Chapter 23 third chapter

All the people living in Xiyuanji's house gathered in the living room on the first floor according to Ukai's instructions.There are six people, three men and three women. The first woman was Sozo's eldest daughter, Hanashiro, followed by Yurie, and finally Takada Asako, who was about fifty years old.Her body, as thin as a dead branch, is wearing an apron. She is a servant who has lived in Xiyuanji's house for many years. "The problem is with men." Ukai looked towards the living room and asked Liuping: "Who is that middle-aged gentleman who seems to be familiar with the nightlife in Ginza?"

"Nightlife in Ginza? Ah, he is Teruo Saizono, the current president of Sparrow House, the husband of Ms. Hanashiro, and the son-in-law of Mr. Shozo. I heard that he was about fifteen years ago, with a young age at that time. Miss Yurie, the youngest, remarried Ms. Hanashiro." "Oh, that means Miss Yurie is not Mrs. Hanashiro's biological daughter?" "Yes, but their current relationship seems to be very satisfactory, just like their own mother and daughter. Huifu also took over as the president from Mr. Zhuangsan. However, it is generally recognized that the most influential person in the management of 'Squirrel House' is not the society. Chokio, but Ms. Hanashiro who is in charge behind the scenes."

"Compared to that outstanding gentleman, Mrs. Huadai is indeed much more stylish. Wouldn't it be nice for her to be the president?" Ukai finished sarcastically, pointing the finger at the next man. "So, who's that guy in his thirties who visits the tanning salon after sweating like a sweat at the Roppongi Sports Club?" "Roppongi Sports Club? Ah, he is Kazuhiko Saienji, the eldest son of Mr. Shozo, and the younger brother of Ms. Hanashiro. He was supposed to inherit the signboard of 'Squirrel House' as the eldest son of Saienji, but as it looks, It is not suitable for leading the management of wagashi shops. Although he is temporarily serving as an important cadre in the management team, he still wants to continue to have fun. I don’t know if he will patronize the tanning salon.”

"Well, the motive is to get money for fun..." Ukai glared at Kazuhiko with a preconceived gaze, and then looked at the third man. "What about him? He looks like a man who would watch difficult movies with an understandable expression at the Shibuya movie theater... Wait a minute, I know who he is. It's your friend Keisuke Saizonji, right? Joined the film club at university most of them look like that." "What kind of appearance do you mean? Please tell me in detail!" For some reason, Liuping felt that Ukai was talking about him, and his face turned sullen for a moment, but he immediately thought that he should not be angry now. "Hey, there's nothing to add about Keisuke. Keisuke is the second son of Mr. Zhuo San and the younger brother of Ms. Huadai. Don't you doubt Keisuke? He is not someone who would throw his father into the sea."

"Maybe he wants to make this kind of movie." Ukai said this black joke, and then reminded Liuping in a serious tone. "In any case, don't use your personal feelings, because the murderer who threw Mr. Zhuang San into the sea must be nearby. Speaking of Liuping, you witnessed a mysterious man pushing a wheelchair late at night. You said that this man was of medium build, broad shoulders, and short. Hair. Which of the three in office fits the bill?" There was no need for Yukai to ask, Liuping had taken this matter to heart from just now, and observed the three men.Liuping told Ukai his conclusion.

"I think Teruo, Kazuhiko, and Keisuke are all eligible. They are all of medium build, broad shoulders, and short hair. There is no way to pick one out of the three." "That's it, then there is no other way. Now that the characters have been introduced, let's start." After Ukai finished speaking leisurely, he bravely entered the living room where the suspects were waiting, and the quiet atmosphere in the living room suddenly became turbulent.Multiple eyes focused on the detective at the same time, as if seeing something suspicious.The suspects candidly discuss their impressions of the recent visitor.

"Who is that person?" "It looks like a commuter who missed the last train at Shinbashi at night." "It also looks like a homeless person who lives under the Urakding Viaduct." "You can see this kind of person at the yakitori restaurant along the Chuo Line. ""No, it seems that Akabane..." Although I don't know what "like Akabane" means, the evaluation is not good.At first glance, Yukai seemed to be listening without changing his expression, but when he looked closely, his eyebrows twitched slightly, and his cheeks twitched. At this time, in order to help Yukai out of the siege, Hanao loudly informed everyone in the living room.

"Everyone, this is very rude. This is not from Shimbashi, Akabane, or Nishiki, but a private detective living in Kuzuigawa City." However, no one mentioned "Brocade Nails" at all, which seems to be a slip of the tongue by Hanayo. "Sister Hanao." It was Kazuhiko with a dark face who spoke. "Could this person be the most brilliant detective in the city you mentioned earlier? Is it okay to hand things over to this kind of person?" "It can only be handed over to him now. I just officially entrusted this Detective Ukai to investigate this case, so please help Detective Ukai to search. No problem?"

Hanashiro's words were effective like magic, and no one in the field could refute them.The stern gaze cast on Ukai eased, and the atmosphere in the living room changed to "Anyway, let's listen to what he has to say".Now that Saienji Shozo is gone, it can be concluded that the eldest daughter Hanashiro is actually in charge of the family. Yukai walked to the center of the living room and finally began to interrogate the relevant personnel. "Everyone should also know that around 0:30 this morning, Tomura Ryuhei and Ms. Yurie witnessed a mysterious person. Judging from the situation, this person is likely to be the murderer of Mr. Shozo, so I would like to ask if you have any alibi , But before that, I need to confirm one thing..." Yukai looked around the silent crowd, and asked straight to the point: "Yesterday, when Mr. Zhuang San was still alive, who was the last one to see him?"

