Chapter 34 Section 9

Just as I expected, Qi Er finally gave in.He also said: "Search until you are satisfied!" But for my other request "If there is any dispute afterwards, it will be bad for you and me, so can you please go and see it with me?" He didn't agree. "No, I believe you. And I have to take the wine to the venue immediately. Look, someone has been waiting for me for a long time." I believe you - there is no more irresponsible statement than this sentence!I forcefully responded to him with a smug smile. Looking along Qie Er's finger, there is a small white truck there.The man sitting in the driver's seat, with a rosy face, was looking at me suspiciously.I also looked back at him, squeezed out a smile, and nodded.

Qi Er looked at the communication between the two of us, lowered his voice and said: "Because of the temple fair today, many foreigners came, so your appearance is not too strange. However, there will be guests at my house at night, so please finish what you want to see before then." It's only four o'clock.No matter how early the evening guests arrive, it must be at least after five o'clock!I think there is plenty of time. "I see. I'll leave as soon as I see the second floor." "please." In addition, the left and right hands each held four one-liter wine bottles, and moved a total of eight bottles of wine to the car.After watching the truck drive away, I swaggered into the house through the entrance.Originally, I wanted to sneak in through the back door, but it is broad daylight now, and neighbors come and go from time to time. If I am not generous, it will look more suspicious.

Seeing me enter the room, Hezi just said: "Our old man promised to let you in?" Then he continued to concentrate on preparing things for her dinner. The ceilings and floors of the house are made of coffee-coloured wood, and the walls are clad with smooth-planed planks.There was a strong smell of soy sauce coming from Kazuko. As soon as I entered the entrance, I saw the stairs leading to the second floor, so I walked straight towards the stairs without even looking at the first floor.After a quick glance, I only remember some ornate furnishings on the first floor and an old clock, other than that, I don't have much impression.I couldn't help thinking that when we hired workers to install the air conditioner in our house, I also felt very strange why the people in the electrical appliance store didn't care about the things in the house at all.After finally having the opportunity to enter a stranger's house, you should look around curiously, right?Now I finally understand why.Because for them, they don't have the time to worry about what other people's homes look like when they are working!

The angle of the stairs is very large, the steps are very steep, and there is no handrail, which feels a bit dangerous.So I made up my mind and climbed directly to the second floor in one go. After going up to the second floor, there is a long and straight corridor on the left.On both sides of the narrow corridor, there is a whole row of paper doors, glass doors and lattice sliding doors.At the end of the corridor is the window.As seen from the outside, the ceiling is low.Just by looking at it like this, it is hard to see how many rooms there are. "……Ok?" Is it because I have preconceived that there will be some psychological factors at work?I always feel that something is not right.One foot on the last step of the stairs while concentrating on thinking, what the hell is wrong?The long and straight corridors, the paper doors, and the sliding lattice doors are all silent.Didn't you say there is a temple fair today?Since it's on the other side of the national road, can't you hear me?I shifted my weight to my foot in the hallway, and there was a faint sound on the floor.Everything is normal, nothing weird at all.The smell of soy sauce came from downstairs.In addition, the old couple probably didn't come up to clean it specially, so there was still a bit of dust in the air.besides……

(I understand……) Although only a little bit, there is indeed a smell of curry in the air.It shouldn't be something wrong with my nose. I opened the paper door closest to me. In a small room with an area of ​​about four and a half tatami mats, there is a frosted glass window, and the bright summer sun is outside the window.The floor was carpeted, which was quite comfortable, but there was nothing but a cupboard. I opened the paper door next door again. There was a set of very old stereos inside.Wooden floor.There is also a chaise longue, right in the middle of the room.I picked up my nose and smelled it, only smelling dust.

Next to it is a glass door. There are several bookshelves inside, all of which are full of old comic books, probably collected by Sakura Kiriko's father or his brother!There is a thin layer of dust on both the bookshelf and the comic books, but if you look closely, the degree of dust accumulation seems to be uneven.One of the corners was particularly dusty, though it's hard to say with certainty that someone had taken out these comic books recently, and if they had, so what? I continued to check the rooms on the other side of the corridor.The first room, the second room, the third room, the fourth room... No matter which room it is, there is nothing particularly decisive.However, there is a room dedicated to placing quilts. Maybe Tongzi took out the quilts secretly and used them, but there is also no evidence.

