Chapter 871

After laughing, Miyawaki Sakura leaned back in her chair, stretched out her legs, and the white silk-wrapped calves intertwined beneath the seat. She rubbed her eyes, yawned, and tears welled up.

"I'm so sleepy," her voice soft and fluffy, like a stuffed toy just pulled out from under the covers.

Mai Xuejie looked at her, her gaze softening: "What's wrong, Sakura? Didn't sleep well last night?"

"It's not that I didn't sleep well, it's that I haven't really slept at all." Miyawaki Sakura buried her face in her scarf, her voice muffled: "After 'Hand of God' blew up, my schedule is packed solid. Last week I ran six cities for promotions, sleeping less than four hours a day. My agent says this is a critical period, I can't let up, I need to show my face while the heat's high. But I'm really so sleepy..."

Uesugi Muneyuki smiled upon hearing that.

Yes, as mentioned earlier, the biggest difference between a top-tier female celebrity and a first-line female celebrity lies right here.

Top-tier celebrities can pick their work, but first-line celebrities cannot.

It's not that first-line female celebrities can't refuse various role invitations at all, but within the Japanese entertainment industry, it's very realistic: if TV comes to you for a lead role and you don't take it, they'll go find someone else, and once you miss such an opportunity, you might never get another chance to be a lead in a drama again. That's why many actors, after reading a script, know they might flop, but still grit their teeth and take the role—this is the reason.

If you don't act, next time they won't come looking for you; even if it flops, maintaining a good relationship with TV means you can still make a comeback later. First, act to upgrade yourself, and then see what happens. And what if? I'm saying, what if?

So many actors like Haruna Kawaguchi can drive ratings down to 3% and still get endless role offers, because they take whatever comes their way, and TV loves such dedicated people—they won't be stingy about giving one or two more chances.

Top-tier celebrities are different: if you turn down a role this time, TV and film will still come looking for you next time, and you can pick your work.

That's the gap.

Xiao Ying relies on riding the coattails of Uesugi and Mai's popularity, 'Hand of God' went viral, and her annual income has already surpassed 28 million yen, but she's still a first-line idol, and as an idol, she has no right to refuse. She can only cite "schedule conflicts" or "poor health" as reasons to decline, but cannot say "I don't want to do this" or "your script isn't good" as reasons.

The low status of idols in the Japanese entertainment industry speaks volumes.

Mai Xuejie reached out and gently ruffled her hair, the motion as light as stroking a napping kitten: "It's fine, this outdoor shoot's schedule is very relaxed, the filming tasks aren't heavy, and there's plenty of rest time. After we finish, we can still spend two days in Aomori, see the snow, soak in hot springs, eat seafood, and really unwind."

Miyawaki Sakura lifted her face from the scarf, her eyes lighting up: "Really? We can actually play?"

"Of course." Mai Xuejie smiled: "Anyway, the main purpose of this trip has already been achieved."

She didn't say what "the main purpose" was, but Uesugi Muneyuki always felt that when she said that, the corner of her eye glanced at him. He suddenly felt a faint pain in his kidney.

Is the ammunition supply still sufficient?

Miyawaki Sakura's spirits visibly improved, and she became more talkative. She tilted her head to look at Uesugi Muneyuki and suddenly said: "Uesugi-sensei, do you know you have a nickname?"

Uesugi Muneyuki paused with his coffee cup halfway to his lips: "What nickname?"

"Doctor of Death." Miyawaki Sakura said this with a serious expression, but the corners of her mouth were turning up: "It's just that wherever you go, wherever you are, a death case occurs. Like Conan in 'Detective Conan,' who's the Elementary School Student of Death, you're the Doctor of Death. Look, at the hot spring inn incident, you went there and someone died. In that Gunma Prefecture case, you went there and someone died again. This time coming to Aomori..."

Mai Xuejie covered her mouth.

"Don't say that." Mai Xuejie's expression was calm, but her eyes held a hint of "don't jinx it."

Miyawaki Sakura pulled away her hand, protesting: "I'm stating facts!"

"Even facts aren't allowed. Such things shouldn't be said randomly—saying them too much makes them come true." Mai Xuejie looked at Uesugi Muneyuki: "You agree, don't you, Uesugi-sensei?"

Uesugi Muneyuki set down his coffee cup, leaned back in his chair, and spoke with the certainty of a final courtroom statement: "Impossible. Absolutely impossible! This time it's purely a location shoot—we'll finish and leave, with no accidents whatsoever."

