Chapter 20 Section five

five days later. Shinosuke went to Mikawaya to look for Jihei. Katsueda lay in bed all day long, Shigeemon didn't know whether he cheered up a little, or had to cheer up, and now returned to work as the owner of Mikawaya.But Jibei never left Mikawaya, and the business of renting bookstores was put aside. "Mr. Jibei, I came to you today to talk to you about our business." Mr. Kusan asked me to come—Shonosuke added a sentence, and Jihei immediately showed an embarrassed expression. "I'm very sorry for the old man." When I thought about Miss Aji, I was absent-minded no matter what I did——Jihei, who had repeatedly explained for himself, came to the wooden door of Fukan's long house and found that something was wrong.

"Brother Sheng, where are you going?" "Please sit at my house. I have something to tell you." Tsudo and Rokusuke of Katsubundo were waiting at Shengnosuke's residence.The room with four and a half tatami mats in front of him felt full of crowding even when Mitsutsuta was alone. Seeing this, Jihei raised Tanqiu's eyebrows and opened his eyes wide. "What happened again?" Liusuke stood up and saluted. "I'm sorry, Mr. Murataya. Please find an empty seat first." "There are spaces here." Jindo moved her plump buttocks and gave Rokusuke a squinting look.However, Jihei's eyes were attracted by something lying between Rokusuke and Jinta's huge body.It was a shamisen, wrapped in a cloth bag made of ornate chintz, probably modified from the fabric of an old kimono.

"this is……" "It seems to be Miss Aggie's sanxian." Liusuke's eyes were as thin as silk threads, and they were usually bowed, so it was impossible to judge whether he was pleased or unhappy at this time. Shengzhisuke asked Jibingwei, who was standing still, to sit aside, and sat on the entry steps to explain his intentions. "Mr. Jihei, I think it's easier to talk if you understand, so I adopted this method. I'm sorry, you were surprised." Miss Aji's kidnapping incident was actually all a drama—Shonosuke said straight to the point. "It's all a drama played by Ms. Aji and her father. Miss Aji is safe and sound, and Mr. Shigeemon knows it well. Please stay calm too."

Jihei's big eyes kept turning, and he pulled the clothesline of his short coat like Fu Kan's upper body. "Brother Sheng, why are you bringing this up again..." "I'll explain it step by step." Sheng Zhisuke explained the whole cause and effect.Before rowing to Okawa to pay the ransom, he started to suspect that the person who wrote the letter was Shigeemon, and then mentioned that he, Jinda, and Rokusuke, who joined in the middle, had been inquiring and investigating for five days. "Not only Shigeemon, but even Ms. Aqian, the guardian who is closest to Ms. Aji, may also be related to this drama. From the first time I talked with her, I vaguely felt that it was unusual. However, even if I If you press her face to face, she probably won't say anything."

"So we adopted the 'outside-in' trick." Jindo slapped his chest hard. "I'm also the one in charge of monitoring who comes to pick up Miss Aggie's three-stringed violin." "I helped at an important moment." Liusuke said. "However, I am disgusted because of you." "Brother Sheng, you said such unreasonable words, I really misjudged you." Jihei raised his charcoal eyebrows, relaxed his tense expression, and sat beside Shengzhisuke. "You said you asked around, where did you go?" In fact, they are asking those people outside Mikawa House who have been observing them for a long time.

"For the sake of caution, we were very careful when we asked, and deliberately kept people from knowing that Miss Aggie was missing. You can rest assured." "Because I thought of a good excuse." Jindo twisted his body, pretending to be whispering. "I told the people nearby that my young master fell in love with Miss Aji at first sight, and wanted to come to talk about marriage, but I don't know if there is any hope, and I am a little worried..." Jihei put his hand to his forehead. "Then where did you go to find out?" "A customer of Sanhe House."

Sheng Zhisuke looked at the account books in the store, originally to compare the handwriting and ink color, but he didn't expect it to come in handy in the end. "I'm not good at acting, and I'm in charge of the behind-the-scenes work, and Ms. Jindo is on stage. When it comes to talking about marriage, it may be because Ms. Aji is of marriageable age. Everyone who is asked knows everything." "Because this is something to celebrate." Jindo grinned.Zhibingwei seemed even more powerless. "Among the customers of Sanheya, some daughters and Ms. Aji have been friends since childhood, so it is much more convenient to ask questions."

