Chapter 12 third quarter
Mr. Takebe had no time to accompany Shengzhisuke to decipher the mystery of the text.
Early the next morning, in order to take advantage of the teacher's wisdom, Shengzhisuke thought that it would be more appropriate to ask the students of the private school before they came to class, so they rushed out when they got up together, but the teacher and his wife Satomi didn't even get up all night last night. sleep.Because the children are sick.
"It's not just my children. The students in the private school have been infecting each other since a few days ago."
It is said that small rashes appeared on the fingers, corners of the mouth, and inside the mouth, accompanied by fever.While not a fatal illness, the rash is painful and itchy, especially in young children.The caring parents are also very hard.
"Is Jiadai from Axiu's family also infected?"
"Well, the kid had a rash too, and was lying in bed. Didn't you hear?"
Shengzhisuke's chest trembled.Seeing that he was concentrating on studying the cipher text, Axiu came to call out for him, but he didn't notice that Jiadai was missing beside Axiu at all.
"It hasn't infected adults yet, but just to be careful, Mr. Sheng, remember to wash your hands frequently."
"I see. If there's anything I can do to help, please just tell me. You're welcome."
"Grateful."
Just like that, Takebu didn't ask him what's the matter, and Shengzhisuke didn't have a chance to speak.
--In this case……
Shengzhisuke went to Murataya to talk to Jihei.If you look through the Murata House's collection, you may be able to find a book that records the ciphertext.Since it is possible, go try it out.
"Oh, welcome. It's really early today." Although the charcoal ball eyebrows greeted him with a smile, he didn't show any displeasure even though he understood that Shengzhisuke didn't rush to submit the document before the due date.Shengzhisuke talked about the cipher text, and Jihei looked at him calmly, and said:
"Seeing that you are eager to find clues to unlock the ciphertext, it means that you have stopped other things, right?"
"Feel sorry."
"I didn't expect Brother Sheng to have such a courageous side." I really can't underestimate you——Jihei said. "Okay. Let's talk in the next room. I'll ask the old man to help you."
The old man that Jihei said was the old shopkeeper of Murataya.
"The old man remembers all the books in our store and where they are placed. It can be said to be a living catalog. And as long as he reads the books, he will generally remember the contents. It will definitely help you."
The old man brought a small desk and an inkstone box, and Shengzhisuke sat down in a room with four and a half tatami mats.At this time, after listening to his introduction, I realized that the old shopkeeper had a rare name called "Xu San".
"My father is a craftsman who makes brooms, and the sons are named Broom One, Broom Two, and Broom Three."
"So that's the case, please give me more advice."
"But Mr. Guqiao..." Broom San was hunched over, with a shriveled body, he said in the same shriveled and hoarse voice as himself.
"Cipher texts are originally passed on from word to mouth among users. They will not be written down. As far as I know, there are no books that record the methods and interpretation methods of this type of cipher text."
That's it-Sheng Zhisuke felt quite disappointed.
"There are a few stories in the reading that mention that the men and women who had a tryst came up with ciphertexts that each other could understand in order to communicate secretly. Therefore, it is just some simple ciphertexts used to tell the place and time of the tryst, but this may be a clue .Let’s take a look first.”
After finishing the three languages, Broom left immediately, and when he came back, he was holding a stack of books. "It takes time to read it all. I'll mark it."
It's hard to believe that Broom San really memorized all these readings in his head. He turned the pages at a dizzying speed and glued the notes with paste.Shengzhisuke tried to keep up with his speed.They are indeed very simple ciphertexts, for example, "The New Moon Shadow Falls Over the Bird's Nest", which actually means "Meet at the 'New Moon' at the riverboat house at Maoshi".It's a word game.
"Mr. Furuhashi, do you understand Dutch?"
"How is it possible! I don't understand it at all."
"Everyone is ignorant of a foreign language at the beginning. The Nagasaki interpreter has a book called "The Beginning of Interpretation of Everything in Dutch", which mentions how he carefully converted the foreign language into our language. With the ciphertext Interpretations are similar."
"oh, I see."
Broom Three brought the book along with a Dutch dictionary.That's pretty much the pattern that follows.Xun San accepted Sheng Zhisuke's idea, and in turn asked another question, guiding him to think from a different angle.
The two discussed frequently.This pseudo-character has no meaning, could it be pronounced only from the radicals?No, you still have to decipher the replacement rules between the ciphertext of the fake characters and the original text.Do dates and stems have meanings?What is the context of the three letters?Could its sequence hold any key clues?
"Just judging from the sound, there is no special meaning."
"Its rules may have to be skipped. Somewhere in the letter the rules may be revealed."
