Fortunately, Ah Xing never sells alcohol to minors.

A child like Uchiha Itachi will be kicked out by A-Xing with his eyes before he even sets foot in the izakaya.

Itachi Uchiha hadn't been seen for a long time since that night. Maybe it's because your parents were caught secretly standing in front of an izakaya and ordered not to go near an izakaya, or maybe because you were too busy with school/work.

The neighbors in the neighborhood gradually became familiar with Asami, and they also knew that her real name was not "Okumi Shi" or "Kaori", but ordinary Asami.

The red-haired god lights up a lot of new skills, such as distinguishing paprika from tomato powder, picking fresh vegetables, and how to remove stubborn oil stains from the table. It's all common to humans, but to the gods, it's a novelty—similar to the freshness of seeing the group of people spew fire and water out of their mouths when they first came to Konoha in the first place.

Visitors to the izakaya were also accustomed to Asami's storage zài, and they would have "Miss Okumishi" serve the drink and settle the bill, but these drinkers refused to listen to Asami's scientific lectures on healthy stomach and human life.

Among these guests, Asami is more familiar with Uncle Kaichi Yamanaka, and Nara Shikaku, who occasionally sneaks out to drink without his wife. Sometimes Shikaku was drunk, and his son, Nara Shikamaru, would come to the store to convey his mother's will, urging the drunk uncle to hurry home.

Shikamaru and Shikaku have the same hairstyle, sky-high braids, long eyes, although they are low and small, and their bodies look round, Shikamaru has a mysterious resemblance to Mr. Shikaku. Because there was a sign at the door of the izakaya that said "Minors are not allowed to enter", Shikamaru crowded at the door, never stepping forward, half into his body, and calling his father one by one.

Asami also indirectly indirectly asked the two uncles about Uchiha Itachi, and she learned that Itachi is about to turn eleven this year, and he is already a rare rookie in the Uchiha clan. Some people even praised that Uchiha Itachi will be as famous as another genius in the future. This kind of development is not surprising to Asami, because this child has been very unusual since he was a child.

Children who are not ordinary will not be ordinary when they grow up.

"Then now, is Itachi-kun a shinobi?"

“…… I don't know, things like job transfers are not something that our uncles who love to drink will know. Ah, yes, Okumeishi. Haiichi said, "Why are you so concerned about Uchiha Itachi?" ”

- because he is the only exception to the mystery who has not forgotten the gods!

- Or a child raised by the gods!

However, these words could not be said with confidence, and Asami could only say, "Hmow...... Itachi-kun, so cute. Right, uncle? Laugh KiraKira flash, like a little angel. ”

Haiyi: ......

- I'm convinced of your own filter.

Because Asami eats less (in fact, she doesn't have to eat at all), is diligent (because she can't sleep and is too boring), and never makes a mistake in settling accounts, after a month of trial, A-Xing is very satisfied with Asami.

She patted Asami's thin shoulder and said, "Asami, you've already passed my quiz." I'll ask you again, do you have parents? ”

"Whoa...... No. ”

"Is there a guardian?"

"Whoa...... No. ”

"Are there teachers and relatives and friends? Can I live in my former home? Is there a cost of voluntary support? ”

"Whoa...... I don't have that kind of thing. ”

"Good." Ah Xing lifted the hem of her clothes and sat on the wooden bench with a full posture, her long face was extremely strict, and she said, "Then I will reluctantly let you continue to live with me." Anyway, you don't eat much, so it's not impossible to prepare a little more rice for you. - Also, I've decided to pass on to you the plucked pipa skills I'm so proud of, Eirisha! ”

Now, without Asami asking, she also knows who Yinglisha is in A-Xing's mouth.

"Wait...... Asami was a little puzzled: "Why does a little girl who is responsible for mopping the floor want to learn the pipa?" ”

"I'm doing this for you! Reflection of glass yarn! Ah Xing said this sentence again: "You have to have a skill to live better!" You're not a ninja, you don't have a family, and no one is even willing to hire you when you're out of me. ”

"It seems to make a lot of sense. However, why does the little sister who mop the floor learn to play the pipa? Asami was still confused.

"......" Ah Xing took Asami's hand and dragged her up the wooden stairs to the second floor, saying as she walked, "Is there anything bad about being able to play the pipa?" The pipa is a very good thing! ”

"I know all the truth, but the little sister who mops the floor learns the pipa......"

