A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Some time later, after school, Guier was working as an apprentice at Zhenxiufang, helping to mortar medicine. Suddenly, she heard a commotion outside the shop, and then the shops next door started to shut up. Manager Liu hurried out to see what was going on.

Gui'er also walked to the door of the drugstore curiously and peeked out. Shopkeeper Liu asked the owner of the grocery store next door, "What's going on?"

The boss said, "I heard the Japanese are increasing their troops to launch a general offensive, and the Nationalist army is losing ground. My wife went out to buy vegetables, and she's worried she won't be able to buy any in a few days, so she quickly bought some to store. I'm also going to go to the board now. Lao Liu, you better be careful too."

Shopkeeper Liu returned to the shop and quickly said to Shopkeeper Zhang and Gui'er, "The situation isn't very good right now. Gui'er, you can go back after you finish what you're doing. Mom, please see if there's anything you need to go out and buy some rice and vegetables for storage."

Manager Zhang and Gui'er agreed, quickly finished their work, and left separately.

Gui'er returned to the Marshal's Mansion, but before she returned to Sha Yanxiao's courtyard, she encountered a large group of people gathered in the living room in the main courtyard listening to the latest news on the radio.

Gui'er immediately got out of the car and walked into the hall. The radio relayed the latest news: "The Japanese army has reinforced its forces for the third time and launched a general offensive. Over 88 men have landed at Yanglinkou and Qiyakou. The positions of the 87th and th Divisions have been breached. Our defenders are threatened from the flanks and rear and have received no reinforcements. We are forced to retreat to Huangdu, Fangtaizhen, Jiading, and Taicang."

The four concubine's two brothers were horrified and said in a panic, "Is this going to be a fight? What should we do?"

The other concubines were also panicking at this time. The third concubine said to Sanmei, "Come on, let's go back to the courtyard and pack up our valuables so that we can pick them up and go when your father arranges for us to leave."

When the fifth, sixth, seventh, and ninth concubines heard this, they all called their children and maids and went back to their respective courtyards to clean up.

The lady seemed a little embarrassed, and said to Director Shen and the fourth concubine's brother with a smile: "Don't be offended, these concubines have never seen the world, and they panic when something happens."

Director Shen smiled and said, "I understand, I understand. They all come from humble backgrounds, unlike you, my lady, who is from a wealthy family. Their demeanor is different."

At this time, the fourth concubine's brother said to Director Shen: "Brother Shen, what do you think?"

Director Shen paused for a moment and said, "Information on the battlefield changes rapidly, but I don't think we're completely helpless yet."

It was as good as not saying anything, Gui'er also replied that Sha Yanxiao was in the yard.

When she returned to the yard, she saw the servants gathered together and whispering. Gui'er felt very annoyed and walked out alone.

Now Song Xichen must be busy doing underground work and promoting anti-Japanese resistance. No one knows how Sha Yanxiao is doing in Fengcheng. If the Japanese army really attacks, wouldn’t he be in danger?

As she walked, Gui'er unknowingly came to the foot of a wall. Suddenly she heard someone talking and was startled. She looked around and found that she had come to the back of the small courtyard, probably outside the wall behind the main hall.

"Now that the war has gotten to this point, shouldn't we also consider what to do next? Where should we go? We can't just stay here and wait for the Japanese to attack. It will be difficult to escape then. You see, we had a hard time escaping this time." It was Mrs. Shen's voice.

"What do you know? Under the current situation, the Nationalist government will definitely send people to negotiate with Japan. Look, didn't they negotiate a ceasefire for three days before?" This time it was Director Shen's voice.

Gui'er was sure that the couple was discussing what to do next. Thinking of Director Shen's previous contact with the Japanese, Gui'er decided to stand there and listen for a while.

She glanced around once or twice, trying to find a secluded place to hide and listen, but the area around her was rather desolate, with few people walking around and no one tidying up. It was all bare weeds, and there were no trees or flowers to hide in. She had no choice but to bite the bullet and pray that no one would notice.

