Chapter 7 Chapter VII

Minako had no choice but to choose something else. For her, any card would do, just not for Kosaka alone.She looked casually one by one, and after a while, she found a photo of Uozu and Kosaka standing side by side.She wants this one. "There aren't many pictures of your brother and Mr. Uozu together. They often climb mountains together, so I think there should be more..." "Yes, I don't know why, there are so few, there are only three here." Mina thought, let's take this third one. "Can I have this one?" "Oh!" Ah Xin responded, but immediately changed her words: "Isn't it good for brother to be alone?"

"Your brother's one looks like a portrait, so..." "Then..." Ah Xin swallowed the words just as she opened her mouth.Seeing her expression, she seemed to want to say: "Please change to another one." Minako looked away from the photo album and raised her head.Her and Ah Xin's eyes met.Minazi saw that Ah Xin's smiling face was somewhat bitter.It wasn't a laugh that felt funny, but a smile that contained an element of wanting to hide his feelings.Minako was surprised. "It's not good to be with Uozu, is it?" Minako said. "No, no," Ah Xin's expression was very serious.

"Then don't want this one, change it to something else." "No, no." She issued a series of "no" words, but she couldn't hear what she was saying "no".After a while, he said, "Please take it, this one is fine." Minako understood how she felt; contrary to what she said, she was unwilling to give that photo.So decided to get something else.It was a photo of Kosaka sitting on a rock on the top of a mountain with a few people he didn't know. "Is this one okay?" "Okay, but it seems to be from the student days."

Although Ah Xin said so, Minazi still asked her to take down that one.The Kosaka in the photo is thin and thin, and he is completely different from the little trash that Minako knew.This, on the contrary, made Mina feel better mentally. At this time, Ah Xin was different from when she first came here, with her face bent down, her eyes fell on her knees.Minazi stared at Axin in front of her with a mischievous feeling—like a weak prey that could be slaughtered. This girl may have a special feeling for Yujin.Otherwise, how could she explain her reluctance to give up the photo with Yujin?Minazi looked at Ah Xin and realized that she had some kind of jealousy.So think about where you are jealous of the other party.

Looking at her, I feel that there is a lot to be jealous of.The hair on the forehead gives people a feeling of cleanliness, which is unique to girls of this age; it is also unique to girls of this age that they can't even lift their heads when someone sees their state of mind.If you call her now, you might startle and raise your head.The way she looks up and the way she looks at other people's eyes after raising her head is also an incomparably precious beauty of youth!Also, those slender limbs wrapped in black sweaters are worthy of your envy.Besides, why are the lines of her shoulders so delicate!

This girl is now trying to give all this beauty and purity to someone.She's subconsciously asking someone to taint it. "Have you met Mr. Uozu?" Minako asked the beautiful prey. "Ah, see you." Ah Xin raised her head, but immediately lowered her head. "He came on the day of my brother's death. Some time ago, there was an inexplicable article in the newspaper. I was worried about him, so I went to see him." "The inexplicable things you mentioned are the experiments on climbing ropes?" "yes." "What did Mr. Uozu say?" "He said it would be good to experiment. I thought so too."

"But, if the climbing rope doesn't stop..." Ah Xin immediately raised her face and said, "That won't happen!" It sounded a little protesting. "Mr. Uozu said it was broken." "That's what I said, but... there will be accidents." "It's impossible to imagine that it won't be broken, unless the experimenter has malicious intentions..." Ah Xin said. Minako really wanted to tell her that it was her husband who did the experiment, but she dismissed the idea.Because at this time, she suddenly had an idea that was almost sure-the climbing rope would not break.

Kosaka committed suicide!Uojin was protecting herself—Minako thought leisurely with the cruel mood of trampling a little bee to death.Since the incident, Minako has been afraid that Kosaka committed suicide, but now she expects the opposite. At eleven o'clock, a young staff member from the secretarial department poked his head in and said, "You decided to go to the luncheon of the Third Industry Club, I don't know..." "Well, I'm going." Yashiro Kinnosuke, who was leaning over his desk to read the mail, replied motionlessly. "Then, shall I prepare a car for you immediately?"

