The Legend of Tokyo Taoist

Chapter 22 Lucky Mutual Aid Society (14)

"You mean, President Oiwa is just a puppet, and the real manipulator of the mutual aid association is actually Matsui?" Inuyama Heita said in surprise after hearing the information Qian Xiaoyi told him.

Qian Xiaoyi waved his hand and said, "It's not entirely true to say they are puppets. To be precise, they are collaborators, but Matsui is temporarily in a dominant position. Let me show you a photo."

Qian Xiaoyi opened the photo album on his phone, found a picture and handed it to Inuyama Heita. Inuyama Heita took it and looked at it carefully. This photo was taken in a pub with many people. Many people were in the photo. It was obviously taken secretly. Inuyama Heita looked for a long time before he saw a face that looked like a real face in the crowd. He widened his eyes and was a little surprised: "Is this... President Oiwa?"

In the corner of the photo, there is a middle-aged man wearing a brown fisherman's hat, a pair of rimless glasses, and a dark vest. He is dressed in an ordinary way and is holding a wine glass, talking and laughing drunkenly with others. He looks like a drunk uncle that can be seen everywhere on the street at night, but Inuyama Heita still recognized this guy's face. It looks exactly like President Oiwa. However, Inuyama Heita could not connect the drunkard in the photo with the elite President Oiwa in the previous mutual aid association activities. The temperaments of the two are too different.

"What do you think? Are you surprised?" Qian Xiaoyi said proudly: "Fortunately, I brought my own mobile phone, otherwise you wouldn't be able to see this photo." What Qian Xiaoyi meant by "not being able to see" was an unspoken rule in Japan, that is, the camera settings of Japanese mobile phones cannot be set to silent, this is to prevent perverts from taking secret photos. It sounds a bit funny, but at least in Japan, perverts are a very serious social problem.

The person in the photo was very different from the President Oiwa that Inuyama Heita had in mind, so Inuyama Heita couldn't help but ask, "Is this really President Oiwa?"

"Yes, but also no." Qian Xiaoyi said mysteriously.

Inuyama Heita looked at him in confusion: "What do you mean?"

Qian Xiaoyi smiled and explained, "The president we know, Oiwa Satoru, is actually not his real name. His real name is Harada Taro. He has stayed at home for more than 30 years and is afraid to step into the society. He lives on his parents' money. He is not the 'founder of the theory of luck', 'business elite', 'doctor of numerology' and other impressive titles introduced in the flyer."

"Eh?" Inuyama Heita cried out in surprise, "That's totally not the case! How did you know about this, Mr. Qian?"

Qian Xiaoyi said, "Do you think I'm idle every day? I didn't go far at the party that day, but waited for a while. After Oiwa came out, I called a taxi, followed him to find his place, and then came back. Wasn't I outside investigating when you called me yesterday? At that time, I was investigating the background of the Harada family. I have to say that those middle-aged aunts are really considerate. I haven't asked yet, but just pretended to mention the Harada family casually, saying that this house looks very gloomy. As a result, they told me what I wanted to know. When they said that they saw the other party actually go out to the izakaya, I pretended not to believe it, so I got the address easily."

The corners of Inuyama Heita's mouth twitched slightly. He originally thought that Qian Xiaoyi was using some professional detective methods to investigate President Oiwa's background, and he was kind of looking forward to it. He didn't expect that it was all thanks to the gossips of gossipy housewives.

If Qian Xiaoyi knew what he was thinking, he would surely scold him for not understanding the value of the Chaoyang masses and the vast ocean of the people.

"So what did those aunties say?" Inuyama Heita asked. "It's a well-known rumor, a secret that everyone knows." Qian Xiaoyi said, "Most residents who have lived in that street for a long time know that the son of the Harada family is a homebody, and he has been a homebody for 30 years. It is said that he was in a car accident while studying and almost died. Since then, he has become afraid to go out. The Harada couple can only work outside to support him."

Inuyama Heita frowned and said, "President Oiwa looks fifty years old, right? Aren't his parents even older?"

"Yes, I heard that the couple are both in their seventies and are still working outside to support their family." Qian Xiaoyi said, "A few years ago, Harada Taro's mother died of overwork due to her old age, and his father reached his physical and mental limits after driving a taxi for a few more years. Just a year ago, he parked his car on the beach and jumped into the sea to commit suicide."

The experience of the Harada family is heartbreaking, but Inuyama Heita is not surprised. Japan's aging population is world-famous, and it is common for the elderly to work outside to supplement the family income. The problem of hikikomori is similar. In the news, we often see elderly hikikomori "dying lonely" at home, and their bodies are not discovered until a long time later.

Qian Xiaoyi went on to say: "Just when everyone thought that Harada Taro would die at home because of the loss of his source of income, it was discovered that not only did he not die alone, but he often went out, as if he had re-entered society."

Inuyama Heita thought thoughtfully: "Was he recruited by Matsui to form the Lucky Mutual Aid Association?"

"That should be it." Qian Xiaoyi said, "If I'm not mistaken, the car accident thirty years ago made him face death, and by chance he opened his Yin-Yang eyes and became a so-called psychic. That's why he didn't dare to go out for thirty years, because this world is no longer the same as the world he knew. But Matsui discovered Harada Taro before he died in obscurity, so he invited him to join the mutual aid society and made him a star on the stage. It may be that after Matsui's guidance, coupled with the fanatical pursuit of believers, or the power of money, Harada Taro finally overcame his psychological barriers, walked out of the house, and became the President Oiwa we see now."

Inuyama Heita sighed, "So there's this kind of thing behind it... President Oiwa sounds very pitiful as well."

"Don't be too sympathetic, Heitaro." Qian Xiaoyi advised: "This guy is indeed unlucky, but if he deserves sympathy, what about those believers who were deceived and sucked of blood by him? Don't forget that he is now the president of the Lucky Mutual Aid Association. Even if he is not the leader, the profits from the believers' offerings will definitely go to him. His situation is not so bad that he needs to do evil to survive. He just chose to escape. Such a person does not need sympathy."

"I understand." Inuyama Heita nodded, and continued to ask: "Then how did you, Mr. Qian, get to know Oiwa... and Harada? And how could you drink and have fun with him?"

Qian Xiaoyi shook his finger: "Tsk tsk tsk, a kid like you doesn't understand, this is not just drinking, it's called adult business entertainment~ Pay attention, the next interesting part is coming, you have to listen carefully."

(End of this chapter)