Chapter 36 Sengakuji Temple

Mr. Kobayashi, the principal of Ba Xueyuan, has a very unique educational method, largely due to the influence of educational methods in Europe and other countries.For example, the new rhythm education started from aerobics, the etiquette when eating and walking, and even the song "Chew well, eat..." at lunch is also the English song "Draw, Row, Row Your Boat", etc., the list goes on and on.There is also a teacher Maruyama in Ba Xueyuan. His status in Ba Xueyuan is equivalent to that of the dean of other schools. He can be regarded as Mr. Xiaolin's right-hand man. However, this teacher Maruyama is completely opposite to Mr. Lin in some aspects.Mr. Maruyama really looks like the word "Maru" in his name. He has a round head and no hair on the top of his head. Short shiny white hair.In addition, with his round glasses and flushed cheeks, he looks completely different from Mr. Kobayashi at first glance.Moreover, what is even more different is that Mr. Maruyama will recite poems to everyone from time to time:

"Bianqing - woo woo - crossing the river at night - in fact, this poem should be: "Whip sound—Xiao Xiaoyi—Crossing the river at night—" However, Xiaodoudou and the others always thought it was the man named Bianqing who was crying and crossing the river at night.Even so, Mr. Maruyama's "Benkei—Woooo—" is still very famous. On the morning of December 14th, after everyone came to school, Mr. Maruyama said: "Today is the anniversary of the revenge of the 47 martyrs. We are going to visit Sengakuji Temple on foot. I have already contacted your parents."

Mr. Kobayashi didn't object to Mr. Maruyama's idea. I don't know how he thought about it, but he didn't object.Maybe he thought it was "not a bad thing" to do so.However, Xiaodoudou's mother still felt that it was a bit strange to compare the style of Ba Xueyuan with the tomb of the Forty-seven Martyrs. Before departure, Mr. Maruyama told everyone the outline of the story of the Forty-Seven Martyrs.In particular, there was a man named Amano Yarihei among the righteous men. He was responsible for preparing weapons for 47 people. After he was captured, no matter how much he was tortured by the shogunate officials, he just said:

"Toshihei Amanoya is a man." He refused to reveal the secret of the righteous men's revenge at all.Mr. Maruyama repeated this story several times.Although the students didn't quite know what happened to the Forty-Seven Martyrs, they were very excited because they could skip class and go for a walk farther than the Nine-Rank Buddha with their packed lunch.The children said to Mr. Principal and other teachers: "Let's go!" Led by Mr. Maruyama, fifty students from the whole school set off in a mighty way.From here and there in the procession, the voice of "Toshihei Amanoya is a man" can be heard from time to time, and even the girls said loudly "... is a man", making the passers-by on the road laugh. Looking back.It is about three days (about twelve kilometers) from Jiyugaoka to Sengakuji, but there are almost no cars on the road.In Tokyo in December, the sky is blue.The children yelled, "Toshihei Amanoya is a man," while bouncing around without feeling tired at all.

When we arrived at Sengakuji, Mr. Maruyama distributed incense sticks, water and flowers to everyone.There are many tombs lined up here, but they are smaller than those in Jiupin Buddha Temple. Xiao Doudou thought that she was here to pay homage to the "Forty-Seven Martyrs", so she couldn't help but become serious. After offering incense sticks and flowers, she followed Maruyama's example and bowed silently.Among the elementary school students, there was an atmosphere of silence.This is a very rare quietness in Ba Xueyuan.The incense sticks in front of each tomb emit curls of green smoke, which disperse into various patterns in the air.

From that day on, Xiaodoudou felt that the smell of incense sticks was the smell of Mr. Maruyama, and it was also the smell of "Benkei Yiwuwu--", the smell of "Amanoya Toshihei", or "quiet" smell. It is impossible for the children to understand "Benqing" or the Forty-Seven Martyrs, but Mr. Maruyama was still full of enthusiasm and patiently told them.This is the difference between Mr. Maruyama and Mr. Kobayashi, but it also makes people respect and feel close.In addition, Xiaodoudou also likes the voice of Mr. Maruyama. His voice is so gentle that people feel that it does not match the teacher's small eyes behind the thick lenses and the teacher's fat body.

New Year's is coming.