Chapter 19 11

After rushing out of the house, Masahiko went straight up the slope, still wearing a neat suit. On the way, I passed several townspeople.Looking at the fearful expressions on their faces, it's not hard to imagine how terrifying my own face is.But now I can't care about so much. (Damn! Damn!) Masahiko slapped the words of hatred in his mind, but he just couldn't think of enough words to express his current emotions. Before I knew it, I had walked to the Dizang Temple where I had joined hands with Akiko to worship.Masahiko stopped and stared at the smiling Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva under the tin roof.He really wanted to kick that gentle face away, but he didn't dare, so he tore off the old note stuck behind Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva instead, and tore it to pieces on the spot.

What does it mean to die under the flowers of spring!Masahiko growled while throwing the torn paper into the sky.How can there be Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha who tells people to die! Masahiko climbed up the mountain road in front of Jizo Nunnery again, rushed up the narrower and narrower mountain road, and stepped up a few steps, finally saw the square.I saw that iron pillar was still standing majestically in a corner of the square. Masahiko started to slow down after entering the square, just like when he was jogging in the past.He slowly approached the iron pillar quietly. Just a few hours ago, Akiko had climbed this hill alone, leaving only a brief suicide note to herself.What kind of mood is that?When she stood here overlooking the whole town, what was she thinking?

Masahiko stood still in front of the iron pillar. (Did Jingjing really die here?) Akiko's death could not be sensed from the surrounding scenery at all, nor could there be any clues that the police had investigated.Of course, the rope hanging on the iron post has been taken away, so it is completely impossible to imagine that a person died here just now. Masahiko stretched out his hand tremblingly towards this iron pillar which was no different from usual.The iron surface felt very cold when the fingertips touched it.The feel of the hand is reminiscent of the slides or the pillars of the swings in the park when you were young.

He held the iron pillar tightly as if he was going all out.It really is an ordinary iron pillar. Don't worry about it, don't some buildings in Tokyo often commit suicide by jumping off the building?Just think of it as the same. At the oak removal banquet on the night of Zhihui's grandmother's wake, the president of the town council once said so.Masahiko couldn't refute it at the time, but he always felt that the reason was too far-fetched, and there seemed to be something wrong. But Masahiko totally understood today. Because of this iron pillar, people will seek death.

Because of this thing, people will choose to die contentedly. Chi Hye's grandmother.Yuji Tsuchiya from Angel and Hammer.Crystal. Without this thing, they would never have thought of such a strange way of death. If there is no such thing.If there is no such thing. hateful! Masahiko rushed into the warehouse of the town council and took out his own bat.Put it in the warehouse by yourself, because no one will take it without authorization in this small town. You bastard! Masahiko swung at the iron pillar with all his strength, and his arm sent back a violent recoil, which even hurt his elbow.

I thought there would be a louder metallic sound, but it wasn't too loud.Is this iron pillar not hollow but solid? darn thing!darn thing! Masahiko, who was dressed in a neat suit, took a bat and hit the iron pillar. There were wavy dents on the surface of the metal bat, and his arm was numb, but the surface of the iron pillar was still unscathed. I'm going to knock you down with this thing! Masahiko rushed into the warehouse again, squinting his eyes and found a shovel from the dim warehouse. It is because of this thing that people will seek death.This thing must not be allowed to exist.

Masahiko took off his coat and shoveled the shovel towards the base of the iron pillar.No matter how strong an iron column is, if its foundation is turned, it will not stand. At this time, Yayan suddenly discovered something. If the iron post is buried directly in the soil, it should generally rust quickly.To erect this iron pillar, it stands to reason that the foundation should first be consolidated with cement. But this iron pillar has no concrete foundation, but is inserted directly into the ground, as if growing out of the ground. If so, why doesn't it spoil?I heard that this iron pillar has been standing here for decades, could it be a lie?

(whatever!) Don't worry about this issue now, the important thing is how to get rid of this ghost pillar.If you don't knock it down, it seems that you will become abnormal. Masahiko silently started digging the base of the iron pillar.While swinging the shovel, he thought of Akiko. Although I couldn't believe it, I did find the waka paper.According to the customs of this small town, this means that Akiko is very satisfied with her life and chooses to end her life. Is Akiko really satisfied with her life? Maybe from yesterday to today, Akiko really felt very happy.The two spent the night happily together, and the translation work was successfully completed.

