Chapter 28 Section five

Very strong wine smell. The man who appeared in the darkness was slightly drunk.Just by the smell of alcohol on his body, one can guess that he is drunk without looking at his face.His gait was flimsy, and he staggered across the threshold of the door, poking his fingers into the paper door.Shengzhisuke hurriedly lit the lamp.The man's face was swollen, his face was obviously flushed from drinking, and the whites of his eyes were particularly conspicuous. The man had a slight smile on his face. "What's your expression?" He pointed at Shengzhisuke's nose, causing another stagger, and made a cracking sound as if mocking.

"Didn't I say that, I'm the secretary you're running around looking for." He said jokingly. "I came here on a special trip, can't you even say thank you?" This person is not only poorly dressed, but even slightly dirty.He was sloppily dressed in a striped singlet and an old jacket, both dirty and patched.He has no family crest on his jacket, no sword on his body, and a Yatachi in his belt.If he wears a fortune teller, he looks like a fortune teller.This person should be over fifty years old, both his unkempt hair and the beard around his mouth are gray.Although he is thin, he has a round belly, which should be caused by drinking.

"Hey." He uttered an old man's characteristic low voice, stepped over the basin used by Shengzhisuke to soak his feet, and sat down on the entrance steps.His knees trembled slightly. "Could you have admitted the wrong person?" Sheng Zhisuke asked calmly. This is a drunk with poor taste.He might have learned from somewhere that Shengzhisuke was looking for a proxy, and thought of mocking Shengzhisuke here, and asked for some money to buy wine by the way.The dirty man was quite drunk, hiccupped, and then lazily turned his head to look at Shengzhisuke. "If you look for me everywhere, I will let you look around."

He hummed to himself with a melody, and then laughed alone. "In order to save you time, I came here in a sedan chair. You should thank me well." Sheng Zhisuke took a closer look and found that the man who spoke bluntly had an obvious old scar on his right cheek.Appears to be a knife wound, about an inch long. Taiyi and Ah Jin looked through the open door.Sheng Zhisuke winked at the two of them, telling them to close the door.Ajin nodded, and when Taiyi was about to close the door, the man poked his finger into the hole in the paper door just now. "May I ask your honorable name?"

The man turned his back to Shengzhisuke and hiccupped. "I don't have a name." Because I can be anyone - the man continued. "I can incarnate into anyone if I want to. I can be a noble person, or I can become a wandering warbler selling spring under the bridge. If I am a noble person, I should write words that fit the status of a noble person. words that can be written." Sheng Zhisuke slowly widened his eyes. "Do you work as a secretary?" "Didn't I say that?" The man straightened his thin back. "I have the best skill in the world. No matter who's handwriting, I can imitate it freely." He turned around suddenly, and turned his face towards Shengzhisuke. "Shall I perform this feat on the spot? No fee. Bring pen, ink, and paper."

The two confronted each other for a while, and finally Shengzhisuke stood up and pulled the desk to his side.There was still ink left in the inkpot from this morning's work at the Murata house. "You write your name here." The man lazily raised his chin at Shengzhisuke and gave instructions.Shengzhisuke picked up the pen, moved the tip of the pen to the left side of the brand new paper, and wrote down word by word carefully. "That word is really boring." The man said disdainfully. "It's neither good nor bad." Sheng Zhisuke handed the pen to the man without saying a word.The man slanted to one side, failed to hold the pen even twice, and finally took it.I don't know if it was a stroke, or the poison of alcohol was all over his body, so what happened to his trembling hands?He can't even write well.Shengzhisuke looked at it, and the man had already written the five characters "Guqiao Shengzhisuke" next to the name he had written.

The man removed the tip of the pen and wrote another line. "Furuhashi Zongzaemon" Shengzhisuke couldn't help gasping. It is the word of the father.His father personally taught Sheng Zhisuke how to learn calligraphy when he was a child.He has seen his father's handwriting countless times, and there is no mistake.He looked up, and the dirty-looking acting secretary smiled triumphantly. "How, let's understand it this way." Sheng Zhisuke was so surprised that he even forgot to blink his eyes. "If you still can't accept it, then I'll write you the proof of taking the bribe. I forgot the details, but I remember the general idea."

Sheng Zhisuke leaned forward, so strong that he almost knocked the desk into the soil. "That document was indeed written by you, right?" "Didn't I just say that? You young man is really poor in understanding." The acting secretary stared at Shengnosuke, who was short of breath and trembling in the sultry night air, and said without concealment. "As long as someone entrusts me, I will write anything. But the fee is not cheap." "What are you doing here?" The acting scribe showed an exaggerated expression of surprise. "Why do you ask like that? Aren't you looking for me? What do you think after you find me?"

Where to start?No, before that, he should have grabbed the hem of his shirt. "You wrote the forged document that framed my father, Furuhashi Sozaemon, right?" "Yes, I wrote it." "Who commissioned you to do this?" The acting scribe took a step back and looked elsewhere. "Well, I forgot." "Do not make jokes!" "I'm not kidding. I'm just doing business." Using my skill——Dai Shu slapped his thin upper arm hard. Shengzhisuke was passionate. "Who told you to write that document!" The daishu yelled at him like a counterattack. "I don't care who he is!"

The sound was so loud that even the broken paper door vibrated.The acting secretary got up and stood unsteadily in front of Shengzhisuke. "As long as you give me money, I will do it no matter who or how much I write for you. You brat, you have no right to speak of me!" "You have the face to say such a thing!" Sheng Zhisuke jumped down from the ground, trying to grab the acting secretary, but suddenly, stars appeared on his head, and he fell sideways, hitting the entrance steps. Sheng Zhisuke received a punch.The acting secretary clenched his fists tightly, then slapped his fists and spit aside.

