Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 361 Zhang Chao: I was wrong
The fall of Shintaro Ishihara caused chaos at the scene. Reporters wished they could master the "Shadow Clone Technique" so that they could take care of all the news points in front of the Shinjuku Police Station.

Zhang Chao was also a little surprised. This was the second time Shintaro Ishihara fell in front of him. He just didn't know if he could wake up this time.

In fact, it was not the Ishihara family who reported the case for "defamation". This is not difficult to verify. Even though the Japanese police have an obligation to protect the identity of the person who reports the case, anyone with a little connection can find out.

But let alone others, even Ishihara and his son subconsciously thought that it was the other party who did it. Even though both of them later confirmed that it was not the other party's order, they both felt that it was one of their subordinates who wanted to get promoted and took over the job.

So for a few hours, the Shinjuku Police Station was completely in the dark.

Who could have expected that it was the Tokyo Host Association that called the police.

The Shinjuku Police Station is also very wronged - Kabukicho is located in Shinjuku, and the male host industry here pays more than 10 billion yen in taxes a year. Although the name of the "Tokyo Male Host Association" is a bit unsightly, it donates more than 10 million yen to the police station every year, and the police station is unwilling to offend it.

Shintaro Ishihara was quickly carried into a car and sent to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment, and the reporters' attention was once again focused on Zhang Chao.

It was then that everyone realized that there was a man with blond hair, earrings, and powdered face next to the chief of Shinjuku Police Station. The chief introduced him, "This is Shirosaki Ren, the representative of the Tokyo Host Association. Let him explain to everyone."

Seeing that the cameras were all pointed at him, Shirosaki Ren smiled gently and said to everyone, “Come to think of it, I was really angry when I saw Zhang Chao-san comparing politicians like Governor Ishihara to ‘male hosts’ a few days ago.

We are a legal industry that pays taxes to the government. Every penny is earned through hard work by accompanying customers to drink and helping them relieve their worries and loneliness. Every bottle of wine ordered by customers in our store is clearly marked with a price. How can you say that politicians are like us?

Will politicians pay taxes to the country after receiving bribes? Will politicians explain to the people when they contract projects to chaebols? Will politicians solve the suffering of the people? No, they only create suffering!
We are the messengers who bring joy to our guests! Therefore, we all felt that Zhang Chaosang's statement was too much and an insult to the entire industry, so we decided to report it to the police station on the grounds of "defamation".

Sorry for causing trouble to everyone!"

After that, he bowed deeply to the reporters, who naturally flashed their cameras again.

Shirosaki Jin was very happy. This wave of events had attracted a lot of attention. Perhaps he could take this opportunity to "rise" from the gigolo world and enter the entertainment industry.

Although he is Tokyo's top male host with an annual income of 30 million yen, he is well aware that the metabolism of this industry is alarmingly fast. He is already years old, and it is unknown how many years he can maintain it.

It is better to take this opportunity to escape from the "sea of ​​suffering".

What's more, Shintaro Ishihara has always been extremely unfriendly to Tokyo's sex industry. Not only did he propose the "Tokyo Purification Plan" during his tenure, he also tried many times to increase taxes on host parlors.

"This kind of person is so hypocritical... Everyone knows that you are a frequent visitor to those high-end clubs that provide sexual services? The mistress who gave birth to your child must be a hostess there..."

He suddenly remembered the afternoon two days ago when Li Xiaomu, the famous Chinese "guide" in Kabukicho, suddenly found him mysteriously. He asked, "Shirosaki-san, do you want to appear on the front page of the news?"

At this time, the reporter asked again: "How did you reach a settlement?"

Shirosaki Ren still spoke in his unique, neither-male-nor-female, soft voice: "After having a heart-to-heart talk with Zhang Chao-san today, I found that the reason why he used the metaphor of 'male PR' was mainly because he didn't understand."

The reporter asked, "Oh, you don't know about Japanese 'male escorts'?"

Shirosaki Ren chuckled again, and then said, "I don't understand politicians like Governor Ishihara. I was born in Itabashi, Tokyo, and Ishihara-san was the governor of Tokyo when I was very young.

His political style was too rough and hurt many people. When I was a teenager, Tokyo was a place full of fun like a big playground. Since Ishihara became the governor, everything has changed.

Tokyo has built many tall buildings and huge stadiums, but life seems to be worse than when the bubble economy burst...

So I thought, if we compare him with us who create joy, it would be really unfair to us. After listening to my opinion, Zhang Chaosang also agreed with it!"

The reporters asked again: "In your eyes, what kind of person is Zhang Chaosang?"

