fictionpage Chapter 21 Alchemy
Chapter 21 Alchemy
December of 1985 seemed colder than in previous years.
Fine snowflakes began to fall from dusk, like torn cotton wool, silently covering the roofs of the black luxury cars in Akasaka.
Akasaka, "Rotei Street".
There are no ostentatious neon lights like in Ginza here, only winding stone ramps and towering blackboard walls on both sides. If you don't look carefully, you might not even find the signs for those high-class restaurants.
But every Tokyo resident knows that this seemingly quiet neighborhood determines half of the country's morning newspaper headlines.
At the entrance of the ryotei "Matsukawa," a female general dressed in a thick kimono kneels on the cold stone steps, her forehead touching the ground, to welcome the distinguished guests of the evening.
A black Nissan presidential limousine with a special license plate slowly came to a stop.
Shuichi Saionji stepped out of the car.
He wore a dark gray cashmere overcoat, with a sliver of stiffly starched white shirt collar peeking out. Two months is enough time for a person's demeanor to undergo a dramatic transformation. The lingering sorrow and anxiety that once clung to his brow had vanished, replaced by a composure and dignity honed by the passage of time.
That confidence comes from having eight billion in cash flow in hand.
"Lord Saionji, the guests have arrived," the female general said in a low voice, her tone as respectful as if she were addressing a daimyo.
Xiu Yi nodded slightly, said nothing, and walked straight into the dark corridor.
The paper doors on both sides of the corridor were tightly closed, and occasionally the sounds of shamisen and suppressed laughter from men could be heard from inside. The air was filled with the aroma of broth and the smell of stale tatami mats.
The private room at the end is named "Snow Moon Flower".
Xiu Yi pushed open the sliding door.
Two men were sitting in the room.
The slightly overweight, bald man on the left, who is fidgeting with his wine glass, is Ogawa, the head of the planning section of the Tokyo Metropolitan Urban Development Bureau.
The lean, sharp-looking man on the right, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, is Tanabe, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development.
To the average citizen, these two might just be civil servants drawing a fixed salary. But in Tokyo's real estate industry, their seals of office carry more power than bulldozers.
"Oh dear, Your Grace!"
Upon seeing Xiuichi enter, the two quickly put down their wine glasses and even bowed slightly.
This is the magic of the "Chinese" label. Even today, with the rise of conglomerates, for these bureaucrats deeply influenced by Confucian hierarchical concepts, being privately invited to a banquet by a member of the House of Lords with a century-old family name is an honor worthy of being written into their resume.
"Tanabe-kun, Ogawa-kun, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Shuichi took off his coat and handed it to the maid behind him, a warm smile on his face. He didn't put on airs, but instead took the seat of honor.
"It's snowing outside, and the roads are a bit slippery."
"Not at all, we just arrived too." Judge Tanabe adjusted his glasses and said politely, "We are truly flattered to receive Mr. Saionji's invitation."
"Quickly, serve the food," Xiu Yi ordered the female general. "Bring up that bottle of 'Black Dragon' that's been stored for ten years. In this weather, something hot is much more comforting."
Tonight's main course is pufferfish.
Thinly sliced pufferfish sashimi, arranged in the shape of a blooming chrysanthemum on a porcelain plate decorated with Kuko-yaki patterns, reveals the intricate design of the plate beneath the translucent fish.
"Please." Xiu raised his glass.
The three clinked glasses gently. The warm sake slid down their throats, dispelling the chill of the winter night.
For the first half hour, Xiu Yi didn't mention anything about the important matter.
They chatted about the heavy snowfall this year, the Giants' baseball team's record, and the recent idol group called "Onyanko Club." Shuichi was witty and knowledgeable, occasionally interjecting with anecdotes about the Imperial Garden Party, which captivated the two bureaucrats.
This is a high-end social massage.
The atmosphere reached its most harmonious peak when a steaming pot of pufferfish hot pot was served.
"Speaking of which," Councilor Tanabe said, picking up a piece of fish and seemingly remarking casually, "the economic situation hasn't been very good lately. With the yen's appreciation, many export companies have come to the provincial government crying poverty, saying their factories are going to close down."
"Yes," Section Chief Ogawa chimed in. "Tax revenue in Tokyo will likely be affected as well. Although land prices are rising in some areas, it's just a temporary surge. Most small and medium-sized business owners are selling properties to pay off debts."
Shuichi put down his chopsticks.
