Chapter 32 Section IX

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. Light footsteps came. Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. Not just one, but two. "Okay, big forehead, change this side!" Someone said cheerfully, and then the footsteps sounded again. Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. Under the promenade of the rented mansion in Yushipo, Yukinosuke and Santaro with the big forehead were wiping the floor with a rag. Outside the mansion, Masagoro's young men were splashing water to clean the gate.In the room Aoi used, two other subordinates were beating the tatami mats and dusting them off.All of the mighty and ferocious faces were wearing sister's headscarves.

Heishiro man in the garden.He asked if there was anything he could do to help, but he was told "If you don't get in the way, you can help the most", so he has nothing to do. It was Masagoro's wife who commanded the young man and the children.For this reason, the soba shop is closed for one day today. "Please leave the cleaning to my wife, she will definitely volunteer." When Masagoro suggested this, Heishiro would honestly trouble others.Normally, the first thing that would come to mind would be Ade, but this time it is absolutely impossible.Heishiro had long been determined not to have anything to do with Adelaide and Aoi's murder.Besides, Ade is very busy at the moment, he has to be in charge of a restaurant and a small restaurant at the same time.

"Oh, sir, if you just stand there, you won't be exhausted when you want to talk about business later!" It was Masagoro's wife who spoke, and Heishiro knew for the first time today that her name was Cyan.This Ah Cyan was holding a brazier in both hands, and spoke to Heishiro from the edge corridor of the room. "The small room at the entrance has also been tidied up, please rest there." The brazier was only medium in size, but it looked quite heavy.A subordinate who was lifting the tatami hurried over. "Ma'am, let me come." "Really, then please."

"Where are you going to put it?" "Let's put it on the porch over there first. Look, this is Arita ware! The map of hundreds of treasures on it is so beautiful! It's just a brazier, and it's so elegant, and it's piled up in the warehouse. The rich are really different." Heishiro smiled and said, "After you use it up tonight, you can take away the cleaning fee! Anyway, it's not the owner's stuff, it must have been bought by Aoi. Since it's left there, whoever sees it will own it." Ah Cyan replied, "Uncle really loves to joke", and laughed loudly like a big girl.

"If I dare to do this, I will be escorted to the police immediately. Our family is the most disciplined about these things." Masagoro's strict integrity Heishiro is also known. "It's not good for me to be alone and have nothing to do. I'll go and show my face before I come back." "Hey, it's almost ready!" "I'm going to hang around, and I'll buy some snacks on the way back. If everyone is sweating and cleaning hard, if you don't buy something to comfort, you will be punished by God." As if to match the farewell sound of "walk carefully and slowly", as soon as Heishiro walked around the house, Masagoro slowly appeared, holding a hatchet in his right hand, apparently to clean up the weeds and small trees in the backyard.

"The boss is also affected by me to do the work of a servant, I'm really sorry." "Where is it! These are also our duties." The burly man smiled.Masagoro and his subordinates lived in the Motomachi area of ​​the Honjo, and they were all cleaned by them. No wonder they were extremely proficient. It was Heishiro's idea to arrange the important meeting with Minatoya Soemon at the mansion where Aoi So was living.The owner of the house agreed, but Heishiro was surprised when he came here to check.After Aoi's death, the maid Ah Liu who used to live here moved out less than half a month ago, and the house already looked dilapidated.

A house is something that loses its vitality immediately without its owner.Although the size is not less than a hundred times different, the house is also a kind of tool after all, the same reason as the discarded knives and scissors become dull immediately, and the spinning wheel that no one uses can't turn. After several contacts with Jiubei through "Katsumoto", a meeting tonight was successfully finalized.Minatoya Zouyouweimen will not dodge or dodge, and come here to meet Heishiro.Greeting guests with a dusty room, a broken lattice door, and a weed-strewn courtyard, it would be unseemly to invite this party, so Heishiro hurriedly recruited people to clean it up.

Heishiro put his hands in his arms and got off the taro wash slope. The sky was clear and clear, the sun was bright and bright, and I couldn't write well, but I felt chilly.Autumn is deep.Ah Cyan was right to move out the brazier.As soon as the sun sets, the chill will definitely get worse. A big house with no one living in it will feel deserted even in summer. Looking in from the large open door, I went up half a step, and in the back room sat a man of about the same age as Heishiro, dozing off his head intermittently.Inside is a secretary, holding something that looks like a textbook and reading intently.

