Small-scale business gold and silver

The protagonist, Sachi, is from the cotton-producing region of Settsu (around present-day northern Osaka). She was raised by her father, a former samurai who held a strong disdain for merchants. After the sudden deaths of her brother and father, she is left with her mother and younger sister, Yui, and moves to Osaka's Temma to work as a maid at a kimono shop called Isuzuya. Although Sachi had been taught that 'business is an evil path,' witnessing the operations at Isuzuya captivates her with its intriguing nature. It was the third son, Tomizo, the shop manager Jihei, and the previous generation's employee, Tomiku, who recognized Sachi's talent for business. Isuzuya began as a traditional peddling shop and established itself in Osaka's Temma neighborhood during the second generation when they started dealing in kimonos. However, the third-generation couple died young, and the fourth-generation, Tokubei, lacked the dedication for the business and led a life of debauchery. In an effort to save the declining shop, Tokubei married Kikue, a daughter from a large shop in Senba, but his debauchery ultimately continued, leading to their divorce within a few years. By then, the bad reputation...