Chapter 23 first quarter

If it is my fault that you sinned, how should I make amends? On the first day I arrived in that remote town, I wanted to go back to Tokyo. I thought it was just a little inconvenience in life, but in fact it was completely beyond imagination.As annoying as the material inconvenience was, it was even more annoying to the inhabitants of that closed town, where I was almost treated like a foreigner. Not even buying something.Walking outside, those people will examine me from head to toe, and whisper with contempt: "I dressed so pompously today, are I going to a wedding?" In the supermarket, when I asked: "No XX Is it?" The other party will say impatiently: "This kind of thing is only available in big cities." It's not something extraordinary, that is, beef tendon, Camembert cheese, advanced sauce, fresh cream... that's all, I Just be seen as a pretentious rich wife.

Still, I try to stay as close as possible to the residents there, and it's for my husband's sake.If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have tried so hard to get along with the locals.Because the husband is the person in charge of the new factory, everything is different.In order for the Adachi factory to be accepted by the people in the town as soon as possible, I have to work hard. I have only participated in one collective cleaning of the whole town.The bulletin board says voluntary participation, but we should still be active in the town.I called many family members who live in the company dormitory to go with me.Unexpectedly, when we arrived at the assembly place in front of the public hall (a cultural and educational institution integrating civic study classes, libraries, museums, public assembly halls, and industrial guidance offices, all over Japan's towns and villages.), the people in the town exhibited a very different attitude.

"It's fine if the ladies from the city don't participate...they are so beautifully dressed, what are you going to do?" To be treated so coldly.I was mentally prepared to sweep the sewers, it didn't matter how dirty it was, and I changed into a shirt and jeans just for that.People in the town don't wear culottes from the war years, most people wear sports clothes, and several young people dress like me. I guess I would hear the same statement even if I went in sports clothes.Finally, they said, "Then it's not good to have dirty white hands." So they arranged for us to clean the windows of the public house, while everyone in the town went to cut weeds by the road and river.

I am not the only one who is dissatisfied with the attitude of the people in the town. The family members in the company dormitory often complain to each other. Later, they become closer and closer. Even people who had a very indifferent relationship in the original factory began to gather together for tea regularly. , to deepen the relationship. However, I was rarely invited to such tea parties.Every time my favorite pastry house launches a new product, my mother will send me some, and I sometimes invite these ladies to taste it, but we always don't talk about it, and they don't respond.I'm very angry.I also want to talk to them about my dissatisfaction with this town, and I want to talk to them about the children's cram schools and studies.After thinking about it carefully, I thought it was no wonder, because this person also wanted to speak ill of the company when they were together.

Their complaints can be heard everywhere, such as why a factory is built in such a place, a new house has just been built at home, and they finally asked others to introduce a better cram school to their children. It can be said that a closed world is formed in a closed town, and I am not accepted by any party. Not at all when I was in Tokyo, I was surrounded by a bunch of old friends and I lost track of time as we chatted speculatively.The topics are generally frequented fashion stores, restaurants, theater performances, concerts, and there is absolutely no such topic as where eggs are cheap.I don't have any housewives among my friends who are all about dressing up...the ones who surrounded me and enchanted me through the best times of my life.

After Emily was killed, I heard about your situation through various channels. Although I sympathize with you, I cannot agree with any of your actions, or even imagine it. Why don't these kids dress up?Why not play with friends?Why not enjoy life?If I had the same experience as you, how would I spend my life? I also have childhood friends.Maybe it's because I went to a private school. I remember that I didn't play on the elementary school campus when school was over or on the day off, but I played in the park near my home.If a man came over at this time, took away one of the partners and killed her, would I still be afraid of the criminal who has not been brought to justice for many years afterwards?Will it be because of being scolded by the mother of the partner who was killed?

I don't think I'll be as deep as you are. I also had a very good friend pass away.I have also strongly blamed myself, but it is not a solution to be stuck in it all the time, it is better to muster up the courage to pursue happiness.So I made up my mind to live on.I was twenty-two at the time, a little younger than you are now. It was the spring when I entered the second year of university and became friends with Qiu Hui.In the English Department of a women's university known as the "Princess School", half of the students entered directly from elementary school, and I was one of them, while Qiu Hui was admitted.I only heard her mention her hometown once, and it was an unknown town with neither a pleasant tourist attraction nor a famous industry.

