Reborn in Tokyo: From Heiress to Global Tycoon

Chapter 8 Tea Party

Tokyo in June was shrouded in endless rain.

Rainwater dripped from the dark blue tiles of the main house of the Saionji family, striking the stone lanterns in the courtyard with a monotonous sound.

To the west of the main residence of the Saionji family, there is a separate building called "Tingyuken".

This place was originally used by my grandfather to receive foreign envoys, and it adopted the "Japanese-Western eclectic" style popular during the Taisho era. The dark oak wainscoting, stained glass windows, and tatami-floored interior all create a calm and aristocratic atmosphere.

Today, this place has been reopened.

Satsuki wore a light purple kimono with a sash adorned with egret patterns around her waist. She knelt in the main seat of the tea room, before which lay an exquisite set of English bone china teaware—a combination that did not seem out of place in this Japanese-style room, but rather exuded a Westernized charm dating back to the Meiji Restoration.

"Grandpa Fujita, the scent of the incense is too strong."

Satsuki wrinkled her nose slightly and said softly.

"Change it to agarwood. I want that kind of... subtle, almost imperceptible scent, preferably one that can put people at ease."

The old butler, Fujita, bowed and silently withdrew.

Satsuki turned her head to look at the rain curtain outside the window.

A month has passed since the last time Okura Masami was humiliated at school. The effect was even better than expected. Okura Masami took a long leave of absence (supposedly "sick," but actually grounded at home), and the small circle that used to revolve around her completely collapsed.

The name Saionji Satsuki, a first-year student at Seika Academy, is beginning to show her talent and has started to form what is known as a "clique".

"We should be there soon."

She glanced at the clock on the wall; it was exactly two o'clock in the afternoon.

Just then, a maid's soft voice came from the entrance hall: "Young Miss, Miss Yoshino and Miss Isokawa have arrived."

Satsuki straightened her clothes, and the coldness on her face instantly melted away, replaced by her signature gentle smile.

"Please come in quickly."

The sliding door was pushed open.

Two girls dressed in casual clothes walked in somewhat awkwardly.

Walking in front was Ayako Yoshino. She was dressed very simply today, carrying a beautifully wrapped gift box in her hand. Her expression was a mixture of respect and nervousness, and she didn't even dare to look Satsuki in the eye.

Following behind her was a tall girl with wavy hair. That was Reiko Aesop, whose gaze was much bolder as she curiously surveyed the historic mansion.

"Ayako, Reiko, welcome to my humble abode."

Satsuki gave a slight bow, performing a standard welcoming greeting. "I'm so sorry to have troubled you to make this trip on a rainy day."

"Not at all! It's my honor to receive an invitation from Saienji Dai...!" Yoshino Ayako hurriedly bowed in return, almost dropping the gift box in her hand. "This is... this is a small token of my father's appreciation; it's the best Gyokuro tea from Shizuoka Prefecture."

Satsuki gestured for the maid to accept the gift, her gaze lingering for a moment on Yoshino Ayako's slightly haggard face.

It seems that the "verification" that night was quite exciting.

"Everyone, please sit down." Satsuki gestured for everyone to sit. "Today, let's not talk about those trivial matters at school. Let's just read some books and chat as friends."

The three sat around a low table. The aroma of tea wafted up.

This was certainly no ordinary tea party; thanks to Satsuki's careful selection, it could even be called a small "cabinet meeting."

Ayako Yoshino, daughter of the branch manager of Mitsui Bank, represents "information on the flow of funds".

Reiko Isogawa, granddaughter of a prominent figure in the Takeshita faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, represents "information on policy trends."

With Satsuki herself added to the mix, this tea party brought together people from the financial, government, and powerful clans.

"What are we reading today?" Reiko Isokawa was straightforward. Although she came from a political family, she wasn't really interested in reading. She was here simply because she thought Satsuki Saionji was a "very interesting eccentric" and was willing to give her face.

"Shakespeare's Macbeth."

Satsuki took out three beautifully bound books from behind her and distributed them to the two of them.

"This is a tragedy." Reiko flipped through the pages. "Is the first act about a witch? 'Fair is foul, and foul is fair'... What a strange saying."

"That's just how the world is, isn't it?" Satsuki picked up her black tea, took a sip, and gazed wistfully at the rain outside the window. "Things that appear glamorous on the surface may be rotten inside if you peel them back. And those seemingly dirty methods are sometimes used to protect the most precious things."

Upon hearing these words, Ayako Yoshino trembled violently.

She looked up at Satsuki with a complicated expression: "Saionji-kun... thank you so much for what happened last time."

Reiko Aesokawa looked bewildered: "Last time? What happened?"