But that's all there is to it, isn't it?Nights like last night will definitely happen again, and as for work, perhaps new cases will continue to be received.Why must this moment be regarded as the climax of this life?If you are alive, you may never meet greater happiness again! (Is it the pain of not being able to have a baby?) (Is it because hyperventilation attacks are too painful?) Various possibilities popped up in my mind one by one. Mr. Muto, what are you doing?The voice of the town council president came from behind. Turning around, I saw Ohno standing behind him, with a sad expression on his face that he had never seen before.

You know, I want to bring down this dirty iron pillar, and I will never allow this thing to continue to exist. I understand how you feel, but now is not the time to do this.leaving Mrs. Muto alone The figure of Akiko lying on a bed in a small hospital appeared before Masahiko's eyes.It's better to take her home early. But this revenge must be avenged. Perhaps it was really Akiko herself who decided to hang herself with this iron pillar.Akiko is tall, so she can definitely do it by herself without the help of others. But after thinking about it, after all, it was this iron pillar that prompted Akiko to make such a decision, and it was this iron pillar that led Akiko to commit suicide.

It will be fine in a while, as long as I get this damn thing down, I will return to Jingjing immediately.If you don't knock it down, you won't be able to calm down. While Masahiko answered, he kept waving the shovel.The head of the town council was just speechless. After digging for nearly one meter, there is still nothing similar to the foundation, only iron pillars that are as smooth as the parts exposed on the surface, extending continuously into the depths of the ground. (Buried really deep!) Considering that people are hanging from the top, the foundation must naturally be buried deeper.If you can't support the weight of the human body that hangs naturally below, you can't achieve the purpose. It seems to be buried several meters deep, but I must dig you up. Masahiko took off the sweat-soaked shirt and continued to swing the shovel vigorously. I understand, just wait until Mr. Muto's anger dies down, right?Leave the funeral to me.No problem, I'll take care of it.The chairman of the town council finally said as if to admit defeat. Masahiko glanced at him and said: Sorry for your inconvenience, please dispose of the waka paper. After Masahiko finished saying this reluctantly, he continued to swing the shovel single-mindedly. A few hours later, Yayan was already in a rather deep cave. After several hours of continuous digging, the hole he dug is now deeper than his height.Even so, the foundation of the iron pillar is still not visible, only the iron pillar of the same color as the exposed part on the ground, extending continuously to the ground.Exposure to wet soil did not show any decay, and it was still very smooth. Maybe you'd have to dig down to the bottom of the hill to see the foundations. No kidding, it's quite possible. The body has felt unable to support.Just now I just dug hard and didn't rest, so I couldn't stand it anymore.The deeper the digging, the greater the movement of dumping the soil, so the muscles in the waist, back and abdomen are very sore. But Masahiko is still not discouraged.He felt that digging the foundation of this iron pillar was the only thing he could do for Akiko. The sun had dipped westward, and the sky from the cave was dyed red, with a golden glow under the orange cirrocumulus clouds. It should not be possible for fragments of the cloud to fall into the cave, but Masahiko found something slightly shiny at his feet.Probably pebbles.Masahiko rubbed his sore waist and picked it up. It turned out to be a tie clip with a rather simple design, with a small gemstone inlaid on it.It is this jewel that shines in the sunlight. vice director. Masahiko was looking at the tie clip in his hand when he suddenly heard a woman's voice above his head.When she looked up, she could only see Zhihui's fair legs. I really don't know how to comfort you about your wife. Zhihui squatted beside the cave, looking down at Masahiko.Masahiko didn't answer, and at the same time moved his eyes back to the bottom of the cave, because he didn't know what expression to face her with. You better take a break. Zhihui must have heard the ins and outs of the incident from the chairman of the town council.She had no intention of asking what she was doing.Masahiko felt fortunate but also quite annoyed. Miss Mihashi, Masahiko continued to shovel the tip of the shovel into the wet soil, and at the same time said: I shouldn't treat you like that, please forget about that night. Masahiko felt that he was talking stupidly.Even if these words are repeated over and over again, it is impossible to undo the events of that night.The fact of betraying Akiko cannot be erased. vice director Zhihui almost cried out.But now Masahiko doesn't even want to hear her voice. please leave. I know I'm dirty and free-spirited and shameless, but please leave me alone. Zhihui stood up silently and walked away, the sound of weak footsteps and suppressed sobs gradually