Chapter 7 Chapter VII

When Miyako mentioned Shigeo Tanio's name, Aonuma's face changed suddenly.Both Aonuma and Tanio have a sense of competition. They started their activities as writers at the same time, and their styles are similar, and what's worse is that both of them are very popular.The age difference is also almost the same.The only difference is their personalities. Of course, the two of them did not clash head-on.Not only that, they drink Huanglong together whenever they have the opportunity, and they always acknowledge each other's achievements in front of others.However, deep down there is a sense of competition and hatred.

Miyako left him at the hotel and went out for a few hours. Aonuma was already in a restless mood, but now that Miyako asked Shigeo Tani to write a manuscript, his inner activities could not help but be exposed. "I've been to Mr. Tanio." Regardless of Aonuma's aggressive gaze, Miyako replied calmly. "It was the first time I asked for a manuscript, and it was useless to make a phone call." "Is Guwei at home?" "At the hotel. The mountain hotel with tea." "Hmph, he often goes there. Did you make an appointment with Gu Wei long ago?"

"Yes, the appointment was made two weeks ago." "Why is he willing to see you?" "Mr. Kimura Heigoro introduced it." "Mr. Kimura? So, is it the same method as you used to find me?" Aonuma was stunned.Mr. Kimura is an old-timer in the literary world. His style is completely different from Aonuma and Tanio. He is kind and respected.The reason why Aonuma let Miyako, who was visiting for the first time, into his office in the hotel was also because she brought Kimura's letter of introduction. "You never told me about this?" "I'm sorry. Because I don't know if Mr. Tanio will agree. If it doesn't work, I'll be embarrassed, and I'm worried that it will affect the manuscript I asked you to write."

"Whether Gu Wei agrees or not, I will keep my promise." "I'm so happy." Aonuma was still staring at Miyako. "Since you are going to Guwei, you should tell me in advance. Tell me after the fact. It seems that I was deceived by you. I am very unhappy." "Oh, how could I deceive you?... I didn't mean that. You misunderstood. As I said just now, I was afraid of the consequences of his rejection. I was worried that it would affect your fighting spirit..." "I will not be affected by Guwei in any way." "It's all my fault. Please calm down. I understand how you feel."

"Why are you begging Guwei?" "From a business point of view, you must understand. Mr. Tanio is a popular writer second only to Mr. Aonuma. So, after making an appointment for your manuscript, I want to ask Mr. Tanio to write another manuscript. I am full of energy alone. It's really strange, I got the manuscript that my husband gave us to be written immediately, so I took advantage of the situation and went to Mr. Tanwei to try my luck." "Did Guwei agree?" "Yes, he immediately agreed. It's terrible luck when one goes uphill. Of course, it's thanks to you. I always feel that my work is successful."

Aonuma Tejiro irritably drank a cigarette.Without losing the opportunity, Miyako took out a lighter from her pocket, lit it, and handed it over.Aonuma took the opportunity to grab the hand she extended. "Yo, this won't work." Miyako smiled and wanted to withdraw her hand, but Aonuma didn't let go. "Yanwei also treats you like this?" "How come? I'm visiting for the first time?" "He doesn't care about that. I'm too familiar with Gu Wei's temper. He also messes with the girls in the publishing house, which is well known."

"I'm not like a young man. Anyway, he wouldn't do such a thing to an old woman whom he met for the first time." "Don't talk nonsense. That guy is just flirting with young girls. But he's obsessed with women your age. I've heard a lot of rumors. Anyway, he's famous for his quick hands and feet." "Yeah, is that so?" "How long did you and Tanibi spend at the hotel?" "Not too long." "At least for an hour." "If you need to beg others, you can't do it if you don't insist." "You see. A full hour together in the back room of the hotel on the hill, who knows what might happen."

"You really know how to guess wildly." "You can't fool me. Others don't know, but I know Guwei's character well. He must have grabbed your hand like this." Aonuma pulled the grasping hand closer, trying to hug Miyako's shoulder. "no." Miyako turned her face away and instinctively used her other hand to protect her chest and lips. "Don't break your promise." "I know why Tanio agreed to your request. You said my name?" "I said it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have written for us." "What did he say?"

"At first, he sneered and said, since Aonuma has been asked to write it, why not? Then..." "You see, this kind of tone is his habit. He must want to compare himself with Aonuma in his heart. It's not so much about the works, it's better to say that he is interested in you, so he made up his mind. Have you ever said to speculate about the relationship between you and me? if?" "It's a man after all. He said something like that half-jokingly." "In order to fight against me, he not only wants to write novels, but also wants to get you at the same time, so he mustered up his fighting spirit."

