The residual temperature is over

The old man from the Northeast that they met at night was so aura, Yu Shiye and Wen Bieyu agreed to the matter in a daze, and even forgot that they were not really traveling together.

But considering the terrible temper of the old store manager, Yu Shiye and Wen Bieyu still decided to abide by the agreement, met with the store manager in the izakaya the next morning, and embarked on the road of sightseeing together.

Akiruno City is not a tourist city, it is very secluded and clean. In addition, there is a local person who lives next to him to explain in detail, interspersed with folk rumors from time to time, which is even more interesting. This trip to the scenic spots, whether it is Yu Shiye or Wen Bieyu, the mood All pretty good.

At noon, they returned to the city from the scenic spot, ready to have a meal and take a rest. Halfway through, Yu Shiye chatted about his purpose of coming to Japan and his visit to Japanese elderly care.

Lu Guangyuan heard this, and told Yu Shiye about an interesting insurance in Japan: "In 2000, Japan implemented an insurance called long-term care insurance system. Long-term care means nursing care. As long as long-term care insurance is recognized as needing long-term care , so whether it is entering a nursing institution, renovating a house, or purchasing care supplies, individuals only need to bear 10% to 20% of the cost.”

This is certainly a good policy, but there is a catch.

Yu Shiye asked: "Is the financial pressure not small?"

The old store manager said: "Of course, that's why there is a proposal recently that the Japanese should retire at the age of 70; it is said that 20-50 years old are young people, 51-74 years old are middle-aged, and those over 75 years old are old people. Before the age of 75, you can work.”

Hearing this passage, Yu Shiye thought it was funny at first, and then thought it was not bad. After all, this is also circumstantial proof that Japan is indeed the country with the longest life expectancy in the world.

"Actually, it's good to work all the time. What's the point if you don't work?" Lu Guangyuan popped out the Northeast dialect without paying attention. The doors are all locked, one door, two doors, three doors, like a cage. When you get out of the cage to buy food, you have to apply in advance and be approved layer by layer; you are called up to get dressed before dawn, and you have to take a shower twice a week. Not too much, not too little, it’s worse than going to jail, once you get in, it’s game over!”

"The management is so strict, is it a nursing home specially prepared for the disabled elderly?" Yu Shiye said, "There should be a nursing home with looser management and only providing care services."

"Yes, there are, but everyone doesn't want to stay in strange places. Anyway, there are more nursing care in the community recently. If you take a bath or see a minor illness, you can make an appointment."

Having said this, the old store manager suddenly stopped talking about it.

The topic of old age is always taboo for the elderly. Although Lu Guangyuan is not convinced at all, but at the age of 66 this year, he has reached the age where he can receive long-term care insurance benefits.

This made the old store manager a little unhappy, so he picked some things from his youth as a topic of conversation, and started talking about his emotional life.

The sky is slightly cloudy, the red maple is like fire, and the long steps are like a winding path, winding down. Most of the stores on both sides are closed. There is no noisy scene, only time and tranquility. .

After walking through this path, Lu Guangyuan took Yu Shiye and Wen Bieyu to a small, inconspicuous, but very authentic kaiseki restaurant. The story in his mouth has just reached its climax:

"...Before I came to Japan when I was young, I had a girlfriend in China who had a very good relationship. Originally, I went back to my hometown to get married after studying in Japan for a few years, but for various reasons, the second time I came here Years later, the girl was brought over to live with her."

"Then you got married here?" Yu Shiye said with a smile, the story usually develops like this.

"Our life is too tight. She stayed here for a year, but she returned to China. Three months later, I called home and she was married."

This is really a development and turning point that the two did not expect.

But the old store manager seemed to have seen it, and laughed:

"Oh mom, although it sounds embarrassing to say it, I breathed a sigh of relief before I felt the pain. It turns out that the boss is not young and has no skills. He can't even take care of the old women at home. Later, I saved my salary for a few months. , I gave her a mink fur in the past as a wedding gift. Isn’t there a saying like this? “It’s worth living with you with a mink.” She is so youthful, and this is more or less compensation."

"What about after that?" Wen Bieyu's interest was also aroused.

"Afterwards," the old store manager's face showed a layer of happiness and nostalgia, "I met my current wife, she is a very good woman, she has always cared for me... that is, she is still so young, smiling She was so pretty, but she left three years ago, and she didn't even enjoy the nursing care insurance money, so it's a big loss..."

Lu Guangyuan stopped talking, he stood up:

"I saw a friend walking by outside just now, go and chat with him."

***

Yu Shiye and Wen Bieyu were the only two left in the small shop.Through a curtain, they could still see the chef busy in the kitchen, and occasionally there was the aggressive sound of a knife cutting into a cutting board.

Yu Shiye poured a cup of tea for Wen Bieyu, and commented on the food in this restaurant: "Although it doesn't look very eye-catching on the outside, the taste is really good. It's good to have an expert bring it."