Cheng Saki Ren glanced at Zhang Chao ambiguously before saying, "Zhang Chao-san is a rare gentle person and a real man!"

Zhang Chao got goosebumps all over his body when he was stared at, and he quickly took over the conversation and said, "After talking with Mr. Cheng Saki Ren, I not only deeply realized my mistakes, but also was willing to pay for them.

I would like to express my deepest apologies to anyone who was hurt by my words!"

The reporter quickly asked, "Does the 'injured person' here include Governor Ishihara?"

Zhang Chao nodded righteously and said, "Of course, that includes Governor Ishihara! Governor Ishihara fell down in front of me twice. Although it was mainly because of his inner guilt, I also have an unshirkable responsibility.

I will clarify with the utmost sincerity! ..."

Just as Zhang Chao and others were talking non-stop to the reporters, in a black car across the street, Watanabe Tsuneo was looking through the window at the spirited Chinese young man with complicated eyes.

Having experienced the turbulent political situation for half his life, he certainly did not believe that this was a coincidence.

Although he is old and Watanabe Tsuneo rarely pays attention to news events outside Japan, as the editor-in-chief of Japan's largest newspaper, he has heard a little about Zhang Chao's "glorious deeds."

Today's situation is obviously the result of careful design and accidental coincidence.

The assistant beside him whispered, "Are we still going over there?"

Watanabe Tsuneo turned around and glanced at his assistant, then said in a deep voice, "What are you doing over there now? Are you trying to steal the limelight from the youngsters?"

The assistant understood what he meant and immediately told the driver, "Report to the newspaper office."

Watanabe Tsuneo said: "Don't go back to the newspaper, go to Chengcheng."

Seijo is located in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, a well-known high-end residential area in Japan, but Watanabe Tsuneo's home is not there.

The assistant was confused at first, then suddenly realized and asked, "Who are you going to see?"

Watanabe Tsuneo nodded and said, "Since the young people have caused such a big commotion, our interview needs something more interesting."

Like Watanabe Tsuneo, Iizuka Yoshio, Kadokawa Kotohiko and others also had complicated feelings. They did not expect such a situation and could not help but feel very embarrassed.

However, they did not think that this was the result of Zhang Chao's plan, because the coincidence was too absurd, just like the plot in a novel. The most open-minded person at the scene was Haruki Murakami, who said to his old friend Iizuka Rong: "I watched a good comedy today! It seems that this guy doesn't need me to build momentum for him..."

Then, while the reporters' attention was on Zhang Chao, he left the scene first.

Professor Iizuka and several other friends looked at each other, with a smile that didn't know whether to laugh or cry. After a while, Iizuka said, "Let's go, I know a ramen shop that serves authentic Hakata-style ramen with delicious pork bone soup base. I'll treat you!"

The old professors then became happy and hugged each other as they left.

Kadokawa Toshihiko quickly recovered and asked the editor next to him, "When is Zhang Chaosang's "Homeland" expected to be released?"

The editor was stunned for a moment, not knowing why the president suddenly cared about this matter. After thinking for a while, he said, "It will be at least early November. After all, the translation is still in the fine-tuning stage."

Kadokawa Leyan was anxious, pointing at Zhang Chao who was surrounded by reporters and said, "Didn't you see it? Do you want to miss the heat? It must be done before November. Pay more money for the translator!"

The editor understood and nodded quickly to indicate that he had remembered it and would communicate with the translator when he returned.

After Kadokawa Leyan finished his explanation, he hurriedly left the scene. After getting in the car, he first called Tanida, who was accompanying Zhang Chao's parents to play: "...Yes, the service needs to be upgraded...They must stay in the best hotel...

You can also pay for anything they want to buy first, and then come to the company to get reimbursed. Make sure they feel that Kadokawa Bookstore is Zhang Chao-san's most reliable friend in Japan!"

After hanging up the phone, he gave the driver an address, which was the club where the Qinghe faction often gathered.

The last time Shintaro Ishihara suffered a stroke, he failed to immediately remove him from the position of Tokyo governor. This time, his fall is likely to be very disastrous. As he prepares for the inevitable re-election, tonight will surely be a sleepless night.

The news that Zhang Chao regained his "freedom" and once again angered Ishihara to the point of fainting on the spot soon spread back to the country.

Tie Ning and Wang Meng had been expounding on the matter in front of the leaders of the ministry, describing the seriousness of Zhang Chao's "arrest" by the Japanese police, hoping that the authorities would step in and fight for Zhang Chao's "freedom" to be restored as soon as possible. They were stunned after receiving the call from Japan.

