Chapter 3 third quarter

Shinosuke faced Yabayoshi's "Qi-e" left here by Murata Yajihei alone. He pushed the desk to the wall to free up a space. After cleaning the floor, he lined up seven pieces for painting.Some parts are obvious at a glance, and some parts are complicated and difficult to understand.It is very detailed and colorful, and even the ingredients and tableware are painted in the kitchen.He looked at every detail, lay down on the ground and inspected the painting carefully, and the more he looked at it, the more detailed the description was, and the fun was endless. There is paint peeling off at the corners.Two of the seven pieces are slightly faded compared to the other five.Although it is not clear how Jihei obtained it, but it should be as old as "Liu Tong".

Since it needs to be assembled, it is natural to want to repair the faded color, but it must not be too different from the original color, so it is not easy to repair.If recoloring hastily, these two pieces will be particularly abrupt.Just when he was thinking hard, Shang Shengliu, who wrote the pen and ink, came to him.His name is Rokusuke, a store clerk at "Katsubundo", a pen, ink and inkstone wholesaler in Nihombashi Street 4-chome.People call him Shengliu for short, and Shengzhisuke calls him Liuda.A few years older than Shengzhisuke, about twenty-five or six. "Brother Sheng, do you have any orders today?" Shengliu yelled at the clothes drying yard, opened the paper door as if he knew the way, and saw Shengzhisuke lying on the floor, he exclaimed: "Why? Well? The money is gone, right?"

Shengliu has long hands and long legs, his face is shaped like a loofah, and he has narrow eyes and a narrow nose, so he can't see his eyes clearly when he is surprised. Sheng Zhisuke lay on the ground and waved at him. "Sixth University, come and take a look." Shengliu put down the bundle wrapped in a navy blue cotton scarf, and hurriedly climbed up the entrance steps. "You also started to accept the work of erotic pictures?" But Shengliu's expectations were immediately dashed. "What a weird painting." All wholesalers gather in Nihonbashi-dori-cho area, including many book wholesalers.Shengliu is in charge of foreign affairs, so he should visit these stores everywhere, but it seems that this is the first time he has seen Qie.Sheng Zhisuke gave him a general explanation.

"Here, look here." Shengzhisuke pointed to a corner of Eagem's kitchen.It was a small picture almost covered by his nails. "Vegetables on a raft. This is the stalk of a butterbur." Butterbur stalks are a spring treat.The one who started the painting was Yabaishan in spring. Huh?What?Where?I don't understand it.After a lot of yelling and looking left and right, Shengliu said: "Ah, it's true. Brother Sheng, it's thanks to you that you can see such a small thing." If you want to paint spring, you have to paint cherry blossoms in the garden - Katsuroku added this sentence.

"If it's like you said, it can be done even if it's not a restaurant. Expressing spring with ingredients is the trick." Also find butterbur and bamboo shoots.Looking carefully, there is a branch of cherry blossoms in a vase in the guest room. "It's so delicate." Katsuroku was dumbfounded, and Shengzhisuke felt that this kind of fine design was the fun.Although he has no way of knowing who made them, he has grown to admire the painters who painted these pictures. "How are you going to deal with this?" "Assemble." Shengliu wrinkled his narrow nose. "It takes a lot of work to cut out the above paintings one by one."

Indeed.During the cutting process, the cutting line should not have the slightest deviation, and it must be clean and neat. "You need to use a ruler. However, if you use a short knife to cut it, it may be difficult." Katsuroku said so, pointing at Shengnosuke's saber. "How about using that?" After all, it is impossible to do so. "Can't you? It seems that brother Sheng still has the dignity of a warrior." Sheng Zhisuke is often looked down upon by people to flatten the dignity of a samurai. "Just borrow the ruler from Sister Axiu, how about borrowing the fish-cutter from Mr. Yinzang?"

Both were residents of the Fukan longhouse.Axiu made a living repairing old clothes and washing sheets, while Yin Zang was a fishmonger carrying a shoulder pole and lived diagonally opposite.He is none other than the father of the child Wang Taiyi. "It's too much to cut this thing with a fish cutter..." It was a tool that Tozoro relied on to make a living, but Katsuroku didn't take it seriously at all. "Does Mr. Tozo care? He didn't go to the fish market today either." It is said that he is now dozing off behind the toilet again. "He's hungover again. He's not using that knife anyway, and you paid him to rent it before he's happy."

