Chapter 17 Chapter Seventeen
The smell of food wafted from the Takadaya house in Aioicho, Honjo, as usual, and when you approached, you could see the heat wafting from the kitchen window.The movement of employees working, the sound of stacking lacquerware, and the voice of loudly reprimanding assistants, Ah Ling misses them all now.
That was the home Ah Ling was familiar with, so she went directly to the yard and opened the small door to enter.Flowers and plants were planted everywhere, A-Ling carefully avoided stepping on these well-tended flowers and plants, and came to Qibingwei's bedroom.When I lived here, whenever it snowed, Ah Ling and Shichibei would make snowmen in the yard, and in summer they would catch frogs and fireflies that strayed into the yard by mistake.
It would be nice to stay here all the time if I didn't drive the houseboat—A Ling suddenly felt a strong emotion that pierced her heart, and she almost shed tears.It would be great if Dad and Mom didn't leave here, then everyone wouldn't have to go through all the hard work.
Ah, it's useless to say these words now.Besides, Ah Ling also has her own reasons and cannot leave the houseboat behind.
During the day, Shichibei is probably at the shop.Ah Xian was alone on the narrow corridor outside the room, and she was planting summer beard branches in a large vase.When Ah Ling came out from behind the bushes, she didn't notice it immediately.
"Aunt Axian." Ah Ling called out in a low voice.Ah Xian was startled, raised his head, and when he saw Ah Ling, the gardening scissors in his hand fell off.
"Oh, oh, isn't this Ah Ling?"
Ah Xian knelt up.A-Ling felt sad again, desperately trying to suppress her desire to cry.
"You came by yourself? Don't stand there, come here."
Ah Ling obeyed her words and approached the narrow corridor, Ah Xian quickly leaned over and hugged Ah Ling.Ah Ling took off one shoe, and the other was still on her foot. Her whole body was buried in the nostalgic smell of Ah Xian, which was mixed with the smell of Ah Xian's skin, hair oil, and the smell of the sachet inside the cuff.If Ah Ling had a grandmother, she probably wouldn't smell like this.
"I heard that you guys were miserable yesterday." Ah Xian said almost sourly, "Abba and Aunt are very disappointed, you must be very sad too. It's so pitiful."
"Aunt Axian, who did you listen to?"
"About half an hour ago, your father came here, and just now he went out with grandpa again."
"Going back to the boathouse?"
"I don't know about that. They said they were going to visit Mr. Shimaji's house. Grandpa Shichihei's expression is terrifying..." Ah Xian looked at Ah Ling's face and asked, "Have you been here since morning?" Where did you go? Your father is worried to death. Where did you go to play?"
Ah Ling decided not to tell the truth for the time being, and replied: "Well, I have a friend who lives in the Sun Bingwei Courtyard near the boat house."
"Really? That would be great." Ah Xian stroked Ah Ling's hair, finally sat down on his knees with peace of mind, and asked, "Did you eat this morning? Haven't you eaten yet?"
"Well, but I was given a bowl of sugar water to drink."
"How can that kind of thing fill your stomach. Wait a minute, I'll get something."
Ah left the half-planted flowers alone, and hurried to the kitchen.Ah Ling sat down, wiped her tear-filled eyes vigorously, and sighed.
Now that Shichibei has gone out, she has lost the purpose of coming here.But it's good to be here, no matter what happened last night, Ah Ling felt very sad, and needed comfort from others.
Ah Xian will be back soon.Ah Ling saw the hot miso soup, rice, kimchi, omelet, and a small piece of grilled fish dipped in soy sauce cooking wine on the tray, her stomach growled.
"Hey, there seems to be a frog calling." Ah Xian said with a chuckle, "Hurry up, eat as much as you can, and you can add a second bowl."
Ah Ling wolfed down, and gradually regained her spirits while eating.People, no matter how discouraged you are, as long as you can eat, you will be fine, and you can continue to carry on—this is Shichibei's catchphrase, and Ah Ling feels the same way.
Ah Xian smiled and watched Ah Ling eat.After Ah Ling finished eating, she put down the tray and went out, bringing another plate of sliced melons and fruits.
"Although the melon and fruit period is still early."
She persuaded Ah Ling to eat, and then arranged flowers herself.Summer Peanuts, with their lovely pink and white flowers, are also nearing the end of their season.
