The literary era since 1979

Chapter 302 Sunset Song
Tokyo, Shibuya District.

In the past two days, Suzuki Yoko accompanied Fangyan on a tour and looked at many high-end apartment buildings.

"Thank you for your hard work, Yoko."

Fang Yan glanced at the sky, then turned his head away.

"Teacher Fang, you don't have to be so polite." Suzuki Yoko waved her hands repeatedly, "I have learned a lot along the way."

"Let's eat something before going back. It's my treat!"

Fangyan caught a glimpse of a food stall on the street.

"Eh?"

Suzuki Yoko blinked.

The two of them came to the cart, opened the curtain, pulled up a small stool and sat down, and saw the snack stand selling oden, tempura, soba, and so on.

In the cramped space, others consciously moved their butts to make some space, and sat shoulder to shoulder.

After Fangyan ordered a lot, he turned around and looked at Suzuki Yoko, "Take a look, do you want to order something else?"

"Enough is enough."

Yoko Suzuki watched the stall owner busy cooking ramen.

Fangyan knocked on the table and got straight to the point: "Yangzi, if you want to get a bank loan, you must have a guarantor, right?"

"Correct!"

Yoko Suzuki explained that the joint guarantor strictly has to be a Japanese citizen, and in many cases, even a permanent resident is not eligible.

"That's troublesome."

Fangyan smacked his lips, feeling it was a difficult problem.

At this time, under the strong request of the United States, Japan basically lifted restrictions on foreign investment in the Japanese real estate and stock markets.

All restrictions on foreigners buying real estate in Japan have been lifted, and the taxes are the same as for local Japanese buyers.

Moreover, many land titles in Japan are permanent, so even properties owned by foreigners can be inherited.

However, Japan has a trick up its sleeve and still has many restrictions on loans. Otherwise, you can just buy an apartment building and rent out the extra rooms.

Hehehe, madam!
You don’t want your husband to be unable to pay the rent, do you?

Just as he was daydreaming, the stall owner brought over the cooked pork bone ramen, oden, etc.

"Teacher Fang, you don't have to worry."

Suzuki Yoko said: "You can discuss this matter with my father. Yuhikaku often helps writers deal with various private matters."

"Really!"

Fangyan raised his eyebrows. He didn't expect that in order to allow writers to create without worries, Japanese publishing companies would designate a dedicated editor, similar to the agents in the entertainment industry, to provide attentive nanny-level services.

As they were eating and chatting, they heard the diners next to them talking about "That Mountain, That Man, and That Dog".

The movie box office continues to rise, and with the support of friendly exchanges between China and Japan, it has become a dark horse that cannot be any darker, breaking through the 6 million mark. It is only 2 million away from achieving the results that "That Mountain, That Man, That Dog" achieved in Japan in the previous life.

Amid this craze, "A Bite of China" added fuel to the fire.

The documentary, for which Fang Yan served as the chief planner and consultant, was broadcast on Fuji TV. Although its ratings were not as high as those of Japanese dramas such as "Oshin" which exceeded 50%, it also exceeded the passing standard, with each episode having a ratings of more than 30%.

According to the standards of the Japanese TV drama industry, this is truly a "explosion of popularity"!
Therefore, before appreciating the red leaves, Fang Yan and Wang Zengqi specially accepted a TV interview on "A Bite of China".

Once again making a name for himself in front of Japanese audiences, the novel and movie of "That Mountain, That Man, That Dog" also benefited from it.

Yuhikaku then took advantage of the victory and strived to obtain the distribution rights of the essay collection "A Bite of China" in Japan.

"Teacher Fang, this is what my father asked me to pass on to you."

After arriving at the Fuji Kawaguchiko Hotel, Yoko Suzuki handed over a small gift and a sample book of "The Ring".

Fang Yan took it and asked, "Is your father back to Kyoto?"

Yoko Suzuki shook her head and said that Shunjiro Suzuki was personally helping him deal with the house purchase matters and he would return to Kyoto after he was done.

"That really troubles him."

Fangyan smiled faintly and was about to speak when suddenly a familiar voice came from behind him.

Keiko Matsuzaka and Komaki Kurihara were standing there gracefully, with a "pure hibiscus flower" with a chubby face next to them.

"Ah Xin?!"

Yoko Suzuki blurted out, surprised.

Yuko Tanaka bent down slightly and greeted the two of them with a sweet smile, especially the dialect that has been very popular in Japan recently, which made people look at them a few more times.

She was looking at Fangyan, and Fangyan was also looking at her.

Sure enough, each of the Showa beauties has their own characteristics.

It’s a pity that people like Akina Nakamori are only slightly famous and cannot participate in such an important event as the Sino-Japanese film exchange.

"Teacher Fangyan, can you sign an autograph for me?"

