The female subordinate I covet is equally ambitious

Chapter 9 Executive Director Tsuruta (manuscript saved, [-] words)
After a day's work, office workers flocked to the streets and headed for the nearby izakaya.

Nagoya’s bustling and tireless night gives people the first impression of being colorful.

Countless neon lights shine unbridled, they are dense and crowded, intertwined and exaggerated until they swallow up all the original black, leaving their own colors.

Shimatani River often went to a 'mom-and-pop shop' before. It was small in scale and the customers were basically regular residents of the surrounding area.

However, tonight he specially came to a high-end izakaya near Tokugawa Garden.

As soon as I entered, I saw Yota Katsumura sitting in a small partition drinking. Several colleagues sitting together usually spoke in a polite manner and seemed to be relatively rigid and silent. However, once I walked into the door of the izakaya, it was as if a switch was turned on. Just the same, speak freely and freely.

There are about twenty places in the store. The ingredients are very fresh and the dining is very exquisite, but the price is several times that of ordinary izakayas.

In island countries, many clubs have the 'custom' of working overtime.Generally, after getting off work at [-] p.m., employees will stay and work an extra hour.

And for many non-local office workers, it takes more than an hour to go back by train.If you choose to go home for dinner, it will be quite late, so most people choose to have a drink first before leaving the club, which has become a 'tradition'.

Katsumura Yota saw Shitani River entering the door and greeted him warmly: "Shitani-san, do you want to have a drink together?"

"Okay!"

Shimantani sat down and looked around: "There are quite a few people coming from the headquarters today. I seem to have seen a few heads of the headquarters."

Yota Katsumura, who was close to the bar, looked in the direction he was looking at: "There are basically separate rooms for the executive officers and the head of the department. After all, the social system of the island country is relatively strict, so there are still distinctions."

Shimatanigawa asked without thinking: "It seems that Mr. Tsuruta comes to this izakaya very often?"

"Yes, he likes the barbecue in this store very much."

Shimatani River nodded thoughtfully. He ate tuna meat while listening to Katsumura Yota blowing water next.

"Last month, I stayed in South Korea for three full weeks!" Katsumura Yota guzzled down a large glass of beer, and then burped: "Although I hate Korea and kimchi, I don't hate Korea. female artists, because they are really ‘artists’!”

"Katsumura-san, are you looking for a girl group?"

"I heard that there is a second-tier female artist named Jin."

Seeing the lively conversation between his male colleagues, Shimatani Chuan decided to calm down first, as he still had important things to do tomorrow.

"Shimatani-san, are you going back so soon?"

"Wait a minute, do you want to experience Custom Street?"

Shimantani waved his hands, but instead put on a worried expression: "Whoever drinks with you 30-year-old men, my wife called me, bye!"

"Hey?!"

The men behind them stopped smiling and whispered angrily: "Traitor!"

The neon lights on the street stretched the shadow of the man on the ground very long, and even this had an end.

Shimatani Chuan turned around and left after gathering the information he wanted.

On the second day, it was sunny.

Coffee shops in the city center that open early sell bread, sandwiches, etc.

Because there are no common breakfast shops here, there are still many restaurants on the streets, and some of the restaurants that open early will also provide breakfast.

Shimantani drove to a high-end coffee shop early in the morning, sat by the window and slowly ate a sandwich.

The location is good. Sitting on the long table by the window, you can easily see the people passing by.

'I take every breakfast seriously, so my future fortune will definitely not be too bad! '

He took a sip of the sweet and sour milk, listened carefully to the soft music played outside and inside the store, and stared at the roadside parking area with great concentration.

It was [-]:[-] in the morning, and the person or car he had been waiting for finally arrived!
Shimantani finished the yogurt in one gulp, stood up, walked to the counter and packed another sandwich set.

"Thank you for your patronage." The clerk's voice sounded at this time.

Shimantani took the bag and slowly took out his wallet from his pocket to pay, but his attention was focused on a middle-aged man walking slowly behind him.

Shimantani deliberately dropped his wallet on the ground, picked it up and looked back, showing some surprise.

"Good morning, President Tsuruta!"

"I didn't expect to see you here by such a coincidence. Do you often come to this restaurant for breakfast?"

The sudden sound seemed to make Tsuruta Takuma wary for a moment, but he quickly relaxed after seeing the person paying the bill in front of him.

Tsuruta Takuma is in his 40s and wears a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. Probably because he has been sitting in an office for a long time, he is slightly obese.

