The Scent of Sake Read Online Free PDF

flask of sake from his tray, and drained it without a cup. With a sigh of relief, she heard Jihei slump back onto his futon. Saved. For tonight at least.

    A few days later Rie overheard her father and Jihei talking at the dinner table. She paused beyond the shoji to listen, a sake flask in her hand. As Kinzaemon aged, his quick timing and nose
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    for business had gradually diminished. Although her father loved her, she knew he didn’t put the same faith in her as he would have in a son, but she had promised herself that one day she would make her father proud. Be the son he couldn’t have. She knew that if they didn’t act quickly, Yamaguchi would soon own a much larger share of the market and she could not allow that, she decided, as she held her breath so as not to be heard. She couldn’t wait for Jihei to learn the business. For years she’d been watching and listening in silence, learning so that one day she could act. Now was the time.
    “Yes,” Kinzaemon was saying in his heavy, husky voice. “Our shipments to Edo are doing well, very well.”
    Rie entered the room and poured sake for her father and husband.
    Jihei made no response to Kinzaemon other than to pick up his sake cup and drain it. Well, she would have a lot to say were she in Jihei’s position! She put down the flask and glided back through the corridor to the inner office, where Kin still sat bent over a ponderous ledger. He worked later than anyone else, even her father.
    “ Ah, excuse me, Kin-san. May I disturb you for a moment?” Rie bowed and sat down on the tatami opposite Kin.
    He looked up. “Good evening, O-Josama.” He smiled, his teeth protruding over his lower lip. “Yes, what is it?”
    “You know it’s difficult for me to speak with Father of any business matter,” she began.
    “Yes, it seems so, doesn’t it? Well, you know, most men in Nada don’t want women entering the business side or handling cash.”
    “But I have an idea, Kin-san.” Rie picked up a writing brush and twirled it between her fingers before continuing. It was important to appear nonchalant. “Our shipping to the Edo market has been going well, hasn’t it?”
    Kin nodded. “Yes, perhaps better than we anticipated.”
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    “Wouldn’t this be a good time, then, to expand our shipments to Edo, to try to sell, say another twenty percent in that growing market? Can’t we take advantage of it and recover the ten percent of our market we lost to Yamaguchi?” Rie stopped to look intently at Kin.
    He sucked in his breath, folded his arms, leaned back against the wall, and closed his eyes. For several minutes he said nothing. Rie inhaled her favorite yeasty aroma and waited. Would he listen to the merits of her idea or dismiss what she said just because she was a woman, or because he knew her father didn’t want her intruding in business decisions? She kept her eyes on
    Kin’s face. Come on, come on. Agree!
    At length he opened his eyes and looked at Rie. He nodded. “Yes, maybe so. Yamaguchi has caused us a loss. But twenty percent . . . I wonder if your father would agree?”
    “Oh, if you agree, then I know you could persuade him. He always follows your opinion, values your judgment so highly.”
    Kin sucked in his breath again. “Well, now, it isn’t only your father. I’d also have to convince your husband, Rie. It might be difficult.”
    Rie tapped the handle of the brush on the table. “I don’t think my husband will object to something you suggest, Kin-san, with your experience, especially if you convince Father.” She leaned forward. “You will talk to Father, won’t you?”
    “It may be difficult, Rie.” He glanced at her eager face. She bowed. “Please, Kin-san.”
    “Well, then, all right. I’ll try.” He rubbed his face.
    “Thank you so much. I’ll come again tomorrow evening after Father has left the office.” Rie smiled as she bowed out of the room. Kin could be her ally.

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