A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

As soon as Guier took one look at the dazzling array of jewels, she said to Sha Yanxiao, "Brother, I'm still young and don't need all that much. Besides, my sister-in-law's family is in financial trouble. If I accept any of it, they might think we're trying to steal her inheritance."

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "Originally, your sister-in-law's dowry didn't have to be returned. We returned part of it just to make it look good to outsiders. We couldn't give them the property in Shanghai anyway, and the same goes for these. Since you're still young and don't want to take it, I'll keep it for you first."

Guier nodded quickly. In short, just don't let it fall into her hands.

Sha Yanxiao thought for a moment, then pulled out a jade bracelet and said, "Brother, why don't you give this to your sister-in-law as an engagement gift? This way you don't have to buy another one. This one has good water content too."

Of course Guier agreed.

The engagement banquet was held the next day. Although it was not a big event, there were still five or six tables. All the guests were friends of the Marshal's Mansion. Both the Song family and the Tong family came.

The eighth concubine finally came out, dressed in gorgeous clothes. She and the lady stood on either side of the Marshal, looking very favored. It made people wonder whether what happened before was true.

After Tong Yujun and her family greeted the Marshal, they took the eighth concubine aside and started chatting animatedly. Tong Yujun turned around and saw Guier, and nodded gratefully.

Sha Yanxiao pulled Gui'er to the engagement party, Sha Yanyao and Miss Shen. Originally, Miss Shen might not attend, but she showed up after all. She wore an imported simple pink dress and an exquisite gauze-covered hat. The gauze in front just covered her eyes, so the scar on her eye was not clearly visible. She still looked elegant and refined standing there.

Sha Yanyao was wearing a black suit and tie, looking very handsome. He and Miss Shen were a perfect match.

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said to Sha Yanyao and Miss Shen, "Congratulations on your engagement. This is a small gift for you." As he spoke, he took out two brocade boxes. The one he handed to Miss Shen, Gui'er knew it was a jade bracelet, but she didn't know what the one for Sha Yanyao was.

The two accepted it and expressed their gratitude politely. Sha Yanxiao then pulled Gui'er away. Other guests were about to come forward to speak, but Madam Shen and Mrs. Shen stood beside the two young men, looking very cheerful and cheerful. It was obvious that they were truly happy.

Director Shen stood beside Mrs. Shen, his expression solemn. Although people kept coming forward to greet him and try to get close to him, his expression was always indifferent. Guier heard someone retreating from Director Shen's side whisper cautiously, "We can't curry favor with officials of the central government."

Marshal Sha chatted with Director Shen from time to time, and then went to entertain the guests. He was so busy that he couldn't turn around. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Sha Yanxiao coming, and immediately asked him to go and greet the guests.

After Sha Yanxiao went to greet the guests, Gui'er was finally free to move around. She saw Song Xichen attending with Mr. Song and Mrs. Song, and was about to go over to chat with him, when she suddenly caught Marshal Sha exchanging glances with Mrs. Song, while Mr. Song and Song Xichen happened to be chatting with others and didn't see. Gui'er didn't want to get into trouble. She couldn't tell Song Xichen that your mother is flirting with another man and getting ready for a date again, right?

Just then, Sha Lili came to see her, and Guier smiled, nodded to Song Xichen, and walked away.

Sha Lili said mysteriously, "I heard that Second Brother's wife has passed away?"

Guier nodded honestly and said, "Yes."

Sha Lili smiled and said, "I heard she asked to leave all her jewelry to you? Now you'll have a lot more income."

Gui'er was stunned for a moment: "How did you know?"

Sha Lili smiled and said, "Don't be nervous. My mother happened to be there when my second brother was reporting to our father. I'm not greedy for yours."

Gui Er sighed and said, "I don't know why my sister-in-law left it to me. Maybe she was confused when she was dying. Besides, her family is coming to ask for the dowry. If she says it's mine without any evidence, I don't know what to do if there's a quarrel."

Sha Lili's eyes widened in surprise and she asked, "How dare her family come and ask for her dowry?"

"It's not just the dowry. I heard they also want to take back the properties they snatched back in Shanghai."

"This is pure fantasy. Why did you run away when you wanted the property? We helped to get it back. It was originally registered under the name of my second sister-in-law. Now that she's dead, you want to divide the property? Father will never agree."

Gui'er also felt that this matter was a confusing one, but considering Marshal Sha's character, how could he possibly give away the meat he had obtained?

She said to Sha Lili, "My brother plans to give them some money."

Sha Lili snorted and said, "If it were you, I wouldn't give them a cent. You don't know the Ji family. My uncle is from Shanghai, and he knows it all too well. They used to bully men and women in Shanghai, fighting for territory and money, and causing many families to be broken up. They say they want to take back the property in Shanghai, but it's just talk. They don't dare go back at all. If they go back, they will definitely be retaliated by their enemies."

Gui'er sighed, "No matter what, the person is gone. I'm afraid my brother is just thinking about finishing things in a dignified manner."

Sha Lili laughed and said, "Now that we know it, two of our three brothers are already widowers. Don't let people say that our men are unlucky in marriage."

Gui'er said hurriedly, "Don't talk nonsense. Today is my eldest brother's engagement party. If mother knew about this, she would be furious."

Sally stuck out her tongue and said nothing more.

Gui'er thought of Sha Yanwen's wife, Miss Zhang Si, who had been rescued by Sha Yanxiao through a trick. She didn't know how she was doing now, so she should find a chance to visit her.

At this time, the steward invited everyone to take their seats. Gui'er sat down and took a look. Today's banquet was very carefully prepared. There were famous Shanghai dishes such as Dongpo Pork, Roasted Golden Money Chicken, Cubed Chicken in Fragrant Wine, Emerald Pigeon, Stir-fried Eel Back, and Sweet and Sour Pork in Juice, as well as desserts such as red bean paste sundae, cream cake, and chestnut cake. The drinks included Coca-Cola, banana water, lemonade, and Coca-Cola. It was a fusion of Chinese and Western cuisine.

Gui Er saw Marshal Sha flatteringly saying to Director Shen, "These are specially made by a famous chef invited from Shanghai. I hope they will suit your taste."

Director Shen smiled faintly and said, "Very good, very good."

After that, we started eating. It was very lively with everyone clinking glasses and talking about food. Guier was sitting at the children's table, so she could eat without worry. The food was indeed very good.

When she was almost full, Guier saw people at the table starting to move around and toast each other. Guier thought that she hadn't finished her homework yet and wondered whether she should leave early and go home.

Looking up at the door, she saw Marshal Sha and Madam Song exchanged glances with each other and sneaked out one after another. It turned out that they were still flirting. Gui'er was extremely speechless, but if she went out now, it would be troublesome to run into them, so she had to stay at the table.