Chapter 261: China Tower

C“Oh, this place looks pretty authentic,” Kuang Dao remarked as he walked, glancing around at the shops.

After leaving the aquarium, the trio—following their earlier plan—entered the China Town.

Once inside, Tani Akiko noticed the area was bustling with people, many of whom were foreigners. Shops selling handicrafts, traditional Chinese qipao dresses, jade items, and specialty snacks seemed to attract the most visitors.

“Kuang Dao-ojisan, what’s that place?” Since they arrived, the child had been fascinated by the stores, so different from what she usually saw. She kept tugging on Kuang Dao’s arm, bombarding him with questions.

“That’s a massage parlor,” he replied. “It’s where people go for massages.”

“What about over there?”

“That’s a Chinese medicine shop. Looks like this place is well-equipped—they even have a pharmacy. Come on, let’s check it out.” With that, he headed toward the medicine shop.

Upon entering, Kuang Dao found the interior was designed like a traditional Chinese medicine shop. There were consultation screens, a herbal brewing area, and rows of counters—all perfectly arranged.

Noticing a middle-aged man who appeared to be the physician, Kuang Dao approached him and asked in Chinese, “Are you from China?”

The man looked surprised but quickly responded in Chinese, “Yes, I am.”

“What about them?” Kuang Dao gestured toward the shop assistants.

“Yes, two of them are Chinese exchange students. Are you also from China?”

Kuang Dao nodded and asked, “Are the other shop owners in this China Town also Chinese?”

The physician thought for a moment and replied, “As far as I know, they are. These shops were originally scattered across Tokyo. Then the owner of this place proposed building a Chinese-style entertainment and business hub, so we were invited to move here. The terms were very favorable, and I felt the concept had great potential, so I relocated my main store here. Please, have a seat. I’ll ask someone to bring some tea.”

After inviting Tani Akiko and the child to sit as well, the physician instructed a staff member to prepare tea.

It was the first time the child had been in such a shop, and she couldn’t resist curiously looking around.

The more Kuang Dao listened, the more interested he became. “What kind of person is the owner? Are they also Chinese?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” the physician admitted. “I’ve never met the owner. During negotiations, we only dealt with the manager and their legal representative. But I’d guess the owner is Chinese—otherwise, why offer us such favorable terms? Did you know the rent here is only half the market rate, and this is a prime location? More and more Chinese businesses are planning to move here. Ah, I’ve been talking too much about unrelated matters. May I ask if anyone here is feeling unwell?”

Taking a sip of tea, Kuang Dao replied nonchalantly, “We’re all fine. We just came in to look around.”

The physician coughed awkwardly and continued to encourage them to enjoy the tea.

After leaving the medicine shop, Tani Akiko asked, “Mr. Kuang Dao, your Chinese is excellent. Have you been to China before?”

“I’m Chinese,” Kuang Dao replied matter-of-factly.

“What?” Stopping in her tracks, Tani Akiko stared at him in shock.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

“I always thought you were Japanese,” she admitted after a moment.

“That’s your mistake,” he said indifferently. Then, noticing the child was no longer beside them, he called out, “Hey, little rascal, hurry up!”

Looking back, they saw the child standing in front of a ramen shop, transfixed by the chef skillfully pulling noodles in mid-air. She seemed utterly captivated by the sight.

Hearing Kuang Dao’s shout, the girl snapped out of her trance and quickly ran to catch up.

“Kuang Dao-ojisan, is that man making ramen? It’s my first time seeing ramen made like that. He’s amazing! How come the noodles don’t break no matter how much he stretches them? Let’s try it when we get home!” the child exclaimed excitedly.

Kuang Dao dismissed her enthusiasm. “Forget it. You, a little monkey, trying to make ramen? Come back in a hundred years.”

Pouting, the child retorted, “Ugh, how many times do I have to say it? I’m not a monkey! Hmph, I’m not talking to you anymore. Mommy, I’m hungry. Let’s eat!”

“Alright,” Tani Akiko replied absentmindedly, sneaking a glance at Kuang Dao.

The three of them arrived at the most prominent building in China Town: China Tower.

The complex consisted of two main structures: the main building, designed to host guests, and a five-story office building used for administrative purposes.

