Chapter 3 Chapter II Investigation Team

Zhongyuan went to the civil court of the district court to ring the bell to sue Taizao Saeki, the chairman of Sun Group.At the same time, he also reported on the head of the County Environmental Sanitation Bureau for his lack of supervision of the enterprises in the county. In the notice to Saeki Daizao, he also requested compensation of 10 million yuan as a condolence fee for the deceased Umezu Yuka and her sick mother. Almost at the same time, the Tokyo Shimbun reported "Nishipo also caused a wave of pollution" in its series of public nuisance columns. When Kyoko saw this movement in the press, she lit up her eyes and said to Zhongyuan:

"That's great, everything will be fine if this goes on." But the Central Plains is not very optimistic. Public nuisance lawsuits have always been the most difficult to fight, and almost without exception, they will drag on for a long time, especially proving the causal relationship between disease and public nuisance, which is the most difficult problem.According to common sense, of course it is a public nuisance disease, but this kind of common sense judgment is totally useless in law.Even in Minamata disease, which caused a global sensation, several patients who suffered from difficulty in walking and abnormal speech have not yet been able to prove the causal relationship and thus have not been identified.Especially in Jinpu, where the pollution issue has not yet been raised, it is even more difficult for Umezu Yuka and her mother's illness to be identified.

Therefore, what Zhongyuan is looking forward to now is not so much the proceeding of the lawsuit, but rather the possible impact of going to court.Fortunately, thanks to the hard work of Kusakabe reporters, this influence is expanding. Every enterprise is troubled by the problem of public nuisance.To be more correct, it should be because they are afraid of being fired.And so far, they can't say that they really intend to face the problem of public nuisance.The vast majority of business owners also hate people's hype about public nuisance. Zhongyuan still remembers that Taizo Saeki, the big boss of Sun Group, once said the following on TV: Everyone is yelling about public nuisance?This is certainly not bad, but we are a country with zero resources, and there is no way out other than developing industry. This also requires everyone to think about it.

According to that tone, he must want to say: some public nuisance, everyone should be patient.But he did not dare to say that. This is the profound situation that the current pollution problem is facing, and it is also the place where the enterprise has to feel responsible.This is exactly what the Central Plains expects. For Saeki Daizao, a Central Plains lawyer would certainly not feel pain.If necessary, he can get - a large group of the best lawyers.What Saeki is afraid of is not the lawsuit at all, but the damage to the image caused by it. Therefore, Zhongyuan decided that he would take action.

Zhongyuan's guess came true a week after the announcement was made. In Kusakabe, Tokyo, I made a phone call to Nakahara, who was still at his hotel in Nishikipo. "The Trade and Industry Bureau has announced that it will send an investigation team to Jinpu." There was a hint of excitement in Kusakabe's tone. "Uh, public nuisance investigation?" "The spokesperson said that they planned to send a special investigation team a long time ago, and it was only implemented this time. I think the investigation team made a hasty decision, so no matter what they said, it was because of the impact of this incident. impact, there is no doubt about it.”

"Where's Daizo Saeki? Is there any movement?" "It's him. This time the investigation team is headed by Fuyuki Shintaro, a professor of physics at S University, and this person was recommended by Saeki. Of course, this is not made public, but he is behind the scenes. Without a doubt." "Why did Saeki recommend this professor?" "I don't quite understand this. Professor Fuyuki is a man of sound thinking. Perhaps Saeki hopes that he will not make reports that are unfavorable to the business side. However, some people in the press are quite ruthless."

"What do you think?" "Professor Fuyuki will reach the retirement age in September this year, but he is not a politically powerful person, so it may not be easy for him to switch to a non-governmental organization. He can only write manuscripts to earn some royalties. Therefore, they guessed whether it was promised by Saeki Take care of his way out after retirement?" "Is this kind of rumor reliable?" "I don't know either. I just called Professor Saeki and Fuyuki to find out. It's useless. Both of them said that they haven't met and talked in detail."