Amid everyone's surprise, Keisuke responded as if representing everyone. "Does it matter? It's Humura and Xiaoli. They saw their father in a wheelchair in the forest." "So that's true, it's true. But what I want to know is who ever talked to or met Mr. Zhuangsan in a more definite form. Mr. Huifu, how is your condition?" Teruo, who was asked for his opinion, responded in confusion. "No, I didn't see or talk to my father-in-law at all yesterday," "Oh, not at all? Why?" "This is not a rare situation. Yesterday was Saturday, and the company was on holiday. Since there is no business schedule, my father-in-law must be staying alone in the annex to rest. On the other hand, Kazuhiko and I have an appointment to play golf with an important client, so early in the morning Just go out."

Kazuhiko also nodded vigorously, confirming what Huifu said. "That's right. We went to the Bonzang Mountain Country Club, and it was dusk when we came back." The golf course mentioned by Kazuhiko is about an hour's drive from Xiyuan Temple's house. "It's so elegant to play golf on a holiday." The detective, who usually lives by no means rich, looked at the two with envious eyes. "This is not a joke." Kazuhiko retorted unhappily. "This golf ball is to entertain important customers who develop new products, and it is completely within the scope of work." "Oh, developing a new product?" A curious look appeared in the eyes of Yukai. "What kind of new product will the long-established wagashi store 'Sakiya', which is famous for its 'sparrow buns', launch?" When President Teruo heard Ukai's question, he immediately responded proudly with a businessman's expression. "A brown sweet biscuit with a flat shape. The key point is that it is designed in the shape of a bird according to the company name. The product name is also directly called 'Bird Cream Biscuit'." "'Finch Butter Biscuits'?" It seems that Ukai also finds it suspicious after all. "This is very similar to 'pigeon cream biscuit'..." "Totally different. They're pigeons, we're finches. There's no duplication except that they're both birds." "I see, after 'Birds of Birds' comes 'Birds of Birds Butter Biscuits'..." After thinking for a while in silence, Yukai suddenly raised his head and nodded with an expression of admiration. "Wow, it's 'Bird House', I have a hunch this product will be a hit!" However, cream biscuits are not wagashi, right?Liuping complained a little in his heart. Ukai finally returned to the topic from butter biscuits to murder. "So, who was the last to see Mr. Zhuang San? So far no one has come forward to admit it..." At this time, a thin hand raised tremblingly. "I think it should be me." It was the servant Takada Asako. "Yesterday at around 6 o'clock in the evening, I sent dinner to the annex, and went back to clean up the tableware about an hour later. Yes, the master looked the same as usual. He said, 'It's all right tonight, you can rest', so I also I saluted and left. It turned out to be the last time I saw the master..." The servant's sad voice spread all around, and the living room was temporarily enveloped in silence. "That is to say, after seven o'clock in the evening when Ms. Takada Asako packed the tableware, no one saw Mr. Zhuangsan. Can we assume that?" The suspects looked at each other.In the end, no one confirmed that they saw Zhuang San after seven o'clock in the evening.Ukai nodded with a secretive expression on his face. "Well, that's it..." The detective's attitude aroused Keisuke's dissatisfaction. "Mr. Detective, isn't that important? The incident happened at 0:30 in the morning. Since Hucun and Xiaoli witnessed the murderer, this time is the only time that must be correct, so why not just ask everyone for their alibi at 0:30 in the morning?" "Then let me ask Mr. Keisuke, what are you doing at half past one in the morning?" "Me? I drank with Tomura and fell asleep without knowing it. There is no alibi." Then don't be so shameless, right?Just confusing... leveling speechless. Ukai next to him continued to ask the other suspects if they had an alibi. "Who can provide his alibi at 0:30 in the morning?" Everyone looked at each other tentatively, but no one raised their hands. "Mr. Detective, it's impossible." It was Huifu who spoke. "At this time, people in the family are either sleeping or staying alone in their own rooms. I am in the room. My wife sleeps in my bedroom, so no one can testify against each other. In other words, neither I nor my wife have an alibi .” Teruo's wife, Hanashiro, silently nodded in agreement with these words. "Me too. I've been sleeping in my room at this time, and I don't have an alibi." Kazuhiko responded. "And even if someone is somewhere in the house with someone, it's not an alibi, right? Because including Aunt Asako, the maid, we are like a family." Chaozi bowed his head and said "I don't dare to take it", expressing his gratitude to He Yan for his words.Since Takada Asako didn't continue to say anything, she really didn't have an alibi either. It appears that all have no alibi.When Liuhe thought so, Keisuke raised his hand to speak. "But Xiaoli is the only exception, right? Xiaoli was with Humura and witnessed the murderer, so he has an alibi. Right, Humura?" "Ah?" Liuping responded slowly. "Ah, um, Keisuke is right..." He actually helped his niece Yurie to emphasize her innocence, and Keisuke Xiyuanji is really a good person... It's not that Liuping was so moved that he was too late to respond, in fact, it was the opposite.As long as Keisuke calls her "Xiaoli", Liuhei always has an abrupt feeling of itching on her back.Thinking about it carefully, Yurie, who was born to Teru and his ex-wife, has no blood relationship with Keisuke, and the two are outsiders in this respect, which should be the truth of the sudden feeling.To put it simply, Keisuke regards Yurie as a "female". And it suddenly occurred to Liuping that the reason why Yurie invited Liuping to the Sparrow Forest tonight to talk about things might be to talk about this kind of trouble... Liuping felt something was wrong in his heart, but Yukai ignored him and continued to interrogate him for a while.