Life After Retirement Summary and Analysis

Musui begins his retirement dreaming up money-making schemes. He first takes revenge on his brother Saburoemon, who he guesses convinced his family to build the cage, by forging his seal and stealing a significant sum of money from Saburoemon's rice agent, all without the crime being able to be traced back to Musui. Musui then finds money by lending gambling money to his friends at a high rate of interest—although Musui swears he himself never gambles.

Musui next relates the story of his having fun with a very straitlaced samurai. Musui corrupts the upright man by dragging him to the pleasure district and introducing him to prostitution and smoking. Afterward Musui "struts his stuff" and shows his power and influence in the district to impress the samurai.

The next story of Musui's retirement involves his...