Although the main building was only three stories high, it had the largest footprint, occupying about one-sixth of China Town’s total area. Its height was nearly equivalent to that of the five-story office building.

The exterior of the main building featured glazed tiles as the primary theme, complemented by intricate carvings, beams, paper windows, hanging curtains, and other traditional Chinese decorative elements.

From the outside, the architectural style did not appear to belong to any specific Chinese dynasty. Instead, it seemed to blend elements from the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Despite the mix of styles, the design was harmonious, leaving visitors with a distinct impression of authentic Chinese architecture.

At the top of the main building was an enormous plaque, taller than an average person, with the words “China Tower” engraved in gold paint.

The bold, powerful calligraphy, combined with the grand yet understated façade of China Tower and the two tall, meticulously crafted stone lions guarding the entrance, created an imposing aura. It gave visitors the sensation of stepping into an imperial palace.

After observing the structure closely for a while, Kuang Dao’s expression became one of genuine interest. He was impressed; even without seeing the interior, the building’s exterior design alone had exceeded his expectations.

When they reached the front entrance, four young women in red qipao standing on either side of the door bowed slightly and greeted them in Chinese: “Welcome.”

Shortly after, another woman appeared. Her qipao was embroidered with a golden phoenix, making her stand out. Smiling, she addressed them in Japanese, “Welcome. Are the three of you here to dine with us?”

“Yes,” Tani Akiko nodded.

“Would you like to sit in the main hall or a private room?”

“What’s the difference?” Tani Akiko asked curiously.

The woman explained, “The main hall is livelier, with a better atmosphere for dining. The private rooms are quieter and more secluded.”

Unsure, Tani Akiko turned to Kuang Dao. “What do you think, Mr. Kuang Dao? Where should we sit?”

After a brief moment of thought, Kuang Dao replied, “Let’s go to the main hall. I want to see how it’s decorated.”

“Alright, we’ll go to the main hall,” Tani Akiko told the hostess.

“Please follow me,” the woman said, gesturing politely and leading the way with a graceful demeanor.

The child, seeing a qipao for the first time, was mesmerized by its beauty. She couldn’t take her eyes off the woman leading them.

After walking for about 200 meters, the hostess brought them to a long corridor suspended over a large pond.

Looking at the corridor and the koi pond below, Kuang Dao finally understood why China Tower occupied such a vast space.

He noticed that the corridor, along with the surrounding rock formations, pavilions, gardens, and engraved pathways, were all designed in the style of Suzhou gardens.

Moreover, the pond was entirely open-air, allowing excellent natural lighting. The surrounding area was filled with various flowers and plants, making the space look remarkably similar to an authentic Suzhou garden.

At this moment, the hostess pointed to a small box placed at the entrance of the corridor and said, “This box contains some fish food. If any of you are interested, you can take some and feed the koi in the pond below. But it’s best not to feed too much.”

“I want to feed them, Mommy!” the child immediately exclaimed upon hearing this.

Tani Akiko smiled and walked over to the box, taking a handful of fish food. She then split it in half and gave some to her daughter.

“Mr. Kuang Dao, would you like some?” Tani Akiko asked.

“No thanks,” Kuang Dao replied. “When I see them, I can only think of braised carp.”

The hostess couldn’t help but laugh lightly.

As they continued walking, the child kept calling out excitedly, “Kuang Dao-ojisan, look! The koi are really swimming over! There are so many of them! Wow, some of them are so big!” Seeing this, she quickly threw the remaining fish food into the pond.

Kuang Dao ignored her, instead asking the hostess, “Your boss is Chinese, isn’t he?”

The hostess responded, “Sorry, we don’t even know who the boss is because we’ve never met him. Even when China Tower opened, he didn’t attend.”

“Is that so?” Kuang Dao was surprised to hear that even the people who worked inside China Tower hadn’t seen their boss.

After a while, having passed through the long corridor, they finally reached the main hall.

Contrary to what Tani Akiko and Kuang Dao had expected, the hall wasn’t filled with rows of tables like most Chinese restaurants. Instead, each table was spaced apart with bamboo screens surrounding them for privacy. Additionally, each table had small red lanterns hanging above it.

The hall was also decorated with artificial mountains, small bamboo pavilions, and water features, giving it the ambiance of a quiet, idyllic retreat.

