Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven

On the fourth day after returning from Ishikawa Prefecture with Shimamoto, my father-in-law called and said that we had something important to discuss, and asked if we could have lunch together at noon tomorrow.I said yes.But to be honest, I was a little surprised, because my father-in-law is a very busy person, and he rarely eats with people outside of his work relationship. My father-in-law's company just moved from Yoyogi to a new seven-story building in Yotsuya six months ago.Although the building is the property of the company, the company only uses the upper two floors, and the lower five floors are leased to other companies and restaurants.It's my first time here.Everything is new and sparkling.The hall has a marble floor, a high ceiling, and huge porcelain vases filled with flowers.When I got off the elevator on the sixth floor, a girl with fair hair who could be a sharp image ambassador sat at the reception and told my father-in-law my name by phone.The telephone was dark gray and shaped like a free switch with a computer.Then she smiled brightly and said to me: "Please, the general manager is waiting for you in the office." The smile is very gorgeous, but it is somewhat inferior to that of Shimamoto.

The general manager's office is on the top floor.You can have a panoramic view of the city through the large glass windows.Although the scenery cannot be said to be refreshing, the indoor lighting is good and the area is more than enough.Impressionist paintings hung on the walls, depicting lighthouses and ships.Appears to be by Seurat, possibly genuine. "Things look good," I said to my father-in-law. "Not bad." As he said, his father-in-law stood by the window and pointed out, "It's not bad, and it will get better and better. Now is the time to make a fortune. For our business, it only happens once in twenty or thirty years." If you can't make a fortune now, you won't have a chance to make a fortune.

Do you know why? " "I don't know, I'm a layman in the construction industry." "Here, let's take a look at the city of Tokyo from here. You can see that there are vacant lots everywhere—it's like a piece of vacant land where nothing has been built. You can see it clearly from a high place, and you can't see it when you walk. It was built. It was demolished from old houses and buildings. Recently, land prices have soared, and the old buildings like before have gradually lost their income. The old buildings cannot collect high rents, and the number of tenants is also decreasing, so new and larger spaces are needed Take private housing as an example. Once the land price in the urban area rises, the fixed asset tax and inheritance tax cannot be paid, so they have to sell it. They sell the house in the city and move to the suburbs. Those who buy such houses are basically professional real estate agents. Those boys demolished the original old houses and built new buildings that can be used more effectively. That is to say, high-rise buildings will be erected one after another in the open space in that area, and in just two or three years, Tokyo will Change the old view. There is no problem with funds, the Japanese economy is vibrant, and the stock market is rising steadily. The bank has more than enough money, and the bank will lend you money if you have land mortgaged. No matter how much you want to borrow. As long as you have land, you can spend the money as you like. So Buildings are going up one after the other. Who is building them? Of course we are, of course!"

"I see," I said, "but with so many buildings, what will happen to Tokyo?" "What will happen? It will be more vigorous, more beautiful, and more convenient and quick! The city appearance is a mirror that faithfully reflects the economic situation." "It's not bad, it's more vibrant, more beautiful, more convenient and quicker, and I think it's good. The problem is that the city of Tokyo is full of cars now, and if there are more buildings, it will be really difficult to move forward. The sewers are very troublesome, and it rains a little. Water has to leak out. Besides, all high-rise buildings turn on the air conditioners in summer, and the electricity may not be enough. And the electricity is generated by burning oil in the Middle East, so what if there is another oil crisis?"

"That's something both the Japanese government and Tokyo are considering. Don't we pay a lot of taxes for it! Let the bureaucrats who graduated from Tokyo University rack their brains. Those guys are always so pompous, as if they were It is said that they are driving the country. So it is okay to use that high-end head to think about problems once in a while! It has nothing to do with me. I am just a small plasterer. Someone asks for a building—this is called the market principle, yes Bar?" I said nothing about it.After all, I didn't come to discuss Japan's economic situation with my father-in-law.

"Forget it, don't talk about esoteric things anymore, go fill your stomach first, the stomach is flat." Father-in-law said. We climbed into a wide-body black Mercedes with a phone, went to an unagi restaurant in Akasaka, and were given a private room inside to eat carp and drink sake, facing each other.Because it was noon, I only drank a little symbolically, but my father-in-law drank quite quickly. "So, what are you going to discuss?" I cut to the chase.If it's a bad thing, it's better to listen first. "Actually, I'm asking for something," he said. "Ah, it's not a big deal—I want to borrow your name."

"Borrow a name?" "This time, if you want to start a new company, you need a nominal founder. Even so, you don't need any special qualifications, as long as your name appears there. I won't cause you any trouble, and I will guarantee the corresponding gift money. given." "No gift money." I said. "It's really necessary. It doesn't matter how the name is borrowed. But what kind of company is that? Since I signed the name as one of the founders, I still want to know about this point." "Strictly speaking, it's not a company at all," said the father-in-law. "I'll be honest with you and me: the company doesn't do anything, it's just a name."

