A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

After hearing this, Sha Yanxiao sighed and said, "It's not that I want to hide this from you, I'm just afraid that you'll be scared after hearing it. This is very likely Marshal Zhang's revenge. We are looking for evidence."

"The leader was badly injured by you. We need to treat him first. Once he's better, we can get him to tell the truth. But one thing is certain: the abbot knows about this incident. He was most likely coerced and bribed into cooperating with that gang."

"Of course, even if he was forced, my father wouldn't allow it, so he sent him away with dignity."

Gui'er was shocked to find out that the abbot was killed by the Marshal.

"Will the three Miss Zhangs be affected by this incident?" After all, human lives are at stake. Gui'er was a little afraid that the Marshal would kill them, but it didn't seem likely that they were not involved at all. After all, they came to her to inquire about the situation at the first moment.

Sha Yanxiao hesitated for a moment and said, "I will ask them about the situation, but don't worry, no one will be killed. After all, our marriage to their family will make it more legitimate for us to take over Marshal Zhang's territory."

Gui'er didn't know what she felt anymore. She just felt tired and nodded with a smile.

Sha Yanxiao saw her exhausted face and asked with concern, "What's wrong? You were frightened yesterday, so you must be tired from school today. I should have asked you to take a day off earlier."

Gui'er shook her head and said, "It's okay."

Back at the Marshal's residence, today was not the day to have dinner with the Marshal, but the Marshal sent someone to call Sha Yanxiao and Gui'er over for dinner.

Gui'er felt that it might be related to what happened yesterday, and looked at Sha Yanxiao in confusion.

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "Well, let's go over there first." Obviously, he didn't know what it was either.

Following Sha Yanxiao to the dining room where they usually eat, I found that all the adults were there, and the only children were Sha Lili and Guier.

A long table was used today, and the Marshal asked everyone to take their seats. Sha Lili sat next to the fourth concubine, and Guier sat next to Sha Yanxiao.

The Marshal sat down, looked around, and said, "I asked everyone to come over for dinner today. Our family was attacked yesterday. The waiter in the Sixth Brother's courtyard is dead, and the Fifth Brother was also injured. We found out that Marshal Zhang's eldest son-in-law hired someone to do it."

Before she could finish her words, the Sixth Concubine burst into tears.

The Marshal frowned and said, "Alright, alright, we will definitely take revenge. But if anyone tells others that she died of illness, all the servants and children must say so. Do you understand? Because this will make people criticize us, saying that we occupied Marshal Zhang's territory and that's why he's here to take revenge. We must not give them any excuse."

"Also, Lao Wu is still in the hospital, injured..."

The Marshal said this and looked at Sha Yanxiao, who quickly said, "The doctor said her life isn't in danger, but she's a bit frightened and talking nonsense. He suggested she stay in the hospital for a while and find a special female nurse to watch over her to prevent any news from leaking out."

"Good, good, very good. It's just that the two children in her courtyard are still young, so Madam will have to take care of them again."

The lady forced a smile and said, "That's natural."

The Sixth Concubine suddenly said angrily, "Marshal, don't Marshal Zhang have three daughters in our hands? They can't kill my daughter while their daughters enjoy a peaceful life in our family, right?"

"No, according to the intelligence we found, this matter has nothing to do with them. Besides, since we told others that it was an accident, we can't retaliate against their daughter. Otherwise, we will be in the wrong if it gets out." Sha Yanxiao said.

"Then my daughter died in vain?" The Sixth Concubine was a little hysterical.

"We must seek justice, but we can't act rashly now. We must put the overall situation first," the Marshal said a little impatiently.

When the Sixth Concubine saw that the Marshal looked unhappy, she didn't dare to say anything.

The Marshal probably wanted to ease the atmosphere so he said, "They are still useful at the moment, unless the child born to Marshal Zhang by Sanmei is a boy, then we can have a legitimate claim and rest easy."

Gui'er really felt sorry for the three Miss Zhangs. They were daughters of the Marshal's family but had their feet bound since childhood and were instilled with the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. They didn't benefit much from Marshal Zhang's prosperity when he was successful, but when he fell into trouble, they were taken hostage. Their own families retaliated against them without any consideration for their lives. Once they were no longer useful, their lives would most likely be in danger.