But Taichi should be angry.The son often scolded the father who loved to sleep late and drink cheap and bad wine as a rice bug.But the party being scolded is really completely intolerable, so it is nerve-wracking. "I'll think of a way." Sheng Zhisuke said. "It's a bit faded, do you want to make up the color?" As expected of Shengliu, he has a keen observation. "It's not easy to handle." "That's true. It's best to keep the original as it is. If you want to color it, it's best to make a copy and make an exact copy." This should help in thinking about how to make ki-e.

"What about the paste?" Jibei suggested using rice grains to stick it, but after Shengzhisuke said this method, Katsuroku immediately waved his hands and said no. "Although it's thin, it's a wooden board after all. It won't last long with rice grains, so it needs to be glued." Let me help you figure out a way——Said Shengliu. "thanks." "Instead of thanking you, why don't you buy more ink from me. You need ink to copy this thing." "There's nothing wrong with you." Thank you for your patronage——Shengliu yelled and left with a smile and squinted eyes.Even if Shengzhisuke didn't say anything, Katsuroku should take the initiative to inform Shimaya for him.Shimaya is a pen shop in Mikawacho, Kanda. It sells painting utensils and even paints.Every store is familiar with Jihei, familiar with their business dealings, and always accommodating, Shengzhisuke is very grateful.In today's situation, he would not charge Shengzhisuke for the ink and glue, but charge the account to Murata House.In the future, it will be settled from the wages, which is no different from Shengzhisuke actually paying the money, but this way the work will not stop due to insufficient materials.

The sunshine intensified around noon, and it was much warmer in the morning.Axiu was by the well, stomping hard on the big bucket full of water, and Shengzhisuke just saved the time to find her.Axiu lifted the hem of her clothes, revealing her fair legs.She is a woman in her thirties who raises her children alone. "Ah, Mr. Sheng." Under this appearance, Axiu gave Shengzhisuke a kind smile with her plump cheeks, and Shengzhisuke didn't know where to turn her eyes for a moment.In that respect he was not yet used to life in the streets. "Did someone from Murata House come here early this morning? You are really busy."