I only know how to play every day, and I just deal with the school lessons casually, and I only go to class before the exam.And she is the kind of good student who never misses class, sits in the first row and takes notes seriously.I got close to her because I had to borrow her notes before the exam.She barely had an impression of me, but readily lent it to me. The content of the notes is so substantial that one can't help but think that next year you can give up the thick and useless textbooks and just use them.At first, I wanted to invite her to have dessert in the self-service cafe on campus, but later I felt a little embarrassed about it. I happened to have two concert tickets in my hand at the time, so I gave her one.

The ticket was given to me by a male friend. I didn’t make an appointment with him anyway, so I gave it to Qiu Hui. Her appearance gives people a very old-fashioned impression. I don't know if she will be interested in Johnny's (referring to Johnny's Office, established in 1975, a famous Japanese artist agency, mainly developing male artists and male idol groups), no Thinking she turned out to be a fan. "I can't believe it, I like it so much. Can I really accept this ticket? I'm really sorry, I just lent you the notes." She was very excited and invited me to drink tea instead.

She looks excited to be eating dessert at the cafeteria for the first time.She said she had never had such a delicious dessert. I became interested in her. On the day of the concert, she dressed up more fashionable than usual, but her bag and shoes were old.I'm not interested in idols, I pay more attention to her who is cheering and applauding beside her than the idol group dancing and singing on stage.My attention was focused on her feet, and I didn't understand why she couldn't care less about wearing such worn-out shoes. If it were me, if I only had these shoes at home, I would never go out.What shoes go with her dress?The pair of green ankle boots I saw last time might be a good match.

