Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Farewell to old friends

This morning, Dongju casually opened the newspaper before going to work, and his sleepy eyes immediately widened.News of the death of the writer Bo Zhao was widely reported on social editions.The general content is: Bo Zhao had a cerebral hemorrhage on May 31 and had been recuperating at home. On July 21 at 2:30 pm he had another attack and passed away.A farewell ceremony was held at home at 2:00 pm on the 23rd, and the officiant was his wife, Ms. Michiyo.In addition, mourning articles recalling the life of the ancient museum were published, which were written by writers who were closely related to the ancient museum.

This means that the difficult clue to solve the mystery of Yang Junli's death has also been broken. Dongju is disappointed and even wants to let it go.If solving this riddle will hurt many people, it is better not to solve it.Because even if the relationship between Yang Junli's relic - Lemon and Kotaro Takamura's "Lemon Elegy" is found out, Yang Junli cannot be revived. After Dongju's mood gradually calmed down, the words "a farewell ceremony will be held at home from 2 pm on the 23rd" appeared in the obituary.At the farewell ceremony, there must be friends and confidants of Guguan who came to burn incense. Maybe the friends of Guguan when they were "young trainee technicians" read the obituary and came to express their condolences.If you ask them, you may be able to find out the relationship between Yang Junli and Koguan Toyoaki.Go to the farewell ceremony of the ancient museum!Dongju has been freed from grief.

As soon as you get off Baihegaoka Station, you can see many people in mourning clothes.The farewell ceremony is held in one's own home. The purpose is to invite only those who are close to the deceased to participate, so as to keep the ceremony simple.But after all, it is the funeral of a well-known writer, and there are still many people who are engaged in literature, art and publicity reports.On the "Changgong Mountain", which is usually very quiet, many people in mourning clothes appeared, and cars were parked all around the Guguan home. The altar is located in the room facing the courtyard.On the altar, there is an enlarged portrait of the ancient museum, surrounded by flowers offered by people.Famous writers and celebrities from various publishing houses, newspaper offices and TV stations walked into the flower baskets, bouquets and wreaths in turn, and delivered speeches recounting the deeds of the deceased.

On the right side of the altar, sat Guguan's wife whom Dongju already knew. She was wearing a five-mono black kimono, and thanked the mourners with her two children.Gu Guan had another attack during the recuperation period after the first attack, and his family members were mentally prepared for his death.Dongju followed the direction indicated by the arrow, walked through the gate, walked through the courtyard, and stood in front of the altar to burn incense.After burning the incense and bowing to Mrs. Guguan who was sitting beside the coffin, she was slightly taken aback. She did not forget Dongju, and was very surprised that Dongju came to mourn.After burning the incense, the mourners retreated out of the courtyard in the direction of the arrow.People didn't leave, they stood in groups under the hot sun, wiping their sweat, waiting for the funeral.Among the crowd were well-known writers.But it is not clear whether there are any comrades in arms from the ancient museum.

After everyone burned the incense, the director of the funeral committee—a writer who had a close relationship with the deceased—delivered a eulogy.When the eulogy reads about the experience of the deceased, there is no mention of that part of the war. The farewell ceremony is over, and it's time for the funeral.The coffin has been lifted from the altar, and the final farewell is said to the family members. Then, the offering flowers are put into the coffin, the coffin lid is nailed on, and the family members and friends of the deceased carry them onto the hearse. It is the next of kin and other volunteers who carry the funeral to the crematorium.Generally, people who came to express their condolences went back in twos and threes.

When the guests come, they all take taxis, and when they go back, there are no taxis to hire in this area.The only thing you can take is the bus, but there are very few cars.Dongju has no acquaintances here, no free rides to take.It was not difficult for Dongju to walk to Baiheqiu station, but since he had nothing to gain from attending the funeral this time, he felt more and more arduous on the way home.On the road, people in mourning clothes walked in the same direction in twos and threes, and these people had no means of transportation.They wiped their sweat and walked on the dusty country road.People who come to express condolences are often silent on the way home, especially the peers of the deceased, who often naturally think of themselves, from the deceased's today to his own tomorrow.

Four men in their fifties and sixties walked in front of Dongju. They walked heavily, and the downhill road seemed to be climbing.I didn't find them in the venue just now, so I don't know where they are.Dongju began to pay attention to these four people. They were about the same age as Guguan, and people in the literary or publishing circles came and went by car. They must not be people in this field. He is about the same age as Guguan, and is likely to be a comrade-in-arms who worked together with Guguan in mainland China.Dongju hurried up behind them, kept a certain distance, and followed behind.

"There are fewer and fewer colleagues." One of the four said sadly. Without saying a word, they walked silently. "The ancient museum went first, he is our pride!" Another person said regretfully. "What are your plans for the national convention this fall?" a third man asked. "I'm not going this year," said a fourth. "Why?" The other three cast inquiring glances as they walked. "It's not a party for those of us who always feel replaced by someone else." "This meeting has deviated from its original purpose."

