Lead-gray clouds enveloped the sky, and the rain gradually subsided and turned into a moist mist, but there were still occasional thunders rolling among the clouds in the sky.
No matter from any angle, Yichuan City is a city that is associated with "water", and the constant heavy rain all year round is the iconic scenery of this city.
Evening, eight o'clock.
A tall and thin young man walked on the road, holding a plastic bag in his hand, and walked out of the crooked light of the drugstore. The shadow beneath him was crooked, and he stepped onto the crooked stairs again.
"A twisted man walked a twisted road~ Holding a twisted sixpence in hand, he stepped onto the twisted steps~"
Soft and delicate, it reminds one of the sweet voice of a nightingale singing a strange nursery rhyme.
Following the sound of rain that gradually disappeared and weakened, Rosetta returned to the apartment, opened the unlocked door, and walked into the crooked hut.
Click click click click.
He opened the medicine bottle, swallowed it in large gulps, and used cold tea to assist him. It wasn't until everything in his perception gradually became regular again that he felt slightly calmer.
Diazepam, a BDZ anti-anxiety drug, has sedative, hypnotic, anticonvulsant and other effects. It is also the most frequently used tranquillizer drug in clinical practice.
Generally speaking, this prescription drug only requires a small tablet, and it can take effect quickly within half an hour, providing a full night's sleep.
But about an hour had passed, and after taking an obvious overdose of tranquillizers, Rosetta lay on the sofa and took off the book that was covering her face to block the light, but there was still no trace of sleepiness in her eyes.
——The effect of the medicine is getting worse and worse.
He raised his head and closed his eyes, but he could still see.
Seeing the blue sky that is completely different from the lead-gray iron curtain of this world, and recalling the memory of another man named "Rosetta" that is completely different from his life of more than twenty years.
It's like there is an unknown force that glues the two originally parallel lines together, allowing the memory of 'Rosetta' to revive in another Rosetta.
With this memory comparison, which may be from her 'parallel world', Rosetta has discovered from a very early age that these two different worlds have many similarities, but at the same time, there are many strange things.
Weird and absurd deviation.
The similarities are: both worlds are dominated by humans and have four ancient civilizations. They have also developed almost identical science and technology.
The deviation is: there seems to be some existence in this world that possesses 'abnormal' power, and the intervention of these existences has caused the history of this world to develop completely differently from a certain node.
Therefore, the more she studied the history and folk customs of this world, the more Rosetta became aware of the many absurdities and weirdnesses in this world.
Knowing more, he chose to carefully keep his mouth shut to prevent his secrets from being known to outsiders. At the same time, he gradually showed interest in this area and chose a related major to avoid being suspected in the future.
There are also good reasons to explain.
Although he chose folklore as a major initially to conceal his anomalies, living in a world with many mysterious shadows in its history, how could Rosetta not become curious about the unknowns in those folklore tales?
It was as if those abnormal things had some kind of invisible gravity for him.
When he became aware of these unknown existences, Rosetta's mind was already immersed in them. He was chasing the remnants of those abnormal existences, just like a wild dog chasing raw meat, or a madman chasing the truth.
When Reiko Arakawa appeared in front of him with the photocopy of the document, his 'feeling' told him that he needed to take action.
Since from a true and realistic perspective, this 'consultant' job can bring him generous 'remuneration', then in comparison, some of the easiest-to-get time and money, that is, the most unnecessary to care about
something.
In the apartment, the patter of rain was accompanied by the sound of jazz playing from the record player.
It was still a sleepless night.
After the sleeping pills gradually wore off, Rosetta had become accustomed to the abnormalities that had appeared on him in recent years.
-
In the blink of an eye.
It had been a few days since I first met Arakawa Reiko.
During this period, he successfully negotiated the remuneration with the people at the TV station, and thus learned that the planned filming location for the first episode of the show was actually chosen in this city of Yichuan.
I have to say that this is not a big coincidence. No wonder Reiko Arakawa found him immediately.
Didot.
At this moment, the phone in Rosetta's hand suddenly vibrated, and the caller showed that it was Reiko Arakawa.
"Are you free? I heard that there is a pretty good restaurant in Fushimi Ward. How about meeting there tomorrow?"]
Seeing that the other party had left a specific time and address in the text message, Rosetta quickly replied with a brief "Okay."
-
After another heavy rain, it was sunny in Yichuan City. Although the hot and humid environment was unpleasant, it was still more or less good weather.
Just like the name of this city.
The roads in Antchuan City are indeed as intricate as ant nests built on the ground.
According to the legend of the older generation in this city, some trails that can no longer be found on the map even lead to the abandoned subway system built before the shogunate.
Of course, the reason why a legend is a legend is because no living person can actually prove its existence.
