Chapter 447

PS: A super medium flexible double chapter, 4800 words, you know what I mean!

Why doesn't Senior Mai want to have children? She already explained this earlier.

As a practitioner of the Konohanasakuya-hime technique, Senior Mai's inner world power and all her sources of strength are stored in her uterus, so for her, her reproductive system already functions as the inner world's spirit power system. Therefore, if she chooses to bear children, during her pregnancy she will be unable to normally use inner world power, and childbirth will also cause her spirit power to suffer greatly, with her strength dropping significantly.

For someone like her, accustomed to acting within the inner world, this is absolutely unacceptable.

Moreover, she hasn't had enough of enjoying the spotlight in front of people. Considering all the above reasons, from beginning to end, she never considers having children.

"Um, Mai, although we all know what's going on, but saying it like this, won't it hurt my feelings a bit too much?" Uesugi Muneyuki, although he knew the reason, and although they had already talked it over, being spoken to like this by Senior Mai still made him feel hurt.

"Damn it, you horse's head!" Senior Mai was both angry and amused: "Muneyuki, you know how I feel about you, it's not like you don't know. Who said I don't want to give you children? But the current situation is just not possible. Once I become a New God, I will of course be willing to have a child that belongs to us and inherit our abilities and my position as Chief Priest of the Kanto Shinto."

"Regarding the childbearing issue, it's not about not having children, but delayed childbirth, slow childbirth, eugenic childbirth, having children in order, letting capable people have children first, letting those who have had children have more, so that those who have had children can drive those who haven't, and also needing to adapt to specific circumstances."

Senior Mai's attitude is very clear: under the current circumstances, she does not want to, nor is she suitable for, having children.

"This might be... very difficult, Grandpa." Uesugi Muneyuki could only say to Uesugi Kuninori: "Mai... she... doesn't want to have children, at least not in the near future."

"Why???" Uesugi Kuninori frowned, expressing incomprehension: "This child could inherit the main house's family name!"

"She... Grandpa, Mai said she's willing to be my concubine, but... she currently has no plan to have children, and we can't force her." Uesugi Muneyuki said with a bitter smile: "Moreover, Mai doesn't absolutely need the main house's family name—isn't the Uesugi Shinai also a member of the Shinai Alliance? Does the main house really still force her like that?"

"Hoo~~~" Uesugi Kuninori thought carefully and realized it really was like that!

Grandpa glared angrily at Uesugi Muneyuki, indicating it's still not that you're incapable! If you could subdue her and make her obedient, how could she refuse? You've lost all face for the main house!

Oh come on, Grandpa, her willingness to be my concubine is already an amazing achievement! If we truly compare strength and influence, she outclasses me in every way, right? Uesugi Muneyuki also gave Grandpa a white eye, indicating the main house isn't that strong either—nowadays it's not the shogunate era, we're not the shogun's family or a million-koku domain!

Grandfather and grandson sat in silence.

The times have changed, adult.

The Uesugi surname (actually a family name) in Japan actually carries significant weight—let alone anything else, in reality it's unclear whether the Yonezawa Uesugi clan actually belongs to the Minamoto, Taira, or Fujiwara lineage.

If we trace the Uesugi clan from Uesugi Norifusa, the father-in-law of Ashikaga Takauji, the founder of the Muromachi shogunate, to the head of the Yamauchi Uesugi family, Uesugi Norimasa, then they belong to the Fujiwara clan.

If we start from Nagao Kagetora (i. e., Uesugi Kenshin), Nagao Kagetora was the successor to Nagao Kagetora as Echigo Province Guard, and is one of the "Eight Platts of the Kanto," then they belong to the Taira clan.

If we follow the current Yonezawa Uesugi clan, then after the third-generation head of the Yonezawa Uesugi family, Uesugi Tsunakatsu, suddenly died violently, he was succeeded by his adopted son, Tsunetomo, who was only two years old at the time, born from Uesugi Tsunakatsu's sister Fuko and the shogunate's high-ranking house Kira Yoshinaka, to inherit the Uesugi family name.

