Chapter 11 10. Absent banquet

1 Yuzumi Ichiro is a section chief of a central unit.The government is the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and the governing body of private enterprises. It has nothing to do with it. Anyway, it holds power over enterprises, and can also profit from specific operators. It can be said to be a profit-making unit. The head of Yuzhu often has to go on business trips.For the sake of administrative guidance, he traveled far and wide.This kind of business trip has a lot of aftertaste for a central government official.First of all, no matter where you go, there are cadres from local factories, branches, etc., who will warmly welcome you.If it is a factory inspection, then the itinerary has been arranged before leaving Tokyo, and it is enough to run according to the schedule.If you speak in too much detail, not only will the business owner be disliked, but some opinions may come from unexpected places.It was like an instruction coming from the clouds: That section chief is not ideal.

Yes, as long as the inspections are not too enthusiastic, central officials will be respected wherever they go.Accommodation and meals are included in the travel expenses, but in fact there is no need to spend any money.There will always be operators in the local area who accept supervision and spend more money to entertain him. Uozumi Ichiro visited the Kyushu area this time, starting from South Kyushu, and came to a certain city in Kitakyushu on the sixth day.Here, he saw two factories, Zhang Ben, who was the administrative supervisor. In the morning, Section Chief Yuzu visited Factory A in this city, and in the afternoon went to the Kitakyushu Factory of XX Company.

The factory manager is a fat man in his fifties, and the deputy factory manager is about 34 or 50. He is a thin, clever man.The factory director's surname is Xiong Tian, ​​and the deputy's name is He Yuan. The factory manager Xiongtian is very gentle, smiling from time to time, and chatting with the section chief Uozu politely.The deputy factory director Tsuruhara was regarded as his capable right-hand man, and he made supplements to the explanations of the factory director Xiongtian at any time, quickly and appropriately. We are scheduled to end your labors at five o'clock in the afternoon.

The factory manager Kumada led the section manager Uozumi to the factory manager's office and said so.The house is taller, and from the window, you can see the undulating factory buildings in the factory like waves. The section leader must be very tired. After finishing, please ask the section leader to give me a favor and go to a restaurant with very good fish dishes in this city for dinner.It's by the sea, and the scenery is also very nice. This kind of country is really disrespectful, but the fish are the freshest.As the factory manager has reported to you, the scenery is superb, especially at night, and everyone who has been there has praised it.

Tsuruhara's deputy followed up clearly. Yes Yes Although the section chief Yuzhu responded in this way, there was a troubled look on his face. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'll have to ask your pardon tonight. Well? The factory manager and the deputy factory manager raised their faces in surprise at the same time. Is such that.I have an old classmate from college who lives here. I haven’t seen him for a long time. Hearing my arrival, he must get together with me.He is a good friend, and it is also very good to catch up on the old days, so I have already agreed. Where does that dear friend live?If it's not too far away, we'll ask him to show his respect and let's all come together.we will send a car to pick him up

Said the deputy. No no, I kindly accept it.I believe he has everything ready. Yes, teacher, where does he live? The factory manager took down his pipe and asked. It is S city. City S is about an hour and a half by train from this city.Here's the thing: he had no old schoolmates like that at all. City S, the factory manager still doesn't give up: let's make a phone call and ask him to change the reservation?it's still early The factory manager looked at his watch while talking. I think it's a little tricky.My friend is a stranger, and I don't like to gather with unfamiliar friends.And I've been around the South, and every night there's a symposium or something.Today is the last night in Kyushu, and I hope I can relax and drink with old friends.In the evening, I also agreed to live in his house.

The head of Yuzhu said with a low smile. This evening, he had other plans, and he absolutely could not agree to the invitation from the factory. Section chief, you understand what our factory manager means Tsuruhara's deputy spoke very modestly, but there was a strong force behind his words. Since the head of the class came all the way, we have already prepared, and everyone is eager to get together with the head of the class and listen to some teachings and instructions.For your dear friend, we will be responsible for contacting him and asking for his understanding, so tonight, no matter what, give us this face.

The section chief saw the hall with a beautiful view of the sea and the set dining table.There may be more than thirty people.In the past, every time there was a banquet, at least there were more than 20 people.Hearing the tone of deputy factory manager Tsuruhara, it seemed that all the reserved tables were going to be lost. However, no matter how much loss the factory suffers, the head of Yuzhu cannot accept the entertainment for this night anyway. I'm sorry, please forgive me. The principal was slightly displeased.This trick is still the most effective.Moreover, only such a complexion looks like an official of the central government.

