Korean TV series: King of Peninsula 1997

Chapter 166: Ridiculous Tradition

Just as night fell, they were picked up by people sent by Mingshan Corporation.

They arrived at the destination in silence. The driver stopped the car and Li You arrived at the best restaurant mentioned by Li Zongliang.

Along the way he did see the customs and culture of Osaka, but do the Japanese really call this a restaurant?

The giant neon sign hanging in the night sky is shining brightly.

Tamamo-mae Club.

Noticing Li You's look, Li Zongliang, who was standing at the door, came forward and introduced Japanese culture to Li You, who didn't know much about it. "Li Youxi may not understand it very well, but in Japanese culture.
Tamamonomae is a legendary beauty who appeared in the late Heian period and was transformed from a white-faced, golden-haired nine-tailed fox. Due to her extensive knowledge and unparalleled beauty, she was known as the most talented woman in Japan.

This is also the president's business, which includes a restaurant and a singing and dancing venue.

The first floor is in traditional style, the second floor is in modern style, the first two floors are open to the public, and the last floor is used exclusively for entertaining distinguished guests who visit the president. "

Li You nodded silently and followed Li Zongliang into the gate.

The wind chimes at the gate rang with the breeze. As soon as they entered the gate, the group of people following behind were stopped by the waiter and were led to another place. Li You gestured to them to follow him, and they obediently followed the waiter and left.

As you walk in, you will first see a long corridor paved with bluestone slabs, with tall potted plants and swaying bamboo shadows on both sides.

At the end of the corridor is a huge Japanese screen with various paintings on it. The ink color appears particularly calm under the light.

On both sides of the screen are symmetrical wooden sliding doors inlaid with delicate floral patterns.

Li You followed Li Zongliang through the corridor and arrived at the restaurant. Traditional palace lanterns were hung on the roof, emitting soft light.

The wooden tables and chairs are covered with delicate Japanese paper tablecloths, and Ukiyo-e paintings depicting the kabuki and scenery of the past are hung on the walls.

The waiter was dressed in a kimono with a gentle smile on his face. He took the customers' orders gently and spoke in a soft and gentle voice, which was full of elegance.

"It's generally a membership system here, and only invited members are allowed to come in and dine," Li Zongliang greeted familiar guests around with a smile.

"Membership system?" Li You asked softly.

"Li Youxi was also invited today. The waiters will naturally remember her face in the future, and she can come in and eat for free at any time."

"This is Tamamonomae's membership system."

Li You nodded secretly, and suddenly felt that he should also build a place like this in Seoul to provide a place for his "friends" to communicate.

Walk out of the restaurant and pass through a small courtyard decorated with rockery and flowing water, you will come to the connected dance hall, where the music sounds melodious and elegant, and dancers in gorgeous kimonos dance lightly.

“This is where the traditional Kabuki actors are performing.”

Without entering that area, Li Zongliang led Li You into the tallest building.

When you open the door, you'll see another world, a completely modern world.

The floor, ceiling and surrounding walls were all decorated with crystal glass. There were colorful lights inside that were changing into different colors, making this floor extremely dreamy.

"In order to avoid disturbing Li Youxi, this place is not open to the public today."

Li You sighed, "The decoration here is really unheard of."

"The first floor is a dance hall, and the second floor is a restaurant."

Li Zongliang pointed lightly to the only thing here that was not modern. It was the staircase leading to the second floor. The spiral staircase wound upward like a snake dragon.

Girls wearing kimonos of various colors lined up on the first floor and saluted Li You respectfully.

"They are all top dancers. If Li Youxi wants to watch them later, he can stay on the first floor after dinner with the president."

Li You nodded and followed Li Zongliang to the second floor. This place was almost the same as the high-end Western restaurant he had seen in Seoul.

“We serve traditional Japanese food, Korean food, and Western food.”

Li Zongliang sighed, "We originally planned to provide Chinese food, but... we really can't recruit staff."

Going up further is the third floor, an exclusive floor.

As soon as you get to this floor, what comes into view is the traditional Japanese architecture. It is hard to imagine how much effort was put into the decoration to make the steel bars and concrete look like this.

Pulling open the wooden sliding door, you will see a traditional Japanese living room. Just like what you see in most Japanese dramas, it is extremely plain and has almost no unnecessary decorations, except for the screen, tatami and a long table.

The living room is not big, it is the kind of size that is neither empty nor crowded. The tatami inside is laid neatly and has a faint scent of grass.

A long wooden table spans the room, and it is filled with fresh seafood. Judging from their freshness, they must have been recently caught, put together into a platter, and then placed on the long table.

In the middle of the long table stands a vase as translucent as white jade, with a blooming cherry blossom branch in the vase. The petals sway gently, telling of the peaceful life here.

There were a total of six girls, or it would be more appropriate to call them geishas, ​​kneeling on both sides of the long table.

The geisha industry is a performing art. Proper geishas do not sell sex, let alone their bodies.

Li You knew something about this industry. Usually, those who hired geishas to perform were wealthy and powerful people in the upper class. Men who talked about business in restaurants and teahouses liked to have a geisha accompany them and perform singing and dancing for them.

But the girls kneeling in the two rows now were completely different from what Li You had seen on TV or in advertisements.

Everyone has outstanding appearance and impeccable manners.

Li You took off his shoes and entered the living room wearing only socks.

At the end of the long table sat the couple who had hosted him, Li Mingyi and Nakayama Yuki.

The couple nodded respectfully to Li You, and Li You returned the greeting.

"No need for introductions, Zong Liang."

