A Single Person's Infinite Wonderful Life

Li Wei said, "After all, the authorities are intentionally controlling the information. From the time the news of the three secret volumes being in Tokyo leaked until now, the authorities have been trying their best to cover it up. Only Tokyo TV, that peculiar TV station, is still broadcasting various information related to the chaos. The other major TV stations are either arguing with Tokyo TV or cleaning up the mess for the authorities, trying their best to eliminate the negative impact of the chaos."

·Requesting flowers·· ······

Shiina Mari was a smart girl, and she understood why she hadn't been able to learn much about Tokyo while she was out there. With the authorities involved, it was indeed very difficult for ordinary people to pass on information.

Li Wei said, "The main problem is that fewer and fewer young people watch TV news these days; they are mostly used to exchanging information online. But the Japanese government is directly targeting the top. Ordinary people can't find any information related to the chaos in Tokyo online. They have a special hacker team to do this. As long as related information appears online, they will try to delete it. If the person who posted the information doesn't heed the warnings, they may even be subjected to coercive measures."

........

Shiina Mari was deeply dissatisfied with the official actions. In her view, it was not only deceiving the public but also disregarding human life. Her younger brother, Shiina Aki, disliked watching television news. If he had seen the news, such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Television news, he might not have rashly run out and thus avoided danger.

In Shiina Mari's view, her brother's disappearance is the responsibility of those crazy outsiders, the responsibility of the government's inaction, and the responsibility of human trafficking organizations. But if the government's security is good, would those human trafficking organizations dare to kidnap ordinary people in broad daylight?

So the more Shiina Mari thought about it, the more she felt that the authorities were primarily responsible for her brother's disappearance.

After figuring out the crux of the matter, Shiina Mari felt even more dejected. After all, it was the official government that ruled the entire country, possessing a sophisticated governing organization and a large number of law enforcement agencies. She was just an ordinary person. Even if she knew that so many problems were caused by the government's inaction, what could she do? She couldn't do anything. Thinking this way, she felt even more suffocated.

Li Wei, standing to the side, simply smiled after reading Shiina Mari's thoughts with his mind-reading ability. Regardless of which world's Japanese officials they were from, being incompetent was the norm.

Chapter 4. Toxic Counseling

Li Wei unscrewed the cap of the cola bottle and handed it to Shiina Mari.

"Thank you," Shiina Mari said softly, blushing slightly.

Li Wei said, "My personal advice is that when you're in a bad mood, you can drink something sweet. Sweeteners can make people feel happy and help them forget their troubles for a short time. Although relying on placebos is not a good thing, sometimes, sweetness can be a source of salvation."

Shiina Mari nodded and took a big gulp of cola. The fizz made her want to burp, a strange but slightly refreshing feeling that she couldn't suppress. However, if she burped in front of Li Wei, her ladylike image would be ruined.

Just then, Li Wei, who was drinking cola nearby, let out a long burp without any regard for his image.

Shiina Mari watched this scene with some surprise, because Li Wei had always appeared mature and composed. Burping while drinking a beverage was something only immature children would do, and Li Wei doing it gave her a strange feeling. However, for some reason, it seemed incredibly satisfying to do it.

Li Wei said, "Someone once said something very insightful: 'Life is already bitter enough, so drinks should be desserts.' I personally agree with this statement, so when it comes to cola, I prefer the traditional type. I don't really like the new sugar-free cola."

Li Wei personally doesn't dislike sugar-free cola. For those who love cola but are struggling with weight, sugar-free cola is arguably the best alternative to trick their bodies. However, sugar is a necessity for humans, so this deception can have negative effects over time. For example, for those who need to use their brains intensively, drinking cola occasionally isn't a bad thing.

Shiina Mari said, "I never got to drink these beverages at home. My parents were very strict with me. They believed that a girl should be ladylike and well-mannered, so I started learning about tea ceremony when I was in elementary school. The only beverage I've ever drunk besides tea is tea."

Li Wei said, "You must have had a lot of trouble. The tea ceremony in Japan is known for its complicated rules and regulations. I never thought that drinking tea would be so troublesome."

Shiina Mari laughed and said, "That's because people in Japan have integrated tea drinking into their lives. Apart from the price of the tea itself, there is no distinction between high and low in the act of drinking tea. But in Japan, tea is very expensive, and drinking tea is also a way to emphasize social class. Tea has been given many other labels, which is why it's so complicated."

Li Wei said, "Yes, you see things quite clearly. Girls your age usually hate the complicated rules of tea ceremony the most."