Yes Yes.That being the case, then we should be respectful rather than obedient. The factory manager signaled to the deputy factory manager in this way, and said: It's a pity, but we believe there will be another chance next time. After all, the factory manager is a kind-hearted person.But when he glanced at the head of the class, the light in his eyes seemed to say wordlessly: Who are you?I thought it was so airy to come from the central government. The factory manager also let out a deep breath secretly.The face of the deputy factory manager also seemed to be a major production project, suddenly faced with difficulties.

Seeing the expressions of the two, Uozumi nodded inwardly.This kind of vision is common to him.Institutions such as local factories and branch companies will create opportunities to eat and drink at every turn.People from the central government have come, which is the best opportunity for them.Entertain guests while enjoying a sumptuous meal yourself.There is absolutely no need to worry about the official tone of the general affairs for this sum of banquet expenses.Yuzhu already knew all this. At this moment, the factory director let out a sigh of relief, and the deputy factory director was very disappointed, which made Yu feel compassionate.At the same time, I also feel a little guilty for not being able to be beautiful as an adult.

At this moment, Yuzu suddenly remembered. Alas, I am so sorry.But I was thinking, although I can't accompany you, can it be considered that I was there? The co-seat turned his glasses around.A touch of joy flashed across his face, but it disappeared so cleverly, and the puzzled expression returned. Headmaster, do you mean This is of course a bluff.Receiving the head of the section, the expenses are justifiable.When you get reimbursed in the future, you don't have to worry about other people's lasu.Furthermore, it is even more desirable to avoid such an official at the table.Of course, the factory director and deputy factory director will not reveal this meaning. I really shouldn't go against the kindness of the two of you, so I thought, if I can, I will show my face a little. The deputy cast a puzzled look at the factory director. Yes Yes.The factory manager said eagerly: I don't care if I have a toast, that is the greatest honor of our factory. The factory manager finally showed his fox tail. I must ask for your forgiveness, it will take quite a while to arrive in S city, so the inspection is over, I hope you can let me leave. Yes Yes The factory manager said and looked at the deputy factory manager.In the dark, the two discussed with each other's eyes. Then it's not good to be too reluctant to be the head teacher.Just do that? The deputy director lowered his voice and said. That's really an ambiguous statement.Should the banquet be held without the presence of the head of Yuzhu, and in the future the summons will still write that the inspectors will come to the factory for a welcome meeting?Or, since the guests are not present, are they exempted?Yuzhu couldn't make a judgment.Of course, it was inconvenient for him to ask further questions on this occasion.It's just that for him, it would be more convenient for him if he could treat it as if he had participated in the factory's symposium tonight. 2 About an hour's drive from the city, there is a hot spring.The head of Yuzhu got out of the car there. It takes forty minutes to take a taxi from the station to the hot spring.There are vast fields on both sides of the road.At the end of the field, the sunset began to turn red.It was already dusk around the mountain skirts, and the lights in the farmhouses were also on. Thinking that Keiko had arrived four hours ago and was waiting for him, Yuju couldn't help but feel his heart pounding in the taxi.If I accepted the hospitality from the factory manager and the others, I would have wasted at least three hours.How boring to win a free meal for those people.If it is not for other things, it can be considered a feast, it might not be a pleasure.Sitting high on the seat, the factory manager and the subordinate cadres sat in front of him bowing their knees, and stretched out their hands respectfully to him in order to ask for a cup.There are place geishas on both sides.After drinking for three rounds, everyone became a mess However, Yuzhu has enjoyed such fun for four nights from Southern Kyushu to this place, and I am tired of it. Keiko is a woman at a bar in Shinjuku.Twenty-four years old.It was hard to convince her to agree to meet in Kyushu.Tonight, and all day tomorrow, we can be together.She's not like a country geisha fat as a potato bug. Keiko is the first time to Kyushu.Agreeing to this appointment is partly because of curiosity to see this strange land.She also asked her to make an appointment for that hot spring hotel from Tokyo, and she would not miss the appointment, just wait in a room there.Yuzhu imagined the pleasure of the night, and felt that he had never seen the ordinary rural scenery in the countryside so wonderful. At the end of the field, the car suddenly drove into the street lit with lively lights.There is an archway at the entrance of the street, with the word "Welcome" written on it, and the name of the hot spring hotel association.The car climbed up the slope and crossed a stream onto a small bridge.Along the way, there are hotels and souvenir shops on both sides. This hotel is called Xinquan Pavilion.Go up the slope, turn right, and