As he spoke, his tone was firm and decisive, even convincing himself: "Sakura, I see your heart is a bit purple—probably a lip issue!" Then Uesugi Muneyuki immediately pulled out a bottle of Sprite and a bar of Chocolate: "Have some, and when you rest later, go run a half-marathon to train your body—everything will get better."

"Pfft! You let Sakura run when she only sleeps four hours a day? You're just wishing she'd die faster! Sakura, don't listen to him—let's rest properly first, then I'll take you to eat something delicious!" Mai Xuejie laughed.

"Yes! Mai-sama all the way!" Xiao Ying sneakily glanced at Uesugi Muneyuki, feeling nervous, and even touched the three large boxes of Okamoto ribbed granular wolf teeth in her small bag.

This time, it's finally my turn to shine!

The Shinkansen was passing through a snow-covered apple orchard.

The branches on the trees were bare, laden with snow, and from afar looked like rows upon rows of white skeletons.

On the distant mountain ridge, the cloud layer hung low, and the grayish sky and grayish snow blended at the horizon, making it impossible to tell where the edge was. When the Shinkansen pulled into Aomori Station and came to a stop, the snow outside the window was no longer scattered flakes, but a vast, descending blanket that wrapped the entire station in a world of pure white.

The Shinkansen doors opened, cold wind rushed into the carriage, Uesugi Muneyuki instinctively pulled up the collar of his overcoat, Mai Xuejie had already wrapped her scarf neatly, and Miyawaki Sakura huddled in her down jacket, muttering, "So cold, cold, cold, cold, cold."

By then, a group of people was already standing on the platform.

Leading them was a man in his sixties, wearing a dark navy thick wool overcoat, his scarf pure silk and tied in an elegant knot, his hair white but combed with not a single strand out of place, standing there with his back straight as a stake driven into the snow.

Behind him stood seven or eight people, men and women, old and young, all dressed respectfully, with solemn expressions, and the moment they saw Uesugi Muneyuki step out of the carriage, they all simultaneously bowed slightly.

"Mr. Uesugi, welcome to Aomori." The leading man stepped forward, extended his hand, and shook Uesugi Muneyuki's hand with just the right pressure—neither too light nor too heavy: "I am Nobumoto Tsugaru. My father, Nobumoto Tsugaru, had several encounters with Mr. Kuninori Uesugi back in the day, and he has always held the Uesugi family's scholarship and integrity in high esteem. To be able to meet a descendant of the Uesugi family today is truly an honor."

Tsugaru!

Everyone present felt a stir in their hearts.

The Tsugaru family, former lords of the Hirosaki Domain in Mutsu Province, were outside lords (tozama daimyo) during the Tokugawa Shogunate era, and after the Meiji Restoration were ennobled as peerage. Although the peerage system was abolished after the war, the Tsugaru family name remains a prominent signboard in Aomori!

The Tohoku region is the stronghold and reserved land of the old nobility, and some of these people have even continuously served as governors to this day.

Hoshino Gen and Aragaki Yui exchanged a remark, their eyes full of envy.

A true man should be like this.

Aragaki Yui's eyes flashed, she shook her head and said nothing—her private personality is actually quite gloomy.

"Mr. Tsugaru, you're too kind." Uesugi Muneyuki bowed slightly: "My grandfather and father often spoke of the Tsugaru family's generosity. To be troubling you like this is truly unsettling."

Nobumoto Tsugaru waved his hand, smiling naturally: "Mr. Uesugi, what are you talking about? Although the Yonezawa Uesugi have lived in Tokyo for many years, in the hearts of us Northeastern people, the Uesugi have always been the Northeastern Uesugi. The legacy of Lord Kenshin and Lord Lord of Celebration still flows across this land. Your coming to Aomori is Aomori's honor, and also the honor of us old nobility comrades."

The people behind him nodded in agreement, some saying "Yes, yes," some saying "Mr. Uesugi, your reputation precedes you," some saying "We watch every episode of 'Hand of God,' and everyone in our family especially likes Mr. Uesugi."

Their voices weren't loud, but each spoke with sincerity, as if performing a necessary step in some social ritual.

Uesugi Muneyuki returned their smiles with proper decorum, but his mind was elsewhere.

He recalled a survey report he had once seen from Tokyo University.