The world says the ghosts don't appear once summer is over, but that's not the case with the Boathouse.
"Auntie Axian," A-Ling asked after munching on melons and fruits, "Does Auntie know about Mr. Shimaji?"
Ah Ling heard that Shichibei introduced Shimaji as a helper to the houseboat. Since Shimibei and Shimaji have a good relationship and know each other's cooking skills, Ah Xian may also know something.
Ah Xian snapped the gardening scissors, tilted his head slightly and said, "I don't know, I'm not sure."
"He's a good cook. Grandpa Shichibei asked him to help in the houseboat, right?"
"It seems so."
Ah Xian answered leisurely, then suddenly looked at Ah Ling and asked, "What's the matter? Ah Ling, do you care about Mr. Shimaji?"
"Not without."
Ah Ling hurriedly shook her head.Ah Xian stopped holding the scissors, her smooth forehead, which was younger than her actual age, was slightly gathered and wrinkled.
"Auntie, what's the matter?"
Ah first glanced at the pure summer beard flower, and said slowly: "The banquet last night was for an exorcism competition, right?"
"um, yes."
"Did the ghost appear in the end?"
Ah Ling nodded.For A-Ling, the ghost of the houseboat usually appeared when nothing happened, but the exorcism contest last night itself was a failure.
"It seems that it didn't work. Dad was scolded, saying that it was because the vegetables were too salty that it didn't work. They said that salt has the power to exorcise evil spirits."
Ah Ling's tone gradually turned into complaints.Baiziwu Ajing and Qiantianya Alu are counterfeit goods at all. Even if they serve dishes that have no salty taste, they can't help but find other excuses to justify.
Is that so? Ah Xian muttered to himself, Ah Ling, who was biting into a fruit, stopped, and she found that the wrinkles on Ah Xian's forehead were deeper than before.
"There is no ghost, but Shimaji-san is a different person... Obviously there is no ghost."
Ah Xian repeated this as if confirming.Ah Ling was taken aback secretly, and was very concerned about Ah Xian's words.She put the half-eaten melon and fruit back on the plate and approached Ah Xian.
"Aunt Axian, what's the matter with you?"
"Huh?" Ah Xian squeezed out a smile and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing, you eat melons."
"I'm fine, but aunt's expression seems to have something."
"Ah," Ah Xian asked, wiping his face from top to bottom with his hands, "is that the expression?"
Both of them laughed at the same time.Ah Ling turned her mind quickly.Aunt Ah Xian seems to be very concerned about Dao Ci's affairs, how can I ask what she cares about?
"Auntie," A-Ling said solemnly as she knelt with her knees together, "Actually, I saw something terrible in college yesterday."
"Scary thing?"
"Well, when Shimaji-san passed out... I saw a blurry man's face beside Shimaji-san."
Ah Ling decided to take a gamble, and felt that she had won a big prize after she said it.Because Ah Xian obviously lost his face.
"What kind of man?" Ah Xian moved his knees, put his hand on Ah Ling's arm, and held it tenderly, "Are you scared? You probably... didn't meet the other's eyes, did you?"
Ah Xian's serious expression made Ah Ling even more frightened.
"No, I just saw the shadow vaguely, maybe I was wrong."
"What does it look like?"
Ah Ling placed her bet again, and continued, "I always feel very similar to Mr. Shimaji."
Ah first firmly held Ah Ling's arm.
Ah Ling put her little hand on Ah Xian's and asked, "Auntie, what's wrong with you? Does Auntie know what's going on?"
Ah Xian lowered his eyes and shook his head slightly, and said in a low voice: "A Ling, you must never tell Grandpa Qibingwei about this, Grandpa hates this kind of thing very much."
"Well, I know, I won't say it, absolutely not."
Ah Xian looked at Ah Ling's face, breathed a sigh of relief, and said: "I also said just now, I don't know about Mr. Shimaji's matter. The matter about the shop... especially the kitchen and kitchen knives are Grandpa Qibingwei. The job has nothing to do with me."
Ah Xian is a diligent and reliable proprietress who is in charge of housework neatly, but she does not interfere with business matters.
"It's just that Mr. Shimaji came to find Grandpa Shichihei not long after the houseboat opened. Because grandpa introduced him to the houseboat as a helper, he came to thank him. He is a person who values courtesy."
