Chapter 232: Satisfied with Haruno?
The car finally stopped in front of a mansion in Ota Ward.
It is called a mansion, but it would be more reasonable to call it a manor at the foot of the mountain.
After getting off the car, Sawayama Haruno looked at the several mansions in front of him with some surprise. Although he had known before that the Ezaki family was a prominent family, he felt even more shocked after actually seeing the Ezaki family's old house.
You have to know that Tokyo is a city where every inch of land is valuable. Although Ota Ward and Minato Ward are relatively far away from each other, it is precisely because they are close to the edge that it is more convenient for these wealthy people to build their own luxury villas. The old house of the Ezaki family in front of us is extremely luxurious no matter where it is located.
"Surprised?"
Naoto Ezaki also got out of the car and said with a smile, "Grandfather usually lives here. Although it looks very luxurious and large from the outside, the interior decoration is actually a bit old. I have been trying to persuade Grandfather to move to another holiday estate recently."
“It was a little unexpected, but fortunately I was mentally prepared.”
Zeshan Haruno stroked his chin and said casually, "In such a big place, is the old man the only one living there?"
"That's about right. There's only an old lady who's kind of a housekeeper and nanny living with my grandfather."
Mizawayama Haruno quickly recovered from his shock, and there was a bit more appreciation in Naoto Ezaki's eyes.
He led the other person forward while explaining, "It wasn't like this before, but as the family grew larger and my grandfather got older, he became more accustomed to living alone."
"Yeah."
Sawayama Haruno couldn't help but look at the several ancient Japanese-style buildings connected to each other. The door of one of the gates was half open, and there looked like a dojo inside.
Is it a kendo dojo?
Sawayama Haruno couldn't help but guess.
I've heard from Zhiye before that his grandfather loves kendo, and it seems that he still insists on practicing every day even when he is old. Is it true that a man like this who started from scratch still has a sense of unwillingness to accept old age even at this age?
"Please come in."
While he was daydreaming, Naoto Ezaki had already taken him into the largest mansion among them.
After opening the door, Naoto Ezaki took off his shoes first, and turned back and smiled, "I have already contacted the housekeeper this morning. I guess grandpa should be waiting for us in the tea room now."
"Ah."
Sawayama Haruno nodded slightly.
The area of the old house of the Ezaki family was far beyond his imagination. After following Naoto Ezaki and taking off his shoes at the door, he walked inside for about three or four minutes before arriving at the so-called "tea room".
"咚咚-"
Naoto Ezaki stood at the front, stretched out his hand and knocked on the door twice, and whispered: "Grandfather, I'm here with Suguha's friends."
"Enter."
From the tea room, an old man's powerful voice was heard.
The rough voice seemed to contain a powerful aura, and it was more like an order for the two people outside the door to come in together than an invitation.
When the door of the room was slowly opened by Naoto Ezaki, Sawayama Haruno, who was standing nearby, naturally took the lead in noticing the "old man" sitting cross-legged facing the door.
"Is this the grandfather of the Ezaki family?"
The moment he saw the other person clearly, Sawayama Haruno's heart trembled.
His hair is gray and his face is full of wrinkles. He has the typical appearance of an "old man" that can be recognized at first glance.
But the man's back was straight, and the arms exposed from the cuffs of his hakama were unusually strong, not at all like the loose arms of other old men.
Although he looks like a short old man, he gives people a great sense of oppression. When he has no expression on his face, people standing next to him dare not breathe deeply.
"No wonder he was able to lead the Ezaki family, which had fallen to only three or four people at the time, and fight his way up from the bottom," Sawayama Haruno thought.
These top bosses who have made their fortune from scratch do have a mysterious aura about them, which makes people feel afraid at first sight, as if they are a sheep that has accidentally entered the territory of a lion.
Fortunately, for Sawayama Haruno, this feeling of oppression is not particularly strong.
Maybe it was because the system had strengthened itself several times, but after seeing his grandfather who was "treating him seriously", his body was at most a little tense due to nervousness, but other than that he didn't feel too scared.
"Grandfather, are you feeling well?"
As if sensing the eerie silence in the air, Naoto Esaki was the first to greet the other party after entering the tea room.
It’s a pity that the other party didn’t even look at him.
"sit."
This thin but strong old man made a direct invitation to Sawayama Haruno.
The latter was still a little hesitant, but Naoto Ezaki seemed to have anticipated this scene and pulled him over to sit down.
"I didn't say you could sit."
Naoto Ezaki froze in place, and his expression became somewhat awkward.
Seeing this scene, Sawayama Haruno couldn't help but look at his future brother-in-law again.
"."