In the shift system, the representative is on duty on his own, and the representative bears the heavy responsibility of the local landlords (or the managers who act on their behalf) and the business owners along the main road, but if nothing happens, he is just a janitor.This is different from the Tsujiban set up by the samurai family. There is no need to put on a brave and mighty samurai demeanor, so this leisurely scene is common.It is not uncommon for only one person to ask for directions after a day of guarding. Now that he has been approved by Saeki Jonosuke, and he has greeted the local leader Hachisuke Hachimaki through him, there is no need to go to his own account if there is nothing to do.But Heishiro hadn't seen Boss Bomaki since his meeting with Saeki. He thought it would be best if the Boss was inside, but it seemed like he was in vain.Just as he was about to turn around and leave, a thick calf stretched out in the air behind the secretary.Feeling strange, 杢太郎 came down.

The fire watchtower is on the roof of its own house, and the ladder leading to it is in a corner of the house.Heishiro saw him get off the ladder and face this way, he called out "Hello" in a drawn out voice. Kotaro noticed him immediately, and the guard men also looked in this direction, saw Kotaro speak a few words to them frizzily, then shrunk his huge body through the door and came outside the house. "What, are you repairing the alarm?" Heishiro asked. 杢太郎 not only has a big head and a big body, but also has big eyes, ears, nose and mouth.The wide-open eyes turned a few times, and the eyeballs almost fell off.

"Yes, sir." He said that this morning the ring to which the alarm bell was attached was broken and the bell fell on the roof. "Fortunately, it didn't fall from the roof to the ground, but ah, I always feel unlucky. I was afraid there would be a second time, so I hung the clock firmly, but I was very worried. I just went up to see how the clock was hanging. " Blown by wind and rain, rust and deformation of the buckle is unavoidable, so don't take it too seriously, but generally big men are usually timid, and Taro seems to be no exception. "That's right, it's inevitable that there will be such a thing. If it is indeed repaired, there is no need to worry. But the roof is also broken, right?" "I fixed the roof too." It seems that his hands are quite dexterous. "It's amazing. With a subordinate like you, Boss Man can rest assured." Takutaro obviously had the same head as Heishiro, but he lowered his eyes to look over, and his eyes were still from bottom to top. "Master, what's the matter today?" He spoke cautiously. "It just happened to be nearby. Don't worry, just tonight, because of something, I borrowed that rented mansion. If the boss is here, I want to say hello." Did the boss mention it to you?This time it was Heishiro who asked the question.Makitaro nodded honestly. "Uncle Saeki also ordered, don't interfere with Mr. Izutsu's business." After speaking, those big hands shook violently. "No, of course I'm not qualified to meet Mr. Saeki. It's the boss who said, and Mr. Saeki also explained it faithfully." "That would be great." Heishiro smiled at the big man's baby face. "Sorry, we will try our best to be careful not to mess around in your territory, so forgive me." "Since the boss agreed, there is no need for the uncle to be polite to a small guy like me. The boss also said that no matter what the result is, we will not suffer, so it doesn't matter." Even saying such things honestly is really cutely confused. "But sir, isn't the rented mansion an empty house? What are you doing there?" "To meet people. If you don't want to draw attention, there's no better place." "Oh." Kotaro lowered his eyes thoughtfully, and asked a strange question: "That party, are they all officials like the uncle?" "Not really... But, more or less." "do you have any kid?" Heishiro didn't know why Makitaro asked such a question. "There won't be any children. Ah, but it's being cleaned right now, so there are women and children in the house." Hearing this, Makitaro's eyes widened. "That can't be done, sir! Don't let children come near that house." Heishiro also widened his eyes, not understanding why he said that, but he remembered in time: "Oh, there are rumors of Thief Devil there, right?" Kui took advantage of this rumor to settle Sun Ba who was pestering the maid Ah Liu.Although it was a method that could not be used without money and connections, Heishiro thought it was really beautiful. "That's not a rumor," said Taro sternly. "There really is a Thief