National Tide 1980.

Sachiko Taniguchi got off at the bus stop in Kamikamedo, walked through the commercial area filled with advertisements for various products, and headed towards the residential area behind the high-rise buildings.

Since it wasn't yet time for most people to get off work, even the dazzling shopping street filled with all sorts of goods wasn't very crowded.

The day was October 21, 1989. As autumn approached, she, already wearing a coat, walked slowly, recalling what her parents had said that morning.

"Imported products are becoming more and more common. Now, it's cheaper to buy pasta at the supermarket than ramen. It used to be very expensive. Now there are discounts all the time, and there are so many kinds, like Italian potato dumplings, macaroni, and ravioli, which I've never seen before. I want to buy more, but I'm worried that you'll get tired of them. It's a bit of a headache."

"This is probably due to the yen exchange rate. Food is still relatively good, but the most obvious difference is in our Pierre Cardin suits. A suit that used to cost 300,000 yen if it was purely imported from France, can now be bought for half price at 150,000 yen. This is even cheaper than suits we make domestically. For customers, whether to buy a Japanese suit worth 180,000 yen or a French suit worth 150,000 yen is not a question at all. Now, only designer brands in Japan can compete with these overseas brands..."

"That's true. Purely Japanese products aren't selling very well these days. It's giving some manufacturers a real headache. But this is good news for the company you work for."

"That's not entirely true. Our company also has local factories. The products that are currently making money are actually imported directly from France and China. I heard that the chairman is having a lot of trouble with the Japanese factory and is wondering if it should be closed."

"That's right. I heard that Mr. Takagi, our neighbor, just lost his job because his factory closed down. Fortunately, it's not hard to find a job to make ends meet these days; there's a shortage of people everywhere. I heard that Mr. Takagi is going to work as a security guard at a shopping mall, and his wife has also found a part-time job at a lunchbox company, so they're making ends meet..."

It is indeed the case.

Walking down this commercial street, Sachiko can now clearly see that English is everywhere and imported goods are everywhere.

Looking from a distance, it seems that apart from some Japanese restaurants, theaters, bookstores, and cinemas, there are no other Japanese characters on the signs of the businesses along this entire street.

The advertisements were all from North American and Western European brands, which left her feeling quite confused.

Mom is right. If this continues, imported goods will soon outnumber Japanese goods in shopping malls.

But is this a good thing or a bad thing?
It has become a common phenomenon in Japan that many factories are struggling to survive. Not only did her neighbor, Mr. Takagi, lose his job, but her best friend's father also lost his job.

From this perspective, it seems like money is hard to earn.

But in reality, Japan's economy seems to be extremely prosperous.

Even a freshman like her could easily earn around 200,000 yen a month by doing odd jobs at any shop.

I usually don't need to ask my parents for money for things I like; I can get them by doing odd jobs for a month.

Moreover, if she goes to university, the allowance her family gives her will amount to 1.5 million yen every year.

Is the economy booming or sluggish?

It's really a bit hard to understand...

Thinking about odd jobs, Sachiko couldn't help but think about her part-time job and the task she had to complete today.

She is currently working at Keibundo Bookstore in place of Miyoko.

Because Miyoko is pregnant, she probably won't be able to return to the bookstore for her part-time job for another year. So when Miyoko left, Rinko Kagawa asked her if she was interested in the job.

She had no complaints about this matter; in fact, she was quite happy about it.

Besides Roppongi being a place she likes to go, the bookstore job is also very simple, requiring little mental or physical exertion, much better than working in a restaurant or convenience store.

In addition, the boss, Chairman Ning, and the store manager, Rinko Kagawa, were both her father's former colleagues and took good care of her. Besides giving her relatively generous compensation, they would also occasionally give her some special benefits—such as delicious Chinese tea and snacks, or an exquisite Chinese ornament as a reward.

She felt that working at Huiwentang Bookstore was just like helping out at her relative's shop, and it couldn't be more comfortable and relaxing.

So, like today, when the extremely busy Rinko asked her if she could do her a favor and deliver a few parenting books to her home after get off work, to be given to her older sister Miyoko.

She agreed to help without any hesitation.

This was partly because she liked both of the older sisters and felt like she had older sisters herself when she was with them, and partly because the houses of the Taniguchi family and the Sakami family were actually both in Sumida Ward, only a few bus stops apart, less than two kilometers away.