At that time, Shimao was taken to the room next to the room where Ah Ling is now, and Ah Xian went to the neighboring room to say hello with wine and food.
"Mr. Shimaji greeted me solemnly, and I stayed and chatted with them for a while. The deceased brother left him..."
"It's Hayashiya, a delivery restaurant."
"Yes, yes. He said that the business of the shop is very good, and that his brother's orphan is taking care of him, so he is free at the moment. Mr. Shimaji is by no means an amiable person, and he doesn't talk much, but he chatted with Grandpa Shichibei. Very pleasant. You also know that Grandpa likes hardworking people."
At that time, the atmosphere was harmonious, but Ah Xian felt chilly around his shoulders and waist.
"I thought it was weird that it wasn't cold at that time of year. And it was a beautiful day, and the yard was full of sunshine."
Due to housework and feeling cold, Ah Xian inadvertently looked at the yard when he was about to get up and leave.
"As a result," Ah Xian gasped, pointed over Ah Ling's shoulder and pointed to the yard, "behind that nandina tree... aren't there two nandina bamboos planted over there? I saw a nandina with a bad face The man with the girdle and sleeves was standing there silently."
Ah Ling turned her head to look at the yard.Nandina bamboo doesn't bear red fruit now, but it is still recognizable as nandina at a glance.When living here before, Ah Ling was often scolded by Qibingwei for picking nandina fruits as a prank.Qibingwei said: Nandina is an auspicious tree that "turns misfortunes into blessings". It can avoid evil and attract blessings, but it cannot be harmed.Although Shichibei doesn't like gloomy ghost stories or topics of karma, he likes mascots related to merchants.
Of course, there is no one there now, only the nandina bathed in the late summer sunshine.If there were talking elves living in the tree, they would probably ask: Why are you both looking at me with terrible expressions?
"That man's face..." Ah Ling stared at Nandianzhu intently, "It's also very similar to Mr. Shimao, aunt."
"It's very similar." Ah Xian responded with a slight trembling, and the trembling was transmitted to Ah Ling's hands through the hands they held, "I even thought that there was another Mr. orifice."
But just as Ah Xian blinked in surprise, the man next to Nantianzhu disappeared.Shichibei and Shimaji were still chatting happily in the room.
"I was scared to death, so I had to get some wine and leave. But no matter whether I went to the corridor or the kitchen, my teeth were chattering from the cold."
After Shimaji left after a while, Axian asked Shichibei: That Mr. Shimaji looked a bit gloomy, did any family members pass away recently?
"Grandpa Shichihei laughed and said that the man always had a listless expression. When it comes to family members passing away, only an older brother named Ginji passed away ten years ago. There should be nothing wrong recently."
After listening to Ah Xian, he suddenly realized that the man standing behind Nantian Zhu just now might be the ghost of Shimaji's deceased brother, Yinji.
"That's why the facial features are so similar."
Ah Xian inquired without revealing any trace, and learned about Shimaji, Ginji, and Hayashiya's housework from Shichihei.Fortunately, Shichihei was in a good mood after drinking, and he had no doubt about him, so he talked a lot.
"The result..." Ah Xian looked at Ah Ling's face and smiled embarrassedly, "Hey, let me tell you this kind of thing, in case you have nightmares at night, I will be responsible."
"It's okay, aunt, it's uncomfortable to hear half of the words."
"That's right." Ah Xian nodded and said, "Grandpa Qibingwei said that Mr. Yinji was healthy until the day before his death, and there was no abnormality. Because the death was so sudden, even the autopsy official came to investigate. The results could not be found. Where there is something suspicious, the public servant judged that he died of illness, but why he died suddenly, the reason has never been clear."
Ah Ling felt a burst of cold air rising slowly from her feet.
"I feel even more scared after listening to it." Axian said, looking at the yard, "Mr. Ginji standing over there has a really resentful expression on his face, and he just stares at Mr. Shimaji. No, it should be said He was staring at Shimaji-san. I still can’t forget the look in his eyes.”
Aunt, I've seen that look too——A Ling said so in her heart.
Ah Xian's side face was stiff, and he kept staring at the yard, as if he could see Ginji's ghost standing there now.People's eyes can not only see the things that actually exist in front of them, but also see the scenes left in their hearts.