Demon. Uncle, this is not a joke. It just came out three days ago. A child disappeared, and I was scared to look for it everywhere." This day Taishiro was not wearing Hatchobori's black coat, only a striped kimono.Even so, there is nothing more eye-catching than Okahito's subordinates, who are well-known by the locals, standing in front of his own show with a familiar-looking samurai with a sword. "杢太郎, are there any sweets around here?" Heishiro asked. "what?" "It's selling sweets and snacks, and it's better to drink tea at the store. Is there any?" There is a pastry shop around the corner... Although Taro was surprised, he still pointed.Heishiro raised his foot and walked in that direction. The pastry shop is a small shop with a storefront only six feet wide.There is a pastry-shaped signboard hanging at the door, and on the back is a pattern cut from the pastry, and the stuffing is also painted on it. Heishiro went to sit on the bench next to the store, and the boss came over with tea and hot pastries that had just been steamed. "Add another twenty for me." eat it!After greeting 杢太郎, he started by himself first.The stuffing is very rich and delicious. Makitaro also bowed politely and said, "Then I'm not welcome", but took the cake and refused to eat it. "Do you hate eating sweets? Or are you afraid of being hot?" "No, uh..." "Never mind that. So, has the missing child been found?" found it.Nowhere else, just inside the gate of the mansion, 杢太郎 found the crying child. "That's really a great achievement. What did the kid say? Was he captured by Thief Demon?" "Well, she refused to say anything, and she was terrified." "Are you hurt?" "There are marks on the face, not so bruised, but there are red marks. And..." Holding the pastry, 杢太郎 wrinkled his big face vigorously. "There is a mark on the neck." "Traces? Traces of being strangled?" "It should be. Not with your hands, but with a soft rope or kimono belt, in short, something soft. It's not a rope. If you strangle it with a rope, it will leave scratches, right, sir." Heishiro hummed and took a bite of the pastry.Is this one also a stranglehold? There are annoying bugs stirring in my heart. The child's name is Ah Chu, and he is eight years old.Climb up the taro washing slope, pass the big house, and there is a farm behind.The scattered farmland in this land with many samurai mansions belonged to this landlord.Ah Chu was the son of the landlord's tenant farmer. "There are many children in this family, but there is only one daughter. She is a good child and always helps her mother diligently. I have known her before." "You like children very much, don't you?" Judging from the way he was immediately fascinated by Yumisuke before - no, even Kishimogami would be fascinated by Yumisuke, but even if this is deducted, it is as gentle as Taro is to Yumisuke From his kind appearance, he can also get a glimpse of his love for children. "The boss always said that my head is still a child, and it's just suitable to mix with children." He said seriously. "Perhaps. But take it as a compliment." Makitaro seems to have a good relationship with the children in the neighborhood, and he is also familiar with Ah Chu. "On the afternoon of three days ago, after hearing the bell at nine o'clock (noon), I don't know how long it had passed. Achu's mother ran to her side and said that she hadn't come home yet. I wasn't there at that time, it was the guard. The manager knew that little sister Ah Chu and I were fine, so he came to tell me." Ah Chu started going to school about a year ago.This is not uncommon in ordinary urban families, but it is rare for the children of tenant farmers to go to school. "There is a temple called Fachunyuan nearby, just at the place where the road behind the rented mansion goes up. A gentleman named Haruka borrowed a room from the temple to teach children to read and write. That gentleman is very strange, Uncle, even if the family is poor and cannot afford the tuition fees, as long as the child is willing to learn, the husband is willing to accept it, so little sister Ah Chu also went." Because she is a female teacher, she is not good at martial arts, but she not only teaches reading and writing abacus, but also teaches etiquette and rules, which is especially popular with families with daughters. "Every day from five quarters (eight o'clock in the morning) to four quarters and a half (eleven o'clock in the morning), it starts on time and ends on time. You also know that there are children from poor families inside. They can't just play, they have to go home to help." Ah Chu also went to school every day, and went home immediately after school.Fachunyuan and the tenant farmer's courtyard where Ah Chu lived were within easy reach even if calculated by the child's footsteps. But on that day, Ah Chu didn't come home after noon.Mothers are in a hurry.In the end, the person who stayed behind her fan comforted her by saying that it is possible for children to play and run around, but the mother was very nervous and insisted that Ah Chu would never run around. "I also understand Little Sister Ah Chu's temper very well. There is no way that child can only focus on playing and forget to help mother with things." 