"What about the lineup of the investigation team?" "In addition to Professor Fuyuki, there are Shiraishi Xiaoichi in public health, Hisao Nishimoto in meteorology, Yoshio Hayashi in pharmacology, Ichiro Higuchi in safety engineering, Ryutaro Takeda in applied chemistry, and Tatsuhiko Hoshino in fisheries. They are all top-notch. expert." "That is to say, they are all bad old men." Zhong Yuan's words caused a loud laugh on the other end of the phone. "Hey, let's keep some morals. You are all old gentlemen. The name of the investigation team has also been decided, called the Fuyuki Investigation Team. The investigation period will start for a week the day after tomorrow. It is said that all the equipment and equipment needed for the investigation are provided by the Provided by the Chamber of Commerce."

"It will start the day after tomorrow." The Fuyuki investigation team's lawsuit against the Central Plains will inevitably have an impact.The question is what will the impact be? The next day, Zhongyuan received a summons from the Civil Division of the District Court.He ran to the grounds, and the judge in charge told him that the superior had decided to send the Fuyuki investigation team over, so the trial had to wait for the investigation team to submit a report before starting the trial, so that the referee could have a correct result. The impact came so quickly, Zhong Yuan thought.Of course, he could only follow the arrangement of the District Court regarding the proceeding of the lawsuit.

However, can the report of the investigation team lead to the correct outcome of the lawsuit?He had to wonder. The Central Plains has always been half trusting and half suspicious of so-called experts and scholars.It is the academics who published the reason for the Itai-Itai disease because they care about cadmium pollution; at the same time, it is the academics who oppose this statement and defend the enterprise. Of course, there is no way to guess what the results of the Fuyuki investigation team will investigate. However, if Saeki is behind the instigation as Nikakabe said, it is very possible that the investigation results will be beneficial to the company.If this is the case, it will certainly be of great disadvantage to the lawsuit.

