"Master...?" This time, Mikami's eyes widened with surprise.
"I have provided the money for the banquet." A smile appeared on Hanbei's face, "In terms of savings, you are definitely not as good as me. Mikami, hosting a banquet is more important to me.
'More than enough'."
Hanbei is actually retired now.
After dedicating most of his life to the Hirose Domain, he retired honorably.
After retiring, he used his personal savings to build the "Sakakihara Sword Hall" a few years ago, and devoted the rest of his life to teaching swordsmanship.
Before Hanbei retired, his annual salary was as high as 270 koku.
After working for most of his life, God knows how much money Hanbei has saved now.
What's more, after opening the Sakakihara Sword Hall, Hanbei still has tuition fees to collect.
However, the income from tuition fees is not high.
Hanbei's original intention of opening a sword school was not to make money, but to carry forward the new school founded by his brother.
So in order to attract more people to study, Hanbei lowered the tuition fees very low.
It is so low that even a person like Ogata who lives in poverty can afford the tuition.
Regarding Hanbei's words, Mikami seemed to want to say something more.
Hanbei noticed Mikami's intention in advance, quickly raised his hand to stop it, and then continued:
"Mikami, no need to say more."
"As a master, I attended this banquet, but all the money for hosting this banquet came from my disciples - if this kind of thing spreads, I will be laughed at by others."
"Just think of it as giving me, Master, an opportunity to not lose face and leave all the costs of hosting the banquet to me with peace of mind."
Since Hanbei had already mentioned this, Mikami was too embarrassed to force it any further.
After thanking Hanbei respectfully, Mikami looked at the disciples in front of him again.
"I want to hold a banquet at a time when everyone is free! Is everyone free tomorrow night?" Mikami said loudly.
"I am free every night."
"I'm free tomorrow night."
"No...we have work to do tomorrow night..."
…
Most people are free tomorrow night, but a few people are not free tomorrow night.
Seeing that not everyone would have time tomorrow night, Mikami shouted again:
"What about the night after tomorrow? Is everyone free the night after tomorrow?"
"I can."
"I can't... I have made an appointment in advance to drink with other people the night after tomorrow..."
"How come you guys are not free tomorrow or the day after tomorrow..."
…
Same as before, most people are still free the day after tomorrow, and a few people are not.
Mikami didn't feel discouraged or helpless.
shouted again:
"What about the night after tomorrow?"
"I can do it the day after tomorrow."
"I'll have time the day after tomorrow."
"As long as there are no emergencies, I'll be fine the night after tomorrow."
…
This time, everyone's voice was finally unified.
Seeing that he finally found a day when everyone was free, Mikami's face finally showed some joy.
"Okay!" Mikami smiled, "Then let's set the time for the banquet to be the evening of the day after tomorrow!"
The time and place for the banquet have been decided.
Only one last thing remains to be decided.
That is - where to buy the food and drinks for the banquet.
"Where should we buy drinks and better meals?" asked a disciple.
"If possible, of course we should find a store that can sell us things as cheaply as possible." Another disciple responded.
"How about that izakaya we usually go to?"
"You're stupid... The izakaya we usually go to is extremely expensive. It's not cost-effective to buy there."
…
Mikami was actually troubled by this issue.
Because Mikami didn't have any good ways to buy food and drinks.
At this moment, Ogata, who had been silent since just now, spoke out:
"Well... I'm very familiar with the proprietress of a certain izakaya... If we find her, she should be able to sell us meals and drinks at a cheap price..."
…
…
Hirose Domain, Ryūya.
"Welcome to the light...ah! Ogata-sama!"
"Good afternoon, Miss Afu." Ogata smiled at Afu in front of him, "I brought some friends over today. Is Miss Asaki here?"
After saying that, Ogata turned his body to the side, revealing Mikami and others following him closely.
The "familiar izakaya proprietress" Ogata refers to is Asaki.
Although due to the injury, I am temporarily unable to work as a "security guard" at the house.
But for more than a month, Ogata still visited Asaki and Afu as "friends" from time to time.
After learning that Asaki was on the second floor of Ryuya, Omoto asked Ah Fu to invite Asaki down.
After Asaki went downstairs and had a brief chat with her, Ogon helped Mikami and Asaki introduce themselves to each other, and then Mikami, who was very eloquent, explained the purpose of their visit.
After learning that Mikami and the others planned to purchase a batch of food and drinks for the banquet, Asaki said cheerfully:
"No problem! I have a complete range of food and drinks here! You can have everything you want! I will sell it to you at the cheapest price."
Speaking of this, Asaki paused.
Then he changed to a half-joking tone and continued:
"But - I can't just sell it to you at the cost price. I still have to make some money from you."
"Hahaha." Mikami laughed heartily a few times, "No problem! If you are willing to sell it to us cheaper, we are already very grateful!"
Seeing that the business with Ryuya was concluded so happily, a smile appeared on Ogata's face involuntarily.
——A banquet...
Ogata thought about it carefully and found that he had never attended any banquets since arriving in the Edo period.
I live a regular and somewhat boring life every day.
When he thought about the day after tomorrow, there would be a banquet to celebrate that he was about to recover from his injury and receive a certificate of immunity from public dissemination, and a sense of anticipation filled Ogata's heart like summer clouds.