Chapter 5 chapter Five

"That's how it happened." This ends my story to my manager.We sat next to each other at the bar, and the manager seemed very interested, listening intently without saying a word.After listening, he nodded his head two or three times, and said, "Well, what a strange old man. When did it happen?" "It's been a long time, I don't remember clearly. It seems to be the summer of 1978, around the end of August and the beginning of August. I just remember that it was still very hot." "That's right! I remembered! It was around that time that Zidian Kai was discovered and salvaged. It was already seven years ago! However, this incident is indeed extremely strange. Does the old man have a problem with this? ’ The manager made small circles around his head with his index finger.

"No way? I think he's very shrewd." "But that would be too strange. If he really wanted to copy all those lists that day, why would he waste his time taking the subway to Zhuqiao to talk to you about Zidian Reform? Use all that time for Isn't it faster to write?" "Perhaps he is a person who is afraid of loneliness and doesn't want to be alone in that room copying?" "Really? There are so many weirdos in Tokyo. But, does the story really end like this? Is there no follow-up?" "No. Compared with that strange old man, my daily life can only be described as ordinary and boring. This encounter is the most bizarre experience I have had in the past ten years."

"By the way, didn't he say that if the firm moves out, he will notify you? Have you notified?" "No, about ten days later, I went to Nakano for business, and I stopped by that office to have a look. It can't be regarded as a follow-up!" "Oh! What happened?" "The building has already been empty, and there is nothing left!" "Oh! He forgot to tell you to move there..." "Yes! Because I just wrote his name and address for three or four hours." "Then, did that person surnamed Yoshida ever trouble your family?"

"No. It can be seen that he abides by the agreement. But there is one thing that is a little strange." "What's up?" "I called my mother several times to ask about it, but she always said that there is no relative named Hashishiro in our family tree, so it must be a mistake." "oops!" "I was kind of discouraged at the time." "You're working for nothing." "Yes! But it's not a big loss! I thought it was a misunderstanding caused by the old man's carelessness, and I laughed for a while!" "Haha! It's probably like that. Since your life is mean and boring, then this thing should make you intoxicated for two or three days? Isn't that good?"

"It's very good. Actually my daily life... Ah, yes! There is another interesting thing I forgot to tell you. A few days later, I received an inexplicable postcard. At that time, I kept it here In the purse, I don’t know if it’s still there..." I picked up the leather bag on the side of the bar, searched it for a while, and couldn't help shouting: "I have it! I've kept it in this bag that I carry with me for seven years!" The postcard has been turned out and slightly discolored. "That's it. I don't know why someone sends me this weird postcard."

I hand the postcard to the manager.A man sitting across from the manager also leaned over to look at it. The manager read in silence.The name on the back of the postcard is as follows: We have already received your recent donation, thank you very much.Donations will be used as part of the renovation fund for the Leaning Tower of Pisa.We assure you that you have been blessed by the Roman Catholic Church.In addition, this letter is also used as a receipt. The manager and I stared at each other, then laughed.But it was the young stranger sitting across from the manager who laughed the loudest.After he finished laughing, he slid down from the round chair and staggered inside: "How much did you donate?"

"Not even a dime! It's the first time I've even seen the name of the 'Leaning Tower of Pisa Rescue Committee'." "The above words are still formally typed and printed! The name and address are also yours. Where did you make a mistake? After all, this is really a masterpiece. This is the masterpiece of 'incomprehensible precious experience'. " "Really?" "There was a game called Lucky Letters that was popular before, and I also received that kind of letters. I never thought that this kind of game would become popular again..."

The young man just now sat in the inner seat and began to speak to his companions.Because of the distance, I couldn't hear what he was talking about. I only know that the content is roughly as follows: "Everyone says life is boring. That's because people have no vision. Look at bats! They sleep during the day and fly around in the dark sky during the day, that's all. People who think life is boring, such as If you become a bat, you must be bored to death, right?" "This guy is the same kind as that old man." The manager pointed at the young man and said to me with a smile.Then he thought for a while with a serious expression, and then whispered: "But, what the old Zidian Kai did is indeed an insoluble mystery."

At this time, the young man just returned to his original seat, and after hearing what the manager said, he said, "Mystery? You can't figure out such a simple and clear thing?" "Simple and straightforward?" the manager and I exclaimed in unison. "Are you saying that the truth of the weird things you just said is clear to you?" said the manager. "of course." The young man said with a nonchalant expression. "Then, do you understand the ins and outs of the strange old man I met seven years ago, the old man who was crazy about Zidian Kai, and the ins and outs of this postcard?" I said.

"good!" This is because only a madman can understand a madman, right? "Hehehe! Then please tell me!" The manager leaned forward and said. "Can you find the reason that the two of us racked our brains and couldn't find it?" I haven't found it after seven years of searching. "It's as simple as looking for the sea on a boat!" said the young man. He seems to be full of confidence, will he be drunk and talk big?I really can't figure out this person. "But you can't just say whatever you feel! You must have a reasonable explanation." The manager seemed very unconvinced.

"It's as simple as it gets! That's the first level of deceit. Let the deceit steal your stuff!" The young man turned to me. I couldn't help laughing, thinking that this person was really drunk. I said: "Hahaha! Of course I have considered the possibility here. But what did I get cheated of? What did I steal? I didn't bring anything worthy of being cheated or stolen, and the money in my wallet was also gone." Nothing missing, no photo or lighter. Nothing is missing from where I live. Honestly, there is nothing that can be moved there. hours? But after I returned to the company, I asked several colleagues, and they all said that no one approached my desk when I was away. Not only was there no problem with the desk, but no one even called me; because I was just a I am a very unimportant employee, and I have been safe and sound for seven years. If someone was planning to harm me, I should have had an accident a long time ago. At least there should be something unusual happening around me. , but none." "It's an anomaly in itself that nothing happened. If you hadn't met that Ozaki Zenbei..." "It's Sunji, not Shanbei." The manager corrected him. "If you hadn't met Yoshikichi Ozaki, maybe you wouldn't be drinking at this kind of place today." "Where is that going? Heaven?" I asked half-jokingly. "I don't know, maybe go to Ginza!" "Pacers' Paradise in Ginza?" the manager taunted him. "If nothing was stolen from you, why did you get this receipt from the Leaning Tower of Pisa Rescue Committee?" "That's what I want to ask you!" "That's because you donated a lot of money!" "How can I have a lot of money? I'm not bragging. I'm penniless now. Seven years ago, I was completely clean because my salary was too small. Where do you think I got a lot of money?" The young man said impatiently, "Tsk tsk! That must be a lottery ticket! Isn't it?"