in agreement and continued eating.

During this time, she picked some dishes for Xiao Jiuhua, and Xiao Jiuhua accepted them all.

Fujii Itsuki noticed this.

Sure enough, the relationship between the two has improved, right?
We arrived at the welfare home a little after ten o'clock.

I went there by taxi.

The orphanage remained the same, but Fujii Itsuki noticed some details.

Something is wrong. Why has the children's playground in this yard been renovated?
The equipment is much more advanced than the last time I came here.

Even the sand has been replaced, obviously to be newer and better.

Fujii Itsuki accompanied Jiuhua and her daughter to walk around the welfare home. This building. This corridor.
The walls have been painted.

It's completely new.

"Mr. Fujii, Mr. Fujii."

"Huh? Hmm."

"The dean is not in the office."

"Then I should be in the classroom with the children now."

Fujii Itsuki led the two of them forward, and the further they walked, the weirder it felt.

Is this the same welfare home I visited last time?

It hasn't been long since I came here.

Not long after the three of them left, they heard a commotion in the corridor.
It was the children from the orphanage who were making a fuss.

I was very happy when I heard it.

Then go closer to the classroom and walk into the door.

Fujii Itsuki saw the old director standing at the top, and a group of children lined up below, seemingly to receive some toys. Some of the children who received the toys were already happy, while those in line were impatient.

Fujii Itsuki looked again at the person distributing the toys.

Xinchun?! Muzi?!
The moment Fujii Itsuki stood at the door, some children recognized him, happily shouted "Brother Shu!" and gathered around him.

Of course, the children's voices also attracted the attention of three people at the same time.

Dean, Xinchun, Muzi.
The three of them simultaneously discovered Fujii Itsuki and Jiuhua and her daughter standing at the door.

Matsumae Shinharu was holding the toys distributed to the children and looked at the two people behind Fujii Itsuki with great surprise.

"Dean Huadai, it's been a long time."

"Zhen Ling? What a rare visitor! When did you come back?"

Mrs. Jiuhua walked up first and greeted them gracefully.

At the same time, she also noticed Matsumae Shinchun standing in front of the dean.

Similarly, she also greeted the eldest lady of the Matsumae family.

"And Xinchun too, I haven't seen you for a long time, you've grown so much."

Matsumae Shinchun finally came to his senses and quickly bowed to greet Mrs. Kyuka.

Matsumae Shinchun also exchanged glances with Jiuhua Yue behind Mrs. Jiuhua.

She didn't expect Aunt Zhenling to come over.
Leaving aside Fujii Itsuki, Akai Muzi, as an outsider, noticed that these people gathered together, especially Jiuhuayue and Matsumae Shinchun, who had recently quarreled over that incident.

She seemed to smell a hint of gunpowder.

This Mrs. Jiuhua seems to have come with bad intentions.

(End of this chapter)