Ayako Yoshino bit her lip, seemingly hesitant to speak. But looking into Satsuki's all-knowing eyes, she decided to confess—this was also a form of pledge of allegiance. A pledge to join the core of Satsuki's group.

"It's about the Okura family." Ayako lowered her voice, as if afraid someone was eavesdropping outside the wall. "After you finished speaking that day, I immediately went home and asked my father. And... my father was throwing a tantrum in his study."

Satsuki put down her teacup, feigning concern: "Has your father encountered any trouble?"

"Yes." Ayako nodded, a hint of lingering fear flashing in her eyes. "Dad said that the Banking Bureau of the Ministry of Finance really did send people to audit the accounts. The focus is on investigating the illegal over-lending of real estate companies. Because Dad received some kind of 'rumor' in advance (actually, it was Ayako's accidental discovery), he completed some formalities overnight and suspended the approval of the additional loan for the Okura family."

At this point, Ayako took a deep breath, tears streaming down her face, "Dad said that if that money had been released and happened to run into the inspection team, he would have lost his job as branch manager. Saionji-kun, you saved our whole family!"

Satsuki chuckled inwardly.

Actually, she was completely delusional at the time. She knew the Ministry of Finance would investigate, but she didn't know the specific time. She didn't expect Yoshino's father to cooperate so much; by scaring herself, she actually confirmed the matter.

But that's just right.

"That's really fortunate." Satsuki sighed softly. "I only heard my father mention it casually. It seems the House of Nobles is quite well-informed."

"More than just well-informed!" Reiko Isokawa suddenly interjected, stuffing a cookie into her mouth. "The House of Nobles is even more troublesome than the Cabinet these days. My grandfather has been cursing at home every day lately, saying that those old men in the House of Nobles are too stubborn, and they have to block every bill."

Satsuki's heart skipped a beat. It had arrived—intelligence from the political front.

"Grandpa Isogawa is a pillar of the nation. If even he finds something difficult to handle, it must be a big problem, right?" Satsuki smoothly steered the conversation.

"That's for sure!" Reiko was also someone who couldn't keep a secret, and the deliberately private and relaxed atmosphere of Satsuki's place made her completely let her guard down. "It's all because of the Americans."

"American?"

"Yes," Reiko said, taking a big gulp of tea. "Grandpa said that the US has been pressuring Japan a lot lately, insisting that Japan resolve its trade surplus issue. Mr. Takeshita (then Minister of Finance Takeshita Noboru) might be going to the US next month, supposedly to sign some kind of agreement to make the yen appreciate a bit, so that the Americans can calm down."

Satsuki's fingers gently caressed the rim of the teacup.

Takeshita Noboru, going to the United States, signing the agreement...

These keywords, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, pieced together in her mind the grand blueprint known as the "Plaza Accord."

The history books from my previous life say it was signed in September, but the preliminary negotiations must have started much earlier. Reiko Isokawa's words reflect that the Japanese government has most likely reached a consensus on compromise—they are prepared to sacrifice the yen's exchange rate in exchange for the US easing its trade sanctions.

They probably never dreamed that this loosening of control would cause the yen to appreciate out of control like a runaway horse.

"Let the yen appreciate..." Satsuki pretended not to understand, tilting her head. "Wouldn't that make our money more valuable? Isn't that a good thing?"

"Who knows?" Reiko shrugged. "Anyway, Grandpa said those old fogies in the export business will definitely be furious. Like the Okura family, who's drowning in debt from construction projects; they'll probably be in trouble too. After all, if the economy is bad, who's going to buy a house?"

Satsuki smiled slightly.

No, Reiko, you're wrong.

It is precisely because exports are not doing well that the Bank of Japan is resorting to massive interest rate cuts and quantitative easing to stimulate the economy. When everyone has a lot of money in their hands and nowhere to spend it, they will go on a buying spree to buy houses.

However, she doesn't need to tell anyone the truth.

"It seems everyone has their own troubles." Satsuki closed the copy of Macbeth in her hands and softly read aloud, "'Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires.'"

The room fell silent for a moment.

"Speaking of which," Satsuki suddenly changed the subject, her tone becoming more relaxed, "since the Okura family's loan has been suspended, Yoshino-kun's father must have a lot of credit available these days, right?"

Ayako Yoshino paused for a moment, then said, "Huh? Yes...yes. Dad's worried about not being able to lend out the money, since the quota is still there."

This is the absurdity of banks. They are afraid of bad debts and dare not lend recklessly, but they still have to lend money out to meet their performance targets.

Satsuki took a letter from her embroidered handbag. The envelope was stamped with the Saionji family crest—the left-side three-pointed stag crest.