The Kira clan, as a stepping stone for the Ashikaga branch families and Tokugawa Ieyasu to elevate their own status, is undoubtedly a prestigious Minamoto lineage. If the Ashikaga main house, branch families, and other lines all died out, the Kira clan might possibly inherit the shogun's position.

Of course, the Uesugi family tacitly avoids mentioning the eighth-generation lord of the domain, Uesugi Shigetada, who died without an heir, so they could only take in Matsusaburo (i. e., Uesugi Yozan), the maternal cousin from marrying into the Kyushu Takane domain's Akizuki family, brought in from his aunt Ruiyo-in, to become the heir.

Therefore, the Uesugi clan's family name belongs to all three lineages, undoubtedly very prestigious (this is also why Watanabe Madame suggested stealing Uesugi Muneyuki's surname), but also very difficult.

Branch family? Where would a branch family come from? There is no branch family! The main house had two successive failures to produce heirs, so they had to take children from the sister's family and the aunt's family separately to continue the line—where would there be extra offspring to develop a branch family?

Here we must admire Tokugawa Ieyasu.

The old turtle's offspring are truly too many, and precisely because he had so many children, the Edo shogunate was able to continue endlessly.

The fourth shogun Ietsuna died without heirs, so the Tatebayashi Tokugawa succeeded; the fifth shogun Tsunayoshi died without heirs, so the Kofu Tokugawa succeeded; the seventh shogun Ietsugu died without heirs, so the Kii Tokugawa succeeded; then came the Tokugawa of Tayasu, Tokugawa of Mito, and Tokugawa of Owari succeeding in turn, and finally the main line of Tokugawa Yoshimune died out, so the Mito Tokugawa succeeded.

The current head of the Tokugawa family, Tokugawa Tsunenari, had no heirs in the previous generation, but it's fine—the Tokugawa Three Houses, Three Ministries, and even the eighteen Matsudaira branch families are still around, and Tokugawa Tsunenari is a child taken in from the Aizu Matsudaira family of the eighteen Matsudaira branch families to inherit the main line.

Now the next-generation heir of the main line, Tokugawa Iehiro, also has no heirs, but no one is anxious, because there are vast numbers of branch families that can take in children to inherit—after all, everyone is a descendant of Ieyasu, and even if the meat rots, it's still in the pot.

Ieyasu, you're amazing!

Too bad the Uesugi family doesn't have this fate—generation after generation, they're sexually averse.

"Grandpa, don't rush yet—this year my older brother is only 27, he's still young..." Uesugi Muneyuki tried to say.

"Yes, he's still young! Yuken and Pengzi are still young too! You! Yukimatsumaru, you're also young! Very young!!!" Uesugi Kuninori painfully and full of hope stared at his little grandson, vexed beyond measure.

The eldest grandson might be abnormal, but the youngest is normal—how come I didn't observe him more closely, and just impatiently sent him away?

Now things are troublesome! Trying to get back what was sent out is difficult! Yukimatsumaru is now a child of the Watanabe Uesugi clan!

Moreover, Uesugi Muneyuki hasn't even married Watanabe Minami yet—having a child out of wedlock in Japan is a huge scandal, and even if they marry at the end of this year, that's half a year away. Even if Minami gets pregnant right after the New Year, the first child isn't necessarily a son. Even if it is a son, the eldest son would definitely belong to the Watanabe Uesugi clan, so we'd have to wait for the second child—which would take over three or four years—and even then, the second child isn't necessarily a son, and even if it is, we'd still have to figure out how to get it back...

How... how long would that take? Can I still be alive to hold a great-grandchild?

Thinking of this, Grandpa's eyes turned red—he never imagined it would come to this!

"You're all still young, but I'm already old! Yukimatsu, you should also understand Grandpa's feelings!" Uesugi Kuninori said angrily and defeated: "When will I be able to hold a great-grandchild like this? The main house is about to fall into the crisis of dying out!"

"........." Uesugi Muneyuki looked at Grandpa, whose face was already a bit flushed, and could only comfort this head of the house: "Grandpa, don't rush, first calm down, like this... maybe the older brother's side isn't certain either—best to let the elder sister-in-law try a few more times, see exactly what his problem is, you look for a doctor on your side, and I'll also ask my brother about what's really going on, okay?"