杢太郎 rushed to Hosunin immediately.Mr. Haruka said that Ah Chu went back as usual and walked alone.Even though Ah Chu's brothers were still children, they had to help the family, so they didn't go to Fachun Court. Mr. Haruka, like Takutaro, is very aware of how well-behaved Ah Chu is, and finds it strange, so he wants to look for Ah Chu together. "However, if you make things big from the beginning, it will make everyone uneasy, so please stay in the Fachun Courtyard first, and I will follow the path that Achu's little sister might take, calling her name along the way. This area is very lively and lively. The streets are different. There are forests, mountain trails, and paths covered with weeds. It may not be sure where you fell and got injured. Even if you didn’t go to play lazily, after all, you are only an eight-year-old child. Little bird, there are some people who get distracted and go astray because of some trivial matter." However, Ah Chu was nowhere to be seen.After shouting and searching for an hour, Kakitaro became more and more uneasy, so he went back to himself and asked the leader to gather people to search together.At this time, the incident had also reached the ears of Bojuan Boss, thinking that it would be better to mobilize everyone, even if it turned out to be a joke later, it would be better than any emergency, so he called several subordinates to find someone together. What a good guy, Heishiro thought.Hachisuke Hachimaki's leadership for so many years is not in vain. "So everyone started looking separately..." Finally found Ah Chu in the rented mansion. "It's like a magic trick. Uncle, before that, I went to the rented mansion several times to look for it, but I couldn't find Little Sister Ah Chu. She just appeared there out of nowhere." "You went there several times because you thought about that Thief Devil?" "Yeah." Kakutaro's face was clouded. "I'm afraid that if the house is empty, the Thief Demon will come out from there and attack the children nearby." Makitaro carried Ah Chu, who was sobbing, on his back, and sent her home.No matter how softly he comforted Ah Chu, telling Ah Chu "it's okay, don't be afraid, don't be afraid", Ah Chu still kept crying. And when asked what happened to her and who tortured her like this, she couldn't answer anything.She shut her mouth tightly like a clam shell, leaving only a blue face. "How is the child now?" "It's still the same." Kakutaro lowered his eyes sadly. "I don't go to school anymore, and I don't want to leave my mother and brothers for half a step. I heard that she looks like a baby and cries at night." Heishiro thought of Yumminosuke, who was worried about wetting the bed after being frightened. He ate another piece of pastry in silence.It seems that 杢太郎 remembered the sweets he was carefully holding in his hand, and put them in his mouth.I stuffed it in one bite and chewed constantly. "Will Thief Demon strangle a child?" Heishiro asked. "Let alone use kimono obi." Kakitaro slowly raised his face to look at Heishiro, but he didn't seem to know how to answer. "Is it because the Thief Demon possessed himself and made people do such bad things?" Heishiro grunted and turned to Makitaro with a smile. "Take a good look at Ah Chu. After a while, it should gradually get better, and you will dare to come outside again. When Ah Chu is willing to tell you about the scary things you encountered at that time, you should ask all the details and catch them yourself. Live in that evil thief demon." "Catch the thief devil? Can you catch it?" "It can be caught. Anyone who will harm others must be caught." yes.Makitaro seemed to be a little relieved and smiled. Heishiro stood up, holding the hot pastries, and returned along the way he came. The house has already been cleaned.Twenty pastries immediately entered the five internal organs temple of everyone. Heishiro told Masagoro, Yumi nosuke, and Dazuo about the case of Chu that happened