Dominic Leung’s Reviews > How Do You Live? > Status Update

Reading Chapter Five - Napoleon and the Four Young Men

After Copper arrived at Mizutani's house, he was taken to the annex by a steward. When he entered Mizutani's room, a young lady of seventeen or eighteen, Mizutani's older sister, Katsuko, was telling the story of Napoleon against the combined army of Austria and Russia. She admired the heroic spirit of Napoleon when he faced the Cossack cavalry with courage.

Finished Uncle's Notebook - On Poverty and Humanity

Uncle mentioned the difference between consumers and producers. Since humans eat food, wear clothes and consume resources. Producers were paramount to the daily operations of society; conversely, consumers only took resources as they pleased. In this case, Copper was a consumer, and Uragawa was a producer, which meant Copper should respect Uragawa in his station.

Reading Uncle's Notebook - On Poverty and Humanity

The Uncle told Copper that he was in a fortunate position where nothing would hinder his study. Unlike Uraragawa, he had to take time off from studying to work. But even Uaragawas was in poverty in Copper's eyes. In Uraragawa's workers' eyes, they were in a much better position than they were. Most people were pursued by work constantly and couldn't take a break.

Reading Uncle's Notebook - On Poverty and Humanity

Copper's uncle started his entry by praising Copper for not looking down on Uragawa because of his poverty, poor grades and status. His uncle was happy that both Uragawa and Copper were good, honest young men.

Finished How Do You Live - Chapter 4

Copper walked alongside Uragawa to the train station; they parted ways at the end of the alley, going into the boulevard. The next Tuesday, Copper visited again. He helped Uragawa catch up on all of the subjects and schoolwork. In turn, he let Copper have a go at the motor in the tofu shop. When Copper returned home, he went to his uncle's house to tell him about his visits.

Reading How Do You Live - Chapter 4

After Copper made a pinky promise with Uragawa not to tell anyone about his father's situation, his younger sister and brother entered the room. She presented a tray of taiyaki cakes. Uragawa's younger brother was captivated by the cakes, so Copper offered him one. When Copper was leaving, a telegram had arrived, telling them that Uragawa's father was coming home in the evening.

Reading How Do You Live - Chapter 4

Copper came to the back of Uragawa's shop, watching him work on his fried tofu in a firing pot. He thought Uragawa was the very picture of a tradesman. After he finished, they went upstairs, and Uragawa began to catch up on the subjects he had missed while he was absent. During the conversation, Uragawa mentioned his father had gone to his hometown to raise money for the business.

Reading How Do You Live - Chapter 4

Winter had come; in the freezing season of December, students began to get sick and absent. Uragawa was one of the students who had gone missing for a few days. Copper was worried, and he went to visit Uragawa. Copper came to his tofu shop and saw Uragawa's mum attending to the patrons. It turned out Uragawa wasn't sick, but the shop helper was, so he had to stay in the shop.

Finished Uncle's Notebook - On Human Relationships and the Nature of Real Discoveries

Uncle replied on Copper's discovery of the Net Rule of Human Particle Relations. It was called relations of production by scholars long ago. When humans lived in tribes, people used to produce stuff for their own circle. But since civilisation grew, it had gone to a much larger scale, and it was not a healthy relationship.