Shiwei Hall, Main Room——
"Dear, what do you think of the name Kondo Shinji? I think it’s quite nice, Shinji has the meaning of ’flourishing growth’ in it."
"Shinji... somehow it doesn’t sound very nice, and it’s not imposing enough either."
Although Kondo’s official wedding was still half a month away, not even a stroke of the characters was written, this didn’t stop Zhouzhu and Abi from imagining a future where there would be a daughter-in-law in the Shiwei Hall, and pondering what name to give their future grandson.
Due to their differences in personality and outlook, Zhouzhu and Abi had been unable to reach a consensus on the naming issue for their future grandson.
Zhouzhu, who only wished for his grandson to grow up safely, preferred to choose a name with a good meaning.
However, Abi, who "hoped for her grandson to become a dragon," wanted a name that was quite grand and gave off a Samurai vibe.
With nothing to do at the moment, this old couple, in their idle time, had been continuing their discussion on this topic which had been debated for many days without any meaningful outcome, just to pass the time.
They chatted so engrossedly that the tea beside them had cooled before they even sipped a drop.
The name "Kondo Shinji," which Zhouzhu had racked his brains to come up with over the past couple of days, was vetoed by his wife... yet Zhouzhu wasn’t discouraged.
Just as he cleared his throat, ready to put forward another name which he had also painstakingly thought of in recent days and quite liked himself——
Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!
Suddenly, there was a knocking sound at the main entrance.
Zhouzhu and Abi both paused their conversation, turned their heads and cast puzzled glances toward the main entrance.
"Who could it be...?" Abi furrowed her brows, "At this late hour... it wouldn’t be those Wawa Celestial King and Susu Master again, would it?"
Wawa Celestial King and Susu Master: very common itinerant performers in Edo who begged door-to-door.
The Wawa Celestial King often wore a tattered, filthy vest with black patterns, white narrow-sleeved kimonos and divided skirts underneath, wore two fake swords at the waist, and had a strange Yamada En mask on the face. All the while shouting, "Wawa Celestial King loves noise the most!" as they begged for mon Coins door-to-door.
The Susu Master would carry a piece of green bamboo, with copper coins strung at the tip. While wandering through the streets and alleys, they’d swing the bamboo vigorously while chanting strange scriptures.
"Dear, wait here for a moment, I’ll go have a look."
Zhouzhu stood up, crossed the main room and corridor, and quickly walked to the main entrance.
"Good evening, may I ask who it is?"
As soon as Zhouzhu finished his question, a loud voice immediately boomed from outside the door:
"Master Kondo! It’s me! Chiba Shigetarou!"
"Shigetarou?" Zhouzhu raised his brows with force, then hurriedly pulled open the main door.
There, at the door, stood a robust man with a smile on the corner of his mouth—it was Chiba Shigetarou.
"Shigetarou." As Zhouzhu greeted Chiba Shigetarou, he craned his neck to look around him, "Did you come alone? What’s the matter? Why visit Shiwei Hall so late at night?"
"I came alone!" Chiba Shigetarou laughed heartily, "I apologize for the unannounced visit. I suddenly came because I have something to discuss with Mr. Tachibana! Is Mr. Tachibana here?"
"Mr. Tachibana? He’s not at Shiwei Hall right now."
"Not here?" Chiba Shigetarou was momentarily stunned, "Where did he go?"
"He went to the bathhouse to bathe."
Zhouzhu pointed to the faint wisps of steam not far away.
"Mr. Tachibana might not be coming back soon. Shigetarou, if it’s urgent, would you like to come in and wait for a bit?"
Zhouzhu suggested this to Chiba Shigetarou... but at this moment, Chiba Shigetarou wasn’t listening at all.
He was staring straight in the direction of the Qianxun House where Zhouzhu had just pointed.
A thoughtful expression appeared on his face at a visible pace...
...
...
Qianxun House——
While Kondo and Inoue still had a look of astonishment on their faces, Hijikata was the first to snap out of his surprised state.
He furrowed his brows slightly, gave Aoto a deep look, then turned his head and said loudly to Nagakura and the others:
"Oh right! How could I forget!"
Hijikata shouted as he suddenly stood up from the pool of water.
"Mr. Nagakura, Mr. Saito, Mr. Harada, get up, don’t soak anymore! You three quickly follow me!"
"Huh?" Harada widened his eyes in confusion.
"Mr. Hijikata." Nagakura asked, "What’s the matter?"
Saito, with his emotionless demeanor continuing his reserved nature, remained silent but also cast a puzzled glance at Hijikata.
"I’ve been feeling like I forgot something since earlier." Hijikata spoke quickly, "Now I remember! You three quickly come with me to my place; I have something I want you to have!"
By "my place," Hijikata naturally meant the small, dilapidated house he rented near Shiwei Hall.
"Something? Want us to have it?" Nagakura’s face showed even more puzzlement, "What is it?"
"Yes, yes!" Harada was full of curiosity, "What is it?"
"Some of my collectibles." Hijikata replied without hesitation.
"Collectibles? Why so urgent to give them to us?" Nagakura picked up the thread left hanging by Harada, "It’s already late at night; can’t it wait till tomorrow or sometime later..."
Before Nagakura could finish, Hijikata firmly shook his head.
"No, no."
"I plan to move to a different place later, no longer living in that shack whose only advantage is being close to Shiwei Hall."

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