"On the whole, most of the Chinese characters are divided into left and right radicals, and there are relatively few characters like '草字头' that are separated up and down..."
"It's just that the Chinese characters divided into left and right sides are easier to treat as counterfeit characters?"
"Could it be that I'm not very talented, so I can't see it. There may be one or two real Chinese characters mixed in, but they just look like fake characters. In other words, these are real 'Chinese characters' that are not used in this country. .”
Broom San suddenly got up, walked into the store with a quick movement that didn't look like a hunchback, and walked out holding a few books that were covered with a thick layer of dust.
"This is called Zijian, and it is a dictionary specially made for interpreting Buddhist classics."
Murata house actually has such books.
"As for this dictionary of Sanskrit characters. Because I think some of these fake characters are very similar to Sanskrit characters..."
This shopkeeper even understands Sanskrit?
The two were flipping through the book, sneezing frequently due to the dust on it, discussing over and over again.
"It's Mr. Furuhashi."
"Ha chirp."
"Does the person who wrote this letter have such a profound education?"
"I don't know."
Xun San didn't complain at all, and was more patient than Sheng Zhisuke.At noon, the waitress brought rice balls and hot tea. Although he had a short rest, Shengzhisuke's mind was filled with all kinds of words.When the sun went down, Sheng Zhisuke had no choice but to admit defeat.
"It's only now that I say that, maybe it's a bit late..."
"What's the matter?" Shusan's withered and wrinkled face didn't show a trace of tiredness.
"We racked our brains and still can't figure it out. It seems that the design of this ciphertext is actually very simple."
This should be a private agreement between the parties, and there is no regular 'imitation ciphertext'.In short, a play on words.Considering the relationship between the two people's letters, this is like a love letter for a tryst, even if the degree is similar to the "grazing bird" mentioned above, it is not surprising-it seems that Liusuke's interpretation is correct.
There was still no smile on Xu San's face. "I think so."
"I'm so sorry. It was a waste of time."
"Don't say that. Even if it seems unlikely, the possibility cannot be ruled out until it is carefully confirmed."
"Mr. Broom Three."
"What's up?"
"It's a good name for you." The old shopkeeper tilted his head in puzzlement.Sheng Zhisuke smiled.
"You are really like a broom. Sweep the dust from the impenetrable mountains for me, and let the impenetrable ridges clearly emerge."
Broom San grinned, and several teeth were missing in his mouth. "Thank you for your kind words."
Sheng Zhisuke was about to thank him respectfully when he left, but Jibei interrupted him and handed him a burden.Sheng Zhisuke thought it should be a book for my reference, and he didn't know what else there would be, so he accepted it happily.
"It's work."
"what?"
"I lent my old man to Brother Sheng today, and I want you to pay back with work."
The burden is heavy to begin with.
"It's good to help others, but you have to do your job well."
It is not easy to make ends meet—Jihei said nonchalantly.
Shengzhisuke seems to be favored by the gods, but he can't tell whether he is the god of work or the god of helping others.This time he dreamed of false characters mixed with Sanskrit characters all night, dancing all over the sky.Mr. Takebe visited Fukan Nagaya at dawn.
"It's only been a day, I'm really sorry, I hope you can do me a favor." In order to prevent the disease from spreading, he decided to suspend the private school for a few days. "I decided to gather the sick students at home and take care of them intensively."
Some parents are unable to go to work because their children are sick.The teacher's child is also bedridden and takes time to care for.Therefore, the teacher plans to concentrate on taking care of children with mild symptoms, and teach them the principle of mutual assistance.
"After all, this is also one of the virtues of self-cultivation."
"That's how it is, a good way."
"So I hope Mr. Sheng can help take care of other healthy children."
I've already found the place.
"There is an eel shop called Tone in front of the Aioi Bridge. The Kabayaki eel sold in the shop has many spines and is unpalatable, and the shop is always empty. They agreed to let me rent a room on the second floor."
I heard that it was Fukan who coordinated in the middle.
"Mr. Sheng, can you help me guide my children to write? Don't worry, it's not difficult. Just teach them how to read and write hiragana, and take them to review the abacus. I will let them bring their own stationery. You can come, at most four, Five days. It doesn’t matter if the textbook is not opened.”
Although it was in a pleading tone, the Ministry of Armed Forces had settled everything, and there was no room for him to say no.Because the students who were not infected were all gathered on the second floor of "Li Genyi".
"I have always been strict in discipline, so my students are very disciplined. Mr. Sheng can be in charge of supervision, and he can also do his own work. Although I am very sorry for you, please help. I will always remember your great kindness. "
In this way, Sheng Zhisuke suddenly became a teacher.
