Chapter 80: A Gift

“Gentlemen, I’ll go upstairs and invite Mr. Kawada down,” Cheng Qianfan said with a smile.

Okada Toshihiko nodded.

Given his status, it was sufficient for him to come to the inn to receive the guest. If he went upstairs personally to invite him, it would seem somewhat overly fawning.

Miyazaki Kentaro’s identity was that of Kawada Eikichi’s friend, and also Kawada Atsuto’s “life-saving benefactor”, a “wandering poet.”

Without any official status, having Miyazaki Kentaro go upstairs to invite Kawada Atsuto was entirely appropriate.

Sanben Jiro remained silent and merely nodded slightly.

“You’re a Japanese devil!” The young waiter finally reacted and pointed at Cheng Qianfan as he shouted.

Cheng Qianfan turned his head and fixed the waiter with a cold, sinister gaze.

The young waiter was so frightened that his legs trembled uncontrollably, yet he barely managed to remain standing.

Smiling, Cheng Qianfan raised his right hand, shaped it like a pistol, and aimed it at the young waiter.

Although it was not a real pistol, faced with that icy gaze and the many rumors about the extreme cruelty of the Japanese devils, the young waiter was utterly terrified, his eyes filled with panic.

“Sir, sir, please don’t! He’s still just a child, he doesn’t understand anything!” The innkeeper waved his hands repeatedly and begged for mercy in fright.

Bang!

Cheng Qianfan made a “bang” sound with his mouth, and immediately saw the young waiter’s legs shaking as urine dripped from his trousers.

“Hahaha, Chinese people.” Cheng Qianfan shook his head and strode proudly into the inn.

Behind him, both Okada Toshihiko and Sanben Jiro were smiling.

“A spirited young man indeed,” Okada Toshihiko said with a smile.

Sanben Jiro also nodded. He was quite appreciative of Miyazaki Kentaro as well.

Cautious in his actions, well-mannered, yet possessing the pride that a young man of the Empire ought to have, he was an outstanding youth of the Empire.

Bang, bang, bang.

He knocked on the door, but there was no response.

Cheng Qianfan opened the door and entered the room, only to hear snoring.

Looking up, he saw Kawada Atsuto sprawled across the bed in complete abandon, with half the blanket fallen onto the floor.

Although he had already witnessed all kinds of “undignified” behavior from Kawada Atsuto, seeing that the man could still sleep so soundly in enemy territory and under the threat of being hunted down made Cheng Qianfan shake his head.

“Mr. Kawada.” Cheng Qianfan patted Kawada Atsuto.

No response.

He patted him several more times.

Still no response.

Cheng Qianfan frowned. “Mr. Kawada, run! The Chinese are here!”

With a sudden movement, Kawada Atsuto sat upright on the bed, flung aside the blanket, and prepared to crawl underneath it.

“Mr. Kawada.” Cheng Qianfan quickly grabbed him.

Kawada Atsuto’s face was full of terror, but when he turned and saw Miyazaki Kentaro, he immediately let out a long sigh of relief.

“Mr. Kawada, get up quickly,” Cheng Qianfan said. “Mr. Okada and Mr. Sanben are waiting for you downstairs.”

“Major Okada and Uncle Sanben have come?” Kawada Atsuto was overjoyed upon hearing this.

He put on his clothes in a few quick motions.

“Wait a moment.” Cheng Qianfan took out a suit from his luggage. “Mr. Kawada, your build is similar to mine. Wear this.”

Kawada Atsuto accepted the suit and looked at Cheng Qianfan. “Miyazaki, you know now?”

“Yes.” Cheng Qianfan smiled bitterly and nodded. “I never imagined that you were a member of Kyoto’s Kawada family.”

“Then this suit, you gave it to me because my father is Kawada Yushi?”

“I don’t know who your father is. Neither Mr. Sanben nor Mr. Okada told me,” Cheng Qianfan said, shaking his head. “I simply regard you as a friend. The Kawada Atsuto of two hours ago could go out wearing a Chinese person’s ragged clothes. The Kawada Atsuto of now needs a respectable outfit.”

Cheng Qianfan smiled faintly. “Nothing more than that. If it weren’t truly necessary, I’d be reluctant to part with such a fine suit myself.”