"I didn't expect this expert to have so many stories." Wen Bieyu continued.

"It's not very surprising." Yu Shiye said that although it has passed an era, he and the old store manager both studied abroad, and they have the same or similar feelings about many things. to these things."

"You too?" Wen Bieyu continued.

"I also encountered some."

"What kind?" Wen Bieyu seemed to suggest casually, "Anyway, I have nothing to do, so let's talk about it."

"There was a senior who was a year older than me. He was admitted to that university from another city. When he graduated and was looking for a job, he got an offer from his own city. The night he got the offer, he broke up with me."

"why?"

"'I don't want to have a long-distance relationship', it's as simple as that, and I respect his choice."

"... He didn't cherish you well, right?" Wen Bieyu commented on this sentence.

Yu Shiye glanced at Wen Bieyu in surprise: "You are too on my side."

Wen Bieyu shut his mouth, a little annoyed that he blurted out what was in his heart.

"Whether it's a different place or a good personality, when two people break up, there is always a reason for breaking up." Yu Shiye said lightly, "At that time I was busy with other things, I was involved in both ends, and I didn't have enough energy. I was not satisfied with others, or others didn't like me. It's normal to be satisfied with me. Why are you so curious about my past today?"

"I'm just a little surprised." Wen Bieyu straightened his face, "It turns out that you will also be dumped."

"There's nothing wrong with that," Yu Shiye said casually, "Didn't you just dump me back then?"

It was as if a hammer appeared out of nowhere, and it dazzled people.

Wen Bieyu shook his hand and knocked down the teacup on the table. The table was covered with light yellow tea, twisting like a long snake and dripping to the edge, dripping down.

"careful!"

Yu Shiye mentioned something, quickly took out a paper towel and put it on the table to soak up water, then helped up the overturned cup and put it aside, when he went to see Wen Bieyu again, he realized that the other party's expression was very strange, as if he was completely stunned Yes, staring straight at the table without blinking.

"Bie Yu..."

This cry recalled Wen Bieyu's soul.His eyes fixed on the table came to Yu Shiye's face, he opened his mouth and said: "I, I actually..."

"Sorry." Yu Shiye said first, "It's all over, I shouldn't mention this anymore."

The words that reach the throat are blocked in the throat and sealed by a layer of transparent glass glue, which can be clearly distinguished by the naked eye, but those words just cannot be broken out.

In fact, there is nothing to say.

How long has it been, the year before, or two years ago, I always fantasized about saying what I couldn't say, but I stopped thinking about it later.

The person back then has gone a long way, the words back then were too early to be kept fresh, and he said that he didn't want to break up at the beginning, but he always wanted to make it back... nothing but self-touching, what's the point?

The result was already doomed, and the damage he had done to Yu Shiye had already been done.

The heart that was dangling and floating in the void fell down again, very heavy and heavy, and fell with a final conclusion.

Wen Bieyu calmly poured himself another cup of tea, took two sips, and when he spoke again, there was a little more teasing in his words: "Obviously I dumped you, why do you need to apologize?"

"It's me who should apologize."

All the erroneous past, settled in the heart lake, only apology and sadness, upstream.

"sorry."

This was an apology that Yu Shiye had never thought of. He was stunned for a long time, but he didn't feel relieved, only empty and concise: "You don't have to do this."

At that time, I loved you deeply and would do anything for you willingly.

I did not do well.

***

Not long after this conversation ended, the old store manager also came back from outside.They had a good lunch and continued their trip to Akiruno with the old store manager.

Perhaps it was because of the last sentence at noon, neither Yu Shiye nor Wen Bieyu were very interested in the upcoming itinerary, but the two of them had already passed the age of expressing emotions, so it was not because of this Little things affect the atmosphere, talking and laughing as usual, making the journey start and end well.

At the end of the day, we walked a lot, saw a lot of scenery, and the Japanese-style pension that we wanted to visit in person did not fall behind. The three of them who had fully achieved their goal still returned to the izakaya of the old store manager, still sitting in the izakaya of yesterday. The location, there are still side dishes and beer on the table.

The old store manager drank a few sips, his face was a little flushed, his cheeks were flushed, like the two curls on the buttocks of a monkey.

"If you come in spring and summer, there are a few activities here that you can participate in. At this time, there are none at all. You can stay for two more days, and I can take you to other places. If you hurry It doesn't matter if you leave right away, the most worth seeing in Akiruno City has been visited today."

Getting along with the old store manager was very pleasant, but the people they met on the way always had to be separated. Yu Shiye and Wen Bieyu decided to leave tomorrow. Gain some experience here.

But the old store manager's answer was beyond the two people's expectations.

Lu Guangyuan shook his head and said with regret: "I've never been to Tokyo, so I really can't introduce it to you."

Wen Bieyu said, "How come you have never been there? Akiruno City is only an hour away from Tokyo."

Lu Guangyuan showed an embarrassed smile, which was the first time this kind of smile appeared on the face of this hearty Northeast uncle.