By the way, it would be nice to invite her to go shopping together.The people who usually spend time with her are only children from small places, and they must not even know where the fashion stores are.Just take her to any store I like and she'll be happy. I asked her out and she happily went. "How about these shoes?" I asked her, pointing to a pair of shoes. She blinked her eyes and said: "Pretty good." Later she said: "I want to give my sister beautiful stationery for her birthday." So I took her to the grocery store, and she asked me: "Mazi, you have good eyesight, you Help me choose." Finally, we both went to eat delicious desserts, and she said excitedly: "I have never been so happy as today." I also introduced my playmates to her, all those boys.Everyone went for a drive and had a drink together. Qiuhui was not good at drinking, and she was a little timid at first, but because everyone was handsome and good at talking, she gradually let go.She said: "Mazi's friends are all outstanding people." When I said, "You are also a very important one", she smiled happily. I am also very happy. So far, I have taken it for granted that others do things for me, and have never thought about pleasing others.Every time I get a gift from the boys, I wonder why they are willing to do it when there is no return for it?It was only later that I realized that it was also a kind of enjoyment for them. When Qiu Hui happily said thank you to me, I would be very satisfied.Maybe I'd rather do something for someone else than have someone else do it for me.I am that kind of person. If I met you twenty-five-year-olds in another way, such as Emili was still alive, and introduced you as friends to me, maybe I would give each of you some advice, or give you a gift. Saying has a fair complexion, delicate features, and if her hair was cut shorter, she might not appear so timid.Show your ears and wear bigger earrings, it will look better, or I will tell her that I happened to see a pair of earrings a while ago, and I can’t help but buy them, give her as a gift, and bring them on the next date how? Maki is tall, so she can't wear shoes with too low heels.Also, you can't dress too plainly just because you are a teacher.By the way, it's good to wear a scarf. She has a slender neck, so it must fit her well. Akiko should go out.You like cute things, right?There are so many stores I want to take you to, I don't know which one to go to first.Can you finish shopping in one day?Oh, by the way, a friend of mine opened a flower arrangement training class, let's go and have a look. Yuka's hands are very beautiful, it's a pity not to retouch them.Been to Nail Salon?Actually I'd love to give you a ring, but you wouldn't be happy if I gave you a ring, would you? When I say this, Emily will definitely say next to me: "Mom, stop, you always behave like this when friends come over, you are really meddling. You don't need tea or snacks, you go out quickly." In this way, I was kicked out of the room by her. Before the incident happened, you came to my house once.Although it was only once, I remember it very clearly. When you eat snacks, you can't use a fork, and you look very clumsy. At that time, I was worried. Is it okay for such a child to be Emiri's friend?As a result, I received a thank you call from Zhenji's mother that night. She said, "Thank you for your hospitality today. The child is very happy to come back and said that he ate delicious snacks." He would also express his gratitude to me and say, "The child was very happy when he came home that day." Unexpectedly, he was very educated, which made me change my previous prejudice against them. But, actually, you guys are not having fun at all, are you?The same goes for Qiuhui. If I ask her out, she'll go anywhere with me, and she's getting more stylish, but still wearing the same old worn-out shoes.I asked her, "Won't you buy the pair of shoes I recommended to you?" She said: "It's very beautiful, but it's too expensive. I'm going to buy a pair similar to it when I get paid." I never knew she worked in a restaurant. "My parents in the countryside paid for my expensive tuition fees, and I had to earn my own pocket money." That's what she said at the time.Before that, I didn't think about the tuition fee at all. To be honest, I didn't even know how much the tuition fee was.My former good friends were all the same as me. No one went to work, thinking that it was something poor and poor children could do. I felt sorry for Qiu Hui, so I bought her those shoes.It's not her birthday, and it's not Christmas, but I think so-called friends shouldn't care if it's a holiday or not, and just want to make each other happy.I tied a ribbon on the shoe, attached a card that said “Testimonies of Friendship,” and mailed it to her apartment. I look forward to going to school again, wondering if she's wearing it, what it's with, what she'll say to me.However, she didn't wear it.Is it not delivered yet?Did she put away her shoes and wear them when she went on a long trip?Unexpectedly, she returned the shoes in the box to me intact.She said there was no reason, but she couldn't accept such an expensive gift.I couldn't believe it, and told her you're welcome, and she said she wasn't being polite. In the process of pushing and giving, I gradually became angry, and I didn't understand why she couldn't understand my mood.I said: "It's just that I don't accept shoes, it's so strange. I invited you to dinner and introduced you to friends. If you don't accept shoes, you will invite me to dinner another day and introduce your friends to me. You must treat me to delicious food. The food you recommend, the friends you introduce must also be men. I introduced five people to you, and you have to introduce five to me." It's not really asking her to invite me to dinner, nor is it really asking her to introduce me to friends.I just said something that Qiu Hui couldn't do, to make things difficult for her, so she would accept the shoes. Unexpectedly, she really invited me to dinner in the second week.He was one of five men sitting at a table in the back of a rather unassuming tavern. He worked as a helper in the kitchen of the restaurant where Qiu Hui worked, and was two years older than me. The other four were in the same grade as him, all from the Department of Education. "I heard Qiu Hui said that I want to have dinner with the beautiful women, so I called some bastards over." Although it was a joking tone, I always felt that these people were a bit rigid and serious.The store is unremarkable, but the food is quite delicious. At first, people asked me where I was born. After less than half an hour, I felt bored because I couldn't get into their conversation. They, who are studying in the Department of Education, discussed Japanese education very enthusiastically.At that time, the concept of quality education was unimaginable, and they had already proposed to create an environment for children who dropped out of school to face society again, and cited examples around them, such as some children who were mentally weak due to failure in exams, attempted suicide. Qiu Hui herself did not express any opinions, but she was fascinated by what she heard.I was the only one who was bored because there was no one around me who was studying hard for further education.I only accepted formal written tests and interviews when I entered elementary school, and I was automatically promoted to university from then on, without taking any exams.There are no particularly good children around me, and there are no particularly bad children. As their conversations got hotter, I started to get a little annoyed that the boys around me were just trying to amuse me with funny things, and they were so mean.They all say that they are from the countryside. Is it because country people are not interested in fashionable topics? Just then, he spoke to me. "We only know about public schools in the countryside. What courses do private girls' schools arrange? Are there any different classes? Are there any teachers who are funny and humorous?" The question is so simple that even I can answer it.The teacher I taught him in middle school nature class liked to take a walk very much, and always taught everyone outdoors when the weather was good.He taught us the names of flowers, plants and insects in four seasons, why leaves turn red, when we can see rainbows, the walls of the campus look white, but they are not white—to my surprise, not only him, everyone listened very well Fascinated. For country people, topics about nature should not be unusual, why are they so interested?This surprised me instead.Unsurprisingly, they also began to talk enthusiastically about childhood things, such as hide-and-seek, catching crickets in the fields, and building a secret base in the open space... All this is so foreign to me, Emili played these games with you too, right?