A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Gui'er had originally wanted to inquire about the situation and see how serious it was, but Sha Lili's description was even more dire than she had anticipated. She became even more worried about Song Xichen.

The next day, Gui'er was listening to the radio in the yard bored, while her mother-in-law was slowly doing her winter vacation homework. This time when she went to Shanghai, she was busy helping Song Xichen complete the task of exchanging maps and had no mood to do her homework. Now that the news of the war came, she felt that she had to finish what she needed to do.

As she was writing, Dingxiang came up to her mysteriously and said, "Miss, someone is back."

Gui'er said, "Aren't all our family members back together? Why are there still others?"

Ding Xiang said, "Director Shen brought his daughter, his wife, and a few maids and servants to our residence. The Marshal said they wanted to stay in the small courtyard near us."

Gui'er was stunned for a moment: "Why live there? Although it is tidy, it is very simple. There is no good furniture inside. Besides, someone died there." Ji Yiru died of illness there. Gui'er really couldn't understand it. Last time, Director Shen's family and his wife were arranged to live in the same courtyard.

Ding Xiang chuckled and said, "I don't know. Anyway, they moved a lot of expensive furniture and decorated it. I heard from the chief steward that maybe the Marshal wanted Miss Shen to get married there."

Gui'er thought about it and decided that since they lived so close, she had to go and say hello. So she asked Dingxiang to ask the small kitchen to make some snacks such as butterfly cakes, poria cocos paste, and shaqi ma, and brought them to the small courtyard.

When he entered, the Marshal was there too. He was patting Director Shen on the shoulder and saying, "Old Shen, are you satisfied with it? Although it's a little shabby, it's a separate house after all. It's comfortable enough for your family to live here as long as you want."

Director Shen sighed and said, "Thank you very much, Lao Sha. Let me be frank with you. We will continue fighting after the armistice date."

The Marshal asked in surprise: "Really?"

At this time, Miss Shen greeted Guier happily when she saw her, and Director Shen stopped talking.

Gui'er smiled and said, "I'm finally relieved to hear you're here. I heard news of the war on the radio every day, and how many people had died. It was so scary. Fortunately, you're here now. I asked the kitchen to make some cakes and brought them over for you to try. This small courtyard is very close to where I live. Miss Shen, you can come and play with me when you're free. It's so chaotic outside now, and it's inconvenient to go out, so we can keep each other company."

Miss Shen and Mrs. Shen quickly said, "Thank you."

Director Shen smiled and said to the Marshal, "Lao Sha, let's not talk about anything else. As for your children, I really envy you. Not only do you have many children, but you also have many talented people. Forget about your sons. Look at this little girl, she's quite decent."

The Marshal smiled proudly and said modestly, "Well, children and grandchildren have their own blessings. I only have one or two that I can show off."

The servants and housekeepers finished arranging the things and came over to the commander-in-chief and said, "The commander-in-chief has finished arranging the things. Is there anything else you want to add?"

The Marshal took a quick look and said to Director Shen, "Old Shen, is there anything else you need to add?"

Director Shen smiled and said, "Alright, alright, stay here for now. Come, come, let's go in and have some tea first."

So a few people went into the main hall and sat down. The servants brought tea, and everyone ate the cakes that Guier brought and started chatting.

Director Shen took a sip of tea and said to the Marshal, "I tell you, this battle must be fought, and we can't win."

The Marshal said, "You are too pessimistic. We have the numerical advantage of the 19th Route Army in Shanghai."

Director Shen shook his head and lowered his voice to the Marshal, "I received inside information that Japan has sent reinforcements. This time they have 14 warships, aircraft, and armored vehicles."

The Marshal said, "Where did you get this information? This is important information."

Director Shen waved his hand and said, "What kind of critical intelligence? Both sides knew that they'd been gathering their forces for the past three days, you know? I didn't want to run away, after all, I'm a civil servant, but the constant rumbling explosions made me go and investigate, and Shanghai was in complete chaos. All government offices were deserted, so I ran away."

Director Shen was right. As soon as the armistice ended, fighting resumed. News kept pouring in from the radio: "So far, the casualties have reached several thousand, and the number of missing is approaching ten thousand. A large number of people in the war zone have been displaced and become refugees, and many people are homeless on the streets of the concessions outside the war zone."

"According to statistics from the Shanghai War Zone Refugee Temporary Relief Association, as of today, they have taken in over tens of thousands of refugees, and have also arranged for more than tens of thousands of refugees to be transported to safer areas elsewhere through rental vehicles."

"Face this national disaster, the patriotic enthusiasm of people from all walks of life in Shanghai surged, and they set up anti-Japanese and national salvation groups, supporting the war through public opinion, fundraising, and relief efforts."

Gui'er became even more anxious as she listened to the news. There was still no news about Song Xichen. She knew that in war, there were more missing people than people with names. She was really afraid that there would be no news about Song Xichen from then on.

Two days later, the New Year was approaching. Because there were many guests staying at home, the Marshal went home for dinner more often.

After dinner these days, he said to everyone: "Although it is wartime, we still have to celebrate the New Year. This year we have a large crowd and it will be lively. I asked the housekeeper to prepare some extra New Year goods and other things. Let's all enjoy the New Year with peace of mind."

Gui'er quickly asked him, "Father, is my second brother back?"

The Marshal said helplessly, "I'm afraid your brother can't leave. These past few days, large numbers of refugees have poured into Fengcheng. Moreover, we have to be on guard against the Japanese army attacking along the railway line. We have already stationed people along the railway. If we find anything wrong, we will blow up the railway immediately."

Gui'er bit her lip sadly. Sha Yanyao saw this and said, "Someone from our army is going there. If you have anything you want to bring to her, you can let me arrange for it to be delivered."

After hearing this, Gui'er quickly said, "Okay." Then she ran back to Sha Yanxiao's yard and asked the kitchen to make some snacks that Sha Yanxiao and Dali liked to eat, and put them in the basket. She wanted to write something like a card, but she couldn't think of what to write, so she folded a heart shape with paper, wrote the four words "return safely" on it, and handed it to Sha Yanyao.

Sha Yanyao took it, opened it, took a look, and said, "It's really exquisite! If it was me going out this time, would my sister also make so many delicious foods for me and fold such beautiful cards?"

Gui Er was stunned for a moment, thinking, "How can I say no when asked that?" She smiled and said, "Of course I can."