Chapter 23 Section 22

Opening his eyes, the big black face in front of him grinned, and his white teeth gleamed... Tuoshi yelled and sat up.Jesse said something, but he didn't understand anything.When Takumi came back to his senses, he found himself lying on the quilt. Oh, got punched.He finally remembered. "He's awake." Someone next door spoke, the sliding door opened with a bang, and Shi Sheng walked in. "how does it feel?" "I fainted?" "Yeah, foaming at the mouth and falling over. It's scary." "Jesse is showing mercy." Zhumei also came in.

The two sat down beside the quilt.Qingmei seems to have returned. "The fist is really powerful." As soon as Tuoshi finished speaking, Zhumei giggled. "That's needless to say! Although he only fights for six rounds, he is a juvenile heavyweight boxer after all." "Professional? Tell me earlier." Tuoshi frowned and pushed his hair up.At this time, he felt a dull pain in the back of his head, and he stretched out his hand to touch it, and there was a lump there. "Tch, pack up." "It's good to just carry a bag, and there are quite a few people whose noses were smashed by Jesse." Zhumei said happily.

"However, Tuoshi, we have to thank her. She let us stay here tonight, saying that we need to rest after a concussion." Shi Sheng said. Takumi looked at Takemi in surprise.Zhumei also stared at him, and the application seemed to say: What's your opinion? Takumi stroked his unshaven cheek. "Then...thank you." Takemi shrugged and picked up a cigarette.Jessie put an ashtray in front of her. "Later, we talked about Qianhe, and Zhumei didn't know where she was." Takumi looked at Takemi. "You didn't ask?" "It's not that I didn't ask, it's that she hadn't settled down yet at that time, and she said she would notify me when she was settled down, but there is no news until now, and it is estimated that there will be no more in the future."

"She was with a man." "Well, I heard from Shisheng." She said while puffing on a cigarette. "There is still a group of dubious people looking for her. The target is not her, but the man with her." "I heard that too. It seems that I am in a dangerous situation, and I am also very worried, but I really don't know Qianhe's address and contact information." Tuoshi sat cross-legged on the quilt, with his hands crossed over his chest.He also couldn't think of a way to find Chizuru, Zhumei was his only hope. Everyone was silent, as if they were thinking about the same question, and each fell into deep thought.

"There is one thing I don't understand." Shisheng said, "Why did Qianzuru come to Osaka? If you just want to break up with Takumi and start over, wouldn't it be the same where you go?" "Isn't Osaka the only big city outside of Tokyo? She can only be a bar lady." "In that case, she should ask Zhumei to introduce the job, or discuss it together." "Then why do you say?" "It was Ishihara who first told us that Chizuru might be in Osaka. Why did he think so? Their goal was Okabe who was with Chizuru. It can be seen that this Okabe is likely to come to Osaka, maybe he was born here . Chizuru just accompanied him."

"Maybe so, but does this tell where Chizuru is?" Shisheng looked at Zhumei and asked, "Who did Qianhe talk about being with?" "I didn't hear that." She tilted her neck, "She said something strange." "what?" "Ask me where I can get a reliable pawn shop." "pawnshop?" "It is said that there are some unnecessary things on hand that I want to get rid of. Are cuff buttons and tie clips yours?" Zhumei looked at Takumi and asked. Tuoshi snorted: "Who uses this old man's thing?" "That's right, ah," Zhumei twisted her neck, "Also, there are some pots and paintings that I want to sell. I told her that pawnshops are not the only ones willing to buy these."

"Pots? Paintings? What the hell. Does she own a grocery store?" "So, Takemi, how did you answer her?" "I said I don't know whether it's luck or misfortune. I never go to a pawn shop, so I don't know him." Shisheng nodded and made a moaning sound. "Why would Qianhe want to sell those things?" "I'm out of money. I want to subsidize some expenses, so I want to sell some of that man's things. Cufflinks, tie clips, what kind of style is that guy?" Tuo Shi blurted out. "Those things are understandable, but pots and paintings are not. Takemi, besides you, does Chizuru know anyone else in Osaka?"

"Uh..." Zhumei thought for a while, "If you have to say yes, then it's Zhefu." "Zeff?" "My junior high school classmate, his family opened a barbecue restaurant in Heqiao. Before, when Qianzuru said she wanted to eat barbecue, I took her there. If Qianzuru remembered that restaurant, she might go there." "Grill..." "It has nothing to do with the pawn shop! Anyway, let's go to find out first. Is the shop far from here?" "It takes only one stop on the tram, and it doesn't take much time to walk there."

