National Tide 1980.

Chapter 898
Many ordinary people yearn for the upper class in their hearts.

Their vision of personal success is to be able to attend high-end venues in fancy dress.

Whether it is a reception, a banquet, or attending a ceremony, watching a performance, no matter what.

The key is to have that kind of social atmosphere that is heavy on the stars.

As long as you can meet with celebrities in a high-end place that is difficult for ordinary people to set foot in, and have a drink with champagne in hand, this is enough to comfort the vanity of most people and bring them enough satisfaction.

But what these lowly people who yearn for the upper class don't know is that, for some people who are really qualified to attend such gatherings, they will regard such gatherings as a mental burden.

To attend such an occasion is purely a helpless act of last resort.

…………

As we all know, the earliest shopping district in Tokyo that is famous overseas is Ginza in the central district.

Unlike the up-and-coming stars "Shinjuku" and "Roppongi" who are "mixed together", Ginza has always maintained its own classics.

The earliest foreigners from the West flooded into Japan through Ginza, settled in Ginza, and brought Western culture and living habits.

Including cafes, Western-style bars, galleries, etc., all of which first emerged in Ginza.

So here is almost Japan's gateway to the world, the axis of fashion in Tokyo, and a strategic location that Japanese department stores must compete for.

And in Yurakucho in the Ginza business district.

The most eye-catching commercial building standing here is the Yurakucho store of Nishiura Department Store, which just opened last year.

At 55:[-] in the afternoon, Keiko Matsumoto, who had already changed into a western dress, was still disguised in a silk scarf and sunglasses, and hurried into the garden-style restaurant called "Sakura Garden" on the top floor of Xipu Department Store.

However, as soon as she entered the door, before she even had time to take a closer look at the environment, she was recognized by Michiko Harada who had been waiting here in advance.

Then he grabbed his arm and hurriedly led him to the private room inside.

"Sister, why did you come here? Oh, it's true. It's almost three o'clock. I'm missing you, do you know? If the time passes, it won't work..."

Although her temperament is completely opposite, this bluffing and complaining Michiko Harada is one of the few good friends of Keiko Matsumoto.

Michiko Harada is also a Japanese film actor, but she is six years younger than Keiko Matsumoto.

In 1973, shortly after Keiko Matsumoto jumped from "Daying" to "Songchiku", she signed a contract with "Shochiku Yinghua".

Therefore, from the perspective of working relationship, the two belong to the senior sisters who entered the same film company.

Coupled with Harada's natural docile and pleasant appearance, she is a good girl full of youth, and Matsumoto Keiko's "eyes like silk" are completely two types.

The two of them have no competitive relationship at all in their careers, and they get along relatively well.

Not to mention, Harada, who was born in a poor single-parent family, has been very good at observing words and demeanor since he was a child, and to please others.

Not long after entering Shochiku, she saw that Keiko Matsumoto had the potential to be a big hit as a "first sister".

So he took the initiative to curry favor with Matsumoto Keiko, and always informed Matsumoto Keiko of all kinds of news circulating in Shochiku Yinghua in time, and personally served Matsumoto Keiko with tea and water.

For this reason, she quickly won the trustful care of Keiko Matsumoto, and the two got along like sisters.

And Harada's career gradually improved.

At first, in many Shochiku Films' films, Michiko Harada only played some supporting roles such as some female students and the daughters of some characters, and she didn't have a few lines.

But it is precisely because of the deliberate support of Matsumoto Keiko.

Gradually, Michiko Harada had more performance opportunities, and the roles she played became more and more important.

In 1976, Michiko Harada, who was already at the time, was still guaranteed and strongly recommended by Keiko Matsumoto, and starred in two films, "Lullaby for the Earth" and "The Youth Killer".

Finally, he showed his unique personality on the screen and attracted a lot of attention.

Not only successfully achieved the transformation, but also got rid of the shackles of the image of girls and students.

He also won the Best Actress Award of the Film Xunbao that year, as well as the Newcomer Award in various film awards such as the Blue Ribbon Award and the Hochi Film Award.

Up to now, she has participated in the shooting of many films and TV series, and even set foot in the field of drama and host.

It can be regarded as having a certain popularity, and is a moderate "wrist" among young actresses.

Although because of all kinds of jobs, too much spare time and other reasons, she no longer honed her acting skills.

It has always been difficult to make a breakthrough in his career, and he has never won any important film awards.

But then again, she has played too many roles, even if she is lucky, she can always bump into one or two distinctive roles that people can still remember and talk about.

What's more, as long as the exposure is enough, at least it can be familiar in the audience's memory.

So don't look at Michiko Harada's mediocre acting skills, her appearance can only be regarded as [-]% at best.

It is impossible to charm all beings with just a look on the screen like Keiko Matsumoto, turning men into animals with lower body thinking.