"You're a wimp." Shengzhisuke struggled to get up.He couldn't believe it.Why can this thin and dirty old man have such an attitude? "I'll tell you a reason." The secretary breathed out a strong smell of alcohol, and approached Shengzhisuke. "Boy, listen carefully. I did write that document. The document that records the bribery situation, that document that proves that there is evidence of illegal black money transactions." But—his fingers with cracked nails pressed against Shengzhisuke. "But I wasn't the one who framed your father, nor the one who paid me to write the documents." Sheng Zhisuke was dizzy for a while.What is this man talking about? "Your father was charged with taking bribes because your father is such an insignificant man. A mere document can make people lose trust in him. He is such a man." He lacks human virtue - the secretary said. "You bastard..." Really dizzy.Sheng Zhisuke was full of anger and blood boiling. "Are you insulting my father!" "I didn't insult him. I just let you understand the truth in the world. Listen up, kid." He grabbed Sheng Zhisuke's skirt and pulled him up.Shengzhisuke is like a puppet. "If your father has some virtue or reputation, who would doubt him? Someone should stand up and make a defense, saying that Mr. Furuhashi Zongzaemon is not a person who accepts bribes from businessmen. There are such people who come forward Is it? Is there?" Shengzhisuke stared at the fundus of Daishu's eyes at a close distance where his noses were almost touching, staring at his bloodshot whites and cloudy eyeballs. "No one. No one stood up to protect your father. My forged documents are more convincing than your father's reputation and credit. Your father's life is not as good as a thin piece of paper." If you want to hate, hate this. "Your father only has this value, so he became a pawn to be sacrificed." The acting secretary pushed Shengzhisuke away. "That's how your father was sacrificed. It doesn't matter if you sacrifice him. That's why he was sacrificed. I didn't do it." After saying this, the acting secretary shook his hand as if touching something dirty.His body trembled, and his thin, bearded face twisted. Suddenly, a thought that even Shengzhisuke didn't understand emerged from his chest, passing through the anger and confusion at this time.Why is the dirty old man showing this look?Although he insulted Shengzhisuke's father with straight eyebrows, why did he tremble frequently? "You..." Sheng Zhisuke still didn't say "you guy" after all. "You obviously look down on my father, but you remember his handwriting." The secretary's expression became flustered. "Why do you still remember?" Dai Shu turned his face away, and moved his body outside the small seat light circle.Sheng Zhisuke continued to ask: "In order to imitate my father's handwriting, you once completely transformed into my father. Now you have my father's shadow in your body." "I thought you were going to say something, but I didn't expect it to be such an inexplicable word." The acting secretary said disdainfully again, but Sheng Zhisuke did not retreat. "You are insulting my father now, but you are actually insulting yourself." That's right, this is indeed the feeling in Shengzhisuke's ears. "Is that why you came to see me?" What nonsense—the acting scribe said with a slightly broken smile. "I want to come to see his father who missed him and was sacrificed, what a son who is more useless than his father looks like." "Then you have a good time to see him." Sheng Zhisuke sat upright again, put his hands on his knees, and raised his face resolutely. "This is what I look like. What do you see in it?" The back of the acting secretary is so thin that there is almost no flesh. "You said just now that no one believes my father and is willing to stand up and protect him. No one in the Fan family believes him. But there is me. I am just a young junior, and I am soft-spoken. Maybe even my father can't hear me trusting his innocence. Still, I believed him. I still believe it, and that's why I've been looking for you." Although not valued by others, he is the only father of Sheng Zhisuke.Furuhashi Zongzaemon was the father who raised Shengnosuke with love.It was the father who gave him that name. "Please tell me." Sheng Zhisuke bowed his head. "Who hired you to write that forged document? I think the thing about framing my dad was just a test... The people who hired you did it deliberately to confirm your ability. Am I wrong?" The secretary didn't answer. "You should have been assigned another important job. To you it's just a business, you just get paid, but this document has a powerful influence. It's powerful enough to affect my hometown, Dao Genfan future. I cannot remain silent and allow false documents to be rampant and distort the truth." Shengzhisuke heard a certain voice.Like a low voice... Is this acting secretary crying?Shengzhisuke stared again, he couldn't move as if he was frozen. The secretary was laughing.He lowered his head, couldn't help laughing and shook his whole body, he laughed wildly, and turned to look