——You have to prepare well. Zhongyuan returned to Jinpu from Jiyuan and immediately visited Yoshikawa of Jinpu High School.Since he wanted to talk in detail, he didn't go to Yoshikawa's apartment until after class. Yoshikawa rents a room at a grocery store near the pier.There is only one room with eight seats, but it is also fully equipped with kitchen and toilet. Seeing the fishing rod standing by the wall, Zhong Yuan first asked: "Do you like fishing?" Yoshikawa glanced at Jinpo Bay outside the window and replied: "It's because of a need." "Is fishing still necessary?" "I want to experience for myself how the number of fish in Jinpu Bay has decreased? How is the seawater polluted? I just went fishing, and I try to spend as much time as possible on Sundays to go." Yoshikawa also added: Seawater pollution is indeed increasing, and fish are also decreasing. After a short pause, Zhong Yuan asked him if he knew the news of Fuyuki's investigation team. "Just heard it, so I feel very distressed." A complicated smile appeared in Yoshikawa's eyes behind the glasses. "What's the trouble?" "To tell you the truth, Fuyuki-sensei is my mentor." "Uh?" "Mr. Fuyuki is not a person who can play political tricks. But this time, he has accepted the entrustment of the Trade and Industry Bureau and became the head of the investigation team. He will definitely be hurt." "That means the Fuyuki Investigation Team will have political activities, right?" "Pollution has already occurred in Nimpo, and some people have suffered from it. There is also a suicide, Yuka Umezu. At such a time, the investigation team comes, no matter what, it will be regarded as political." "You mean they would be different from purely academic research?" "Yes. Strictly speaking, it is not easy to determine whether a certain disease is caused by public nuisance academically. However, if the conclusion is that the disease cannot be determined to be caused by public nuisance, then this result is actually for the enterprise. defended." "Do you also think that in this sense, the Fuyuki investigation team may become the spokesperson of the enterprise?" "I know several of them, and they are all great scholars. But, in my eyes, they are also old-fashioned scholars. They basically only believe that learning is the inquiry of truth. As for the result of thinking, they think it does not belong to the Scholars. To put it another way, it is considered that studying the formula of the atomic bomb is knowledge, and as for the use of the atomic bomb, it has nothing to do with learning. We can also say that this kind of thinking is the cause of the current public hazard. Therefore, Fuyuki What the investigation team needs is a different perspective, but I think it is very doubtful that the people of the Fuyuki investigation team can have this attitude." Yoshikawa spoke with such seriousness that he deserves to be a young high school teacher. Zhong Yuan is like a lawyer, thinking more practically. Umezu Yuka, who committed suicide, must win the lawsuit.However, as Yoshikawa said, it seems impossible for the Fuyuki investigation team to produce the investigation results that Nakahara expected.Rather, a report to the contrary is more likely to be made.As a result, the lawsuit will be difficult to win.In any case, it is an authoritative investigative mission.In court, their reports will of course have decisive weight. Then what should be done? "We'll have to form another investigative team." Zhong Yuan slowly expressed his thoughts. "what?!" Yoshikawa seemed taken aback. Zhongyuan smiled and said: "I mean, we also need another investigation team. Just now you said that the authoritative Fuyuki investigation team cannot be trusted, and may become the spokesperson of the company. In this way, we need to form our unique investigation team in order to fight. dont you agree?" "But..." Yoshikawa couldn't speak for a while, and then said after a pause: "It's not easy to do, is it?" "But forming an investigation team is easy to say..." "Of course it is not easy to find good scholars, and investigation work is very expensive. Where will the funds come from?" "If you don't have money, you can use heat to make up for it. At present, aren't you doing this?" "Me? I'm just a humble high school teacher. I have no authority at all..." "That's not the question. The question is whether the findings are correct, right? Are the nuisance records you've done in the past fabricated?" "No, of course it is correct." "Then how authoritative it is is not a problem. Moreover, in another sense, I feel that the Fuyuki investigation team is unreliable, so we need to form another investigation team on our own." "In what sense?" "I'm a lawyer, so I don't know what real learning should be. However, I do know that the Fuyuki Investigation Team is related to Daizo Saeki of the Sun Group." "real?" Yoshikawa rolled his eyes. "It's true. It was Daizo Saeki who recommended Professor Fuyuki to the Bureau of Trade and Industry. And there is a rumor that Saiki may have promised Fuyuki to help him after retirement. I think this rumor is also true." "I do not believe." "That's because you only regard Professor Fuyuki as