But she still managed to rank among the bottom of the second-rate actresses, and her salary income can reach almost 500 million yen per year.

This is already considered a good income level in the current Japanese entertainment industry, at least exceeding 70.00% of the artists.

And her blessings don't stop there.

Because of her beautiful face, well-behaved temperament, sweet mouth like honey, she can act coquettishly and cutely.

In terms of expanding relationships, she is actually far better than Matsumoto Keiko, and it can be said that she has become a master.

Not to mention anything else, just saying that she would go to these places frequented by noble wives almost whenever she was free, and she would make friends with more noble wives by means of tricks.

This move has brought her great benefits, giving her a unique advantage in shooting print advertisements and commercial performances, at least earning an extra 1000 million yen in advertising fees every year.

There are also frequent freebies of various cosmetics and apparel.

Or as an accompanying guest, enjoy various beauty and nursing services with your wives.

Today, she is already a fashion godmother and gossip teacher who meets many expensive wives on a daily basis.

Just like today, Keiko Matsumoto came to meet the wife of the director of Xipu Department Store.

Not only did Michiko Harada know her, but she was even more familiar with the director's wife's circle of noble ladies than Matsumoto Keiko.

So seeing Michiko Harada here, Keiko Matsumoto was not surprised at all.

The only thing that confuses her is that she still can't figure out what Michiko Harada means by "it won't work if you delay it".

Until the two of them actually entered the private room and saw clearly what was going on inside the private room.

Keiko Matsumoto finally figured out the answer. It turned out that what Michiko Harada meant was... the ladies are reading fortunetelling.

It has to be said that the so-called contacts in the upper circle often cannot escape the three teachings and nine streams.

In Japan's high-end gatherings, except for the rich and powerful as the main body.

Often, their family members, mistresses, illegitimate children, people in the literary and art circles, religious people, political and economic people, doctors, lawyers, bastards, liars, brokers, waistcoats... participate in it.

It's like a revolving lantern, coming with folded shoulders when gaining power, and leaving regardless of losing power, all it shows is the human nature of a philistine who is following the power.

And among those non-mainstream additional member groups, apart from celebrities in the literary and artistic circles, the most favored by noble ladies are religious people.

In comparison, people in the literary and artistic circles are like jewelry that can be worn with you.

Being surrounded by all these people can solve the boredom for the noble ladies, alleviate the philistine, and add dazzling brilliance.

Religious people are like tranquilizers.

They can relieve the fear and soothe the worries of the ladies, and erase the guilt caused by the decadence and luxury.

Especially witches, hexagram masters and physiognomy masters who know how to critique horoscopes, read phases, measure characters, and divination.

They can also provide a sense of mystery to the noble ladies who are spiritually empty, so they are more popular and loved by the upper class.

Just like today, a handsome physiognomy was invited to the gathering of these noble ladies.

Although Keiko Matsumoto herself didn't really believe in these crooked ways, she didn't know the name of this physiognomy.

But just based on his age in his 30s, his gorgeous Zen clothes, his eyes closed, his muttering in front of several noble ladies, and his unfathomable preaching appearance, he should be a relatively well-known magic stick in today's society. .

Otherwise, the three or four noble ladies in the room would not rush to gather around him, and they would all look fearful and listen to the teachings.

Even after Michiko Harada dragged Matsumoto Keiko in, she didn't dare to disturb her.

Instead, he pulled Matsumoto Keiko and knelt beside him, waiting for a moment.

It wasn't until the magic stick finished preaching the so-called oracle and came to an end temporarily that she dared to pull Matsumoto Keiko to greet these people in the room.

Most of the exchanges in the circle are interests, and the relationships of these wives are also intricate.

Like the director's wife with glasses, her husband Nishimura Musashi is a member of the board of directors of Xipu Department Store, of course she is the most honorable person here.

And Mrs. Ohno, who is close to her, is also very prominent, because her husband's family owns Taschi, the fifth largest jewelry company in Japan.

This brand is mainly pearl jewelry, which is sold in almost every XJTLU department store.

So she is also the most gorgeously dressed, and all the jewelry on her body is high-end.

In addition, under the introduction of Michiko Harada, Keiko Matsumoto also met two noble ladies who had never met before.

A lady named Kuroda with a slightly sharp appearance, whose husband is a distant relative of the director's wife and also a judge.

And Mrs. Kuroda herself is running two restaurants in the Yurakucho store of Nishiura Department Store, and the Sakura Garden restaurant she met this time is her property.

The husband of another chubby Mrs. Miyamoto is the secretary of a congressman, so she has become a bridge between power and money.

His ability is to arrange consultation opportunities for junior powerful and wealthy people who encounter obstacles and troubles in their careers, and find feasible solutions for satisfactorily solving problems.

Therefore, Mrs. Miyamoto also has ambiguous interests with these noble ladies.