I stood in the hallway, arms folded in thought.I think I've looked through all the rooms, but can't find anything.Having said that, I was not 100% sure that Tongzi must be here.The only suspicious things are the old information on her website and the stick that can be used as a ladder, these two indirect evidences.Even if Tongzi is really hiding here, if she has cleaned up all the evidence, of course I can't find it no matter how hard I look. After all, I am not a forensic officer, not even a detective. Is it really just a waste of effort?I thought about it as I walked back up the stairs.

"..." Wait a minute, there seems to be a tiny hollow in the wall at the end of the corridor, too small to even be called a handle.I stick my finger in it.But because the hole is too shallow, at most you can only stick your fingertips on it.I pushed hard to the side. The wall was opened by me.But for the people of Sakura's family, it should not be a wall, but a door that opens horizontally!Although it is just an ordinary wall in my eyes. It was dark inside, and felt a little damp.Then…… "So it's here..." The curry flavor seemed to become a little more pronounced.This was supposed to be a storage room.There was a pile of things wrapped in newspapers, and a pile of cardboard boxes filled with unknown things were piled up everywhere.The only light seemed to come from the door I had opened.I made my way forward, being careful not to step on anything.

It doesn't feel like there's any trace of life... really?I stared at the ladder against the wall. With the ceiling on his head and the floor under his feet, but there is a ladder... Just as he was about to put his hand on the ladder, he suddenly had an idea and touched the ladder lightly with his finger. There is hardly any dust on the fingers. Someone must be using this ladder. I put my foot on the ladder, palm against the ceiling, and gave it a hard push.A piece of the ceiling was quietly pushed away by me. Above is a small attic.It's narrow and dark, if only I had brought a flashlight.I had no choice but to take out the mobile phone and turn it on, using the light of the LCD screen to temporarily block it.There is not only the smell of curry, but also the smell of other foods.It must be some sauce or something!The ceiling was so low that I would hit my head if I stood upright, so I had to bend forward.

A light bulb was hanging from the ceiling.I reached for it and flipped the switch. There was a quilt on the floor.There is also a small table.On top lay a handbag.Although I didn't feel very good, I still took a look at the things in the handbag.Just some lipstick, foundation and the like.It all looks like it's a relatively recent product. Just to be on the safe side, I reached into the quilt and took a look.It's warm... But it's also very likely that it's just because it's summer now, and it's already terribly hot in this small attic.There were several hairs on the pillow.I picked it up and looked at the light bulb. The length is about 20 centimeters!

