Chapter 27 fourth quarter
The next morning, it was still dark.
There was a commotion outside Fu Kan's long house.Shengzhisuke was awakened by the sound.
Residents who were originally early risers were noisier than usual this morning.A Lu and Shika Zang, who have always had a laid-back personality, were talking about something in a panic, while Chen Ji, who was docile and gentle, yelled loudly.It should be Ajin or Axiu running back and forth.Shengzhisuke rubbed his eyes and looked out, and happened to meet Taiyi face to face.Tai Yi, who is usually calm and calm, rarely turns pale. This should not be entirely due to the dim outdoor light.
"Sorry, Mr. Sheng, can you come here?"
"What's wrong?"
Someone lying on the side of the road at the Inari Shrine next to the gate of the long house.
"Grandma Duojin found it when she was paying her respects."
When she found out, she was so frightened that she could see how serious the matter was.If it wasn't for someone lying down on the side of the road, Grandma Duojin wouldn't make a fuss.
"That man is covered in blood," Tai said. "Blood on the front of his clothes. He's a warrior. He might have fought a duel."
No wonder it was so noisy.
"He was transported to my house to lie down, but he kept whispering something about the mercy of a warrior, so I came to you."
Before he finished speaking, Shengzhisuke rushed to the residence of Ajin, Taiyi, and Tozo's family.The narrow soil room was crowded with residents of the longhouse. At this time, the tall and tall Tatsukichi just ran out of the door, and Shengzhisuke bumped into him head-on.Chenji was wearing a bathrobe used as pajamas, and his right shoulder was stained with blood.It should have gotten on it when carrying the samurai into the house.
"Mr. Sheng!" Ah Jin, who was also pale, exclaimed. The bucket she held in front of her chest was filled with red handkerchiefs.Accompanied by the samurai, Yin Zang asked Axiu for help, preparing to wrap the white cloth around the wounded abdomen.
"Miss Axiu, press it hard."
"Like this?"
"Use more force!"
Yin Zang sleeps late every day at this time, and Ah Jin and Tai Yi are yelling "I won't be able to buy in time" and "The fish in the fish market stinks", but now he is not only fully awake, but also running around energetically, using rough voices Call the injured person.
"Mr. Warrior, it will hurt a little, please be patient. Hey, let's start pestering, Miss Axiu."
"I'll help too." Seeing that Axiu was about to cry, Sheng Zhijie rushed to help.The samurai who was muttering fainted at this time.This man was indeed a samurai, but a ronin.Unshaven Tsukiyo, messy bun, dirty clothes, and skirts that are unthreaded everywhere.This is a poor ronin.He is as thin as a stick, like a hungry ghost in a hell map.
"one two three!"
Yin Zang wrapped the white cloth tightly around the warrior's body, and immediately there was blood oozing from under the white cloth.Shengzhisuke took the towel from Ajin's hand, and pressed it desperately as if to cover the wound.
"You can't stop the bleeding if you don't sew it up. You'll have to call the doctor."
"Mr. Chenji notified Fu Kan." A Lu said while holding Lu Zang tightly.She turned her face away, trying not to look at the bloody picture.Lu Zang clasped his hands together and prayed to God.
"Fu Kan will bring the doctor."
"When you can rely on it, how can you not call the manager?"
Ah Xiu spoke very calmly, but when she walked down the earth, she staggered and held onto Ah Jin tightly.
"Ah... I can't do it anymore. Mr. Tozo is really amazing."
"He often kills fish, and he is used to it."
Ah Jin also trembled slightly.Axiu walked out of the paper door, making a nauseous sound.
"Mr. Chenji's pace is slow, I'll go too."
When Taiyi was about to rush out, Shengzhisuke called him. "Go to Takebu-sensei. Maybe the teacher has hemostatic medicine."
"I, I know!"
"Ah Jin, go and boil more water. Everyone, use all the pots. Bring more towels and white cloths."
"I'm here to help too." A Lu and Lu Zang took A Jin and left quickly.Tozo and Shinosuke took turns pressing the wound, and kept changing the towels, but they couldn't stop the bleeding.