The eight students who gathered in "Ligenyi" ranged from four to eleven years old, six boys and two girls.The girls all looked like reliable big sisters next door, and in fact, one of them came with her younger brother.Sheng Zhisuke first asked everyone's name and residence, and then introduced himself within the allowable range.What Mr. Wubu said is true, these children really obey the rules.However, after contacting them, Shengzhisuke gradually understood that they were so peaceful because they were worried about their brothers, sisters or friends who were infected.
"Today, I would like to ask you to tell me what you have learned and to what extent."
Shengzhisuke copied the textbooks of the private school because of the work of the Murata house, and also taught Kayo Japanese pseudonyms in the long house, but this does not mean that he can be the teacher of eight students at once.Even if he had to put on a posture and say "I'm a teacher", he didn't have the majesty of a teacher from the beginning, so it would be better to get along with the children in harmony and relieve the uneasiness in his heart a little.Shengzhisuke thought to himself.
On the first day, he only confirmed how Mr. Wubu taught.As a novice teacher, Shengzhisuke successfully asked this point from the mouth of a child who was only eleven years old at the most, which proved that Mr. Takebe was an excellent teacher.At two o'clock in the afternoon, he sent the children home, took a breather before snapping back to his senses, and hurried back to the longhouse.It's hard work to do multiple jobs.
He met Axiu by the well and asked about Jiadai's situation out of breath.
"She can get out of bed and play. The rash seems to be getting better."
"Sorry, I didn't notice that."
Axiu showed surprise on her face. "Mr. Sheng, why are you apologizing?"
"Is Kayo at home?"
"Yes, I told her that Mr. Sheng replaced Mr. Wubu as a class teacher. After hearing this, she kept arguing that she would ask the teacher to teach me, but she is still grounded. It would be a pity to infect Taiyi. This situation can Do you use the word 'grounded'?"
"Okay, let me make a circle for you."
Then Shengzhisuke put on a headscarf, and dealt with the work of Murata House, which was due to be completed.After he finished his work, he was preparing for the next day's lecture, when Taichi called out, "The water in the bathhouse is about to be drained", and he rushed to the bathhouse together with Taichi.
"Mr. Sheng, I heard that you are helping Teacher Wubu?"
Taiyi is busy doing odd jobs every day to earn money, and occasionally goes to the private school of Mr. Takebe.The teacher knew about the situation in his family and did not criticize him harshly.Thanks to this gift, he was not infected with this infectious disease.
"I'd better not ask you to teach me."
"Well, I'm too unreliable, right?"
"That's not it." Tai Yi scooped up hot water and poured it over his head. "If you teach me to read and write, I will remember that you are actually a samurai with higher status than me." Sheng Zhisuke didn't know how to respond, and then scooped up hot water to wash his face. "Mr. Sheng, I don't know what you were busy with yesterday, and you are very devoted. Have you dealt with that matter?"
After he mentioned it, Shengzhisuke thought of deciphering the ciphertext for the first time.He completely forgot about it.If it is said that there is no time to take care of this matter now, I feel a little sorry for Nagahori Jingoro.Really lose sight of the other.
"Not yet, because I'm out of skills..."
"It's called 'the poor have no time,' right?"
"yes."
Tai Yi chuckled. "Why admit it directly, at least say 'hard work is not afraid of poverty'. You are a teacher."
You are right.Sheng Zhisuke also laughed at himself.
The next day, he asked Taiyi to go to Murata House to deliver the manuscripts that had expired, while he prepared to go to "Li Genyi" with a calmer mood than yesterday.Yesterday, the boss and his wife of "Toneyi" greeted a few words in a hurry. Today, when I looked closely, I found that their faces were as dirty and black as the walls of the room, and their hands were as rough as the tatami mats.
"It was agreed at the beginning that other boxes on the second floor can entertain other guests."
"Okay, please."
"Please don't read your textbook aloud. It will spoil the fun for the guests."
The couple's eyes are fierce, like eels, giving people a slippery feeling.It would be a different matter if the Kabayaki eel in their store was delicious, but it has many thorns and is unpalatable, no wonder there are so few people in the store.
Sure enough, not to mention the second floor, even the public seats on the first floor had no guests. Shengzhisuke and the eight students reviewed the ninety-nine multiplication table in a leisurely manner.
After the noon break, Shengzhisuke asked the eight children to tell their parents' occupations from the afternoon.If it is a businessman, explain what business it is for.If it is a craftsman, it is said that it is making something.After listening to it, he understood that they were all the children of poor families who earned hard money, but they all had cheerful expressions and didn't care at all.And the children seemed to be explaining their origins so seriously for the first time, they seemed a little embarrassed and at a loss, but they would complement each other, or refute each other's statements, and happily said nothing.