The leader was not angry. After putting down his phone, he joked to Tie Ning and Wang Meng: "Fortunately, we are quite 'bureaucratic' and did not act immediately, otherwise we would not have seen this 'good show'."

Tie Ning and Wang Meng were also at a loss whether to laugh or cry. Wang Meng kept saying, "This kid... this kid..." He didn't even know what to say.

Tie Ning was more thoughtful than Wang Meng: "We should remind Zhang Chao that he should be careful when he is alone in Japan...stay here and wait for us to meet up."

Wang Meng said with some self-mockery: "Can he 'stay well'? He dares to say so, but do you dare to believe it?"

Unexpectedly, Wang Meng’s words came true.

Japanese TV stations broadcast almost no other news that evening, all of which were about Zhang Chao and Ishihara.

NHK General Channel: "Literary Debate" triggers political earthquake: Governor Ishihara is hospitalized for the second time, Haruki Murakami speaks out for the first time"

TV Asahi: "The end of the 'Ishihara myth'? Citizens demand a thorough investigation of the 'male escort calling the police' incident"

Tokyo TV: "Ishihara's illegitimate child is suspected! Hospital nurse revealed: A mysterious woman brought her young child to visit the patient many times"

Sankei Shimbun: "Chinese intellectuals' sharp tongues disrupt Tokyo! Government emergency meeting: Proposes legislation to restrict foreigners' "cultural terrorism""

Fuji TV: "When Chang'an City Talks to Edogawa: The Transfer of Power in East Asian Culture Behind the Zhang Chao Phenomenon"

……

The scene was even more exaggerated than when Ishihara was hospitalized for the first time due to a stroke a few days ago, and it almost overwhelmed the public's vision and hearing. In Japan, especially in Tokyo, even people who had no interest in literature or politics almost all knew the name of the Chinese writer "Zhang Chao".

Only Zhang Chao's parents were traveling. They could not understand or read Japanese, so they naturally did not watch TV or read newspapers. Their mobile phones could not receive calls from China. In addition, Zhang Chao asked Gu Tian to keep it a secret from them, so they barely stopped worrying about their son.

Now everyone is wondering about one thing: Zhang Chao said he would use the "greatest sincerity" to "clarify" Ishihara's case, but how is he going to do it?

Unexpectedly, the answer was revealed the next day.

In addition to the five major newspapers in Tokyo, the entire second page of the Tokyo Shimbun, which has the largest circulation, was bought out, and only a one-line apology in white on a red background was published:
I was wrong, Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara is not a "male host"!
Everyone's reaction after seeing this was: "..." Is this an apology? Even if Shintaro Ishihara's blood vessels were welded with seamless steel pipes, they would probably burst on the spot.

I just don’t know if he will have the chance to see today’s “Tokyo Shimbun”.

Since he fell down again yesterday evening, there has been no news of Ishihara waking up. The doctor who operated on him remained tight-lipped when facing interviews with reporters, which has aroused people's curiosity.

It was not until the afternoon that his son Shintaro Ishihara suddenly announced to the public: "My father Shintaro Ishihara has resigned from the post of Governor of Tokyo due to health reasons. Thank you for your concern!"

He also said only one sentence, refused to accept any interviews, and turned and left.

Everyone has confirmed that Ishihara's situation is really not optimistic. This conservative general who has been active in Japanese politics for nearly 40 years with the image of a "Showa man" has not only seen his political career slide into the abyss, but even his life is coming to an end.

"You must all be thinking that this is because he scolded my work a few days ago?" Zhang Chao was sitting in the dressing room backstage at the TV station, chatting leisurely with Wang Zhenxu, who was going to be his translator.

Wang Zhenxu asked, “Isn’t it?”

Zhang Chao glanced at him and said, "People can eat whatever they want but they can't say whatever they want. Ishihara just talks too much nonsense..." He knew that Wang Zhenxu had come to Japan since he was a child and grew up in such an environment, so of course he couldn't feel that Ishihara was damnable.

Wang Zhenxu asked curiously, "What if Ishihara recovers this time?"

Zhang Chao smiled evilly and said, "Don't they have airship rental services in Tokyo? I'll rent an airship, print "I was wrong, Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara is not a male host" on it, and then fly over the hospital where he lives. I'll fly eight times a day until he sees it.

That picture, haha, it’s beautiful just thinking about it!”

Hearing Zhang Chao's words, Wang Zhenxu shuddered all over.

At this time, the staff knocked on the door of the dressing room: "Zhang Chao-sang, the show is about to begin, you can come on stage."

(End of this chapter)