faded away. After completely losing her voice, Masahiko threw the tie clip in his hand outside the cave.At this moment, Masahiko saw the clouds dyed red by the setting sun.He suddenly remembered the director's elegant research. (If this kind of cloud appears, I don’t know what kind of weather it will be tomorrow.) And tomorrow Akiko is no longer here, because she just ended her short thirty-two years of life today. Akiko could no longer see the sky, blow the wind, or hear the sound of rain.No longer rejoicing because of snow, no longer afraid of thunder, for Jingzi, the cloud has nothing at all. Just by looking at the clouds, you can know everything that's going on up in the sky. The director has said so.Now this sentence came to Masahiko's mind without context. Just look at the clouds and you will know everything.Just watch the clouds Ya Yan's heart suddenly tightened. (Does Jingjing really know nothing?) The appearance of Akiko's hyperventilation attack is vivid, and Masahiko's palms holding the shovel are wet with sweat. Did Akiko already know everything? No, even if you don't know it in detail, you must be able to vaguely sense that Masahiko has another woman in his heart. Masahiko couldn't help calling himself an idiot.It is impossible for Akiko to know that she has no trace at all. However, in case Akiko's subconscious finds herself betraying her (No, not possible!) Masahiko desperately denied this sudden doubt, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt that this idea was correct. Perhaps Akiko has been observing the clouds. I don't know how to name those clouds, but presumably words, sight, breathing, everything that I see outside, have turned into clouds, telling my heart.From the way those clouds flow, Akiko understands the upcoming grief and disappointment. The cloud proclaims the misfortune of tomorrow.So before tomorrow comes, death of contentment must be practiced.Like Yuji Tsuchiya from Angel and Hammer. Whether this inference is correct or not has not been confirmed due to Akiko's death.But like a jigsaw puzzle with all the pieces in place, this should be the correct answer. If you know that tomorrow will be worse than today What the director said last time is indeed true. Masahiko knelt in the depths of the cave, clung to the cold iron pillar, and the intense sadness welling up in his heart made him feel sick.Masahiko couldn't help crying like a child. Mr. Muto.The voice of the town council president came from above the cave. Masahiko didn't look up, but quietly let the tears and snot flow down. Are you exhausted? Alas, the young people these days are really useless.I dug two meters more than you did back then.His voice was very calm, but full of affection.Thank you for helping me find this tie clip.I'm so happy, this is a gift from my ex-wife.I kept it in my pocket while digging and was utterly bewildered when it was missing. Only then did Yahiko look up.The outside of the cave was shrouded in darkness, and the expression of the president of the town council could not be seen clearly. Would you like to hear me tell some boring old stories? The head of the town council spoke and lit a cigarette.His face with red flames was like an old man's mask in a Noh play. My wife is the daughter of a landlord. Although she is not as rich as Tokyo's bourgeoisie, she can be considered a wealthy family in this area. What story does he want to tell?This is not the right time to brag about your past of clinging to the rich. My wife is the second daughter in her family, but I heard that she has never been able to get married. She was already over 30 when she met me. In this kind of countryside nearly 40 years ago, this was quite a rare case.Most of the girls were married before the age of twenty according to their parents' orders.As for my wife, why not?That's because she has a little birth defect in her body, so she is unlikely to be able to marry. The voice descending from above seemed to come from the darkness itself, with a deep and distant echo.Masahiko listened intently to the sound while smelling the damp earth. I came across her by chance when I came to this town as an elementary school teacher.To be honest, I was a little scared of her at first too.I don't want to describe it too carefully, but her flaws are all concentrated on the face, which looks really scary.I heard that people secretly call her a tumor girl.Well, please imagine yourself from the nickname. When the president of the Diamond People's Association mentioned the tumor girl, his tone was suddenly filled with strong anger. But even so, I still have a good impression of her.She is intelligent, witty, and articulate, making her an interesting conversation partner.When I was young, I was fascinated by aesthetics, and I especially liked to participate in discussions and debates. It is not difficult to imagine the appearance of the president of the town council when he was young, he must be a very talented person. I think Mr. Muto should be able to understand.To be honest, when I first came to this small town, I just felt that my future was bleak, because it was like an island.I can't help feeling sorry for myself, why should I be sent to this kind of country?It's