The corners of the room were covered with a thick layer of dust, and some scattered garbage.Among them is a curry conditioning bag.I put my nose up and sniffed it.The taste is actually not too obvious.So even I had to admire myself for being able to smell it through the walls and ceiling. Since she can eat curry with a conditioning pack here, it means that she even brought in the pots and pans for cooking!Maybe even a small movable gas stove is readily available! Others include cooked yakisoba plates, bread bags, empty bottles of mineral water, etc. sold at convenience stores.There was also a receipt on the ground.I looked at the date above - August 11th. I can't help but mutter to myself: "It can't be wrong..." Kiriko Sakura had indeed stayed here once. I took the handkerchief out of my pocket and pressed it to my neck.But the heat had enveloped the whole room, and it was of no use at all.Since it's all on the roof, there must be a vent!I desperately miss the fresh air outside.Looking around for a window, I finally found a tightly closed wooden window.I opened it up and finally a little breeze came in.I held it up with a support stick to keep it open.Although the summer wind is still so sultry, at least I can breathe smoothly. Sunlight poured in from the windows, making the small attic much brighter.That's why I noticed that there is a notebook under the table.And it's a brand new notebook.I picked it up and opened it in a half-squat to look at it.Although it is not dated, it is clearly a diary. The handwriting is a bit scribbled, and it seems to have been written in a hurry. I finally quit my job.There have been painful things, angry things... lots and lots of things, but I still love this job. However, since he has even dug out the place where he works, what else can I do but leave? When I walked out of the office building, I couldn't help but shed a few tears.I haven't cried in years! I even quit the apartment.This way he won't be able to find me again... Although I thought so in my heart, I was still very uneasy. I have to find a new home and then a new job.Although I knew that I had to change my face and start all over again, I couldn't pull myself together. It's not a question of whether it can be done, but how to do it... This is my motto, but it hurts my heart now.Am I scared?Well, maybe it is!He should have been discharged yesterday. Today is my third day in the hotel. Although there is still a little savings, it cannot continue like this forever. Let's go back! But I can't go back to Nagoya.I don't want my parents to worry about me.Then you can only go back to the eight guarantees. After leaving my hometown, I never missed it, but only suddenly remembered it when I was uneasy, which is amazing. For the time being, go back to grandpa's house to avoid the limelight!He should help me hide it from my parents until this matter calms down! After returning to Babao, I remembered a very important thing. I, a girl, ran back to a small place like the valley for no reason, it must have caused a lot of speculation!I finally escaped from his clutches, and if there is any trouble here again, I really don't have the confidence that I can hold on. no confidence?God!what's wrong with me?How could you say such useless words. I thought of a good way. I remember that there was a small attic in my grandfather's house. Why don't I hide it from Grandpa and hide there for a while now! As long as you put in some effort, I'm sure there will be a way. It went smoothly into the small attic.I didn't expect that the stick used to knock down the icicles would have such a magical effect. Did he come after him?After being discharged from the hospital, he will definitely go to my website first, then to the place where I live, and then to the place where I work to find me! Until he stops, I can't go back to Tokyo for a while. How could I be so misguided? Re-watched something I had previously written on the site on my laptop today.Discovery is full of flaws!Only then did I suddenly realize that he found the place where I lived through the clues in my diary. How could I be so careless? After careful reading, not only my life in Tokyo, but also my life in Babao have appeared many times. He can find the place where I live, so how can I guarantee that he won't chase me to my hometown? Impossible!He will definitely not find here... Although I tried desperately to comfort myself, the hand holding the pen was trembling uncontrollably. Is he going to appear in front of me again? Not only Ba Bao, he might find Xiao Fulai too.Because I mentioned something about my grandpa's house in my diary.Even if it's just once, it's mentioned, so maybe it's not safe here anymore.He never reads the whole article, but takes it out of context and only extracts the part he wants to accept.Because of this, he was able to touch me all the way from the word phrases on my website.This time too, he will definitely come. Although I don't think he will come to this room no matter what, if he does come, wouldn't he cause trouble for grandparents... No, not right.Although I think it is possible for him to find this home, I don't think he will come here no matter what.I'm not worrying about my grandparents at all, I'm still only thinking about myself. run away! But where to escape? Just like I dare not enter or leave this house through the gate, it should not be possible for him to stay in the valley for too long!He is such a careful person.In this Yanzhong area where any outsider passing by will get the street knowledge, he probably wouldn't dare to look for me in a big way!I can't be wrong about that.No matter how despicable his methods are, he will still put on a gentleman's appearance on the surface. That being the case, as long as he hides for a while, he will give up if he can't find me! I thought of a good place, and that is Mid Valley City. If it is there, he will definitely not find it. Before he gives up, I'll hide there for now! It's ironic when you think about it. I used to think that the people who built Mid Valley City were pathetic and pitiful people who only knew how to hide.In fact, I might look down on them in my heart. Unexpectedly, the me now, first escaped from Tokyo to Babao, then from Babao to Xiaofu, and now I have to flee from Xiaofu to the ruins of the Yanzhong Castle they built back then. I am actually the same as them in that they are pathetic and pitiful weak people who only know how to hide. I can only hide my head and shrink my tail while trembling, while praying day and night that this turmoil will pass as soon as possible. How is it different from them? Let's put the unnecessary luggage here for now! As long as