your mentor. No matter how great a person is, he will inevitably have a dark and soft side. Moreover, the retirement age is approaching, and he will definitely be shaken. Saeki saw this and agreed. What, and then recommending him to the Bureau of Trade and Industry under certain expectations, isn’t this a reasonable thing?” "..." Yoshikawa silently turned his gaze to the bay again.Was it because he resisted Zhongyuan's words that he fell silent?Or can't find a negative word?However, in any case, Zhongyuan hopes that he can stand up and fight against the Fuyuki investigation team. Zhongyuan didn't want to try to figure out what Yoshikawa thought.He presented his ideas, no, it should be said, he strongly sold his ideas. "Therefore, I cannot trust the Fuyuki investigation team. I hope you can stand up and form another investigation team to conduct a real public nuisance investigation. This is for the dead Umezu Yuka, and it is also for the sake of all residents. You are willing to do this." "But who else?" Zhongyuan's strong proposition and enthusiastic attitude made Yoshikawa smile wryly and tilt his head suspiciously. Zhong Yuan moved his face closer to the other party and said: "There must be, there must be someone as young and enthusiastic as you. Don't you have any young teachers in Jinpu High School?" "Hmm... Maybe the only person who is willing to help me is Mr. Tatebayashi." "Young man?" "Thirty years old, teaching biology." "What does he think about public nuisance? Does he care?" "Always help me." "That's it, let's invite him to participate." "It's useless for us to decide..." Yoshikawa smiled wryly again, but Zhongyuan still said solemnly: "Tomorrow, the Fuyuki investigation team is coming, so there is no need to hesitate. Today—no, go to him now and convince him. If you don't want to go, I can go to see him." "No, let me do it." This time, Zhong Yuan finally smiled too. "So there are only two of us. Anyone else?" "I'd like another friend to join in, but I don't know if he will." "Who?" "A college friend named Shoichiro Katori. Unlike me, he is a great talent." "What are you doing now?" "He stayed in school to study anthropology." "Okay. Let's get him an extra." "You always put it lightly." Yoshikawa smiled wryly again, and Zhongyuan flashed a smile on his lips and said: "I'm optimistic about everything. I'm going to Tokyo to find him. Where can I find him?" "He lives in the 'New Shibuya Apartment' in Shibuya. It would be best if he agreed." "No problem, I will definitely bring him here." Zhong Yuan patted his chest.As a lawyer, I naturally know how to persuade people. "I also have a friend who teaches applied chemistry at the university. I brought him in too. He's young and weird, but he's got the best brains." "That's only five people. The Fuyuki investigation team has seven people. In terms of numbers, we can't compare with others." Ji Chuan pointed, but Zhong Yuan nodded and said: "It's not as good as them, but I think enthusiasm is the decisive factor. And you have been here for three years, which means that our investigation team already has a solid foundation accumulated by you in the past. No matter what the Fuyuki investigation team has The authority of the investigation is only a week's investigation at best, and we will never lose." As Nakahara said, he patted Yoshikawa on the shoulder as if asking for the other party's consent. Zhongyuan left Kyoko in Jinpu and returned to Tokyo in the evening of the same day.This time, I feel that the air in Tokyo is fresher than that in Jinpu.This also proves that the air in Jinpo is indeed polluted. Nakahara came to Shibuya first, intending to meet the young man Katori Shoichiro mentioned by Yoshikawa. To be honest, Zhong Yuan doesn't like talented people.Of course, you can't stick to this at this moment.Because he needs comrades-in-arms, the more the better, and if they are excellent talents, the better. The new Shibuya apartment is immediately available.The location is not far from Shibuya Station, it is a brand new building with 12 floors.After asking the management staff, take the elevator immediately.Yoshikawa said he studied ergonomics in college.Maybe a teaching assistant, maybe an associate professor.To be able to live in such a luxurious mansion, either the family is rich, or they know how to earn extra money. When we came to the ninth floor, we rang the doorbell we were told. The door opened, revealing a young woman.It is a rational and beautiful face. Nakahara thought it was Katori-kun's wife, and after announcing the intention of her visit, she yelled inside, "We have guests," and then solemnly said, "I'm leaving," and then brushed past Nakahara and disappeared outside the door. Soon, a slender young man in a white sweater came out and asked Zhong Yuan for advice. It's not the same as the type that Zhong Yuansu hates.His face was tanned like an athlete's, and his body was full of vigor.Zhong Yuan was let into the inner room, and as he walked, he thought: This guy must have fascinated many women. In the living room there were tennis rackets and medals, adorning a shelf.Zhongyuan naturally compared it with the eight-seat room that Yoshikawa rented