"Mr. Sheng, what do you think of this?"
Yin Zang's nose was red all the year round, and he looked like an alcoholic.At this time, beads of sweat were shining on his nose.
"It doesn't seem to be a knife wound from cutting each other."
Sheng Zhisuke nodded, and his eyes fell on Ronin's thin body, with protruding ribs.
"Where's his dagger?"
Tonzang didn't say a word, but nodded his chin towards the corner of the room.There was a pair of long swords and short swords with simple exteriors.Offended—— Sheng Zhisuke saluted with his eyes and quickly inspected the pair of long and short knives.Both are blunt knives.The band and handle of the dagger were stained with blood.
"He was squatting in front of the Inari Shrine with the knife tightly in his hand."
A blunted short knife.
Shengzhisuke looked back at Tonzang.The alcoholic and sleepy fishmonger has a sadly contorted expression.
"He probably wanted to cut seppuku."
From outside the door came Fukan's resounding voice to stop the noise of the tenants.
"How is the samurai now?"
Hexiang asked quietly.She didn't wear a headscarf, and she was kneeling on the entry steps of the back door of the Wada house.He Xiang has become more free and easy recently.
"The doctor in the town brought by Mr. Fukan has roughly treated it, but..."
I heard that the doctor is Fu Kan's falling head companion, and he is good at treating gold wounds.
"Unfortunately, the result of the doctor's diagnosis said that he might not survive tomorrow."
Hexiang's eyes sank. "Pitiful."
The dying samurai is now cared for by the residents of the longhouse in turn.This is their thoughtfulness, not wanting him to die alone.Shengzhisuke joined the ranks.Just now when the doctor from the town came to treat him, and everything came to an end, Taichi told Shengzhisuke: "There are rumors that there was a fight in Fukan longhouse."
Shengzhisuke rushed to Wadaya immediately.He thought to himself, if this wrong rumor got into Hexiang's ears, it would cause her unnecessary worries.
"If it's hand towels or white cloth, we have plenty of them in our store. I'll send Jindo to deliver them later."
"Grateful."
After a while, Jindo came with a child laborer and not only brought hand towels.The child laborer carried a large bamboo basket stuffed with vegetables.
"Can I borrow the stove? I want to cook miso soup." Jinta prepared dishes to comfort the residents of the Fukan longhouse. "As for the rice, the owner of Murata House will send someone to deliver it."
Jihei came with the maid himself, holding a big rice bucket as if counting the time.
"Everyone hasn't eaten anything since morning. Come on, eat quickly." He said loudly, and then whispered in Shengzhisuke's ear: "I heard what Ms. Hexiang said. She is really careful in her work. The boss of Wadaya is A man of love and righteousness."
"Mr. Jibei, don't you too? Thank you very much. We are all welcome."
Residents of the Fukan longhouse depend entirely on wages.Encountering this kind of situation early in the morning, today's whole day's work was almost ruined, and now I don't have to worry about having nothing to eat, which can be said to be thankful.
Axiu and several women were busy doing laundry, but there were some blood stains that could not be washed away, and Lu Zang simply set fire to them.Because it is not winter, Shenghuo is extraordinarily low-key.A wisp of light smoke at first glance looks like the white smoke of a funeral.Don't have such depressing thoughts.Shengzhisuke shook his head: he thought that maybe the situation of the samurai would improve.
"Where is Mr. Fu Kan?"
"Go to the Yamen."
When someone fell down by the roadside or lost their way, they had to report to the Yamen one by one.Follow-up processing depends entirely on how the Yamen arranges.
"That's a relief. Mr. Fukan should negotiate with the yamen and let everyone take care of you here. Mr. Fukan is the most trustworthy at this time." After finishing speaking, Jibei slightly lowered his voice and said: "The premise is that it is convenient for everyone. if."
"Of course. After all, there is a destiny."
There was a hint of tenderness in Jihei's large, bone-like eyes under his charcoal brows. "This Mr. Quan Bingwei, whose surname is unknown, really chose a good place for seppuku."