Jindo memorized all the clues they asked, without missing a single one. "As early as a year ago, there was a problem between Mrs. Shengzhi and Miss Aji." Mother's discipline is too strict, not only nagging, but also always making things difficult for me—Aji often complains to those close to me. "This is not Miss Aji's prejudice. When Mikawa House hosts a banquet, it negotiates with customers many times to determine the various steps of the banquet. At such times, Mrs. Shengzhi will ask Miss Aji to be present. Whenever Miss Aji behaves badly, Sheng Mrs. Zhi reprimanded her in front of the guests. Miss Aji often had a livid face and tears in her eyes. Many people have witnessed such a scene."

——It is not difficult to understand that the wife wants to exercise her daughter's heart, but it is really unbearable. "As far as merchants are concerned, this is a common thing." Jihei interjected forcefully, as if to speak for Katsue who was not present. "She disciplined her so strictly for the sake of future successors in the store." "I can understand that. However, sometimes the head understands it, but the heart cannot accept it." "It's just a mother-daughter bickering. Brother Sheng, you're overthinking." Shengzhisuke nodded. "That's right, I thought too much. But Miss Aggie thinks that this matter can't be solved just by thinking too much."

—Maybe I am not the biological daughter of my parents. "There's no such thing." Jihei grinned. "Young girls who are in the rebellious period often think wildly. Everyone has experienced this period. Once they say it, people around them rush to comfort or enlighten them. They have to be willing." "Usually that's right." Sheng Zhisuke nodded. "But Ms. Aji is different. Borrowing what Mr. Jihei said, this kind of nonsense, someone was surprised after hearing it. Miss Aji saw the surprise of the other party, and deepened her suspicion." Jibei's charcoal eyebrows turned into a horizontal line.