The reason why Rosetta was late was actually very simple. It was not because she met the real person of any urban legend, but simply because the location of the restaurant Arakawa Reiko chose to meet was too remote, close to the suburbs of the city.
It took him a lot of effort to find it.
I don’t know why she chose this place...
With such thoughts swirling in her mind, Rosetta opened the door, felt the warmth rushing into her face, and saw Reiko Arakawa smiling and waving to her from the window.
It seems that because this meeting has little to do with official business, today she did not wear the women's suit she wore last time, but changed into regular clothes and a pure white turtleneck sweater, which made her whole person's temperament change.
Much softer.
"The camera crew hasn't arrived yet, and there are still a few days until the official filming of the show. Mr. Luo, there is no need for you to keep such a cold face."
Holding the steaming teacup in both hands, Arakawa Reiko breathed lightly, glanced at him casually and said.
Rosetta replied: "I'm just used to it."
"Let's not talk about these things anymore. Although it is true that I have something to do with you today, we should talk about these things after eating." Arakawa Reiko handed over the menu, winked, and said with a smile: "Anyway, it can be paid for at public expense.
to reimburse."
It's okay if it can be reimbursed at public expense.
Rosetta took the menu and looked up at Reiko Arakawa. After hearing this, she nodded silently and gave up the idea of saving the other party some money.
A clear melody swirls.
Through the white steam steaming from the coffee cup, Arakawa Reiko looked at Rosetta.
If Rosetta's first impression on her was that of inaccessible coldness.
So after he started serving the meal, when he stacked countless plates on the "mountain" aside, Arakawa Reiko was no longer "surprised" by the change from "cold to hot", but
It feels deeply "weird".
Tsk.
Cut the steak with a silver table knife and squeeze it slightly. Under the brown layer caused by the Maillard reaction, the attractive aroma of fat and meat juice are squeezed out.
The doneness of the barbecue is perfect medium rare.
Rosetta cut off a small piece and put it into his mouth. With slow and powerful chewing, a piece of slow-roasted steak that was enough for two people was quickly destroyed by him, and the remaining empty dinner plate became a place beside him.
One of the proofs of 'achievement',
He lowered his head and picked up the teacup.
In the rippling water, he could clearly see his own reflection, as well as the gray dim light in his eyes that was as cold as iron.
He didn't know why, but he suddenly thought that if some negative things could be called 'abnormalities', then the strange symptoms of insomnia and overeating that had become more and more severe in him over the years were the ones closest to him.
What about exception'?
For just a moment, absurd thoughts flashed through Rosetta's mind.
Feeling that his body was about seventy percent full, he then silently nodded towards Reiko Arakawa, who hadn't eaten much at all.
Seeing that his expression had not changed at all, Arakawa Reiko twitched the corner of her mouth and couldn't help but ask: "Mr. Luo, do you like the food in this restaurant very much?"
"...Not really."
Rosetta was silent for a moment, touched her stomach, which was not rising at all, and said, "I'm just a little hungry today."
——You call this ‘a little bit’?
Looking at the 'records' stacked high on the opponent's table, Arakawa Reiko forcibly restrained some desire to complain, coughed slightly, and said: "Speaking of which, since Mr. Luo lives in Yichuan City, then
You must have heard of a legend called the 'Seven Ksitigarbha'."
As a folklorist, Rosetta was certainly not unfamiliar with the strange stories and legends circulating in the land where she lived. As soon as Reiko Arakawa mentioned it, he quickly searched in his mind for information about the strange story of the 'Seven Jizo'.
Generally speaking, this strange story is said to be that during the Edo period, a famous Buddhist carver spent more than ten years carving eight statues with the symbol "Eight Sufferings" in order to prove his devotion to the Buddha.
The themed Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva statue is donated to a local temple.
Because some monks in the temple were greedy for money, one of the eight Ksitigarbha statues was stolen and sold to Kyoto.
From then on, every night, it is said that seven handsome monks wearing moon-white monk robes would appear on the streets of Kyoto. The person in front of them would put their hands on the shoulders of the person behind them. Once someone met them and bumped into them, they would have
If they are greedy for money, they will put their hands on each other's shoulders and turn him into the non-existent 'eighth Ksitigarbha stone statue' until he finds his own substitute...
"I know that I know this strange story about the seven Ksitigarbhas, but does it have anything to do with the reason why you came to me this time?"
Rosetta was confused at first, but then quickly reacted and connected the two things together: "The TV station plans to use this weird story as the first episode of the program?"
"Well, that's pretty much it."
Arakawa Reiko took out a breath and said immediately: "Because this is half a business matter, I will call you, Mr. Luo, over today."
"However, one thing about your guess is wrong, that is, to be more precise, what the program team is planning to film is the story of the strange story 'Seven Ksitigarbha' after it spread." This chapter has been completed!