A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

The next day, Sha Yanxiao learned about this and praised Gui'er greatly, saying, "My little Gui'er has also learned how to manage the household. This is exactly what I wanted."

Guier smiled. She just wanted to be on guard against the appearance of a second Ji Yiru.

When she arrived at school that day, Guier received care from the teachers and the principal again. The principal was especially sad, as if someone in his own family had died.

After school, Guier came to Zhenxiufang and helped with the work as usual. When she walked into the small room, she secretly took a look at the drawer where the flyers were kept and found that they were gone. The shopkeeper and his wife acted as if nothing had happened. Shopkeeper Zhang took advantage of the fact that there were not many customers in the shop to teach Guier how to take a pulse.

Manager Zhang asked a few questions about the funeral at the Marshal's Mansion, and then simply said "My condolences."

Gui'er wanted to find out the true identities of the Zhang couple, but she had no way to do so. She could only work and study hard as usual.

When it was almost time to go back, Song Xichen suddenly came. Gui'er was very surprised. Song Xichen brought a man with him. Gui'er recognized him at a glance as the man who came with him mysteriously last time.

But she still pretended she hadn't seen them and happily poured tea for Song Xichen and the man. Shopkeeper Zhang nervously sent Gui'er away and asked her to go to the front to help. Gui'er said tactfully, "I think it's almost time, so I'll go back first."

Shopkeeper Zhang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's fine. You just finished your work at home yesterday, so you can go home early."

When they returned to the Marshal's Mansion, they saw Wu Mingqiang sitting in the hall. Gui'er asked curiously, "Brother Wu, why are you here? Is there something wrong?"

Wu Mingqiang quickly stood up and said with a smile, "Miss, the box of silver and money that Uncle Young Master brought has been found."

Gui'er was very surprised. She had originally thought that it would be impossible to find it in such a mess. So she said happily, "Brother Wu is really capable. He actually found it."

Wu Mingqiang smiled shyly and said, "Thanks to you, Miss." Then he took out a beautifully wrapped paper box and said to Gui'er, "A while ago, a brother came back from Shanghai. I asked him to bring a little toy for you, Miss. I hope you like it."

Gui'er glanced at Sha Yanxiao, and Sha Yanxiao nodded. Gui'er said, "Thank you." Then she took it and opened the box curiously. There was actually a glass bottle inside, which should contain something similar to goose egg powder for face. What was special was that the lid of the bottle was a relatively thick bronze metal carved lid, and there was a silver metal ballet dancing figure on the top of the lid.

Wu Mingqiang smiled and said to Gui'er, "Miss, try to twist that little man."

Guier twisted it with her hands and found that it was actually a spring. After twisting it once, the little ballerina slowly turned and made pleasant music. The lid turned out to be a music box.

It was the first time Gui Er had seen such exquisitely crafted cosmetics in this era. She smiled and said to Wu Mingqiang, "Thank you."

After Wu Mingqiang left, Gui'er said to Sha Yanxiao, "Brother Wu always gives me such nice gifts. I feel a little guilty about it, but I don't have anything to give him in return."

Sha Yanxiao and Dali, who was standing behind him, both laughed. Dali said, "Children are naive. Wu Mingqiang was promoted to deputy captain of the security team in a short period of time, and he made a lot of money. Now that he's in charge of the mine, it goes without saying."

Gui'er was very surprised and asked, "Brother, will you allow him to fish it out?"

Sha Yanxiao smiled and touched Gui'er's head and said, "He's not trying to help me. In his position, even if he doesn't try to help me, others will give it to him."

Gui'er was even more puzzled. "If it's such an important position, does Brother trust him? After all, he's only been here for a short time. Brother has so many trusted brothers around him. Wouldn't it be better to appoint them? For example, Brother Dali."

Dali waved his hands repeatedly, and Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "It's not an easy position for him to hold. He has to offend many people. Many of my brothers and sisters have family and relatives in the local area, making them easy targets for assassinations. I've had someone check and found that Wu Mingqiang is an orphan and has no other relatives. In addition, he is decisive and quick in his work, and has good skills. He is a very useful person. He has no foundation and can only rely on me to climb up. I am very satisfied with this."

Only then did Gui'er understand why Sha Yanxiao valued Wu Mingqiang so much.

Dali teased, "Since he gets so much, he naturally has to give some to the higher-ups. He also gives a lot to us brothers on a daily basis. Since he's such a good person, everyone naturally likes him."

Gui'er couldn't help but sigh that Wu Mingqiang was only sixteen or seventeen years old, but his mental maturity was much better than her, who was in her twenties at heart.

A few days later, when Ji Yiru's seventh day was almost over, his parents came to the Marshal's Mansion, wanting to take their son back. Gui'er happened to be on holiday that day, and Dingxiang told her about it. Gui'er hurried to watch the fun.

Gui'er had met Ji Yiru's parents once at her wedding, but this time she hardly recognized them. They looked dusty and a little disheveled. Although the material and style of the clothes they wore were still good, they did not have the elegance they had then, and instead looked a little timid.

The steward brought the two people into the yard and warmly invited them to sit in the living room. Sha Yanxiao had not returned from the military camp yet, and no one else in the Marshal's Mansion showed up. Gui'er was hesitating whether to come out and entertain them herself, but she had no way to make the decision for their son.

Just as they were hesitating, Ji Yiru's younger brother, who was arranged to live in the small courtyard, ran in from outside. When Ji Yiru's parents saw their son, they quickly got up, walked forward and asked, "Son, are you okay?"

Their son plopped down on the sofa with a big horse and said angrily, "Why are you here so late? If you hadn't come, my brother-in-law wouldn't have let us go."

When Ji Yiru got married, Gui'er saw him as a fat, plump, and wealthy man in his 50s. Now, his cheeks are so thin that the flesh is sunken. He sighed and said, "Your mother was ill a while ago. You know that. Didn't we rush over just when she got better?"

Gui'er glanced at Ji Yiru's mother. At that time, her face was full of nobility, even a little arrogant, and her eyebrows were somewhat similar to Ji Yiru's. Now, her face was pale and her eyes were dull. She was indeed sick.

Ji Yiru's younger brother curled his lips and said, "Let me tell you, no one is willing to give my sister's dowry."

Gui'er was speechless. It was obvious that he was the one who lost that big box of money. Although Wu Mingqiang found it later, Gui'er didn't know how Sha Yanxiao planned to deal with it.

Thinking of this, Gui'er decided not to go any further. She said to Dingxiang, "You should quietly leave through the servants' passage. When Second Brother comes back, stop him and tell him what the uncle said."