"Well, prepare it for me." Then he added: "There is a place where you should call me first." Only then did Konnosuke turn his face to the secretary.Hearing Konnosuke's order, the neatly dressed young man who had been standing at the door walked into the room.Kyonosuke opened the desk drawer, took out a bundle of twenty or thirty business cards, and said, "Here is the business card of the manager of the Tokyo Branch of Shintoya Trading Company. Find it and give it to me." He hung up." The young man took the business card that Kennosuke handed him, flipped through it for a while, and said, "It's called Tokiwa Daisaku."

"This, I don't remember clearly." "This is the only business card of the New East Asia Trading Company." "That's probably it. You put the phone on and ask him to answer, and I'll come as soon as he answers." The young man immediately picked up the telephone receiver on the stage and dialed the number. Kinnosuke stood up, walked to the washroom in the corner of the room, washed his hands, then straightened the crooked tie in the mirror, and when he was about to leave there, he turned his gaze to the tie in the mirror again.The tie was not quite right, a so-so tan, but with horizontal stripes.This morning Mina took it out and tied it around her neck. Now it still looks a bit gimmicky and lacks style.Minako always likes to choose things with a little bit of red, but recently she likes inconspicuous and simple and elegant ones.

Until last year or earlier, I didn't feel much resistance to the tie that Minako bought, but recently I feel dissatisfied every time I look in the mirror.This is not so much that there is a difference in hobbies between me and Minako, but rather that my hobbies are biased.Indeed, not only ties, but everything is getting harder and harder to accommodate. Maybe people will become stubborn once they pass fifty.However, such a trivial matter as a tie has to be accommodated. You should try not to emphasize your hobbies and respect Minako more. This is the etiquette for young wives. "The phone is connected." Hearing the young man's words, Kyonosuke left the mirror, went to the phone, picked up the receiver, covered the mouth of the receiver with his hands, and told the young man, "Get the car ready for me immediately." Then he put the earphones to his ears, "Thank you , I'm sorry! I'm Yatsushiro from Toho Chemical... I was rude a few days ago." The tone was calm, but with a business-like tone. Immediately came the other party's energetic rough voice. "I'm Tokiwa, where is it! I'm sorry for you, I dared to ask you for help in my busy schedule." "It's for this." "Ho—" "I want to talk to you face to face." "Then I'll be right there." "Are you coming? That's a shame." "No, it's okay—when is it convenient? Can I come to your company?" The tone of the other party was hearty. "Today I'm going to attend a meeting of the Hibiya Tertiary Industry Club, which will end around 12:30..." "Is it convenient for you to come about one o'clock, then?" "it is good" "One o'clock, then. Where is the place? How about I come to the Third Industry Club?" Although the Third Industry Club is very good, it is not good if the meeting time is prolonged. It is better to choose another place for insurance. "Do you see any other suitable places?" "Well, how about waiting for you in the lobby of Hotel T?" Konosuke doesn't like the atmosphere in the lobby of the T Hotel, where foreign girls often hang out.So Tokiwa Daisaku suggested again: "In addition to the T Hotel, there is also a western restaurant in the Cotton Industry Hall nearby. How about it?" If you go to the western restaurant of the cotton industry guild hall, there may be acquaintances there, and it is annoying to meet them and say hello. So Tokiwa proposed a third place to go: "How about the hotel lobby on the sixth floor of the N Hall?" "Just decide there." This time, Konnosuke replied immediately.Because I have never been to the hotel lobby in the N Club, there is no reason to refuse. "The sixth floor?" "Yes. I'll be there at one o'clock. I'll wait there until you come. If the meeting is late, it doesn't matter if you're late." Kyonosuke put down the microphone, feeling that the other party was very tactful.I have already realized that my attitude is a bit presumptuous, but the other party is still so patient and easy-going. Jiao Zhisuke finished the meeting of the Third Industry Club at 12:30, and before taking the bus, he was in the N Guild Building, which could be reached in less than five minutes.When I walked into the hotel lobby of the building, it was still ten minutes before one o'clock. There are several sets of tables and chairs for meeting guests in the hall covered with red carpets.Gyonosuke chose the innermost sofa.Indeed, it is peaceful here.The decorations on the walls; the pattern of the staircase leading to the second-floor dining room; the light coming from nowhere—all of it was like a movie studio stage set, with a slightly frivolous feel.However, it is good that there are few people and quiet.There were only two foreigners and a pair of Japanese men and women in the opposite corner, and their conversation