Naoto Ezaki didn't say anything, just gave him a look.
Sawayama Haruno immediately understood what he meant and slowly sat down opposite the tea table.
"My name is Tetsuichiro Ezaki." Seeing Sawayama Haruno sitting opposite him without showing any fear, the old man's expression suddenly softened a little.
"Chunye Wushan, written as Zeshan."
Sawayama Haruno answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.
Not long after he finished speaking, the door of the tea room was pushed open again, and a woman in simple clothes walked in with a kettle.
She did not help to make tea, but just took out the tea leaves and tea sets, and put the kettle on the table. Then she smiled at Zeshan Haruno and slowly stood up and walked out.
By the way, what about this tea-drinking conversation with a very Edo atmosphere? Although I had anticipated the occurrence of this scene in advance, when it actually happened, I didn't know what to say.
Sawayama Haruno complained a few words in his heart. There was nothing he could do. The more embarrassing the situation was, the more he wanted to complain in his heart.
Fortunately, Tetsuichiro Esaki didn't seem to see through his inner thoughts.
"I've heard of your name before."
Tetsuichiro Ezaki picked up the kettle and said lightly.
"Zeshan-san, do you believe that talent is something that is predetermined at birth?"
".I don't believe it." Haruno Zeshan said truthfully.
He didn't think about too many complicated things, and it has nothing to do with philosophy or not.
Because the most powerful evidence to prove that "talent is not innate" is himself.
——The existence of that system.
"Ah"
Obviously, Tetsuichiro Esaki had different ideas.
He sneered and began to make tea while slowly saying, "I thought you were a smart person, but I didn't expect you to say something like this."
“What people know and what they can do must be ready from the moment they are born. Learning after birth only helps them remember these things.”
"Something you have is something you have, and something you don't have will never be there no matter how hard you try."
"Could it be that those world-famous literary geniuses have achieved their current success because of the kind of education they received? If so, with so many students at the University of Tokyo, how many of them can win outstanding literary awards?"
"Maybe I just forgot a lot." Sawayama Haruno murmured.
As expected of him, he is Suguha's grandfather. These two look really alike when they discuss philosophy. This time it can be confirmed without a doubt that they are biological children.
Zeshan Haruno even has the illusion of "talking about heroes over wine"
But to be honest, he is quite inclined to agree with what his grandfather said. He also believes that "something that exists is there, and something that doesn't exist is not there", but it is not appropriate to say that now.
Because the purpose of his coming here this time was still for Ezaki Suguha.
If I continue talking along the lines of my grandfather, I will soon be led to the issue of Ezaki Suguha. No matter what they talk about, this lack of "talent" is fatal to Ezaki Suguha.
Because she couldn't become the head of the family according to the wishes of the Ezaki family.
“Have you forgotten more?”
While making tea, Tetsuichiro Ezaki raised his eyelids and glanced at Naoto Ezaki who was standing next to him somewhat awkwardly.
After a pause, he added with a deeper meaning: "I am not afraid of forgetting a lot, I am afraid of being self-righteous and thinking that I have forgotten."
"."
Naoto Ezaki pursed his lips and his expression became increasingly unsightly.
He had a bad feeling in his heart, and he had this feeling long before he came here.
After all, his grandfather already knew about his little moves in Kyoto, and this time he might be taking the opportunity to give him a warning.
But if that's the case, then my grandfather's agreement to meet Sawayama Haruno would become somewhat contradictory. After all, if he meets him, it would most likely mean that he agrees to marry Suguha to him.
If that’s the case, what on earth is Grandfather thinking?
Huhu——
After scalding a round of teacups, the teapot next to him began to boil again, and Tetsuichiro Esaki quickly started a new tea-making process.
"I've read Zeshan-san's book. It's very well written."
"Let's put aside Zeshan-san's background and education for now. Just looking at this point alone is enough to confirm what I said before."
".Yes."
Sawayama Haruno felt a little helpless.
If the other party said so, it would be difficult for him to refute.
You can't just tell the other person that you are a time traveler and that there is something about the system, right?
"Norwegian Wood" is right there. Anyone who reads it will understand the meaning of the book, and naturally it will also invisibly confirm the saying that "talent is innate."
After all, there are tens of thousands of students at the University of Tokyo. How many of them are qualified to be on par with Haruki Murakami?
"A dragon and a phoenix among men."
Tetsuichiro Esaki brought the teacup to Haruno Sawayama, who quickly reached out to take it.
"I admire you very much. No matter which aspect you are in, Zeshan-san is much better than most people."
He looked at Zeshan Haruno with some appreciation, "With a grandson-in-law like this, even I can't find any fault with him."
(End of this chapter)
