Chapter 9 fourth quarter

On the tenth night after the incident, Maoqi wandered alone to the bean curd sushi stall at the alley beside Fugang Bridge.Because the net that Mao Qi cast didn't yield anything, he was very anxious every day, he wanted to be alone, so he came here. It was a small stall with only the boss in charge. No one knew the real identity of the boss, but he seemed to have been a samurai.Even the local Kajiya Katsuzo almost wet his pants when he saw the boss, and he didn't even ask for a venue fee.Having said that, not only is the Doubi Sushi owner not scary at all, he also doesn't have any tattoos on his body.

Mao Qi and this boss are familiar with each other, this is because of his frequent visits.He is very interested in the identity of the boss, and he also wants to know his identity based on his professional relationship.However, before this, it was because of the bean curd sushi, and the food here is really delicious, that's why it became a regular customer. Ordinary bean curd sushi stalls don't sell soup, but here they sell not only soup, but also grilled and braised items, sometimes even desserts, and they are cheap, even with lights on until late at night.It was not only Maoqi who became a regular customer. In the middle of the night, a large group of people gathered around the stalls, including Erbaqiang wheat soba noodle vendors who went home after closing time, night watchmen, town gate guards, or private prostitutes who made a good salary that day.

Tonight too.Mao Qi greeted the boss with her eyes, just when a young man who seemed to be idle got up and walked out of the alley, Mao Qi sat down in his seat. "Haven't been here for a while, boss," said the boss.On the other side of the countertop where the bean curd sushi is placed, there is also fuming tonight. Mao Qi lowered her voice slightly and said, "Because of the murder in the temple." The boss, who should be younger than Maoqi, but with deep wrinkles on his forehead, frowned slightly and said: "Too cruel." "yes." To be honest, since the case happened, the reason why Maoqi has not been to the boss is very clear.Because Moshichi will think of those children when he sees bean curd sushi.Not only here, walking on the street and seeing a tofu sushi stand, he can't help but look away.

So when the idea of ​​going to the stall to have a look came into his mind tonight, Mao Qi was a little hesitant at first, but then he went out.He thought it would be good to look at the bean curd sushi, then think of those children, and cheer up for himself who was about to be discouraged. "I heard it's bean curd sushi." The boss said.Mao Qi raised her eyes inadvertently, and it was the first time she saw anger appear between the boss's brows and eyes.The boss has never shown his inner emotions so far, and Mao Qi couldn't help staring at the boss. "Are you angry too?"

"Of course I'm angry." The boss replied immediately. "That's my commodity." While the boss replied, he handed out a small plate containing three bean curd sushi.Mao Qi took the plate and picked up a cup of strong tea.No alcohol is served here, only tea and boiled water. "What else is there tonight?" "Silver fish plate, do you want it?" Never heard of such a thing. "What is it?" "Eat and see first." After a while, a bowl of small white things appeared in front of my eyes. At first glance, it really looked like fish plates of different shapes, with a lot of soup poured on it, and horseradish puree on top.

In the mouth, there is a faint fishy taste, a little salty, and it melts like snow in the mouth. "this is delicious." "Really? The boss is very lucky. That, you can't do too much at one time. That's the last bowl." Probably after hearing this sentence, a woman's voice came from behind: "Oh, it's so ruthless." Mao Qi didn't look back—it was probably a private prostitute, so there was no need to scare her. "Since it's called whitebait fish board, is it whitebait used?" "Yes. If it's a one-liter whitebait, soak it in one-liter water from morning to night, so the water will become cloudy, then put the water in a pot to boil, and then scoop it up to solidify The part of it is what you eat now."

Mao Qi was taken aback. "That's not a lot of work. Besides, don't you think it's a pity? I always thought that whitebait was eaten raw with two cups of vinegar. This way of eating would not be too much. It's expensive for a liter, right?" A smile appeared on the corner of the boss's mouth. "Of course, you are right. However, I really don't like eating whitebait raw." "Really? It's the same as my family's Xiji. He said that he always feels very pitiful when he sees those eyes that look like black spots." "That would be endless." The boss laughed. "Carp and earthfish also have eyes. However, I just dare not eat whitebait, which makes me feel alive, ah, I am eating living things and I am killing living things. It is indeed what Mr. Xiji said."

"However, if it is made into fish boards..." "At least no eyes." Mao Qi and the boss laughed at the same time.Mao Qi even thought to herself, it's been a long time since she smiled like this. Perhaps it is this time that makes the mood better and things progress, or it may be because of this that brings good luck.A few days later, the murderer of the child murder case in the temple was finally found out. Looking at it from another angle, this can also be said to be the credit of Maoqi.Quan San even believed that "it was all the tricks of the boss that worked."

Maoqi wanted to tie Ji and Quansan to the herb wholesaler on the site to inquire, and he went every three days, even if the other party felt annoying, he would come to the door repeatedly.In this way, it may remind the other party of something. In addition, this attitude here will also be transmitted to the ears of customers through the mouth of the wholesaler.Mao Qi asked them to be as aggressive as possible and to keep asking, so that no matter what, the rumors would definitely spread. The daughter of Owariya, a kimono shop in Ishihara Town, went to the herb wholesaler several times to buy rat poison according to the order of the shop. There were rumors about whether any of the people who bought rat poison were acting suspiciously, or whether they could remember the buyer's appearance, etc., so they came to the temple office with trepidation.Moreover, she thinks that once it is revealed that she went to buy rat poison, she will be too panicked to lie all the way to the end. In this way, the owner of Owari House may say that it was all done by A-Ju alone, and all crimes Pushed on her head, so I was afraid.

Mao Qi sometimes comforted the trembling A Ju, sometimes scolded her, and finally asked the details. Owari House has an only daughter, sixteen years old, named Ayu.Her skin was so fair that it was almost transparent, and she had big watery eyes.I heard that because of her beauty, people kept coming to propose marriage. However, this Ayu has a quirk, she likes cruelty to animals and killing. "I've been a maid under Miss's order since I was a child, so I know it very well." A-Ju said with a shiver on her thin shoulders. "Even the goldfish, kittens, and puppies raised by Owariya themselves will not live long, because they were all killed by the lady."

It is said that Ayu was born with this poor eccentricity.Of course, the people in Owariya tried their best to stop her, but it didn't work at all. Even so, when Ayu grew up, she usually couldn't see this eccentricity at all from her pretty face.Occasionally, about once every six months, she would mistreat kittens crazily, or feed wild dogs poisonous glutinous rice balls, and then stare at wild dogs struggling to die in agony—this was her.However, she is generally calm at other times.Therefore, whenever Ayu "explodes", the first thing Owariya has to do is to satisfy her as soon as possible. "It was like this half a month ago." Ah Ju said weakly. Ayu committed another eccentricity, and her blood began to boil. It is said that she ordered Ayu to buy rat poison. "When the young lady had a fit, if she accidentally disobeyed her orders, she would beat and scratch me, and I would be severely punished. So I can only obey her orders." A-Ku also said that the people in Owari House believed that as soon as this storm passed, Ayu would calm down, and if she killed one or two wild dogs, wild cats, or sparrows, or crows, she should be satisfied—everyone I'm used to this kind of practice, so I don't care at all. Unexpectedly, five children died in the end... "Miss goes to a tailor's house in the temple to learn needlework every three days, and I take care of the pick-up. Miss also knows about the Inari Shrine very well. Once, she said to me: 'I heard that it is always late at night here. , will gather many children like wild cats.'” A-Ju knew that the day before the murder, A-Yu ordered the maid in the kitchen to make a lot of bean curd sushi. "So, those kids died, and it scared the hell out of me." "Then, what's the lady's reaction? Is she satisfied with killing five people in one go?" "Yes. It has completely calmed down now. It can last for about half a year." Shigeru Qi thought to herself while listening to Aju, what happened to Ayu's girl's head? In this world, there are people like the vendor owner and Sekina who dare not even eat whitebait just because they look at them with small eyes like black dots.However, there are also those who kill five children and can eat, learn skills and sleep peacefully as if nothing happened.... Mao Qi suddenly thought of something that sent chills down the spine. In the eyes of this girl, Ayu, are the children hiding in the Inari Shrine in the temple the same as whitebait soaked in two cups of vinegar and still alive and kicking?Even if they stare at Yu, or when Yu looks at them, does Yu feel the same way I feel when the whitebait looks at me with eyes like black dots? That's why we can swallow those live whitebait indifferently. After Ah Ju returned, Quan San asked, "Boss, what are you going to do?" Maoqi wanted Ayu to be tied to a cross for assassination, but in this case, the possibility of doing so was probably not high. Owariya in Ishihara-machi is a branch house.The direct-line shop is located in the middle of Tongcho, making money like raking with a rake.It is from such great merchants that all the many public duties are performed.In this way, even if the case is made public, the other party will at most send money to threaten them, and ask Mao Qi to settle it privately.In addition to Kano Shinnosuke, the public servants in Fukagawa, our office, will probably also succumb to bribery. That being the case....Mao Qi stood up suddenly and said, "Quan San, follow me." "Yes." Quan San's eyes were bright. "Going to Owariya?" Mao Qi smiled slightly. "You who used to be a shopkeeper should know the best way to intimidate shopkeepers." How much money do we have to extort from Owari House this time, enough to feed, clothe, and house the homeless children in the next four or five years, and have enough money left over... to entrust the money to the owner of Daikon-cho by the sea Ji builds another house. Of course, Owariya must also fully understand that Ayu must be prohibited from doing that kind of thing. If this kind of thing happens again, I don't know what the consequences will be.This kind of false intimidation is what the arrester is best at. "Let's go." Mo Qi said. Less than a year after the five children were killed, a small Jizo hall was built next to the monstrous Inari Shrine in the temple.Under the tile eaves, five smaller Ksitigarbha Bodhisattvas are arranged side by side. This Ksitigarbha Hall was built with funds raised by the residents of the temple and Hamacho area, without spending a penny from Owariya. Unlike the nearby Inari Shrine, no one is afraid of this Jizodo.However, there seems to be a rumor that on windy nights, children's laughter will come from here. In addition, this matter has nothing to do with others, only the wife of Maoqi, the leader of Huixiangyuan, thinks it is strange, that is, after the homicide happened in the temple, the leader of Maoqi no longer eats two cups of vinegar and live whitebait.No matter who persuades him to eat, it is said that he always refuses, saying that this is the only thing he dare not eat.