On the walls, there were Chinese paintings and calligraphy, and the sound of guzheng music drifting through the air added an ancient charm to the atmosphere. It was a stark contrast to the grandeur of the main entrance.

At that moment, the hall was bustling with diners. Although there were many guests, the spacing between the tables and the bamboo screens kept the noise level down, creating a peaceful environment.

The more Kuang Dao looked around, the more he was impressed. The decor and design of this restaurant were a far cry from the cheap, pretentious places he had imagined it would be.

When he saw the menu filled with Manchu-Han Imperial Feast dishes, his curiosity about the owner of China Tower grew even more.

Tani Akiko, overwhelmed by the many dishes on the menu, didn’t know which one to choose. She turned to Kuang Dao and said, “Mr. Kuang Dao, maybe you can order for us. I’m not very familiar with these dishes.”

Kuang Dao didn’t refuse and began to carefully examine the menu. While the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast was originally a collection of dishes commissioned by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty to symbolize unity between the Manchu and Han people, it was mostly comprised of Han-style dishes. Kuang Dao scanned the list and found several dishes he had once had with that bastard at Misty Rain Pavilion. Without hesitation, he ordered a few of them and also requested a small bottle of white wine.

After Kuang Dao finished ordering, Tani Akiko said, “Mr. Kuang Dao, it seems like you’re quite interested in this restaurant.”

Kuang Dao nodded and replied, “This place is more authentic than any Chinese restaurant I’ve seen in Japan. Just the fact that they can offer a Manchu-Han Imperial Feast shows they’re not your average restaurant.”

“If you like it, maybe we can come back next time?” Tani Akiko said, then suddenly felt the words were a bit ambiguous. Her face flushed with a hint of embarrassment.

Hearing this, the child immediately cheered, “Really? We’ll come back next time! It’s a promise, right? Kuang Dao-ojisan, you can’t back out!”

Kuang Dao grunted in response.

“What’s with that? You don’t even have the decency,” the child complained, upset by his dismissive attitude.

The more Kuang Dao observed the child, the more she seemed obnoxious to him. Without much thought, he grabbed a peanut and flicked it at her, hitting her squarely on the forehead.

“Ow, that hurts!” the child cried, covering her head.

Kuang Dao couldn’t help but laugh, feeling somewhat pleased with himself.

The child, frustrated, jumped down from her chair and charged at him.

“Bibi, don’t make a scene,” Tani Akiko said, worried she would disturb other guests, and quickly grabbed her daughter to hold her back.

“Mommy, let go of me! I want to get back at him!” the child struggled fiercely.

“If you keep making trouble, I won’t take you out next time.”

Upon hearing her mother’s threat, the child immediately stopped.

But Kuang Dao wasn’t going to let her off so easily. As she wasn’t paying attention, he suddenly pinched her face, grinning more smugly than before.

“Mommy, look! He’s bullying me again!” the child shouted loudly.

Tani Akiko, feeling helpless, looked at the man with a malicious grin aimed at the fuming child.

Just then, a female scream echoed from nearby.

Kuang Dao and Tani Akiko turned to look and saw a beautiful hostess wearing a qipao, her expression a mix of shock and anger, staring at a few young men seated in front of her.

Another hostess, also in a qipao, walked over and asked, “Xiao Juān, what happened?” [Pronunciation kinda similar to Jeanne.]

Xiao Juān, the beautiful hostess, pointed at one of the young men who had been grinning at her and said, “He just touched me.”

Upon hearing this, the other hostess turned to the group of young men and said coldly, “Gentlemen, this is a public place. Please show some respect.”

One of the young men suddenly stood up and, while fiddling with his ear, said, “Sorry, I don’t quite understand what you mean. Oh, and didn’t you just say something about public places? Does that mean if we’re somewhere else, you’ll let me do whatever I want? Is that what you’re saying?”

Seeing the man approaching them, the two hostesses instinctively stepped back.

At this moment, a male waiter who had just finished delivering food noticed the situation and immediately rushed over, asking, “What’s going on?”

Xiao Juān’s companion quickly explained the situation, and the waiter, visibly angry, confronted the young man, saying, “Why did you do that?”

The young man glanced at the waiter, then suddenly shoved him aside, “Kid, it’s none of your business. You’d better not piss me off.” As he spoke, the other seven young men sitting behind him also stood up.