"Well, Section Chief Shitaya, it's early." After greeting Tsuruta Takuma, he didn't say anything more and walked to the counter to choose bread.

Shimatani Chuan didn't come up and find a topic to chat like a young man who just came out of society. After all, although his position is section chief, he is not important enough for a standing director to take him seriously. It would be fine if he talked to himself. Quite embarrassing.

However, he still deliberately stayed at the cashier for a while. When Takuma Tsuruta came over and put the sandwich on the counter, put his hand into his pocket and took out his wallet, Shimatani said to the clerk: "Please settle with me."

Soon, the clerk issued an invoice.

Tsuruta Takuma noticed Shitani Chuan's behavior and frowned. He naturally knew that Shitani Chuan was waiting for him just now. This method was very common, and there was no need for him to refuse the kindness of his subordinates without giving up face.

After Shimantani paid for it, he saw that the sandwich had been packed in the bag, and he reached out and picked it up without saying a word.

"Okay, okay, Section Chief Shitaya, I'll take it myself." Tsuruta Takuma couldn't help but stop him.

"It's okay, Manager Tsuruta, there are still people queuing up behind us, let's go out first."

Shiatani Chuan turned his head and showed an honest and honest smile.

Tsuruta Takuma looked at the people in line behind him and nodded, thinking you can take it if you want.

The Bola Co., Ltd. building is not far from the coffee shop. When I returned to the club and waited for the elevator to reach the factory headquarters office area on the fourth floor, Shimayakawa walked out of the elevator quickly, and Takuma Tsuruta didn't say a word after pressing the door close button.

On the following Wednesday and Thursday mornings, Tsuruta Takuma arrived at the coffee shop and saw Shimatani River as soon as he entered the store.

as usual.

A familiar opening line.

"President Tsuruta."

Shimatani Chuan carried a packing bag and said hello with a smile.

"What are you... Well, good morning!" Tsuruta Takuma opened his mouth and finally said hello.

"The sandwiches in this shop taste good. I ate them once last time and it was unforgettable."

Shimatani Chuan replied casually. Whether the other party believed the answer was another matter. He just needed a reason.

Tsuruta Takuma shook his head and said whatever he wanted, he also wanted to see what the other party was going to do.

Shimatani Chuan was quite measured in his work. After helping with the checkout, he never deliberately took the initiative to talk to the other party after returning to the club. It seemed that there was no difference in the past few days except for the chance encounter for breakfast in the morning at the coffee shop.

This actually surprised Tsuruta Takuma. It wasn't until he met Shitani Chuan in the cafeteria at noon on Thursday that he took another look at him.

After get off work on Thursday night, Shimatani Chuan made an appointment with Yota Katsumura to have a drink after get off work.Today he did not go home immediately, but came to the famous high-end izakaya in Tokugawa Garden.

When it comes to drinking, people usually follow whoever invites them.

Katsumura Yota was no exception, not to mention that the location he chose was not shabby either, he came here often.

Before, Shimatani mainly hung out in mom-and-pop shops and the Happy Street in Nakamura Ward.

To put it mildly, it is more down-to-earth.

To put it bluntly, there is no money.

As for Katsumura Yota and his group, they mainly hang out in high-end izakayas and the Kabuki area of ​​Soap Street.

This is Shimatani Chuan's second time here. The last time he came here was to spy on information.

Today he finally had time to look at the environment and layout here.

The entrance of this izakaya is cleverly placed with a Zen-like bamboo waterscape, with gurgling water, simple and leisurely.

When you step in through the curtains, you will see the log-colored eaves, elegant hanging curtains, and high-hanging Japanese-style lanterns, making you feel like you are in the ancient streets and alleys of the Meiji era.

Shimatani glanced at the booths outside, and then said to Katsumura Yota: "Let's go to the private room."

"I think it's quite lively outside. Okay, I'll treat you as you please tonight!"

Walking in the innermost corridor, the floor lamp at your feet gave off a dim light that extended for a long distance.

Grilles and warm curtains are constantly separated.

Walking in front, the waitress named Rinzi led the two of them inside. When they got to a booth, she asked them what they needed.

Shimantani ordered some food and two large glasses of cold beer.

"You continue reading the menu while I go to the bathroom."

"Then hurry up, or I'll drink it first!"

The noise behind him was getting farther and farther away.

When he reached the booth in the innermost private room, he saw three guests already sitting there, all of whom were steady middle-aged people.

One of the slightly obese middle-aged men sat next to a waitress in her early 30s.

