Chapter 10 Ishikawas Rationing (1/2)
Akihiko had toured around the village in the morning, informing the village folk on his tin megaphone about the stricter food rationing the Imperial Government recently mandated to all citizens. This tighter government portion control had one of the elderly village folk grumbling his woes before Rei Ishikawa at his shop.
”Bah! We eat to 1793 calories a day already! Now we're told to eat less!” Grumbled an elderly man. ”It's our children who suffer the most!”
He stood before Rei who was a tall and slightly muscly presence behind his sweet display counter, which creatively displayed a sparse variety of colourful dango, daifuku and wagashi.
A lot of people came to know Rei as the friendly giant with a sweet tooth, since he was 6-foot-2 and broad in his chest and shoulders. His squarish face, rugged stubble and thick brows completed his manliness.
”Suzuki-san. This is a time of war and Japan has more people that it can carry. Food needs to be rationed. Think of all our good soldiers fighting the enemy for us. We must face these times with honour and a strong community.” Rei gave a manly reminder to the wiry old man whilst handing him an extra piece of dango on-the-house.
”Aye, that is true.” Suzuki-san changed his tune when his stomach was sated with sweet dango. ”I'll be going now.”
Rei politely waved off his elderly customer who hobbled out blissfully through the blue linen noren that was his shop door. He heaved a sigh when he was sure the old man was gone.
”Rei-san! You shouldn't spoil people with freebies! They become expectant and take advantage of your good nature!”
Rei groaned at the heavy scolding he received from his wife at his back. It's not like he didn't have an ulterior motive for his generosity. The people were his business, so he had to treat them well. The old man Suzuki had brought a number of sweets from them the day before, so he was providing a bonus to a loyal customer.
”Asako-chan. It's customer service. We need to maintain a business.” His deep voice answered with a conviction that didn't sway his wife.
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Asako was a complete physical contrast to Rei in her modest, stylish, blue kimono. She was petite in build (almost as slender as a teenage girl), modest in her mannerisms and dainty in her looks with smooth pale skin for a woman her age. Her hair was always done up in a traditional bun. Her modesty stopped with her looks. The village people viewed Asako as the Sweet Man's Sharp Tooth Wife for her occasional cutting words and bluntness.
”You need to ask for payment next time! We're not a charity business!” She further scolded with a haughty scoff, firm on her stance that maintaining business didn't mean giving away precious freebies.
She dropped her scolding with a weary sigh, feeling exhausted by their repeated arguments and joined him at their shop-display counter. Her eyes wandered over the little amounts of sweets they had to offer.
Because of the Imperial government's food rationing mandate, they had to recalculate the lack of ingredients in their recipes. Fortunately, they were able to self-sustain most of their shortfall from their own farm produce. Rice was a major player with their sweets. The government's strict rationing had made it difficult for them to fulfil on large orders. All their high paying contracts from Nagano towns and villages ended without renewal, so they were forced to rely on the piddly local patronage. They had converted the small store to a tea shop/night bar with a handful of cafe tables and chairs to make up for shortfalls. Half the time the people used their shop as a meeting point for gossip, and rarely bought sweets. It was bleak outlook for their business.
Shuffling noises of the noren being pushed aside snapped Asako out of her depressive thoughts. She lit up at the sight of her two childhood friends stepping inside.
”Asako-chan!” Honda-obasan coyly greeted her friend.
Asako warmly greeted the two woman who sat at the cafe table where most of the daylight shone through the shoji panels. She instantly prepared tea and wagashi on-the-house for them, oblivious of Rei's groaning about her 'hypocritical reset button' being pressed.
”So, what's on your mind?” Asako's voice drifted across to the two women seated at the table.