Soon, they asked Sheng Zhisuke. "What is a teacher's job like?"
"Writing transcripts for a rented bookstore, do you stare at difficult books every day?"
Shengzhisuke cited the manuscripts he had made before as an example, explaining that it was not what they thought at all.When you want your children to do something, you should do it yourself first.I reversed the order, Sheng Zhisuke secretly reflected.
He got excited talking for a while, the child listened with great interest, and an idea gradually came to Shengzhisuke's mind.He had no intention of this at first, but just inadvertently put the ciphertext in his arms when he left the longhouse.Although I can only focus on the classroom at this moment, it is hard to guarantee that I will not think of something suddenly.
In the eyes of these children, what would those ciphertexts look like?
Sheng Zhisuke couldn't resist the temptation, and took out a transcript from his arms.
"Everyone, can you take a look at this?"
All eight children came together.Eight pairs of eyes blinked frequently.
"It's different from the characters in the textbook, isn't it? These are Chinese characters that you have never learned before."
The children yelled.I haven't learned Chinese characters yet.I can't pronounce such a difficult word.Teacher, can you read this?
"Actually, the teacher can't understand it either, and he is worrying about it."
"What, we must not understand it even more."
"Teacher, do you want to ask Mr. Wubu?"
The conversations continued one after another, and the oldest girl happened to be called Awen, she said after reading it.
"This word is so beautifully written." Shengzhisuke couldn't help looking at Awen.Ah Wen's eyes were fixed on the row of fake characters. "Teacher, what a beautiful word."
"Well, it's really beautiful."
A boy interjected: "Why do you think this word looks like a pattern?"
Many Chinese characters put together look like some kind of pattern in the eyes of children who don't understand the meaning.
Awen ignored the boy's opinion.With loving and yearning eyes on his face, he stared at the fake characters for a long time.
"Teacher Wubu often asks us to write with our heart. As long as we write with our heart, even if our skill is not enough, it still looks beautiful. The person who wrote this word must have put a lot of effort into it."
Sheng Zhisuke didn't think this was a clue.However, Nagahori Jingoro should be very happy to hear what Awen said just now.It will definitely, so Shengzhisuke said to Awen: "I think so too. Thank you."
After school, Sheng Zhisuke stayed in the box alone, and took out the encrypted letter from his arms again.If I don't return to the longhouse quickly to deal with Murataya's work, I won't have time to decipher the ciphertext.Although he understood it in his heart, he felt Arwen's clear voice lingering in his ears, and he wanted to try to calm down and face the letter.
——The person who wrote this word must have put a lot of effort into it.
The paper door facing the corridor moved slightly.Feel someone.Sheng Zhisuke raised his head.
On the desk borrowed from the eel shop, there are inkstones and brushes used by children.In the private school, washing brushes and inkstones and tidying up by themselves are also part of learning, but because there is no water here without authorization, they have to be left.The person who opened the paper door had his whole face covered with a persimmon-colored scarf, with only his eyes exposed.The person rolled his eyes, calmly looked at the table and said:
"I'm here to help you."
She looked at Sheng Zhisuke, who was gasping for breath, and saluted slowly.
It turned out to be Hexiang.
The sleeves of her kimono were quite long, and the back of her hands and fingers, which were placed close together on her lap, could not be seen.The hair and skin are completely covered under the turban, like a piece of cloth with the contours of the human body sitting on it.Even so, Shengzhisuke thinks that the pair of bright eyes exposed from the gap in the turban can fully recognize that she is Kazuka.Looking at her pair of bright eyes, one can understand that sitting here with Xiang really mustered up courage.
"Thank you, thank you." Shengzhisuke made a rough voice in his throat.It was such a gaffe, Sheng Zhisuke wanted to bite his tongue and kill himself on the spot... No, it was seppuku.Why can't I make a calmer, calmer voice.
"Excuse me." He Xiang saluted, stepped on the tatami mats with rough edges and walked into the box.Wearing white cloth socks under the feet.People who live in the city streets rarely wear white cloth socks in this season.Could it be that even the insteps have red spots that are tormenting Hexiang?Sheng Zhisuke sat at the desk, his heart was beating wildly, thinking about it like a fool.Obviously there are other things waiting for him to think about.
"There is still ink left in the inkstones of the children. Where is the ink pot?"
"Oh, it's here." Shengzhisuke hurriedly got up slightly, trying to get the inkpot. "I'll handle the ink. Miss Hexiang, can you help me collect the brushes? I'll take them down to wash. Your sleeves will get dirty."