Yuko Tanaka unfolded her small fan, her eyes full of anticipation.

Keiko Matsuzaka watched Fangyan signing, pursed her lips, and slowly waved the fan on which he had written three lines of poetry for her: "It's almost time, let's go enjoy the red leaves."

Noticing her strangeness, Tanaka Yuko seemed to be thinking about something, and then she casually followed the group out of the hotel.

…………

There is a red leaf corridor on the shore of Lake Kawaguchi.

As people strolled along this winding path, they were attracted by the maple trees that interlaced on both sides, which looked like an overturned palette, presenting colorful colors of golden, orange, red and crimson.

From near to far, flowers are blooming all over the mountains and fields, covering the sky and the earth, dyeing everywhere red.

"Kaka."

Fangyan took a Seagull camera and took pictures of Yuko Tanaka, Keiko Matsuzaka and others.

Suzuki Yoko stood aside and said, "Teacher Fang, let me take a few photos for you."

Fang Yan asked curiously, "Yoko, you don't seem to be very interested. Why? Don't you like to appreciate the red leaves?"

Without waiting for Suzuki Yoko to explain, Matsuzaka Keiko said, "Yoko is from Kyoto, and the autumn leaves in Kyoto are the most beautiful in Japan."

Fangyan was very surprised, "So that's how it is."

"There are many autumn leaf spots in Kyoto, such as Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji Temple, and Kiyomizu-dera Temple..."

Suzuki Yoko raised her chin and said, "When it comes to autumn leaves hunting, the autumn leaves in Kyoto are a gorgeous poem of autumn."

"It's a pity that I don't have this blessing."

Fangyan said with some emotion that in a few days, the Chinese delegation would set off to return home.

Suzuki Yoko said: "Teacher Fang, there will be opportunities in the future."

Fangyan nodded and looked out at Mount Fuji on the other side of the lake. The shimmering water of the lake at the foot of the mountain contrasted beautifully with the snow on the top of the mountain.

A quiet and fresh feeling of autumn comes over you.

Everyone sat on the ground in a circle, holding an impromptu singing party, and urging the singers to sing in the center.

Keiko Matsuzaka was also invited up and cleared her throat:

"I'm going to sing the theme song of the movie that hasn't been released yet, 'Shanghai Life'."

"Clap clap clap."

Accompanied by applause, the a cappella singing was melodious, like the autumn wind blowing through red leaves.

The sun gradually set, and the afterglow of the sunset shone on Keiko Matsuzaka's face, making it rosy and tempting.

As the people present applauded, it was the turn for China to send its singer to perform.

"In my opinion, let Xiao Fang go."

"Yes, Mr. Fang is a lyricist, so he must be very good at music."

"Xiao Fang, sing 'On the Shores of Lake Baikal' for everyone!"

"..."

Amidst the discussion, Tanaka Yuko blinked and asked Kurihara Komaki what they were talking about.

Kurihara Komaki told the truth, and even Matsuzaka Keiko couldn't help but exclaim: "Fangyan-kun can also write lyrics?!"

Tanaka Yuko cast her eyes at Fangyan and Suzuki Yoko who came to the open space in the middle, without blinking.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Fangyan was not stage-frightened and his mind was working rapidly, wondering what to sing.
Suddenly, I thought of Eason Chen’s "Under the Mount Fuji".

But on second thought, this song is about the love between men and women, and it seems a bit frivolous in such a diplomatic occasion.

"Teacher Fang, how about singing 'On the Shores of Lake Baikal'?"

Yoko Suzuki suggested.

Fangyan nodded and did as he was told, but he sang the first half in Chinese and Suzuki Yoko sang the second half.

Looking at the duet between the man and woman, Tanaka Yuko was amazed:
"This country is the first, the dialect master."

Kurihara Komaki and others also praised him highly. They never expected that Fangyan was not only good at writing novels, but also singing songs.

Keiko Matsuzaka stared at him closely, feeling mixed emotions. How many surprises do you have that I don't know about?!
Amid the applause and cheers, a discordant voice suddenly emerged:
"Mr. Fangyan, wait a minute. You and Yoko sang a duet. If this is counted, it will only count as half a song. You still owe half a song."

"Yes, Mr. Fangyan, sing another song!"

As soon as these words were spoken, others immediately followed suit, and even Yoko Suzuki became a "traitor."

Fangyan couldn't refuse, so after thinking about it for a while, he saw the sunset glow and an idea came to him:
"The setting sun is infinite, but its brilliance lasts only for a moment."

"As the clouds gradually disperse, the lost glory will never return."

"The years pass by so slowly that it is hard to bear the changes in this life."

"..."

"The long road makes me feel that time is running out."

"Happiness is always short-lived and never returns, who can see through my dream is dull...

(End of this chapter)