A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

More than a month later, Gui'er returned to the Marshal's Mansion and was waiting in the main courtyard with other people to have dinner with the Marshal.

Suddenly, a message came over the radio: "Today, the Japanese held a military parade in Hongkou Park to celebrate the Emperor's Longevity Day and the Japanese victory. A Korean anti-Japanese activist infiltrated the crowd and threw a bomb. Shirakawa Kazue was killed, Shigemitsu Mamoru had one leg broken, and Ueda Kenkichi was blinded in one eye. The bomber was arrested on the spot."

Suddenly, the hall erupted in an uproar. The fourth concubine's two brothers complained, "What a scoundrel these Koreans are! We finally had two days of peace, and now the Japanese are provoked. They might attack us again. We don't know when we can return to Shanghai."

Director Shen stood beside them, just smiling and saying nothing.

About a week later, Gui'er was in class when the principal suddenly walked into the classroom excitedly and said to the students and teachers, "Students, the war has ended. We just received news that we have signed an armistice agreement with Japan under the mediation of Britain, the United States, France and Italy. We are safe now."

Suddenly, the classroom exploded with activity. He Ruizhu said to Guier, "It's finally over."

Guier smiled but didn't feel happy because she knew the Japanese would come back again.

After school, they came to the Zhenxiufang. Shopkeepers Zhang and Liu seemed a little relieved when they talked about this. Seeing Gui'er's expressionless face, they asked curiously, "Are you not happy that the war has ceased?"

Gui'er said worriedly, "I just find it strange. The Japanese are clearly in the upper hand, so why are they willing to give up the attack?"

Shopkeeper Liu said, "That must be because of foreign intervention. The Japanese still have to be wary of the British and Americans."

At this time, someone came to the pharmacy next door to get medicine. Shopkeeper Liu went over and saw that it was Song Xichen. One of his men was injured, but the injury was not too serious, just superficial injuries. Shopkeeper Liu quickly took out the white medicine he made and applied it to the man.

Song Xichen nodded at Gui'er and said, "You look like you're in trouble. Did something happen?"

Shopkeeper Zhang said, "We are discussing why the Japanese are suddenly willing to withdraw their troops."

Song Xichen sighed and said, "I've read the 'Songhu Armistice Agreement.' While it stipulates that the Japanese army return to its pre-war defense zone, it also requires the Chinese army to temporarily remain in its current garrison, and the area of ​​combat is designated as a demilitarized zone. In fact, this is equivalent to expanding Japan's rights and interests in Shanghai. Japan's wolfish ambitions will definitely be further expanded on this basis. We must remain vigilant at all times."

At this time, the police officer who came with Song Xichen said with a smile: "Chief Song, we are not soldiers, so what's the point of being vigilant? Look at all the refugees now. Some of them steal and rob for food, and some even kill and rob. It's everywhere. Isn't this just an injury I got while performing my duties? I feel it will be difficult to return to the pre-war period."

When I returned to the Marshal's Mansion that day, I found that the four concubines' two brothers, Director Shen, and their families were all smiling happily, even happier than during the Chinese New Year.

Director Shen said, "It's finally peaceful. I'll have someone go back to Shanghai in the next couple of days to check on the situation. If there are no unexpected events, we should be able to go back."

The fourth concubine's two brothers also echoed, "Yes, yes."

That evening, Gui'er and Sha Yanxiao were reading and listening to the radio in the living room when Dali walked in with a man. The man was wearing a baseball cap with the brim pulled down very low, covering most of his face. Seeing this, Sha Yanxiao asked Dingxiang and the housekeeper and other servants to go out.

Gui'er wanted to go upstairs, but the person who came called her, "Miss."

Gui'er felt the voice was familiar. She turned around and saw it was Wu Mingqiang. He looked very tired and exhausted. Gui'er quickly asked, "Brother Wu, are you all right?"

Wu Mingqiang smiled happily and said, "Thanks to the young lady, although I was in danger several times, I was lucky enough to escape. Everything is fine."

Sha Yanxiao smiled and asked him to sit down. Guier quickly poured him tea. Wu Mingqiang was flattered and stood up to thank him.

After a while of pleasantries, Sha Yanxiao asked, "How are those things being handled?"

Wu Mingqiang said, "Master, you are wise. I have sold all the houses. Since the antiques are difficult to value at the moment, I have only sold a small portion. However, I must tell you one thing. Although you asked me not to sell to foreigners, and I did sell to Chinese people, those Chinese people seem to have close ties with the Japanese."

Sha Yanxiao half-closed his eyes and said, "The comprador hired by the Japanese?"

Wu Mingqiang lowered his head and said uneasily, "I'm afraid so. I only found out after the transaction was completed. I tried to withdraw it, and I almost got killed."

Sha Yanxiao sighed and said, "I can't blame you. It seems the Japanese are planning to slowly eat away Shanghai."

Gui'er stared with her eyes wide open. She had read in the literature before that Japan had already deployed many spies in Shanghai many years before the Battle of Shanghai. The Nationalist government was weak and incompetent and could not do anything about it. But when she really faced these historical events, she did not expect to be so powerless.

Sha Yanxiao said to Wu Mingqiang, "You've worked hard. Hand over the accounts to Dali and then you can go back and rest."

Wu Mingqiang stood up and nodded, then followed Dali out. When he was almost at the door, he suddenly stopped, turned back and said to Sha Yanxiao, "Young Master, I'm afraid I need to tell you something. The courtyard you used to live in was later given to Director Shen's family. I went to see it twice during the war and found someone guarding it. At first I thought it was Director Shen's people, but later I found out they were Japanese ronin in disguise."

Sha Yanxiao frowned and said, "The Japanese are looking for him to buy a house? Who the hell does he think he is?"

Wu Mingqiang said seriously, "This is true. I discovered it by accidentally hearing that person speaking Japanese."

Gui'er said to Sha Yanxiao, "Brother, does that mean the provincial director has colluded with the Japanese? Otherwise, why would he be so kind?"

Sha Yanxiao frowned, and after thinking for a few seconds, he said to Wu Mingqiang, "Are there any other possibilities?"

Wu Mingqiang thought for a moment and said, "I discovered that the guard was Japanese. Then I sent someone to approach their cook who was out buying groceries. I found out that Director Shen had built a basement in that courtyard. It was filled with antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and they were said to be priceless."

Sha Yanxiao sneered and said, "So that's good. I understand. You can go down now."

After Wu Mingqiang left, Sha Yanxiao also stood up and said to Guier, "I need to talk to my father about this matter. You should go to bed first."

Gui'er nodded obediently, but secretly decided in her heart that she must tell Song Xichen the news tomorrow.