three days ago.Masagoro frowned as Masagoro frowned while Yuzunosuke fell into deep thought. "Mr. Fachunyuan, when I mentioned the gentleman, I came here when I was out just now." Zheng Goro said. "Mr. Haruka? What are you here for?" "When the husband passed by from behind, he saw us cleaning, so he asked if someone was moving in. We replied that it was someone from the previous tenant, and came to clean up the aftermath." "She's a beauty." Kuminosuke blinked as if suddenly waking up from contemplation, and looked up at Heishiro. "The maid named Ah Liu who serves Mrs. Kui, her child will go to Fachun Academy to learn to write, right?" "I never expected my wife to die of illness suddenly. It's really a pity." Mr. Haruka expressed his condolences politely and thoughtfully before leaving. "It's so beautiful that it makes you stunned?" Heishiro poked Yumonosuke's forehead, but Yumonosuke didn't respond, still submerged in his own thoughts.It seems that he said that sentence just now when he raised his head to take a breath. "It's very fragrant," said the big forehead, "it has a very fragrant smell, and it radiates from the clothes." "The things women like should be sachets!" Yukinosuke froze like a doll again. "Hey, what's the matter?" When Heishiro touched it, he came back to his senses. "Big Forehead." He took Big Forehead's hand. "We've had some snacks, let's go, let's go help the lady boss!" Then he pulled his big forehead and went down to the stove.Watching the friendly backs of the two children, Heishiro and Masagoro looked at each other. "What is Yumonosuke thinking?" Heishiro asked. "I don't know." Masagoro was also puzzled. When the twilight in the sky faded into night, Minaya Soemon quietly arrived at the appointed time. It should have come in a sedan chair, but there was no sound at all.Heishiro realized that a lantern suddenly appeared in front of the gate, and saw that the lantern was being carried by Jiubei, and Soemon was behind him. "It's just like a monster." Heishiro thought inwardly. The last time I met Soemon was when I was summarizing the series of events in Teppei Zain.In retrospect, I was also in the yakatabune at that time, but the food was not the dishes of Ade and Yanichi, and the boat was also prepared by the house. Holding a candle, Ah Cyan led the two of them to Aoi's room, where Heishiro and Masagoro waited.I once rented the house where my beloved woman lived and visited frequently—and in the room where the woman died, how did I feel about being passed on as a guest?This kind of emotion that Heishirou can't think about should be coming and going in his heart. However, there is no such trace on Minatoya Soemon's body. Masagoro waited in a corner of the room.Heishiro sat facing Soemon, and Kuhei knelt behind Soemon's left elbow. Tang Zhi's door opened and closed silently, and Ah Cyan came over to bring refreshments.The dim sum is the kind that is dry and durable.Anyway, no one knows how to eat it, so I just choose what can be put away, and just make it look like—Heishiro entrusted it, so Ayan prepared this kind of dessert. "Our family and I both love the old man's temper." Ah Yan said so. "Fresh and crisp, simple and clear, and no food wasted." She also said that she would leave it to Gong Zhisuke and Santaro afterwards, and would not buy bad food.Sure enough, it was true to its word, even though it was a refreshment bought as a show, it looked really delicious.Heishiro looked at the plate, thinking about this. There wasn't even a trace of tension, and he felt sorry for Yukinosuke and the big forehead.The two children who were hiding in the dark under the porch and were about to write down the next conversation one by one must be very nervous. After finishing his innocuous seasonal greetings, Jiuhei said: "For this meeting, you have cleaned it with great care." When this man was the manager of Tie Ping Zayuan, he was known for his love of cleanliness.What a good eye. "It's just that the traces of Mrs. Kui's use have been cleaned up by the way." Hearing Heishiro's words, Minaya Soemon's eyes moved suddenly, and he glanced at the brazier in the middle of the confrontation between the two.It is the Arita brazier. "That's what Aoi bought." Soemon said. "On the way back from paying homage to Master Kawasaki, she saw this brazier placed at the front of an old utensil shop. She wrapped it in a mat and asked someone to transport it all the way to Edo." "It was originally stored in the warehouse." Heishiro said. "It's still early, but the empty house is colder, so I took it out." Soemon didn't say a word, and