There was a hawker selling cold medicine outside. He was probably a newcomer, and the melody of his hawking was a little out of tune. He seemed to be shouting hard to make up for it.Ah Xian came back to his senses, blinked, and looked at Ah Ling.
"Auntie, are you okay?"
"Huh? Ah, it doesn't matter, I told you something terrible."
Ah first took off the towel stuffed in his belt, and helped Ah Ling wipe off his sticky hands from the melon juice.When Ah Ling lived here, Ah Xian often took care of herself like this, and she felt very nostalgic.
Ah Ling suddenly thought of something, and asked, "Auntie, apart from seeing that... the ghost that looks like Mr. Ginji... have you seen any other ghosts or scary monsters?"
"Well," Ah Xian smiled slightly, "I don't know either, probably not. Although I've heard of things like being tricked by a civet cat or possessed by a fox...but it was the first time I actually saw a ghost. "
"Auntie has been to the houseboat many times, right? Have you seen anything in the houseboat?"
Ah Xian smiled and asked, "Is there anything in the houseboat?"
I see.Ah Ling couldn't help but scratched her earlobe and frowned.
Gennosuke once said: Ah Ling is not the only one who can see ghosts, and there were also people who could see ghosts in the past.The people in the houseboat will also have the opportunity to see Gennosuke and the others in the future.However, Ah Ling is special in that she can see all the ghosts from the very beginning——
It turns out that Mrs. Axian can also see the ghost of Ginji.Unexpectedly, there are still people who can see ghosts in unexpected places.If Ah went to the houseboat first, he might be able to see someone in the ghost.But Dad and Mom still couldn't see the ghost.
why?
"Is it true that those who can see can see ghosts, and those who can't see can't? Why is this so? Why can Auntie see Mr. Ginji, but Grandpa Shichibei cannot?"
"This..." Ah Xian frowned slightly, "A Ling, you said that you saw a man's face next to the fainted Mr. Shimaji yesterday, did you tell your father and mother about this?"
Ah Ling shook her head and said, "Abba and Aunt were very depressed because of yesterday's incident. I've had enough. I don't want to talk about anything else."
"That's right, it's really considerate of children. Then, they didn't say anything to you?"
"If it's about the ghost, say nothing."
"Really? In that case, Taiichiro and Tae Hui should not be able to see..."
The latter sentence was whispered as if he was talking to himself.
"Abba and the others haven't seen anything, not a single one. So has Aunt Ateng. Although Ari and Xiu left the houseboat in fright, they didn't leave because they saw a ghost. I know this best."
Ah Ling said casually.Ah Xian seemed to be taken aback, looked down at Ah Ling, and asked: "A Ling... Isn't it the first time you saw a ghost yesterday? Have you seen other ghosts in the boat house?"
Ah Ling became nervous, she didn't intend to tell the whole story yet.
"No, I didn't mean that."
"Really? I really didn't expect this possibility. Hearing that there is a ghost haunting the houseboat, I should... You also know the personality of Grandpa Qibei, he can't think about this kind of thing... But I should I should think of you more."
Ah Xian put his hand on his forehead, with an annoyed expression on his face.
"Children, your eyes are not as cloudy as adults, and you can often see things that adults can't see. So, the ghosts who do bad things in the houseboat, maybe you can see more clearly and carefully than Taiichiro and Dahui? You really Didn't you see something?"
At this moment, A-Ling hesitated whether to continue lying, or to tell the whole story in one breath.A heart rolled around like an egg, as if trying to escape from my own palm.
Why don't you tell me all about it?
If it's Ah Xian, he should be able to accept the matter of Gennosuke and Monk Xiao.
The "heart" egg was rolling around again, and this time it stopped when it rolled to the "OK, say it" side of the entrance.
Ah Xian also said: "If you can see the ghost attached to the houseboat, the matter can no longer be dragged on. You must quickly hire a mage to remove the spirit. You can't be as leisurely as your grandpa Qibingwei, who wants to use the ghost to make the houseboat famous. ...the ghosts must be cleaned up as soon as possible."
Ah Ling was taken aback and opened her eyes wide.Ah Xian seemed to want to drive away the dog chasing the child, with a hateful and angry expression, and a much tougher tone.