and laughter could not be heard. Kinnosuke ordered the girl who delivered the towel to make a cup of sencha, then leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes.The boring meeting made him feel tired all over. He thought that the meeting would have to be sorted out a bit in the future.There are too many meetings, and not only that, but too many chores.Coming here to wait for someone in front of you is also one of the chores.The constant breaking of the climbing rope in the experiment has nothing to do with me. It can be said to be a common and vulgar thing in the world.It's fine if he can be perfunctory, but the bad thing is that he doesn't have the character of perfunctory.The same is true for the test of the climbing rope, if you leave it to yourself, you will not dare to be sloppy.Now is the time to make it clear to those who will come here that this matter cannot be done carelessly.For this, a fraction of the twenty-four hours in the day must be spent. However, when Daisaku Tokiwa's obese figure appeared at the door of the hall and walked straight towards him, he put down his legs and stood up abruptly.Then he walked two or three steps forward to meet Tokiwa, and said in a naturally calm tone: "I don't dare to take care of you when you are busy." "Oh! You have been waiting for a long time... Please sit down." The other party persuaded him to sit down first, and then buried his fat body on the sofa. "Excuse me." Tokiwa took off his coat, revealing the vest of his suit. "Forgive me for going straight to the point, let's talk about work. The main problem is the test of the climbing rope. The cost is about one million, do you know that?" Kyonosuke said. "One million? Then...you need at least that much. Okay, I got it. Just ask them to pay." The other party replied nonchalantly. "Also, I want to conduct an experiment entirely in good conscience. This point, if you have other ideas, it will be difficult, so..." This is the most important.Kyonosuke invited Tokiwa, one of the clients, here to clarify this point. "The other idea is...?" Tokiwa Daisaku raised his face in surprise. "Sakura Rope Company wants to experiment with climbing ropes. I think they have such an intention—hope it will continue." "That's right." "Although there is such an intention, the experiment is not swayed by this intention. I hope I can get your understanding in advance." Kyonosuke said.What he meant was: what you have to say first, don't regret it. "You're right." Daisaku Tokiwa nodded deeply.This was exactly what he wanted, and he became enthusiastic all of a sudden, and his voice became louder. "Well, you're right. That's it, that's it! It's just to test whether the climbing rope will break. It doesn't matter if it breaks. Of course it can be broken! I am completely in favor of it breaking." "It doesn't have to be broken. You have to experiment to know if it's broken." "of course." "However, if it breaks, the Sakura Rope Company will not be satisfied." "That's unsatisfactory. But it's okay to make them unsatisfactory. Do you know the manager, Sakura?" "know." "I don't think this man has ever been dissatisfied. Let him be dissatisfied once. This man... I don't like him very much. All in all, he is a man of good luck. When you get off the bus, there will be a tram waiting there. I got off the tram and walked to the train station, just as the train was coming in. He is such a person, so he climbed so high now because everything has been so good in the past, which is why he is vulgar. Academia, business circles , Political circles, there are often such figures.” "It makes sense—but, he has a close relationship with your company, right?" "Yes. He has a lot of shares in our company. We are brother companies in that sense." Konosuke raised his head, looked at Daisaku Tokiwa's face, and said, "According to this, your position is also that you don't want the climbing rope to be broken." "That's what I said. But if it breaks, let it break, it's not a problem." Tokiwa Dasaku said and laughed.Kinnosuke didn't quite understand Tokiwa's position, but he was sure that the experiment could not be influenced by anyone—although this was a matter of course—so he felt that meeting this person was rewarding. Here comes the waitress.Chang asked Kyonosuke: "Do you want coffee or black tea?" "No, I'll drink sencha." "Then have sencha and coffee." Then, Tokiwa said to Kennosuke, "Older people should drink sencha." "Are you young?" "No, probably about the same as you." "I am fifty-eight years old." "Then I'm three years younger." Tokipan spoke with such vigor that he couldn't tell that he was only three years younger. "Although I'm three years younger, it's useless to do anything." Chang Pan said so, but there was no look of "useless" on his face. "Where, where, it's quite tough. At our age, it's a big difference to be three years away." This is not necessarily a compliment. Tokipan Daisaku said: "Age is meaningless. You are young if you live a young life, and you are old if you live an old man's life—this is my consistent view. Although some people are still young, but live the life of an old man; some people are old, but