Author | Fan Deng's Reading · Fireworks
✎ Interpret the teaser
Meet · Meet the unknown self in the book.
Good evening to all book lovers, and welcome to the reading column "Encounter" produced by Fan Deng Reading.
Today I will explain to you Keigo Higashino's novel - "Relief Grocery Store".
"Not only do you sell groceries, but you also offer advice on your worries, so whether you're struggling or desperate and in pain, welcome to write to us."
What is lost in the heart of modern people, this grocery store can help you find it.
Keigo Higashino has always had the reputation of "the king of Japanese mystery novels", and suspense, crime, and reasoning are the main elements of his novels;
But in 2011, he released a more special work that subverted the previous style.
The domestic media has highly praised this special work:
"It is Keigo Higashino's most characteristic, down-to-earth and warmest work, beyond the scope of speculative fiction, but more gripping than speculative fiction."
This novel is "Relief Grocery Store".
The book tells the warm story of an old man named Yuji Naniya, who guards a small grocery store and consults and solves problems for others.
Although Grandpa Naniya is an "ordinary old man", he has an "extraordinary heart", and he warms everyone around him with this pure and kind heart.
When you have read "Relief Grocery Store" and read Grandpa Naniya, you will understand:
Knowing how to think differently is the greatest kindness of a person.
Compare hearts to hearts, do not reveal people's shortness
After his wife died, Naniya's grandfather guarded a small grocery store alone.
In Japanese, the strokes of the words "Naniya" and "annoyance" are similar, so children in the neighborhood mischievously pronounce "Naniya Grocery Store" on the sign as "Annoyance Grocery Store".
In this way, the kind Grandpa Naniya followed their wishes and began to consult troublesome problems.
Initially, Grandpa Naniya's customers were just children, but gradually adults came to consult about troubles.
As the number of people consulted gradually increased, the questions asked by everyone also became varied, and even there were many malicious harassment letters, and some people wrote more than 30 consultation letters in one night, the content of which was complete nonsense.
When his son Guizhi came to visit Grandpa Naniya, he couldn't help but be a little angry when he saw this situation.
He felt that these pranks were really hateful.
But Grandpa Naniya was not impressed and said indifferently:
"The people who write these letters are essentially the same as ordinary counselors, people who have a hole in their hearts.
They must also be wondering how I would respond.
If you think about it, even if it is a trouble, it is not easy to come up with thirty in one go, so I not only have to write a reply, but also think carefully before writing. ”
The inquirers each carry secrets that cannot be told to outsiders, and tell the grocery store their bitterness.
But what warmed them was that the replies they received in anticipation and apprehension were all family-like teachings, never mentioning their half-point fault, let alone high-ranking criticism and accusations.
It was as if they were just lost lambs, experiencing nothing more than the forks in life that everyone inevitably experienced.
Bai Juyi said:
"The way to receive people and treat things, to live with the heart and to observe the body."
The kinder the person, the more willing he is to judge others from the good side and forgive others.
Grandpa Naniya's reply has helped many people find the direction of life, and his warm and kind attitude has soothed many broken and helpless hearts.
Because he knows that everyone has a past that they don't want to mention, and they all have a dilemma that they don't want to be seen through.
Instead of blaming others, we should learn to compare hearts to hearts, understand the sufferings of others, and treat others with our own hearts.
Empathy, moderate interruption
Guizhi couldn't help but feel a little distressed when he saw his father living alone in a small burrow, dealing with thick letters.
He persuaded his father to close the shop and move to Tokyo to live with him.
Guizhi said that he had discussed with his wife that he was going to change to a big house and would reserve a room for his father.
Grandpa Naniya was pleased in his heart, he knew that if he moved over, his virtuous daughter-in-law would be politely and warmly entertained.
But he still rejected his son's kindness and chose to stay alone in the deserted grocery store, choosing not to bother.
Because he knows how to put himself in his shoes:
The son's family has been crammed into a small rental house for many years, and a person finally has his own small family and can live affectionately, who wants to squeeze in a little old man?
There is nothing more convenient in the world than dependence and taking.