"Now, we can only do this." Uesugi Kuninori stamped his foot heavily, let out a long sigh: "But you also need to prepare in advance on your side—the heads of the main house throughout history haven't been vigorous people, only you are an exception... you, you... if Yukimatsumaru really can't do it, you... you... you should not and your elder sister-in-law..."

Uesugi Muneyuki: "?"

"???"

"Ah???!!!!"

Uesugi Muneyuki was stunned by Grandpa's words, like a thunderclap in his ears, as if struck on the head, his face turned livid with anger, and he stood up directly: "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Grandpa, what nonsense are you spouting!"

This old man!!!

You fucking think I'm what kind of person? Am I someone who eats anything when hungry and wears anything when cold???

That kind of winter melon face and small eyes on a big round face... I find them disgusting just to look at!

"I..." Uesugi Kuninori also realized his idea was a bit too heaven-defying, his old face tightened, and he could only bring out the dignity of the head of the house: "Then you think of a way! Either persuade Shirakawa, or else find another woman with pure bloodline and healthy body, at least give birth to a child as a backup!"

"Grandpa, you say it so easily..." Uesugi Muneyuki couldn't help but retort.

"Money isn't a problem! Housing isn't a problem! Even if they give birth, you don't even have to raise them—I'm retiring soon, I have plenty of time! Your mother is also very idle—if really necessary, we can hire a housekeeper!" Uesugi Kuninori emphasized: "In short, don't pin your hopes on your older brother—you, you need to get ready!"

"The entire nineteen-generation inheritance of the Yonezawa Uesugi clan and the Watanabe side's Uesugi clan are all resting on your shoulders!"

Uesugi Muneyuki's mouth twitched for a while, and he could only silently accept his speechlessness.

Family inheritance, our duty.

Sure enough, after a while, Senior Mai returned. Uesugi Kuninori stirred up hope and adopted a posture of letting go, hinting that he hoped she would bear an heir for the main house.

"This... Head of the Uesugi Family, I respect you, but regarding this matter, I'm really not being humble—you should still seek higher advice!" Indeed, Shirakawa Mai smiled and also very directly refused the Head of the Uesugi Family's proposal: "I currently have no plans to marry or have children, my energy is still needed for my career and other affairs, at least not in the next few years. As for what you said, I lack nothing—I really like Muneyuki, I'm willing to be his concubine, but please forgive my refusal!"

Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai said their farewells, leaving Uesugi Kuninori alone sitting in the study office, silently accepting the situation.

He really is old, and he truly lacks the ability to force Shirakawa Mai.

Just like that, Shirakawa Mai's name was quietly crossed out by him, and looking at the remaining three women's files, the Head of the Uesugi Family, no matter how he looked at it, felt awkward.

Brainless, uncultured lowly overseas bloodlines, household registration dead overseas bloodlines, and divorced lowly non-noble bloodlines...

Saying I'm defiant, even this little grandson of mine is a bit defiant—how did I end up finding all these weird and strange people?

Grandfather looked over and over again, and in the end could only point his finger at Ishihara Mikoto.

Compared to the other two with lowly overseas bloodlines on them... she's still somewhat better.

Hmm, still need to wait a bit, at least need to figure out what's going on with Chitokumaru...

The head of the Uesugi family struggled, using all his strength to lean on the edge of the desk, swaying as he stood up. His body was severely hunched, as if he had instantly aged ten years. He randomly wiped his face with his sleeve, but the deep humiliation and despair could not be wiped away. He stared at the seal on the desk symbolizing family head authority, then looked out the window at the twilight over the Uesugi residence in Bunkyo Ward, where generations of glory and expectation had once rested.

Now, beneath this glory, only an unfillable void remains, the shadow of extinguished incense, never before so stark and coldly draped over this ancient residence.

On the way back in the car, Uesugi Muneyuki, Shirakawa Mai, and Saito Asuka discussed this matter in the car.

Give birth! Give birth! Give birth!