"In short, it's 'Ghost Company'? PaPe Company, Tunnel Company." "Ah, sort of." "What is the purpose? To reduce taxes?" "No." He said hesitantly. "Favourites?" I asked through gritted teeth. "Almost." He said, "It's not a fair thing, but it's still necessary to do our business." "What if something goes wrong?" "The establishment itself is legal." "The question is what the company does." The father-in-law took out a cigarette from his pocket, struck a match, and blew into the air.

"There is nothing wrong with the problem. Besides, even if there is any problem, anyone will see at a glance that you just borrowed your name out of affection for me--my wife's father asked, and there is no way to refuse. No one will Blame you." I thought about it for a moment. "Then where does the benefit fee go?" "It's better not to know." "I want to know the specifics of the market principle," I said, "to the politicians?" "That's a little bit." "A bureaucrat?" The father-in-law shook the ashes into the ashtray, "Hey, hey, if you do that, it will be bribery, and you will put your hands behind your back!"

"But the same industry more or less does it all?" "More or less." The father-in-law showed a embarrassed look, "It is within the limit that the hands will not be bent behind the back." "What about the violent group? I'm afraid that group will be useful when buying the land." "That's not true. I've always looked down on those guys. I don't do monopoly buying land. That's making money, but I don't. I just build on the land." I sighed. "You don't like that sort of thing." "Whether you like it or not, anyway, you put me in the abacus before spreading it forward? I promise as a premise?"