in his mind. Just as the residences of the two are in stark contrast, the feelings given by the two young people are also opposite. Katori Shoichiro is completely a modern youth.Tall, handsome, and bouncy, like an athlete.In comparison, Yoshikawa is small and unattractive. However, Zhongyuan still feels that Yoshikawa is more favorable to him and is trustworthy. Katori is not the talented person as imagined, and after sitting down, there seems to be a hint of sternness in his eyes. "I heard about you from Brother Yoshikawa, so I am taking the liberty to ask you for help." Zhongyuan handed over a business card and said so.Katori repeated the surname of Yoshikawa, and said after a while: "Ah, it's that Yoshikawa." Whether he really didn't remember it right away, or pretended to be confused, Nakahara has no way to judge, but this kind of response is indeed embarrassing. It was very useful, because Yoshikawa obviously talked about him as his closest friend. Of course, this is also a small point, and Zhongyuan can't keep it in mind. He briefly explained the pollution of Nishiki, the dispatch of the Fuyuki investigation team, and the activities he and Yoshikawa were planning to engage in. "So I very much hope that you can help us. Brother Yoshikawa also believes that if you can get help from your friend, it will be equivalent to adding a huge force." "Set up another investigation team, this really looks like him." Katori smiled in a low voice and said, "He has always had this temper, and he doesn't lose when he loses." "It's not a loss." Zhongyuan said firmly.He felt that this man was gradually revealing the talent he hated. There was a look of ridicule in Katori's eyes. "The Fuyuki investigation team is headed by my teacher, and they are all famous people. Do you think you can win against them? If you think you can, then you are underestimating them." "Authorities are not necessarily correct, right? Relying on youth and heat, you can fight against it." "What about the funds? Is it sufficient?" "funds?" "The automatic measuring device for sulfurous acid gas alone costs 500,000 yuan each. I don't know how big the urban area of ​​Jinpu is, but at least four of them must be installed. This item alone costs 200 yuan." Wan. In this regard, how is it?" "No way. To be honest, we plan to fight this battle with almost no funds. We don't even consider novel instruments like automatic sulfite gas detectors. We have to make up for equipment with enthusiasm and human sea tactics." Fortunately, the local high school students will help, Yoshikawa-san started collecting and selling materials three years ago, I believe we can part ways with the Fuyuki investigation team.” "It's the spirit of karate." Katori shrugged and said, "The data collected by Yoshikawa is probably related to the empty can movement. Put alkaline filter paper into a milk can and hang it..." "Yes." "How can there be correct data for that kind of thing? And the investigation can't just be done on the ground, the airflow and temperature at the upper level are also important factors. How do you plan to measure these? You can't use balloons for high school students Let’s hang it to the sky. The wireless weather detector must be lifted up. And every day. In this way, twenty to thirty million yuan is indispensable for a week’s investigation. Do you have this money?” "..." Zhong Yuan bit his lower lip.How could there be such money.My own savings was originally planned to be spent on this matter, but it was less than one million.And, what Katori said hit the nail on the head.The information Yoshikawa collected with his students in the past was almost done underground.In order to grasp the real situation of pollution in Jinpu, the airflow, temperature and concentration of sulfurous acid gas at each layer at 100 meters, 200 meters and 300 meters need to be checked.Relying on crowd tactics is of no avail.Wireless weather detectors are indeed needed.Without this thing, how can we fight against the Fuyuki Investigation Team? "It is impossible to investigate public hazards with the spirit of kamikaze." When Katori said that coldly, the phone rang in the inner room.Xiang went in with an apology, and came out again after five or six minutes.At this time, his face seemed to be even colder. "Sorry, I can't participate in your work. Please apologize to Yoshikawa." "Is it because we don't have enough money?" "That's also true. But the call just now was to ask me to join the Fuyuki investigation team. Professor Fuyuki is my teacher, and I really can't refuse." Katori shrugged his shoulders, pretending to be helpless, but there was a delighted smile on his face. Zhong Yuan couldn't help but make a joke. "Then what did they promise you?" "What do you mean by that?" Katori became a little annoyed.On the contrary, this time Zhongyuan put on a sneer and said: "A week from tomorrow, isn't it? After it's over, maybe they will pay you to study abroad, right? Needless to say, the cost will be borne by Sun Heavy Industries." "What is this, please go back." Katori roared and stared at Nakahara fiercely. Zhong Yuan got up silently and left.He felt good about being rejected.If such a person is