Hearing what Sheng Zhisuke said, Kazuka's eyes suddenly sank.She took out a red corset from the cuff without saying a word, and neatly wrapped the sleeves.The skin colors of the left and right hands of Hexiang's exposed arms are completely different.
After scalding blisters, although the wound heals, the red scar on the skin still cannot be eliminated.The red spot on Hexiang's left arm is similar to this.If it was really a burn scar from her elbow to the back of her hand, it must be a very serious burn, with a large area of redness on it.And the color is deep and light.The lighter parts are just slightly dull, and the darker parts are bright red.
On the other hand, her right arm has delicate and fair skin.The comparison between the two is really unbearable.
"This way it won't get dirty." Hexiang said quickly after tightening her corset, and began to pack the inkstone and brush.
Sheng Zhisuke didn't know what to do.It's not because I feel flustered because I saw Hexiang's secret directly for the first time, but I just don't know how to deal with myself.Because he didn't know what expression to use to face these.
——Miss Hexiang is a bit mean.
He even thought so.
——Deliberately let me see her erythema, wanting to see my disgusted expression.
It doesn't make you happy.
"Thank you for coming to help." Sheng Zhisuke sorted out the notebooks for the children to review today. "However, how do you know that I am acting as an acting teacher here?"
"The boss of Murata House told me." Hexiang poured the remaining ink from the inkstone into the inkpot, and replied neatly. "I heard that the owner of Murata House heard about it from Mr. Takebe of the private school. Mr. Rokusuke of Katsubundo also knew about it."
Everyone is so well informed.
"The boss of Murata House suggested to me that if I want to apologize for my previous rude behavior to Mr. Furuhashi, it is best to visit here."
"The previous rude behavior... what happened?"
Hexiang turned his face away and didn't answer.
"I'll go clean." He Xiang got up and walked out of the box with a stack of inkstones.Shengzhisuke scratched his head, bundled the brushes into a bunch, and continued with his original work.Today, too, there were few people around, and the boss and his wife of "Li Genyi" dozed off in a panic because of their idle time. When they saw Hexiang walking towards the well, they immediately looked at her back with interest.After Shengzhisuke walked down the stairs, the two of them stared at him with wide eyes and asked:
"Teacher, is that your relative?" the boss Kantaro asked.
"Teacher, seeing your innocent face, I didn't expect you to be quite skillful." The proprietress A Dao said.
Leaving aside the first question, what is the second question talking about?It's not just Shengnosuke who thinks this way, it seems that Kantaro also feels the same way.
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh, you can see for yourself." Looking at her veiled turban—A Dao said. "The whole face is covered. Look at her scruples. After all, I have been in this business for many years. I will not say those unkind things about the client's tryst in the box of the eel shop. But teacher, you It is too bold to bring other people's wives into the box where the children are taught."
People will open their mouths wide and cannot close them, not only when they are surprised, but also when they are overly surprised.
"Hey, that's not it." Kantaro spoke first. "Anyway, this teacher doesn't have the guts to cheat in an eel shop. That should be your sister? Is it your sister?"
Shengzhisuke blushed so much that his whole face was almost on fire.
"Neither of them!" Sheng Zhijie replied angrily, put on his wooden clogs, and was about to walk from the soil to the well, only then did he think of how to explain. "She's my work partner. Came here to help!"
He Xiang drew water from the well and cleaned the inkstone carefully.Sheng Zhijie's knees trembled with anger.
The two cleaned without saying a word.From the look in Hexiang's eyes, it was impossible to tell whether the conversation just now had reached her ears.
"I'll get a rag." He Xiang put the washed inkstone and brush into the pail and handed them to him.Sheng Zhisuke returned to the second floor listlessly, while "Tone" looked at them with the same posture and eyes as the boss and his wife.
After He Xiang returned to the box, he began to wipe the table with a wrung towel.Shengzhisuke moved the two tables to the window, and placed brushes and inkstones that were used to absorb moisture with towels.If the tip of the brush is not arranged in advance, children's rough hands and feet will soon become like brooms.
"What a surprise." He Xiang wiped the table, as if really surprised.
"I actually look like Mr. Guqiao's older sister. I'm obviously three years younger than you."
So she heard it?
"It should be because of your steady demeanor." Shengzhisuke replied bluntly. "And I can't see your face, so there will be such a misunderstanding."
Perhaps this sentence should not have been said, but it was said anyway.
Heshan's hand that was wiping with a rag stopped immediately.Half of his body turned his back to Shengzhisuke, and then began to wipe the table vigorously. "The ink spilled out. This is a temporary box rented for emergency. If they don't clean it up, it will hinder their business in the future."