"Boss Murataya, there are such rumors outside." Jinta's voice was extremely gentle, as if he was comforting Jihei. "In the past, Mihe House has been rumored that their only daughter, Aji, was not born to the boss and his wife." "I, I don't know about it. I haven't heard the rumor." Who said this absurd thing——Jihei said displeased.Jindo's voice became softer. "I am a maid at Wadaya, just a mere servant. You are very rude to Mr. Jihei, the owner of Murataya. Just because I understand this, let me apologize to you first, and then explain this. thing." Rumors of this kind of thing, sometimes people have different positions, so they have no chance to hear about it——Zindo said. "Mikawaya is a customer of Murataya. In other words, Mr. Jihei is in the lower position of Mikawaya. However, the people who know this rumor, as Mr. Furuhashi said, are customers of Mikawaya, that is, they live in the upper position of Mikawaya and communicate with them. " Some look down on Mikawa House, and some look down on Mikawa House.With different positions, there are some things they know, and some things they don't know at all--Zindo explained. "The people who told us the rumors never mentioned it. Because I talked about it very skillfully, they accidentally slipped. I added a few words later, and they told it all, like the mother-daughter relationship in Mikawaya Not good, there is something wrong with the house in that store.” ——I've heard before that this seems to be the case in their family. ——After you mentioned it, I realized that their daughter looks nothing like the boss and his wife. ——However, their parent-child relationship is very good.The rumor is not important, but Sanhe House should not marry a daughter. If your young master really wants to marry her, he can only marry her in Sanhe House. As Jindo recounted the rumors she had heard, Jihei's charcoal eyebrows melted into a single line, and the eyes under the eyebrows blinked. "I heard that Mrs. Shengzhi's physique is not suitable for eggs, so she can't eat eggs." Sheng Zhisuke said. "Some people have this kind of physique. And parents with this kind of constitution, children often have similar situations. But fried eggs are one of Ms. Aji's favorite foods. This is what I asked from the owner of the restaurant that often goes in and out of Mikawaya. " So what? - Jibei blinked and asked back. "Okay, okay, I understand. Ms. Aji really has a personality disagreement with Mrs. Katsue, and she guessed that she is not Mikawaya's biological daughter, so she ran away from home. But why is there such a play, and Mr. Shigeemon is willing to help? It's so unreasonable!" Shengzhisuke looked at Jinda and Rokusuke.Rokusuke's arched eyes looked like a mournful face. "Master Wenchun, who taught Miss Aji the Sanxian, is a gentle and graceful lady." Jindo said softly. "After Miss Aji lost her whereabouts, Mikawaya explained to the master that she would not come to learn the piano for the time being because of the quarrel between Miss Aji and his wife. The master believed it and was always worried about the follow-up of the quarrel between their mother and daughter. The master knew that Mrs. Shengzhi was very fond of Aji. The young lady's obsession with the three-stringed violin has never looked good to her, and I feel guilty." Therefore, after Ajina repaired the sanxian, the master kept it. "Just the day before yesterday," Jindo continued. "In Katsubundo, where Katsuroku works, there is a guy named Kintai who often goes in and out of Mikawaya. I heard that Mr. Shigeemon directly asked Mr. Kinta to take back the sanxian that was left at Mr. Wenchun's house. He also said to him, "The mother and daughter quarreled over the three-stringed qin, and Aji is not allowed to touch this qin for the time being. It must be hidden first, and I will leave this matter to you." Jihei stopped blinking, and raised his thick eyebrows exaggeratedly. "What? I was at Mikawaya the day before yesterday. Together with Shigeemon-san..." "Although you are here, you won't follow like a shadow?" "That's right, that's right." "The business of Sanheya is operating as usual, and it is not surprising that the staff of Shengwentang come in and out of the store." Liusuke interrupted, scratching the back of his neck. "The day before yesterday was Mrs. Jin's regular visit to Sanhe House. I also know about it." Then... Shengliu just scratched the back of his neck was not enough, he rubbed his hands on his face. "After hearing about it from Miss Jindo and Brother Sheng, I became concerned about it, so I confirmed it with Mrs. Jin. It turned out that the kid really took care of the Sanxian." ——Because it's an entrustment from a client, I can't help but say no, it's really nerve-wracking.This is Miss Mikawaya's most precious shamisen. "Mrs. Jin has always attached great importance to customers and is a good person. He knows Miss Aji very well." ——The sanxian was taken away, the lady must be very sad. "Mr. Jin Tai didn't know that Miss Aji was missing." Shengzhisuke said. "He completely believes Shigeemon-san's words." Jihei stared at the shamisen, biting his lip. "It's only now that I understand Brother Sheng's words. I told Mrs. Jin that Miss Mikawaya is so pitiful, why don't I secretly return the piano to her. If I do this, it doesn't count as Mrs. Jin's disobedience to Shigeemon's orders." Just like that, Aji's Sanxian appeared here at this time. "The problem is not with Kanata's actions. Shigeemon-san told him when he asked Kanata-san to take care of the shamisen." ——If Aji’s shamisen was taken away forever, she would be too pitiful.When the quarrel between their mother and daughter subsides, I will tell her that I asked Sheng Wentang to keep the three-stringed violin, and Aji will come to pick it up in the future, please return it to her. If Aji comes to pick it up. "I'm really sorry, master." Mrs. Jin of Shengwentang apologized suddenly, and kowtowed to him repeatedly. "I accidentally told Liusuke about Miss's shamisen." Mrs. Jin was both angry and remorseful, and said "Liusuke this guy" very bluntly, and was about to glare at Liusuke who was aside, but that round face of a good man couldn't be fierce. "It's okay, Mr. Kinta." Shigeemon smiled weakly. "It was my negligence in the first place. If you want to lie to you, you should make up a better lie. It's really hard to find out when you really want to lie." Mrs. Jin kowtowed again, and Liusuke pouted and looked at him. "Don't do such a difficult thing again, tell the truth." Hearing Jihei's words, Shigeemon nodded. Lying is really hard.That is an unbearable burden.Under Jibei's questioning, Shigeemon told about Aji and the scenes they played together one by one. Shengzhisuke watched his side face, and suddenly remembered the past as a child. Sheng Zhisuke was only six years old at that time, and he was still naive.Once he quarreled with his eldest brother Katsunosuke over whether his eldest brother ate a cake given by others without telling his mother.He still remembers it vividly, that