still live the life of a young man. Take you for example, you are working on the cause of atomic energy, and there is no younger life than this." Tokiwa Masterpiece Talk more and more vigorously. "In short, as the saying goes, the value of a person is judged by the coffin. I can't say what is the value of a person, but I think whether a person's life is rich can be judged by the coffin. For example, to determine whether a person is rich, It should be determined according to the amount spent in his life, that is, according to the total statistics when the coffin was closed. Whether it is borrowed or stolen, a person who spends a lot in his life should be called a rich man. Conversely, even though he has ten thousand family wealth , but he spends little in his life, then he is a real poor man. Not only money, but other things are the same. The same is true for youth. Some people marry young wives in order to keep their youth forever. It is said that married young wives, You can absorb the hormones that emanate from her, and you can rejuvenate. Maybe that's the case. However, this in itself is absurd. It is difficult to say that it is difficult to keep an aging body young, and it seems Vulgar and disgusting. The meaning of marrying a young wife is not here, but to spend a youthful life with a young wife, not to absorb but to waste. It means to live a young life against one's advanced age. Therefore, it may not only be impossible to rejuvenate , instead of bringing death to an earlier date. But once again putting oneself in the midst of youth, it makes sense.” "Your opinion may be right, but..." Yashiro Kinnosuke interjected in order to interrupt the other party's rambling.Not only to interrupt the other party's work, but I also want to put forward a different opinion. "I have a young wife myself..." As soon as Konosuke opened his mouth, Tokiwa Daisaku said, "Hey, you have a young wife? Is that right? Then I would be reckless." Tokiwa Daisaku sighed deeply and solemnly. "I have a young wife. It would be great if, as you said, I could go against my advanced age and share my youthful life with a young wife, but...it can't be done." Konosuke said calmly.Daisaku Tokiwa had just talked loudly in a yelling voice, so in comparison, he felt that his voice was very calm and sounded convincing. "I didn't marry her to absorb hormones. In the final analysis, the motive is to waste it—I just want to go against my age and live a youthful life. But things are contrary to my wishes. The joy of youth can only be enjoyed when you are young. Talking with your wife is worse than thinking about work; loving your wife’s body at night is not as good as sleeping alone. That’s it. Sometimes I go shopping with my wife, but I always feel bored. If you want to watch movies or theaters, then I’m sorry, so I have to invite her go alone." "I see." "My wife has turned the yard into a lawn, built an oval pool, and placed benches. She also likes to keep dogs—these are also troublesome. For me, it's better to plant one or two persimmon trees... It doesn't matter, it will be unimaginable in the future." "Oh……" "How should I put it? It's the gap between old and young. Let me be clear. My wife's spiritual and physical youth are exactly what I'm afraid of. Of course, this is also difficult. It’s different. In my case, the wife is only in name. It’s bad luck to be a wife. If I become a wife instead, I will get angry.” "Well……" "In this way, a woman becomes a dangerous thing. Really... this is also an inevitable result... because it is a natural phenomenon. I am like a father with a daughter of marriageable age. The only trouble is that I am afraid that she will find a marriage partner. It would be troublesome to do that...it would be a tragedy. It would be great if, as you said, you could violate your age, but I don't want to violate it, I'm too lazy to do it, and I'm afraid of trouble. His words will inevitably be dismissed as empty talk." Daisaku Tokiwa has been listening to Konnosuke.Hearing this, he rolled up his sleeves and squeezed his lips tightly.That air seems to be saying: Well, then I will fight back against you.He turned his face solemnly to this solemn and serene, but somewhat cold old gentleman. "That's a matter of character. There are also people who are in their sixties and seventies and still pursue little girls everywhere. But you can't, because you have someone more attractive than a girl. You should not marry a young lady, but should Marrying atomic energy. People, there is no need to only consider women as the object of consideration, so that you can fall in love against your age. It is okay if you are not a woman... Take me as an example, neither can you fall in love with women, and there is no other substitute. No more atomic energy than you. It's really nerve-wracking." Tokiwa said that he brought the problem on himself. "You are different from me. Anyway, you live your life with your youth. I don't know anything about atomic science, but I think it is full of beautiful human ideals. All possibilities are contained in it. And you are in love Looking at it is really enviable." When Tokiwa said