A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

The Marshal and his wife led them to the host table, exchanged a few pleasantries with a smile on their faces, and then said to everyone: "This is Director Shen and his wife, and their daughter, Miss Shen, who came from Nanjing." Everyone present turned around and nodded and smiled at the guests.

Afterwards, the Marshal specially introduced Sha Yanyao to the young lady. Although Sha Yanyao had an inconvenient leg, he looked quite normal today. He didn't limp that much when he walked. He shook hands with the young lady very politely.

Gui'er sat at the children's table, so she didn't have to come into direct contact with them. The Marshal announced that it was time to eat, and everyone started eating.

After dinner, usually everyone went back to their own courtyards, but today no one dared to leave without the Marshal's order. They all drank tea and listened quietly. The Marshal's table was chatting and laughing.

Gui'er turned her head and looked over. At the table where the Marshal sat were the Marshal and his wife, Director Shen and his wife, and Miss Shen sat next to Mrs. Shen. Next to Miss Shen was Sha Yanyao, and next to Sha Yanyao were Sha Yanxiao and Sha Yanwen. It was obvious that this was a special arrangement.

Suddenly, Miss Shen asked, "What kind of books have the young ladies in your house read?"

The lady was visibly taken aback, but the Marshal was quick to react. He glanced at the table of children and said, "I sent them all to St. Mary's College. I didn't ask what they were studying. You can talk to them on your own, Lily, Gui'er."

Gui'er didn't expect that the Marshal would push his adopted daughter forward. If you think about it carefully, it's not surprising. His other daughters just learned a few words from the teacher at home. They should not be able to talk to a girl like Miss Shen who had studied abroad. The Marshal was also afraid of being laughed at.

Gui'er and Sally stood up and walked to the chair. Gui'er thought that Miss Shen had returned from studying abroad and might not use traditional etiquette, so she extended her hand to shake Miss Shen's hand and said, "Hello, Miss Shen, my name is Gui'er."

Seeing this, Sha Lili also extended her hand to shake her hand and introduced herself: "Hello, my name is Lily."

Director Shen looked at them and said to the Marshal with a smile, "The two daughters behaved very gracefully. It seems that the Marshal has taught them well."

Marshal Sha said with a proud smile, "No, no, I just thought that nowadays, the government is advocating new ideas and a new life, and we should respond to it."

Miss Shen asked: "What books are you reading?"

Sha Lili said: "I'm currently reading Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet."

Guier said, "I've been reading Treatise on Febrile Diseases recently."

Miss Shen asked curiously, "Miss Gui'er, are you interested in medical books?"

Guier smiled and said, "Yes, I am very interested in studying medicine. I hope to become a doctor in the future and save lives."

The adults were very happy to see the three of them chatting happily.

Sha Lili suddenly said, "Miss Shen, why don't you go sit in my study? I have some other literary books there." Then she gave Gui'er a look, and Gui'er immediately understood that she wanted her to help persuade Miss Shen to go, so she said to Miss Shen, "Yes, Miss Shen, I also want to go to Lili's room to borrow some books to take home. Why don't you go together?"

Miss Shen readily agreed and came to the courtyard of the third concubine. Sha Lili took them to her study. Guier could see at a glance that there were many more books on the dusty bookshelf. She turned her head and looked at Sha Lili. She winked at Guier mischievously. Needless to say, these books were bought by her just in the past two days for show.

Miss Shen looked at the books on the shelf and asked them, "Do you know Marx?"

"What silk?" Sha Lili asked, bewildered. She realized she had exposed herself as soon as she said it, and quickly corrected herself, "Oh, you mean that writer? I haven't read much of his work, but I heard he's quite good. I'll look for his works to read someday."

Gui'er felt her heart pounding when she heard this. It was as if Miss Shen had opened a window into the modern era before her. However, she wasn't sure if such discussions were even possible in this era. She smiled and said, "It's embarrassing to say, but I usually just read the newspaper, and occasionally browse the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, Treatise on Febrile Diseases, Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, and the like. I don't have much interest in literary works."

Miss Shen said, "Do you think literary works are useless?"

Gui'er was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Literature is certainly interesting, but medical books are more useful. At least they can help sick people. If I become a doctor in the future, I will try my best to treat patients who cannot go to the hospital because they have no money."

Ms. Shen smiled and said, "There are so many people in China. How can you treat them all by yourself? The most radical solution is to make medical care affordable for everyone. This requires a fundamental change in our social system."

Gui'er was thrilled. This Miss Shen was actually a progressive young person. Sha Lili didn't understand what she was saying, but she kept nodding in agreement, saying, "Yes, yes, my mother always said that we should help the poor. Doing good is the greatest joy, and blessings will come to us."

At this time, the fourth concubine came in and said, "Miss Shen, you must be tired from reading. Come out and sit down and have some fruit."

So the three girls went to the main hall, where they saw the table already set with yellow peaches, honey pears, grapes, chrysanthemum cakes, cloud cakes, almond pastries, hawthorn jelly, and the drink was the fashionable Coca-Cola. It was obvious that everything had been carefully prepared.

The fourth concubine smiled kindly and said to Miss Shen, "These cakes are Shanghai specialties. Speaking of which, Miss Shen may not know that I am from Shanghai. My brother works in the government secretariat. I heard that Director Shen is going to be transferred to Shanghai this time. When the time comes, just let my brother know if you need anything."

Gui'er finally figured out something. It turned out that the Fourth Concubine was trying to win over Director Shen. Since it was not convenient to do so in front of the Marshal, she tried to win over his daughter in private. It turned out to be a good idea.

Miss Shen smiled and said, "Thank you, Fourth Auntie, for your hospitality. You are so kind. I will tell my father when I get home."

When the fourth concubine heard this, her face was as happy as a flower.

Gui'er thought to herself, "This Miss Shen seems to understand the ways of the world. How could she be so rash as to bring up Marx in front of two little girls she doesn't even know?"

Miss Shen smiled and said to Gui'er and Sally, "Before we go to Shanghai, we will stay at your house for a few days. When we go, could you please take me for a walk around the area?"

Before Gui'er and Sha Lili could say anything, the fourth concubine said cheerfully, "That's great! You know they're both bored at home all day long. Having another playmate will make things more lively. Go ahead and have fun."