Chapter 51: "Underworld" A gathering of underworld writers
Chapter 51: "Underworld" A gathering of underworld writers (5000 words long chapter, please read it later)
It took three and a half months, and nearly four months since the time travel, for Kitagawa Hide to finally grow from a small security guard to the mainstay of "Gunzo", one of the five major pure literature magazines.
At the same time, Saito Reina, who had been guarding him all the way, and Muramatsu Tomoshi, who had not given up and gritted his teeth to support him at several critical moments, also received their respective promotions and salary increases.
Reina Saito was promoted from editor-in-chief to deputy editor-in-chief, and was assigned a magazine section that belonged to her alone. Although it was a haiku column that no one wanted, it was better than nothing.
Muramatsu Tomomi finally made it, rising from editor-in-chief to deputy editor-in-chief of the editorial department, one of the most powerful management positions.
Saito Reina, who also received a generous bonus, immediately suggested treating the two of them to a meal at a high-end pub.
Muramatsu Tomoshi declined her offer. He had a dinner with the editor-in-chief and other senior executives tonight. It was said that even the chairman Noma Sawako's only daughter, Executive Director Noma Airi, would be present. He really couldn't refuse.
A celebration party for just two people seemed a bit too monotonous. Kitagawa Hide's jazz cafe had just been secretly renovated, so he suggested inviting some friends to the cafe for a drink and chat, and share the joy of success with everyone!
Kitagawa Hide didn't know many people here, and after racking his brains, the only people he could invite were Takuya Iwao and Masato Chihara. The former was a former author of Saito Rena and his die-hard fan, while the latter was a bank clerk who had been busy helping with the decoration of the cafe these days and had been recognized as a friend by Kitagawa Hide.
After hearing what he said, Saito Rena suggested that it would be better to just hold a small gathering of her writers.
Last year, she and those reliable and well-connected writers often relaxed and chatted in Takuya Yanjing's bar. Later, for various reasons, they scattered all over Tokyo. Now it was a good opportunity to reunite and introduce them to Kitagawa Hide, and also to boost the popularity of his new store.
It was that Saito Rena was worried that Kitagawa Hidekai would look down on those ordinary or even poor writers.
Kitagawa Hide didn't mind at all and said to her directly: "Saito-san, you have been promoted to deputy editor-in-chief. From now on, I will be a member of your faction. Of course, I have to get to know more writers under you."
This was of course a joke, but Saito Rena was very touched because even though Kitagawa Hide replaced Oshima Hikaru, he did not become as snobbish as him.
Hide Kitagawa is still the same Hide Kitagawa.
She is still the same Rena Saito.
The two hit it off immediately and contacted their own people, and agreed to meet at Kitagawa Hide's jazz cafe called "Peter Cat" at 7 o'clock in the evening.
Keigo Higashino, who is already 37 years old this year, never thought that he would have the opportunity to attend a private writers' gathering hosted by the deputy editor-in-chief of the "Gunzo" editorial department in his lifetime.
In 1985, Keigo Higashino won the Edogawa Ranpo Award and made his official debut with the campus youth mystery novel "After School".
However, mystery literature in this world has never been taken seriously, has a narrow audience, few writers, and is at the bottom of the literary world's contempt chain.
Keigo Higashino made his successful debut at the young age of 27, and his creative confidence increased greatly. In addition, his award-winning company, Denso, knew about it, so it was impossible for him to write while working.
Therefore, he resigned in March 1986 and went to Tokyo to start his career as a professional writer.
But in the ten years after winning the award, Keigo Higashino's works never sold more than 1994 copies, and the magazines that serialized his novels went bankrupt one after another. Helplessly, he changed his career in and wrote the most popular pure literature on the market for a period of time.
Because of his early achievements, Rena Saito signed him against all odds.
But Keigo Higashino still failed miserably.
When his one-year contract with Kodansha expired, he was unable to renew it and left Gunzo sadly.
Like other grassroots writers such as Takuya Iwao, Keigo Higashino's literary dream, which he had pursued for many years, was on the verge of collapse, and the heavy pressure of society after the bubble burst also caused problems in his emotional life.