He gently touched the corner of his mouth with a napkin, his eyes revealing a perfectly measured hint of concern for the country and its people.
"Speaking of selling the property," Shuichi sighed, "I'm also worried about this."
The two bureaucrats exchanged a glance and immediately perked up their ears.
"Oh? The Saionji family too..."
"No, it's not that I'm in trouble." Xiu waved his hand, his tone indifferent. "A few days ago, I saw an old building in Ginza 7-chome. The original owner was a trader who was being driven to the brink of suicide by the bank. I couldn't stand it, so I bought the building to help him out of his predicament."
"I bought a building in Ginza on a whim..."
Section Chief Ogawa swallowed hard. In this period of economic downturn where everyone was on edge, there were very few people in all of Tokyo who could "casually" pull out hundreds of millions of yen in cash.
"Your Excellency the Duke is truly kind-hearted," Tanabe said, offering a timely compliment.
"I wouldn't call myself a bodhisattva, I just couldn't bear to see a place like Ginza become a mess and get shut down by the court."
Shuichi picked up his wine glass and gently twirled it in his hand.
"But after I bought it, I realized that the building was really... an eyesore."
He frowned, as if he had thought of something dirty.
"The exterior walls are peeling, and the windows are old-fashioned. Sandwiched between two new buildings, it's like a plaster stuck to a beautiful woman's face. As you all know, Ginza is the face of Tokyo. If a foreign envoy or member of the royal family were to pass by and see such a dilapidated scene, wouldn't they laugh at us Japanese for not even being able to fix a proper facade?"
"This..." Section Chief Ogawa paused, then said, "So what do you mean?"
I want to renovate it.
Shuichi snapped his fingers.
The secretary, who had been waiting in the corner, immediately stepped forward, took out a design drawing from her briefcase, and respectfully unfolded it on the table.
That was an extremely radical rendering.
The original five-story concrete block building was redesigned into a modern building entirely covered with a blue glass curtain wall. More importantly, on the blueprints, the building was changed to seven stories.
"Full glass curtain wall...with two additional floors..."
As a professional, Section Chief Ogawa immediately saw the problem.
"This..." Ogawa looked troubled and put down his wine glass. "Mr. Saionji, this might be a bit difficult. There are strict landscape laws in the Ginza area, which limit the reflectivity of glass. Moreover, the plot of land in 7-chome is already at its maximum floor area ratio, and according to regulations, it can only be built up to five stories high."
This is a hard and fast rule.
If this rule isn't broken, this building will at best be a renovated old building, with low rents and mediocre valuation.
But if we can break through...
That's turning stone into gold.
Xiu Yi was not displeased by the other party's refusal. He still smiled, picked up the sake bottle, and personally poured a cup of sake for Ogawa.
"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible."
Shuichi's voice was soft, carrying a kind of languid arrogance unique to old-fashioned aristocrats.
"Ogawa-kun, if I remember correctly, next spring, to celebrate the 'increased purchasing power' brought about by the appreciation of the yen, the government seems to be holding a promotional event for 'Tokyo Urban Renewal'? I heard that Minister Takeshita will also be attending."
He paused, then looked at the two of them meaningfully.
"If, by then, this building, as a new landmark in Ginza, can present a brand-new image 'facing the future,' wouldn't that be a political achievement?"
"As for the floor area ratio..."
Shuichi extended a finger and tapped the top layer of the drawing.
"I plan to use part of these two extra floors to create a small 'public art gallery,' open to the public free of charge. According to the proviso of Article 53 of the Urban Planning Act, if there is a public contribution, I can apply for a 'special floor area ratio bonus,' right?"
Ogawa and Tanabe were both stunned.
An art gallery? How much space does that thing take up? Hanging a few paintings anywhere is considered a public contribution?
This is clearly exploiting a loophole.
However, this excuse was too perfect. It gave them face (city image), substance (political achievements), and a way out (public welfare).
Most importantly, the person who made this request was Duke Saionji.
Behind him stood the House of Nobles, which, though lacking real power, controlled the secret channels of all personnel promotions.
The mirror on Judge Tanabe's glasses reflected light.
He gently kicked Ogawa under the table.
"Ogawa-kun," Tanabe began, his tone turning serious, "I think Mr. Saionji's suggestion is very constructive. Ginza definitely needs some modern elements to boost morale. As for the regulations... there's always some room for discretion regarding the determination of 'public contributions'."
Ogawa immediately understood.
His boss has spoken, so what principles does a mere section chief need to uphold?