allowed to participate, no matter how talented he is, it will damage everyone's sense of solidarity, he thought. Nakahara arrived at Shibuya Station and called Itami, an old friend who taught applied chemistry at the university. "How about it? How about we have a drink together?" After a few glasses of wine, the conversation will be easier, but Nakahara hopes to use the wine to wash away the bad luck he felt from Katori Shoichiro. They had a perfect chance to meet at a restaurant they frequented in Shinjuku.Eating hot pot and drinking in a three-seat room there is the usual way for the two of them.According to Itami, the sun-tanned tatami mats in that room were the most refreshing. It turned out that when he arrived at the restaurant called "Adoki", Itami had already arrived earlier, joking with a chubby waitress, and started drinking alone. As soon as Zhong Yuan sat down, he said straight to the point: "I want to ask you for a favor." "If it's about money and women, I can't help it." Itami laughed. The servant girl put the fish tofu hot pot on the stove.Zhongyuan lit a cigarette first: "Is it okay to ask for a week's leave from tomorrow?" "Yes, yes, but what's going on?" "Please accompany me to Jinpu." After Nakahara explained what happened, Itami snorted and said with a smile: "It seems that there is no way to make money, and I'm afraid I can't win." "You're also willing to draw your sword to help, aren't you?" "Well, well, it's okay. And I really want to see the sea. If I ask for leave, the students will be happy." "You are my savior." Only then did Zhong Yuan breathe a sigh of relief.This way, the unhappiness I had received from Katori seemed to be gone. The two didn't break up until nearly ten o'clock, and Zhong Yuan still rushed back to Jinpu overnight. It was past midnight when we arrived at Jinpo.For the distance from Numazu, there were no shuttle boats or buses, so I had to call a taxi. Although it is midnight, the streets of Jinpu are still noisy and lack of tranquility.Drunk workers were roaring loudly, and the chimney of Sun Oil still had orange flames spraying into the night sky.They are 24 hours a day. Nearly one o'clock in the morning, Zhongyuan visited Yoshikawa. Yoshikawa hadn't gone to bed yet either. "Teacher Guanlin just went back." Yoshikawa had a cheerful face.In the ashtray, cigarette butts piled up into mountains. "That means he has agreed?" "Yes. Where is Katori?" "He, he has gone to the enemy." "That means he joined the Fuyuki investigation team, right?" A look of disappointment flashed across Yoshikawa's face.Nakahara recalled the conversation with Katori and said: "I think it's a good thing that Shoichiro Katori didn't join us. I think that person might destroy our sense of solidarity, which is not good for us." "That's because you don't understand his talent." "I feel that he is indeed a sharp minded person, but I don't like that kind of people. Women may like that number one." Nakahara accidentally remembered the young woman he saw at Katori's house, so he mentioned it to Yoshikawa.Unexpectedly, a shadow suddenly appeared on Yoshikawa's face.When Zhongyuan found out, he was suddenly curious, but he had hurt him, so he didn't ask him any further. He only told him that his old friend Yidan had promised to help him, and said: "With me, it will be a mini-investigation team of four people. Let's go on." "How about we have a drink?" Yoshikawa suddenly suggested that.Do you want to congratulate the establishment of the investigation team?Or because of the woman Zhong Yuan casually mentioned?Zhongyuan couldn't judge for a while, but agreed immediately. Yoshikawa took out a square whiskey bottle and dried fish from the closet. "Once upon a time, it was a famous property of this place." Yoshikawa held the dried fish and explained. Yoshikawa seemed to have a poor capacity for alcohol, and immediately blushed.The usual reticence has gradually changed. "Mr. Zhongyuan, do you understand women's psychology very well?" Yoshikawa asked such a question abruptly. Zhongyuan chewed the dried fish and said: "I don't understand. What's going on?" "Do you think I'll be liked by women too?" "Is this..." Zhongyuan looked at Yoshikawa, who smiled timidly. "It's all right. I know I'm not attractive." "There are also women who don't care about their appearance. I think women are more sensitive than men, and can see through whether the other party is real or fake. So the better a woman is, the more she can see your excellence." As Nakahara talked, he remembered the woman he saw at Katori's house.Maybe Yoshikawa was talking about her secretly. "Who is she?" "Uh?" "I'm talking about the woman I saw at Katori's apartment today. She's about twenty-three or four. Sensible, and very attractive. I guess you know her, don't you?" Yoshikawa didn't answer right away, but turned his eyes to the dark sea, and after a while he whispered: "It's Professor Fuyuki's daughter." That's it, Zhong Yuan thought.Maybe Yoshikawa loves her. Although Zhongyuan noticed it, he deliberately changed the topic and brought up fishing. It was almost three o'clock when we got back to the hotel.Look at Kyoko's room, she is snoring innocently.