"That's it." He smiled weakly. I sighed and said, "I said Dad, frankly, I don't like this kind of thing very much. It's not about correcting bad habits in society. You know, I'm an ordinary person with an ordinary life. If possible, I don't want to get involved in the shadows." "I know this too," said the father-in-law, "clear and clear. So let me take care of it here. Anyway, I will never do anything that will cause you trouble. If you do that, the result will definitely be for Yukiko and granddaughter You are also causing trouble. It is impossible for me to do things like that. You should also know how much I love my daughter and granddaughter?" I nod.In any case, I cannot be in a position where I can reject my father-in-law.Thinking of this made my heart heavy.I am being dragged down by the world bit by bit.This is the first step.This time I admitted it, but there might be something else on my head. We continued to eat for a while.I drank tea, and my father-in-law still drank at a rapid rate. "Hello, are you in your thirties?" Father-in-law asked suddenly. "thirty-seven." My father-in-law looked at me intently. "Thirty-seven, that's the age of romance." He said, "I'm more confident in my work, so women will take the initiative to come forward, right?" "It's a pity that not so many people have come forward." I smiled and observed his expression immediately.For a moment, I suspected that my father-in-law knew about Shimamoto and me, so he called me here.But there was no tension in his tone to ask questions, he was just chatting with me. "I'm quite a flirt at your age, so I don't order you not to have an affair. It's outrageous to tell my daughter's husband about it, but I think it's good for you to have fun, and it's better to calm things down. Properly dissolving that kind of thing can protect the family Harmony, you can concentrate at work. So, even if you sleep with other women somewhere, I don’t blame you. But, when you’re having a fling, you’d better choose the right one. Going wrong. I have seen several examples of this." I nod.Then I suddenly remembered Yukiko's words, she said that her brother and his wife had a bad relationship.Yukiko's brother is one year younger than me, has a woman elsewhere, and doesn't come home very often.I guess my father-in-law may have some opinions about this eldest son, so I talked about this with me. "Remember, don't date a boring woman. If you flirt with a boring woman, you will soon be bored. If you hang out with a stupid woman, you will become confused. That being said, don't hang out with a woman who is too good. With a good woman If you go deeper, it will be difficult to withdraw, and if you cannot withdraw, you will lose your way. Do you understand what I mean?" "More or less." "Just pay attention to these points. First of all, you can't get a house for a woman. This is a terrible thing. Second, you can go home no later than two o'clock in the middle of the night. Two o'clock in the middle of the night is the bottom line for not being suspected. Third, don't use your friends as friends." A shield. The affair may reveal its truth, so there is nothing you can do about it, but you can’t even get involved with your friends.” "It's like speaking from experience." "That is. People can only learn from experience," he said, "and there are people who can't learn from experience, but you're not that kind. I think—you have a good eye for people.This stuff can only be mastered by those who are good at learning from experience.I only went to your store two or three times, but I can tell at a glance: the people you find are very good, and you will use them again. " I listened to him in silence. "I also have a vision for choosing a wife, and my married life has been smooth so far. Yukiko and you are also living happily, and the two children are also good children. I am grateful for that." Looks like he drank too much today.But I didn't say anything, just listened silently. "I don't think you know that Yukiko committed suicide once. He took sleeping pills. He was taken to the hospital and didn't wake up for two days. At that time, I thought it was over. My whole body felt cold and my breathing seemed to be gone. I thought I was going to die. pitch black." I looked up at my father-in-law, "When did it happen?" "When I was twenty-two, I just graduated from university. It was caused by a man. I was engaged to that man. A boring person. Yukiko looks honest, but she has a lot of ideas and enough brains. So, I now I don't understand why I got involved with such a boring person." The father-in-law leaned his back against the pillars of the alcove, lit a cigarette in his mouth. "But for Yukiko, that was the first man. Everyone is the first, more or less everyone will make mistakes. The problem is that Yukiko was hit hard and wanted to commit suicide. Since then, That child cut off all contact with men. He was a very active child before, but he rarely went out after that incident. He was reticent and always bored at home. Unexpectedly, after meeting and interacting with you, he became You are very cheerful, and you have changed completely. Did you meet me while traveling?" "Yes, in Yatsugatake." "I persuaded that time too. I almost pushed the door out. I said I must travel once." I nodded and said, "I don't know about suicide." "I don't think it's good to know, and I haven't mentioned it. But it's about time. You two will have a long time to come. It's best to understand the good and the bad. It's a long time ago." Father-in-law closed He closed his eyes, and Lang took a breath of cigarettes. "It's not appropriate for me as a father to say, but she is indeed a good woman, that's how I see it. I have experienced all kinds of women, and I think there are still women's eyes, women's good and bad eyes You can see it. Both are my daughters, but my younger sister looks better, but people's natures are completely different. You have a good eye for people." I am silent. "By the way, you don't have any brothers, do you?" "No." I said. "I have three children. You think I treat all three equally?" "have no idea." "How about you? Both daughters like it equally?" "I like it too." "That's because you're still young," said the father-in-law. "If you get older, you will have tendencies. The other party has it, and we have it too. You will experience it soon." "yes?" "It's also because I said to you that I like Yukiko the most among the three children. It is inappropriate to say that to the other two, but it is true. You can trust Yukiko's temper." I nod. "You have an eye for seeing people. Having an eye for seeing people is a very great talent, and you must cherish it forever. I am worthless myself, but I am not just born worthless things." I helped my father-in-law, who was quite drunk, into the Mercedes.As soon as he sat in the back seat, he crossed his legs and closed his eyes.I hailed a taxi to go home.When I got home, Yukiko wanted to hear what my father had said to me. "I didn't say anything serious," I said, "Father just wanted to drink with someone. He was so drunk that he didn't know if he could work when he returned to the company, like that." "It's always like that." Yukiko laughed, "Drunk in broad daylight, sleeping on the sofa in the general manager's office for an hour in the morning. But the company hasn't closed yet. So don't worry, let him go." "But it doesn't seem to be as drinkable as