Chapter 30 Section VII

At dawn, Shinosuke wrapped Oshigome Gomenrou's reading materials in a scarf and visited Jihei of Murataya. In less than a day, both of them still felt embarrassed, but the two said exactly the same thing. "Mr. Jibei, your face is really ugly." "Brother Sheng, your face is really ugly." Broom San was sweeping the floor in front of the store.Early in the morning, no guests came to the door, and the Murata house was silent. "I'm hungover." Shengzhisuke said frankly. "Being drunk by Mr. Wubu. He is really drunk after a thousand cups, just like a boa constrictor."

Can I sit down—— Sheng Zhisuke asked.Jibei drooped his charcoal eyebrows sadly. "Is there anything else? Please sit down." Sheng Zhisuke sat on the steps of the tent, unwrapped the towel, and took out Oshigome Gomenrou's reader. "I revised it yesterday. Please take a look." While Jihei was flipping through the pages silently, Broom San finished cleaning and came over with a tea bowl. "It's very effective for hangovers." Xusan said, adding a dried plum to the strong hot tea, and then he walked into the shop. Sheng Zhisuke picked up the tea bowl and took a sip.Bitter and salty.As I drank, the nausea in my chest gradually subsided.

Jihei's nose was flushed, and his big cowbell-like eyes blinked non-stop. "Brother Sheng, are you willing to forgive that person?" Shengzhisuke was silent, but he told Jihei about the conversation at "Tone" last night.As he said that, he looked at the door of the store and found that the door of the store that Broom San had cleaned carefully had been sprinkled with water.Murata House has been doing business like this for a long time.The shopkeeper is honest and upright, and the shopkeeper is thoughtful and careful.They attract customers, think about customers, and cherish the friendship established by renting books.

Suddenly his heart tightened. "We are all like puppets." Shengzhisuke said. "The person who controls the puppet is Master Higashitani. We have been unable to escape the palm of Master Higashiya. There is no need for Mr. Jihei to apologize." Jihei was only involved in the turmoil in the Tone Domain. "I hope Oshigome Gomenrou can feel something from Jihei-san's warmth." After closing the book, Jihei looked down at the book and said, "What will happen to him next?" "I don't know that. But he's an important witness to the conspiracy, so..."

"You won't be beheaded immediately, will you?" Zhibei smiled weakly. "Even if you are beheaded, there is nothing you can do." Sheng Zhisuke was silent. "Brother Sheng, what about you?" "I don't know what will happen to me." "However, didn't Master Dongya want you to stay in Edo? He wants you to continue your current job." That should be Donggu's hope. "This time it's not entirely up to Mr. Donggu to decide the funeral. I guess I will be called back to the domain sooner or later." Shengzhisuke also wanted to witness what would happen to his mother Lie next.

"Then your brother..." "No matter how much I think about it, it won't help." "Master Donggu must have spent a lot of effort in order to let your eldest brother go, so he must have also..." Sheng Zhisuke interrupted Zhibingwei. "I don't know how long this job will last, but I want to ask you one thing. No, it's more of a sell than a please." Jihei was taken aback for a moment, his depressed expression finally changed slightly. "sell?" "Do you still remember the vassal of the Miyachino Clan, Nagahori Kingoro?" "Remember, he is the samurai who brought letters like word games, related to ciphertext?"

Shengzhisuke nodded. "Mr. Nagahori saw that the incident was largely resolved, and he gave me something when he was about to return to the Sanyachino Domain. I want Mr. Jihei to see it: it is the two books presented by Nagahori Jingoro. "Ten Ming Sanyachino Love Township Records" and "Treasures of Thousands of Households Despise Anyi Biography." "I still remember. We also have a copy of "The Biography of Du Bi An Yi" in our store. It has been kept in the library, and no one has come to rent it." "That's right. It's a book written by Oshu Kohan who suffered from famine. I don't think anyone in Edo-cho likes to read this kind of book."

But Shengzhisuke believes that more people should read this book. "During poor harvest years, people in Edo also suffered from hunger. Because food prices rose. However, as long as you have money, you can still buy food. But in some places, even if you have money, you can't buy food. Rice, soybeans, and miscellaneous grains are completely There is no harvest, and people are forced to dig up tree roots to eat. The pain of the people in the border villages is not something people in the city can understand." I have never been able to understand their pain, is this really okay-Sheng Zhisuke said.

