After a long night's
work, the Higashidanis finish up with their straw hats.
In the morning, they head off to town with their creations
in hopes of selling them. Along the way, they happen
to run into Sanosuke looking over the poor farmlands.
Kamishimoemon plays dumb, acting as though he hasn't
met Sanosuke, and invites him to tag along for lunch
as a sign of thanks for saving his daughter the other
day.
Sanosuke doesn't pass
up a free lunch; he heads off to the restaurant with
his sister and brother while Kamishimoemon leaves them
to sell the straw hats. After a brief argument with
Uki, Sanosuke gets his share of lunch. Post-meal, Uki
wipes her brother Outa's mouth, reminding him to brush
his teeth when he gets home. Sanosuke watches on in
disgust as his younger brother is being babied. He tries
to make it clear to Uki that Outa won't grow up if he's
treated so much like a child. Another argument ensues,
but it is broken up when the kids hear their father's
voice.
The shop owner won't
accept Kamishimoemon's straw hats. Because Fudosawa's
been around, he cannot give the man of the Higashidani
family the silk he wants. Kamishimoemon understands.
He leaves the hats with the shopkeep anyway and departs,
only to come face-to-face with Fudosawa and his men.
The first thing Fudosawa
does is introduce his background support, his uncle
Tani. Tani tries to bargain with Kamishimoemon about
giving up trying to protect his nephew from owning the
waystation, but as usual, like father, like son, stubborn
Kamishimoemon refuses. He resorts to violence to let
out his frustration and takes out two of Fudosawa's
men. Fudosawa warns Kamishimoemon not to even think
about laying a finger upon his uncle or else there will
be some price to pay. Kamishimoemon stops and notices
that a large amount of people have gathered on the sidelines
to spectate. Fudosawa smiles, then look back at two
of his men armed with swords. He sics them on Kamishimoemon,
wanting them to get some payback for the men he just
took out. The two cronies charge at Higashidani, but
are taken out before they get to him by Sanosuke.