Li Mingyi smiled and stopped Li Zongliang, "You should go and rest first." In fact, the image of Li Mingyi in Li You's mind had been destroyed. Li Mingyi's performance to him was not like that of a serious senior.
Or maybe Li Mingyi had been in Japan for too long and really turned into Nakayama Mingyi. After all, Li You knew at a glance that those six girls were definitely geishas who had been trained since childhood.

After observing Li Mingyi for a few seconds, Li You greeted Li Mingyi respectfully, "President Nim, Madam."

Yuki Nakayama could speak Korean, and Li Zongliang reminded him at the hotel that he didn't need to learn those two clumsy Japanese phrases when greeting people.

"Li Youxi, please sit down."

When Li You was looking at Li Mingyi, the old fox Li Mingyi naturally also looked at Li You.

After he took a seat at Li Mingyi's beckoning, Li Mingyi spoke cheerfully, "I've long heard that our Quanzhou Li family has finally produced a young man who has devoted himself to the real estate industry. Today I finally met him."

"Madam," Li Mingyi pointed at Li You, "isn't he a handsome man?"

Nakayama Yuki nodded in agreement. "Your uncle praised you to me before, but I was a little skeptical. Today I see that you are indeed a young talent."

Nakayama Yuki quietly used the title of great uncle, and Li You did not refute, but continued the couple's offensive.

"Thank you for your compliments, uncle and aunt," Li You looked over sincerely, "Uncle Zeyi also asked me to say hello to you two."

The atmosphere was quiet for a while.

"Is Brother Zeyi okay?" Li Mingyi's words brought the atmosphere back to life.

"Uncle Zeyi is fine, but he misses you two very much."

"It's a pity that we can't go back to Korea to visit him in person." Li Mingyi sighed, revealing a bit of helpless sadness.

He picked up the wine jug in front of him and poured it into three small glasses one by one.

Then the girls on both sides passed the wine glasses to Li You silently and steadily.

Seeing Li You take the wine glass, Li Mingyi picked up his own glass and said, "First, let me express my longing for Brother Zeyi for not seeing him for so many years."

After all three of them drank, Nakayama Yuki stayed with Li Mingyi, chatted with Li You for a while, and drank a few glasses of wine.

As the atmosphere at the long table became lively, Li Mingyi asked from time to time about the current situation of the Lee family in Seoul and Jeonju, and the current status of the Kinmen Group. He really was like an elder who cared about the younger generation.

For a moment, it seemed that both the host and the guests were having a great time.

After a while, Nakayama Yuki got up due to being drunk and was helped out of the living room by a girl.

Li Mingyi's gaze passed through the long table and stopped at Li You, who was eating and answering without missing a word, and he secretly admired him.

It was not until Li You finished a glass of wine and stopped chewing that Li Mingyi spoke seriously.

"Li Youxi, you should also want to know why I invited you here and why I want you to help me."

Li Mingyi looked at him with a playful look, and Li You nodded calmly, "President Nim, please speak directly."

"Someone is trying to kill me."

The real intention was revealed. Although Li You knew that Li Mingyi was not going to drink or chat, he went over.

But Li Mingyi's reasons were indeed absurd.

"President Nim," Li You was a little confused, "Someone wants to kill you. What do you want me to do for you?"

"I invited you because you are a commander and planner," Li Mingyi smiled meaningfully, "Zheng Qitie of Jiangnan Industrial, Song Donghe and his son in Busan, and Zhang Shouji of Emperor's Heart Entertainment, I guess it was you who did it."

Li You was silent. Although people in Busan didn't know about it, many people in Seoul guessed that he was the one who did it, but no one dared to say it.

To be precise, I didn't take it seriously before, but now with Li You's size, it would be useless to say anything without evidence, and I would still die.

"I know you have doubts, but..."

"I have no choice but to ask for your help," Li Mingyi sighed, "You may not know how much resistance you will encounter as a Korean in Japan."

"Japan is different from South Korea. Rich people cannot rule this land. Even if the chaebols from South Korea come, it will still be impossible."

"This place will always be the world of the aristocratic families and the government," he drank a glass of wine by himself.

“You should know that the Nakayama family is one of the aristocratic families in Osaka, but as the powerful elders of the previous generation gradually passed away, the current Nakayama family has declined.

As both are aristocratic families, the most important thing is the competition between each other in politics and reputation. Money is enough as long as you have enough. It cannot be used as a status unless you are a pillar industry of the nation. A mere real estate business is nothing.

Just like Sunyang in the Korean Peninsula, our Mingshan Corporation has also been targeted, and I need a spoiler. "

"There are many people watching me and the Zhongshan family now," Li Mingyi stood up and paced.

"I can't ask for help from stronger forces because if I ask for help, they will find opponents for these people, and I will lose in the end. According to the convention, neither side will seek help from outsiders and rely entirely on themselves."

"Two armies face each other and carry out a decapitation."

"But the Zhongshan family was too weak before. I need support, support that will not attract attention quietly."

"I was at my wit's end, and by chance, Brother Zeyi mentioned you when he called me. I saw something about you through Councillor Li Lianchang, so I invited you to Japan to observe you."

"If you hadn't behaved like you just now, maybe I would have asked you to go back."

Li You understood.

Both sides are planning to kill each other's leader, and according to custom, they cannot ask for outside help. However, the Nakayama family is in trouble now, and the force they control cannot defeat the opponent, so they need Li You's help.

It turns out that Japan really has a tradition of assassins. No wonder so many prime ministers and parliamentarians have died there.

It's ridiculous, but it's true that Li You is quite interested, but whether he wants to do it depends on the conditions set by Li Mingyi.

(End of this chapter)