"Clean up... Auntie, do you mean to invite a mage to let the ghost ascend to heaven?"
"I don't know if I will go to heaven, and who knows where those wandering spirits will go, but at least they can be driven out of the houseboat."
—Oh, that's not okay.
How could the ghost be driven out of the houseboat? Ah Ling didn't want to do that at all.
Ah Ling thought: no matter what kind of mage came, they probably would not be able to drive away the ghost of the boathouse. After all, the boathouse belonged to them, and Ah Ling's family came later.Even if the magician came, Gennosuke and Ami would probably just laugh and watch.
But if Ah Ling lets the adults do that, Gennosuke and the others may be very disappointed, maybe they will never get along with Ah Ling again, and they will not forgive Ah Ling.
Ah Ling immediately put away the rolling "heart" egg, tried her best to straighten her back, and interrupted Ah Xian: "Aunt, don't worry. I saw a ghost for the first time yesterday. Really!"
"Really? You can't lie to Big Mom. Don't you see how worried I am?"
"I didn't lie." A Ling smiled sweetly, "So don't frown, aunt, okay?"
If Xuan Zhisuke saw this scene, he might smile wryly: Ah Ling, you are so good at acting now, it will be unimaginable in the future.Don't be a scary woman.
After waiting for a while, Shichibei didn't show any signs of coming back. He probably went to the boathouse after visiting Shimaji's family.Ah Ling bids farewell to Ah Xian and leaves Takada House.If he rushed back to the boat house now, he might be able to arrive in time for Shichibei to discuss the aftermath with his parents.Ah Ling walked briskly for a while, but when she came to Yuanzi Bridge, she changed her mind.She slowed down, leaning her hands on the railing and looking down at the surface of the river.Ah Ling's face was reflected on the water, and those big eyes were also looking up at Ah Ling.
Why do some people see ghosts and others don't?Why can the same person see one ghost but not another?
Ah Ling could see the ghost of the houseboat and Ginji, and Ah Xian could see the ghost of Ginji, but Shichibei couldn't. Why?
If someone has "eyes" that can see ghosts, no matter where such a person goes, as long as there are ghosts, he should be able to see them.Maybe Ah Ling has this type of physique.It's really annoying, although I'm not sure I have this kind of physique.
If so, Ah Xian's example cannot be explained.Ah first said that she had never had a similar experience before seeing the ghost of Ginji, and she could not see the ghost of the stern, only Ginji.Isn't that weird?Does Ah Xian have "eyes" that can see ghosts?
Ah first said that children can see things that adults cannot see.But when A-Ling saw Amei throwing stones in the river before, Tsutsuya Azon and Xiaomaru who were present at the time couldn't see Amei.At that time, Ah Ling saw that Ah Mui was going to push Xiaowan into the river, and wanted to yell a warning, but the candy got stuck in her throat.Regardless of whether Amei is a dangerous ghost or not, what is certain is that her personality is very awkward, which is enough to make Ah Ling feel threatened.At that time, only Ah Ling was aware of Ah Mei's existence. She clearly saw the red dress on Ah Mei's body, but Ah Yuan and Xiaomaru couldn't see it.Did you see the samurai who rescued Ah Ling who nearly choked to death—the tall, thin neighbor Hamoto with a dog?Ah, what a mistake, I should have asked him then.
Ah Ling clearly saw her face reflected on the water.This is "I", it is Ah Ling.Just as I can see this face, I can also see Gennosuke-sama and Ami, and the laughing monk even massaged me.I could also see his weeping face, and even feel his tall body trembling with grief.Amei's grimacing expression is also really annoying!It was so clear that one wanted to hold her down and slap her.
Amy is so disgusting!At this moment Ah Ling remembered something.
The weird Sheng who lived in Sun Bingwei's courtyard, the kid who arranged for me to clean the toilet, he could see Amei, he saw Amei following me.Not only that, he seems to know Amei very well.He even said—
"Amei, didn't you come to see me for something?"
Why can Wei Sheng see Ah Mui?How does he think about the fact that he can see Amei?Can't he see other ghosts?Can you see the silver ghost?
Ah Ling had an idea: Perhaps, which ghost is allowed to be seen by whom and who is not allowed to see this is the "key" for the ghost of the person involved to wander the world?
Ah Ling ran to Sun Bingwei's courtyard.
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