murder begins in summer

Shi Zhanyang doesn't like to participate in festivals, especially with his second brother Shi Yizhou.Their mother is Japanese. Every summer, they take them to take a plane for more than ten hours to return to their parents' home in Kyoto to participate in the Gion Festival and visit the Yasaka Shrine.

It is nothing more than a pile of paper sedan chairs and lanterns, as well as dazzling yukata and kimonos. It takes a whole month to go from "Mikoshi Baptism" to "Hanxing Festival".

It's not that Shi Zhanyang is disrespectful to the gods, nor is he not interested in the sacred beauty of Fusang culture, he is only annoyed because he knows that the real purpose of his mother's return from the typhoon is not a sacrificial activity, and he lacks respect for the gods to worship. Awe.Although he married into the Shi family in his early years, settled in San Francisco all the year round, and took the surname "Qiu" in Chinese characters, and people in Jianghu called him Mrs. Qiu, his mother's real name ended up being "Jiangkou".

What is Eguchi?It may be easier to explain it by saying "Eguchi Group".Mrs. Qiu, his mother, formerly known as Kazue Eguchi, was the eldest daughter of the third generation of this underworld organization, the eldest sister of the fourth generation, and the aunt of the fifth generation Eguchi sparrow who is now in charge.

Every year when the mother returns to her natal home, she will bring her two sons back to the organization and live there for a period of time.

During this period of time, Mrs. Qiu was always very mysterious, and Shi Zhanyang basically couldn't see her, and could only take care of his second brother who would only be willful and mischievous every day.If he hit him hard, he would be strictly stopped by the horse boy in black suit sent by the Eguchi group to guard them.

As for the other behaviors of this organization, Shi Zhanyang was even more disgusted.Year after year, he lived in Japan for seven months after another, and he became more and more aware of what the real "grassroots underworld" was like. Unlike his father who sold arms, the Eguchi group was cruel and aggressive. On the bright side, this made Shi Zhanyang very uncomfortable.

He sometimes worries, will he become like this one day?

He prefers to stay at home and accept his father's rigorous training. He gets up at 05:30 every day and goes to bed at 11:30. Under the guidance of more than ten teachers, he reads, runs long distances, and practices fighting and marksmanship.

When Shi Zhanyang was 13 years old and Shi Yizhou was ten years old, they came to this festival for the sixth time.Shi Yizhou was still messing around as usual, the little guy snatched Ma Zai's motorcycle, and unexpectedly knocked an old lady flying, and stopped beside him, crying in a daze.When Shi Zhanyang ran over, he found that the old lady was still breathing in a pool of blood. He was about to dial 119 when people from the Eguchi team also rushed over and carried the old lady away in a swarm, dripping thick blood all the way.

Later Shi Zhanyang learned that instead of rescuing her, they threw her into Tokyo Bay.

Shi Zhanyang did not see any police notification in the news.

In the second year, Shi Zhanyang was 14 years old, and it was July again.Shi Yizhou was still very excited, looking forward to the holiday when he would be away from his father's surveillance and act mischievously, while Shi Zhanyang said to Mrs. Qiu, "I'm sorry, Mom, I won't go again."

Mrs. Qiu didn't ask him the reason, and she didn't force her. She went alone, and she didn't bring Shi Yizhou either.

For the next several months, she did not come back, and there was no news. His father did not explain this. Shi Zhanyang still lived a diligent and self-disciplined life, and was harassed by his second brother every day.

In December of the same year, my mother suddenly called and asked Shi Zhanyang to go to Japan alone, but this time he was not in Kyoto, but in Aomori County, the northernmost part of Japan, and there was no festival as a pretense.

The mother's explanation on the phone was: "Help mom save people and take them home."

It was still in the 90s at that time, and communication was not well developed. It is said that there were not many places in Aomori County with signal, so Shi Zhanyang made sufficient preparations in advance.He carefully studied the route from Aomori Train Station to the destination village, and packed his simple luggage alone. On the eve of departure, it was snowing heavily in San Francisco, and he saw a person in an impromptu email sent by his mother.

The picture is not clear, Shi Zhanyang only saw a child wearing an oxygen mask, about seven or eight years old, with long black hair, lying quietly on a snow-white hospital bed.