at Shengzhisuke. "You're a hopeless fool." He laughed loudly, mockingly. "What is the truth? Are you really right? Why are you so sure that you are right?" What are you talking about about the future of Gengen Fan——The secretary wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and laughed non-stop. "Like the small country feudal vassals that blow away at once, their power struggles don't matter at all. No matter who wins, who inherits the vassal position, the sun will not stop rising because of this." Sheng Zhisuke was surprised.The previous speculation was indeed correct.This man knows the situation in the domain.He clearly knew about it, but he still participated in it. "Are you writing the fake suicide note of Hou Wangyun? Or are you going to write it?" "I don't know. It's none of my business." "Who the hell hired you? Please tell me. If you continue like this, your life will be in danger sooner or later." "Is my life in danger?" The acting secretary thought it was funny, he raised his eyebrows. "I don't care what I do. Boy, you have to die. The real difficulty is how to live until you die. Eat, sleep, get up, eat again, and get drunk." The secretary put away his smile.No matter before laughing or after laughing, his eyes never changed. Is that dark, or evil?Sheng Zhisuke thinks it is neither.That's hollow.Empty black hole. "Did your father heroically hara-kiri in the end?" His voice changed into a soft whisper. "Do you cut your own seppuku, or are you forced to do it?" He asked this, indicating that he didn't care about Furuhashi Sect's left and right guards at all. "Why do you care so much about this?" The acting secretary snorted, "Does your brother care so much about your father's reputation like you do?" This time, Sheng Zhisuke was shocked. "You even know about my brother?" The acting secretary did not stare at Shengzhisuke, but showed pity for Shengzhisuke's ignorance as if he was speculating on him. "Who hired me? If you want to know the truth, ask your brother. This is the fastest way." Turning around suddenly, he staggered and slammed into the paper door again.The secretary pulled the door aside vigorously, and the hard-to-open paper door slipped out of the groove.The residents of the Fukan longhouse hurriedly dispersed.Tozo supported the paper door that was about to fall with one hand.Tai poked his head out from under his arm. "Get out of the way, drunkard." Dai Shu Chao Yinzang scolded, and then walked out of the house leisurely.All the residents of the longhouse stared at his back in a daze. "Ah, I fell." Axiu said these words unconsciously, and then hurriedly covered her mouth. "He's the drunk himself. Ah, he's gone." "Mr. Sheng, are you not injured?" Alu and Luzang asked.Sheng Zhisuke sat upright, out of tune with the situation at the scene, his mind and heart kept echoing what he had just said, and his expression was in a trance. "Who the hell is that person?" Ajin walked into the room, leaning towards Shengzhisuke. "Mr. Sheng, cheer up." Go ask your brother. This shows that Katsunosuke knows something. "Mr. Sheng, your face is swollen. Could it be that you were beaten? By the way, that person seems to have injured his hand." Did your father heroically perform seppuku in the end? The person who intervened for the father was the elder brother, and it was the latter.The eldest brother swung his knife and beheaded his father. This means Big Brother knows something. Not long after, Jihei from Murataya came to Fukan Nagaya.He didn't come just in time, but rushed all the way, and his face changed drastically. "Brother Sheng..." The overturned desk remained the same, Sheng Zhisuke changed his clothes and prepared to go out.He had to see Shigehide Sakazaki. "Brother Sheng, please wait a moment." Jihei pressed his shoulder, and Shengzhisuke pushed him away casually, and put on the wooden clogs. Jibei said: "No matter where you are going, please listen to me first. I am here to apologize to you, Brother Sheng." At this time, Shengzhisuke noticed that Jibei's expression was different. "I heard that man has been here, right?" It's all about me—Jihei said. "Did he give his name? Did he say something? I know he is very interested in Brother Sheng, but I didn't expect him to come to you suddenly." It's all my fault——Jihei covered his face with his hands, and the charcoal-ball eyebrows exposed between his fingers turned into splayed eyebrows. "Mr. Jihei, what do you mean by that?" Jihei put down his hands and wiped the sweat off his face, his shoulders drooped to the sides like his eyebrows, looking depressed. "I did it all. I don't ask your forgiveness, but at least you hear me out." This time Changjibei knew something inside. "I don't know the man's real name. Even if I asked him, he wouldn't say it." But Jihei knew his alias. "His name is Oshigome Gomenrou." Zhibingwei said in a deep voice, "About him, I lied to brother Sheng, and I also concealed many things from you." He knelt down on the spot, sat upright, then put his hands together, and pressed his forehead to the ground in the soil. "I kowtow