His wife of twelve years cheated on him and was preparing to divorce him.
At this most difficult time, Kitagawa Hide's book was like a ray of light that broke through the dark sky above his head.
Encouraged, Keigo Higashino picked up his pen again and prepared to submit his manuscript to Rena Saito again.
Unexpectedly, the young female editor who had just graduated from university has turned into the deputy editor-in-chief of "Gunzo" and invited him to participate in this private writers' gathering with Mr. Hide Kitagawa!
He was the first person to arrive at the door of "Peter Cat". He stood far away, constantly adjusting his clothes in front of the glass wall of a shop nearby, quietly waiting for others to arrive.
"Hey, Dongye, you're here as expected!" The man with a short flat head, thin figure, and sunken eyes shouted at him, then trotted over.
"Tuan Gui?" Keigo Higashino was a little introverted. When someone called his name in the street, his legs almost started to tremble. After he saw who it was, he calmed down a little.
"I knew Mr. Saito would invite you!" The man named Danki Shirou hooked his arm around Keigo Higashino's stiff shoulders and said with a big smile, "How have you been recently? Are you still writing a novel?"
"Uh, it's okay. I'm writing." Even though the two of them were very familiar with each other, Keigo Higashino still couldn't stand this guy's familiarity.
Shirou Tuangui took Keigo Higashino to the cafe and was immediately surprised by the brand new decoration and beautiful facade.
"I heard that this is a shop opened by Mr. Kitagawa. It's true that literary masters have different tastes." Dangui Shirou praised loudly.
Higashino Keigo looked up at the textured sign and whispered, "Literary Master? Isn't this a bit too..."
"Higashino! You are just too lacking in worldly wisdom. With Mr. Kitagawa's ability, even if he is not a famous writer now, he will surely be a famous writer in the future." Dangui Shirou said as he glanced towards the cafe, and saw Saito Rena walking towards them with two young men, smiling.
"Teacher Saito, over here, over here!" He waved his hands excitedly.
Kitagawa Hidemasa was chatting with Saito Rena and Chihara Masato about Takuya Yanai. When he saw the two men standing opposite him, he immediately became interested and couldn't help asking, "Saito-san, is that really Keigo Higashino?"
"Yes. Higashino-san used to write mystery novels, oh, that kind of popular literature on the market with solving crimes as the main storyline." Worried that Kitagawa Hide didn't know about mystery novels, she also explained it again, "But since he won the award, he hasn't had any new best-selling works. Last year, he turned to me and wrote pure literature for a while."
At first, Kitagawa Hide was not sure whether it was the Keigo Higashino he knew, but now he is 70% to 80% sure.
Fortunately, although mystery literature has not developed at all in the Japanese literary world in this world, he still doesn't want to follow other people's paths and leave them with no way to go.
You already have a trump card in your hand. If you play your cards according to order, you can live an easy life. Why bother to steal other people's jobs?
Although he doesn't know whether Keigo Higashino can become as popular as his "predecessors" in the future world.
"Oh, is it the Higashino-san who wrote "After School"? " Senhara Masato suddenly realized, "I remember that was an award-winning mystery novel when I was in high school. I didn't expect to see my idol here."
"You'll have to secretly ask for an autograph later." Kitagawa Hide smiled and winked at him, and Senhara Masato also smiled.
I was originally worried that Masato Senhara would not be able to adapt if he did not write a book. After all, the only person he was familiar with, Takuya Yan, seemed to have something to do and could not attend. But now it seems that I don’t have to worry about this.
"Good evening, Mr. Saito!" Keigo Higashino and the other man bowed to them. The two groups briefly introduced themselves to each other, and then Hide Kitagawa opened the door and took them into the renovated cafe.
"My God, it's completely different from what we did back then, it's really classy!" Shirou exclaimed, and sat down at the bar, "As expected of you, Mr. Kitagawa! Thank you for spending money today."
"Haha, no, it's just a simple renovation." Beichuan Xiu returned to the bar and walked towards the wine cabinet, "What do you want to drink?"
"Beer is fine." Saito Rena said with a smile.
Several men echoed the sentiment, and then lined up and formed a small circle around the bar, sitting with Saito Rena at the center.