Kawada Atsuto looked at Cheng Qianfan and said, “Miyazaki, you’re the first person who treated me well without doing so because I’m Kawada Yushi’s son. You’re also the first person who didn’t know I was Kawada Yushi’s son and still treated me so well.”

“Atsuto.” Cheng Qianfan smiled. “I’m a simple person. I didn’t think that much about it. I simply regard you as a friend. Isn’t that what friends should do for each other?”

“Yes, friends. We are friends.” Kawada Atsuto smiled and extended his right hand.

Cheng Qianfan smiled as well, and the two clasped hands.

Cheng Qianfan also tidied himself up briefly and picked up his suitcase.

His identity as a “Japanese” had been exposed, so he could no longer remain at the Chinese inn.

“Miyazaki, I’m truly sorry,” Kawada Atsuto said. He knew that his own troubles had implicated Miyazaki Kentaro.

“If you feel bad about it, then after we return to Japan, treat me to some Kyoto Karasuma-chō sake,” Cheng Qianfan said with a smile. “I can’t afford it myself.”

“It’s a deal.” Kawada Atsuto beamed.

Watching Miyazaki Kentaro and Kawada Atsuto emerge from the inn chatting and laughing, with Cheng Qianfan carrying his suitcase,

Okada Toshihiko and Sanben Jiro exchanged a glance. It seemed that Miyazaki Kentaro’s relationship with the young master of the Kawada family was even closer than they had imagined.

“Mr. Kawada, you have suffered a fright.” Okada Toshihiko bowed and apologized.

“Young Master, Sanben failed in his duty to protect you. Please punish me.” Sanben Jiro bent into an even deeper ninety-degree bow.

A trace of surprise flashed through Cheng Qianfan’s eyes.

Okada Toshihiko had used the most respectful formal bow, inclined at forty-five degrees, a highly solemn gesture of apology.

Sanben Jiro had used the highest ceremonial bow, a full ninety-degree bow, expressing an exceptionally sincere apology.

Okada Toshihiko was a major and the military attaché of the Japanese Consulate in Hangzhou. Given his status, his apology could even be understood as representing the Japanese Consulate in Hangzhou.

It was practically a semi-official apology.

From this, it was clear that the Kawada family’s prestige within Japan was even greater than he had imagined.

As for Sanben Jiro’s ninety-degree bow, and his form of address, “Young Master,” Cheng Qianfan found himself forming a vague suspicion.

Kawada Atsuto returned Okada Toshihiko’s courtesy with a slight bow. “Major Okada, I have caused you trouble.”

Then he took two steps forward and helped Sanben Jiro rise. With such a short, sturdy build, maintaining a ninety-degree bow was quite strenuous.

“Uncle Sanben, I’ve made you worry.”

Looking at the courteous Kawada Atsuto, whose every gesture carried aristocratic elegance, Cheng Qianfan found it both surprising and amusing. He simply could not reconcile this humble, gentle young Japanese nobleman with that cowardly novice Japanese agent who feared death and had endured the hardships of hiding in a sewer.

At the same time, he became a little more wary of Kawada Atsuto.

“Mr. Okada, Mr. Sanben, Mr. Kawada.” Cheng Qianfan bowed slightly. “I won’t be returning with you. I still have matters of my own to handle.”

Okada Toshihiko nodded. He was not surprised. Instead, he seemed somewhat appreciative.

“Miyazaki, if you need anything, come to the Okada residence and find me.”

“Miyazaki, thank you.” Sanben Jiro said nothing more and returned the bow.

“Mr. Kawada, take care.” Cheng Qianfan bowed slightly toward Kawada Atsuto.

“Miyazaki, take care.” Kawada Atsuto bowed and nodded. Then he walked to Okada Toshihiko’s side and quietly said something.

A look of surprise appeared on Okada Toshihiko’s face. He seemed somewhat troubled, but ultimately nodded.

He beckoned a Japanese army officer beside him and whispered a few instructions.

Cheng Qianfan did not understand what was happening and was about to speak when Kawada Atsuto smiled and said, “Miyazaki, be patient. Atsuto has a gift for you, my elder brother.”