Chapter 17 second quarter
What a bad word.All written in hiragana, the tip of the pen trembled, and ink splattered everywhere.Each character faces a different direction, and the arrangement is very chaotic. It is really written crookedly.
Prostitutes often write love letters to their benefactors in this kind of crooked words, but this letter only mentions the tasks assigned, without any emotion at all, and does not even feel the suspect who is trying to threaten them to redeem the lady with three hundred taels of gold , the terrifying aura that he should have.
Shinosuke visits Mikawaya under the leadership of Jihei.After arriving, he immediately met with the boss Shigeemon and the proprietress Katsue, agreed to take over the job of bodyguard, and then immediately entrusted their couple—please show me the letter posted this morning and the room where Ms. Aji usually lives.If I could, I'd like to meet the people who served Miss Aggie by her side.It may be inconvenient for me to be there alone, and I hope to send someone from the store to witness.
Shengzhisuke was in Aji's living room facing the beautiful courtyard at this time.The carvings between the columns and the patterns on the paper door are very elegant and interesting, and the colors are bright and bright. This is a room with six tatami mats. Shengzhisuke sits at Aji's desk and reads the letter carefully.
Jibei stood with his arms crossed in the courtyard.Just now he was looking back and forth around the cypress fence surrounding the courtyard and the small wooden gate in front of the bushes.Neither Aggie nor anyone else left any footprints in the courtyard.Zhibingwei should be very unwilling.
At the entrance of the living room, a waitress named Ah Qian sat with a dejected expression.She was in her early thirties, with a thin face and thin shoulders and chest.She has always been Aji's maid, and it is said that the young lady took care of her when she was still a baby. The relationship between Aji and Aqian is like Wada's Waka and Tsudo.No wonder Ah Qian has been unable to eat and sleep for the past two days, and thinks of Miss just sitting down.No wonder she had tears in her eyes and a runny nose.
Sheng Zhisuke didn't lock the target, so he specially asked someone to take him to Aji's living room.In the past two days, the people of Mikawaya and Jihei had turned over almost every inch of land in the house, and he didn't think they could find any clues.However, if you go to Aji's residence before his disappearance, you may be able to feel some clues.
What will happen?
Sheng Zhisuke remembered.The living room where his father Furuhashi Somon Yoshiemon performed seppuku.
Father and mother Lijiang had long slept in separate rooms.I don't know whether it was the father who wanted to divide the house, or the mother who drove the father out.Probably the latter.Therefore, as the head of the family, Furuhashi Sozaemon, his living room is a small room in the northeast, where he can see the acre of land he cultivated with all his heart.This mu of land should be cultivated in the south, but Lijiang would never allow it.
Father cut seppuku in the corner of that mu field.It was not in front of the courtyard, but in the corner of the field—the elder brother Katsunosuke was very ashamed, but Shengzhisuke felt that it was the crops he planted himself that watched his father go to the end of his life, and he felt a little comforted.
That night, when Shengzhisuke learned that something ominous had happened and rushed into the room, he felt the cold night air filling his father's living room on his face.The chill almost seeped into his eyes.Even after everything was over, the dead body of my father was removed, and the bloodstains on the ground were wiped clean, the chill in the living room still lingered.Although the sun was shining brightly and the wind was sunny outside, there was still a cold night air in the room.
——Here is my father's despair.
Shinosuke accepted the punishment of contemplating his mistakes behind closed doors, so he left the residence and often went to his father's living room to sit alone in the care of his mother's natal Niishima family, thinking so in his heart.
——Only this room knows about Dad's sorrow.
Besides no one knows.The mother and elder brother didn't want to know, Sheng Zhisuke wanted to know but couldn't find out.
Can't it be the same now?Is there a way to find out the remaining emotions left by Aggie who disappeared from here from the room where Aggie stayed?If Aji was forcibly taken away, he should be able to see strong fear from the room.That emotion should remain.If Aji abandons his home and parents for some reason (even if he is cheated), and leaves on his own, there should be entanglement and hesitation in Aji's heart.
— Can strangers not feel this kind of emotion?
The windows are bright and clean here.
"Brother Sheng, how's the situation?"
Shouted by Jihei, Shinosuke raised his head with a blink of an eye.The letter with its wrinkles carefully smoothed out was in my hand.