to you. I'm really sorry." Sheng Zhisuke slumped down on the entry steps. "What the hell is..." Jibei-san lied to me? "The Oshigome Gomenrou you're talking about is the one who wrote vulgar books?" Jihei bowed his head and nodded.Those readings could not be completely rewritten in the end.Sheng Zhisuke was extremely surprised, he still had a book in his hand to be processed. "Mr. Jihei, that book is..." Jihei stared at Shengzhisuke as if he was conscious. "That book is his original handwriting. It should have happened five years ago. He brought the book to me at that time." It turned out that Jihei knew the man five years ago. "Mr. Jihei, you told me before that Oshigome Gomenrou is a friend of your father and has passed away. You also said that he was a ronin who took on jobs to make ends meet and spent the rest of his life." "I'm sorry." Jihei curled up. "My father did have such a friend. But it wasn't Mr. Oshigome." Because I can't tell you the truth - when it comes to this, the soldiers and guards are like a mosquito. "So I added some lies." Sheng Zhisuke sighed deeply.Jihei let out a long sigh as if he was influenced by him, lowered his head, and spoke eloquently. "That was five years ago, on a bitterly cold day just after the new year." Snowflakes fall from time to time in the gray sky——Ji Bing Wei Dao. "That man appeared in front of my shop." The other party wears the same outfit all year round. "At that time, he was wearing clothes full of patches and a cotton jacket with cigarette burn marks." The man said, "This is written by me, please take a look." Pass the burden to Jibei. "I was fully expecting that he wanted me to read his handwriting. Because that's when we started hiring people to transcribe the transcripts in our shop." But that's not what Oshigome Gomenrou meant. "It was a reading material. I told him that we are not a publisher. After hearing this, he replied that this book cannot be sent to a high-end place like a publisher. At most, it will be placed in a book rental store." When he talked with me, he always opened his voice, with a nonchalant look and arrogance. "And he was drunk at the time." "Has he always been like that?" "It was also when he came here just now?" "Yes, it smells strongly of alcohol." "It's really a bad habit, and they all drink bad alcohol." Jihei looked apologetic as if talking about himself. "Anyway, it's not good for me to let him sit in front of the store all the time. I have to accept his burden temporarily. I thought to myself that I just need to send him away and find a way later." After the drunk man left, Jihei opened the bundle and was surprised. "The writing on it is very neat." It is a calligraphy with a correct and beautiful style and an outstanding style. "That's right." Sheng Zhisuke said sarcastically. "That's why I believed your lie. You said it was a reading written by a ronin named Oshigome Gomenrou, and it was copied by your father. I thought the former owner of Murata House wrote a good handwriting, and I was full of admiration." Zhibei was downcast.Seeing this, Sheng Zhisuke felt a little regretful. "But the reading is terrible." That's right—Jihei's charcoal eyebrows drooped. "Too bad to laugh." Jihei was extremely frank, and the corners of Shengzhisuke's mouth could not help but twitch.Exactly.Although Jihei looked depressed, he seemed to be slightly relieved and straightened his originally hunched back. "I decided to put it on hold. As a result, four or five days later, that person came again." ——Can that kind of book be sold? "At that time, he was also drunk and very angry. I was funny and angry, and I told him frankly that even book rental stores like ours couldn't accept the books you wrote." I thought to myself, if this drunk man dares to get angry and get violent, I will call Baosan and the child laborer in the store and throw him out together. "I calmed down and took a closer look at him, and found that he was as thin as a hungry ghost in a picture of hell, as if I could push him down with just a push, and I felt reassured." Perhaps it was Jihei's tough tone that played a role, but the drunk man accepted the burden that was handed back without being violent. "He said that I would come again and then left. It was the first time he reported his name." ——My name is Oshigome Gomenrou.Renting a bookstore, you'd better remember this name. A month later, he reluctantly went to Murata House, carrying a new bundle in his hand. "I've been in contact with him since then." There was a wry smile in Jihei's eyes. “Nothing has changed in his books. Bitter erotica, bad-hearted villains, and young samurai framed by villains who vow to kill and avenge their enemies.” Only the villains change from time to time, some are evil elders trying to take over the family name, some are greedy businessmen, and some are lords or magistrates who abuse the people for pleasure. "I told him forcefully that no matter how many times you come back, the result will be the same. As long as you write the same content, it will never work. But I suggested, 'You are a good handwriter, do