The population of Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Miyagi, Yamagata, and Fukushima in the Tohoku region combined is still less than that of Tokyo Metropolis alone. Here, all the young people are desperately fleeing to big cities, leaving behind only the elderly and children.

Farmland lies fallow, shops are closed, schools have merged, and the entire region resembles a great tree beginning to wither from its roots, still holding a few leaves that refuse to fall—but everyone knows spring will never come again.

Japan is pill-ified!

Yet looking at Nobumoto Tsugaru and the people behind him, you feel none of that decay.

They have dignified attire, composed speech, and the confidence to speak with authority in this place—the names Tsugaru, Nanbu Clan Clan, Sasaki, and these other old nobility lineages are, locally, a passport, a business license, and that gold card that allows unlimited overdraft at the bank.

Agriculture, fisheries, tourism, construction, logistics, and even local media shares—every blood vessel in this land carries their blood.

Want to come here to start a business? Want to come here to find opportunity? Want to return to your hometown and just lie flat?

You're thinking too much.

Uesugi Muneyuki sighed inwardly. He had seen too many examples like this: migrant workers who had drifted in Tokyo for over a decade, unable to keep up with the rat race, dreaming of returning to their hometowns to open a homestay, raise some chickens and ducks, grow some vegetables, and live a pastoral life.

But when he went back to check, he found that while land was available and the house was empty, opening a homestay? He would first have to clear the hurdle of the Tourism Association.

What is the surname of the president of the Tourism Association? It's Tsugaru.

Want to get into agriculture? You need to join the Agricultural Cooperative.

What is the surname of the president of the Agricultural Cooperative? It's Nanbu Clan Clan.

Want to run an online store selling local specialties? Who controls the logistics channels? The Sasaki Clan.

You can't compete with them — from production to final sales, it's all their people! How are you supposed to fight them?

Thinking this through, Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly felt a bit amused.

Japanese people always think of Tokyo as purgatory, a man-eating place, a graveyard for salary slaves.

But actually, Tokyo is huge — so huge that even conglomerates and monopolies can't consume it all. Tokyo changes fast — so fast that countless business opportunities keep emerging.

You can't open a shop on this street in Shinjuku? Go to West Tokyo City.

If you can't make it in this industry, switch to another and start over.

Tokyo has thirty million people — thirty million opportunities. There's always a crack you can squeeze through, always a corner where you can survive. But the countryside is not the same.

The resources in the countryside are just that little — already all taken up. If you don't take someone else's share, you'll starve. But you can't take it, because no one will give it to you.

If you want to open a restaurant, you need to rent a space — but the shopfronts are already owned. If you want to expand your customer channels, they've already signed a 20-year lunch supply agreement with the school. If you want to sell wild boar and deer meat as a specialty, the local hunters' association president is his second uncle, and only they have the firearms permits that have been suspended for twenty years — only they can legally hunt.

Migrant workers who come to Tokyo always think, "Worst case, I'll just go home." But they don't realize — "home" is no longer theirs. That home has long been devoured by those wearing proper coats, hair neatly combed, smiling and saying, "Welcome to Aomori." These are the country gentry, the local tyrants of the prefectural seat — as Tsugaru Nobumoto once said~

"Mr. Uesugi?"

Tsugaru Nobumoto's voice pulled him back from his thoughts.

"Ah, sorry. I was just thinking about tomorrow's shooting schedule and zoned out." Uesugi Muneyuki bowed slightly.

Tsugaru Nobumoto smiled and said it was no problem, then stepped aside and made a "please" gesture: "The car is already ready. Tonight, we've arranged a welcome banquet at Asuka Hot Springs. Some local old friends all want to meet Mr. Uesugi. Of course, if Mr. Uesugi is tired, you can also go to the hotel to rest first. Everything will be arranged according to your convenience."

Seeing this scene, the crowd at the foot of Mount Fuji were all deeply shaken.

Especially Sakura, who realized this was a world she could never possibly reach in her lifetime — not to mention an annual income of thirty million yen, even if it were a hundred million, she could never get these local tyrants to come voluntarily to the station to form such a grand reception.

The aura of power and influence — truly intoxicating!

But…… Sakura suddenly filled with confidence.

But I am an invincible beautiful girl! I am blessed! Mr. Uesugi likes me! Mai-sama is cultivating me!

That's enough!

Enough!!!