"Shut up! Reflection of glass yarn! ”

Ah Xing rummaged through the cabinet and took out a Satsuma pipa made of mulberry wood from an old wide-bellied wooden box. She lovingly wiped the plucked pick and the belly of the pipa with a towel, then raised her head and said to Asami, "This handle is mine, you can't touch it now." ”

Asami's slightly interested face instantly calmed down.

"This one was left to me by my former teacher, and I will give you the lute I used to practice." Ah Xing put down the pick, took out a slightly smaller wooden box, and said, "Although it is not made of pure mulberry wood, the pronunciation is still very gentle." ”

"This is the instrument!" Asami sighed, "Something to relax your soul and appreciate the world." ”

Ah Xing tuned the timbre and made a few notes with a plectrum, and the strings made a rough sound, although it was not very soft, but it was clear and vigorous, short and crisp. After a few slow strokes, Ah Xing said, "My gestures are already very rusty, but it's no problem to teach you." I really miss the time when I played with my teacher with the piano and sheng. ”

Ah Xing tuned the tone for a long time, and only then did she barely find a sense of one or two points on the strings. Her hands already had the wrinkles and calluses of her labor, but they slid up like a bird in the slow rust of the beginning. When the plectrum stirs the strings, it emits a series of short, crunchy and powerful sounds.

"Where is A-Xing's teacher?" Asami asked, "Are you still playing?" ”

"I'm getting old, and I'm no longer playing." Ah Xing said: "Musicians like us who live in the streets and alleys, once we get older, we can't rely on instrumental music to make money. You can only continue to earn a living if you find a few students to inherit the skills when you are young. I don't want to be left with nothing when I'm old, so I want you to inherit my lute. ”

"Whoa." Asami was stunned for a moment, and her hand touching the pipa stopped, she hesitated for a moment and said, "...... If it's an heir or something...... I, belch, I, I can't. ”

Becoming an heir means having a relationship that goes beyond her employer and her working girl, which is not what she wants. Even if Asami becomes the successor, it is impossible for Asami to stay and take care of A-Xing in her old age.

"What are you thinking, Rinsa." Ah Xing said, "What you think is so beautiful." I'm going to test you if you have instrumental talent. What if you're good for nothing but breaking the lute? ”

Asami: ......

A-Xing taught Asami a very short tune that could be completed with just a few strokes. It's just a few simple timbres, but Asami feels that the hand holding the plectrum is vibrating by the strings. She shook her hand, and Ah Xing looked at her and said, "That's because your posture of holding the pick is not quite right." Beginners are like that. ”

Asami pondered for a while, and suddenly said, "This sound...... Somewhat familiar. I've heard it. Hmmm......"

She was silent for a moment, then rubbed her palms together and began to hum in fits and starts, the rhythm was steady, the note dragged on for a long time, and the pitch rose slightly at the end, sounding very funny.

"Although you hum strangely." Ah Xing put down the plectrum and said, "But...... It sounds like a ritual offered to the gods, a piece of music offered before prayer, which has the purpose of calming the nerves, driving away evil, auspiciousness, and warding off evil spirits, and more gentlely, it has the effect of making people forget their worries. ”

"Ah, this, that's it." Asami cocked her lute and said, "I guess I heard it near my home when I was a kid." Maybe I used to live near some shrine or something. Ah, that's right, where I lived when I was a child, there is a shrine next to it dedicated to the Venerable Master. ”

×

When it came time to open the door, Asami felt that she could still detect a slight tremor on the plectrum.

Instrumental music is such a wonderful thing.

Human beings are also wonderful, even though they are very small, but they have created such mysterious and profound things as wine and instrumental music.

At night, it began to rain, and the already gloomy sky was even more hidden by the rain. The lights lit by the shop opposite seemed to be separated by several curtains, and a faint and soft light was faintly emitted. Perhaps because of the cold night rain, there were no pedestrians on the streets, and the izakaya was rarely very clean.

The rain pounded on the eaves with a soft ticking sound. Ah Xing leaned against the bar and yawned, and said, "It looks like no one will come today." Just close the door early. Okumeishi, are you going to hang out? Let's play while we don't have anything to do. ”

- Wait! Do you mean going out and playing on a rainy day! Something is not right!

But that's right, when the weather is good, the store will be very busy, so Ah Xing won't let her go out lightly.

Asami sat at the door of the izakaya, put on her geta, took a long umbrella, and braved the gentle spring night rain to walk across the street. The bookstore that has not yet closed is as deserted, and there are no customers who are reading books on the counter.

Asami put away the umbrella, shook the rain on the umbrella, and then stood in front of the bookcase, stretched out her thin arm, and picked up a copy of "Intimacy Paradise" on the bookcase straight and without hesitation.