looked at the empty Tahogaku and alcoves.Under the light of the seat lamp, there seemed to be no noticeable change in that face this year.Neither thinner nor thinner. "What happened to Mrs. Aoi, I'm really sorry." Heishiro said. Soemon Minatoya bowed to the ground. "I have bothered Mr. Izutsu several times, and Jiubingwei has passed them on to me. It was not until today that I was able to express my gratitude and apology." As if waiting for this sentence, Jiubei took out the burden placed beside him.Heishiro was quite surprised, not knowing what he brought with him so preciously. "It's just a thought." Soemon said as he untied the burden and pushed it towards Heishiro. It is two bolts of cloth.The gold thread woven into the cloth shone brilliantly in the light. "This is for my apology. I hope Mrs. Izutsu can wear it. This one is a kimono, and this one is a belt. They are both from Nihonbashi 2-chome Kamisoya. If you like these two Cloth, I am willing to accept it, and I will immediately go to the main house and send someone to prepare the piping and lining that my wife likes." Heishiro raised his eyebrows, and looked at Masagoro across Soemon and Kyubei.Naoka sat there unconcerned. "Can I pick it up and have a look?" "certainly." The kimono—it should be said that it is a fabric, it is an elegant Wakasa green background with a pattern of the southern sky.Nandina bamboo has the meaning of "surmounting many difficulties" and is generally regarded as an auspicious thing. Heishiro, a layman without bamboo, also knows this.It is also often used as a decoration for the first month. Now it is sewn, which is just suitable for wearing in the first month.The elegant background color contrasts the bright vermilion of nantian fruit, and the dewy branches decorated with golden silk. The belt is the so-called pamphlet, that is, a pattern of many pamphlets interspersed.If you look carefully, you can see that famous lines and ancient songs chanting flowers, birds, love and moon are delicately embroidered on each short slip. This is a luxury that is far from worthy for the wife of a small official supported by two people.To say thank you for accepting generously, Heishiro's capacity is still a bit small.His hands were even trembling uncontrollably. He suddenly thought of Saeki Jonosuke's long and gentle face. ——I understand everything, so I'm not polite. ——Every time you turn a blind eye, you get something good to eat, that's all. Then enjoy delicious food and wine leisurely.At that time, Jonosuke was not in a hurry, nor in a hurry. To reach that state, it takes considerable practice.It turns out that Saeki Jonosuke is also a man with a big heart. "I'm afraid that the bitch is not worthy of wearing such fine clothes." Heishiro put on a smile and pushed back the two pieces of cloth on the tatami. "Since it's just a little thought, it's enough for me to accept it. A few pieces of fabric at home, it won't get in the way." Kyubei retracted his hands, peeking at Soemon's profile. "It seems that the uncle doesn't like it, so put it away." Soemon briefly explained. Jiubei carefully rewrapped the cloth.When he was in Tie Ping Za Yuan, he was a hale and hearty manager who presided over all matters.Now looking back as Soemon's subordinate, he seems to be an ordinary servant. "Do you always patronize the Kamisoya in the 2-chome?" Soemon didn't speak, but Kubei replied "yes". "Master Minato's current clothes must be one of the best in the shop. Although it is dark blue, is it mixed with silver threads? When the light shines on it, it is very dazzling." Before Soemon and Kyubei had time to speak, Heishiro continued: "Ms. Aoi's clothes are also ordered to be sewn in the Soya? It is said that on the hangers in this room that day, there are newly made kimono patterned kimonos." Soemon said, "Aoi..." He glanced at the brazier that Xiang Kui loved. "When I was in Kyoto, there was a kimono shop that I loved for many years. But after returning to Edo, it seems that I didn't visit any particular shop." "Then what is Kikyo Han's kimono?" "I made it for her, but it's not the main house, it's the white wooden house." Shirakiya is in the kimono shop, which is a big shop among big shops.It turns out that when such a store encounters someone like Minaya Soemon ordering a kimono, it may not ask who wants to wear it. Heishiro took a sip of the tea Ah Ji brought.The tea is getting cold. "Excuse me, you didn't make this trip specifically to pay tribute to Aoi. It shouldn't be the tune to pay tribute to Aoi. Besides, Masagoro and I also kill scenery." A worried look