It wouldn't take her too much time; it was just a small matter. She could also take the opportunity to see what life was like for Miyoko, who was about to become a mother. She really wanted to satisfy her curiosity.

So she came.

Sachiko walked west along the asphalt road for about 200 meters and gradually moved away from the shopping malls and high-rise buildings, and saw a whole area of ​​detached houses.

Each building has a different shape, but they are all about the same height, making them easy to identify by their distinctive features.

To find your destination, you need to look at the signs and numbers at the entrance.

So in the final step, Sachiko still took a few detours before finally finding the house number of the Zuo family. Sachiko then pressed the doorbell.

Who is it?

Miyoko's voice came from the door soon after, and she lifted the cover of the peephole.

"Oh dear, I was wondering who it was! It's Sachiko, what a rare guest!"

She seemed startled and quickly opened the door.

Sachiko bowed and greeted them, explaining her purpose. Then she followed Miyoko inside, crossed the courtyard, took off her shoes at the entrance, stepped onto the floor, and entered the spacious living room.

Miyoko, who was already showing her pregnancy, seemed to be ironing clothes, and the room was filled with freshly washed clothes.

"As you can see, the place is very small. If guests come unexpectedly, we don't know how to tidy it up. Besides, this is the room with the best light in our house. Please don't mind."

Miyoko looked at Sachiko with a gentle gaze, and said with a hint of embarrassment.

"No, no, my mom does the same thing every time she washes clothes."

Sachiko shook her head at first, then said with some emotion, "But, Miyoko-neechan looks like she's having a hard time! You're already like this, and still..."

Perhaps it was just childish talk, but these words were rather tactless.

Miyoko looked even more embarrassed and could only cover it up with a smile. "No way! Look at what you're saying. I'm just pregnant. It doesn't affect my ability to do housework."

However, Sachiko is a person of the new era, and she does not quite agree with Miyoko's traditional views.

Although Japan still maintains a patriarchal society and promotes the ideal of the virtuous wife and mother, the fact that she cannot change this does not mean that it can be accepted.

“Miyako-neechan, don’t be so stubborn. Looking at you, I don’t even want to get married anymore. I really want to stay single forever.” “Ah, is that what Sachiko thinks? Perhaps you’ve misunderstood something.”

Wearing a plain sweater, Miyoko quickly tidied the messy living room while making tea for her guests, displaying the most responsible attitude of a wife.

In her heart, everything revolves around her husband and family, and she is willing to make any sacrifice for them.

"A family belongs to both people. I can't just lie at home all day doing nothing. Actually, men work very hard to earn money. In our family, after paying the mortgage, we only have enough left for household expenses. Yujiro works hard every day, striving to become the branch manager for our future. So I have to be a good wife to him. Marriage is like that, helping each other and facing life's problems together. One person definitely can't do it alone."

"But, Miyoko-neechan, don't you think your life is boring right now? You just stay home doing housework every day. Don't you think you're wasting your time? Think about it, how free you would be if you didn't get married. You wouldn't have to do all this. Besides, Miyoko-neechan used to earn a lot. I heard Father say that you earned more than him. You can spend your own money as you please. Isn't that better? Why do you have to get married? You're making a sacrifice for someone else. Don't you regret it at all?"

"Me? Sacrificing myself for someone else? No, no, that's not it. Of course I... don't regret it..."

When she said this, Miyoko hesitated for a moment, but she hid it well and immediately smiled warmly.

“Actually, back when I was in school, I hoped for a happy marriage. Now, that desire seems even stronger, not for any other reason than that I have finally achieved the life I wanted. You know, happiness is having something worth protecting. Although Yujiro is very busy, working overtime almost every day, and often not getting home until late at night, and even on Sundays he has to go out to meet clients, we rarely go out together after we got married. It's really quite different from the marriage I envisioned. Sometimes it's really disheartening and a little sad! But when two people work towards a common goal in the future, and gradually see that goal being achieved, the sense of satisfaction is unparalleled, and making a little sacrifice is nothing.”

Miyoko paused for a moment, then continued, "And even though Yujiro is so busy, he's actually very considerate and thoughtful. To reduce my housework, he bought me the most advanced vacuum cleaner and washing machine. To make it easier for me to go out, he recently bought a new car. Even the living room phone, just in case I had trouble using it, he replaced it with a wireless multi-functional one. You know, those things, you know, they let me move around freely in this living room without being restricted by a phone line..."

These words truly surprised Sachiko.