"What an ugly word." Sheng Zhisuke replied.
Jibei snorted through his nostrils, took off his sandals, and entered the room after setting the rules.
"Let me just say it. It looks like a child's word."
"Perhaps written in a non-dominant hand."
That's why the ink dripped and the tip of the pen trembled.
"Is there anything written by Miss Aggie in the letter box?"
"The only thing in the letter box is the cast list of Haruki Ichimuraza. Ms. Agi doesn't seem to like calligraphy. She's good at the shamisen."
There are several textbooks on the shelves.
"But I didn't see the shamisen."
Jihei closed the paper door, sat down on his knees, and nodded in response to "Yeah".
"Yesterday I heard from her master, Ms. Wenchun, that three or four days ago, when Miss Aji was practicing the piano, she said that her strings were loose and she was not easy to play. She left it with the master. Please ask the piano that often goes in and out of the master's residence." Carpenter to repair."
"Is it still there?"
Jihei raised Tanqiu's eyebrows. "should be."
"Better make sure."
Jihei looked at Shengnosuke suspiciously.
"No matter how small it is, as long as it's different from usual, it's better to confirm it. Please."
Jibei stood up. "Okay, okay, just do as you say."
"I also have something to ask Miss Aqian."
Under Sheng Zhisuke's call, the dejected waitress was taken aback. "Yes Yes."
"Next, I want to try to imitate the text on this letter. I want to use all kinds of pens and inks as much as possible, and I also want to change to different papers. Please bring all the inkstones, pens, inks, and papers in the house. Who Ari Yatatsu, please borrow it." Jihei seemed to have something to say, but Shengzhisuke interrupted him first. "Mr. Jibei, borrow your Yatachi. This will add a new kind of writing brush."
With a straight face, Jihei took out the Yatachi from his belt and handed it to him.
"Excuse me... what are you going to do to imitate the text of the posting letter?" Ah Qian asked tremblingly.
"Trying to imitate the writing on it may help you understand the writer's mind. Anyway, there is nothing else to do during the day."
At first, everyone agreed that since they didn’t know where the person who kidnapped Aji was hiding and observing Sanhe House secretly, he should be careful before handing over the three hundred taels of gold in the middle of the night, and don’t make too conspicuous actions.Therefore, Sheng Zhisuke, who came to help, had nothing to do for the time being after meeting the owner and his wife.
"Yes." Aqian was a little puzzled, and cast a suspicious look at Zhibingwei.Jihei sighed deliberately.
"Mr. Guqiao has a unique insight into handwriting because he is a professional copyist."
"But... Can you tell someone's mood just by imitating their words?"
"I don't understand either. But I have heard people express such opinions, and I feel deeply about it. I want to try it."
He was referring to Mr. Igaki, the owner of the bookstore who he met at the flower viewing party at Kanoya.Shengzhisuke explained:
"Mr. Igaki said that the difference in handwriting is that everyone's eyes are different. If someone in this world can completely imitate other people's handwriting, then he can change his eyes to match the person who wants to imitate handwriting."
"So, brother Sheng, do you want to reverse the operation and have the kidnapper's eyes by imitating the kidnapper's handwriting?"
"I doubt that I have the ability. After all, I am not superhuman. However, it may help if I use as many different pens and inks as possible."
This is of course the truth, Shengzhisuke is not lying.He really wanted to try it out.But on the other hand, it's a blindfold.He actually had another real idea, which was to collect all the pens and inks in the house, the pens and inks used to write letters might be mixed in with them.He was convinced of the possibility.Sheng Zhisuke deeply felt that there must be an internal response to this kidnapping case at home.It's too mysterious for Aji to disappear out of thin air.Even if the other party cleverly tricked her out of the house, the method was too clever.He understood Jihei's anger, but he still felt that the posting of the letter was suspicious.
"I see. I'll collect it right away."
After Ah Chien staggered up and left, Jihei said indifferently:
"Just ask the people in the house to write and compare it with the letter. What do you think of this trick?"
Just borrowing arrows from Zhihei still can't hide it from him.He was completely seen through.Although he couldn't hide it from Jihei, the point is that the people of Mikawaya must not see through it.
"Mr. Jihei, don't be angry."