"Okay, draw a map." "Draw a map?" Zhumei stared wide-eyed, "Can't you help draw a map?" "You are..." Tuoshi smacked his lips, but when he saw Shisheng frowning, he closed his mouth, coughed dryly, and said, "Draw a map for me." "can not hear." "Draw a map, please. Is this going to work?" "Hmph, can't you be more sincere? I only helped when I heard that Qianhe was being chased by dubious people. Otherwise, I would have kicked you out a long time ago." Zhumei got up and walked to the next door, and took back a small advertisement with the map and phone number of "Bailong" barbecue restaurant printed on it.Tuoshi randomly folded the advertisement and stuffed it into his pants pocket.

Seeing this, Zhumei asked: "Hey, how did you look after you found Qianhe?" "How do I know? Ask first." "You won't drag Qianhe back violently, will you? If you have such a plan, I will let go of it. Before you see Zhefu, I will call and tell him to ignore you." "Who wants to be rough? I don't think so at all." "That's good." Zhumei continued to smoke, her eyes rolled up. "What's the matter? What else can I say?" "It's nothing. I'm just curious. I don't know what's on your mind."

"what?" "The matter of Chizuru being with other men. You don't think the two of them are innocent, do you?" Tuoshi's face was almost distorted, thinking, this woman really can't open any pot and carry any pot. "I don't need you to tell me about it." Zhumei snorted, nodded, and said nothing more. That night, Tuoshi and Shisheng slept in this room, and Zhumei and Jesse slept in the living room.Even though Zhumi's words were harsh, Takumi also knew that it was thanks to her this time.It was just her last words that made him feel depressed. He thought of Qianzuru's soft skin and round breasts, but now being caressed by another man, he couldn't help feeling anxious and jealous.Moreover, Qianhe was not raped by others, but she was willing to accept it.Judging from the current situation, it is only natural that Shisheng and Takemi had the question of "what's the point of finding Chizuru".Tuoshi also understands that it is good for him to give up quickly, and it is not ashamed.Why go to her?So what?He didn't quite understand it himself. Maybe it was because too many things happened that day, he couldn't sleep no matter what, Shi Sheng beside him was already snoring loudly.Takumi felt that after this guy appeared, there was a sudden commotion around him.All this does not seem to be by accident. Feeling the urge to urinate, he got out of bed, opened the door, and walked to the bathroom.The living room was dark, and the blanket in the corner seemed to cover a mountain, compared to Jessie and Takemi who were sleeping in each other's arms. He had just come to the bathroom door when the door opened suddenly and Zhumei came out.Wearing a loose jumper, she seemed surprised to see Takumi at first sight, her eyes widened, and she muttered, "I'm scared to death." "Ah, I'm sorry..." After saying this, Takumi was stunned, staring at Takemi's exposed shoulders.There was a bright red rose thorned there. Takemi noticed Takumi's gaze, covered her shoulder with her hand, and walked past him.For the first time, she showed a weak expression in front of Takumi.Back under the quilt, Takumi still had that bright red rose printed on his retina. Takushi was half asleep and half awake until dawn.Look around, Shi Sheng has disappeared.After a while, he heard laughter, which happened suddenly. He walked to the next door and saw Shisheng and Jesse talking in the kitchen, and they were standing side by side making breakfast together.Jessie, wearing an apron, was frying and chopping something in a frying pan.The dialogue between the two is wonderful, half English and half Japanese.Jesse still speaks Japanese in the Osaka dialect. Shisheng looked at Tuoshi, smiled slightly, and said, "Good morning." "Morning," Jesse said. "You can speak English." Takumi asked Shisheng. "I can't count it, I'm stuttering." "Didn't you just say that? Have you learned English conversation?" "I didn't study hard, but I started learning English since elementary school." "Oh, that's the education of the upper class. I also wanted to be born into such a family." Takumi pouted and sat down at the glass table.In the corner, Takemi huddled up wrapped in a blanket. When the late breakfast began, Takemi got up, put a shirt over her sweater, went out and came in with a newspaper.She didn't look at anyone, smoking a cigarette with displeasure, and reading the newspaper.Seeing this, Jesse didn't say anything, and served the fried vegetables and miso soup on the table.Perhaps Takemi was like this every morning. "Foreigners also drink miso soup!" Seeing Jesse deftly using chopsticks, Takumi said in surprise. "He still likes to eat dried fish, isn't it surprising? But he can't eat natto, and I almost don't eat it either." "It's not Japanese