Katsunosuke really ate the pastry.Because Sheng Zhisuke saw it with his own eyes, he knew it. They are all at an age where they can eat and grow, and they only need to be reprimanded.But Lijiang was so angry that he scolded them for being shameless, as if he was about to force a child to cut his belly.The eldest brother may be terrified, and refuses to admit that he ate it to the death, insisting that Shengzhisuke take the blame. Sheng Zhisuke was young at the time and was not good at words.No matter how hard he tried to defend, his mother turned a deaf ear to him. He said it was eaten by his elder brother, but his mother thought he was lying. He burst into tears in exchange for a harsher reprimand. Spend the night in a warehouse in the backyard.In the middle of the night, his father Munezaemon secretly rescued him.Shengzhisuke cried because of his hunger because of Anxin, and his father stroked his head. ——Katsunosuke confessed to me just now that he ate the cake.But you can't blame your brother, nor can you resent your mother. Father stretched out his index finger in front of Shengzhisuke to make a hook shape. ——Shonosuke, lies are like this.It's like a fishing hook—my father said that he himself is a person who only likes to dig the soil and farm, and doesn't touch the fishing rod at all, but he uses it as an example. ——In order to prevent the fish from breaking free easily after taking the bait, the front end of the hook is equipped with barbs.Lies also have barbs.It's easy for people to get hooked, but once hooked it's hard to get out.One's own heart is also easily hooked, but once hooked, it is difficult to let go. ——If you still want to get out, you will hurt people deeper than when you stabbed in, and you will also dig out a large wound in your heart. Katsunosuke cried too - said his father - because it hurt to pull out the hook of lying, so he cried. So, Sheng Zhisuke - the father went on - can't lie because of some trivial things.Only do this if you have made up your mind to lie for the rest of your life. My father was not lecturing him not to tell lies, but telling him that if you want to tell a lie, you can only choose to do it when you plan to let the hook of lying stick into your heart for the rest of your life. It must be such an important lie. Shigeemon of Mikawaya should have decided to spend the rest of his life with Lie when he performed the play of his daughter being kidnapped.This was not a decision taken lightly.He needs awareness.However, when the fishhook pierced into his heart, it was extremely painful, and it was even red, swollen and festered, which tormented him deeply.He looked at Katsue and Jihei who were suffering from the lies, and the pain in his heart became more and more serious. At this time, Shigeemon was about to pull out the hook of Lie.His heart was gouged out by the barb of the fishhook, and blood flowed from the wound.Still, to purify wounds and heal, one has to say everything. "Aji is the illegitimate daughter of a waitress named Axue in our shop." That was sixteen years ago. "Axue is thin and small, with an innocent face. No one noticed that she was pregnant until her belly bulged." The pregnancy surprised everyone in Mikawaya, no matter how much she pressed her about who the father of the child was, Axue still insisted not to disclose. "Maybe there's an unspeakable secret." Some people said that it might be caused by a certain guest having bad intentions and molesting. "I can think of one or two guests who might confuse innocent maids with sweet words. Katsue and I have the same idea." At that time, Mikawaya was handed over to Shigeemon, and Katsue was the proprietress.The previous generation of shopkeepers and couples passed away one after another not long ago. "When we were discussing what to do, Seung-ee offered without hesitation to adopt the baby as the daughter of the Mikawa House owner." Katsue married Shigeemon and became pregnant twice, but unfortunately had a miscarriage and was unable to have a child of her own. "Shengzhi said, she doesn't know if we will have a chance to have a baby in the future. It's a kind of fate, and she wants to adopt this baby." Shigeemon was greatly surprised and tried his best to persuade Katsueda, saying that this move was too stupid, but Katsueda refused to back down. "She insisted that since such a scandal happened, it is impossible to keep A Xue in Sanhe House. But if she is kicked out, the mother and daughter will live on the streets. Why don't we find a way for A Xue, and the child will be in our Sanhe House nurturing." Shigeemon could only give in in the end. "Axue actually agreed." Hearing Jihei's whisper, Shigeemon frowned deeply and closed his eyes. "The maid made a mistake, which is the same as the proprietress made a mistake. Yi Shengzhi's temper at that time should have been quite angry. She felt ashamed. Axue was crying in shame." In the end, A Xue gave birth to a child at full term, and Sheng Zhi ran around in a short time, looking for her husband's family for A Xue, and later found an old retired relative, and A Xue was his continuation. The two were very different in age. Not to mention looking like a father and daughter, or even a pair of grandparents. "It's like giving away the puppy at home, but Axue obediently obeys." At that time, it was never expected that Ah Xue would run away from her husband's house less than half a year after she got married. "Shengzhi made up his mind not to let this child know his parentage and feel inferior. We tried our best to conceal the secret of Axue and the birth of a child. We didn't even mention a word to our relatives. The employees employed in the store at that time were dismissed one after another, and they were all replaced. .” All the servants in Sanhewu have been changed, and Axue's child has become the only daughter of Sanhewu, Aji, who is brought up. "When sending Axue away, she will know the righteousness. To hope for the happiness of this child is to completely sever ties with her. We think Axue understands." When Ashue flees from her remarried husband's house, Katsue is in chaos - Ashue will take Aji away! "But Ah Xue didn't show up at Sanhe House." She lost her whereabouts. "We expect this to mean she's giving up on Aggie and taking control of her own life, but..." It was all in vain——Shigeemon dropped his shoulders. Wadaya's Jinta has been speculating about "how" Aji met her biological mother, but there is no question of how. Aji's biological mother knew from the beginning that Aji was raised as Mikawaya's only child.It is impossible for Sanheya to escape, they can only hope secretly, hoping that Axue who is hiding under the sky will forget about Aji peacefully. Although this is a very selfish wish. Liusuke felt very dissatisfied, which not only showed at the corner of his mouth, but even his loofah face was distorted into an inverted V shape.Shengzhisuke nudged him lightly—don't talk nonsense, Liu Da. He asked Shigeemon, "When did Aji-san meet Ayuki-san?" "Last spring."