Shiina Mari said, "I had no choice. After all, I couldn't go against my parents' wishes at that time. So even though I didn't really like tea ceremony, I was forced by my parents to enroll in a tea ceremony training class. To be honest, it was really troublesome."

Shiina Mari's words now sound like a complaint to her parents; she wouldn't have said such things before.

However, because of that 100 million yuan incident, an irreparable rift has appeared in her relationship with her parents, and this rift is continuing to widen.

Such complaints are actually expressions of dissatisfaction with her parents. However, Shiina Mari is too caught up in the situation to realize the resentment in her heart.

Li Wei, who possesses mind-reading abilities, is acutely aware of Shiina Mari's current state of mind. He uses rhetoric to guide her, aiming to amplify her dissatisfaction and then detonate the problem.

Shiina Mari was already considered very outstanding among her peers, but she was ultimately just a teenage girl and not outstanding enough to survive independently. Therefore, when her relationship with her parents completely broke down, she would inevitably have nowhere to go. At that time, her only place to stay was Sunohara-sou, and she had no other choice.

The only uncertainty now is whether this relationship will break down quickly or slowly, but Li Wei is not in a hurry. He has never been an impatient person. The closer he gets to his goal, the calmer he needs to be.

This was because a historical figure had served as a negative example for him, which is why he paid special attention to such details.

This negative example is Yang Guang, the first emperor of the Sui Dynasty.

Yang Guang's father, Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, initially did not make Yang Guang the crown prince. After all, Yang Guang was not the eldest son, so it was quite normal for him not to be the crown prince. Yang Jian himself was a frugal and thrifty person. As the founding emperor, his abilities were beyond doubt, but because of his own frugality, he particularly disliked extravagance and waste. Crown Prince Yang Yong, Yang Guang's elder brother, was a person who indulged in sensual pleasures. As a member of the powerful, indulging in such pursuits was also quite normal.

Yang Guang, on the other hand, did the opposite of his elder brother, always pretending to be frugal, thrifty, kind-hearted, respectful of teachers and elder brothers and parents. He maintained this facade for more than a decade, and through his pretense, he eventually persuaded Yang Jian to change his mind and make Yang Guang the crown prince.

Yang Guang's pretense remained intact until Yang Jian was critically ill. Only when Yang Jian's condition worsened did Yang Guang, unable to resist any longer, finally shed his disguise and assault his father's concubine. This act nearly cost Yang Guang his throne, but fortunately, he was well-prepared. Even when unexpected circumstances arose, he resolved the situation through force, thus securing his ascension to the throne.

If Yang Guang hadn't let his guard down at the last moment, he could have smoothly and naturally inherited the throne without leaving a stain on his record. This serves as a prime example of the dangers of acting rashly.

Learning from history, Li Wei was never lacking in patience. Whether it was matters of national importance or matters of personal affection, Li Wei was accustomed to dealing with them patiently.

Li Wei said, "We can see the fireworks over there without even standing up. Let's go back inside; it's going to get windy soon."

Shiina Mari nodded. Although she felt a little shy with Li Wei's arms around her waist, she didn't dislike the feeling. On the contrary, she felt very happy when she was close to Li Wei. In that situation, even the grief of her brother's disappearance was somewhat relieved.

Li Wei wrapped his arms around Shiina Mari's slender waist, and with a light push of his feet, the two landed on the balcony. Li Wei escorted the girl back to her room. The girl already had a considerable amount of affection for him. Next, after the girl confronted her parents, he could begin to close the net.

Chapter 44. Sui Jin's Awakening

Over the next few days, Li Wei patiently waited for the results, while also subtly increasing his intimacy with the girls in the dormitory.

Inside the makeshift "illegal building," Li Wei and Sui Jin were fiddling with a uniquely shaped machine. This was the latest brewing machine, which simplified the traditional process and achieved faster wine extraction.

Sui Jin said, "Li Weijun, where did you get such a good thing? I've only seen this kind of thing in magazines. It must be a machine from Chongguo, right?"

Li Wei said, "Well, this kind of machine hasn't been around for very long, and so far it hasn't been widely adopted. Because this thing would disrupt the existing industry structure, large wineries really hate this kind of machine."

Sui Jin nodded and said, "I can understand that. I consulted before about whether this thing could be imported, but the relevant department told me that this machine is prohibited from being imported. This is because it would damage the local wine industry system. If everyone can brew their own wine, it will be more difficult for those companies that specialize in producing wine to operate. I can understand the official's thinking."

Sui Jin knew that her thoughts were influenced by her own interests, since she was a wine seller and naturally didn't want ordinary people to be able to brew wine. Even if such machines existed, the wine brewed by ordinary people might not be of good quality, but it would still be brewed, which would inevitably have a huge impact on the existing market.

