Chapter 77: Kagome Hall (5)

“Old Man Qiao, please do not say that. Based on my understanding of Brother Shun, he must have had no choice but to say that…”

The magazine editor Shikatori was a good friend of Hirakawa Shun. He had a habit of using somewhat old-fashioned expressions in his speech. He let out a bitter laugh and said, “Please do not worry. Brother Shun will definitely return. When he comes back, he will properly compensate you.”

“Old Master Qiao, I am truly very sorry.”

The butler Saeki bowed deeply in a standard manner, apologizing to Old Man Qiao.

Seeing the butler Saeki’s serious expression, Old Man Qiao felt a bit embarrassed.

“Brother Saeki, please do not be like this. I am not really complaining about anything. I just really want to see Brother Shun’s collection as soon as possible… I am merely a guest. It was already quite rude of me to say what I said earlier. If you continue like this… my old face has nowhere to hide.”

“Everyone, I am truly sorry. But my uncle must have encountered some trouble, which is why he couldn’t return in time.”

Fujimatsuri Shigeyoshi also quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

“Regardless, let’s all go to have dinner first. Madam Esumi’s cooking skills are excellent. It’s almost eight o’clock already, we shouldn’t delay any longer.”

Fang Jing also did not expect that Hirakawa Shun would miss his flight and be unable to return.

He frowned, knowing that he would have to spend more time in Kagome Hall.

Only after Hirakawa Shun returned would he open the Collection Room for everyone to visit… This was also the usual practice of the Kagome Hall gathering. Before Hirakawa Shun arrived, the key to the Collection Room was kept by Madam Esumi. Without Hirakawa Shun’s permission, she would not casually take out the key.

The Hirakawa family had collected many rare items over three generations. Added together, there were quite a number. The market prices of those precious collections definitely wouldn’t be low.

For safety reasons, the Hirakawa family kept all the collection items hidden in the Collection Room in the Basement.

“Kagome Hall of the Hirakawa Family has a Basement. Its size is similar to the upper floor, and even the layout is almost the same.”

The shape of Kagome Hall was like a Hexagram – most guests, like himself, stayed in the guest rooms located at the corners. For example, this time, the arrangement was for seven people, including himself, President Utsumi, editor Shikatori, Old Man Qiao, Madam Fumiko, and the Toriumi father and daughter, to stay in six guest rooms.

The guest rooms in Kagome Hall were very large. Some rooms could easily fit two beds and still have plenty of space. The Toriumi father and daughter stayed in the same room.

With just six guest rooms, they could accommodate one more person when the number of guests was high. But since the guests were almost all here, the six rooms were sufficient.

There was also an attic above the second floor. This attic was not very big, but it could still accommodate people or serve as a storage room. Currently, the attic was not empty either; Fujimatsuri Shigeyoshi and his two friends stayed in the attic.

The overall layout of the first floor was similar to the second floor, with only slight modifications. For instance, the main Entrance Hall occupied one of the corners. There was also an Activity Room, a restroom, and a Kitchen. Besides these, on the first floor, there was the bedroom of the Hirakawa family’s eldest son, Hirakawa Tsurutada, who was Hirakawa Shun’s older brother. It was located in the room opposite the Activity Room.

That was the room on the left side, across from the stairs. However, the door to this room was always closed.

“Mr. Tsurutada encountered an accident ten years ago. His health is not good, and he doesn’t like to see people much. Most of the time, Madam Esumi takes special care of him.”

This was Fujimatsuri Shigeyoshi’s explanation, so for now, they accepted it as such.

Tsurutada was the eldest son of the Hirakawa family. He seemed to be a writer and usually lived in seclusion in Kagome Hall.

He preferred quiet throughout his life, and additionally, his health was not good. He needed a wheelchair and a cane to move around. Madam Esumi specially took care of him in Kagome Hall. This was the information Fang Jing had found out.

During dinner, the host who invited everyone, Hirakawa Shun, still had not returned. Fortunately, Fujimatsuri Shigeyoshi, along with his childhood friends Nagakabe Fuyuko and Watanabe, were present. The atmosphere at the dinner table was still quite lively.

On the Victorian-style long rectangular dining table, the guests began to enjoy the freshly served dishes.

“Today’s meal is really sumptuous. It’s just a pity that Mr. Shun couldn’t make it…”

President Utsumi laughed heartily and drained the red wine in his tall glass in one gulp.

“So satisfying…”

“This wine is from Brother Shun’s collection, right! The taste is really good. But Brother Saeki, you secretly took this out, didn’t you?”

Old Man Qiao took a sip of the fine wine in his glass, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out. He greatly praised the wine in his hand.

“If Hirakawa knew we were secretly drinking his collection of fine wines, he might get angry.”

The butler Saeki chuckled and said, “It’s fine. Young Master Shun was indeed rude this time. This small token is considered an apology.”

“Madam Esumi’s skills are getting better and better. I really wish she could come to help in my kitchen.”

Fumiko spoke in a hoarse tone. All ten of her fingers were adorned with expensive gemstone rings. She was a very famous Fortune Teller. It was said her clients included high-ranking officials, capitalists, and upper-class people. Fujimatsuri said she often appeared as a guest on various variety shows… but Fang Jing had no impression of this “celebrity” at all.

“That wouldn’t do. If Madam Esumi left, Kagome Hall would lose its backbone.”

Shikatori said this with a laugh. He was a good friend of Hirakawa Shun. Since the host was absent, he naturally took on the role of lightening the mood.

“Oh! Oh! Watanabe and I found an orchard behind the mountain. We even picked a lot of apples and brought them back.”

Nagakabe Fuyuko excitedly told the story of her adventure today. She pulled out a basket from somewhere and proudly showed the green wild fruits inside.

“Fuyuko, those wild apples are completely inedible. Didn’t you taste them yourself… They were sour and astringent.”

Fujimatsuri Shigeyoshi shook his head and gave a bitter laugh.

“Most apples people eat now are artificially cultivated. The ones that grow on those wild apple trees don’t taste very good.”

Watanabe shook the beer can in his hand, a helpless expression on his face.

“And picking those things was super troublesome. Fujimatsuri, you should keep your Fuyuko in check.”

“The area behind the mountain is still quite dangerous. What did you go there for?”

President Utsumi, who was more familiar with the local environment, asked with some surprise.

“Huh? Really?”

Nagakabe Fuyuko tilted her head a little, somewhat puzzled.

“But we saw a very tall, hunchbacked man earlier, carrying something like a farming tool, an iron fork, on his shoulder. He went into the forest behind the mountain… Watanabe and I thought people often went into the back mountains?”

“No… not many people from nearby go up the mountain. Also, this mountain, including Kagome Hall, is the land of the Hirakawa family. Outsiders shouldn’t come up.”

Clang!

The magazine editor Shikatori’s spoon accidentally fell to the ground.

Fang Jing, sitting opposite him, clearly noticed something. Just when Nagakabe Fuyuko mentioned meeting the “hunchbacked man” in the back mountains, Shikatori’s hand trembled, and his face showed shock. Because of this, the spoon fell to the floor.