Gensai Murai

“ Bunzayemon, who was not accustomed to show joy or sorrow in his face, could not suppress his emotion on that day.
Almost all the houses in the city of Yedo were destroyed by the fire. Warriors and merchants had to build their abodes afresh, and because all the timber in the city was reduced to ashes, the price at once went up tenfold. Now Kibun alone, at this juncture, had already a great stock of timber on hand at his depot at Fukagawa, and he had fresh supplies constantly being sent in from the mountains in the near-by country, being the timber he had lately bought. ”

“ Henceforth I ’ll not sleep with my feet toward Fukagawa,”
Hearing this, Bunzayemon was even more impressed by the clever management of Chobei. On his way home through the desolation and ruin he also passed by many of the daimios’ palace-grounds, where he saw his own trademark on all the boardings put up as temporary inclosures.
As he was wondering at this new proof of Chobei’s energy and wisdom, two samurai, or retainers, came by talking.
“Look, my friend! The inclosure of this, mansian, too, seems to have been put up by Kibun’s people. The man is wonderfully ready for everything! ”

“ Moreover, Genbei San, the charity was extended even to the mansions of many daimios, and the nobles and their families ate of his bento.”
“To be sure. Even the nobles with their heaps of gold and all their power could n’t buy a single grain in the general consternation! Really that Kibun, whoever he may be, is a sagacious fellow!” Thus talked the men who had received his alms.
While Bunzayemon, who listened to this current talk, was inwardly rejoicing that Chobei had managed his affairs so admirably, he passed two women who were talking. ”