Therefore, it's quite normal for the authorities to ban these inexpensive small brewing machines from entering Japan. After all, breweries in the liquor industry are major taxpayers in their respective regions, and even if it's just to protect their own interests, they have to prohibit such machines from entering the country.

Sui Jin said, "Isn't this thing prohibited from being imported? Li Weijun, how did you manage to bring it in?"

With a mysterious smile, Li Wei said, "This is where connections come in. As long as I don't take this machine out to be copied and cause large-scale disruption to the industry ecosystem, and I only use it myself, no one will bother me. Moreover, the value of this machine is also to give it to you for practice. After all, the recipe is already in place, and the next step is practice. Practice makes perfect, and after brewing more times, you will be able to brew the most delicious new recipe wine possible."

Sui Jin said, "We still haven't been able to come up with a name for this recipe. Li Weijun, you're an educated person, so why don't you come up with the name?"

Suijin started the machines and began processing the raw materials. The fermentation process of the raw materials was completed, and the next step was to enter the formal brewing stage.

Although this machine is used to brew baijiu (Chinese liquor), it can also be used to brew other kinds of liquor. The mechanical manufacturing capabilities of the Chong Kingdom in this world rank first in the world, so this kind of multi-purpose capability is a basic standard feature for the various machines manufactured by the Chong Kingdom.

If Li Wei were to brew wine using magic, it wouldn't be so complicated; all the steps could be completed with magic. However, for ordinary people to brew wine, they would inevitably need the power of external objects. Even traditional winemaking methods require the most basic space and utensils.

Li Wei said, "If I were to name a name, I would only think of 'Love of the Sea' or 'Blue Lover'. Those are the only two names I can think of."

Li Wei has a clear understanding of his own naming process; it's just that the name is a bit off-putting in Hong Kong comics, barely making sense. He has a hard time naming people, and these are the things he fears most.

Suijin operated the machine, watching the raw materials slide into the trough. After the machine proceeded to the next step, she stepped aside. Traditional sake brewing methods, from processing the raw materials to producing the sake, generally take about half a month. However, with this machine, it can produce sake twice a day, with each batch yielding forty to ten jin (approximately 20-35 kg). If such brewing efficiency were widespread, it would completely upend the sake brewing industry in Japan.

Suijin said, "Blue... then let's call it 'Azure Girl'. To be honest, I'm not good at naming things, so I'll just stick with this name for now. The wine will be ready in three more days. This is my first time brewing Azure Girl, I wonder how it will taste."

Sui Jin's brewing practice was very simple and straightforward: she would brew the wine according to the recipe, and then compare the finished product with the sample provided by Li Wei. The taste had to reach at least 90% of the sample before she could sell it.

Li Wei said, "No rush. There's still a considerable buffer period before reopening, so you have plenty of time to practice."

Sui Jin nodded. Being unable to operate for two months would inevitably result in the loss of some existing customers. She had already called her partners, and some important ones had even visited her in person. However, people are pragmatic; few of her partners were willing to wait for her. But considering their perspective, it was understandable. After all, as a restaurant selling alcohol, it couldn't function without alcohol to sell. Since she couldn't restore supplies in the short term, her partners would inevitably choose new suppliers.

Sui Jin knew that this was normal. If she hadn't met Li Wei and obtained the formula, she would have been troubled by this and might have even rented a warehouse temporarily to urgently transfer goods from the winery to maintain the existing supply system as much as possible.

But now, she doesn't need to go through all that trouble. As long as she can develop her signature product, the lost customers will quickly return. Previously, she lacked this unique selling point, so she could only earn profits through distribution channels. But now, she can completely rebuild her own distribution channels with her newly formulated wines. This kind of business, where she doesn't have to be subservient to others, is much more pleasant than before.

Sui Jin said, "That's true. Right now, I only need to focus on refining my flagship product. This is much more comfortable than dealing with channel sales. Maintaining channels is extremely troublesome; you always have to beg people, and that money is really hard to earn. By the way, I'm going back to the shopping street this afternoon to check on the progress of the shop reconstruction. Li Weijun, do you want to get up?"

Li Wei smiled and said, "I'm also very curious about the progress. If you don't mind, I can follow along."

Sui Jin said, "It's because you don't look down on me, right? I'm only where I am today because of you. If I hadn't met you, Li Weijun, I would be in a complete mess right now."

Sui Jin is a very clear-headed person. She won't get carried away by other people's flattery. She knows very well that the biggest contributor to her comeback is Li Wei. She is just a newbie who was carried by the big boss.

