After hearing this and observing He Tiantian’s expression, Major Sugawara seemed to understand.
Ah, this child is indeed pitiful. His parents died when he was just thirteen or fourteen years old.
A mid-teenager, suddenly losing both parents in such a brutal manner, was bound to be traumatised.
And the words of his dying mother, though overly absolute, could be understood when considering the tragic death of her and her spouse.
"I don’t know what happened to me, but from that day on, I could never speak Japanese again. Many people even thought I was mute."
"Later, I learned the Northeast dialect from those beggars, and that’s when I could start speaking again..."
He Tiantian, combining some things he had heard from Sugawara Kosuke and artistically embellishing them, found a somewhat plausible reason for his past inability to speak Japanese.
Although somewhat far-fetched, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
Of course, He Tiantian’s explanation could not absolve Sugawara Kosuke from being a weak coward.
After all, from the perspective of the prideful Japanese, to change after a setback was indeed a shameful act of cowardice.
Major Sugawara was still somewhat dismissive of this cheap nephew, but hearing the familiar Kansai accent from "him", Sugawara felt somewhat consoled.
Well, let him be a coward, at least he’s still family.
Major Sugawara sighed inwardly, his gaze toward He Tiantian no longer entirely indifferent.
He Tiantian sensed the emotional shift in Major Sugawara and secretly pumped her fist in triumph.
Then she started to bluff again. "However, something happened today that completely woke me up. I am not the little beggar who used to roam the streets of Manzhou, I am a descendant of Amaterasu!"
He Tiantian briefly mentioned the incident of Lv Yaohua breaking into her home to arrest someone.
She obscured the fact that Qu Anni might be a resistance fighter against the Japanese, focusing instead on the arrogance and tyranny of Lv Yaohua and the other traitors.
"...Who are they but dogs who have forsaken their nation and dignity, yet have the audacity to strut before their master!"
"I know I have been too weak in the past, failing the noble blood that flows in my veins, but I can’t let a band of dogs bully me to this extent!"
"Out of anger, I found myself able to speak Japanese again. Perhaps my parents in heaven also wish for me to pull myself together!"
He Tiantian made an expression of righteous indignation, as if saying, even if people looked down on her, it could only be the Japanese.
And Lv Yaohua and the others, merely dogs reared by the devils, how dare they insult me ?
"Uncle, I always thought that I lacked the ability, and if I rashly took action, I would bring trouble to you!"
"But, after today’s incident, I realized that if I always step back, it will only bring shame to our family and to the Japanese!"
"I will never be again, please teach me, uncle!"
He Tiantian bowed deeply, pushing a bulging briefcase toward Major Sugawara.
He Tiantian had already unzipped the bag before pushing it out.
Thus, as Major Sugawara followed He Tiantian’s movements, his eyes caught the glittering gold bars inside at a glance.
And there were five or six of them!
Don’t think that devils don’t love money, who in this world doesn’t like such treasures?
Especially someone like Major Sugawara, who came from a poor background and risked his life in warfare for what?
Really, was it for the so-called Samurai Spirit?
Give it a rest; even if the devils managed to brainwash successfully, greed is human nature.
Not even the Samurai Spirit can completely erase this nature.
Therefore, at the sight of those gold bars, Major Sugawara’s eyes lit up.
"...Haha, good, Haijie, I knew you were a good boy!"
Major Sugawara suddenly burst into laughter. With the addition of the gold bars, this unlucky nephew suddenly seemed lovable and adorable.
Weak or not didn’t matter, what mattered was being savvy.
Previously, Major Sugawara had such low regard for Sugawara Haijie, not only because he was ineffectual but mostly because the boy was clueless.
Sugawara Haijie himself was a poor wretch, but his father was a wealthy merchant.
Why did Major Sugawara have a good relationship with this cousin?
Wasn’t it because Sugawara Haijie’s own father had once sponsored this cousin to enter the Army Academy?
When Major Sugawara saw Sugawara Haijie, he thought, this young man’s father was a successful businessman, so he himself mustn’t be too bad.
Even if he couldn’t carry on his father’s business, at least he could have learned his father’s shrewdness and slickness.
But what happened? Sugawara Haijie only knew how to claw money into his own pocket and had never thought of "honoring" his uncle.
For such a relative who lacked both capability and insight, if Major Sugawara were to favor him, that would indeed be absurd!