"They were all high-energy kids who not only splattered ink, but also fought."
Sheng Zhisuke suddenly remembered something interesting and laughed.He didn't do it on purpose, he usually looks like this when he thinks of funny things.
He Xiang glanced at him sideways.
"Students know that this store's business is slow. I heard that their Kabayaki eel tastes like dry goods." So ah—Shonosuke smiled at Kazuka. "Today we also talked about whether we should all graffiti on sliding doors or paper doors together."
When they were talking about their parents' work earlier, the topic turned to this involuntarily.
"If the graffiti is strange enough, maybe this box will suddenly become popular. Even though the eel tastes bad, there will be customers coming to visit. It doesn't matter if you come to mock. If there are customers coming to the door, the boss and the proprietress will work hard to roast Kabayaki seriously. eel."
Kazuka stopped squinting at him, turned to look directly at Shengnosuke, and blinked slowly.
"Don't you think this is a good idea?" Sheng Zhisuke looked into her eyes. "Today I asked the children to explain what their parents do. It's good to read "Doing Business", but it's also good to learn from each other about the ways of making a living around them. I also learned a lot from these children. Children are really not to be underestimated."
Once you open the chatterbox, you can talk endlessly.
"Is it because there are no customers because the Kabayaki eel tastes bad, or because no customers come to the door and the boss is not motivated, so the Kabayaki eel becomes unpalatable? Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? This question is not only related to business, but also to the business. The deep question that all things are connected. Are you lazy because you are poor, or poor because you are lazy? Do you fight because you quarrel, or do you quarrel because you are bad?"
"It must be both." Kazuka's answer stopped the eloquent Shengnosuke.
"Because the two are intertwined and form a cycle. So just make some changes and cut off this cycle."
After talking with Xiang, he turned his attention to the dark sliding door and paper door of "Li Genyi".
"Graffiti might be a good idea, but I want you to rewrite the menu for them first. I don't like those words."
Hexiang refers to the menu posted on the wall of the guest seating downstairs, with "Kabayaki", "Shiraiyaki" and "Ganyaki" on it.
"There are only three."
"Even if there are only three words, the word is still not good. It is not suitable to use it to represent food. It feels like putting out a row of dead eels. After seeing it, no one thinks it is delicious. This boss couple simply lacks the drive to do business."
Hexiang's voice was extremely harsh, as if scolding someone, but it was quite pleasant to Shengzhisuke's ears.
——It's quite energetic.Personality is full and strong.
"Mr. Jihei recently asked me to rewrite a book. I have worked hard, but I still can't think of a method that can satisfy Mr. Jihei." He refers to the book by Oshigome Miro.Because of the content, he could not disclose the details to Hexiang.However, Sheng Zhisuke suddenly realized at this time. "That's the same reason. As a person who accepts business from a book rental store, Mr. Jihei actually hopes that I will show more enthusiasm for business."
Sheng Zhisuke said to himself with a look of feeling in his heart; a smile appeared in Kazuka's eyes.Her smiling eyes illuminated Shengzhisuke's heart, and a thought suddenly came to him.
Today, Shengzhisuke has thoughts coming to his mind from time to time, but it is by no means absurd whim. It is the same as being with the students at that time. This is a sudden joy throbbing in the happy atmosphere of getting along with each other.
"Miss Hexiang, can I use your wisdom?"
He happily took out the encrypted letter from his pocket and spread it in front of Hexiang.
"Oh." Hexiang's eyes lit up.
The two talked freely.Sheng Zhisuke forgot the time, and Kazuka was also involved.
Shengzhisuke explained his previous thoughts.Kazuka understood as soon as she heard it, she had known about the exchange of views between Tenshonosuke and Satozo of Murataya the day before, and she seemed to have heard it from Jihei.
"Since even the old man didn't know what it was after reading it, it means that this fake character was really made up. There are also rules in it, and its rules are either frighteningly complicated or frustratingly simple, yes Bar?"
"Six members of Shengwentang also believe that the rules should be very simple. Otherwise, it will become very troublesome and inconvenient to use."
Hexiang's opinions were all opinions that Shengzhisuke rejected after some form of self-criticism, and she became more and more excited because of this.
"Ah, I'm so sorry." She clenched her fingers tightly. "I thought I could come up with an idea that you haven't thought of yet."
"That's because I thought about this problem three days before you."
Finally, Hexiang said "Please don't talk first", and reached out to stop Shengzhisuke.She wrote, deleted, and counted on the waste paper in her hand.Shengzhisuke watched quietly, thinking "Hexiang is really interesting".