you want to transcribe the transcript for us on a part-time job'." Oshigome Gomenrou scoffed at Jihei's proposal. ——Who would do such a boring job? "Then I said to him, 'But if you want to live, you have to work.' He replied, 'My job is to be a scribe. If I want to earn living expenses, I will make money by working as a scribe.'" ——Sometimes you can earn a lot of money at once.Because I am a superb scribe, unparalleled in the world. "I didn't take what he said at the time seriously." Jihei said anxiously as if trying to defend himself. "However, he said that he works as a book agent, which I can accept." "Because he can write well." Sheng Zhijie said. "Yes, you have to be rich to afford alcohol. He always gets drunk, which means he has a way of making money." But it is really puzzling. "So I asked him, Mr. Oshigome, why did you insist on writing a book and sending it over when I rejected it again and again?" As a result, Oshigome Yumenrou replied——that's what I vomited out. "Spit it out?" "yes." —I spit out my past.The vomit accumulated in my body for many years, I wrote and vomited out. "It dawned on me." At that time, Oshigome Gomenrou looked just like he does now.There is no long or short knife stuck in the waist, and there is no ronin bun tied.But many samurai in the contemporary books don't eat three meals a day, but Oshigome Gomenrou doesn't have the slightest local accent when he speaks. Jihei thinks he is originally from the royal family. "I asked him, 'Is your reading material your own experience'?" Sheng Zhisuke frowned slightly.At this moment, Jihei suddenly came back to his senses, and hurriedly waved his hands in front of him. "I don't think that reading is entirely real-life. However, the man wrote the same thing over and over again, and I thought... Maybe that young samurai who was cornered by the villain's tricks is a portrayal of himself. Mr. Oshigome perhaps For some reason, I lost my family name and my samurai status.” Oshigome Gomenrou didn't respond positively to Jihei's blunt and somewhat impolite question. He responded. "My life is like vomit." Jihei felt that such an answer was sufficient. "Afterwards, I read his book seriously." He is a man with a changeable temperament - Jihei said hesitantly. "Sometimes he shows up three times a month, and sometimes he disappears for more than half a year." The readings he wrote are still unbearable.Regarding this point, Jihei repeatedly persuaded and offered good advice, but the result was in vain. "But he is very satisfied. Thinking about it carefully, at least there are still me reading his books in this world, which is very important to him." If every book was returned to him, he would feel sorry for him, so Jihei put the accepted books beside him. "Of course, this can't be sold at all." He smiled wryly. "I asked him if he wrote this kind of reading when he was young. As a result, he showed a disgusted expression like a caterpillar crawling into his back." — What nonsense are you talking about? "From the way he responded, he knew how vulgar his book was and how uncomfortable his readers were." ——Because the poison of alcohol has spread all over my body, I may die at any time.I was sick of the dunya, and of course I had to vomit my ass off on the dunya before I started writing books like this. After Jihei blinked his big cowbell-like eyes a few times, he fixed his eyes on Shengnosuke. "Brother Sheng, how old do you think he is now?" "I don't know, it should be quite old." "If I remember correctly, he is forty-eight this year." Sheng Zhisuke was shocked.The other party looked much older than he actually was. "Because of the rotten life, he got old very early. In fact, I don't think he had a good few years." Because he felt that his life was about to end, he turned the "poison of the world" into a story and poured it out.He would not close his eyes until he had poured out. "That's it..." Jibei looked into the distance. "Since he came to the store to look for me, two years have passed in a blink of an eye. One day he suddenly came with a large sum of money." At that time Jihei was sitting in the tent, Oshigome Gomenrou casually threw twelve taels of gold in front of him. "I was shocked and asked him what it was for, but he replied that it was my reward of five taels for reading his books, and the reward of five taels for reading his books in the future, a total of ten taels." ——This job is very lucrative. "I was surprised. There's no way a business like this can make so much money. I guess he did something bad, and I hurriedly asked him and said, 'Where did you steal this money? If you don't tell the truth, I will go to Notify the government'." Jihei's face changed drastically, but Oshigome Gomenrou looked at him with a playful smile. ——To open a rental bookstore, you are really timid. "He told me that there is really nothing I can do about you, so let me show you my special skills." Bring a pen, ink, and paper, and a book as a model by the way—Oshigome Mimorou ordered. "Then he showed me..." That stunt. "What I used as a model is my father's copy "Chemical Papyrus". It was my favorite reading when I was a child. Especially it is my father's copy, and I cherish it very much." Oshigome Gomenro's imitation is lifelike.Not only the handwriting, but also the pictures are impeccable. "I was taken aback again and my eyeballs almost fell out." The former shopkeeper of Murata House had a special habit of writing, and these habits had an indescribable style.For example, the stop and hook are particularly strong, the upper right is higher, and the upward strokes are particularly vigorous.Oshigome Gomenro even imitated these small places very delicately.Jibei came up with other templates one after another.Oshigome Gomenro imitated each copy almost as if it were real, and even imitated Jihei's own handwriting. "The old man in my store has a good handwriting, and this person will also imitate it. The child labor in the store has a childish handwriting, and he still imitates it." ——This stunt is the source of my drinking money. Oshigome Yumenrou said happily.This acting skill is unparalleled in the world.If you want, I can imitate any handwriting. "In other words, do you even dare to forge documents? I pressed him like this, and he admitted it generously without shame. As long as someone entrusts him, he will write anything. Whether it is a loan IOU, a family tree, or the origin of an antique illustrate." It's all fake.Imitate the original handwriting and then fabricate it. Isn't that the technique used to deceive people——Jihei shouted loudly. "At that time, he suddenly changed to a serious expression." ——It’s not right to be deceived by this kind of thing. The conversation just now suddenly rang in Shengnosuke's ears.Your father lacks morality.It wasn't me who framed him.It's your father who is too insignificant. Sheng Zhisuke remained silent, clenched his fists tightly. "Brother Sheng, did you hear what he said?" Zhi Bingwei's voice was like a mosquito. After Sheng Zhisuke let go, he stroked his knee and raised his eyes. "Mr. Jihei, I heard something from Ms. Kazuka's mother." After he told all the things he heard at Wadaya, Jibei's big cowbell-like eyes almost flew out. "I didn't expect you to inquire about this news." It turned out that it was related to Kanoya——Jihei mused. "It's a small world. Really small." It was terrible—Jihei flinched and shook his body tremblingly.That action made Shengzhisuke feel a little exaggerated. "It does sound like the world is small, but Kanoya and Murataya have a wide range of businesses, so there's nothing to be surprised about." Jihei interrupted Shengzhisuke and asked, "Brother Sheng, you used Madam's words as clues to find that person, right?" "That's right. It turns out that Mr. Jihei knew why I did that, but I didn't know it." Shengzhisuke didn't mean to be sarcastic this time, but Jihei looked apologetic. "I'm sorry. I can apologize as many times as I want, and I'll tell you the truth, but what you heard was twenty years ago?" "Yes. That man seems to have been making money this way since he was young." "Maybe he got into this business because of the incident at the ceramics shop." Jihei fell into deep thought, and then showed fiery eyes, "If you think about it differently, that incident can be said to be helping others. You can't insist that it is a bad thing... " In the middle of Jibei's speech, he found Shengzhisuke's face was serious, and hurriedly wiped it on his face.He looked at his hands, shook his head as if surprised by his behavior, and whispered whiningly: "But he has been engaged in forging documents for so many years, and I only have friendship with him for five years. Even if I preach to him, he may won't listen." "Have you ever preached?" "Of course! I persuaded him that forging documents is a very serious bad thing, don't do it, and you shouldn't do it." Of course, Oshigome Gomenrou will not obediently obey - I don't care if I'm hungry, but it's a headache if I don't drink. "I also persuaded him earnestly." Jihei scolded Oshikome Gomenrou, warned him, and tried to beg him. "If you don't wash your hands in the golden basin, I won't keep those books. Your coming in and out of my store will cause me trouble. Please think about it carefully." Oshigome Gomenrou no longer brought books, nor did he talk about his career in front of Jihei. "However, he came as a guest, and I can't neglect him, and other guests are watching." It's not easy to sprinkle salt to drive people away, right? "I haven't seen him do evil, I just heard him mention it. He's a queer man, and I guess he's talking nonsense." If I don't think so, I really can't accept it. "It's ashamed to say, but I was actually played by him. As soon as he showed up, I took the initiative to ask him if he had written a book recently." "How did he answer?" "Smile without answering." Perhaps the accumulated anger in his heart was almost exhausted. Jibei read his book patiently, and he was satisfied.And Zhibingwei, who knew that he was pouring out his grievances, took care of him in many ways, sympathized with him, and let him play around with himself, so the man felt