Seeing they were outnumbered, Xiao Juān quickly grabbed the waiter’s arm and said, “Zhao Zheng, don’t mind them. Let’s go.”

The waiter shot an angry glance at the group and turned to leave.

However, the young man wasn’t done with them. He suddenly grabbed Xiao Juān’s companion by the arm and said, “We weren’t finished talking yet. Why are you leaving so fast?”

“What do you want? Let go of me!” the girl shouted angrily.

The young man turned to the other youths and said, “Look, this woman really knows how to play the victim.”

The group of young men burst out laughing. By this point, the scene had drawn the attention of many people. Several other guests were now watching, and more waiters had rushed over to see what was happening.

“If you don’t let go, we won’t be so polite anymore,” one of the male waiters said, walking up angrily to confront the young man.

“What, do you want to fight?” The young man gave the waiter a disdainful look and suddenly whistled.

As soon as he whistled, the other seven young men pulled out various weapons from their bodies, including chains, switchblades, and metal pipes.

The waiters and hostesses, all just regular international students, turned pale at the sight of the weapons.

“What do you want? If you cause any more trouble, we’ll call the police!” one of the girls shouted.

At this point, everyone knew these men were deliberately causing trouble; otherwise, they wouldn’t have brought weapons with them to a restaurant during a meal.

The young man suddenly pulled the girl closer, grabbing her hair and saying, “You damn Chinese pigs dare to open a Chinese restaurant here in our Japanese land. This clearly shows you don’t respect us. And you cheap women, dressing like this is obviously to lure men. You really want a man, huh? Tonight, I’ll make sure you get what you want.” As he spoke, he yanked her hair harshly, causing the girl to scream in pain.

Meanwhile, the other seven young men began smashing tables and chairs, and three of them even prepared to smash tables of other guests.

Two men, unable to bear it any longer, were about to charge at them.

But just then, they saw a tall man walking toward the young man.

Due to the angle, the young man didn’t notice the man approaching him. By the time he realized someone was near, the man was already standing in front of him.

“What do you want, old man?” the young man sneered, glaring at him.

The man suddenly smiled.

Before the young man could even react, he felt his wrist grabbed by the man’s strong hand. In an instant, the man twisted his arm behind his back.

With a sharp cracking sound, the young man stared in disbelief at his arm, now twisted at a 180-degree angle.

A second later, an excruciating pain shot through his arm.

“Ah!” The young man screamed in agony.

The scream immediately drew the attention of the other seven young men.

The man glanced at them and, with one hand gripping the young man’s neck, dragged him out of the room.

Seeing someone dare to fight back, the seven young men immediately rushed out of the hall, weapons in hand.

Everyone in the room stood frozen, unsure of what to do.

A moment later, a young man shouted, “Quick, call the police!” He was afraid things would escalate, especially since the group of young men was large and armed.

“I’ll call the police!” a girl said, running to the front desk to make the call.

But just at that moment, the man slowly walked back in, unscathed.

The sight of this left the waiters and hostesses confused, unsure of what had just happened.

As the man passed them, one of the waiters, summoning his courage, asked, “Excuse me, sir, what happened to those people?”

After a quick glance at the waiter, the man replied, “Those trash are lying outside. Get someone to clean them up so they don’t scare the others.” He then nonchalantly returned to his seat.

Once seated, Tani Akiko asked, “Mr. Kuang Dao, are you alright?”

The child, full of confidence, replied, “Don’t worry, Mom, Kuang Dao-ojisan is so amazing, how could anything happen to him? Kuang Dao-ojisan, you were so impressive just now!”

Because of the angle, both she and Tani Akiko only saw Kuang Dao twisting the young man’s arm behind his back, unaware that his arm had actually been broken. If they knew the truth, they might not have been able to continue eating.

Kuang Dao, feeling smug, said, “Looks like this little monkey has some good taste.”

Upon hearing this, the child immediately protested, “Hey, don’t call me a little monkey!”

Tani Akiko, however, was a bit worried. “Mr. Kuang Dao, do you think they’ll come back with others for revenge?”

Kuang Dao took a sip of tea and replied, “I don’t know.”

Although he said that, when Tani Akiko saw the look in his eyes, she suddenly had an ominous feeling.