immediately appeared on the long-ill soldier's face. Heishiro said to Minaya Soemon: "It wasn't Zoji who did it." Soemon narrowed his eyes slightly. "I heard him talk about it carefully. Sakichi just came to the scene and found Aoi's body." Then it was deliberately revised to "the body of the mother who was believed to be dead for many years."Kyubei lowered his head. "The murderer is someone else. Therefore, Mr. Chouwu, if you have a clue in your heart, I hope you don't waste time and tell it straight away. This can also save a lot of time." Soemon's expression slowly changed.It's almost like there is a young child next to me, and I am demonstrating to the child, "Look, this is how the eyebrows move, and this is how the nose moves". Heishiro had a sudden thought: Maybe if this man doesn't do this, he won't be able to make a decent expression on his face. Soemon's changing expression stopped after forming a faint smile. "The matter should end with Sakichi being the murderer." Then, stopping Heishiro with just rolling his eyes, he said: "It was our responsibility to push him to that point, so we had to do our best to prevent him from being brought to justice. After all, it was I who told him that Aoi was still alive and living here." Just as there are good and bad looks, there are also good and bad sound quality.Soemon's voice was as sweet as a musical instrument, with a deep and deep timbre.Ruokui's undead is present, sitting quietly in a dark corner where the seat lamp can't reach, she will definitely be intoxicated, and sigh: "Ah, the voice of the master is so nostalgic!" ——If you can ignore what the voice says. "About this matter, Sakichi has told me in detail, so there is no need to repeat it. Mr. Minaya, do you really believe that Sakichi killed Aoi? This is what I want to ask. I want to know what you really think , not some superficial rhetoric of 'it's settled'." Soemon's smile became even weaker. "If it's not him, who else?" "That's why I asked you if you have a score in your heart." Soemon didn't answer.Jiubei seemed to be unable to see it, and leaned out his upper body. "Is Izutsu-san referring to Mrs. Atou?" I saw the light shining on Jiubei's forehead.That's sweat. "That's right. If you say it's suspicious, Minaya's wife is as suspicious as Sakichi." Master, Kyubei called Soemon in a low voice. "Why don't you just tell Uncle Izutsu about Mrs. Ateng? The younger one is also one of the people who have been helping to deceive Mrs. Ateng for many years. For this reason, I have also caused trouble for Uncle Izutsu." He was referring to the matter of the Tie Ping Courtyard. "I think it's understandable for Mrs. Izutsu to suspect Mrs. Ateng even more than Sakichi, considering the cause and effect. Let me tell you the whole story here, and Mrs. Ateng is also..." Jiubei's voice suddenly became hoarse.It turns out that although the old man is loyal to Soemon and Aoi, he has always been guilty of Ateng.Heishiro came to his senses again. "It's also a kind of relief for Mrs. Ateng. This is a small shallow opinion." Soemon was silent.There was clearly no wind, but the inner wick flame of the seat lamp was shaking. "What's wrong with Atou?" Heishiro asked in a low voice. "Is something wrong with Ateng too?" Jiubei looked up to his master as if asking for help. Minaya Soemon blinked quickly, too fast to notice without looking carefully, and then turned his gaze to Heishiro. "Uncle Izutsu, do you know that she used such tricks as hanging herself?" Yes, Zoji said.That abnormal behavior made him restless and deepened his suspicion of Ateng, until he couldn't hold it back.So Sakichi followed up and asked Soemon about the real truth. "I heard that the belt was hung on a tree branch in the garden of the Fuji residence. Sakichi's master Hanjiro found out and stopped it in time, right?" After speaking, Heishiro glared at Soemon. "But what you said just now is very unkind to Mrs. Ateng. I don't know if it's a trick. Maybe she really wants to die." Heishiro had an idea in his mind, which was completely a distraction on the spot, so he didn't say it out loud, but he felt that Minaya Soemon was particularly mean to Atou alone.Even if there is a beloved woman like Aoi in the future, Ateng will be the first wife.Even though Atou had killed Aoi, it was all out of jealousy, and it was Soemon who planted this seed. Ateng's natal family is a well-known restaurant.Atou's father took a fancy to Soemon's business talent and betrothed Atou to him.In other words, this marriage is based on interests, a combination of wealth and talents, not a marriage