there is a zelkova gate.The maid hurried over to welcome Yuzhu who got off the car. I am Kawai from Tokyo. Yuzhu got a surname.It was used by Keiko when making an appointment. welcome.Another one has arrived. Fish live at ease.The pudgy maid took the travel bag and walked to the entrance. The shopkeeper and several maids saluted one after another, and Yuzhu walked through the long corridor from the entrance.It's like a room inside.After going down a few steps, I went out to the corridor covered with carpet.The maid said that this will be the new building from now on. Turning another corner, the maid pushed open the latticed door there. sorry.The guests have arrived. The maid yelled first, then went in, knelt down at the paper door, and pushed open the paper door for Yuzhu. But there was no one in the room, but a woman's travel bag could be seen on the wooden boardroom. Huh, seems to have gone out? The maid put the travel bags where the fish lived side by side and looked around. It's taking a shower. Only then did the maid add a sentence as if realizing it. Pushing open the closet, Keiko's dress was hanging there.Yuzhu also heard the sound of bath water. Would you like to take a shower right now, sir? the maid asked. I read I'm really sorry to answer right away. I'll send the clothes right away. The maid stepped back shrewdly. Yuzumi sat down a little flustered.The maid must go to the main building to pick up the casual clothes of the hotel, so there will be some waiting.The sound of the bath water became louder and louder.His nerves went that way. Yuzhu got up from the reception table and walked to the door where the sound of water came from.He tapped on the door at the end of the corridor that seemed to be the bathroom.no answer.Usually, the bath is behind another door, so you can't hear the knock, he thought.Maybe, she was naked, too shy to answer? Yuzhu became excited and pushed open the door.Sure enough, there was a dressing room there. In front of the mirror were cosmetic utensils. Underneath, there was a box stuffed with hotel plain clothes. Underneath, you could see Keiko's lingerie.The other door is inlaid with frosted glass, and some small water droplets hanging there are transparent and exquisite.The sound of the water was louder.Yuzhu then knocked on the frosted glass door again.But this time it wasn't a real knock. After knocking, he immediately grabbed the doorknob and pulled it. There was steam in the bathroom.As the glass door was pushed open, cold air from outside was blown in, tearing apart the fog.In that crack, he saw white flesh lying horizontally. The fish held his breath and watched for a few seconds.It seems to have been watching for a long time, and it seems to be just a moment.He slammed the door shut suddenly, and hurried out into the corridor outside the door.He closed the door tightly.Breath is also urgent. Yuzhu picked up his travel bag, pushed open the lattice door, went out to the porch and walked towards the entrance.The maid from just now walked over with the hotel coat in one hand and the tea set in the other.The little maid stopped in surprise when she saw him. Yeah, you want to go out? Yes, forgot something at the station.I'm worried about losing it, so I have to hurry over and have a look. that travel bag no thanks.There is something in it to give to a friend.waiting for me. Yu Zhu spoke incoherently, and escaped out of the entrance. shoes my shoes He whispered to the shopkeeper. Could it be an illusion? On the train back to Tokyo, Uozumi thought about it all the way.There seemed to be a emptiness in the mind, and the whole body was hot.He was completely unaware of the kind of passengers around him.That glance became a boundary, and everything in the world changed at once. Thinking about it at this moment, I feel that my memory seems to be blurred.It was white and misty.The misty electric light illuminated the misty, white female body lying on the tiled floor.A large stream of hot spring water overflowed from the bathtub with a sound.There are basins and soap beside the woman.These are so clearly in my mind.However, now that female body has mostly disappeared from sight.What he saw was a deep pinch mark on Bai Bai's throat.And that part was also strangely reddened.Looking back at this moment, the red color is almost blurred in the white mist. I really felt that way at that moment, but now I think of it like an illusion.At that time, he had doubted his own eyes, so he stared for a moment.It is a situation where you suddenly see something that is not believable. At that moment, his thinking violently swung into two kinds.They are in conflict with each other.One is to tell the people at the hotel immediately, and the other is to run away regardless of everything, that is to avoid being involved in this kind of disaster.In a moment of determination, he chose the latter. What if it's not a hallucination? Fish lived repeatedly trying to pull back the correct record.Keiko was killed.No, no, presumed killed.Who did it?None of the doors were locked.Anyone can come in when she is in the shower. It wouldn't be her husband who knew the secret of the two, followed them here, and broke into the bathroom of the hotel to take revenge.That would be too fast.There must have been some omen before that.Keiko's husband is a guitarist.Is a dangerous husband.At Fish Live, it's also an adventure.However, Keiko never said that she had any trouble with her husband. So is it the