But there are always some people with soft hearts, who are good at understanding the difficulties of others, and would rather bear their own hardships and inconveniences than do embarrassing things.
Even though Naniya's grandfather later moved to his son due to physical illness, he always did his best to take care of his own things and not add additional burden to his son and daughter-in-law.
Lin Yutang once said:
"A person with a clean heart, clear thinking, and no superfluous emotions and delusions will give people a sense of security. Because he does not hurt people, does not hurt himself, does not cause trouble, and does not trouble others. In a way, it's a vow. ”
In the adult world, everyone has their own things to do.
No one's contribution is taken for granted.
It is necessary to know that each is safe, thick and suitable, is the most comfortable state between people.
Push yourself and others, and all things can be forgiven
Naniya's grandfather's letters have helped many people solve their troubles, and those letters have also enriched Naniya's old age.
Amazingly, those who wrote the letters were more or less related to an orphanage called "Marukoen".
Is all this just a coincidence?
In the last chapter of the book, an old letter in the drawer of the principal's office solves the puzzle for us.
It turns out that when Grandpa Naniya was young, he used to be a mechanic in the factory, and he accidentally met a rich lady and quickly fell in love.
They knew that due to the disparity in family circumstances, this relationship was destined not to be accepted, so they agreed to run away, but they did not expect to fail due to the maid's denunciation.
The young lady, under the threat of her father, wrote a letter of renunciation.
After receiving the letter, Naniya was very sad and had to leave in disgrace.
Those who have entered the heart are the most memorable; The emotions that move the heart hurt the most...
Everyone thought that Naniya's heart must be full of despair, and from now on there will only be resentment towards the young lady.
Who knew that three years later, the depressed young lady received a letter.
And this letter was written by the person she missed in her heart.
It turned out that Naniya was also depressed for a long time after leaving.
But he knew that the young lady was very affectionate, and he was worried that the young lady would feel guilty because of the original decision, so after some consideration, he decided to write a letter to persuade him to solve it.
In the letter, he said that his original idea of taking the young lady to escape was very bad, but fortunately the young lady changed her mind and avoided irreparable mistakes.
He also told the young lady:
Now that you are living well in your hometown, don't blame yourself, and I wish you a good person and a happy rest of your life.
Naniya was hurt by feelings, but the most worried thing was that the other party was unhappy.
I have experienced the pain of the cone, but I am still willing to forgive the person who makes me miserable.
So good, moving.
As Naniya wished, after reading the letter, the young lady gradually untied the knot.
But what he didn't know was that the young lady later chose not to marry for the sake of this sincere feeling.
And near Naniya's hometown, he built and operated a Maruketsu garden, and has been silently guarding each other since then.
It was in this darkness that there was mutual protection and bonding between the grocery store and Marukoen.
It is human instinct to resent for loss and hate for betrayal.
But people with good hearts know how to push themselves and others, understand the sufferings of others, and respect other people's choices.
As stated in To Kill a Mockingbird:
"You can never fully understand a person unless you walk around in his shoes and put yourself in his shoes." – Malcolm X
When you put yourself in someone else's shoes, you will find that many things, there is no right or wrong, but the position is different.
In fact, forgiving others is also freeing yourself.
Learning to change positions and push yourself and others is the beginning of a better life.
Write at the end
In the movie "The Ferryman", there is a line:
"The highest state of being a human being is empathy."
Simple four words, full of human kindness and compassion.
Life is the connection between people's hearts and hearts.
Considering problems from the perspective of others and feeling the feelings of others, you will tolerate others with a tolerant heart and forgive others with a forgiving heart.
Heart to heart, one more understanding, one more warmth;
The more understanding between people, the more harmony.
Buddha used to say:
"No matter who you treat well, it is the warmth that flows, and the love that is delayed. Do to others and benefit yourself. ”
Be kind and kind to others, and you will eventually be treated gently by others.
Author | Fireworks, like water flowing for years, singing as you walk.
Column Manager | Come slowly
Typography | Zheng to the north
Image | The picture in this article comes from the official stills of "Relief Grocery Store", which was invaded and deleted