At seven o'clock in the evening, in a private room of the Japanese restaurant on the second floor of the Asia Hotel, the table was already filled with sumptuous wine and food.
Jiang Xinyu was also wearing casual clothes today, a black thin woolen suit jacket, a white shirt underneath and a light gray vest, looking very energetic.
"Ms. Mina, why haven't you seen Major Hattori?"
"When I first came in, my brother met an acquaintance, which may delay him for a while...otherwise we don't have to wait for him, let's eat first."
"Then what's better, let's wait a little longer..."
While he was talking, Hattori Hikoo stepped in and said, "Officer Jiang, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."
Jiang Xinyu: "It doesn't matter, I just came in not long ago."
Hattori Hikoo sat down cross-legged, filled a glass of wine for Jiang Xinyu with his own hands, and said: "Come on, Officer Jiang, try the famous Kobe Kiku Masamune sake. This brand is very, very famous in Japan..."
"Tuk-tuk!" There was a knock on the door from outside.
Hattori Mina: "It must be Ayako!"
Hattori Hikoo was confused: "What Ayako?"
The box door opened, and a young woman wearing a splendid flower kimono and traditional Japanese clogs walked in with small steps. She had light makeup on her face, looking pure and graceful yet bright and charming.
Hattori Mina stood up and went over to greet her, holding the woman's arm affectionately, and said: "Ayako, you stayed in the hotel and came so late, I should punish you!"
Ayako smiled and said: "I don't seem to be late."
Hattori Hikoo stood up: "Mina, who is this lady?..."
Hattori Mina: "Let me introduce to you my classmate Yamaguchi Ayako. Ayako, he is my brother, Hattori Hikoo, and that is police officer Jiang Xinyu. (Chinese)"
Yamaguchi Ayako bowed deeply: "Nice to meet you, please take care of me. (Japanese)"
Hattori Hikoo was stunned for a few seconds and said: "Oh... no wonder I haven't seen Mina in the past few days. It turns out that she is accompanying Miss Ayako."
Hattori Mina said angrily: "Brother, your memory is getting worse and worse. Didn't I tell you about Ayako's coming to Ijin a long time ago? I just ignored it! Humph!"
After sitting down, Hattori Hikoo: "When did Miss Ayako arrive at Ijinjin? (Japanese)"
Mina Hattori said first: "Ayako can also speak Chinese. With Officer Jiang here, you can stop speaking Japanese, okay?"
Yamaguchi Ayako: "I arrived at Yanjin the day before yesterday. (Chinese)"
Jiang Xinyu was moved in his heart. Yamaguchi Ayako had a very obvious Northeastern accent when she spoke, and it wasn't even a hint of it. She sounded more like an authentic Northeastern girl.
After a polite exchange of greetings, Hattori Hikoo filled a glass of wine and said, "First of all, I want to thank Officer Jiang. Without you that day, the consequences would have been disastrous! As Mina's brother, I would like to raise a toast on her behalf."
After saying this, he raised his glass and drank it in one gulp.
Jiang Xinyu also had a drink with him. He has a large capacity for drinking. Even if it is a high-grade Laobaigan wine, he can still drink a pound without changing his expression. This kind of talent cannot be acquired. It is completely built in the blood's own hangover function.
Hattori Hikoo filled another glass and said: "With this glass of wine, I welcome Miss Ayako to Ijinjin. Mina often mentions you in front of me. I hope we can be closer and closer in the future."
Yamaguchi Ayako: "Thank you, Major Hattori. I don't know how to drink, so I can only drink tea instead of wine."
Hattori Hikoo: "Miss Ayako, you can do whatever you want."
After drinking for three rounds, Hattori Hikoo seemed to say casually: "Officer Jiang, I heard Mina say that you left through the back door of the Military Police that day?"
Jiang Xinyu: "I hope I didn't violate the rules of the military police."
Hattori Hikoo: "Of course not. I said, you saved Mina, you are a friend of the Hattori family and a friend of the empire. We Japanese are always sincere in treating our friends. Miss Ayako, do you think so?"
Yamaguchi Ayako put the teacup in her hand and bowed slightly: "Yes."
Hattori Hikoo changed the subject: "But I want to know, why didn't Officer Jiang take the prepared special car?"
Jiang Xinyu pondered for a moment and said: "Major Hattori, since you regard me as a friend, I will tell the truth... I just said it, and I hope you won't laugh at me."
Hattori Mina's eyes were as gentle as water, and she said softly: "No matter what you say, no one will laugh at you."
Jiang Xinyu: "Actually, I told Ms. Minai that the reason why I don't want to take the gendarmerie car is because I don't want to be the center of attention, because it will cause me trouble."
Hattori Hikoo's eyes flashed: "Oh? How do you say this?"
Jiang Xinyu: "You know that the so-called anti-trafficking teams of those resistance organizations hate people like us more than they hate the imperial army! I don't want to be shot in the dark on the way home!"
Hattori Hikoo looked at Jiang Xinyu and said, "Are you afraid of death?"
Jiang Xinyu lowered his head: "Ashamed!"
Hattori Hikoo laughed loudly, and Hattori Mina glared at her brother angrily and said, "I told you not to laugh at people, brother, you are so rude!"
Hattori Hikoo waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no, no, I'm not laughing at Officer Jiang. On the contrary, I admire him very much. I remember an old Chinese saying - knowing how to advance and retreat, knowing gains and losses! It's talking about smart people like Officer Jiang."
Jiang Xinyu: "You have given me the award."
"Tuk-tuk!" There was a knock on the door.
Hattori Hikoo put away the smile on his face and said: "Come in."
Kondo Akira opened the door, Hattori Hikoo stood up and said: "Mina, entertain the guests well, I will go out first."
He walked out of the box, closed the door behind his back, and asked, "What's the matter?"
Akira Kondo: "Yang Feng has just completed the check-out procedure and should be leaving the hotel soon."
Hattori Hikoo thought for a while, looked back at the private room door, and walked towards the lobby on the first floor, with Akira Kondo following closely behind him.
In the private room, Hattori Mina was eating a piece of sushi roll, glanced at Yamaguchi Ayako, and suddenly smiled.
Yamaguchi Ayako: "Mina, why are you laughing?"
"nothing."
"I have been a classmate for so many years and I still don't know you? If you have anything to say, please tell me."
Hattori Mina swallowed the sushi roll and said, "I just think that my brother is in a very good mood today."
Yamaguchi Ayako: "Of course, why should I be embarrassed when I invite the benefactor who saved my sister to dinner?"
Hattori Mina poured a glass of wine for Jiang Xinyu, smiled apologetically, turned to Yamaguchi Ayako and said: "...Ayako, honestly speaking, what do you think of my brother? (Japanese)"
Yamaguchi Ayako thought for a while: "It's very good. I treat people warmly and politely. (Japanese)"
Hattori Mina smiled and shook her head, and said: "Brother has never been so warm to others. He has already met Officer Jiang. Only you are meeting for the first time. Do you understand what I am saying? (Japanese)"