This waitress looks to be about 30 years old, with smooth hair tied up, a petite but plump figure, her kimono has some folds on her chest, and her waist is tightly wrapped with a belt. She has the ultimate charm of a mature woman.

Someone inside seemed to have seen him and nodded slightly towards Shitani River.

In the private room, a companion asked jokingly: "Tsuruda, do you know him?"

Tsuruta Takuma could only laugh along, but he still nodded and called Shitani River, who was passing their booth, to come in and sit down.

He introduced to the other two companions seriously: "This is Section Chief Shimatanigawa of the planning section of the factory headquarters."

"It's an honor to meet all of you, seniors." Shimatani Chuan quickly stood up and helped the three of them pour wine.

Although there are beautiful waitresses sitting next to these three executives to help pour the wine, it has nothing to do with him. Whether he does it or not is another matter.

Shimantani explained that he and his colleagues came over for a drink, and the private room for the two of them happened to be next to it.

Tsuruta Takuma was very interested: "Shitaya-kun, sit down and have a drink with us."

Not allowing him to refuse, the mature waitress sitting next to Tsuruta came over and poured Shitani River a glass of whiskey with an elegant gesture.

There are three waitresses in this booth, all of them are beautiful, and they are all beauties.

If the three of them went out together in kimonos during the cherry blossom season, there would probably be many men vying to follow them.

Shimatani took a sip, and then glanced at the three of them, who were having their sleeves lifted up by the waitress, and they were feeding the barbecued meat with their slender fingers, and they were secretly competing in their hearts.

At this time, the young woman in a wisteria-colored kimono offered to feed him, but Shimatani-gawa refused.

"Actually, I think the beef tenderloin might taste better when grilled like this."

Several people in the booth were attracted by Shitani Chuan's words, and looked curiously at him who was grilling beef tenderloin and beef breast.

The heat shield was steaming, and Shitani Chuan explained the method while brushing a thin layer of oil on the surface of the meat.

"Actually, it's the same as eating beef sashimi. Because it's tender when grilled, more gravy is retained. If you grill it yourself, cut the beef tenderloin into thin slices, flip it over quickly, and eat it when it changes color. It will give you a fresh and tender texture."

"I don't recommend marinating the meat with cumin and chili when it's raw. First, the aroma of cumin must be paired with oil to release it better, and second, it's too easy to burn."

"My experience is that when the meat is cooked to medium-rare, that is, when some of the blood is still visible, sprinkle salt on it. At this time, the meat is just undercooked and the salt flavor can be enjoyed."

"When it's cooked until it's medium-rare, sprinkle cumin and chili powder on it. Then apply a little oil and continue roasting until fragrant, and it's ready to eat."

Shimatanigawa handed the grilled beef tenderloin and other meat skewers to everyone one by one.

Tsuruta Takuma took a sip, said "hmm" in his nasal voice, and nodded with satisfaction.

"Shitaya-kun, who did you learn this barbecue technique from? You can teach me when you have time."

"What do you mean?" Shimatani picked up the wine bottle and poured wine into the cup that Tsuruta Takuma had just finished drinking: "I learned it from a female staff member in our planning department. Her name is Nagase Risa, and her family used to run a barbecue restaurant. .”

As soon as he took the wine from Shimatani River, the smile on Tsuruta Takuma's face froze for a moment.

He seemed to have thought of something and understood something at this moment, and nodded slightly awkwardly.

"By the way, Manager Tsuruta, you should also try this dipping sauce."

"Um"

I took a bite of the dipping sauce and it was surprisingly good.

Tsuruta Takuma nodded and asked suspiciously: "Did you learn this from others?"

Shimatani Chuan is not an ordinary thick-skinned person: "Yes, I learned it from Nagase-chan during the class dinner some time ago. I heard that this is the way to eat it in her hometown."

He then mixed the dipping sauces for the other two executive officers respectively. It seemed that the atmosphere was almost perfect. Shimatani Chuan did not interrupt the conversation of several executive officers. Some things were not suitable for him as a small section chief to 'observe'.

He put down the bowl and chopsticks, said "Thank you for the hospitality, I'll take my leave now", and politely left the booth.

Looking at Shimatani Chuan's leaving figure, the two managers sitting across the table nodded to each other.

"A very discerning little guy."

“This barbecue and dipping sauce are also a bit special, it’s my first time trying them.”

Tsuruta Takuma, who was sitting in the corner the whole time, just nodded silently and didn't speak.

Afterwards, he took out a cigarette, lit it, and puffed away in his seat.

"Shitaya. Interesting little guy."

(End of this chapter)