"Little Lily and Little Guier performed the best this time. They knew to be cautious and didn't drink the potion. They also left marks along the way so we could pass by. Little Guier was especially brave, as she was able to snatch the gun with her bare hands and kill the leader with a single shot. She's truly worthy of being my daughter. Fourth Brother, you've taught me well. What gift does Guier want? I can grant it to you."

Just as Gui'er was feeling sad, the Marshal suddenly praised her and Sha Lili. Gui'er quickly said, "Since I came to this family, everyone has been so kind to me. I'm very grateful to my father, mother, and all the aunts. Since we're all family, this is what I should do. No gifts are needed. I will definitely study hard so that I can repay my parents in the future."

These words actually won the admiration of everyone present. The Marshal nodded repeatedly, his wife smiled widely, and the concubines also looked happy, as if they had really loved Gui'er, and Gui'er knew how to be grateful, so that their love was not in vain. Even the tense face of the Sixth Concubine relaxed a little.

This meal seemed to be meant to comfort everyone, with a particularly sumptuous roasted whole lamb. However, no one was particularly happy, as they all had their own concerns. The fourth concubine took the opportunity to curry favor with the Marshal because he praised her. The sixth concubine seemed preoccupied with something, while the third and eighth concubines acted as if it had nothing to do with them.

On the way back after dinner, Gui'er said to Sha Yanxiao, "Brother Yanxiao, since the three Miss Zhangs have nothing to do with this matter, shouldn't we at least ensure their safety?"

Sha Yanxiao said, "Don't worry about that. I was the one who convinced the three of them to come with me. I will ensure their safety no matter what."

Gui'er sighed and felt a little relieved.

After that, Gui'er still went to school and came home every day, but there was a rumor among her classmates that Fengcheng was in chaos. They said that for some unknown reason, a group of bandits suddenly appeared and not only robbed houses, but also attacked military camps, causing panic among the people. Among her classmates, those whose families had business dealings with Fengcheng were all worried and tried to reduce their visits there.

Even He Ruizhu said, "My grandmother's family is over there. I originally wanted to go back to visit relatives, but now I don't dare to go. I can only ask someone to bring some things back. But now, the shipping fee is so expensive. In the past, it was just a few copper coins to send some things, but now it costs a silver dollar for a trip, no matter how much. And if you get robbed by bandits along the way, there is no compensation. You know my father's monthly salary is only a few silver dollars. How can I bear it?"

Gui'er thought, hadn't Sha Yanxiao arranged for his trusted confidants to be stationed there? Perhaps when they came to report on their work, they could bring some things over for He Ruizhu's family.

So he said to He Ruizhu, "My brother might know someone who comes to Fengcheng. I'll go back and ask if anyone has come recently. If so, I can ask them to bring them over."

He Ruizhu was of course extremely surprised and thanked him repeatedly.

After returning, Guier told Sha Yanxiao about this.

Sha Yanxiao said calmly, "Sure. A few battalion commanders have been reporting to me recently about the progress of the bandit suppression efforts. I'll be there to check it out. Tell your classmate to prepare the things and write down the address. I'll deliver them together."

Gui'er said as soon as she heard this: "So what my classmates said about the bandits is true? Is it dangerous to go there?"

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "I'm not afraid. We've been through hail of bullets, so why would I be afraid of a few bandits?"

Guier told He Ruizhu.

On the day Sha Yanxiao was leaving, He Ruizhu asked her father to send the things to the school and give them to Dali, and then followed Sha Yanxiao's car to Fengcheng.

Gui'er thought it was something very important, but it turned out to be two baskets filled with a quilt, two blankets, a bag of rice, a bag of noodles, two bottles of wine, handmade cloth shoes, insoles, and some small miscellaneous items, filling the baskets to the brim.

He Ruizhu said a little embarrassedly: "These were originally gifts from my grandmother for his brother to marry his daughter-in-law. They were prepared for a long time."

Gui'er then remembered that in those days, quilts and cotton-padded clothes were hard currency that could be pawned. She said to her, "It's okay. Just ask your father to put the things in the trunk of the car and give the address to Dali."

Not only did He Ruizhu's father come to her house, but her mother and grandmother also came. When they saw that Rang had to put the things in the trunk of a car with a soldier in it, they were so scared that their legs were shaking. They looked at He Ruizhu with doubts several times, but did not dare to say it out loud.

After putting away the things, Gui'er kept bowing and greeting Sha Yanxiao in the car. Only then did she realize that the attitude of ordinary people towards soldiers in this era was completely different from the attitude of the people in her own era towards soldiers.