At this time, someone suddenly approached behind the paper door of the box. "Excuse me." Looking back, it was Li Zhi of "Sichuan Fan".There was a square burden beside her, and she propped her fingers on the tatami, and bowed with a smile on her face.
"Miss Riezhi!" Hexiang also raised her eyes at Shengzhisuke's call, but she maintained her posture of resting her elbows on the table in thought.
"Excuse me. Here comes your meal."
Sheng Zhisuke was taken aback, "Why did you come here?"
Li Zhi raised the burden in her hand, and smiled brighter. "Mr. Shengzhisuke, do you know how long it has been since your child finished school?"
Shengzhisuke and Kazuka who had their elbows on the table looked at each other, feeling hungry.It happens every time he gets too involved.
"Looking at your expression, you probably didn't realize that the boss of Murata House came here to see you two hours ago."
Jibei was the one who sent Hexiang here without knowing it.He was worried and came to take a peek, and told Li Zhi about it by the way.
"Because it was a temporary preparation, I only used the materials I had to make up, so I couldn't make it to the stage. But I still ask you to satisfy your hunger and take a break."
I came to ask the boss to provide tea——Li Zhi walked out of the wing briskly.Sheng Zhisuke hurried to catch up.
"Miss Lizhi..."
"Don't worry. I've collected the fee from the owner of the Murata house."
"But……"
Lizhi stopped and turned around, and whispered into Shengzhisuke's ear:
"The dessert you asked for, I will make it better next time, and the dessert that was used to please this lady seems to be unnecessary now. I think you are completely reconciled, right?"
Lizhi left such a sentence mischievously, and walked down the stairs.Immediately afterwards, the "Ligenyi" couple poked their heads out from under the stairs.
"Even we received lunch boxes from her."
"Thank you for your hospitality."
Their mouths were full, and their speech was slurred.Sheng Zhisuke turned stiffly and returned to the wing.
He Xiang sat upright, her shoulders drooping listlessly.
"Who is that woman?" Even the voice of the question was lacklustre.
"It's the proprietress of a riverboat boarding house that my boss used to visit. Mr. Jihei of Murataya also knows her."
Hexiang, who was wearing a persimmon-colored turban, nodded and whispered, "I see. It seems that I am here to visit you, and I am very rude to you."
"That's not the case."
"No matter when, in what form, I am rude to meet anyone. Because I look like this."
He Xiang is different from before at this time, adopting a negative tone of anger.Sheng Zhisuke suddenly became anxious.
——Is it because Miss Lizhi is beautiful?
maybe.No wonder.No, is it because of my thinking that I misunderstood Miss Hexiang?
At this point in his thoughts, Shengzhisuke looked at Hexiang and found that her eyes were more stubborn.It won't work like this.
Lizhi returned to the room with the teapot and tea bowls on a large tray.Looking at her beautiful face with a wide smile, He Xiang sat upright slowly.
"Thank you for your trouble. I'm not being polite." She bowed gracefully with her fingers on the ground just like the pear branch just now, then took off her headscarf, folded it and put it on her lap, and swayed her hair from side to side.
Sheng Zhisuke stopped breathing immediately.
It's really like a half moon.The right half of the face is extremely fair, but the left half of the face is covered by dark red spots everywhere.Although there is no erythema on the nose, as if to make up for the missing part of the nose, there are more erythema around her neck.
He Xiang's eyes are bright.The whites of the eyes are even slightly blue, but the eyes on the left side of the face accentuate her severe erythema.
Her lips were tightly pursed, and although her eyes were on the ground, she did not drop her eyelids, and her whole body was tightly exposed like a brave and stubborn child, Sheng Zhisuke did not dare to look at her.He thought: If I look away, will it hurt Hexiang's self-esteem?But I stared at her, isn't it more?Sheng Zhisuke didn't know what to do, he hadn't thought about this kind of scene at all.
—but then...
When Kazuka was standing under the cherry tree by the river—it really looked like a cherry blossom spirit.
When it comes to tracing, I blame Shengzhisuke for not thinking that way, and not blurting out those words. Shengzhisuke was wrong from the beginning.He didn't expect Kazuka to appear in front of others just like that, Furuhashi Shengnosuke didn't expect this kind of situation at all, it was all his fault.
In Shengzhisuke's blank mind, Lizhi's soft voice suddenly came.
"You always take off your hijab when you eat, right? I should have asked you how you do it at home. Please excuse my impoliteness."
Lizhi was completely unmoved.After saluting gracefully, she leaned slightly towards He Xiang and said.