if you don't eat natto." "Jesse is not Japanese in the first place." Zhumei muttered.She hasn't picked up the chopsticks yet, her eyes are still on the newspaper.Takumi wanted to retaliate to her, but he didn't say it after all.Zhumei only drank a bowl of miso soup and ate a little stir-fried vegetables. After dinner, Shisheng helped clean up together.He came out of the kitchen with a photo in his hand. "Look, this must be Hawaii, Jesse's hometown?" He put the photo in front of Zhumi. There are about a dozen people in the photo, and the couple in the middle are Jesse and Takemi.Takemi was wearing a long-sleeved shirt. "It's a pity, why doesn't Zhumi wear a swimsuit? Don't everyone else wear it? Some people wear bikinis." "Don't say a few words." Tuo Shi said, "Everyone is different." From time to time, I am puzzled and at a loss. Takemi lit a cigarette, showing a thoughtful expression.Tuoshi spread out the newspaper on the floor, staring at the reports of the Japan-US trade friction. "I was fifteen at the time," Zhumei said, "The man I lived with forced me to stab it." "It's a failure to associate with that kind of person, it's too naive." Takemi took a breath.Shi Sheng still had an expression of confusion. "When I was fifteen or sixteen, I had no one to rely on, no job, and I didn't hang out with the underworld, what else could I do?" "What is helpless? Isn't your mother here?" "She was in the middle of a lawsuit for wounding to death." Takumi kept silent, never expecting such words to be elicited. "You look like you want to know who she killed. Let me tell you. She killed her husband—my father." "No way." Shi Sheng grunted.Toshi swallowed his saliva. "My dad was already a little bit alcoholic at that time. He didn't work well at all and drank every night. My mother kept talking about him, and the two quarreled non-stop. One night, when the quarrel started, my mother took my dad from the stairs. Pushed up and down. My dad fell and died." Zhumei snuffed out the cigarette. "In this case, the sentence should be suspended." Shi Sheng said. Takemi smiled lightly. "My mother is not an idle person. The husband and wife are a pair of treasures. She was drinking at the bar at that time, and she was drunk and beat the guests when she didn't know it. She was often accused of assault. So, although there is room for discretion, I should sentence her to jail to regain her sobriety. The lawyers refused to work hard. In this way, I became an orphan. Although it is a crime of causing death, it is no different from murder in the eyes of the world, and I have a bad reputation from then on.” "Why do you want to mix with the underworld?" "I also gave up on myself. That person is in his thirties and rich. He also let me go to high school, but he didn't let me go to the swimming pool." She unbuttoned her shirt and exposed her right shoulder. Seeing the rose thorned there, Shi Sheng cried out in a low voice. "There was a fifteen-year-old girl following. He was probably very proud and jealous. The reason for tattooing me was to keep me from being mischievous." "How did you get rid of this kind of person?" Tuo Shi asked. "He didn't go home all of a sudden. I thought it was strange. Then some young people came to pack up his things, and one of them told me that he was dead." "It was probably killed by someone." Shi Sheng said. "Probably." Zhumei nodded, "Afterwards, there were ups and downs, and I have lived until today. I should be living well now. No matter what happens, Jesse will help me." Zhumei looked at Jesse smile slightly.Not knowing if he understood, Jesse grinned back. "It's amazing! Zhumei, I really can't see that you have suffered so much." "It's miserable to put it on your face after suffering. Besides, it's useless to be pessimistic. Everyone wants to be born into a good family, but you can't choose your parents. Whatever card is dealt to you, you can only try to play it well. She looked at Tuoshi, "So what if you don't learn English in elementary school? Can this little thing change your life?" Toshi lowered his head.It seemed that Takemi had heard him. "Qianhe also told me a lot. Your life experience is indeed a bit pitiful, but I don't think the cards dealt to you are too bad." Her tone became calmer.Tuoshi didn't say a word, just stroked the mustache on his chin. At noon, Tuoshi and Shisheng decided to go out. "Wait a minute." Zhumei shouted, went back to the back room, and took out a photo.The picture shows her and Chizuru, it seems to be taken a year or two ago, Chizuru looks plumper than now, Takemi is slender. "It's more convenient to have a picture of Chizuru." This goes without saying.Tuo Shi lowered his head and took the photo. After leaving the door, Shi Sheng said, "This bamboo beauty is really not simple." After walking a few steps, Tuoshi murmured, "What kind of person knows..." However, this sentence sounds hollow.