"It doesn't matter, because this letter was sent to us, right?"
Shota said, "This man is thankful to us, he wrote to us to say thank you, to people like us, we are such garbage." ”
The above passage comes from the novel "Relief Grocery Store" by the famous Japanese mystery novel writer Keigo Higashino. This scene is the end of the book, the thief trio Atsuya, Shota, and Kohei. After reading the letter in the handbag of Haruko Muto (a lost puppy), she laughed at herself as "garbage".
What role does the trio of thieves play in the book "Relief Grocery Store"? Why did Keigo Higashino go to great lengths to portray these three people as mentors in life, and how many people really understood the metaphor behind "Relief Grocery Store"?
<h1 class = "pgc-h-arrow-right" > time and space are intertwined, and three "garbage" become "life teachers"</h1>
In 2011, the famous Japanese writer Keigo Higashino serialized the book "Relief Grocery Store" in "The Age of Novel Wildness". In March 2012, the book was officially released by the Japanese publishing house Kadokawa Shoten.
As of 2021, "Relief Grocery Store" has been translated into more than 20 languages, and it is often possible to see film and television adaptations of this novel on the big screen.
Different from Keigo Higashino's previous novel genre, "Relief Grocery Store" has a novel theme, without any elements of detective reasoning, and some are just "chicken soup for the soul" and the author's perception of life.
According to the timeline of "Relief Grocery Store", on September 13, 1980, the original owner of Nanaya Grocery Store, Yuji Nanaya, died of illness. Before his death, he and his son Takayuki agreed that in the early morning of the 33rd anniversary of his death, the Nanaya Grocery Store was officially resurrected as the Relief Grocery Store.
(When Yuji Nanaya gave Takayuki's suicide note, it was September 13, 1979, and Yuji thought he was about to die, so he proposed to announce his resurrection on the 33rd anniversary of his death, but yuji actually died on September 13, 1980.)
On the evening of September 12, 2012, a trio of thieves came to Harumi Muto's house to steal and kidnapped Herami. In the early morning of September 13, the three entered the Langya grocery store and received five letters of help. Shota and the others actively advised the letter," and in the end, the trio of thieves and 5 helpers completed their redemption.
Students who have read this book should have such a feeling, Higashino Keigo used extremely simple, without any flowery words, to form a story that will be unforgettable for a long time.
However, according to Shota's own account, they are the lowest level of society, and they have just committed the crime of kidnapping and theft, and it is not too much to say that they are "garbage".
But it is these three "garbage" that have created Muto Harumi, a future rich businessman. He also found the direction of life for "Moon Rabbit" and "Fish Shop Musician".
At the end of the story, yuji Langya, the original owner of "Relief Grocery Store", gave the three people the most sincere answer with a blank piece of paper as a letter of help.
After reading the original book of "Relief Grocery Store", it will make people unable to calm down for a long time. While recalling these stories, I can't help but ask everyone: "Atsuya, Shota, and Kohei are not deeply involved in the world, and they are in prison." Why are these three people like wise men who have gone through vicissitudes, solving the complex problems raised by 5 helpers in a row? ”
<h1 class= "pgc-h-arrow-right" > second, a little heart-warming action can make others get warmth</h1>
Of course, the trio of thieves was a little impatient at first, believing that the letters might be a prank by the police or someone with ulterior motives. After a series of experiments, the three people realized that the Langya Grocery Store was actually a "time tunnel" with the function of crossing. Only then did he gather his thoughts and begin to answer questions.
The text endorses that whether it is the sports candidate "Moon Rabbit" or the amateur rock singer Krone, they all have different troubles to consult. It is basically nothing more than a bottleneck in the planning of the future life of the dream.
The lover of "Moon Rabbit" is terminally ill, Matsuoka Kroko is obsessed with inheriting his ancestral inheritance and taking care of his parents, and Muto Harumi is full of confusion about the future.
The seekers are wandering inwardly, not knowing which path they are better suited to take. It is not difficult to see from the few words in the letter that the people who asked for help from the Langya grocery store just wanted an answer, or an affirmation.
The trio of thieves is based on the uncertainty of the seekers for the future, and solves the problems of these parties from the perspective of a bystander.
The metaphor that Keigo Higashino hides in this novel, then, is to form a connection between unrelated strangers through a series of coincidences. "People are not the same as people's sorrows and joys", and in the same way, people's confusion is also different.
The trio of thieves is a criminal, but also a social dregs and garbage, but they have a sincere and warm heart, including the most basic goodwill and sincerity of being human.
Atsuya, Shota, Yukihira, and the helpers of the word, after reading the letters, were touched by the stories of these people and sincerely wanted to help them. In the process of solving these problems, the trio of thieves also gained insights into their past lives.
Therefore, "Relief Grocery Store" seems to arrange different people, stories, and places in a specific occasion to form an abrupt relationship.
The author uses ingenious ideas, details and character portrayals to evoke the good, positive and sincere side of people's hearts with the original entangled plot, with family affection and love as the link, plus surreal and time reversal factors.
<h1 class = "pgc-h-arrow-right" > three, the metaphor behind "Relief Grocery Store": May everyone in the world be good</h1>
Shi Hang, a famous Chinese screenwriter, once commented on "Relief Grocery Store": "Use time and space to twist and play straight." The three robbers are turned back in time, and everything is completed. ”
It is unreasonable that a Longaya grocery store that has been abandoned for decades can actually receive letters from more than 30 years ago. Keigo Higashino cleverly arranged these irrationalities in the outline of the story.
Like scattered planets, forcibly pulled back into their normal orbits. While somewhat unreasonable, they are also back in their original trajectory.
In the book, Keigo Higashino treats these three thieves as interpreters of the Nanaya grocery store, and the intention behind them is also very warm.
In this world, everyone is an independent individual, and even between parents, relatives, or lovers, there will be invisible barriers.
Treating people as individuals, each individual encounters difficulties or is confused about the future, and the bond between them will deepen. In this case, even a small amount of kindness and sincerity can bring light to these lost people.
In Keigo Higashino's emotional world, the original owner of the grocery store, Yuji Nanaya, has been delivering high-quality answers to different consultants for decades.
Even if the trio of thieves has no culture and is rude in speech, they are kind in their hearts and willing to solve problems for strangers. A little kindness will give great encouragement to the person who asks for help.
As Yuji Nanaya put it: "If you compare the people who come to me for advice to lost lambs, usually they have a map in their hands, but they don't look at it, or they don't know where they are."
From another point of view, it is precisely because it is a blank piece of paper that you can draw a map as you please, and everything is up to you. I sincerely pray that you can believe in yourself and burn your life without regrets. ”
This passage is the finishing touch to "Relief Grocery Store" and can also represent the thoughts of Keigo Higashino.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > summary</h1>
Everyone will have troubles, and when they encounter difficulties and are confused about the future, they will be anxious and confused inside. At this time, if someone can give a sincere encouragement, it is a great help.
There is a difference between human wealth and knowledge, but there is no difference between the good qualities of goodwill and sincerity in the heart. While solving the difficulties of others, you can also fulfill yourself.
Whether it is a thief or a rich businessman, as long as you have good intentions and love life, everyone can be a mentor in life.
The little stories described in "Relief Grocery Store" are like a faint light that brings light to everyone. With a bright heart, even if the road ahead is full of thorns, we can be invincible and brave.
Finally, I will use a sentence from "Relief Grocery Store" as a closing remark and encourage you with everyone. "No matter how unhappy you are now, you have to believe that tomorrow will be better than today."