"I'm not worthy of being such an object, but I feel very honored for you gentlemen to strive to write good works. I never dreamed that gentlemen would contribute so much to our unknown publishing house." "It's your business. But, think about it for me. I can't take it. You spent an hour with that guy from Tanibi at the Mountain Inn, who knows what you did. Me too..." "No," Miyako pushed Aonuma's hand away. "No, let's not talk about the promise just now. In short, you made an appointment with me first. Empty words are useless, show some evidence."

"Then what do you call me to do?" "kiss Me." "No, please be patient until the day you fulfill your promise." "Well, anywhere else is fine, let me kiss you." Miyako closed her eyes, and the man's rapid breath sprayed on her cheeks.At this time, it was more than two o'clock in the middle of the night, and there was no sound in the hotel. "Then there's nothing you can do. As long as it's easier for you, it's up to you. Not lips, though." When Miyako returned home, she saw her husband had fallen asleep. On the table, there were four or five notebooks and manuscript paper bought from the street in a mess.Miyako looked at it, and the lines that had been written on the manuscript paper were blacked out.There were also a few crumpled pieces of waste paper in the wastebasket. Beside the pillow, the open newspaper was covered with peanut skins. Miyako looked at her husband's sleeping face.Long hair hangs on the pillow.The cheeks are thin, and the beard that hasn't been shaved for a long time grows long.From the front, it looks much thinner.Under the delicate thick eyebrows, the eye sockets were sunken, and tears were seeping from the closed eyes. Her husband fell asleep and didn't know that Miyako came back. There is a dining table on the tatami, covered with a thin cloth.Miyako lifted the cover and saw that there were cold spinach, cold tofu, grilled kang fish, grilled salmon, etc. on the table.This is the dinner the husband prepares for his wife who comes home late at night. Miyako said several times that she wanted to hire a maid, but every time her husband objected, saying it was too extravagant and wasteful.It's better to be alone in the comfort of your home than someone else to come in.He said that he cooks better than women, and he likes it too. In fact, this is because the husband is being polite.Because he has no income, he is so polite to this point.However, he did not grovel.He was in a good mood, never suspicious not only of his wife but of anyone. In front of her husband, Miyako couldn't help but feel that she had sinned deeply.There seems to be another kind of life beating in the husband who writes poems. Miyako saw a line of tears flowing from the corner of her husband's eyes, and couldn't help crying.The image of her husband who was alone waiting for Miyako to come home and writing poems while chewing peanuts appeared in front of her eyes.I'm afraid he hasn't slept at least an hour before.It seemed that I couldn't hold on any longer, so I lay down for a while. Miyako quietly walked into the bathroom.He planned to light the gas to boil the water, but when he opened the lid, the bathtub was steaming.The hot water is clear, as if it has just been put in. Miyako showered with gratitude. She soaped herself vigorously, trying desperately to erase the memory of the two men.She rubbed Xian frantically for a long time. Take a shower and go back to your husband.The husband opened his eyes slightly when he heard footsteps. "Ah, are you back?" The husband's bearded cheeks smiled and showed deep dimples. "I've been back for a while. I saw you were sleeping soundly, so I went to take a shower first." Miyako sat down beside her husband's pillow. "what time is it?" "It's almost four o'clock." "It's so late?" The husband gently held Miyako's fingers resting on his knees and said, "I didn't sleep until two o'clock, and I was waiting for you." "I'm sorry...I'm going to find the writers. They always work late." "Yes. It's really not easy for you to find these writers to contact them for work." The husband showed no signs of doubt, he believed in his wife 100%. "I'm really sorry that you are always asked to work alone. I wish I could do some work in this area." "No, it's not right for you to do such a thing. Just write poetry." "I'm sorry. Lately I've always felt as if I could write something." "That's great. Have you written it tonight?" Miyako asked, looking at the blacked-out manuscript. "I have written it, but it didn't go well. I know you want to read it. I wanted to write something decent, but it still didn't work." "Don't worry...my work will go well. I'm going to publish your collection of poems one by one in hardcover." Had he adopted the form of self-publishing, his collection of poems would have been published long ago.However, the husband does not want this form, but wants it to be published by a general publishing house.The husband has such childlike pride that he wants to be a real poet. "Miyako, come with me to Heirinji Temple tomorrow morning, okay?" "To the temple?" "Although it is in the countryside, it can be reached by train for an hour. I heard that it is a good place. The scenery of Musashino is still the same. I thought it would be nice to take a walk in such a place in the morning. So, after hearing the situation