The accompanying text said: Eguchi Hongsheng (えぐちナナ).Eguchi Yamato (the late fourth generation) was an illegitimate child, and was raised by his "godmother" Eguchi Chiharu (the third generation's widow) until he was seven years old.

Raised until the age of seven?And after that?So young... died?

Shi Zhanyang was inexplicably a little sad, he didn't think it should be, the one he was going to save should be Miss ナナ, then she should be alive, but she looked too weak and vague, which made Shi Zhanyang sad .

This person is the child of his mother's younger brother. Thinking about it carefully, he is probably his cousin?

Shi Zhanyang suddenly felt a sense of responsibility again.

Sure enough, Mrs. Qiu did not go to Aomori Railway Station to pick him up, nor did she see anyone from the Eguchi group. This action was mysterious, and he couldn't even tell Shi Yizhou.Shi Zhanyang traveled alone for two days. After the plane and train, he took a tram and a bicycle, and finally arrived at the small village named "Fenghuang".

It is also snowing in Aomori, where the snow particles are much softer than those in San Francisco, but thicker. When it falls on the farmland, the sky and the earth turn into pure white. When it falls on the branches of the cherry trees, it looks like cherry blossoms are in full bloom.Phoenix is ​​built by a icy lake. Looking from a distance, there are many traditional Japanese buildings like shrines, dark spires, moon-white walls, pavilions and pavilions. In the falling snow, it is like a fairyland.

Shi Zhanyang looked across the frozen lake and unconsciously held his breath.

He vaguely heard the sound of drums, and when he looked carefully, there was actually a ceremony by the lake, but the scale was very small, about twenty or so people, like twenty or so small black dots, no parades, no sedan chairs, It was just surrounded by a bright red drum, a big bright red spot.

Shi Zhanyang's heart was beating wildly, and he pedaled his car around the lake. Sure enough, his mother was among the group of people, in the ankle-high snow. The color dots are dyed bright red, and the leader is reciting something softly to the big drum, and bows to the head after reading.

Everyone recited and bowed together with her, with low-pitched voices and waves, mixed with the slow drumbeat.Shi Zhanyang's jeans and down jacket looked out of place. He stood under a tree and watched silently, only to see his mother turn around inadvertently, glanced at him without smiling, and then turned back again.

Before Shi Zhanyang could understand the meaning, he felt the branches above his head tremble suddenly, and a pure white figure jumped down and landed lightly on the snow surface, without turning his face to look at him, he walked straight towards the big drum.Black hair draped over that back like a waterfall, with a stature of seven or eight years old, with a straight waist and a loose haori.

This is that Nana?It seems that he is not dead, and he can climb trees.

Shi Zhanyang felt relieved a little.

He watched the child pass through a group of tall adults and stand at the front, even the mother took two steps back.Afterwards, ナナ danced with the sound of the drums. Shi Zhanyang had seen this kind of dance before, it was called "Weng", and the movements were solemn and solemn, more like a kind of sacrifice. When I came back to attend the funeral of Uncle IV , some witches performed in the mourning hall.

Maybe it's not appropriate to say "performance", at least for now, although this Nana's dancing skills are not good, and Aokiji is still clumsy, she is extremely serious.Shi Zhanyang could even see her pain from that movement.

Who is she paying homage to?

The drumbeat finally stopped, and the dance of "Weng" also stopped abruptly, and everyone looked like they were about to leave.Shi Zhanyang put down his bicycle and was about to run over when he saw his mother walking towards him step by step, beckoning him not to move.

The mother first checked whether he was honestly wearing warm pants and a sweater, and then Zhan Yang looked at the crowd. The cousin ナナ was gone, only a few men playing drums and a messy snow field remained.

Shi Zhanyang couldn't help asking questions, one after another, he poured out all the questions he had accumulated these days.

His mother explained to him that he stayed in Japan these few months because his grandmother Eguchi Chiharu, whom he had never met, was seriously ill. She passed away five days ago and was buried in a cemetery in Kyoto. The ceremony just now was to requiem her soul.

The mother also said that before her grandmother passed away, she had entrusted their family to raise the ナナ child on their behalf, and the Eguchi-gumi family must not be allowed to interfere in this matter. The reason why she has been here personally is to Keep Nana.