"If the ancient museum doesn't die, he can make decisions for our young trainee technicians." "I'm not going either. Everything is forced. It's not like before, they are arranged in the corner of the venue in the order they were at that time." One of the four men suddenly said "young trainee technician". Dongju believed that they were Gu Guan's comrades in the 731 unit.Dongju rushed forward: "Excuse me, are you members of Unit 731?" Dongju chased after the four of them, turned around and asked in a cryptic manner.He didn't know whether the young trainee technician was related to Unit 731, but he wanted to try it out by chance, maybe the two belonged to the same establishment.

The faces of the men changed suddenly, and one of them had an obvious reaction, almost staggering in fright. "What did you say? What unit? Who are you?" One of them managed to calm down and asked Dongju back. The one who spoke was the one who lamented that there were fewer and fewer colleagues, with gray hair, narrow eyes, and a pointed face. "I'm very sorry, but I'm Dongju from the Kokomachi Police Station." Dongju showed the memo booklet and bowed to salute. "The police have something to do with us?" The other party asked cautiously. "At the end of May, a Chinese visiting Japan named 'Yang Junli' died. I came to investigate this matter." Dongju briefly described Yang Junli, Guguan Fengming, Bo Zhao and "731" speculation about a possible relationship.

"So, what does this matter have to do with us?" The other party still dealt with it cautiously, and did not respond to the name Yang Junli. "Mr. Guguan served in Unit 731 as a junior technician trainee in the army during the war. I'm sorry that you mentioned the junior technician trainee in your conversation just now. friend!" The faces of the four showed even more embarrassing expressions. "Yang Junli's death is very suspicious. It seems that she had a meeting with Guguan before she died. There was another lemon next to Yang Junli's body. He asked Guguan about lemons. , It can be seen that he is aware of it. There is a lemon elegy in "Zhi Huizi Poetry Copy". Is there any relationship between the lemon here and the lemon carried by Yang Junli? And what does this relationship mean? Is it related to Yang Junli's death? ? That's what I'm trying to figure out." The four men walked silently while listening to what Dongju said.We're approaching Yurigaoka Station. "Mr. Guguan can't speak, can't express what he wants to say, but he pointed me to Lemon Elegy, which must be trying to tell me something. It's no use asking his wife what it is, in order to find out , I just came to attend today's memorial service." "Then why did you tell us these things?" the sharp-faced man asked again. "Because Ms. Yang Junli may be related to Unit 731. If you are comrades in arms of Guguan, or if you know some clues, I will ask you what Guguan wants to say about Yang Junli's death." "What clues, we don't know at all." The other party was very cold, denying that he was a member of Unit 731. "Really? If you don't know, there's nothing you can do. The deceased wanted to say something, but I didn't understand him. He just went to another world. I won't give up until I figure it out." Dongju emphasized deliberately. "Did he say that the Lemon Elegy is in the Poetry of Chieko?" The second man who spoke asked Dongju, who meant that Guguan was the one we were proud of. "I think this Lemon Elegy should be the focus of "Zhi Huizi's Poems", but it is hard to say that there is any meaning expressed by the ancient museum." Another person said. Dong Ju looked at the man who spoke, and saw that he had a steady demeanor, and his face was slightly rounder than that of the sharp-faced man just now. Dongju doesn't understand the quality of poems, even though the words of Lemon Elegy are very ordinary.But Dongju knew that this poem, through a lemon, truly expressed the tragic scene of the author's lover on the hospital bed and in the brief moment of regaining consciousness.The lemon must have been a symbol of love between the two, it was the lemon that held them together at the moment of grief when death was about to separate them.This poem is sad and sad, which strongly infected Dongju. "You're asking about "Zhi Huizi's Poetry Copy"..." He weighed Dongju's question over and over again. "Can you provide any clues?" Dongju held out a glimmer of hope. "I seem to have heard the name Chieko there." He seemed to be recalling something. "Have you heard it? There are probably too many people named Chieko." The third man interjected.This is the same man who started with the "National Convention." "No, it seems that the relationship is not normal." "Abnormal? Is it a lover relationship?" said the person who didn't want to participate in the national convention just now. "The words there don't refer to this, I mean she reminds me of the time of the war." He was trying to remember. "During the war? Then it was in Manchuria..." He accidentally slipped his mouth, and the speaker hurriedly stopped.Several people had already descended the slope and walked onto the wide road.The traffic on the road is like a shuttle.The station was already a short distance away, but the car drove away, as if deliberately avoiding the four passengers who had finally arrived. "Well, let's rest here for a while." Dongju suggested. The four agreed, and walked for a while, and they were no longer on guard against Dongju.Dongju said that he would never rest until he understood what the ancient museum wanted to say, and it seems that this sentence has worked. They went into a restaurant in front of the station and ordered beer first.I just came from the hot mountain trail, and my whole body is hot. The cool beer soaked into every cell of my body, making me feel extremely comfortable.Beer also shortened the distance between Dongju and them. Everyone reported their names. According to the order of speaking mentioned above, they were called Tsuruoka, Nakanishi, Taruzaki, and Takebayashi.But he only gave his name, and did not admit