Because everyone is also poor and will not leave it alone——Ah Jin speaks out his thoughts on behalf of everyone.
Teacher Wubu arrived next, but unfortunately, he didn't have any hemostatic medicine on him, so he paid some money to subsidize the doctor's expenses, but Fu Kan refused to accept it, and Teacher Wubu still kept a straight face.He said that "samurai should help each other".
"Mr. Jihei, this person does not seem to be Mr. Quanhei whose surname is unknown."
Takebe-sensei and Shengnosuke inspected the items in the samurai's arms.Although the wallet was empty, he found a neatly folded family tree.This is the family tree of the "Shan Pian family", which has a long history.It is a family tree with many branches.
"He is thin and thin. It is difficult to guess his age, but it is estimated that he is about thirty years old. It should be the bottom name of the family tree."
There are six men in the bottom row of names.
"There should be nothing wrong with calling him Mr. Yamakata, that's the only certainty."
"Mr. Yamakata Gonhei, right?" As he spoke, Fu Kan took out a rice ball from the rice bucket and chewed it.
"Mr. Fu Kan doesn't need to worry about this, but if he can speak, it's better to find out whether he has enemies from his mouth."
This didn't sound like Jihei's usual tone, probably because he was talking about something that rarely happened to him.
"If the residents here get involved in trouble."
"I see." Shengzhisuke didn't expect this at all.As expected, Zhibingwei was meticulous in his work.
"I don't know if he's single."
"Mr. Fukan asked the yamen to post his portrait. His wife may be waiting for him somewhere."
This Mr. Yamakata is not in traveling clothes.Even if he drifted here from the other feudal domain, he must be living somewhere in Edo, not far from here.
"This matter has already spread, and it would be nice if someone heard about it earlier."
Jihei said calmly.
Hopes for the betterment of the samurai fell through.Mr. Yamakata never woke up, and took his last breath after four o'clock in the afternoon.The residents of the Fukan longhouse were all depressed.Even though they only had a relationship with him for half a day, it would be troublesome if they really had something to do with him, but A Jin was sobbing, Tai Yi was crying, and A Lu and Lu Zang kept chanting Buddha.Tozo, who had been by Yamakata's side all the time, said that he wanted to drink as if he suddenly thought of it, and sat in a daze.Granny Duojin, who always likes to spread rumors, is very quiet at this time, because she really flashed her waist when she discovered the mountain piece before, and her son Chenji was busy making bucket coffins and shrouds. I heard that this is included in "Tiandaoqian" In the business, he and his companions can buy it cheaply.
Teacher Wubu also went to the Fukan longhouse, and he chanted scriptures beside the Shanpian pillow.
"When I first came to Edo, I lived in a longhouse in Daikumachi by the sea, and there was a temple outside the wall. I heard them chant sutras morning and evening, and I remembered them even if I didn't like it." Then you will be able to ascend to heaven and become a Buddha——Teacher Wubu said.
"Because the residents of the longhouse did their best for him."
Tozo, who was always by Yamakata's side, sat dozing off.Even though she was asleep, her nose was still red.When Jin Duo left, Axiu went to Hetian House with her to thank her.Kayo stayed at Takebe's house until the funeral was over.
"I may not have noticed it if I stayed here, but there is a bloody smell all around. This is too cruel for a child like Kayo." Takebe teacher blinked lazily, looking at the white cloth covering Yamakata's face and asked : "Mr. Sheng, have you ever wanted to cut seppuku?"
No - Sheng Zhisuke responded. "But my father died of seppuku."
Takebe-sensei looked back at Shengzhisuke without saying a word.Shengzhisuke said without looking at him.
"The wrong person is my brother."
Even when Yin Zang dozed off, he snored like thunder.
That's it - Mr. Wubu replied. "Sorry, I won't ask any more."
After a while, Fu Kan, who heard Tai Yi say "go outside to find a monk", brought another person back.
"This is the manager of the deceased's residence." This person is the manager of the longhouse where Yamakata lived.
"Words of it have spread among the manager's peers. It's good to have found him."