satisfied. Jihei sat on the ground.At this time, the paper door was pulled, and two eyeballs appeared between the door, one above and the other below, peeping into the room.Above is Ah Jin, and below is Tai Yi.The two eyes widened in surprise. Sheng Zhisuke scratched his head. "Jihei-san, I look like I'm something. Don't sit there." "No, just keep it like this." Jihei's insistence made Shengzhisuke feel cold behind his back.Jihei wants to confess everything, so is there anything else to hide from him? "I met Higashiya-sama when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom the year before last." That's what happens when you enjoy the flowers at the first party.When Jihei changed the subject, his tone changed accordingly, becoming as low as a whisper. "I've met him long ago. However, I didn't know until that time that he had an important status as the residence of the Edo residence of the Togen clan. It was Mr. Fukan who told me at that time." What a well-informed manager. "Master Donggu told me that a young man from his domain came to Edo, please take care of me." "That person is me." Jihei stared at Doma and nodded slightly. "Brother Sheng, that happened a month before you arrived in Edo." Donggu also asked Fu Kan for help. "Master Donggu told me and Mr. Fukan that brother Sheng is a relative of his, not the eldest son of the family, and his future is uncertain. Master Donggu thought that it would be better to live in Edo than to have nothing to do in the feudal domain. , and I brought you here." Other than that, Master Donggu didn't mention anything - Zhibingwei turned a big corner and said. "That's really it. I don't know about Brother Sheng's background." "I understand." Sheng Zhisuke interrupted him quickly, with an ominous premonition in his heart. "But..." Zhibingwei hesitated to speak. "Later, brother Sheng took over the job from us. When he left our store with a book, Mr. Oshigome came." He didn't meet Brother Sheng at that time—Jihei hurriedly added, but his expression made Sheng Zhisuke suspicious. "Pass by?" For that brief moment. "At that time, Mr. Oshigome turned his head to look at your back." —Who is that young samurai? "I told him that you are a samurai I entrusted to transcribe this time. I also specially told him that the other party has a simple personality and is not used to life in Edo, so he must not provoke him." In fact, Oshigome Gomenrou (he came here because he drank all the time) provoked customers in front of Murataya's shop from time to time, and Jihei was quite a headache—a countryman, right?No wonder he looks like a wimp.Where is he from? Jihei inadvertently mentioned that Shinosuke was from the Tone Domain of Soshu, and as a result, something happened that made Jihei feel very strange. "What, you said Dao Genfan - the man said in surprise." —Is there something wrong? ——What's the name of that wimpy samurai? "I don't think it's something to hide." Jihei sounded quite painful, almost out of breath. "I guess Mr. Oshigome is also from the Tone clan, that's why he was so surprised." ——The samurai's surname is Guqiao. Immediately a strange thing happened.Oshigome Mimori was even more shocked, stunned, and then laughed out loud. "He bent over laughing and said there was nothing more interesting than this." —The young man's home was only recently destroyed by my forged papers.It's a small world——Oshikome Mimiro laughed unsteadily. "Then he told me the ins and outs of the whole thing. If he accepted the entrustment, if he didn't know where the forged documents were used and every detail, no matter how high the price was, he would not accept it." ——If you don’t know, it’s too boring. Sheng Zhisuke looked at Jihei who was hugging his head tightly and curled up like he was looking for a hole to get in, with a look of astonishment. What a coincidence.Jihei couldn't help but say "it's terrible" to describe the smallness of this world, but Shengzhisuke should be the one to say it. "So I know what happened to you. I also know what happened to your father." So you know. This sentence was like an echo, echoing repeatedly in Shengzhisuke's chest, and lingered for a long time.I also know.I also know. "I don't know who the person who hired Mr. Oshigome to frame your father is. I only know that it was someone from the Takune clan. Someone was in the middle." It may be Kanoya who is in the middle. "Didn't that person take over the job after asking the client's purpose clearly?" “尽管如此，对方也不会坦言名字和身分。假造身分很简单，而且押込先生也不是笨蛋，过问太多，他自己有生命危险，他不会跨越红线。话说回来不管对方什么人，他都无所谓。只要剧本有趣，能够在当中参一角，他就心满意足了。” 笙之介倒抽一口冷气。这什么怪脾气？怎么会有这种想法？根本不理会正义和善恶吗？ 果真如和香所言，他的内心严重扭曲变形。 “我在得知事情的来龙去脉后呆立原地。心想怎么回事。” 治兵卫的低语声更沙哑。 “我是否该马上向笙兄透露那个人呢？我心中有过这个念头，但不确定是否为明智之举。” “不应该考虑这个问题吧！”笙之介不自主地厉声一喝，治兵卫低垂着头。 “你说得对。如同笙兄你说的，但我还是犹豫了。” “为什么？”笙之介发现他的声音听起来不像在逼问，反倒在央求。 就像刚才那声厉喝，他既不是在怒骂治兵卫，也不是在责备他。 笙之介只是悲伤。 治兵卫竟然隐瞒这么重大的事。他瞒着天大的秘密，还一副毫不知情的模样与自己谈论誊写抄本的事，望着难得一见的起绘，眼中发出炯炯精光。 治兵卫带着《料理通》前来时满是喜悦的表情至今历历在目。当时笙之介对它极尽奢华的装帧感到吃惊，治兵卫则展现出无比的自豪。 和香的事也是。治兵卫看出笙之介一见钟情于他从门缝间窥望到的切发姑娘。理应无缘相识的两人，在他的牵线下，透过加野屋的赏花会结缘。 ——这么一提才想到。 就像有只冰冷的手掌滑过胸前，笙之介猛然想到和香那件事发生时，治兵卫的态度也是如此。