before." "Yeah. You probably don't know that before my mother passed away, no matter how much she drank, she would never show her face. It's like a bottomless pit. There's no way, you're going to be old." She made fresh coffee and we drank it at the kitchen table.I didn't tell Yukiko about being the titular founder of Ghost Company, for fear that she would be upset if she found out that her father was causing me trouble.Presumably Yukiko would say: "It's good to borrow money from my father, but that and this are two different things. Besides, didn't you even pay back the principal with interest!" But the problem is not that simple. The little girl slept soundly in her room.After drinking the coffee, I pulled Yukiko onto the bed.The two took off their clothes and hugged each other quietly under the bright sky.I took the time to warm up her body and then leaned in.But after I went in today, I kept thinking about Shimamoto.I closed my eyes, thinking that I was holding Shimamoto at this moment, imagining that I was entering Shimamoto's body, and then poured out violently. After taking a shower, I went back to bed and planned to sleep for a while.Yukiko was completely dressed, and when she saw me going to bed, she immediately came to her side and kissed my back.I closed my eyes and said nothing.Since I was thinking about Shimamoto having sex with her, I couldn't help feeling a little guilty, so I closed my eyes and remained silent. "Hey, I really like you." Yukiko said. "Seven years of marriage have passed, and I have two children," I said, "It's almost time for burnout." "Yes, but I like it." I hugged Yukiko and started to undress her, the sweater and skirt, and panties. "Hey, why don't you come here again..." Yukiko said in surprise. "Of course again." "Well, this has to be written in the diary." This time I tried not to think about Shimamoto.I hugged Yukiko tightly, looking at Yukiko's face, I only wanted Yukiko.I kissed Yukiko's lips, neck and nipples and cum inside Yukiko.Still hugging after shooting. "Hey, what's the matter with you?" Yukiko looked at me and said, "What did you do with your father today?" "Nothing," I said. "Nothing at all. Just trying to make out for a while." "Okay, whatever you want." She said, still let me stay inside, and hugged me tightly like that.I closed my eyes and pressed my body against hers, not letting myself go anywhere else. Holding Yukiko's limbs, I suddenly remembered what I heard from my father-in-law just now about her attempted suicide. "I thought it was over... I thought I was going to die." Maybe just a little mistake and the limb would disappear, I thought.I gently stroked Yukiko's shoulders, hair, and breasts.Warm, soft, and solid.I can feel Yukiko's presence in my palm, but no one knows how long this will last.Tangible things disappeared in a flash, whether it was Yukiko, the room we were in, the walls, the ceiling, or the window sash, they might all be gone when we noticed them.Then, I suddenly thought of Quan.Just as that man hurt Yukiko deeply, I probably also hurt Izumi deeply.Yukiko met me later, but Izumi probably never met anyone. I kissed Yukiko's soft neck. "Sleep for a while," I said, "wake up and go to the kindergarten to pick up the kids." "Just sleep well," she said. I only slept for a short time.Open your eyes, it's just after three o'clock in the afternoon.From the bedroom window, you can see the Aoyama Cemetery.I sat on a chair by the window and stared blankly at the cemetery for a long time.I feel that many scenes are very different from the front and back with Shimamoto appearing as the boundary.The sound of Yukiko preparing dinner came from the kitchen, which sounded so ethereal to me, as if it came from a distant world along a pipe or something. Then, I drove out of the BMW from the underground parking lot to pick up my eldest daughter from the kindergarten.There seemed to be some special activity in the kindergarten that day, and it was almost four o'clock when my daughter came out.A row of spotlessly clean limousines parked in front of the kindergarten as usual, including Saab, Jaguar, and Alfa Romeo.Young mothers in high-end coats get out of the car, pick up the children, put them in the car and go home.Only my daughter was picked up by my father.As soon as I saw my daughter, I called her name and kept waving.My daughter recognized me and waved her little hand. When she was about to run this way, she found the little girl sitting on the assistant seat of the blue Mercedes 260E, and she shouted something and ran towards that side.A little girl in a red beanie leans out of the window of a parked car.Her mother was wearing a red cashmere coat and a pair of sunglasses big enough.I rushed there and took my daughter's hand, she smiled at me, and I smiled back.That red cashmere coat and big sunglasses reminded me of Shimamoto—Shimamoto from Shibuya to Aoyama. "Hello!" I said. "Hello!" she replied. A pretty woman, no matter how you look at it, she is no more than twenty-five.The car stereo was playing "Burning House" by the Sounding Heads.Two paper bags from the Kinokuniya department store were placed on the back seat.Her smile is very touching.The daughter and the child whispered something for a while, and then said "goodbye".The girl also said "goodbye" and then pressed the button, closing the glass window with a hiss.I took my daughter's hand and walked to the BMW. "How is it, what are you happy about today?" I asked my daughter. The daughter shook her head and said, "There's nothing happy about it, it's terrible." "Ah, it's quite choking." As I said that, I bent down and kissed my daughter's forehead.She accepted my kiss with the expression of a serious French restaurant manager accepting an Amex card. "It'll be better tomorrow, sure," I said. If possible, I also want to comfort myself in this way: when I open my eyes tomorrow morning, the world will definitely become more beautiful, and everything will be more refreshing than today.But that's not possible.Things might be even more nerve-wracking tomorrow.The problem is that I am in a relationship, and I have a wife and a daughter. "Well, Daddy," said the daughter, "I. Want to ride. When can I get a horse?" "Ah, well, when." I said. "When is this, what year and month?" "When Dad saves enough money. Save enough money to buy horses." "Dad got a piggy bank, too?" "Well, there's a big one, the size of a car. You can't buy a horse without saving up that much money." "Please grandpa, grandpa is willing to buy it for you? Isn't grandpa very rich?" "That's it," I said. "Grandpa has a piggy bank as big as the building over there, and it's full of money. But it's so big that you can't get any money out of it." The daughter meditated for a while by herself. "Ask how about grandpa? Just say I want to ask him to buy a horse." "Yeah, just ask and try. Maybe I can really buy it for you." My daughter and I talked about horses, and we drove to the apartment parking lot: what kind of horse, what name, where to ride, where to sleep, etc.After sending her from the parking lot to the elevator.I went straight to the bar.What will happen tomorrow?I put my hands on the steering wheel and closed my eyes.I felt as if I wasn't in my body, as if my body was a temporary container borrowed from somewhere.Where will I go tomorrow?If I could, I'd really like to buy my daughter a horse right away, before it's gone, before it's all ruined.