Chapter 4. Return to the Shopping Street

In the afternoon, when the sun was less scorching, Li Wei drove Sui Jin to the shopping street.

After parking their car in the parking lot, the two walked to the shopping street.

Although some time has passed, the impact of the fire has not been completely eliminated, and some charred traces can still be seen. However, most of the burned buildings have been cleared of debris and are now being rebuilt one after another.

The two arrived at the site where the liquor store used to be, the former ruins. All the building debris had been cleared away, and workers had begun rebuilding the foundations of the buildings.

Li Wei said, "The reconstruction has already begun. Will the above-ground parts still be made of wood?"

Suijin said, "Well, although I did consider using concrete, Japan is located on a volcanic and earthquake-prone area. An earthquake could happen at any time. Concrete structures are prone to cracking in the event of an earthquake, which would affect their safety. Traditional wooden structures, while not as fire-resistant, are more advantageous in earthquake resistance."

Sui Jin did the math. Concrete buildings were more expensive and less conducive to later modifications. If she wanted to expand her business, the cost of modifying a concrete building would be more than twice that of a wooden building. She wasn't some rich fool with money to burn; naturally, she would consider these costs and user experience.

Li Wei said, "I have a certain understanding of architecture. In my opinion, wooden architecture is a style of architecture that is closer to artistic expression. Although concrete architecture is also romantic, it sometimes seems too cold and lacks the human touch of wooden architecture."

Li Wei, a student at Tokyo University of the Arts, majors in oil painting, but out of personal interest, he often audits classes at the neighboring architecture department. He has a particular fondness for traditional Japanese wooden architecture. It's said that flowers bloom more fragrantly outside the wall than inside; while Japanese wooden architecture is heavily influenced by the Tang Dynasty of the Chongguo Kingdom, so much so that traces of Tang Dynasty architecture can still be seen in many antique-style wooden buildings today, after so many years of refinement, Japan has forged its own unique path in wooden architecture. As a Minecraft building enthusiast, Li Wei naturally studies these architectural styles that embody classical beauty.

Suijin said, "Indeed, and wooden buildings also have the advantage of being easy to keep warm in winter. If it is a concrete building, the heating process takes much longer."

Wooden buildings have survived so many years of development in Japan because they have their own advantages that make ordinary people reluctant to eliminate them.

Suijin went to a nearby convenience store that was still open, bought some drinks, and shared them with the busy construction workers. Although Japanese society has many rules, it also has its own system and ways of interacting with others. As a liquor store owner, Suijin's control over these details is very good.

After dividing the drinks, Sui Jin returned to Li Wei's side.

Li Wei laughed and said, "Seeing your wine shop rebuilt, don't you feel a little more at ease?"

Sui Jin said, "Pretty much. After all, this is the foundation of my livelihood. A lazy person like me can no longer get used to working for someone else. It's more free to be your own boss. Although it's tiring, the fruits of your labor are all yours. What's the point of making the cake bigger if you work for someone else? I can't eat the cake anyway."

Li Wei said, "People like you are rare. Most Japanese people don't mind working. In this day and age, having a job to support yourself is already considered good."

Sui Jin laughed and said, "I guess I'm more ambitious than the average person. I'm not willing to get married early and then stay at home as a housewife, wasting my time on housework and soap operas. I want to do something. It's not about being competitive or trying to prove anything. I just feel that being a housewife is not suitable for me."

Li Wei said, "I can understand your thinking. Even after starting a family, you don't want to give up your career. Actually, there's nothing wrong with that. After all, if you've been out of touch with society for a long time, and the family encounters any unexpected situation, such as the breadwinner suddenly passing away, it won't be so easy for a woman who has been out of society for a long time to reintegrate into it."

In the real world, due to the global economic downturn, a large number of women in Japan are unemployed. Those who became housewives early on are forced to consider returning to society because their husbands are unemployed. However, due to prolonged social isolation, these housewives have lost their ability to earn a living and are forced to work in the sex industry or even in adult films to make money.

Suijin said, "Well, it just means that men in Okinawa and Japan think differently. In Japan, if a man has a good job and still lets his wife go out to work, he's considered incompetent. Conversely, many housewives don't allow their husbands to come home early, even though they've already finished get off work, because other housewives around them will say that men who come home too early are unambitious. Actually, everyone is persecuting each other."

Li Wei said, "I have heard about this kind of thing, but there are fewer and fewer people who still abide by these rules nowadays. Only the older generation cares about these things so much."

Sui Jin said, "Actually, nothing has changed. Li Weijun, you've read Japanese comics too, right?"