"In our vassal state, harvest failure and famine are the fears that we often encounter around us. What surprised me the most after I came to Edo is that although the people here don't know what will happen tomorrow, they always have a way to raise three meals for today. Even the people in the Fukan longhouse. They believe that as long as they survive today, they will have something to eat tomorrow. This is how the people here live.” Jihei listened carefully, and slowly sat up again. "But in this country, there are also people who are forced to live a life without food today and tomorrow. It is this group of people who support the daily life of Edo people. I think books like "The Story of Doji Anyi" , should be widely read by more people.”

Sheng Zhisuke did not come to Edo out of his own will.His life in the Fukan longhouse and his work in the Murata house were all arranged by Donggu.He didn't know how long he could stay in Edo, and he might never have the chance to come back here again.In this case, he hopes to do things at least voluntarily. "During the time I lived in the Fukan longhouse, I hoped to make as many copies of these two books as possible. If there are books with similar contents in the library of Muradaya, please lend me. Books from any feudal kingdom are fine. The more the better. I will also transcribe these transcripts. So please lend me some books. Mr. Jihei will certainly be able to do it."

This is the idea that Sheng Zhisuke came up with hangover head.It was his whim, but at this moment Shengzhisuke is eager to realize this wish. "I beg you to fulfill me." Sheng Zhisuke bowed deeply, and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter if the salary is a little cheaper. This is a forced sale, please feel free to bargain." Jihei raised Tanqiu's eyebrows, and his cowbell eyes narrowed slightly. "I see." He sighed. "I'll entrust brother Sheng to handle this job. Of course, I don't need to say much to know that the salary will be discounted a lot. This won't be a profitable business." Then Jihei finally smiled. "However, I will pay you a high salary for this book." Jihei rested his hand on Oshigome Gomenrou's reading material. "You rephrased it well. It will suit the customers in our store. You handle it well." Under the morning sun shining through the window, Jibei's expression became much more cheerful.And the lump remaining in Shengzhisuke's heart seemed to gradually melt because of his cheerfulness. "Then we'll start right away. But Brother Sheng, before that..." Zhibei suddenly turned sad again. "Will you go to Wadaya next?" Sheng Zhisuke pursed his lips tightly.When I think about it, my heart is in turmoil. "Brother Sheng?" There was a cool breeze blowing outside.Splashing water on the ground worked.No, it should be midsummer.Sheng Zhisuke thought to himself. I lived in Edo for a long time.Every day during this time is filled with memories. "I stayed with Teacher Wubu all night last night." Shengzhisuke whispered. "I heard him talk about many things. Mr. Wubu's life has been a long way, but his wife has always been by his side." What a fairy couple.Although drunk and dizzy, the idea was deeply rooted in his mind. "At that time, I thought to myself, if there are people who will walk with me in the future, just like them, I don't know how wonderful it will be." Jihei stepped forward slightly. "Brother Sheng, what do you mean..." "But I can't be like them. I can't see the future, and I don't know what will happen next. Although Master Donggu said that, there is no guarantee that I will not be questioned when I return to the feudal kingdom." "Then don't go back." Jibei resolutely suggested. "Brother Sheng might as well escape from the feudal kingdom like your elder brother. Maybe Master Donggu's words have such a hidden meaning? I think so." Sheng Zhisuke shook his head silently.The two sat opposite each other, silent for a long time. "I wanted to see Miss Hexiang very much last night." I would love to see her.Want to talk to her.I have something to tell her. "But because I'm not used to drinking, I got drunk for a while, and the drunkenness gradually subsided, and I regained my senses. I don't want to see Miss Hexiang now." I understand that I cannot see her. "So you're going to leave her alone like this? She's worried about you." "I will write to her. Miss Hexiang is a smart person, and she knows many things. I will ask sister Axiu to deliver the letter for me." "It's too outlandish." "It's the right way to see others. No matter how close I get to her, there will be no results." Jibei moved his body and let out a long sigh. "According to reason, maybe this is the case... But this kind of thing cannot be viewed based on reason alone." Sheng Zhisuke stood up. "I have made up my mind." Regarding the matter of directing Hexiang to make paintings, it would be great if he could not give up halfway, but Hexiang can complete the follow-up by himself.I don't know what she wants to draw. "I'm going back to the longhouse. Gotta start working." Brother Sheng, Brother Sheng—Zhi Bingwei yelled twice in succession.Sheng Zhisuke ignored his call, and when he suddenly came back to his senses, he found himself in the clear summer sky with a hint of autumn. The people in Fukan Nagaya didn't respond particularly to Shengzhisuke, whose expression hadn't changed much.Mr. Sheng, you came back really late last night - said A Lu next door. "Did I hear that you were drinking with Takebe-sensei? I'm not used to that face. It smells like alcohol." He was scolded by Ah Jin.Everyone is still busy today. Sheng Zhisuke sat at the desk.He wanted to write a letter to Hexiang, but in the process of grinding ink, this idea gradually withered, and he decided to do it later.He opened "The Biography of Du Bi An Yi" and began to copy it. After a while, He Xiang's face flashed across his mind. He really wanted to write a letter, but he still couldn't pick up a pen to write.He couldn't make up his mind. Really useless. During the time he forced himself to sit at his desk, he forgot his lunch and dinner.At this time, the smell of alcohol on my body completely dissipated, and when I went to the toilet, because I was hungry, I felt that my steps were vain.At such times, Ah Jin often found out quickly and came to care.But today is different.After night fell, Ah Xiucai came to show her face. "Mr. Sheng, you haven't eaten today, have you?" She brought cold rice and pickles, and then sat down. Although Shengzhisuke declined repeatedly, she ignored it and prepared hot water for rice. "Are you busy? The boss of Murata House assigned you an urgent case, right?" Sheng Zhisuke guessed a little earlier.The people in Wadaya must be very curious about Shengnosuke's subsequent situation, and needless to say Waka, Madam and Jinta must be very concerned.Axiu was entrusted by them to come to investigate the situation. "yes." "Mr. Jibei is really good at calling people." Axiu even waited on Shengzhisuke for dinner, and did not leave for a long time.Sheng Zhisuke was naturally reticent, but keeping silent all the time was very embarrassing to Axiu, and speaking out was bound to lie. "I said Mr. Sheng..." Axiu asked impatiently. "I really don't know what's going on..." "Miss Axiu." "What's up?" "Can I ask you for a favor tomorrow?" Axiu sat upright. "I would like to ask you to help me deliver the letter to Wadaya. Miss Jinda, please pass it on to Miss Kazuka. I wonder if you would like to help me with this." This matter should be settled today.Delaying it will not change anything, it will only increase the pain. "As long as you trust me, you can do as many trips as you want." "Then please. Thank you for your hospitality." "But Mr. Sheng..." "I'm going to soak in the soup." Shengzhisuke left Axiu alone, and put the handkerchief over his shoulders. Even though I came to the bathhouse, my mind was still full of Kazuka.I'm really not straightforward.It was clearly his own decision, yet he still hesitated.Obviously there is no other way to go, but he still hesitates.He splashed water and washed his face again and again. He made up his mind again on the way back to the longhouse.I will write tonight.By writing a letter to Hexiang, I sorted out my thoughts by the way, and then left the Fukan longhouse.Can't stay here any longer.I'm just so weak - Sheng Zhisuke once again had such a realization. Although I feel sorry for Jihei, I still ask him for help.Just let him live in a corner of the library in Murata House.There is no need to pay him a salary for copying the transcripts, only a place to live and two meals a day are enough. ——This is too thick-skinned, and also very useless. Just ask Li Zhi from Sichuan Fan for help.Whether it's cleaning or cooking, I'm willing to do anything. In the end, Shengzhisuke realized that he could do nothing by himself. But he didn't want to rely on the mansion.Then he would have to make up a story to explain it, and he didn't want to do that.Donggu is busy with this case and cannot disturb him.Before Higashitani took the initiative to summon him, Furuhashi Shengnosuke had better maintain his current identity. He was an assistant scholar who was ordered by the master of Yuexiangkan to come to Edo for business. In fact, he didn't want to know the movements of the mansion.This is his true heart. The wooden door of Fukan's long house gradually appeared in front of him.In the Inari Shrine where Sanyi Hyogo cut seppuku with blunt knives, the bib hanging on the fox god's chest is extremely bright red.There are lanterns