"Yes, thanks to you." In the big bucket are clothes that are so dirty that you can't even see the color clearly.Because Axiu stomped with her feet, it should be thick clothes. Regardless of spring, summer, autumn and winter, as long as it is sunny, Axiu is either at the well or at the laundry yard by the river.Except in summer, the cold water and wind are uncomfortably cold.But as far as Shengzhisuke has seen in half a year, Axiu has never left his work (or it should be said that he has never left his feet).Because if you don't earn your daily wages so hard, you can't make ends meet, Shengzhisuke can't help but sigh after seeing it.But he knew in his heart that saying such things would only make people laugh or attract surprised looks, so he chose to remain silent. I heard that Axiu's husband is a useless man who likes to drink, gamble, and owes a lot of debts. In order to have money and have fun, he even plans to sell his wife to a brothel for prostitution. Days, hiding from her husband to find.I didn't hear about this from anyone, everyone in the Fukan longhouse knew about it.But even if they knew, no one would care.Whenever she sees Axiu, she always has a cheerful smile on her face. "Ruler? Yes, it's a trivial matter." Axiu wiped the soles of her feet with the towel hanging around her neck, and was about to step out of the bucket.She was standing on one foot, and Shengzhisuke involuntarily reached out to support her.Axiu smiled slightly and said, "I'm sorry." At this time, there was a very ominous hoarse sound. "Look, the wanton widow is fawning again." A man named "Tiandaogan" lived in the room closest to the well, named Chenji.The so-called Tiandaogan is a business of laying straw mats on the road and selling old props.Sheng Zhisuke had never seen this in the feudal kingdom, and found it very novel. Chenji's mother's name is Tajin.Chenji, who is over forty years old, might be her son. Tajin is an old woman with lost eyebrows and teeth, but she has good eyes and ears.Not only the eyes are bad, but the mouth is even more vicious.Although her waist and legs are weak, and it is very difficult to go to the toilet, she hides behind the curtain hanging at the door when she is awake, monitors the comings and goings of the residents of the Fukan longhouse, explains negatively as much as she can, and then raises her voice and greets everyone. just say. People in the Fukan longhouse have long been accustomed to it.No one takes it seriously, so no anger.At this time, Axiu also smiled. "Grandma Duojin seems to be more energetic." Axiu glanced at the curtain, and whispered to Shengzhisuke. "She had nightmares yesterday and the day before yesterday. She couldn't eat, and she lay in bed all day. Mr. Fukan was also very worried and came to visit him specially." Sheng Zhisuke didn't know this at all.Although this is a longhouse where poor people live next to each other, they always stay at home and sometimes don't know what's going on outside. "It's good to be energetic, but Mr. Chenji really worked hard. If one is not done well, Grandma Duojin will live longer than Mr. Chenji." Chen Ji contracted a cold during the warm and cold season, and he couldn't recover for a long time. He still had a cough this morning, but he still went out to do business. Chenji actually likes Axiu very much.He is obviously a big man who is nearly five feet five inches tall, but he has a gentle and gentle personality, shy and introverted, always arched his back, bowed his head, and looks dull. At this age, he has never been sexually attracted to women, and has always been on the same level as his mother. live.In the Fukan longhouse, Axiu was considered a new resident, but she lived there for three years.Chenji's love for Axiu has always been hidden in his heart, and he never mentioned it to anyone. Axiu should have noticed it long ago, because even the bystander Sheng Zhisuke could see it, how could the person involved not understand.But Axiu always pretended not to know.If one of the parties worked harder, this relationship might blossom and bear fruit, but Sheng Zhisuke could not have predicted this kind of thing. —they won't come to fruition.Axiu is not interested in Mr. Chenji. Katsuroku said firmly.He often went in and out of Shengzhisuke's residence, and over time he knew the situation in Fukan's long house in detail, and from time to time, taking advantage of business, he shared the results of his observations and advice. ——It's better to say that Axiu is more interesting to you, Brother Sheng.This is not entirely due to your personal charm, it should be said that you want to take care of you and can't bear to leave you alone.However, it cannot be said that it has nothing to do with your charm. Axiu has suffered a lot and is alone, so she must be very lonely, right?So brother Sheng, please ask her for help. When Sheng Liu said this, he was serious, without a hint of sarcasm, and Shengzhisuke agreed in his heart.However, Shengzhisuke has no other plans.He has absolutely no intentions. The two left the well, Tazin babbling, followed by a hoarse voice full of curses and resentment.Keep yelling about the black widow pulling people's sleeves and sucking people's blood Oh, what about that playboy... Axiu is not a widow, but the playboy she said should be referring to me—Shengzhisuke felt uncomfortable when he thought of this.Usually someone was present when Axiu was doing the laundry, but everyone was out and about in today's fine weather, and they were left alone, and the timing was very unfortunate. This