A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Xu Wenjie and Gui'er were chatting back and forth, and the atmosphere was a bit awkward. Miss Shen quickly said, "We're tired of playing chess. Why don't we go get something to eat?"

As he spoke, he led the two of them to the reception room. Miss Shen looked around and saw no servants. She walked to the door and shouted to the servants in the courtyard, "Go and ask the kitchen to bring me the white fungus, wolfberry, and osmanthus wine lees that have been prepared."

Gui'er's heart moved and she observed carefully. A maid of medium height, with a round face, thick lips, single eyelids and a bit of a simple and honest look quickly put down the broom in her hand and walked into the house to the kitchen.

Because the maid looked too plain, Gui'er was not sure whether she was sent by Song Xichen.

A few people were chatting and laughing in the reception room. Miss Shen tried hard to find a topic to ease the awkwardness. Guier said, "I've been reading Lu Xun's collection of essays recently, called 'Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk'."

Miss Shen and Xu Wenjie were stunned when they heard this. Miss Shen smiled and said, "You actually like Lu Xun too! I have a lot of Lu Xun's books here. If you like, you can take them and read them."

Guier nodded and said with a smile, "Okay."

In fact, during this period, all kinds of books were filled with different ideas. Because there was no strict censorship system, many books even spread ideas of decadence and extravagant life, while others were about curiosity and romantic encounters in order to make money and attract attention, whether they were novels, newspapers or magazines.

Sha Yanxiao would buy books for Guier regularly, mostly children's books like Andersen's fairy tales or Journey to the West comic books. Guier was afraid of being discovered to have adult thoughts so she didn't dare to buy books herself. However, she would borrow books from classmates at school. Most female students preferred to read books with progressive ideas, like those by Lu Xun. Guier didn't know whether they could really understand the critical ideas in them or were just keeping up with the trend.

Xu Wenjie was a little surprised and said, "You like reading Lu Xun's books at such a young age?"

Gui'er now has a preliminary impression of Xu Wenjie. She thinks that this person should be a progressive young man, but he is arrogant and has low emotional intelligence. He is really not a likable person.

She smiled and said to Xu Wenjie, "Why are you so surprised, Mr. Xu? I also come from a lower-class background. The current social unrest and corruption are obvious to all. I believe that people from all walks of life should contribute to the better development of the country."

Xu Wenjie smiled and said, "You're quite rare, huh? You said you came from a lower class background. Aren't you the Marshal's daughter? How could you possibly be from the lower class?"

Gui'er smiled and said, "Don't worry if you two laugh at me. My family is originally from a peasant background. Due to a disaster and a poor harvest, I was fortunate enough to receive the Marshal's mercy and became his adopted daughter."

Miss Shen and Xu Wenjie suddenly realized, and now they felt a little sympathetic towards Guier.

At this time, the servant who went to the kitchen brought out a large basin of white fungus, wolfberry, osmanthus and wine lees. Another servant came out with rice and a spoon and served a bowl to each of the three people. It was very sweet and soft.

Gui'er praised: "Miss Shen, the wine lees you make are delicious."

Miss Shen smiled and said, "My family has used this chef for 20 years. It is said that my ancestors cooked for the emperor in the Forbidden City."

Guier found that the servant who had just entered the kitchen from the yard to get something was still standing by and serving her. Remembering that she had also been away for a long time when she went to get the dessert just now, she couldn't help but pay special attention to her.

At this time, Miss Shen said to the servant, "Go get some more butterfly cakes."

The servant agreed obediently and walked towards the kitchen.

Xu Wenjie and Miss Shen were discussing the rehearsal of a drama. At this time, Director Shen also came back. Guier quickly stood up to greet him, but Director Shen just nodded.

When he saw Xu Wenjie, his attitude suddenly changed 180 degrees, and he said with a smile: "Wenjie is here!"

Xu Wenjie nodded and said, "Hello, Uncle Shen."

Director Shen came forward and said enthusiastically, "You don't have to get up. Sit down. Is your father okay?"

Xu Wenjie said: "My father is in Nanjing, everything is fine."

Director Shen said with emotion: "Nanjing, I stayed there for such a long time. Now I have only been out for half a year and I miss it a little bit."

Xu Wenjie smiled and said, "My father will come to Shanghai later to celebrate the New Year, and my mother has already come."

Upon hearing this, Director Shen quickly said, "Really? Why didn't you tell us earlier? If your mother has any inconveniences in Shanghai, you could tell us. We're not Shanghai natives, but at least we've been here for a while and are familiar with many things. Fengshu, go with your mother to visit Aunt Xu tomorrow."

Miss Shen nodded and said, "Okay."

Then Director Shen said to Xu Wenjie with a smile, "Take your time eating. I'll go in and change my clothes first."

Guier felt that Director Shen had a clear tendency to curry favor with the Xu family, but Xu Wenjie's father was the Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan, several levels higher than Director Shen, so it was not surprising that he was trying to curry favor with them.

Gui'er thought that the time was almost up. Director Shen was so cold and Xu Wenjie was so arrogant. She should just be tactful and leave quickly.

Just as he was about to stand up and say goodbye, he suddenly heard a scream from the direction of the room, followed by Director Shen's scolding: "You bastard, you actually dared to break into my room, are you trying to do anything bad?"

When Gui'er heard this, she felt something was wrong and hurried towards the direction of the sound. Halfway through, she realized something was wrong and realized that she was a guest now, so she stopped again. After Xu Wenjie and Miss Shen ran over, Gui'er followed them.

They came to the door of a room to see the layout. It should be a study. The maid that Miss Shen had just asked to get the butterfly cakes was lying on the ground, covering her face. Director Shen had a gloomy face and his eyes were as big as cow's eyes, staring at the maid.

Xu Wenjie asked Director Shen, "Uncle Shen, what happened?"

Director Shen glanced at Xu Wenjie, his expression softening a bit as he said, "This person sneaked into my study and secretly rummaged through my drawers. I wonder what he's looking for?"

The maid slowly stood up and said, "Master, you misunderstood. I saw you were back and wanted to come in and make you a pot of tea."

Director Shen interrupted the maid and said, "Asshole, I told the housekeeper a long time ago that no one is allowed to enter my study without permission. Stop quibbling. Who sent you here?" Then he stepped forward and slapped her in the face. Blood was already seeping out of the corner of the maid's mouth.

At this time, Gui'er was certain that this person was definitely sent to investigate the news, but she didn't know whether she was Song Xichen or Sha Yanxiao's person.

Regardless, she decided to lend a hand first, so she said to Director Shen, "Director Shen will naturally think she's here to steal something. Why don't you first check if there's any damage? Just send her to the police station."