"I'm sorry to trouble you." The manager, who bowed his head respectfully and was about fifty years old, was called Gorobei. The longhouse he managed was in Yamamoto-cho, on the north side of Akasaka Tameike.
"It's really an unexpected place." Mr. Wubu was astonished.The manager, Gorobei, was also surprised.
"Mr. Sanyi probably doesn't know anyone here in Okawa."
"Mr. Sanyi?"
Except for Fukan, Shengzhisuke and Wubu teacher all asked in unison.Tonzang was awakened by the sound.
"So it's Fu Kan, what are you doing in my room?"
"Is this the tone you should speak to the administrator? You still owe rent."
Under Fu Kan's rebuttal, Yin Zang touched his reddened nose and sat upright again.
"Although the surnames are different, they should not have identified the wrong person. It is best to check the appearance of the deceased first."
Takebe-sensei lifted the white cloth from the dead man's face.Goro Bingwei put his palms together and bowed to the dead man, nodded and said:
"That's right. It's my tenant, Sanyi Hyogo-san."
Sanyi Hyogo has not returned since leaving the longhouse at noon the day before yesterday.
"I heard that the deceased was emaciated, had a pair of blunt knives on his waist, and committed seppuku. I guess Mr. Sanyi was right."
Sanyi Hyogo lost his wife and child a month ago.
"Because of being attacked by the cold air of the plum rain, I was infected with wind and cold."
His wife and children died of lack of nutrition and lack of physical strength in their life of abject poverty.
"Mr. Sanyi has always wanted to commit suicide. He said this is the end of a samurai's life, at least let me cut seppuku."
He would ask Gorobei to lend him money before leaving the longhouse.
"He said that he would redeem the long and short knives from the pawnshop so that he could perform seppuku, but I have never agreed."
Wubu teacher's temples twitched. "So, Mr. Sanyi must use a saber to cut into his stomach?"
Gorobei shrugged his shoulders. "I originally thought that if Mr. Sanyi would change his mind about seppuku, I could help him a little bit."
"Is that true? Are you really thinking of Mr. Sanyi?"
Wubu teacher's voice became louder and louder, just like his nickname Chigui.Shengzhisuke quickly intervened to mediate. "Mr. Takebe, don't be like this. It's no use blaming Gorobei-san. If someone borrows money to redeem saber seppuku, no one will agree."
Gorobei whispered about what happened to Sanbon Hyogo.Takebe-sensei's angry face was terrifying, and he kept looking at Shengzhisuke.
"I guess Mr. Sanyi's name is not his real name. He seems to have a very complicated past before becoming a ronin. He said he abandoned his family name."
Sanyi Hyogo was a man of few words and was not easy to get close to.He didn't mix well with the residents of the longhouse, not even with Gorobei.He never volunteered to speak of himself unless necessary.
"From my point of view, he lived a wandering life for about five or six years, always wandering around and living in no fixed place."
The employer of Sanyi Hyogo seems to be the owner of Kanda Myojin Shimo Fukageryu Dojo, and he serves as a swordsmanship instructor in the dojo.
"But that was a long time ago. As far as I know, Mr. Sanyi made a living by making umbrellas and sought officials everywhere. His life was poor, and his wife and children at home were sympathetic."
Mr. Sanyi's family of three has always been reluctant to enter the circle of longhouse residents and live a poor life.But he doesn't have enemies like Jihei feared.No one inquires about Sanyi Hyogo, and no one visits.Conversely, he has no one to rely on.
"Although he is a samurai, he is a tenant after all. When he borrowed money from me, I wanted to put on airs as a landlord and give him a good lecture."
——Please get along well with everyone.Living in the long house requires everyone to help each other.
"I was mildly righteous, but his reaction was cold."
Helping each other, right? Sanyi sneered, and retorted: If I don’t rely on such things, I have already decided not to trust others.
Wubu teacher folded his thick arms, and the corners of his mouth drooped.Yin Zang touched his nose again.