he can survive in Mid Valley City, that's enough. But... I'm so scared!Do I still have the courage to live in my heart? When I think of facing the night alone in the mountains, can I resist the urge to get it over with?To be honest, I have no confidence at all. It's so scary, even while I'm writing this diary now, the urge to finish it all keeps coming up. lets go! I closed my laptop, closed the window, turned off the light, climbed down the ladder, and went downstairs. Holding Kiriko's notebook in his hand.Not forgetting to be courteous and thoughtful, he said to Hezi who was standing in the kitchen: "I'm sorry to disturb you. I have already checked everything, so I will take my leave first." Still holding the rice scoop in his hand, Hezi turned around and smiled. "Oh, yes! They didn't treat you well." "Don't say that, I insisted on visiting. By the way..." I pretended to be nonchalant and asked: "Where is Mid Valley City?" Although I was born in Babao, I don't know much about the surrounding villages and towns or even the geographical environment of Babao itself.I have never even heard of Mid Valley City.But local people like them should know it! However, Kazuko put down the rice ladle and replied: "You mean Mid Valley? But I haven't heard of Mid Valley around here!" "Haven't heard of it? Is there no city in this area?" It may be that there is a trace of tension in my voice!Hezi was silent for a while, as if he had rummaged through his memories, but the answer he got was still the same as before: "I've never heard of it! If it's a city, go down the village and there's a small ruin of the city." What idiot would hide himself in the ruins in the middle of the village? My two eyebrows were pressed together tightly.If there is no "City in the Valley", where is it written in Tongzi's notebook? "... Could it be some kind of code?" "Ah, but..." "But what?" "If you mean a castle, there is one nearby. But it's not a castle!" Without thinking, I opened the notebook and re-read the narrative inside.In fact, even if I don’t do this, I still remember that Tongzi really wrote the words “City in the Valley” instead of “City Mountain” or something like that. Although I couldn't think of a connection between the two at once, but there is always no loss in asking, so I tried to ask her again: "Where is that city mountain?" "I don't know. I married here from another place, so I don't know the details..." After Hezi finished speaking, he pointed in a certain direction and said: "The area behind Hachiman Shrine seems to be called Shiroyama too! Because there are many mountains in that area, layered on top of each other, maybe one of them is the so-called Shiroyama! Our old man may know...he should be back soon, you Do you want to wait a little longer?" I looked at my watch, it was almost five o'clock.I thought it could be done quickly, but it still took almost an hour. I was lost in thought. Assuming that you just wait here until Qieer comes back, and assuming that Qieer really knows about "Mid Valley City", it will be about 5:30 at the earliest before you can go up the mountain.To be precise, it should be after six o'clock!And I'm wearing a suit and leather shoes today, which is not suitable for mountain climbing.Even though it is summer and the days are relatively long, the sky will gradually get dark after seven o'clock.In addition, there are mountains on both sides of the east and west sides of the valley, so the sun will go down earlier than other places!Once the sky gets dark, with my useless broken body, let alone looking for someone, I will be exhausted just trying to protect myself from getting hurt! Although my heart wants to fly there now, my reason tells me that today is impossible. ... Or, no matter what, wait until Qie Er comes back, and then risk his life to search the mountains all night? Kiriko Sakura is indeed in danger now, and I am probably the only one who can rush to rescue her at this point in time! She is really like me.Tongzi wrote in her diary that her motto is "it's not a question of whether it can be done, but how to do it." In fact, it can also be said to be my motto.I also have the experience of being cut by this motto in reverse when I am at a loss. But at least I hadn't lost my cool, and wasn't naive enough to think that such a surprise rescue would go well. Just when I was in a dilemma, the mobile phone rang suddenly. "Feel sorry." I apologized to Kazuko.Take your mobile phone out of your pocket.It's half flat. Banping once said that he should be very rewarding today, so he called to announce the good news!I press the call button. "Mr. Handa? What's the matter?" "Minister, someone wants to see you." "Mr. Kanzaki?" "Kanzaki? Who is it?" "Isn't it? Who is that?" "A man named Tanaka claimed to be someone sent by the Tokyo Investigation Office. He said that as long as he told you about Kiriko Sakura, please contact him as soon as possible so that you will know." I remembered, it should be the man driving the little black beetle that Banping mentioned yesterday!The problem is, he can even get me and Banping wrong. Is it really so urgent for such an offline person to contact me so urgently?Sakura's house seems to be having a banquet tonight. If I go back now, even if I call later, it will be a problem whether I can talk to Qieji. A deliberately low voice came from the other end of the phone: "Ah, by the way, I just called the number on his business card to confirm that there really is such an investigation firm." "That's it..." ...I think I'd better go back first. After all, the client also said - don't do anything that attracts attention in the valley.And Qi Er should bring guests back!If I continue to stay here, even if I wait until Qi Er, I may not be able to talk to him properly.Even if I managed to find out the location, with my equipment alone, even if I go into the mountains, I can only wait for someone to rescue me!That's just a step down. "Understood, I'll go back now. Please ask Mr. Tanaka to wait a moment." "Wait a minute? The minister's car won't come back within an hour! I'll tell him so." I cut off the phone and said to Hezi: "I suddenly have something to do, and it's not good to stay here to hinder your temple fair, so I'm leaving first." He left in a hurry. Put the keys in my battered old car and decide to come back here early tomorrow morning to look for them. What are you looking for?Of course, I am looking for the "City in the Valley" written by Tongzi... You have to actually go there to know what you will discover, and it's too early to say anything. Speaking of this, I remember that Watanabe seemed to say that Tongzi bought a rope to hide from others...