of two lovers. This kind of marriage is not uncommon. Even Heishiro, who has neither wealth nor talent, married a wife he had never met because of his family. Even so, it is natural to get along with each other for a long time.Soemon and Atou also gave birth to two boys and a girl, raised three children, ran a business, endured hardships and laughed together, there must be no emotion at all. Or the world is so big, are there such unfortunate examples?Soemon and Atou never looked at each other?Could it be that two people who couldn't get along in the first place were forcibly made into a pair?He never had any warmth towards Ateng?To make matters worse, Ateng tried to hurt Aoi again, so he still can't forgive her? I don't know if he is aware of the indignation and doubts in Heishiro's heart, even if he is, he will not show it.There was no shadow or change on Minatoya Soemon's upright face.Just listen to him continue to say in a melodious voice: "Whether it was a gimmick or not, it looks like that move really pushed her to the edge of a cliff." "The edge of the cliff?" What precipice's edge? "After that, Ateng finally lost her mind. She went crazy." Heishiro opened his mouth slightly, and Masagoro also showed surprise on his face.Yumonosuke, who was hiding in the corridor and took dictation, probably stopped his hand. "From then on, she didn't even know who she was. There was no difference between day and night, up and down, sorrow and joy. She sat in the deep part of the house from morning to night, staring at the sky blankly. If it weren't for the maid who never left her body to serve her , I don’t know what to eat.” In the silence, Jiubei interjected with the corner of his mouth twitching: "When Mrs. Aoi was killed, the most suspicious person was naturally Mrs. Ateng. Both the master and the younger one had the same idea as Mr. Izutsu. If Mrs. Ateng hadn't become like that. Yes, really, Mrs. Ateng's mind is as usual , we won't doubt Sakichi first..." Having said that, I really can't continue. The light of the seat lamp flickered again, and this time the wick sizzled. "Does Aoi know about this?" "I know, I told her." Soemon replied. "What did she say?" "She said it was a heinous crime." Does this refer to herself and Soemon?Or is it Atten? "Don't mention killing people, Ateng can't even walk alone, let alone think methodically and plan..." Soemon shook his head slowly. "So, Mr. Izutsu, when Aoi's accident happened, I can't think of any other murderer except Sakichi. Anyway, he was arrested next to the body." "Does anyone know about this?" "I, Kubei, and the loyal maid who takes care of Atou in Fujitaka." "No one else knows?" "We are very careful." Jiubei explained: "If Mrs. Ateng's situation is leaked out, I'm afraid it will affect Miss Meiling who is about to marry to the West Country." Ah, that's it.Heishiro also noticed.That is of course, because Ateng is Meiling's biological mother. "So, Meiling doesn't know about this either?" "yes." Marrying into a famous family, I am afraid that the mother and daughter will not have the chance to see each other again in this life.I am afraid that until she loses her mother in the future, Mei Ling will still not know anything about it; why her mother suddenly loathes her when she grows up, this question will never be answered. "So, please keep this matter strictly confidential from now on." "Of course, I see why you have to. I'm not that rash." Jiubei bowed his head feebly and prostrated himself on the ground. Heishiro tries to recall Atou, whom he only met once.I really can't remember her face, only her voice.At that time, the voice of Heishiro who got off the yakatabune heard. ——Sister-in-law. The voice calling Soemon. What an unfortunate woman! "Izutsu-san, if you want to ask," Soemon said, "Aside from Atou and Sakichi, is there anyone who hates Aoi..." Heishiro nodded.Soemon looked at Heishiro. "I can only answer no. Aoi is not the kind of person who will provoke resentment." Except Ateng. “听说她在京城的生意也做得不小，不是吗？没有商场上的对手吗？” “即使有，也不会在葵结束生意后紧追不舍。” “那么你的对手呢？像是想让你痛心疾首，而伤害你心爱葵夫人的敌人。有没有这样的人？” 凑屋总右卫门微笑了。与先前的浅笑不同，这回是蕴含感情的真正微笑。带着一抹轻蔑与——也能解释为亲近吧！ “井筒大爷，那不是生意人的想法。凡事以利益为先的商人，不会以这种迂回曲折的方式打倒敌手。到店头纵火还更确实些。” 听他说得如此理所当然，平四郎有点退缩。 “若不是要打倒，而是复仇呢？你心里有谱吗？有没有人这么恨你？” “多不胜数啊。” 凑屋总右卫门回答时的笑容甚至带着暖意，简直像在炫耀功勋。“即使如此，这些为数众多的敌人眼中并没有葵。凑屋总右卫门的敌人，会针对凑屋总右卫门，针对凑屋的身家、财产、继承人。杀了葵，对凑屋这家商号不痛不痒。” “对你的心呢？” 屏息观望平四郎与总右卫门对话的久兵卫脸上，立时闪过似好奇又似期待，一种无可形容的、发光般的表情。虽只有一瞬，却清晰可见，平四郎没错过。 总右卫门这么应道：“任谁都终究难逃一死。此乃天命，无须哀叹。” 平四郎不由得往房间四个角落的暗处看，寻找葵的幽魂。Did you hear that?葵夫人。你的良人刚才说，就算你死了，也不至于让他伤心得无法振作，说任谁终究都难逃一死。 “这才是凑屋总右卫门呀！” 平四郎仿佛听到一个娇柔的声音如此回答。