Shi Zhanyang regained his energy immediately, and asked again: "Why is she lying on the hospital bed in the photo? Is she sick?"

The mother replied: "During grandma's serious illness, Nana's heart also underwent a minor operation, and she has fully recovered now."

Mother said again: "After returning home, Nana and my surname are called Qiu Shili, which is a homonym for 'time'."

Shi Zhanyang said: "It sounds good."

Mother brushed off the snowflakes from his head, "You are responsible for taking care of him, teaching him, fulfilling your responsibilities as a big brother, and training him to be your most capable assistant."

After explaining this, Mrs. Qiu took Shi Zhanyang to find their new family in the future. They found the little Qiu Shili behind a spacious pavilion-style building.She was on the tree again, and the courtyard was covered with evening snow. As soon as she saw the two coming in, she immediately jumped up and approached with a fish-shaped lantern.

It's so small, so clean, it's almost transparent, and it's lighted in warm red by the firelight in the lantern, like a young fox fairy walking out of a book.Shi Zhanyang didn't even dare to touch her.

"ナナ, hello," Shi Zhanyang squatted down and fucked his three-legged cat Japanese, "My surname is Shi, Shi Zhanyang, and I'm the eldest in the family. From today on, I'm your older brother."

Qiu Shili looked him up and down carefully with big round eyes, bit his lip, and nodded.

"Your Chinese name is Qiu, Shi, Li," Shi Zhanyang said slowly, so that ナナ can remember those Chinese pronunciations, "I will learn Japanese quickly, and then teach you Chinese and English, so that we can Talk well, you can talk well to others when you are in our house."

"Thank you, brother." Qiu Shili suddenly smiled.

Shi Zhanyang was a little dazed. On the one hand, this was the first time he heard her speak, and it was also the first time he saw the child smile, as if seeing flowers blooming for the first time. He had observed ナナ's heavy heart before, and decided that the grandmother's death was a good thing. She was shocked; on the other hand, it was the first time he was called "Brother". a-ni-ue, four syllables, he knows that it means "elder brother" in Japanese, it is an honorific, and it is a very heavy name.

That sense of responsibility burned even more intensely in his heart.He thought, why is he so much better than that bastard Shi Yizhou!It would be a miracle for that kid to call "brother" at home.

"You're welcome, sister ナナ!" He tried to pat Qiu Shili's thin shoulder to help her shake off the broken snow.

Mrs. Qiu who had been standing with a smile on the side watching "Brothers and Sisters Recognize" suddenly laughed out loud. Facing Shi Zhanyang's bewildered eyes, she smiled and said in Japanese, "It's my younger brother."

Shi Zhanyang was stunned for a moment, his face turned blue and then red, and he seemed to be a little frustrated looking at the delicate face and beautiful long hair in front of him, but he quickly recovered his calmness and cheerfulness, and suddenly understood why his mother emphasized the importance of cultivating assistants just now. Shi, "You're welcome, little brother ナナ! We will be brothers from now on, and my brother will protect you." He patted Qiu Shili on the shoulder again.

Qiu Shili nodded obediently, and put the carp lantern into Shi Zhanyang's hand, seeing that it meant giving it to his own treasure, then turned and walked to the attic, probably to ask their mother and son to come in with him to warm up.

Shi Zhanyang got up in a hurry, stood up stupidly, held the paper lantern, and walked lightly behind him, standing straighter than usual, completely without the sternness and impatience he usually used to teach his naughty second brother.

Mrs. Qiu was behind, laughing out her tears. She knew that her eldest son was a typical soft-willed but not strong-willed son. He had a lot of tricks to deal with bastards, but there was nothing he could do with obedient children.

At that time, Shi Zhanyang still had the habit of writing a diary. That night, beside the fire, Qiu Shili had already fallen asleep under the quilt, with a few pieces of American wine chocolate brought by Shi Zhanyang, as quiet as a piece of White water lilies.Shi Zhanyang did not dare to move, quietly opened the pen, and wrote in the notebook solemnly with the brushwork taught by the Japanese literature teacher:

"December 1997, 12 (the ninth year of Heisei),"

"I was entrusted with the duty of an older brother. I came from the far shore to look for my mother, and took a nap by the lake. I saw the little brother Nana dancing in the air at the festival."

"A sakura blossomed out of my peaceful heart in winter."