In short, every noble lady has a lot of energy, and her family background is also very prominent.

And their gatherings every afternoon are basically gathered for utilitarian purposes.

So they not only pay attention to etiquette, but also pay more attention to face and whether they can actually get benefits.

Like Matsumoto Keiko who came to ask the director's wife today, she didn't come here for nothing.

She had a certain level of consciousness, not only prepared to lower her profile, but also brought a generous gift prepared in advance - a painting "Chaoyang Yingdao" by the modern Japanese painter Kawai Yudo.

She bought it at a well-known gallery for 80 yen. It was because she knew that the director's wife liked the works of Chuanhe Yutang that she spared no expense to buy it, just to match what she liked.

So... since Michiko Harada is here today, she should also help to say good things, right?

Keiko Matsumoto thought so optimistically, she couldn't help but feel a little more confident.

However, it is a pity that it seems that it is not the time to talk about gift giving at this time.

Although the director's wife didn't take offense at Keiko Matsumoto's almost being late, she still felt very honored that a big star like her could attend the circle party organized by her.

But compared to receiving Matsumoto Keiko, it seems that the director's wife still values ​​the pious god stick more.

So she just greeted the guests with simple etiquette, and this noble lady put her main energy on asking the master to explain her doubts for herself.

"Master, let's continue. Is it time for the divination? I've been restless recently, and I don't know why? I always feel that the stable life is a bit uneasy. Please give me some guidance."

On the other hand, Mrs. Ohno expressed her worries in more explicit words.

"Master, I also want to seek family harmony. Recently, my husband spends less and less time at home. He always uses work to perfuse me, and he doesn't even care about the children. Is there any way to keep him at home?"

The master didn't give any excuses, coughed lightly, and started to show off mysteriously.

"What is the biggest difference between men and women? It is that after men are satisfied, they often feel that this is not the case in their minds. Women are different because they will be moved by satisfaction. So after men's desires are satisfied, they always end in disappointment, while women's desires Contentment always comes with joy."

Several noble ladies couldn't help but looked at each other, and after a moment of trance, they realized that the master had already started calling.

Mrs. Kuroda's eyes lit up first, and she couldn't help asking, "What does the master mean, women should find ways to make men unsatisfied?"

"It's what you want but you can't." The master smiled slightly, "Arousing desire is the premise. Desire is the panacea that makes people get closer. It can even control people's hearts."

The master paused again, twisting the prayer beads in his hands.

Then he said with a more secretive smile, "Of course, men and women are very different. Therefore, wives don't have to be so demanding of themselves. Instead, they should learn to be self-satisfied. Because only women who are satisfied are the happiest. You know One soup bowl is enough for one spoon, and one teacup is enough for one pot. But conversely, one spoon can be put into countless bowls, and one teacup can also be used to draw water from different pots. See through this , women will be completely free..."

After finishing speaking, the master closed his eyes and made a meditative posture, said nothing more, and the Buddhist beads in his hand also remained still.

"No more?" Mrs. Miyamoto couldn't help but marvel.

"Don't be too greedy, ma'am." The master took a sip from the tea cup in front of him, but still closed his eyes.

"Master, is there any more? Can you say a few more words?"

Michiko Harada knew what she meant, so she took the initiative to make fun of it at this time, approached the master, and asked a question for the ladies.

The master smelled the woman's fragrance and was bewitched. After all, he couldn't bear it anymore, opened his eyes and started talking again.

"Eating and drinking are very important, and food is very important. Only women in the world know joy. But where does joy come from? It comes from food. Only when the body is healthy can one be happy, and if the body is weak, one can't be happy. If you eat the food, you will always be happy, and if you don’t eat it, you will not be happy.”

"Oh..." The director's wife nodded if she realized something at this time, as if she had some understanding.

Mrs. Ono looked at her, and nodded frequently, as if she understood.

Mrs. Kuroda and Mrs. Miyamoto were also more excited, and their complexions were ruddy.

They looked at each other almost at the same time, and then asked eagerly.

"Then if we want to be happy, what else do we need to do besides tonic?"

Michiko Harada clapped her hands and praised, "It's amazing. It's really interesting!"

Only Keiko Matsumoto, who was on the sidelines like an outsider, lamented secretly, thinking that these people are really crazy.

Inexplicably, I heard a charlatan talking nonsense, and every word in his speech hinted at something that seemed obscene.

But the more she loathed it, the more she couldn't avoid it. At this time, the master spoke, and the target was directed at her.

"If you want to be happy, you must first understand your mind. You can give me your palm and let me prove it for you one by one."

Speaking of which, the master slowly stretched out his right hand and pointed at Matsumoto Keiko, "Please let this lady who is meeting you for the first time come first. I see that you have trouble with your face. If you don't resolve it in time, everything will go wrong in your life. Originally, the wealthy Fate will also change..."

(End of this chapter)