"It's always by accident. When I came to Japan to study abroad, I was not in Tokyo. Later, I worked hard to make a living, so I didn't have time. When I finally got savings and was free, I was old and I didn't know what it was. The track line, even the Tokyo Tower has only been seen on TV, which is a pity."

In the last half sentence, the old store manager still brought some envy and yearning. As a Chinese, it’s okay if you haven’t seen Tokyo Tower, but as a Chinese living in Japan, you have never seen Tokyo Tower. I always feel that something is missing in my life.

If Yu Shiye remembered correctly, the son of the old store manager lived in Tokyo.A child who lived in Tokyo was confessed, but he had never really seen Tokyo Tower in his life.It sounds like fantasy reality, but reality is fantasy.

Yu Shiye glanced at Wen Bieyu, and after seeing the same thoughts on the other's face as his own, he smiled at the old store manager:

"In this case, would you like to take a trip to Tokyo with us? We drove there, and we will drive you back later, without taking the troublesome rail line."

Lu Guangyuan was stunned for a moment, and shook his head frequently: "Aren't you going to travel around? Why did you send me there and bring me back again? This won't work, it's too much trouble for you—"

Yu Shiye persuaded: "When you took us on a tour before, you didn't find it troublesome. Why did things suddenly become troublesome when it was our turn to take you?"

"I……"

"Come with us, come and go, it doesn't take a day in total, go in the morning and come back in the evening." Wen Bieyu also joined the ranks of persuasion, "You can not only see Tokyo Tower with your own eyes this time , and I can also see the children living in Tokyo, and it’s quite a deal to fulfill two wishes in one day.”

The old store manager was a straightforward person. After being persuaded by the two in turn, he no longer hesitated, and nodded his head: "Then I will trouble you, I will go to Tokyo Tower with you tomorrow, but I will not see that bastard!"

***

Of course, the two of them didn't take what the old store manager said seriously. If a mother wanted to see her child, it was a week earlier, and she talked about it every day; Put it bluntly, "I'm passing by".

Akiruno City is really not far from Tokyo, and it takes an hour to drive along the expressway.

The red tower is unique, hidden among the green trees of the city, against the sky blue curtain, interspersed with velvet clouds, guarding the city upright.

Yu Shiye was admiring the tower until he turned his head inadvertently and saw the old store manager standing beside him.

The old store manager stood blankly, wearing outdated clothes, very thin and old, like an old tree stump with rings of rings stuck on the ground, out of place in the busy and modern world.

But he is somewhat similar to the tall towers in the distance. They are also standing there, with their backs straightened out strong, waiting in their own place.

This scene made Yu Shiye take out his phone unconsciously and took a photo.

Time always passes in silence, and after a while, the soul also flew to the high tower. The old store manager came back to his senses, relief and satisfaction intertwined in his eyes, as if he was still immersed in the joy of finally fulfilling his long-term wish, even his voice All become lighter:

"Thank you so much for today, let's go back."

On the way back, Yu Shiye suggested: "We are in Tokyo, do you want to give the children a chance to meet their parents?"

There was no answer in the back, so Yu Shiye glanced into the mirror, and saw the old store manager sitting in the back row turn his face out of the car window,

Looking at those busy traffic and fashionable novelties, his face was stunned and dazed, and in the daze, there was an air of curiosity and envy.

Yu Shiye glanced at it.

Large and small signboards stand on the towering buildings, the road is covered by dense traffic, and countless pedestrians are waiting in front of the omnidirectional intersection. The white paint on the ground looks like railings and passages, carrying The flow of people leads to a city full of steel bars.

After a few breaths of silence, the old store manager finally came to his senses from this brand new world, continuing what Yu Shiye said just now:

"...No need, he works overtime every day and can't see anyone. In the past, he just stared at his wife. His wife was uncomfortable, and I was also embarrassed. It's boring, boring."

Yu Shiye stopped talking.Every family has scriptures that are difficult to recite, and who knows what is going on at the old store manager's house?

***

It is always faster to know the destination, and the road that is still a long way to go is closer on the way back. It is just a nap time in the car, and the car stops in front of the familiar izakaya.

The old store manager got out of the car, and on the way back, after he learned that Wen Bieyu could cook, he insisted on giving Wen Bieyu homemade sauce, saying that he thanked them for their hard work today.

Wen Bieyu didn't refuse either, got out of the car, and went into the store with the old store manager to get things.

Yu Shiye didn't go to join in the fun, he was a little tired from driving, got out of the car, stood outside for a while, before taking two steps, he suddenly felt the ground under his feet tremble.

At this moment, Yu Shiye was still a little puzzled.

Could it be that you lack of exercise recently, your body is too weak, and your walking is unsteady...?

Subconsciously, he looked left and right, only to realize that the trembling was not limited to himself, and even the houses on both sides of the road were trembling slightly.

He just reacted belatedly.

earthquake?

The author has something to say: the next chapter reveals the first reason for their breakup~