unbearable not being able to find someone you can talk to despite being passionate about your work.Because of this, her existence is even more precious to me.Probably because she hardly ever goes out and stays at home reading books all day long.She is far more knowledgeable and intelligent than the half-baked students in Tokyo. At some point, on the cheeks of the president of the town council, where the cigarette flames were reflected, two thin tears glistened.Masahiko rested her knees on the bottom of the dark cave, staring intently at his face. You may think I'm an oddball, but I'm really drawn to her spirit.Of course, I still can't help but mind the flaws on her face for a while, but human beings are easy to adapt to. Before I knew it, I was completely used to it and didn't care.Others couldn't help frowning when they saw the flaws on her face, but for me at the time, what I was more afraid of was that I would never be able to talk to her again. It turns out that there is such love in the world, Masahiko thought at the bottom of the cave.Don't compare with others, only have the other in your eyes, maybe this way you can overcome obstacles. I can't help falling in love with her and wanting to be close to her and talk to her anytime.As long as I can read the same book with her and discuss the content with her, I feel extremely happy.I confess my feelings to her The voice of the town council president suddenly became listless. But she didn't believe it at all, and thought I was coveting her parents' property.Although she has a proud and lofty spirit, she is still a woman after all, so she still feels very inferior to her own flaws, thinking that it is impossible for a man in this life to like her, she is so stupid! This is not difficult to understand.The trauma in her heart was too deep, and the soul accustomed to misfortune always feared happiness. Yayan remembered that he had read it in a certain book. I proposed to her because I just couldn't watch her keep belittling herself.Who knows she still doesn't believe me.I cried in front of her and said, as long as I can marry you, I don't want anything.If you don't believe it, the two of us will leave this town, so you will have nothing to say, right? She didn't believe it until this point. Hahaha, the head of the town council laughed a few times. My wife used this iron pillar on the tenth day after our marriage, and the witness was her biological mother.My wife must think that I will change my mind one day, so I want to end my life at the happiest time.Misfortune can kill people, but happiness can also kill people. I didn't understand this until then. In the past ten days, she was finally able to believe that she was happy. Is this a long time or a short time? Akiko's face appeared in front of her eyes. Feeling the coming misfortune, Akiko deliberately looks away, just enjoy today's happiness to the fullest, and then ends her life.She knows that tomorrow will be less fortunate than today.If the flowers will be blown down by the strong wind tomorrow, it is better to die under the flowers today︱This iron pillar continues to whisper to Akiko.No, it's not just Akiko who keeps whispering this to all the residents living in this small town. The day after my wife died, I, like you, ran here to dig a hole, trying to uproot this iron pillar.I always feel that if this is not the case, my wife will not be able to rest in peace.However, I failed after all.I've been digging all day and I still can't see its roots, it just seems to come out from the very middle of the earth.There is no end to this iron pillar. The head of the town council said with a long sigh. This story must be well known in this small town.I just don't know because I'm new here.And Akiko's friends kept silent when they mentioned the chairman's wife, maybe because they didn't want to hurt the person who used the iron pillar to complete the feat of death. Mr. Muto, I still hate this iron pillar very much.But the strange thing is that after interacting with this thing for a long time, it seems that I can better understand the reason why it exists.It's scary to say, but it's not for this small town, it's really indispensable for human beings.I believe that Mr. Muto will understand one day. I don't want to know about such things!Masahiko almost blurted out, but finally held back.Covered in mud, he could only cry in the dark and damp cave.Masahiko suddenly felt that he seemed to be a weak and small beetle. Well, it's almost time to come out, right? The hand of the town council leader came in from outside the cave.Masahiko stood up reluctantly and took his hand. I'm about to pull, please hold on tight. The president struggled to hold Masahiko's hand, his strength was astonishing.Thanks to this, Masahiko finally climbed out of the cave.As soon as he climbed out of the cave, Masahiko couldn't help but gasped. Dozens of townspeople surrounded the pillar. They all looked at Masahiko sadly, and the owner of the stationery store and the wife next door whom they met before were also among them. After seeing Masahiko crawling out of the cave, they turned around silently and left the square with staggering footsteps. Their backs looked like dead wood in motion.