there, I had a The idea of ​​going with you." "Okay. I will definitely go with you." "However, I'm so sorry. You came back so late, and I will wake you up early tomorrow." "It doesn't matter. I'm happy that way. I walk around the dirty city every day, and I wish I could go somewhere like that sometimes." "I haven't smelled the scent of trees and green leaves for a long time... I heard that it is a very good place, and it may produce good thoughts." "Great to hear there's such a place. Who told you that?" "Here, a little past my house, there lives a woman named Nomiyama. She is a bit different, I heard that she is a drama actress or something..." Miyako also knew this woman. Although she had never talked to her before, she always greeted her with her eyes when they met on the road. She worked as a trainee in a theater troupe, and after graduation, she and her classmates organized a theater troupe like the Newcomer Club.Although she is a drama actress, she can't make ends meet with the income of the theater troupe alone, so when there are no performances or rehearsal tasks, she temporarily works in bars in the back alleys of Ginza. The woman lived in an apartment nearby, so the husband met her when he was out for a walk. The husband is at home alone during the day, and it is also a good thing to meet such a young man to relieve his worries.Miyako reckoned the woman, Nomisan, to be twenty or twenty-one years old, a slender, well-proportioned actress worthy of an actress.I heard that she works in the bar, but she doesn't look like a bar girl at all, but like a lady from a good family, very innocent.Miyako has a crush on her. "But, you are too tired, don't force yourself." Husband Zhuoyi still said politely. "No, no problem. If I want to go to such a good place, I don't feel sleepy anymore. Besides, the work is relatively smooth, and I have plenty of guesswork. If I get busy in the future, I will always hire someone and set up a formal office here. At that time, even if you want to go out, you won’t be able to go out.” "Is it going well at work?" the husband said with wide-eyed eyes. "It's amazing. I'm also very happy to see how motivated you are. You have the qualities of an entrepreneur. If only you were a man." "Yes, women's abilities are limited after all." "However, it's a marvelous thing to do by yourself. I'm useless." "That's all you need to do. Do what you like." "I've heard that publishing is difficult. Can it really go so smoothly?" My husband still couldn't believe it. "I'm lucky. Mr. Aonuma Sadajiro agreed to write a novel and write it immediately. Mr. Tanio may also be able to make an appointment." "This is terrible." As common sense, the husband has heard the names of these two people, "Why are they willing to write manuscripts?" "yes." Miyako lowered her gaze, and the gloomy eyes of Aonuma Tejiro appeared in her mind. "The funds are quite considerable, since a book about such a celebrity is going to be published..." "Well, there's probably a way." "For money, you seem to have a special way." Zhuoyi just said so much.He didn't ask how much money was needed, who was accommodated, and what conditions were decided.It was as if he had admitted that he was not qualified to meddle in business matters. "No, it's nearly five o'clock. It's almost dawn." "Really. It's five o'clock without knowing it. Of course, it's also a reason why I came back late." "Are you sleepy? I slept for a while. When I talk, my mind becomes clearer." "No, I can tell you how the work is going well. I'm not too sleepy." "It's not good for your health. Go to sleep first. Wait a while, and I'll wake you up." The next day was a sunny morning. Pinglin Temple is a forest of miscellaneous trees such as beech trees, robe trees, and oak trees, as well as a lush cedar forest.The roots of the tree are full of mountain white bamboos.On the way to the thatched-roofed temple, there are still many fallen leaves from last year among the paving stones.Where the woods are denser, there is no sunlight and it looks dark.Only through the thinner parts of the treetops, the sun shines obliquely like streaks.Walking under the tree, the dew will wet the body. The water coming out of the ground soaked the roots of the mountain white bamboo and overflowed.The fresh air in the morning and the green color of the moist leaves almost turn people's hearts green. "It's really beautiful!" Zhuoyi repeated, looking up at the tall treetops that covered the sky and the sun with happiness, "Nature is really good. I really understand that human beings are born from such a place." The Shan monastery keeps its gates mysteriously closed.The old rusted handles glowed in the gloom. From the side of the temple, climb up the hillside along the path full of white bamboos.In this area, the cedar trees are even taller. Seeing Zhuo Yi in high spirits, Miyako was also very happy.I only slept for three hours this morning, but it seems that my eyes have been washed clean.Here, I can't help but feel that both General Manager Imura and Aonuma Tejiro are people who live far away. To tell you the truth, perhaps living in such a place with this husband, farming and living a quiet life is the most ideal. Going further, we saw the ancient tomb.The top of the mossy ancient five-wheel pagoda is bathed in the morning light. Zhuoyi picked a leaf and stuck it on