"The small shop is a Kawawa fan from Ikenohata. Is your father's hall all right? The owner of the previous generation will visit the small shop in different seasons. It's really nostalgic."
Lizhi knows Hexiang's family.Sheng Zhisuke stared at the two of them back and forth.
Hexiang also showed surprise on his face.Li Zhi smiled sweetly, and then said to Sheng Zhisuke:
"Miss Waka is the daughter of 'Wadaya', a kimono shop in Tomikucho."
Tomikocho is not far from Tomkan Nagaya.In this way, it is not surprising that Hexiang appeared alone under the cherry tree in the early morning; and the store where Axiu contracted the laundering work seems to be Wadaya.
"Do you know my family?" He Xiang asked tremblingly.
"Yes, please tell your parents, Miss, that Chuanshan is looking forward to their visit again."
This matter should have something to do with Murata House - Shengzhisuke finally noticed.Because Zhibingwei has a wide range of people, it may be related to Fukan.
Kazuka crumpled the headscarf on her lap and threw it aside.
"Ah, what a shame." It wasn't a stubborn and strong voice, but a stubborn and distorted voice. "No matter how much I hide from the world, people who know will still know. It's a waste of effort."
Li Zhi was unmoved. "I'm so happy to see you today. You're looking fine now."
"Since when did you know about me?"
"Since you were a baby."
“哦，是这样啊。抱歉，我不知道有这么回事呢。”和香固执不让，一副想吵架的模样。“因为我爹娘对我的模样很是担心，都不带我出门。”
“不过和香小姐，您现在不就一个人出门吗？”梨枝的微笑与声音始终都柔中带刚。“今天您是来帮笙之介先生忙对吧。哎呀，笙之介先生开始难为情了。”
笙之介不是难为情，而是不知如何是好。
和香撂下狠话，“古桥先生眼睛不知该往哪摆，都是因为我这副尊容吧。真抱歉啊。”
她就像在嫌弃自己——不对，她这样不对。
这是笙之介第三次察觉不对，和之前两次不同，这次不是突如其来的念头，笙之介全身颤抖。想到什么便脱口而出不是武士的作风，也不是男人的行径，可说是轻率之举，但算了，哪管那么多。Just say what you want to say.憋在心底只会令自己难受。
笙之介一脸严肃地抬起脸说道，“和香小姐，您对治兵卫先生也是这样嘟着嘴说'因为我脸上有红斑'是吗？还说'这么一来，那位叫古桥笙之介的男人应该就不会想再见我了'。”
笙之介开门见山说道。和香一脸愕然，紧抿的一字唇形逐渐下垂成倒V，接着高高嘟起。
“古桥先生您才是，您现在的表情才是嘟着嘴。”
“我很不欣赏你说话的样子。”笙之介毫不畏缩地回嘴。“没错！就像你不喜欢这里菜单的毛笔字一样。”
“你喜不喜欢，我才不在乎呢！”
“既然你不在乎，为什么气得横眉瞪眼？”
“谁横眉瞪眼啦！”
这时，梨枝噗哧笑出声来，光用手捂嘴还不够，甚至笑弯腰。
“真是。”她笑得眼角都流出泪。“两位像孩子似的，都嘟着嘴，表情一模一样。”
就像这样——梨枝摆出嘟嘴的模样。
“我、我才没那样呢。”
“梨枝小姐，您别这样。”
梨枝还是笑个不停，取出怀纸擦拭眼角。
“来，快吃吧。两位调整一下心情，别再气了，好吗？”
根本没有调不调整的问题，情绪这东西早不知飞哪儿去了，笙之介与和香之间出现一段空白。
笙之介肚子咕噜噜响。和香则像内心绷紧的丝线突然断了一样，噗哧一笑。
接着三个人都笑了。他们笑得开怀，在梨枝的服侍下吃起餐点。贯太郎和阿道悄悄跑来偷看，但他们浑然未觉。梨枝对散落一地的废纸以及上头的赝字很感兴趣，于是笙之介与和香向她说明。两人说话时起初像在替彼此补充，后来和香逐渐沉默，环视起四面脏兮兮的包厢。
“和香小姐，您怎么了？”
在这声叫唤下，和香又嘟起嘴。不过这次不像生气，而像突然想到一个恶作剧点子的小鬼，满心期待地盘算怎样设计，双眼炯炯生辉。
“古桥先生，就来涂鸦吧。”
"What?"
“就把这三种密文的文章，大大地写在这里的拉门和纸门上，也请孩子帮忙宣传。到时候一定会有很多人来参观。这么一来，或许有人会发现我们想不透的破解方法。”
这点子还真大胆。
Notes:
Notes: