Chapter 21 third quarter

"What do you think Tiaoshen is doing?" Mao Qi asked.Seji burst out laughing. "The boss is really too, as soon as Ridao is mentioned, he looks like he is about to fight." The two were on their way to the Ryogoku Bridge.They planned to go to Kanda Myojin on official business.Although the wind is not so strong today, it is still so cold that the breath I exhale is about to freeze, and my fingers are stiff with the cold.Xiji's nose was even redder. Tiaoshen Ridao—in fact, he is the son of a grain wholesaler behind Mifunezo, named Changsuke, he is only ten years old, but it is rumored that this little ghost is born with a strong sensory ability, helping people find Lost things, or looking for people, exorcising evil spirits, etc. are not a problem, and just looking at the face can cut off a person's lifespan.It's fine if it's just self-boasting, what Mao Qi can't understand is that he always charges a high fee every time he does something for others.

Even if it wasn't like this, Mao Qi hated this kind of thing very much, that's why Xi Ji would make fun of him. This autumn, when the case happened at the "Yangliu" chartering hotel, Maoqi met Ridao for the first time, and they didn't hit it off from the beginning.After that, Mao kept an eye on Ridao's activities at seven o'clock, but couldn't find anything to intervene in, so he could only endure his unhappiness until the end of the year. On that day, it is said that he went in and out of Kawachiya. "Well, in the middle of the month, didn't a maid escape from Hanoi House?" Xi Ji said. "Hanoi House, please Ridao to find out the whereabouts of that maid."

"Is the person looking for him the owner of Hanoi House or the owner's wife?" "Boss. The proprietress there is a rich lady. She is very quiet. I heard that she seems to be completely ignorant of business and housework. She is famous for that." "did you find it?" Xiji shook his head, even his cheeks were flushed from the cold. "I don't seem to have found it. It's just that I heard that Ridao said that the maid was dead. When he started dancing at the Hanoi House, he said: 'Ah, this one is already dead.'" Maoqi stopped in her tracks. "what?"

"He said he jumped into the river and died. I heard that the next thing is to find the body." "The owner of Hanoi House believes what Ridao said? He asked Ridao to find the body?" "Probably. I think it's too pitiful. At the very least, I want to salvage her body and help her with the funeral. Hanoi House is very considerate to its servants." Moshichi couldn't say such warm words like Seiki.Kawachiya Matsutaro, really drilled into a dead end to this point? "After finishing our business, we went back to Edai Bridge and went to Kawachiya in Imakawa Town. It turns out that the salted salmon incident is still in trouble."

Seeing Moshichi's sudden visit, Matsutaro showed a surprised expression, but Moshichi was equally surprised to see his face.In less than half a month, Matsutaro became thin and emaciated, as if suffering from a serious illness, with loose skin and lack of vitality, and he looked sleepy, as if he hadn't slept well. "Boss, do you have any news about Ali?" As soon as they sat down in the tatami room, Matsutaro immediately asked. Mao Qi didn't answer right away, but drank the tea served slowly, thinking about it.It is said that this room is Matsutaro's living room, but the landscape garden scroll hanging in the alcove does not seem to be Matsutaro's interest in any way.It could be the living room of a previous generation of bosses who just took what they ordered.It seems that the Kawachiya boat is not willing to obediently obey the boatman Matsutaro.Doesn't Matsutaro know that inviting Tiaoshen under such circumstances will cause a disturbance among the servants?

"What is it? Boss." Matsutaro leaned forward and asked. "Have you found Ali?" "I heard that you called Ridao to dance the gods. What does Ridao say?" Matsutaro drew back. "You know?" "Yeah. Ridou is a well-known dancer in the Fukagawa area of ​​our office." "I heard that some people came from Takanawa or Sendagi to find Himichi-sama recently." Matsutaro finished speaking in a low voice, then lowered his eyes and said: "Master Ridao said that Ali is dead." Mao Qi nodded and said, "I know this too. Boss Hanoi House, so you are not looking for Ali, but her body, right?"

Matsutaro blinked and let out a breath. "I hope she's still alive too..." "But, why did Ridao know she was dead?" "It is said that he touched Ali's previous apron, and that image appeared in his mind, saying that he saw Ali jumping into the river from his mind's eye." Shikichi looked at Maoqi with a look of excitement, Maoqi stared back at him, and then turned to look at Matsutaro. "I promise I will never say anything, I hope you can answer honestly, the boss of Kawachiya... No, Mr. Matsutaro, has there been anything between you and Ali before?"

Matsutaro opened his eyes wide.At this time, Mao Qi felt that although this man was not very straight, his eyes were very clear. "Ali is a gentle girl," Matsutaro said, slowly raising his hand to touch his forehead. "Very hardworking too. I... used to like Ali." "Ali probably noticed it too." "I never said it, but I think she should have noticed. This kind of thing is probably not unilaterally self-righteous, right?" Matsutaro said. "Before the matter of getting married was made public, I once told Ali in a casual casual tone among my partners. I said, I would rather be with Ali than to take care of such a large shop and experience hardships that are not commensurate with my status. Let a girl get married and suffer for that little happiness."

"What did Ali say at the time?" "She didn't say anything, just laughed." Mao Qi thought to herself, she probably can only laugh, it's really unbearable. "Ali is a girl who loves to smile." Matsutaro continued, the lines at the end of his eyes seemed to relax. "There are elderly parents in her hometown, and she has to send money back. Her life experience is quite bitter, but she is very cheerful and careful. Although the previous generation of bosses and bosses are very satisfied with her, they will still She always scolded me severely. Sometimes I was scolded even though it wasn’t my fault. The helpers were like this. However, Ali would stick out his tongue and smile after being scolded obediently. By her side, I always calmed down. "

"However, Mr. Matsutaro, in the end you became the son-in-law of this family." "It's something I've decided since I was promoted to head man." "Ali agreed?" "Whether you agree or not..." Matsutaro smiled wryly.Only then did Mao Qi remember that it was the first time he saw this man's smile. "The family wanted me to marry, and Ali probably didn't think it was possible for me to say no. So, at that point, yes, maybe she agreed, maybe she gave up on me." "Because of different identities?" "Maybe."

Matsutaro frowned slightly; maybe he kept the matter with Ali deep in his heart, and it would hurt him as soon as he touched it. "After officially deciding to become Miss's husband-in-law, I thought that Ali would resign. No, not only Ali, I thought that all the shopkeepers who were dissatisfied with me would also resign, but no one resigned. This is very strange." "Wouldn't it be easier for you if they resigned?" Hearing what Moshichi said, Matsutaro laughed out loud. "That's not the case. In that case, the shop can't go on at all." Maoqi nodded. "Probably. The so-called shop can't be operated by the boss alone. Besides, those shopkeepers have to live, they should have this level of concern, maybe they don't want to waste their hard work so far. You think they are not satisfied with you as a Boss, it would be wrong to think that they might resign because of this." Matsutaro remained silent.Maoqi continued: "However, Ali's situation is different from other shopkeepers. This is a matter of relationship between you. You became the son-in-law of this family. Until this incident, Ali has not resigned. Do you know about this matter?" "What's the meaning?" "I mean, after you became a son-in-law, did you do anything to keep Ali?" Matsutaro's face turned pale in an instant in front of Moshichi and Seiki, and his whole body seemed to have faded like the hanging scroll of the landscape garden decorated in the alcove behind him. "I'm not that nasty kind of man." He said tremblingly. "I cherish this shop and the lady very much. I can't do that kind of dishonesty, and I never thought about it." However, if this is the case, why did Ali not leave Hanoi House but stay?Doesn't she feel embarrassed?Moreover, why are you leaving the shop in such a hurry just because of such a trivial thing as dropping a salted salmon... . With these questions in mind, Mochi shrank his neck and left Hanoi House.The two walked silently along the Okawa all the way, and when they came to the front of Mifunezo, Moshichi had the idea of ​​visiting the Japanese Taoist school. "Assault?" Xi Ji said startled. "It's too bad to say assault. The kid said Ali was drowned. I just wanted to ask him why he said that." "It's the eyes of the heart, boss." Xi Ji said in a mocking tone, and followed behind Mao Qi. Miyoshiya is located on the same side as the doorman's hut behind Mifunezo.Walking along the slender river, the lantern of the guard's hut appeared in front of you, and the light on the side was the hanging lamp in front of the Miyoshi House shop.Under the freezing night sky at dusk, when all the businesses have closed their doors, only Miyoshi House is still lighting the lights for the guests who come to visit Hidori after closing the doors.It is said that the grain wholesale business of Miyoshiya Honjo is also very prosperous, but Nidichi makes more money than the main industry. It's really presumptuous——Mao Qi was thinking about this while approaching the hanging lamp. At this moment, the door of Miyoshi House opened, and a person walked out from inside. Mao Qi gasped, and Xi Ji quickly stopped. "Boss, that's..." Hush, don't make a sound... Maoqi stops Xiji. The one who came out of Miyoshi House was the bean curd sushi owner who set up a stall by the Tomioka Bridge. He turned to Miyoshi House and saluted the people inside the gate solemnly.He only holds a plain lantern in his hand and has bamboo leather shoes on his feet. Before the owner of Doubi Sushi turned to face this side, Moqi grabbed the back of Seiji's neck and hurried to a nearby alley.The two huddled to hide and peeked, and saw the boss lighting his feet with a lantern and walking towards the Wannian Bridge with his head slightly lowered. Mao Qi and the others walked out of the alley, and saw the light of the lantern in the boss's hand swaying with the fierce north wind, drifting away. The boss came to find Ridao—does the boss believe that Ridao has spiritual power?No, could it be that the boss has already asked the Ridao before? Looking back, the door of Miyoshi House was closed.Only the cold hanging lamp was on. "The boss said that the boss used to be a warrior?" "Have you never been to his stall?" "No. It's so cold, and I don't drink, anyway." "Recently, we have also started selling desserts, which are vendors who specialize in food for people." Oh, is that so, said Seiji while looking at Maoqi, who looked a little confused. "Are you all right? Boss." Probably Moshichi looked absent-minded.Seji patted his arm. "Well, it's okay. I'm just a little surprised." "Aren't you going to Miyoshi House?" Maoqi shook his head quietly. "Forget it tonight." Compared with Ridao, Maoqi wants to hear what the boss has to say tonight.Mao Qi wanted to know why the boss came to ask about it—why did he come to Ridao?Perhaps because of this reason, Maoqi had to change his view of Ridao.For Shigeru Shichi, the bean curd sushi owner has already had such a big influence.