is a poor longhouse with a narrow layout looking across the gutter cover, but the closer the room is to the wooden door of the entrance, the higher the status is, and the closer the room is to the depths of the well and the latrine, the lower the status.Rent prices also vary.There are also differences in sunlight and ventilation. Axiu lives in the second room from the wooden door, which is near the river.She lives with her seven-year-old daughter Jiadai.Kayo went to a nearby private school and should be home soon.The mother and daughter lived in a modest house, immaculately kept, with a fence by the stove and a towel covering it.It should be their lunch.During this season, the lunch of Fukan longhouse residents is mostly steamed sweet potatoes. "However, how can you use a ruler to copy the words on the book?" As soon as Axiu asked, Shengzhisuke explained that it was only then that he thought that women would prefer things like Qie.Axiu showed an expression of interest. "Can you open Jiadai and I's eyes later?" "Of course no problem. You are always welcome." Although it may be called a playboy again, but let her say it. "If you want to copy the exact same thing, the method should be different, right? Do you need printed props?" Ah Xiu also lent a tailor's spatula. "This is my mother's relic." "How dare I borrow such an important thing." "It's okay, it's very old, and it's useless to put it away. But it's made of ivory like the pick of the shamisen. Please don't put it in a place with heavy humidity. It will crack soon." After Shengzhisuke thanked him, just as he opened the paper door, Kayo ran back just in time, laughing briskly along the way.Sheng Zhisuke called her "You're back", and Kayo's flushed cheeks suddenly filled with a smile. "Mr. Shengzhisuke, welcome." How embarrassing.Shengzhisuke occasionally taught her to write and abacus, and Kayo called him that. "I'm here to borrow something from your mother." Sheng Zhisuke bent down slightly, and looked at Kayo. "What did you learn today?" "I learned a pseudonym today." Kayo started going to a private school at the beginning of the year. "Is it well written?" The young Kayo proudly puffed up his cheeks and said, "Mr. Takebe draw a circle for me." The private school teacher Kayo attends is a ronin named Takebu Gonzaemon.He lives near here, and has several connections with Shengzhisuke.Mr. Takebe has a vicious face, and the children nicknamed him "Red Ghost". He supports his wife and five children by this business, and the private school has a good reputation. Shengzhisuke put the borrowed things in his arms, and was about to walk directly into his own door. Suddenly, he changed his mind, passed the door and refused to enter, and turned to the toilet. It was not for going to the toilet, but suddenly remembered what Shengliu said if.Is the fishmonger Tozou still there... really! Katsuroku said that Tonzang was "behind the latrine", but at this time Tonzang was half in the latrine, with the parts below the waist exposed from the loose latrine door, lying prone on the ground. "Mr. Tozo!" He opened the door and saw that Tonzang was stuffing his head into the pitch-black cesspit. "what are you doing!" Smelling the pungent stench of feces, Sheng Zhisuke blinked.Although Tozou was short and short, he was covered in flesh and completely weak. It was not easy for Shengzhisuke to lift him up alone.He grabbed the back of Yin Zang's belt and dragged him out of the latrine with great difficulty. When his whole body appeared outside the door, he put his hands under his armpits and dragged him all the way to the well.Taking water from a bucket and pouring it over his head, Tozou slightly opened his eyes and whispered happily: "I... can't drink anymore." There is really nothing to do with him.The stench of feces has dissipated, but the smell of wine is still strong. Who the hell is it that made the lazy Tonzang drink so much wine?Alcohol can't be free.Sheng Zhisuke was deeply surprised, and at the same time wiped his face with a towel. After a while, La Yinzang stood up and took him back to his residence with his shoulders. Carry him into the house and let him lie down.If he left it alone, he might catch a cold, so he picked up the padded jacket beside him and covered him up.Sheng Zhisuke gradually felt angry when he made arrangements for him. In addition to his son Taiyi, Yin Zang also had a daughter of marriageable age named Ah Jin.She is Taichi's older sister, but she is rarely seen in the longhouse.She worked incredibly hard, doing several odd jobs at a time, such as being a babysitter, delivering meals to restaurants, and so on.She also learned tailoring and laundering from Axiu during her spare time.She asked Sheng Zhisuke if he could teach her to read and write.Sheng Zhisuke replied that he could do it at any time, but no matter how hard Ajin worked, the time in a day was limited, and the number of days he could use in a month was also fixed, so he couldn't do it for a long time. When it comes to working to make money, so is Taichi.He took over the work of several bathhouses, helping to collect firewood, clean, and burn firewood to earn wages.Although he is still a child, he is very strong and is also very strong when fighting with others, so he is quite relied on in the bathhouse where guests often conflict. ——The children work so hard. Tonzang curled up and slept soundly, Sheng Zhisuke looked down at him, panting, wiped his sweat frequently, wanted to preach to him, but he was so excited that he couldn't think of