Because in her mind, Zuo Haiyou was just an ordinary insurance broker.

In order to secure insurance, they were extremely obsequious and mercenary.

Even while visiting his own home, he didn't forget to enthusiastically promote insurance, hoping his parents would buy insurance from him.

She didn't think such a person had any special skills, was worthy of respect, and was unlikely to leave a good impression.

Although she now understands that it wasn't easy for her father to support the family, she still feels that Zuo Haiyou Erlang is not as good as her father, and something seems off.

So when she heard that Zuo Haiyou Erlang had bought so many things, she was a little incredulous.

"Mr. Zuo Hai bought a car."

"Yes, I bought a Volkswagen."

"It's an imported car? It must be very expensive, right?"

"Yes, it will cost 1.88 million yen, but you can buy it with a loan."

"A loan? Don't you still have a mortgage? Are you sure you can handle taking on so much debt?"

"That's why I said Zuo Hai is very hardworking. Don't worry, his recent work performance is excellent, and he really has a good chance of becoming the branch manager. That's why I have to support him. I'm willing to take on any hardship that I can endure."

"Mr. Zuo Hai, is it really that powerful...? A branch manager is equivalent to a section chief in a typical company."

Seeing Sachiko's shocked expression, Miyoko finally breathed a sigh of relief and felt a sense of psychological satisfaction.

"more or less."

After she finished speaking, she glanced at her watch and realized it was already past five o'clock, so she extended another invitation.

"I'm so glad you came today. These are the books I need most. I've been asking Rinko to look for them for days, and I didn't expect you to come all this way again. I'm so sorry to have troubled you."

"Not at all, it's on my way."

"Oh, in that case, don't rush off. Stay for dinner today. Let me thank you properly. I just happened to buy some sea bream and steak today, so it won't be too stingy to treat a guest."

Sachiko was a little embarrassed and was about to decline again when the doorbell rang.

Miyoko ran to the front to open the door, only to find that it was Yujiro Sakami who had returned.

"You're back, you're here early today. We have a rare guest, it's Ms. Sachiko Taniguchi, the daughter of Director Taniguchi."

After saying that, Miyoko looked at Sachiko and said even more happily, "Look, what a coincidence! My husband is back too. After we finish eating, I'll have him drive you home."

Sachiko could only thank Yujiro Sakami, saying, "Hello, Mr. Sakami, I apologize for disturbing you today."

At the same time, he solemnly bowed his head.

However, to her surprise, Zuo Haiyoujiro only glanced at her indifferently, treating her completely like a child, and without saying a single polite word, he completely denied what Miyoko had just said.

“Oh, I can’t see the guests off; I have more important things to do. My colleagues are coming over in a bit. Besides Ninomiya Hideo and Nagase Yasuo, the HR manager Watanabe is also coming. They want to use our place to play cards. Could you arrange a meal for them too? Don’t make it too stingy. Otherwise, I’ll be too embarrassed to ask them to help me get promoted to branch manager…”

In this way, Sachiko naturally understood that it would be inappropriate for her to stay any longer.

Feeling extremely uncomfortable, she immediately stood up to say goodbye. Satomi nodded emphatically and then walked directly past Yujiro Sakai towards the entrance.

"I'm sorry, that's just how he is..." Miyoko hurriedly tried to smooth things over for her husband's neglect.

“Sachiko came to deliver books to me today on Rinko’s behalf. May I ask her to stay for dinner?” she asked.

"Ah, I have no objection, as long as you arrange things for my colleagues..." Zuo Haiyou said indifferently, and then even took out a cigarette and lit it himself.

"No, I'd better not bother you any longer." Sachiko said and left without looking back.

Seeing Zuo Haiyou Erlang's words and actions, having dinner with such a person was simply torture for her. She was even more unwilling to let such a thing happen than Zuo Haiyou Erlang himself.

Even though Miyoko repeatedly tried to persuade her to stay.

Moreover, when she walked out of the yard and saw Yujiro Sakae's car, she no longer believed anything Miyoko had said.

No matter how she looked at it, that shiny new car didn't seem like something a pregnant woman would buy.

It's casual yet has a sports car feel, making it suitable for a date or a drive, but it seems more for showing off.

Damn it, how dare you smoke in front of a pregnant woman?
This guy doesn't even care about the health of his wife and children.

It seems like my sister Miyoko is truly blind. Isn't this just self-deception? Or do all married women become stupid...? (End of Chapter)