由于和香是村田屋的客户，治兵卫听闻对方是留着切发这种罕见发型时就知道笙之介看到的姑娘是和香，但他当下没明说，只说想不出这么一位姑娘。他的言行举止不像装蒜，似乎真不知情，但其实心知肚明。 “为什么？”笙之介竭尽全力喊道。“为什么你不马上告诉我押込御免郎的事？” 因为太可怕了——治兵卫回答。 “一来，我要是告诉你这件事，押込先生肯定有性命之危。事情传进笙兄耳中，东谷大人一定马上得知。押込先生到时候绝不可能置身事外。也许会在东谷大人的指示下逮捕或受罚，甚至接受拷问，逼他说出受谁的指使陷害笙兄的父亲。” “那也没办法。是那男人自作自受，他只是为自己的恶行付出代价！” “这我知道。我当然知道。”治兵卫全身颤抖地辩驳。 “但我还是很同情他。我和他只有短短五年的奇怪交谊，但我对他这样的人产生移情。” 押込御免郎很不屑地说自己的书是“呕吐物”，而治兵卫持续读他的书，成为那肮脏男人在这世上唯一的朋友。 笙之介忍不住插嘴。“对那种男人产生同情，是治兵卫先生你错了。当然了，对我及古桥家而言，家父那件事比什么都重要，但那其实是敌人牛刀小试。家父遭人陷害的背后藏着更大的阴谋。一个足以撼动捣根藩的……” 我知道——治兵卫说。“此事我从押込先生那里听说了。” 笙之介目不转睛地注视着治兵卫。“你连这都知道，那你还袒护那个男人！” “就是因为知道才袒护他。”治兵卫抬眼望向笙之介，他眼眶泛红。 “那你也一并听说对方的阴谋，以及押込接下来会奉命伪造什么文件吧？” 治兵卫摇头。“这我就不知道了。至少在他告诉我笙兄及古桥家的事时，他也还不知道。雇用他的人还没透露此事。” ——你先等着，时候到了再找你。 “所以他说自己现在被人'豢养'，拜此之赐，这十年来第一次过着这般奢华的生活。他一定是指可以尽情买醉的奢华。” it is as expected.笙之介频频点头。 古桥宗左右卫门的冤罪不过小试身手，确认伪造文书多大功效。捏造这起冤罪的人真正目的，是要伪造望云侯的遗书——东谷推测方向没错。不过，押込御免郎还没伪造遗书。他在笙之介刚到江户时还没写，因为歉收导致藩内财政吃紧、主君延迟离藩，诸多因素重叠，所以“时候未到”。 因此，藩内的幕后黑手决定豢养押込御免郎。时候到来就命他伪造遗书，往后他这身绝技还是大有用处。与其杀他灭口，不如留他一命。此次事发后，难保日后不会遇上需要他大显身手的局面。 果真被笙之介猜中了，但猜中也没功劳，更没什么好高兴。 “他真悠哉。每天喝得酩酊大醉，路都走不好。想必他的饲主用很高的价钱买下他的手艺。” “我不是说了，他做事只看是否有趣。什么是义，什么是忠，他一概不管。有人看中他的手艺，委托他办事，他什么都做。不管伪造的文件是与藩内要事有关，还是放高利贷的人用来催讨债务，对他来说全都一样。” 谁先买到押込御免郎，他就站在谁那边。他乐于静观纷争演变。 “就这层意含来说，他这人有值得信赖之处。他接下差事就绝不会背叛，而且使命必达。” 没想到“值得信赖”这样的形容也会用在那男人身上，听了真不舒服。 “就算是脾气别扭的野狗，只要有食物吃，一样会成为忠犬。就是这么回事吧。” 笙之介的反问令治兵卫垂头丧气。 “他这次绝不会改变阵营，投靠东谷大人。”押込御免郎绝不会毁了雇主的计划。 “不对。”笙之介强硬地反驳。“那个男人今天不是主动来吗？他来见我，当我的面痛骂我爹。他发现我四处找他，非但没躲藏，甚至公然露面，报上名号。是他自己要毁了他雇主的计划。” “那是我不好。”治兵卫道，他眨眨布满血丝的双眼。“是我害的。我说了不该说的话。” 治兵卫到底想说什么？ “笙兄，你知道他接下来要伪造什么文件吗？” 突然被问一句，笙之介一时语塞。 “大致猜得出来。” “东谷大人也是吗？” “那原本就是东谷大人的推测。”笙之介说完后望着地面。“我初次听闻时惊讶莫名。” 笙之介再次对自己感到羞愧。 “笙兄奉东谷大人的命令，四处找寻他的下落吧？”笙之介咬着牙，微微颔首，治兵卫接着道：“现在我不想多做辩解，但我从未听笙兄亲口说出自己的立场和想法。” indeed so.笙之介也想过，不知治兵卫是否知道什么，是否从东谷那里听说什么，但最近没将此事放在心上。 ——没错，不过…… 治兵卫不时朝笙之介投以关心的眼神，或体恤他内心想法的眼神。正因为感受得到，笙之介才怀疑治兵卫是否从东谷那里听说关于古桥家的事，以及他的身世。结果根本不是如此，治兵卫透过押込御免郎得知部分事实，内心歉疚。 “笙兄，你开始找寻那位代书之前，我一直以为你不知道自己父亲背负冤罪，以为你心里认定那是你父亲一时鬼迷心窍，接受贿赂，因此被问罪。我暗自祈求你真是这么想。” 古桥笙之介痛失父亲，同时失去古桥家。他挥别过去，开创全新人生才到江户————治兵卫如此期盼。 “治兵卫先生，你不能用这些话当借口。”此时的笙之介已超越愤怒，感到一股幻灭。“就算我认定爹做出失德的行径，但要是你知道那是冤罪，也应该要告诉我。这是做人的道理啊！” 治兵卫突然强硬地反问。“既然做人的道理管用，那死者是否能因此重返人间呢？” 笙之介浑身冻结。 “笙兄知道真相也许会更痛苦……” 笙之介听到治兵卫这番话，血液在冻结的身体里逆流。 “别人姑且不谈，但你怎么说这种话？换作是你，你会讲出同样的话吗？” 二十五年前，治兵卫突然失去下落，最后化为一具遗骸的妻子登代，从笙之介心中掠过。 “登代夫人为何下落不明，为何遭人杀害？你一直没弄明白。你现在备受痛苦。” “没错，我很痛苦。不会有一日稍忘。” “如果有人知道登代夫人发生何事，你应该希望他告诉你真相。要是那个人说'你要是知道真相，反而会更痛苦，所以我不告诉你'，始终三缄其口，你应该会很怨恨他吧？” 治兵卫露出虚脱般的表情，犹如活死人。 "I have no idea." "But……" “但不知道也许比较好。” 笙之介无法理解，内心像打滑般一再空转。 “三河屋发生绑架案，当你知道那全是一场戏时，你说阿吉她错了。一个人突然消失无踪，音讯全无，有时比死别更教人难受。因为留下来的人无法看开。你当时不是很努力地想让阿吉小姐说出真相吗？真相就是这么沉重……” “阿吉小姐还好端端地活着。他们有办法原谅彼此，可能重修旧好。” 但死人办不到。 “留下来的人不管用什么方法，只要内心得到平静，最好就像孩子睡着一般别把他吵醒，静静地任由他去吧。” 世上哪有这种歪理。 笙之介趋身向前，正准备反驳时，治兵卫抬起手拦阻似地说道： “其实登代也有不好的传闻在外头流传。” 自从她失去下落，治兵卫周遭就有人窃窃私语。 “有人说，她又不是三岁小孩，这里也不是荒山野岭，一个女人家在江户市内就这么平空消失，实在很诡异。我看啊，登代其实不是被绑架，是自己离家出走。” 登代嫁入村田屋之前会在茶屋工作。 “可能是她一直和之前的男人藕断丝连，或是和我这种不懂情趣的男人一起生活，心生厌倦，因而和和昔日男人旧情复燃。不管怎样，她都不可能自己一个人，一定是和男人私奔。” “但登代夫人遭人杀害。手脚遭捆绑，嘴里还塞着布条。” “发现她的尸体时，她失踪半个多月了。登代与情夫起争执，眼看快被情夫抛弃，她急起来，最后落得那个下场，这种情形不无可能。” 治兵卫嘴角轻扬，露出苦笑。 “或是我暗中查出登代和她情夫的藏身处，那名情夫逃之夭夭，登代无法获得我的原谅，死在我手里。所以我大费周章地故布疑阵，让尸体躺在草丛，佯装遭人绑架。也有人放出这种传言。” 对于登代的不幸遭遇，町人们会怀疑是治兵卫所为，笙之介确实听过此事。 “那是有心人捏造的谣言。我不会杀害登代。”但我忍不住胡思乱想——治兵卫双手抱头。“登代搞不好是离家出走。虽然我自以为与妻子感情和睦，但无从得知她真正想法。也许她厌倦我，结识比我更好的男人。” 一方面想知道真相，却又不想知道。 “她突然消失应该有原因。只要查明登代为何会死，也能得知她消失的原因。” 这正是我害怕的——治兵卫说。 “随着时间流逝，现在我反而更害怕。” 我如今不想打探任何秘密。关于登代，我想保留美好的回忆。 “登世夫人被你想成这样，我真同情她。”笙之介注视着紧紧抱头的治兵卫。“被人用同样标准评估我和我爹，这更令人生气。我爹没收贿赂。他清清白白。” 所以他才那么困惑不解。想到这里，笙之介突然停住呼吸。 尽管困惑不解，父亲最后终究还是切腹。不，是被逼入切腹的绝境。介错人是大哥胜之介。 那名代书的声音在耳畔响起。 ——到底是谁雇用我，你想知道真相就去问你哥。这是最快的办法。 笙之介感到全身鲜血流出体外。 “笙兄的父亲一定很了不起。”治兵卫的声音听起来无比遥远。 “如果这样还是卷入这场风波，也许令尊背后藏有某个原因。虽然贿赂一案算试水温，是测试押込先生的本领，但设计谋的人也不会随意挑选一位毫不相干的人。这当中一定有什么。我只是在想，笙兄知道真相的话是否会为你带来幸福呢？” 治兵卫说得没错。父亲宗左右卫门并非单纯运气不好，选中作为牺牲者。背后有原因。 他大哥牵扯其中。 “我一直思索这件事，最后决定保持沉默。笙兄就不用说了，我同样对东谷大人只字未提。毕竟东谷大人的身分与我相差太远。事关捣根藩未来的这等大事，我区区一个租书店小老板根本影响不了什么。我插手也许只是散播灾难。我认为保持沉默是最好的做法。” 不过，治兵卫还是抱着最后一丝希望。也许押込御免郎哪天会改变心意抽手。 “如果他想远走高飞，我一定全力相助。但他这人根本不听人劝。” 所以我把抄本交给笙兄你处理——治兵卫说。 “我想请笙兄看那个人写的书，有不对的地方就修改，然后我再拿改好的抄本给那个人看。我相信这么做的话，会给押込先生带来不同想法。” 这世上并非全是卑鄙和邪恶。善良与正义并非永远都是落败的一方，只能流泪、悔恨。但押込御免郎一味地钻牛角尖，将他那如同呕吐物的满腔愤慨写进书中。 那只是他自己在钻牛角尖，这世界有不同的道路，拥有不同心灵者大有人在。因为押込御免郎一时觉得有趣以及挣酒钱，而被他所害的古桥宗左右卫门之子，如今亲眼拜读他的读物并亲手修改，对这本读物投注完全不同的观点。 “我心想，那个人也许会懂得反省而抽手。或许笙兄率直的心可以略微矫正他严重扭曲的心灵。但事实证明，我想得太肤浅。” 治兵卫的脸色超出面色如土的程度，只能用面如死灰来形容。 “我让他看笙兄辛苦修改的读物，结果那个人反而闹起别扭。他严重扭曲的心性非但无法矫正，甚至更扭曲。若非如此，他不会专程跑来，恶形恶状地辱骂你。” Is that right?笙之介困惑地思索。 笙之介修改的读物也许在某处触动押込御免郎扭曲的心灵。尽管经历父亲横死的悲伤，但笙之介不曾体验人性的残酷、背叛的丑陋、谎言的悲伤，内心不曾受过这样的重创，他修改的故事中或许掺杂押込御免郎在取这个名字前的年轻岁月里，拥有过的些许光明。治兵卫的意图确实达成了。 所以押込御免郎才为之震怒，忍不住痛骂笙之介一顿。 别把睡着的孩子吵醒。不管用什么方法，内心能取得平静就别再去扰乱。 一个不懂人情世故的乳臭小儿竟敢在书中大放厥辞，搅乱我心。你是哪根葱啊？你信口胡言，只相信自己过去仰仗的事，既然这样，我就透露个真相让你知道，当作对你的回礼。 就去问你哥。这是最快的办法。 “押込御免郎一方面说他不知道捣根藩的幕后黑手是谁，另一方面又知道我大哥，这肯定另有线索。” 笙之介突如其来的一番话，令原本死气沉沉的治兵卫抬眼。 “笙兄？” “我得找出这条线索才行。” 笙之介站起身时，治兵卫抓住他的裙裤下摆。 “你要去东谷大人那儿吗？” "This matter has nothing to do with you." “就算与我无关，还是请你听我一言。你不能直接通报东谷大人此事。这太危险了。如果要告知此事，我可以帮你安排。” 不知道接下来会发生什么。 “我也不清楚押込先生会做些什么。不过那个人跑来见你，还有笙兄你在打探他的事，对方很可能早察觉了。因为押込先生虽然算他们养的手下，但应该一直有人在监视他。” 笙之介低头望向治兵卫。“你要我逃走吗？” “我想帮你找地方藏身。虽然不能躲在村田屋，不过可以替你安排很多可靠的地方，和田屋也是选择。要是笙兄你有什么万一，我拿什么脸见和香小姐。” 我给你磕头了——治兵卫再次将前额贴在土间地面。这时，纸门发出不顺畅的声响开启。阿金和太一面无血色地站在门外，与治兵卫和笙之介相比也毫不逊色。 “笙先生，你最好快点离开这里。” 阿金声音颤抖，但展现出凛然之姿。 “性命比什么都来得重要。你们的谈话应该可以结束了。来，快行动吧！”