"Brother Sheng is really stubborn. There is no one in Sanhe House who has such a wicked heart. He wants to use the owner's only daughter as a threat to blackmail the owner."
"I hope so too. So Jihei-san, please keep this matter a secret."
Although Jihei didn't answer, but with a serious face, as if to say "who told you to be so nosy", he walked out of the room with heavy steps.Soon, Aqian was holding a large tray filled with inkstone boxes and arrows, and accompanied by a servant boy holding a booklet and a stack of papers.
"It's all here..." Even the paper for blowing your nose is in it, really serious.
"Thank you." After Shengzhisuke thanked him, the servant boy frowned and bowed his head.
"Everyone is very worried about Miss." Ah Qian whispered as if explaining for the servant boy's mourning face.
"I can guess." But crying was never going to get the job done.Sheng Zhisuke immediately started planning neatly.
"Is this large-format bound book an account book?"
"It's a directory for customers to sign, and the account book is a small book here."
Turning to the back, it was covered with the seal of Shengwentang.
"You guys have contacts with Shengwentang."
"Yes. They have a guy named Mrs. Jin who will come to the shop every half a month."
Shengzhisuke kept the name in his mind, and planned to ask Liusuke later.Confirm who owns each inkstone box one by one, and where it is placed in the store or in the house.Sheng Zhisuke recorded them in detail and placed them on the tatami.Yatachi did the same.In the Mikawa House, the shop owner, the couple, the shopkeeper and the four assistants all carried Yatachi.
"What a handsome inkstone box. It should be very expensive."
The inkstone boxes used by guests have gold maki-e or mother-of-pearl craftsmanship on them, which are expensive.In contrast, the inkstone boxes in the house are simple in shape, only the lid of Shigeemon's inkstone box is engraved with a fine portrait of Nioh.
"At celebrations or wedding banquets, we will bring out gorgeous inkstone boxes, and we will also provide a venue for guests to meet. At this time, we will bring out pure black lacquer inkstone boxes. Do you need this kind of inkstone box?"
"Have you used it recently?"
"No, not recently, they're all in the storage room."
"Then there's no need."
Aji's red inkstone box is still on the table.It had lost its lacquer luster, and even the paint on the corners of the lid had peeled off.It seems to be used for many years, quite old.There is no moisture in the brush and inkstone, and there is no ink in the inkpot.No matter who wrote the letter, they should not take the risk of using Aji's inkstone box. This possibility can be ruled out from the beginning, but the age of the inkstone box has aroused Shengnosuke's curiosity.It is placed together with the gorgeous inkstone box of the guest, and its rustic appearance is more conspicuous.
"I heard Mr. Jihei say that Miss Aji doesn't like to practice calligraphy. The brush is brand new, and the ink is as good as new, but the inkstone box is very old."
Ah Qian blinked again. "It's from the lady boss." Shengzhi gave it to Aji.
"I heard that the proprietress brought it from her natal family when she got married."
"Madam must love her very much."
When the daughter reached the age of learning calligraphy, she gave her an inkstone box as a gift.What she gave was not a hairpin, kimono, or belt, but an inkstone box, which showed that she had a serious personality, from which she could see Katsue's temperament and Mikawaya's family style.
"Borrowing it all the time will definitely cause trouble to everyone. I will return it as soon as I use it up, and I will notify you again."
Shengzhisuke wanted to take the opportunity to ask Aqian to leave and said so on purpose, but the maid with tears in her eyes refused to leave.
"Mr. Guqiao..."
"What's up?"
"Can you understand someone's mind by imitating their handwriting?"
There was a hint of anxiety in Aqian's red eyes, and he didn't seem to be suspicious or disturbed by Shengnosuke's statement.
Sheng Zhisuke felt different. "How to put it, I just think it's more or less helpful than sitting in a sad city."
That's it - A-Qian drooped her head, her thin shoulders drooping.Shengzhisuke decided to probe further.
"As the saying goes, writing is like a person. I don't think 'text' refers specifically to articles. A person's writing also shows character and character, and it should be said that writing is like a person."
The words are like the person—A Qian whispered back, his eyes wandering.Shengzhisuke waited quietly.
"Actually, Miss didn't hate calligraphy at the beginning."
Ah Qian let go.Very good - Sheng Zhisuke nodded secretly in his heart.