this, Kennosuke laughed and said: "That is to say, when Geiger was. The actual value of my youth is quite considerable, isn't it?" Then he said: "But, I really don't have that kind of Feelings. Because I am an engineer and I am passionate about my major, but I don’t think atomic science is necessarily full of beautiful ideals or possibilities for mankind, and there is also the possibility of destroying mankind.” "Yes, the possibility of destruction also exists. But, isn't it because the possibility of destruction is affirmed that human beings are what they are now? Everyone is doomed to die, but we don't live with a gloomy mood .Knowing that you will die in a few years, but not despairing, this is to live well. I want to live as straight as possible. And not only a few people, but the whole human race. I used to think that human beings would not The idea of ​​perishing is strange. Realizing that human beings may perish at any time, morality and politics will of course change accordingly. People not only consider issues from the standpoint of nations or countries. stand to consider the issue.” "That's right, it's true. But ah, it's also difficult. Personally, it's not good to be closer to death day by day... Take myself for example, I have become self-willed and unrestrained recently When I was young, I knew how to respect other people’s feelings, and I always wanted to make people’s lives as happy as possible, but over the years, it has gradually become difficult to compromise with others... I, after a few years, I’m afraid I will feel that I am alone Living in a small house is the most satisfying thing. It is said that in France, some old people leave their family members, sons, daughter-in-law, and wives, and live in a room in an apartment by themselves, free Live comfortably. The kind of old man who doesn't even trust the bank, puts money in jars, hides it in the backyard, and digs it out quietly when he needs it..." "Oh, just in the middle of the night, isn't it?" "Probably so. I don't know if I will bury money in the yard in the future, but I'm afraid I will end up becoming the kind of old man who loves trivial things and is not likable." Kyonosuke said After finishing, I thought that this was the first time I had said such words.He felt that Daisaku Tokiwa should be treated differently—that he had managed to induce himself to say that.So he turned his gaze to the other party. At this time, Chang Pan Dazuo yelled, "Give me water!" His voice was so loud that he was shouting like he was in his own company, and his face was flushed. "People don't offend me, I don't offend others. I don't want to cause trouble for others, but I don't want others to trouble myself—probably this is the reason. If I am allowed to become such an old man, I would like to do so. My ultimate dream—or thought, it’s like this when it’s exposed. For me, it’s probably like this…” Yashiro Konnosuke took a breath at this point.At this time, he felt strange that it would be so joyful to speak out what was in his heart. It was really wonderful, with endless words, he really wanted to talk endlessly, endlessly. When he sat down face to face with Tokiwa Daisaku at first, he frowned at the other party's babbling, and felt that he couldn't stand it.However, he encountered some kind of mysterious trick, and unknowingly, he snatched the other party's good ability of talking. "Okay, I totally understand. It's not that I don't want to be such an old man. It's just that I'm a person who can't actually live alone. I'm a born nosy person, and I can't meddle in other people's business. When doing something, even if it has nothing to do with me, I can’t stand by and watch when I see it, I will disregard my own face, go forward and express my opinion, if there is no opinion, I will talk about my feelings.” As soon as Tokipan talked about this, a waitress came over and said, "Mr. Yujin is here." "Tell him to come here." Then Tokiwa explained to Kyonosuke: "I would like to invite you to meet a young man from our company. When I came just now, I wanted to bring him with me, because it happened that After going out, I wrote a note asking him to come here when he comes back." While talking, Yujin arrived.Probably because he had been talking about the relationship with the old man just now, Konosuke felt that this young man with strong shoulders and a moderate figure was very young. Tokiwa introduced to Uozu who was standing beside him, "This is Mr. Yatsushiro. I haven't told you yet, this is the one who will test the climbing rope." Then he turned to Kennosuke and introduced: " This is also a person who does not love women but only loves mountains. When he gets old, he will put money in altars and bury them in the backyard. His name is Uozu Kyouta, and he is the central figure in the climbing rope incident." Konnosuke stood up, took out the card case from the side pocket of his jacket, and took out a card to exchange with the young man.Yujin looked at the business card, then raised his head and said, "I've been to your house." "Really? That's..." Konosuke said, he knew what kind of young man Uozu was, but pretended not to know. "I talked