"Yes, yes." Ogawa quickly picked up his glass, his face beaming with smiles. "If it's for the public good, then of course that's a different story. If it's a 'special application,' the bureau can hold a meeting to discuss it, and it shouldn't be a big problem."
"Then I'll leave it to you two."
Shuichi raised his glass, his eyes calm, as if they had just been discussing not hundreds of millions of yen in profit, but rather the weather forecast for tomorrow.
"In addition, to express our gratitude for your hard work in the development of Tokyo, the Saionji family plans to donate a sum of money to the Tokyo Urban Development Foundation."
He did not give specific numbers.
But everyone here understands. That so-called "foundation" is actually the slush fund of these two departments, or some more secretive channel for transferring benefits.
"Mr. Saionji, you're too kind!"
"This is what we should do!"
The glasses clinked together again, making a crisp sound.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and the exchange of toasts, the value of that dilapidated little building in Ginza 7-chome, which hadn't even had a single brick moved, had already doubled during the meal.
This is the alchemy of power.
……
Two hours later.
The banquet ended.
Shuichi stood at the entrance of the ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurant), watching the two taxis disappear into the snowstorm.
The snow was falling heavier and heavier.
He exhaled a breath of white air, looking at the white mist that appeared somewhat murky in the cold night.
"it's over?"
The car window rolled down, revealing Satsuki's delicate little face.
She didn't go in. This kind of drinking party, filled with the air of greasy middle-aged men, wasn't suitable for a 12-year-old girl. She stayed in the car reading, waiting for her father.
"it's over."
Xiuyi climbed into the car, bringing with him a chill.
He leaned back in his leather seat, showing little joy at his victory, but rather a deep weariness.
"They agreed," Xiu said with his eyes closed. "A floor area ratio bonus and permission for the glass curtain wall. We should get the permits as early as next week."
"As expected."
Satsuki closed the book in her hand, her tone indifferent.
"For them, it's just a matter of signing a document. But for us, it means a 40% increase in the building's leasable area, and because of the modern appearance, the rental premium can increase by at least 50%."
She took a thermos from the side and handed it to her father.
"Have some water. Drinking too much alcohol is bad for your health."
Shuichi took the cup but didn't drink it. He turned his head and looked at the street scene rushing past the window.
The lights of the skyscrapers lining the streets of Akasaka shone brightly in the snowy night. But Shuichi knew that beneath that brilliance, how many people had lost their jobs that night, and how many factories had gone out to extinguish their furnaces.
He had just used his family's privileges to amass wealth that ordinary people couldn't earn in several lifetimes while chatting and laughing with a group of bureaucrats.
"Satsuki".
Shuichi suddenly spoke.
"What's wrong, Father?"
"I used to think that making money depended on hard work, integrity, and making good products."
Shuichi looked at his palm. The hand that had just shaken the greasy hands of those bureaucrats seemed to still carry some kind of indelible odor.
"But now I've discovered... that making money simply requires having a meal with the right people at the right time."
This represents both the collapse of old values and the establishment of a new worldview.
Gaoyue looked at her father.
She could sense her father's inner struggle. It was a battle between the restraint of the old-era aristocracy and the greed of the new-era capitalists.
Oh no... this won't do...
She reached out her little hand and covered the back of her father's hand.
"Father."
Her voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet carriage.
"This isn't making money. This is 'plunder'."
Xiu Yi was startled and turned to look at his daughter.
Satsuki's face showed no remorse whatsoever, but rather a sense of entitlement.
"The lion preys on the zebra not because it is diligent, nor because it is honest, but because it is stronger and has sharper teeth."
"In this impending bubble forest, if we don't become lions, we'll become zebras."
"What you just did was not a shameful deal."
Satsuki gripped her father's hand tightly, her dark eyes reflecting the neon lights streaming through the car window.
"You're just sharpening our teeth."
Shuichi remained silent for a long time.
The car drove past the outer gardens of the Imperial Palace. The surface of the moat gleamed black in the snowy night, its depths unfathomable.
Finally, he slowly took his daughter's hand in his own.
"Teeth...?"
Shuichi muttered to himself.
His gaze gradually hardened, a resolve born of the necessity to survive in this cruel world.
"Then let's make it even sharper."
He raised his head and looked into the darkness ahead.
"Let the design team come in tomorrow."
"I want to make that building the sharpest knife in all of Ginza."
The wheels crunched over the snow, making a "crunching" sound, like some giant beast chewing bones.
The night was deeper.