his lips. There was a sharp flute sound, a heart-stopping metal sound. A little monk, wearing white clothes, stood in the woods. There are many ancient tombs in this area, which used to be the family temples of princes. Passing through there, I went into the woods again, and the hills gradually increased. At the end of the woods, I saw a low and gentle slope like a cave.The color of grass makes people feel cold. "I really want to travel alone," Zhuo Yi said. He spoke so suddenly and with such earnestness that Miyako was stunned. "Going on a trip?" Miyako asked. "No, just talking casually," the husband smiled timidly. "Walking around such a place, I suddenly had the idea of ​​going on a trip. However, I don't plan to really go out." "You don't go out alone. I'll go with you." "Thank you, but I don't want to go out now." "why?" "You're busy enough with work. I'm on a whim. I'll come with you when your work is over." "If you really want to go, you can do it now." Her husband's words about traveling alone stayed in Miyako's mind for a long time.At this moment, the attitude of her husband was indeed extraordinary, and Miyako could not erase it from her memory. "When I was a child," my husband said while walking, "I used to play in such woods with my friends. The forest was so vast that I didn't dare to go alone. Once, everyone left at some point, and I stayed in the forest alone. There. The indescribably desolate feeling at that time is still unforgettable. Seeing such a forest always brings back memories of being lost in the woods alone. It is so desolate, as if my whole body will be sucked in by the forest .” Zhuoyi walked in front of Miyako, took a big step suddenly, and jumped into the mountain white bamboo bush.what happened?Mei Yezi stopped walking unconsciously, feeling at a loss.I saw my husband hugging a nearby tree and shaking the trunk vigorously. The treetops rustled and the leaves fell on his shoulders. "Takuichi." Miyako shouted. Her husband's actions were creepy.He was silent.Still grasping the trunk with both hands, facing the treetop, shaking vigorously, shaking with all his strength as if not letting a leaf stay on the tree.A strong urge came over him. Miyako didn't dare to call again.Zhuoyi kept shaking the branch, his face tilted wildly. It was noon that day. Zhuoyi was walking outside, and met the house of Nomiyama who had been talking occasionally recently.The house is lightly furnished, it seems that it has been out for a walk. "Hello!" The comedian, who also works in bars in her spare time, said with a hearty smile. "Ah," Zhuo Yi stopped in his tracks and said, "Going to work now?" "No, it's early. Eat something before going." "It's not easy." "Make more delicious things to fill your stomach. Otherwise, when you come back, you will be hungry and panic, so you have to go to the rice roll shop for supper. The money you have earned with great difficulty will be spent all at once." "Do rice rolls cost so much?" "I'm different from others. I can't go to work every night. When there are rehearsals and performances, I have to ask for leave from the store. Therefore, my income is only half of others." "Really, it's not easy. Is there a public performance recently?" "Yes," said the house with sparkling eyes, "at the end of next month, we will go to Kansai. We haven't been there for a long time. This time we will go for ten days and perform in various places in Kansai. So, everyone is very energetic. Enough." "That's great. Did you get a good role, too?" "still alright." "Congratulations. I want to see the play too." "Unfortunately, I'm not performing in Tokyo this time. It's a pity. Otherwise, I will entertain you...Madam, aren't you here?" Only then did Ye Jianshan realize that Zhuo was standing alone. "Ah, my wife has gone to work." "It's not easy for you either. Aren't you lonely if you stay at home alone?" "not lonely." "Got it... you write poetry, it's better that way, isn't it?" "It's not very good," Zhuo Yi said with a wry smile, "There's no other way. In our house, my wife works, but I have nothing to do." "Your wife, I often meet, is very beautiful. She doesn't look like an ordinary person... I'm sorry, I said such a thing." "Never mind. You're right." "Last time, you told me that she runs a publishing house." "Yes indeed." "Then, are novels also published?" "That's right. This time I'm going to publish a work by someone called Aonuma Tejiro." "Mr. Aonuma?" Ye Jianshan's house suddenly looked tense, and he couldn't help staring at Zhuo Yi's face.This astonished expression showed that she had realized that the protagonist had suddenly appeared in a story she was familiar with. "What's the matter?" Zhuo Yi didn't notice it and asked. "It's nothing," Nomiyama said, shaking his head, "I heard that Mr. Aonuma's book will be published, so I was very surprised." "Do you know Mr. Aonuma?" "I don't know," Nomiyama said vaguely, "I've only heard of this name..." Nomiyama's expression did not match her words.A regular customer in the bar has a relationship with Aonuma Tejiro.The house had heard about Aonuma from him. It turned out that Zhenjiro Aonuma had quietly revealed to a familiar editor about the female president of a certain publishing house.His words, through this editor—the mouths of the old customers in the bar, spread to the ears of Nomiyama's house.