Kitagawa Hide was fiddling with beer and fried chicken while looking at the two of them curiously. Needless to say, Higashino Keigo had read many of the other's works in his previous life. The "money printing machine in the mystery literature world" was famous all over the world.
As for Dangoshiro, he had never heard of such a writer.
When he came over, Saito Rena whispered to him embarrassedly that it turned out that Dango Shirou had repeatedly hit a wall in pure literature, and his best result was being shortlisted for the Group Portrait Newcomer Award. However, he insisted on his dream and was unwilling to give up. Now he is working hard to continue writing pure literature while making money by writing erotic novels.
Yes, you heard that right.
Dangui Shirou also has an alias that he uses to write erotic literature to make money.
There is still a large market for erotic novels in today's repressive society, but they cannot be publicly promoted. The writers of these erotic novels dare not show their true identities and each of them wears countless aliases.
Saito Reina was worried that Kitagawa Hide would look at Tuangui Shirou and herself with tinted glasses, but she didn't expect Kitagawa Hide to be quite curious about this. He was a person from the new century, with relatively open ideas. Didn't he write Liu Beiwen?
The Liu Bei literature of later generations has developed into things like Li literature, cuckold literature, and ice love literature. Compared with them, Tuan Gui Shilang's literature is nothing.
A few people were drinking and chatting happily, and after three rounds of drinks, they gradually relaxed and began to complain about society and the government, and talked about the hard life they would have in the future.
Even Senhara Masato, who does not write novels, started complaining about the crowded system and the internally corrupt industrial central bank, and felt that this country and this economy are really hopeless!
"Mr. Kitagawa will soon finish his serialized work, right? If things go as expected, 'Hear the Wind Sing' will definitely be picked up by a TV station and adapted into a TV movie! I'm so envious." Tuangui Shirou gulped down another sip of beer, "If only I could be half as good as Mr. Kitagawa, no, one-tenth, no no no, one-hundredth as good as he is!"
"Haha, I actually want to read Dangui-san's novel." Kitagawa Hide chuckled.
"Oh, it would be great if everyone could write haiku. I'm so worried about being assigned to the haiku column." Saito Rena's cheeks were swollen from drinking so much that her voice was a little shaky. Her face, which had finally gotten less swollen recently, became swollen again when she thought of the haiku column.
"If only Kitagawa-san could write haiku!" she sighed again.
"If Mr. Kitagawa wants to write, he can definitely write. I still remember the sentence in "Ball." Keigo Higashino took a puff of cigarette, his thoughts flying, and he couldn't help but recite the sentence in the novel in a low voice, "Several wells have been dug in our hearts, and birds fly over the wells. What a beautiful sentence."
"One day, something captures our hearts. It can be anything, even a small thing. A rose bud, a lost hat, a favorite sweater from childhood, an old Gibbs record." Higashino Keigo became more and more obsessed with it, and couldn't help muttering to himself, "'I' and Mouse have both found the 'pinball machine' that they lost in their hearts, so where does the inspiration for my novel come from?"
After listening to this, the slightly tipsy Kitagawa Hide suddenly thought of something and quickly grabbed Higashino Keigo's hand: "Higashino-san, aren't you writing mystery novels now?"
"Oh, yes. The sales of mystery novels are not good. I plan to learn from you, Mr. Kitagawa, and write pure novels." Keigo Higashino was shocked by him.
"No! Listen to me, your style is not suitable for pure literature. Please continue to write about topics that you find interesting! I think maybe you can consider combining supernatural elements with ethics, and maybe some wonderful sparks will emerge."
Kitagawa Hide didn't want to say it too clearly, but he believed that the other party could understand what he said.
After twelve years of silence, Keigo Higashino was brought back into the public eye with "The Secret", a book about the soul of his deceased wife residing in his daughter's body. This book is also his first hit, with sales exceeding 50 copies.
"Ethical and supernatural elements?" Keigo Higashino fell into deep thought.
"It sounds very interesting, you are worthy of being Teacher Kitagawa!" Shirou Dangui began to sway, but he still instinctively flattered Kitagawa Hide.