what to say for a while. What a happy father. Tozo's fish-cutter knife was still useless today, and it was placed in the cupboard next to the stove.Despite the dim light, the blade still shines brightly.The person who maintains the knife is not Tozo, but Taiyi's daily homework.He should have sharpened his knife this morning.The whetstones were drying on a shelf by the door. No matter how much you pay for renting, you probably won't agree to use it for anything other than cutting fish.Sheng Zhisuke was inexplicably frustrated and left. Then he didn't even eat lunch, and buried himself in the reproduction work of Qikuaiqihua. He first put paper on top of the painting, and then pressed the four corners with paperweights.Even so, there are still some deviations in the process of copying, and at this time, the spatula that Axiu borrowed from him came in handy.For parts with thicker lines such as outer frames, columns, and corridors, it is enough to use a boneless pen. For thin lines such as furniture and railings, use a facial pencil.When attaching illustrations to manuscripts before, he seldom drew such complicated drawings, so it was the first time for him to use facial markers. Fortunately, these utensils were prepared in advance. When doing detailed drawing, the existing paperweight became unsuitable, so he went to the river to pick up stones of suitable size through the laundry yard, and calmed down by the way.The cold river wind made Shengzhisuke shrink his neck, and the branches of the fully bloomed cherry tree were swaying. He gradually mastered the knack and finished three pictures by two o'clock in the afternoon.At this time, Shengliu showed up again.He brought the glue and asked: "Brother Sheng, are you hungry?" After he mentioned this, his stomach suddenly gurgled. "I guess so." The two ate the mochi bought by Katsuroku together.While eating mochi, Shinosuke was still staring at Kie.After Shengliu left, he devoted himself to work again. He didn't even remember when the sun went down and when he turned on the seat lamp.When the seventh film was roughly copied, it was already night.There was a knocking sound from the door outside.At first I thought it was the wind picking up, but then the paper door opened.With her lips pursed tightly, Taiyi stood proudly outside the door with a small package in her hand. "Hi," Shengzhisuke called absently, "good night." Tai Yi still stood where he was, with the corners of his mouth drooping, and suddenly handed him the package. "This is for you." Sheng Zhisuke was taken aback.Taiyi got up in a hurry. "My sister told me to bring you this." It's dinner.Tai pursed his lips and said, as if whining. "Ah, thank you..." Sheng Zhisuke noticed that his chest was so hungry that his back was pressed against his back. "You're mistaken. Why are you thanking me? It was my sister who said she wanted to thank you." And me... Taiyi blinked with embarrassment. "I heard that during the day, you take my dad home from the toilet?" Oh, it turned out to be that thing. "Mr. Tozo, are you awake?" "My father doesn't remember anything. We heard from Grandma Duojin." Granny Tatsu, who was monitoring all affairs in the longhouse, informed them of this. "My sister was crying and said she felt so ashamed and ashamed to see you." Sheng Zhisuke smiled. "It's not that Ah Jin is drunk and stays in the toilet. There's nothing to be ashamed of." It seems that Sheng Zhisuke will have the wrong meaning.Taiyi showed a look of disdain for him. "That's not what it means." Well, Taiyi handed out the package and approached step by step.Sheng Zhisuke accepted the package as if shocked by his aura.Inside are rice balls. "I heard from Sister Axiu..." Tai Yi glanced at the desk. "That charcoal eyebrow threw you a hot potato again, didn't it?" Charcoal Eyebrows is Jihei of Murataya.Incidentally, Axiu probably wouldn't call it a "hot potato". Shengzhisuke asked Taichi to look at E, told him what he was busy with, and then suddenly thought of a good idea. "It takes a short knife to cut and paint. I want to sharpen the knife. Can you lend me a whetstone?" Taichi frowned, looking like an adult, as if Shinosuke had done something outrageous. "Mr. Sheng, do you want to grind it yourself?" I advise you to avoid it.Tai unceremoniously poured him a bucket of cold water. "I'll sharpen it for you. You can eat first. I'll sharpen the knife for you during this time. Anyway, you plan to continue doing it at night?" Your eyes are bright, and you look high-spirited——Tai Yi said. Sheng Zhisuke felt embarrassed. "Thank you. You did me a great favor." Tai Yi didn't show the slightest complacency, instead he straightened his face, stretched his nostrils and sniffed vigorously. "Hurry up and take a bath. If you don't hurry up, the water in the bathhouse will be drained." You smell like dung, Mr. Sheng. In this way, Shengzhisuke finished offering sacrifices to the Wuzang Temple, washed off the filth all over his body, and put into the assembly of Qihua.Taichi really has good eyesight, Sheng Zhisuke was busy until midnight and still didn't realize it.Before finishing the assembly work, he unknowingly lay down on the desk and fell asleep. I don't know if it's because the small and luxurious eight hundred goodnesses are being completed bit by bit, or because of the luxurious and elegant beauty depicted on it. At dawn, Shengzhisuke had a sweet dream. That should be a dream.Maybe it was a dream.But, if it wasn't a dream... Who would that person be?

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