lit by Fukan's lamp oil money.In the middle of the night, when the lamp oil runs out, the lights will naturally disappear. Suddenly, Sheng Zhisuke noticed movement behind him. Human body temperature and smell. Shengzhisuke turned around and looked.Hanging high in the sky tonight is a crescent moon as thin as a thread.The dark night at the end of summer was thickly condensed on the narrow path leading to the long house. The darkness suddenly changed and turned into a human form. The darkness spoke: "Shengzhisuke." It's Katsunosuke. In addition to the faint moonlight, there is only the dim light of the lanterns leaking from the Inari Shrine.Shengzhisuke turned his back to the light.The eldest brother who was confronting him was shrouded in the dim light, like a ghost. He came within reach. "Shengzhisuke." Katsunosuke called out again.He wasn't actually calling out, he was just making a sound to confirm, and at the same time let Sheng Zhisuke hear his voice to confirm his identity.The other party used this voice to express——in this world, only your elder brother can call you with such emotions full of anger, hatred, and frustration. "Brother—" Katsunosuke didn't wear a jacket and culottes, just casual clothes.He was unshaven in the pale moonlight.The shoulders of the clothes look messy.Katsunosuke had no time to care about his attire, and rushed here wholeheartedly. The eldest brother had a shallow knife wound on his right cheek. "Brother, why are you here?" Katsunosuke didn't answer, his eyes were shining in the darkness.Katsunosuke stared at Shengzhisuke, pressed the handle of the knife, and the handle was slightly out of the sheath. "I'm not the same wretch as you are." His voice was as hard as a rock.Not only his body, but his heart turned into rock. "I will not be at the mercy of Shigehide Sakazaki." At the same time as he finished speaking, a white light flickered.Sheng Zhisuke, who was standing still, had no time to dodge, nor could he dodge.The difference in swordsmanship between the two is like an adult versus a child. Sheng Zhisuke reluctantly leaped back, but still couldn't avoid the blade of his elder brother.He stopped breathing for a moment, and felt a strong impact from his left shoulder to his chest, as well as a scorching heat like being splashed with hot water. "I've been tricked by you, how can I swallow this breath. I want to cut off the blood of the coward of the Guqiao family!" Sheng Zhisuke turned around because of the strength of being cut, but then struck back with another knife.Sheng Zhisuke threw himself to the ground, dodging a knife.The eyes gradually turned into pitch black.His chest and shoulders were hot, but his whole body was cold. He heard Katsunosuke's rapid breathing and the sound of stomping on the ground. "Go to the underworld to meet dad. This is what mother wanted." The elder brother's voice trembled.Or, is Shengzhisuke trembling himself?The voice sounded distant and indistinct, as if submerged in water. There are some parents and children in the world whose relationship is so incompatible that they cannot understand each other.The personalities are so far apart that they can't stand each other.Sometimes no matter what, you just can't connect with each other.Standing and identity can change the truth or falsity of an idea.What is important to one person is abandoned by another. Sheng Zhisuke lives here and has been witnessing all this.Mikawaya's mother and daughter, Wadaya's Kazuya and her mother who quarreled with her, Nagahori Jingoro and his lord, and the people the lord misses; The fear of losing something after solving the mystery. People have ideas as long as they cannot let go of their thoughts.As long as everyone thinks differently, even if they face the same thing, the impression they get will be very different, and the things they pursue are also different from each other. Just like he couldn't forgive his father, the elder brother couldn't forgive Shengzhisuke either.Although born in the same place and raised by the same parents, the two pursued very different things.It is impossible to know which is right and which is wrong, and such a question itself does not have any meaning. In the distant childhood, I should have seen the smiling face of my eldest brother, but now I can't remember it at all.And when was the last time Shengzhisuke laughed in front of his elder brother? Too dark.It was pitch black.It's like it's late at night.Shengzhisuke was gradually engulfed by darkness. "Wow! Not good!" Ahead in the darkness, a familiar voice was loud and noisy. "It's on fire! It's on fire! Come out, everyone! It's on fire! It's on fire!" It is Tai.What a daredevil, where the fire should be clearly explained—— Thinking of this, Sheng Zhisuke lost consciousness.