Senhara Masato's reaction was relatively normal: "This new theme that Mr. Kitagawa mentioned really attracted me. Can reasoning add these elements?"
Saito Reina looked at Kitagawa Hide with caution, and couldn't help but whispered: "Kitagawa-san, have you been preparing a new book recently? Isn't it..."
"Don't worry, Saito-san, I have no desire to write mystery literature, at least not now." Kitagawa Hide smiled and dispelled her concerns. Now that there was a big shot sitting next to him, he had even less desire to write.
It would be better for him to die pursuing pure literature.
"That's good, that's good." Saito Rena wanted to ask about the approximate direction, but considering that there were other people here, she held back.
After the little episode, the group continued drinking for a while. I have to say that the Japanese drinking parties after get off work are quite interesting.
If you get along well with other people, chatting and drinking together after get off work can be really stress-relieving.
At ten o'clock in the evening, Kitagawa Hide sent them to taxis one by one, and considerately paid the high fares.
He cares a lot about money, but when necessary, he cares even less about how to spend it.
Only those who know how to spend money can make money.
Saito Reina is a girl with a sense of propriety. She was not very drunk. Before getting on the bus, she held Kitagawa Hide's hand and was silent for a long time before blurting out, "I know Kitagawa-san doesn't like to hear this, but I still want to say thank you so much. I want to thank you in every way."
Without Kitagawa Hide, she would never have dreamed of becoming a deputy editor-in-chief.
The former deputy editor-in-chief, An Yuanxian, has been transferred by the company to a leisurely position, equivalent to watching the water dispenser, and the huge fortune he left behind has become Saito Rena's property.
It is no exaggeration to say that Rena Saito has risen to fame overnight.
And all this is thanks to Hide Kitagawa.
She was truly grateful.
"I received your gratitude. Go home quickly and remember to call me when you get home." Kitagawa Hide made a phone call gesture and helped her close the car door.
After seeing everyone off, Kitagawa Hide stood at the door of the cafe and smoked for a while. Seeing that this group of vulgar writers from the "low society" could leave with a smile, he felt satisfied and emotional.
Looking back at the sign, after a while, the hostess and new guests will be here.
His life is getting better step by step, but every time he has to worry about his new book, who should he copy?
That night.
After receiving the emergency call, Yan Jingtuo didn't even have time to put on his shoes. He just hailed a taxi and rushed straight to the hospital.
He just couldn't understand why Yumiko still wasn't cured even though he had already given her 300 million yen.
Not long ago, his wife suddenly called him and said that their daughter Yumiko was seriously ill and needed a lot of money for treatment.
It just so happened that Takuya Yan Jing talked to Hide Kitagawa about selling the bar, and his wife asked for cash, so he gave it to her.
His wife also said that if he could help Yumiko with her illness, she would agree to remarry her and let him continue to raise their daughter.
He did all these!
But why? Why did Yumiko still get into trouble?
Didn’t you say you’ve found the best hospital and doctor in Tokyo?
After calming down, Yan Jingtuo realized that he had never heard of the name of the hospital affiliated with Mahaposa Co., Ltd.
Hearing the name, the driver paused, then stopped the car, looked at the rearview mirror with a serious expression, and whispered: "Sir, are you sure you want to go there?"
"Uh, yes. What's wrong?" Yan Jingtuo was stunned and asked in confusion.
The driver started the car again. “I just heard some bad rumors recently. If you need medical treatment, maybe it would be better to go to a hospital like the Dongda Affiliated Hospital.”
"Bad rumors?" Yan Jingtuoye clutched his pants at the knees.
"Aum Shinrikyo. It is said that Mahaposa Corporation is their company. The affiliated hospital has neurology, pediatrics, and surgery departments like a normal hospital, but I heard that they use yoga therapy and thermal therapy, which are unique to Aum Shinrikyo, for treatment."
The driver said as he drove on.
This so-called treatment method is to continuously soak people in 50-degree hot water, drink 60-degree hot drinks, etc.
After hearing this, Yan Jingtuo felt as if he had fallen into an icy cave and began to feel unwell all over.
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Although it is about "No Longer Human", the plot is still in the style of a cool novel.
(End of this chapter)