manager of the hotel?or other travelers.Other travelers more likely.I entered the wrong room and saw a woman taking a bath alone, and suddenly had evil thoughts.Maybe it happened half an hour before I was led into the room by the maid. Yuzhu suddenly became frightened.At this moment, is someone following me?I am the companion for women to wait for.The people in the hostel also know this.It's just that I don't know who it is and where it lives. Moreover, Keiko came to Kyushu without telling her husband, a guitarist, so of course she did not dare to say her own name, and Yuzu's name was absolutely not daring to say it.It is also an absolute secret from the bar colleagues. However, the hotel will probably report the face and characteristics of the escaped man to the police.What Yuzhu was most worried about was the short maid.Maids in hotels are usually very good at remembering the faces of guests.It is said that recently eyewitness accounts alone can create clever photomontages. Pisces move your imagination to the bright side as much as possible.His face was extremely ordinary and featureless.The maid only looked at it for a few minutes, so it was impossible to tell the details of her face in detail.Also, he took a taxi to the station at Hot Spring Street. To be on the safe side, he first took the ordinary train going down, then changed to the ordinary train and went up to the station where the express train stopped, and then boarded the express train to Tokyo.Every station did not see the police personnel began to alert. He believes he has not been tracked. 3 Two months have passed since the incident. In the past two months, Yu lived a little nervous.He always imagined the worst situation and was very chagrined.After much difficulty, he finished his studies at the University of Tokyo, passed the advanced national examination, and became a civil servant.It has always been a process of bureaucratic elites.It's really not worth it if you ruin your career because of a bar girl.If it's true love, and you don't hesitate to bet your life, then sacrificing your life is a last resort, but it's just for fun.Is it true that there is no god in the world if you waste your life just for having fun? He was not the murderer who killed Keiko, and this should finally come to light, but before the real murderer is caught, he is an important person, and he may also be regarded as a suspect. Strict investigation is inevitable.At that time, I am afraid that I have to resign, and my wife will also ask for a divorce.These imaginings alone made him face the pain of death. After these two months of tossing, the pain was finally relieved.About Keiko's incident, the newspapers in Tokyo also published small news, so it can no longer be a hallucination.Although the incident happened in Kyushu, because the victim was a bar girl in Tokyo, it took up a small corner in Tokyo newspapers.The newspaper also said that a salaryman-like man who escaped from the same room in the hotel was being tracked down as an important person.After reading this report, Yuzu always wears a suit of another color when going to work. Thereafter, there was no more news in the newspaper.The organization where Yu lives and works subscribes to Kyushu's local newspapers, which are bound and kept together, but he dare not read them.Because he was worried that if people saw him reading that kind of newspaper, it might become a clue to expose his involvement in the case. After another three months, Yuzhu was completely liberated from anxiety and fear.Five months have passed since the incident, and since the real culprit has not been caught, the task force should have been withdrawn long ago.Even a traffic policeman never came to him.He seemed to feel that the sky suddenly became brighter, and made up his mind that he would never go across the dangerous bridge again.The family is happy.Whenever he was on a business trip, he would go out and come back in a proper manner. Yu lives with the head of the section, and petitioners from the industry visit him every day.As a class leader, half of the job is to deal with this type of petitioner visits.As a class leader, half of the job is to deal with this kind of petition, as well as stamping and attending meetings. One day, on the last day of his inspection trip to Kyushu, the manager of the sales department of XX Company who refused to attend the dinner party came to see him in the office, half to say hello and half to make a statement. The manager of the sales department, who is also a director, smiled after talking about the matter, and asked with some embarrassment: Teacher, I'm sorry to ask you something off topic. You visited our company's Kitakyushu factory on ×month×day, and the situation at that time was very presumptuous. I wonder if you could ask me? Yuzhu was slightly taken aback.Just hearing the name of the city in Kitakyushu made him uneasy.However, that factory has nothing to do with Keiko's case. Although it is also in Kitakyushu, the hot springs are different from the places with factories. Yes, what's the matter? He deliberately pretended to be surprised. It was the banquet that night, did the section chief attend it? Yu lived but felt his heart pounding. He couldn't make up his mind.That's right, he thought about the wishes of the factory director and deputy factory director that night, and said that he could be regarded as attending.Most of the company's accounts are also recorded in this way.They