that he was a survivor of Unit 731.Nakanishi was reminiscing while drinking beer. "How is it? Do you remember that Chieko?" Tsuruoka said teasingly. "Ah, I remembered!" Nakanishi said after thinking for a while. "How? Figured it out? Why didn't you say it?" Tarazaki asked. "Well, yes, yes!" Nakanishi whimpered, not knowing what to say. "Still not talking? Is it a romantic affair that is difficult to talk about?" Zhu Lin asked enviously. "It's not that kind of thing." Nakanishi said awkwardly. "This woman Chieko is related to Unit 731?" Dongju expressed his speculation.In this way, if this is the case, Zhongxi will not have any worries about revealing her identity.Nakanishi hesitated even more, as long as he answered "yes", it was tantamount to admitting that he was a survivor of Unit 731.The other three were also very embarrassed. "I don't want to know your experiences. What does Unit 731 do? It has nothing to do with me. What I want to know is why Yang Junli died. How? As for Chieko, do you remember those situations? Can you tell me? " At Dongju's request, the four of them looked at each other for a while, and nodded to each other as if they had no choice. "When I was in Manchuria, I had a friend whose daughter was Chieko." Nakanishi began to talk. "What do your friends do?" "It's my instructor, his name is Kinjiro Okuyama." The other three seemed to recall it too. "Instructor? Is it a soldier?" "No, civil servants. As for his superiors, I can't say much." "So, she is Okuyama's daughter?" "right." "Where is Okuyama now?" "I don't know. I only know that he was born in Yamagata Prefecture. After the armistice, there is no news of him. He also didn't come to participate in the activities of the House Friends Association." "House Friends Club, is it an organization like the Comrades-in-arms Club?" "No, it was... organized by some of our friends after the war." Nakanishi didn't pay attention, and he regretted that he slipped his mouth.Zhongxi didn't want to talk about the Fangyou Association, so Dongju didn't mention it for the time being. "Okuyama's daughter is called Chieko, is the word the same?" "Same." There are many women named "Chieko", and the fact that the names are the same does not explain the problem.Zhongxi seemed to have guessed Dongju's mind, but he didn't say what Dongju wanted to know. "Actually, Okuyama, no, Mr. Okuyama, was in love with Takamura Kotaro's wife Chieko when he was young, so he named his daughter Chieko." "Really?" Dongju couldn't help leaning forward, and there was already some clues here. Although the four Chinese and Westerners didn't say it clearly, they had worked in Unit 731, and this became more and more obvious.There is another thing that cannot be ignored: Among the upper-level officers of Unit 731, there is a person who once fell in love with Tomoeko Takamura. "Okuyama's daughter Chieko, where is this person now? Do you know?" "Dead." "Dead!" After finally finding some clues, it broke again. "She died during the war. She was about 21 or 2 years old. She was four or five years older than me. She was very beautiful. We went to Okuyama's house on holidays. She always entertained us warmly and made us very happy. You guys Didn't she go too? She often gives us peony cakes." The other three seemed to remember it too. "How did you die?" "Sick. But I don't know what kind of disease it is. The military doctor who dissected her corpse once stated the characteristics of her body, which aroused everyone's indignation." "Anatomy? Do you suspect that she was killed?" "No, no doubt, our team members and their families have an obligation to donate their bodies if they die of illness." Chinese and Western words have already involved Unit 731. Unit 731 has a relationship with Takamura Kotaro. To understand Takamura Kotaro, you must first understand Okuyama Kinjiro. "Is there no clue about Okuyama's whereabouts at all?" Just saying that his hometown is from Yamagata Prefecture is tantamount to saying nothing.The four people still looked at each other suspiciously. They knew something about the situation, but they were hesitating whether to say it or not. "If you know something, please tell me, I won't cause you any trouble." Dongju asked patiently. "After I tell you, can you keep it a secret for me?" Zhongxi asked. "Of course it will be kept secret, we can make an agreement." "For us, we can only make friends among our past colleagues. If we know who violated the oath and leaked secrets, we will be sanctioned by all friends who will break up with them." The other three nodded seriously.It seems that they are very united with each other.It is easy to understand that the members of the old military organization who were born and died together on the battlefield are very united, but it is very abnormal to say that they will be ostracized if they talk about things within the organization.It further illustrates the bonds connecting members of this old military organization - the secrets of this unit are ulterior. "I won't cause you any trouble." Under Dongju's repeated assurances, the four seemed to feel more at ease. "I don't know if this person knows about Okuyama's recent situation, but he has a very good relationship with Okuyama." "Where does this person live?" "I live in Atami, I forgot where it is, but just check the roster." This is probably the roster of the "Housing Club" that I didn't want to mention in the conversation just now. "What is this man's name?" "It's called Kamiya, who is also our instructor. At the party the year before last, he said that he was running an English private school in Atami." Several beer glasses were empty.Dongju thought, if the questioning continues like just now, the four of them will restrain each other, and they will be apprehensive during the conversation.There will definitely be new gains in individual talks in the future. Dongju asked for Zhongxi's address and recorded it on the summons.He planned to get the addresses of the other three from Nakanishi.

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