A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

When Gui'er returned to the Marshal's Mansion that day, she couldn't wait to tell Taohua the news, and quietly took out the "Nothing to Worry About" plaque and gave it to her. Taohua was extremely happy, and with a blushing face, she stroked the "Nothing to Worry About" plaque carved from golden nanmu wood over and over again.

Gui'er said to her, "Don't underestimate this wooden plaque, but golden nanmu is a precious wood species and is worth a lot of money. Besides, this matter cannot be known to the Third Concubine, so you should keep it secret to avoid unnecessary trouble."

Taohua nodded solemnly and said, "I understand. But how should I tell the Third Concubine and the Marshal about this in the future?"

This is indeed a problem. Taohua is named Taohua, and that is not a false name. At that time in the Song Mansion, the reason why Song Tingting fell in love with Taohua at first sight and made her her personal maid was because Taohua had a face like a peach blossom and eyes like autumn water. She has been a beauty since she was a child. Although Guier also looks beautiful and refined, there is a stubbornness in her eyes, giving people a feeling that she is smart, opinionated, and difficult to grasp.

During this period, whenever Gui'er accompanied the Marshal for dinner, she noticed that the Marshal's eyes would occasionally glance at Taohua. Gui'er knew the Marshal's character very well. Now that Taohua and Wu Dafu were engaged, it could be considered a form of protection.

Gui'er didn't tell Taohua about this, fearing she might be upset. She smiled and said to her, "When my brother finishes his apprenticeship, I'll have him come to our house and tell us that we were engaged since childhood. If father doesn't agree, we can find another way. Maybe we can ask my second brother for help."

Taohua said happily, "Thank you, Gui'er."

Seeing that her eyes were full of anticipation for her future life, without her usual timidity, Gui'er was very happy for her.

When they returned to Sha Yanxiao's courtyard, he said to her, "Go pack your things. We will be leaving in two days."

Gui'er had been looking forward to going to Shanghai as soon as possible to assist Director Shen's family in their operations. Now that she was finally about to set off, she returned to her room, opened the closet and sorted her luggage. She found that the green satin woven dark flower long cheongsam and the silver and white pearl knee-length short cheongsam that Song Xichen had bought for her at the Song family were now much shorter and no longer fit her. She couldn't help but feel a little emotional. She didn't expect that after traveling through time, she could experience the process of growing up again.

However, last year, when Song Xichen went to Shanghai again, he gave her a velvet plaid and cotton cheongsam before the Chinese New Year, as well as the Jinhua satin cheongsam and pomegranate silk cheongsam that Sha Yanxiao had custom-made for her, and the super luxurious silver fox fur double-breasted cape with eight-treasure necklace pattern, which were barely wearable.

Add to that the few dresses I bought recently, and that should be enough.

Guier asked Dingxiang to help her pack her clothes and put them in a suitcase, and then put her only few sets of jewelry in it, and then let her go.

Gui'er quietly took out the pocket pistol given by Sha Yanxiao and the hidden weapon pen given by Song Xichen, and put them into her small shoulder bag, ready to carry them with her. She also put the silver and money into the hollowed-out dictionary she made, and then everything was ready.

Just as they finished packing, Sha Yanxiao knocked on the door and came in. Seeing that Gui'er only had one suitcase, he frowned and said, "You still don't have enough things. It seems I need to buy you some more clothes."

Guier smiled and said, "That's not enough! I only had one bag when I went to Shanghai last year. Besides, I'm still growing, so my clothes will soon outgrow them. It would be a waste to make too many."

Sha Yanxiao looked at Gui'er, patted her head and said, "I'm glad you're so sensible. But you're the daughter of a general, so you still have to look your best. Tomorrow I'll take you to Yunshang Tower to order two pieces. I'll have them hurry up and they should be ready."

As he spoke, he casually opened the drawer of Guier's desk. Besides some stationery, there was also a golden nanmu carving of a lion holding a ball given to her by Wu Dafu. Usually, Guier locked this drawer, but she opened it while packing her luggage today and didn't have time to lock it again.

Sha Yanxiao picked up the wood carving and took a look at it. He could tell at a glance that the wood was unusual. He smiled and asked Gui'er, "Where did you buy this toy? It's quite exquisite."

Gui'er didn't want to hide it from Sha Yanxiao, so she told him, "Actually, a few days ago, when Taohua and I went to buy a gift for the Third Wife, we ran into my brother, my biological brother. He's an apprentice in a nearby carpenter's workshop, and he gave this to me."

"Is that the brother who went to the Song family to look for you before?"

Gui'er didn't expect Sha Yanxiao to know this: "No, that's my second brother, and this is my third brother, Wu Dafu."

As she spoke, Gui'er took out the money that Wu Dafu had given her before. The silver dollars and copper coins that Wu Dafu gave her were a little different from the ones she usually used. They were not that clean, but dirty. It was obvious that they were circulated among the lower classes. Because those people had dirty hands, the silver dollars were also black. Gui'er specially found a handkerchief to wrap them up.

Guier said, "He gave it to me and asked me to keep it for him. He said that when he learned enough, he would open his own carpentry shop."

Sha Yanxiao took it, glanced at it, then returned it to Gui'er, saying, "You said before that after your head injury, you forgot everything that happened before and that you were very resentful of your family for selling you out. Why are you willing to associate with him now?"

Gui'er couldn't really explain it. The two times Wu Dahua came to see her before, she just felt impatient and had to deal with him despite her nausea. But the time Wu Dafu showed up once, Gui'er believed what he said. Maybe it was Wu Dafu's behavior that made him give all his savings to Gui'er instead of just talking about it like Wu Dahua did.

Gui Er thought about the engagement between Tao Hua and Wu Da Fu, so she said bluntly, "I think Tao Hua has a good impression of him. The person Tao Hua likes should not be bad. Besides, Tao Hua and Wu Da Fu are engaged. I hope Tao Hua can find a good home in the future."

Sha Yanxiao was surprised: "Taohua and Wu Dafu are engaged?" He thought for a moment and said with a smile: "Oh, then you are close relatives. No wonder you are willing to believe him."

Gui'er took the opportunity to say to Sha Yanxiao, "Brother Yanxiao, Taohua and I are very grateful to the Marshal's Mansion for taking us in, but Father doesn't know yet that Taohua and my brother are engaged. If my brother finishes his studies and becomes independent in a few years, and they want to get married, will Father stop them? Could you help me persuade Father then?"

Sha Yanxiao paused. He had originally worried that Gui'er would return to her original family, but now that he was only asked to intercede with the Marshal, he smiled readily and said, "That's no problem. When your brother finishes his studies, I can even sponsor him to open a workshop. I'll provide the venue and capital."

Gui'er had just sensed a hint of displeasure in Sha Yanxiao, but she hadn't expected such a sudden change. Caught off guard, she cautiously said, "I thought you'd be upset, brother. I'll contact my old family."

Sha Yanxiao smiled. He was just worried that Gui'er would leave him. Ever since he first met her, Sha Yanxiao magically felt that he did not feel safe with anyone, but he felt particularly comfortable around this little girl.

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "If they're good to you, why should I object? Besides, among the three classes of people, I still admire craftsmen and farmers. At least they're not as cunning as merchants. Taohua marrying your brother is also a good choice."

Guier nodded happily and said, "I think so too."