to Mr. Tokiwa just now. I want to conduct the experiment completely in good conscience, without any selfishness. So I told Mr. Tokiwa that the climbing rope may break, and I hope he will be prepared in advance. At the same time, I would like to say to you , I also want to say: As a result of the experiment, the climbing rope may not be broken. Please be mentally prepared." Kyonosuke said to the young man who listened to him with a slightly serious expression. "Of course." Yujin raised his face and said. "What needs to be done is the constant breaking test of the climbing rope, so no matter what the result is, I will trust the result. You said that you should do it according to your conscience, so I am completely at ease. To be honest, I only know that you are Dongbang Chemical when I saw the business card just now. This surprised me. The raw material of the faulty climbing rope is a product of Toho Chemical, so I think it is inappropriate to ask someone from Toho Chemical to conduct the test. But I am completely relieved after hearing your words . . . The question is the method of experimentation. What method are you going to adopt?" "That's the problem, well..." Kyonosuke leaned forward slightly and said, "Of course, the most ideal thing is to reproduce the scene exactly as it is for testing, but it is impossible to expect at present. The reproduction of the scene is to use plaster Make a model of the corner that caused the incident, and then build an identical corner. Then hook the climbing rope to it and try it out. But this will not be done until June and July when the snow and ice melt. The method that can be done at present, according to my The idea was to make a few corners with different angles out of granite and experiment with them, and there was no other way. How much angle was the one that went wrong?" "I didn't put the climbing rope on the rock corner myself, so I don't know. However, according to common sense, if the rock corner is lost, it will be about ninety degrees at most." "Makes sense...it might be like that. Of course you're not going to go for a razor-sharp corner. That's it. Make a ninety-degree corner, and make a forty-five-degree corner that's twice as sharp. Let's do a test. Can these two work?" "I see it." "Rock wants to use granite." "Okay, then, when will the experiment be conducted?" "I'm afraid it will take a month or a month and a half to prepare. So the end of March or the beginning of April at the earliest." Kyonosuke replied.At this time, Konnosuke realized that his conversation with this young man was a bit rigid like a duel. The three of them were silent for a while, and then Tokiwa asked, "Uozu-kun, is there anything you need to explain clearly to Mr. Yatsushiro in advance?" "No, there's nothing to talk about," Yujin replied. "No? It's fine if you don't have one." Then Tokiwa said, "I didn't expect it. It happened to be an employee of our company who broke the climbing rope of Xingjin Rope Company. I'm really surprised." He seemed to be very happy when he spoke. like. "Moreover, Mr. Yatsushiro from Toho Chemical Industry is now in charge of this climbing rope test. If the climbing rope breaks, it will be a big problem. It's almost like relatives around are attacking their patriarch." "But, it may not be broken." After Konosuke said this, he also "felt a little bit unhappy. Whenever the other party gets aggressive, Konosuke is always unhappy. Tokiwa probably also saw it. At this point, he said, "That's right, it's an experiment. " "However, it will be broken, in fact it has already been broken." Yujin interjected from the side. Konosuke ignored his words, shifted his gaze to the confident young man and said, "Let's talk about something else. I have also met Kosaka-kun who passed away this time at home." "Really?" Yujin showed a complicated expression. "Poor death. A fine young man . . . and a fairly old friend of yours?" "I've made friends since I was in college. It's good friends." "That's enough to make you sad. Friends are good. In a sense, friends are more intimate than parents and brothers, and they have nothing to say to each other." Konosuke's gaze was still on Uozu who was bowing his head.He saw a pained expression cross Uojin's face.He thought that this young man might know about the relationship between Minako and Kosaka.Konosuke was thinking about what to say next.Maybe talking to this young man can somehow find out how deep the relationship between Minako and Kosaka is.Even though he didn't say it out of his mouth.I haven't shown my attitude, but this problem has been a big heart disease of Jiaozhisuke in the past two or three years, and I often have it in my heart. He knew that Minako was avoiding Kosaka Otohiko, but felt that she was avoiding it unnaturally.Unless there is some problem, there is no need to avoid Kosaka so desperately. "Okay, excuse me for today." Kyonosuke stood up abruptly.He himself hadn't expected such a change of mood—Osaka, the central figure in the problem, had already died, so wouldn't it be all right?But he was still obsessed with the secret of his young wife.Thinking of this, he put the idea aside at once.