Mrs. Shen sighed and said, "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking? You don't care about us mother and daughter at all. You only care about that little bitch and her son outside."

"What nonsense are you talking about? You don't like them, and I sent them away long ago. What else do you want?"

"What do you mean by sending them away? You sent them to Nanjing. My daughter and I endured hardship with you in such a dangerous place. You truly loved us, so why would you give all of our daughter's betrothal gifts to the son born by that bitch, and not even allow her to take home as a dowry? How can our daughter hold her head high in her husband's family in the future?"

"Oh, you've started it again. I have my own plans. You and I are an old married couple. If you didn't have a son, would I have to do this? Let me tell you the truth. China is in trouble. Japan will definitely swallow China up."

"What nonsense are you talking about... Is China really going to lose? Then why are you still standing here? Hurry up and pack your things, let's go back to Nanjing."

"What do you know? I've already prepared several options. If China survives, I'll continue serving as an official in China. If China fails, I've already made all the necessary connections. If Japan establishes a provisional government, there will definitely be a position for me, and it won't be low."

Gui'er was shocked when she heard this. Doesn't this mean betrayal? She quickly put her ear close to the wall to hear more clearly.

"Aren't you just going to be a traitor? You're courting death. I heard there are a lot of anti-traitor teams now, and if they find one person, the whole family will be killed. Are you going to harm us, mother and me?" Mrs. Shen said in a trembling voice.

"So you are short-sighted. Do you think there are few people in the Nanjing government who have contact with Japan? When has there been a change of dynasties in China without someone taking the lead? Those who take the lead will get high positions and generous salaries. This is the law of history. Last time when I sold those drawings to the Japanese, the price they offered was too low, and I didn't want to buy it. Later, I thought, since the world will be theirs in the future, I might as well wait until that time to give it to them. It can also be regarded as a little gift from me. I expressed this meaning, and they were very happy. This is called preparing for both situations, do you understand?" Director Shen said proudly.

"But the Japanese were not good people at all. Didn't you see how many civilians they killed in Shanghai?"

"Well, you're right. I can't trust the Japanese, so I made a third-hand plan. I gathered the little belongings I'd saved up, the antiques, and the dowry given by Marshal Sha, and deposited the money in a foreign bank. I asked someone to find a secret place in Hong Kong to store the antiques, calligraphy, and precious jewelry. I'll find a chance to ship them to America."

"You're dizzy, why are you shipping it to a foreign country?"

"This is the escape route I've devised for our family. If neither place works out, we can go to America. There's a Chinatown there, and there's no war. The wealth I've accumulated over the past few decades is enough to last me several lifetimes."

"Oh, how am I going to tell my daughter this?"

"Why are you telling her this? She keeps talking about romance and freedom. She's crazy. Tell her that if she doesn't keep her mouth shut and tells us, the whole family will be ruined."

"Then why did you bring us here? Are you planning to leave your daughter here alone? Then go abroad with the mother and son outside and have a good time."

"This is the most convenient, safe, and legitimate place. We can keep an eye on what's happening in Shanghai and Nanjing at any time, and take immediate action if there's any sign of trouble."

"Then don't we really have to marry our daughter here? There's a war going on now. Even though the eldest son won't go to the battlefield, if Marshal Sha and the second young master die in battle, this family will be ruined. Wouldn't my daughter marry into a poor family then? But if she doesn't marry, they've already built another courtyard for us to live in. The meaning is very clear. Don't you want our daughter to marry out of here? And you even accepted so much betrothal gifts from them. Oh, I don't know what you're thinking."

"I know my limits. Isn't it time to embrace the new society and new life, and to freely fall in love? If things really don't work out, I'll just say our daughter doesn't like that crippled man and return the five houses to him. They're probably just ruins now anyway. As for the others, I'll just say they were looted by the Japanese. What can he do to me?"