Sheng Zhisuke didn't want to think of him as the person he was originally.Sanyi said that he "decided not to trust others anymore", and he vaguely saw his past behavior.Losing the salary, abandoning the family name—no, maybe being removed from the salary and kicked out of the family.Such misfortune made Sanyi Hyogo a man of radical speech.Despite this, the memory of the family name remained in his heart, as evidenced by the family tree kept in his wallet.
"No matter what happens, you can't die. It is a man's duty to go all out in the life in front of him and protect his wife and children."
Takebe-sensei gritted his teeth and said, Fukan sighed.
"You are right. So Mr. Sanyi had no choice but to die after his wife and children passed away."
Because he deeply felt that there was no responsibility on his shoulders.
"He didn't know where he went or what he did during the two days he left Yamamoto."
Wandering around looking for a place to die?Spending the night under the eaves of a shrine or Jizodo, the sunrise moves on, going far away to places no one knows.He wants to find a place where no one recognizes him and doesn't know what his daily life looks like.However, his weak legs reached their limit after walking across Okawa.
"He never mentioned anything about the vassal state, but he has a slight Xinzhou accent."
Perhaps it was his hometown west of Edo that he wanted to get away from.
Shengzhisuke couldn't help but think of his father Sozaemon's face.Father cut seppuku in the garden.Is that what he really wanted?Did his father ever hate the unjust injustice imposed on him?In order to get rid of his injustice, has he ever thought of fleeing to another country, abandoning his family name and family, and fleeing to a place where no one knows the left and right guards of Furuhashi Sect?
Gorobei received Sanbon Hyogo's body and transported it back to Yamamotocho.Goro Bingwei accepted the barrel coffin and shroud that Chenji had unfurled.
Watching Sanyi Hyogo's body leave, Ah Jin wept again.She clung to the wooden door and refused to leave, tears streaming down her face.
"Ajin." Sheng Zhisuke couldn't bear to look at it, and called out to her.Ah Jin covered his face with his sleeve.
"Mr. Sanyi must be very grateful to you and Mr. Tozo. Everyone is doing so much for him."
Ah Jin covered his face and said something.Sheng Zhisuke couldn't hear clearly, so he moved his ears closer.
"Will Mr. Sheng become like that in the future?"
Sheng Zhisuke's whole body froze.
"Does the samurai feel that he can't live without face? Do he think it's shameful to be poor?"
Ah Jin was sobbing, and his tongue was not very good when he spoke.She was short of breath and spoke in fits and starts.
"In this case... no matter what... you have to become a rich person. Even if you let Wada house recruit... it doesn't matter. I will never... be jealous again."
Sheng Zhisuke was speechless.
"If Mr. Sheng stays here, one day he will feel that this is a disgrace to a warrior. In this case..."
Ajin simply squatted down.What a small back.Such a slender nape.The girl carries life on her shoulders on her petite frame.
"I won't be like Mr. Samick."
Because Sheng Zhisuke will not lose his trust in people.
"Mr. Sanyi cut his seppuku because he couldn't find the meaning of living in this world and lost the purpose of life. It has nothing to do with the samurai's face."
I have something to do.Under the summer dusk with the buzzing of mosquitoes, Shengzhisuke listened to Ajin's sobbing, and thought to himself.
Two days later, something happened, as if to test how strong this idea in his heart was.
"Mr. Sheng, you have guests."
It was also sunset.Today, Shengzhisuke also went out to look for the secretary. He just returned home from outside and was wiping his body with a wet towel. By the way, he soaked his swollen feet in the water basin and sat on the entrance steps, enjoying a moment of coolness.
Who will come to me?Sheng Zhisuke was in a hurry to dry his face, and even slipped.It won't work if it flashes to the waist like Grandma Tatsuzu.At this time, the paper door was opened, and a figure appeared.
"Oh, you tracker is really careless."
It was a broken gong voice that had never been heard before.The other party stood in the dim light and couldn't see clearly.
"I'm Furuhashi Shengnosuke. Excuse me, who are you looking for?" Shengzhisuke maintained the ugly posture and responded resolutely.
At this time, the broken gong voice responded:
"—I am the secretary you are looking for."
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