"It may be a bit presumptuous of me to say this," Satsuki gently pushed the letter in front of Ayako, "My father is currently planning to make some asset allocations overseas. If Mitsui Bank has any surplus US dollars, or... short-term financing channels that can be quickly converted into cash, perhaps we can help alleviate some of the performance pressure on your father."

This is not a request, but more like a reward.

For Mitsui Bank's Shinjuku branch, which had just narrowly escaped a disaster and desperately needed high-quality clients to fill the gaps, the fact that a century-old aristocratic family like the Saionji family (although somewhat declining, they were still considered a formidable force by outsiders) offered to provide loans was like sending charcoal in snowy weather.

Yoshino Ayako accepted the letter, flattered: "Y-Of course! Dad will be very happy! If it's the Saionji family, we can definitely get the lowest interest rate!"

Satsuki smiled and nodded.

In this way, she not only obtained intelligence but also opened up a backup financing channel. Although the main short-selling funds came from Credit Suisse, she also needed yen cash flow domestically to maintain her family's daily operations and mislead outsiders.

"Well then, that concludes today's book club meeting."

Satsuki glanced out the window. The rain seemed to have lessened a bit.

"Take this book home and read it at your leisure." She pointed to the two copies of Macbeth. "We can talk about the later parts of the story around this time next week. For example... how Macbeth killed the king and put on that bloodstained crown."

The two girls got up to say goodbye.

……

At the gate of the Saionji residence, Satsuki personally saw off the two guests.

As she watched the black sedan disappear at the end of the street, she stood at the door, the warm smile on her face slowly fading, returning to her usual calm.

"Young Miss, you've worked hard."

The old butler, Fujita, appeared behind her at some point, holding a spare black umbrella in his hand. Although the rain had stopped, he still habitually prepared one.

He looked at his young mistress's slightly tired figure, his eyes filled with heartache. She was only twelve years old, yet she had to learn to socialize like an adult, and even act as a matchmaker for her master.

"Grandpa Fujita," Satsuki turned around, her voice regaining its soft, childlike quality, "Miss Yoshino and the others really liked today's sweets. Did I... not embarrass the Saionji family?"

Fujita quickly bowed: "How could that be! Miss's demeanor is flawless, just like Madam's when she was alive. If Master knew, he would be very pleased."

"That's good." Satsuki patted her chest gently, seemingly relieved. "Miss Yoshino also promised to deliver Father's letter to her father. I hope it can be of some help to Father... After all, Father's hair has turned quite a bit white lately because of company matters."

As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly, as if she were truly just a dutiful daughter who had worried herself sick over her father.

"Young Miss is so sensible." Fujita's voice choked with emotion. "Master has a business dinner tonight and may be back late."

"It's alright, I'll wait for Father." Satsuki pulled her kimono tighter. "I'll go back to my room to study now. I'd like something light for dinner."

"Yes, I'll go and instruct the kitchen right away."

Watching the housekeeper walk towards the kitchen, Satsuki's face still held a hint of "filial piety" and "weakness" until she reached the second-floor stairs and turned the corner where no one could see her.

"Click".

The bedroom door was locked from the inside.

Satsuki leaned against the door and let out a long breath.

She walked to the huge dressing mirror and looked at herself in the mirror, dressed in a purple kimono, looking as delicate as a porcelain doll.

"A perfect performance."

She made a low-pitched self-assessment.

Then, she walked to the desk and took out a black notebook from a locked drawer.

Turning to a new page, she picked up her pen and wrote down what she had learned that day.

Intelligence 1: Plaza Accord negotiations have begun. Key figure: Takeshita Noboru. Key time point: Trip to the United States (needs close monitoring).

Intelligence 2: Domestic financing channels have been established. Mitsui Bank's Shinjuku branch will become the Saionji family's backup treasury.

She looked at the words on the notebook, her fingers lightly tapping the table.

In the housekeeper's eyes, she was just helping her father deliver a letter.

But on her and her father's chessboard, this letter meant the Saionji family would receive a steady stream of yen in the country. This yen wouldn't be invested in real businesses, but rather, through a series of complex offshore operations, would ultimately flow into the short-selling account in Switzerland.

"Father..." Satsuki murmured to herself.

Although she couldn't directly order the family to mortgage their assets, she had plenty of ways to get her father to sign the mortgage documents when he returned tonight. After all, with the perfect excuse that "Mitsui Bank urgently needed to lend money," coupled with the solid intelligence she brought back today regarding "American pressure," her father would only see this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Mr. Takeshita is going to America to have a fight..."

Satsuki recalled Reiko Isogawa's innocent complaint, and a playful smile appeared on her lips.

"Let them argue, the louder the better."

She closed her notebook and looked out the window at the setting sun piercing through the dark clouds.