Uesugi Muneyuki couldn't help but complain, his family actually has a noble name to inherit, making Mai Xuejie and Saito Asuka burst into laughter.

"The declining birth rate is indeed a big problem." Asuka took the opportunity to show off her knowledge, the girl said timidly: "I heard Yuki-chan say that if a family's take-home income is five million yen, in Tokyo they can already live decently, but if they have children, parents' combined take-home income of eight million yen is still quite stressful!"

"Hmm, Asuka said it fine." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded.

Aging and low birth rate—this is Japan's old problem. Actually, don't even mention a family earning eight million yen take-home; even someone like Uesugi Muneyuki with a take-home of 9.4 million yen, and Minami with 7.3 million yen, if they seriously invest in education, they can easily fall back into poverty with no limit.

Moreover, Japan also faces a problem: after the two brief post-war windows of demographic bonus passed, Japan's class structure has already become highly fixed, wealth already highly concentrated. Even if you strain to spend four million yen a year on private school to get your child into Tokyo University, coming out you'd only get a starting job paying 300,000 yen a month, while working full-time at a Japanese convenience store can earn about 200,000 yen a month—so pursuing education with extreme intensity, never mind the meaning, how long would it take to recoup the cost?

This is also a factor in Japanese people realizing that intense education competition lacks meaning, further suppressing their desire to have children.

Lie flat!

That said, no matter how Japan declines, it's still roughly a medium-developed country, primary distribution is decent, social income is spindle-shaped, an annual income of six million yen counts as middle class, and ten million yen in any survey counts as "affluent class."

Even so, according to UBS and PwC surveys, Japan's top 1% of the population holds about 18%-20% of the wealth, and according to the 1% wealth concentration law, this portion of wealth has already been permanently passed down in upper society.

This is already a highly fixed society.

Of course there are even more extreme cases—next door South Korea, where 1% of people hold 38%-43% of society's wealth.

If Japan's primary distribution is decent and society is still spindle-shaped, then South Korea is hard to describe—South Korean society as a whole is "工"-shaped.

Can one lie flat in Japan? Yes, anyway it won't get too bad.

Can one lie flat in South Korea? No, because in an 工-shaped society, not struggling fiercely, not only can one not maintain one's current position, but will instead keep sliding down along the middle "I" of the 工 into the abyss below.

So Japanese people lie flat and give up, South Korean people frenziedly compete.

Naturally, this results in South Koreans having the world's lowest birth rate—eligible women average less than one child, Seoul area 0.5, and South Korea has become a nation of runaways, with 50 million locals and over ten million overseas.

Leave, in order to return better!

Of course someone might ask about the Central Dynasty—Uesugi Muneyuki can only say the books still look very good at this time, as long as housing prices don't fall and maintain a 15%-20% annual increase speed surpassing debt interest, the future is truly bright!

"So saying, Asuka, you want to become the joint master of Yonezawa Uesugi and Watanabe Uesugi clan?" Mai Xuejie said half-smiling: "Hearing your grandfather's request, I at that moment recited a poem."

"Yonezawa Uesugi in peril

One junior student bears two burdens

The family name must be preserved."

"Cut it out, now it's still unclear what exactly is wrong with big brother." Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head: "Maybe he just doesn't like his sister-in-law? For example, Tokugawa Iemitsu himself, due to early experiences, despised women and the scent of powder on women, making normal relations with women impossible. Later, the Lady of Houdai sent a maid dressed as a young male attendant, completely without powder or rouge, keeping the young male attendant's headgear and wearing close-attendant attire, letting him treat her as a man to be favored, before Lord Iemitsu gradually learned to approach women and feel pleasure."

"Hahaha, I can prove, it's true!" Mai Xuejie said, not small at all.

"Eh eh eh eh?" Asuka in the back seat was stunned by this obscure knowledge.

A thought suddenly popped into the girl's mind.

Uesugi Mr., has never touched me!

So, if I dress up like Mai Elder Sister Mikoto Mikoto or even that plump woman in maturity, will Uesugi Mr. then look at me properly?

Seems, worth a try!

(Chapter End)