sent him to the station, and as soon as he was gone, everyone rushed back. Yes, he should admit that he participated, he made up his mind.This can also serve as an alibi for the hot spring where the incident occurred. Yes yes, thank you so much for your hospitality that night. I see. There seemed to be a cloud of gloom on the face of the manager of the sales department, but it immediately turned into a bright smile. I must have not entertained you well, thank you. The manager thanked me solemnly. After the manager left, this last question made the fish remember a little bit.Why did it take so long to bring up such a thing?Since returning from that business trip, I have met the manager several times.There was indeed talk about that visit, but there was never any question about attending the banquet.This is really strange. But he also thought that there was really nothing to worry about.I think the manager asked this question because he remembered the banquet mentioned in the report of the Kitakyushu factory during the conversation.There could be no other reason. Another month passed.Keiko's murder case was completely away from Section Chief Uozumi.He works harder than before. One day, he accepted an invitation from a company and came to a restaurant in the back street of Ginza.This company is a business competitor with the company where the manager of the sales department came to see him last time. During the chat, one of the cadres present smiled and said to Yuzhu Section Chief: There was also an ominous incident over there. The ×× here refers to the hostile company. What ominous event? I heard that there was a fierce friction between the director and deputy director of their Kitakyushu factory.The factory manager said that he would fire the deputy factory manager, but the deputy factory manager put on a posture and said: If you dare to fire, try it. Competitors always spy on each other's various information, so what happened in this company, the opponents will know very quickly.The cadre brought up the ominous incident of the rival company ××. On the one hand, he was gloating, and on the other hand, he also hoped to win the favor of the official. What exactly happened? The fish couldn't help being fanned curious. ×× found out the dereliction of duty by the deputy director of the Kitakyushu factory.The deputy is in charge of the factory's finances, and seems to have quite a lot of power.To put it simply, he soaked up all kinds of expenses and swallowed up the difference. It sounds old-fashioned.For example, there is a markup on the flyer for the purchase of materials, and there are fake banquet fee receipts, which seem to have removed a lot of dirt. Yuzhu became anxious.It turned out that there was a reason why the sales manager asked him if he had attended the banquet.But the head teacher pretended to be nonchalant and said: That's really bad. The head of the section wanted to change the topic, but the cadre seemed to be getting more and more interested in talking. I heard that there seemed to be too many fakes, so I was afraid of being noticed by others, so I held an unwarranted banquet and led my subordinates to the high-end kiosks to eat and drink. Because he was caught by the tail, the company planned to fire him.But because of this, the vice-president started to make a fuss, saying that the factory manager was worse than him, accusing the factory manager of disregarding public and private funds and embezzling public funds.The vice-chairman said that he was nothing compared to the factory manager, who was involved in a large amount of corruption, and his threats were well-founded.If he is fired, the shady story of the factory director embezzling public funds to his mistress will be exposed.It was really a mess. Hearing this, Section Chief Yuzhu didn't even have the energy to drink. About a month later, the police came to visit the section chief Uozumi.Seeing the business card of Searching Lesson 2, Yuzumi could hardly hold back, and reluctantly led the visitor to the reception room. Section chief, may I ask you, did you attend the dinner party at the Kitakyushu factory of XX company? The police officer asked after chatting for a while. Yes Yuzhu swallowed dryly, and nodded slightly. No, you must be lying.You didn't take part, you went somewhere else, didn't you? Yuzhu stared blankly at the police officer's face.It's over, he thought.The police officer was staring at him.The first thing that popped up was an idea: I wasn't the one who killed Keiko. Usually, an excellent bureaucrat always preempts the enemy when talking.He is exactly such a person. I did go to a nearby hot spring after that.I have absolutely nothing to do with the murder that happened in that hotel.I just peeked into the bathroom and saw the woman dead there Yuzhu gesticulated and explained. You mean the corpse of a woman in a hot spring hotel? The officer froze.He looked at Yuzhu's face in surprise and said: I don't understand what you are talking about.What I am investigating is a case against Tsuruhara, the dismissed deputy factory director of the Kitakyushu factory of XX Company, who sued the factory director for dereliction of duty.Your name is recorded in the account of a banquet, so I came to ask for advice The fish stayed dumb. But what you said just now seems to be related to the murder case, so I would like to trouble you to tell me in detail, please? As the detective spoke, he took out a small book from his pocket.