A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Gui'er thought that since she had already joined Song Xichen's team, she had to bring Sha Yanxiao in no matter what, otherwise sooner or later they would be in a life-and-death situation in the future.

But what should she do? Gui'er was confused and didn't know where to start.

Sha Yanxiao watched Gui'er come back and forth in front of him five or six times for various reasons, sometimes to get the newspaper, sometimes to drink tea, sometimes to eat snacks.

I smiled and asked, "What's wrong with you today? Is there something you want to talk to me about?"

Gui Er was embarrassed, smiled and said, "No, no, I just wanted to chat with you."

Sha Yanxiao said with interest: "Okay, what do you want to talk about?"

"Well, Brother Yanxiao, is your work going well?"

"It went pretty smoothly."

"Oh……"

"..."

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "What's wrong with you today?"

Guier said a little embarrassedly: "I feel that I don't understand a lot of things now, such as the current situation..." Of course, she couldn't tell her real purpose, but she didn't know where to start.

Sha Yanxiao touched Gui'er's head lovingly and said, "I understand. Gui'er has grown up and is beginning to be curious about the outside world, right?"

Gui'er had no choice but to nod in agreement.

Sha Yanxiao stroked Guier's little head. Guier's hair was thin and soft. It felt like smooth brocade when passing through his fingertips, which made people feel particularly comfortable, just like stroking kittens and puppies can bring peace and tranquility to the soul.

Sha Yanxiao said, "It's not peaceful out there right now. Various factions are vying for power, and foreigners are eyeing us covetously. The market is full of mixed people, and theft and looting continue despite repeated bans. Factions within the central government are vying for power. My father and I are in charge of this small place, and there are often things we can't do anything about."

Gui'er noticed that Sha Yanxiao seemed dissatisfied with the status quo, so she took the opportunity to ask, "Is it possible to break all this and establish an equal society? A society without casinos or opium dens, with good public security and everyone living and working in peace and contentment, with only one government serving all citizens?"

Upon hearing this, Sha Yanxiao burst into laughter. "Isn't this the utopia described in newspapers and novels? It seems all your newspaper reading is worth it. It's all fake, you know? It's a beautiful dream dreamed up by educated young people. It's beautiful, but it doesn't align with reality."

Gui'er said, "What if it can come true one day in the future?"

Sha Yanxiao smiled bitterly and said, "How can this be achieved?"

Gui'er was speechless for a moment. She couldn't mention Song Xichen, nor could she say that she came from the future world.

Seeing her frown, Sha Yanxiao comforted her, "Okay, don't dwell on those trivial things. What matters most is working hard in the present moment. I asked the kitchen to make you some almond cookies. They should be almost ready. Ask Dingxiang to pour you a glass of milk to go with them. They're delicious."

Gui'er could only smile and nod. It seemed that it was not easy to persuade Sha Yanxiao.

Time had already flown to the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival. This festival seemed to be quite important no matter the era. Guier saw that many teahouses, dim sum shops, and even roadside stalls were offering homemade mooncakes. Wing On Department Store even published a flyer to promote the event and distributed it at the school gate. Guier took one and looked at it:

"This department store has specially commissioned a Shanghai workshop to make various Cantonese-style mooncakes. Prices: Golden Ham Meat Mooncake, Shredded Coconut Meat Mooncake, Zunzi Meat Mooncake, Jujube Paste Meat Mooncake, Fragrant Osmanthus Mooncake, Banana Bud Crisp Mooncake, Rose Crisp Mooncake, Bodhi Crisp Mooncake, and Osmanthus Crisp Mooncake, all priced at four octagonal coins per box. Five-nut Sweet Meat Mooncake, Five-nut Salted Meat Mooncake, Egg Yolk Meat Mooncake, Bean Paste Meat Mooncake, Bean Paste Meat Mooncake, Five-nut Vegetarian Mooncake, Pepper and Salt Vegetarian Mooncake, Preserved Vegetable Vegetarian Mooncake, Premium Five-nut Mooncake, White Meat Mooncake, and Snow Skin Brocade Mooncake, all priced at four octagonal coins per box. Bean Paste Vegetarian Mooncake and Bean Paste Vegetarian Mooncake, all priced at four octagonal coins per box. Buy now! Discounts available for orders of ten or more."

The back of the flyer even had photos of black and white mooncakes. Gui'er couldn't help but marvel at the variety of these mooncakes, which were even greater than the modern varieties. The classmates couldn't help but discuss it. Tong Yujun said, "Last year, my family bought the Golden Ham and Pork Mooncakes and the Five-Nut Mooncakes. I think these two are the best, and I plan to buy them this year too."

Guier took a look and saw that they were the Jinhua ham mooncakes and the five-nut mooncakes. They seemed to have stood the test of time, gained popular recognition, and been passed down to the present day. She said, "I see the shredded coconut meat mooncake, the preserved vegetable and vegetarian mooncake, and the snowy brocade mooncake are quite interesting. I'll buy a box to try later."

When they turned around, they found He Ruizhu standing behind them, silent. Guier took advantage of the others walking away and asked He Ruizhu: "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

He Ruizhu quickly shook her head and said with a smile, "It's nothing, it's just that these mooncakes are too expensive. My family never buys them. You know, my father only makes a few silver dollars a month, and this mooncake is almost a silver dollar. My family makes them ourselves every year. My mother prepares the red bean paste and flour in advance, and they turn out delicious."

Gui Er was afraid of hurting her pride, so she quickly said, "I think it's too expensive too. I saw that those roadside shops also make similar styles, which should be much cheaper. I plan to buy that one to eat."

He Ruizhu said to Guier, "When my mother makes the mooncakes this year, I'll treat you to some. Thank you for helping me so much in the past."

Gui'er was about to refuse, but after thinking about it, she realized that this was someone else's good intention, so she smiled and said, "Okay, I'm really looking forward to it. Your mother must make it very delicious."

When they returned to the Marshal's residence that night, Sha Yanxiao said to Gui'er, "Our city is holding a charity gala for the Mid-Autumn Festival. I ordered a dress for you in Shanghai. Try it on. If it doesn't fit, you can send it in for alterations."

As he spoke, he handed over a box vigorously. Gui'er opened it and saw a crescent-white square-necked waist dress. The fabric was jacquard satin, and the skirt was covered with subtle osmanthus patterns. The stamens were woven with gold thread. At first glance, it looked playful and generous, but when you looked closer, you could tell that it was a special fabric that was not sold on the market.

It fits Guier perfectly, and matches the pearl necklace and earrings perfectly. With the addition of white leather shoes, she looks like a really playful and cute rich girl.

Sha Yanxiao looked at it and nodded with satisfaction, saying, "It's very good. No need to alter it. It fits me perfectly."

Gui'er also liked it very much and said to Sha Yanxiao with a smile: "Thank you, Brother Yanxiao."

Turning around, he saw the steward walking in with Wu Mingqiang. Wu Mingqiang was stunned when he saw Gui'er in her fancy dress. Sha Yanxiao saw him and said, "Are you here?"

Wu Mingqiang didn't react, still staring blankly at Gui'er. Gui'er smiled and said, "Brother Wu, what's wrong with you?"

Sha Yanxiao said to Gui'er in a somewhat unhappy tone, "Okay, go upstairs and change your clothes, okay?"