"She started hating calligraphy about two years ago. Before that, she was very serious about learning calligraphy from the proprietress."
"The madam teaches the miss calligraphy by herself."
"If you don't have good handwriting, you can't do the business of lending seats at all. The store often writes letters to customers. For example, when holding skill presentations, we will undertake the production and delivery of invitation cards."
"Aren't you going to ask the secretary for help?"
"We handle everything by ourselves in our store. The boss and the proprietress personally spend their money. The most important thing about a banquet is the style and style. Once the level is lowered, the standard of the customers will also drop. The boss often says that letters are the display of the store's style, and we cannot delegate Outsiders handle it."
Because it is a business of renting venues, the store must have a certain style.Words will fully show style, which is the belief they pursue.
"It's an admirable idea."
Ah Qian shrank back, she became more timid, and then said: "Miss is the heir, and sooner or later she has to find a suitable partner. She will become the proprietress of Sanhe House. Miss also understands this. She studies hard and hopes Well written."
"Is Madam a very strict teacher?"
Ah Qian lowered his head and nodded slightly. "But Miss never disobeyed her. She knows her position very well."
Aji is not a rich lady who is spoiled by a favorable environment.
"The proprietress not only strictly guides the lady in calligraphy. The tea ceremony, flower arrangement, dancing, of course the lady also learns from a teacher, but when she returns home, the proprietress becomes the lady's teacher again. And these skills..."
Like calligraphy, Aji began to feel repulsed two years ago.
"Miss didn't suddenly reject her. It should be said that her enthusiasm gradually cooled and she became absent-minded."
"But, miss, don't you like the sanxian?"
Ah Qian nodded, and whispered. "Only the Sanxian. Her preference has not changed. But the proprietress said that dancing and the Sanxian are generally enough. I hope she will stop learning."
"Different from tea ceremony and flower arrangement, miss is more interested in geisha talents, right?"
Maybe Shengzhisuke answered this sentence very well, Aqian continued to whisper: "About a month ago, the lady didn't go to the tea ceremony class, but went to find Master Wenchun, the proprietress was very angry, and said to the lady—— Do you want to be a geisha?"
The proprietress reprimanded Aji sharply, which eventually turned into a quarrel between a mother and daughter who kept crying.
"After the quarrel, the proprietress still doesn't want to relax her discipline on the young lady. Although the young lady was restrained for a while, she seemed very unwilling to learn talents, especially calligraphy. The young lady has obviously regressed a lot, even I can see it."
Messy words represent the inner mess.
"Miss lost her smile on her face and often stared at the courtyard in a daze, sometimes even with tears in her eyes."
Sheng Zhisuke lowered his voice and asked. "At a time like this, will Miss Aggie tell you what's on her mind?"
Ah Qian pressed the corner of her tearful eye and shook her head. "I'm caught between their mother and daughter, feeling uneasy, but I can't do anything to help. Moreover, the young lady has such a strong personality that she won't rely on me at all."
Ah Qian said so, but he still had something to say in his heart and hesitated a little.The words were wrapped around the tip of Sheng Zhisuke's tongue, waiting to be spit out from his mouth.On the other hand, Ah Qian's tongue was trying to swallow the words back.
"So, Miss Aggie can rely on someone else?"
Aqian didn't answer.She swallowed, her throat sliding.She swallowed what was originally wrapped around the tip of her tongue.
It seems that it is not that simple for her to say it, so let's make up for it.
"Miss Aqian." Sheng Zhisuke lowered his voice again, slightly moved his knees forward, and whispered to Aqian:
"Let me state my conjecture. Don't be offended if I am wrong. You can laugh at me if you want, but listen to me."
The uneasiness in Ah Qian's eyes became more and more obvious.
"You suspect that Miss Aggie was not kidnapped, but she ran away from home by herself?"
Aqian immediately lowered his head, avoiding Shengnosuke's sight.She hurriedly brushed off the hem of her clothes and got up, staggered suddenly, and put one hand on the ground. "Please, forgive me for my resignation." A-Chien escaped from the room, and Shengzhisuke was alone in Aji's living room.Inkstone boxes of different colors, shapes and styles surrounded him.What's next...
Just try it out.Mr. Jihei, please forgive me—Shonosuke said to himself.
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