A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

The lady was very unhappy when she found out, because she usually worshipped Buddha sincerely and dressed simply. But when she tried to persuade Mrs. Shen, Mrs. Shen just said, "I didn't use your family's money. Mr. Shen has so much money left. Isn't it enough for me to give it to him?" and she choked her words back.

Moreover, this farce was not secretive. It would sometimes happen when he was having dinner with the Marshal, so everyone in the Marshal's Mansion probably knew about it by now.

Sha Lili said, "It seems that Mrs. Shen is not stupid. She is trying to take the property back like an ant moving house. But Director Shen left so much money, how can she move it all?"

Guier smiled and said, "You guys always say Director Shen left behind a lot of money. How do you know so much? I live in the same compound with them, and I don't even know how much money there is."

Sha Lili smiled and said, "That's because you're stupid. You're not paying attention to what's happening outside and are only focused on studying. You told me before that you wanted to be a clerk, a teller, or a teacher. But do you know? Even if you became a clerk, the money you'd earn in a year wouldn't be as much as Mrs. Shen spends on a jade bracelet."

Gui Er was speechless and could only smile and say, "If they have money, it's theirs. I don't have any."

Sha Lili said, "My second brother's wife left a will before she died, saying she wanted to leave all her jewelry to you, but you didn't want it, you idiot."

Gui'er was very surprised that Sha Lili even knew this and asked her quickly, "How did you know this?"

"That's what Second Brother said. Father even praised you for your good character and pure mind. Otherwise, why would Big Brother take you in now that Second Brother is gone? Especially since Big Aunt is so petty and mean-spirited."

Gui'er felt very emotional. In fact, it wasn't that she didn't want it. She knew that even if she wanted it, she couldn't keep it because she was too young. Moreover, in this era, if a helpless woman was known to have a lot of money, it would be like a fat sheep walking among wolves. If she wasn't careful, she might even lose her life.

Miss Shen didn't really value the property. Gui'er had overheard Mrs. Shen several times advising Miss Shen to deduct more money, saying, "Your husband is unreliable, and your mother-in-law is always thinking about giving her a concubine. If you don't leave yourself a way out, you'll regret it in the future."

Ever since Miss Shen went to St. Mary's Girls' School to teach English, Gui'er no longer had to take Sha Lili's car to school. Every morning, the eldest wife would send a car to take them both to school. In the evening, because Gui'er had to go to Zhen Embroidery Workshop, Ah Cheng would pick her up from school and take her to Zhen Embroidery Workshop to be an apprentice. After that, she would take a rickshaw back to the Marshal's Mansion.

On this day, Gui'er was helping to pound medicine when Song Xichen led someone into the Zhenxiu Workshop. Gui'er looked up and saw that it was Xu Wenjie.

Xu Wenjie was very surprised to see Gui'er and said to Song Xichen, "Stationmaster Song, is this kid also a member of the liaison station?"

Song Xichen nodded and said to Gui'er, "This Xu Wenjie came from Ruijin and was transferred by our station to Shanghai to engage in revolutionary activities."

Gui'er was very surprised that Xu Wenjie had also joined the revolution.

Song Xichen asked, "Do you two know each other?"

Guier smiled and said, "He was Miss Shen's classmate, from the same theater troupe. I went with Miss Shen to watch them rehearse, so we got to know each other."

When Xu Wenjie heard Miss Shen, he quickly asked Gui'er, "Feng Shu, how is she doing now?"

Gui'er sighed and married Miss Shen to Sha Yanyao. Director Shen's family was in trouble and he was suspected of collaborating with the enemy and was killed in a bombing. Now Mrs. Shen lived with him in the Marshal's Mansion and told Xu Wenjie all the unpleasant things that happened in their relationship.

Xu Wenjie sighed and said, "I was also busy at the time. I wish I could have taken her with me to Ruijin. It would have been great. She's such an outstanding and ambitious woman, but now she's become a caged bird. What a pity."

Suddenly he said to Gui'er, "Guier, can you help me ask her out?"

Gui'er was a little hesitant and glanced at Song Xichen. She was definitely not happy about it. Miss Shen was already a married woman, and she was trying to set her up to meet another man. If something happened, wouldn't she be in a difficult position?

Seeing his embarrassment, Song Xichen said to Xu Wenjie, "Brother Wenjie, although you have the cover of Master Xu's identity on this trip, for safety's sake, you should avoid showing up too much. Miss Shen is the eldest young lady of the Marshal's Mansion, and many people in Jiangcheng know her. Meeting with her will damage our confidentiality."

Xu Wenjie listened, was silent for a moment, and then said with a smile, "That's right."

Afterwards, Xu Wenjie claimed to the public that he was a relative of Manager Liu and lived in Zhenxiufang. He did not leave until the next day. When Guier went to Zhenxiufang after school, he was no longer there.

But he left a letter and asked Manager Zhang to give it to Gui'er and ask Gui'er to take it to Miss Shen.

Gui'er was not very willing, so she asked Manager Zhang to ask Song Xichen to come over and ask if the letter could be delivered.

Shopkeeper Zhang said, "I also think it's inappropriate for him to leave the letter, but he's my superior, so there's nothing I can do. Just wait while I go find Director Song."

Soon Song Xichen came over. After hearing what had happened, he took the letter from Guier's hand, opened the envelope directly, took out the letter and started reading.

Gui'er, a bit of a gossipmonger, also went over to read the letter. It read: "Hello, Miss Fengshu! It's been over a dozen months since we parted. Every time I think of our old school days, my heart is filled with longing. I was shocked to learn of the unexpected events at your home. Thinking of your plight, I'm filled with worry and wish I could be by your side to help you overcome your worries. I hope you'll be strong and take heart, and not grieve too deeply."

I am well aware of your resilience and I believe that you will be able to overcome the difficulties. In the years to come, I hope that your heart will be filled with warmth and all your worries will disappear. I hope that you will regain your cheerful face and be always happy.

The letter is short but my feelings are deep. Words cannot express my feelings. Take care of yourself.

After reading it, Song Xichen shook his head and sighed, then said to Gui'er, "Did Xu Wenjie have feelings for Miss Shen before? Why is he still so concerned about her now that he's married?"

Gui Er shrugged and said, "Before Miss Shen married Big Brother, Director Shen once wanted to break off the engagement and marry Miss Shen to Xu Wenjie, but I don't think they ever revealed their relationship."

Song Xichen frowned and said, "Then don't send this letter, to avoid unnecessary complications."

Gui'er nodded, but she felt a bit guilty not to send someone off, having been entrusted with the task. So she asked Song Xichen, "Can I mention Xu Wenjie to Miss Shen? Just say I bumped into him by chance, and he expressed his concern and asked her to accept his condolences. That way, I'll have conveyed my feelings."

Song Xichen thought about it and said, "That's fine. He's gone now anyway. Although the Sha family is a powerful family, their influence isn't that far-reaching. They can't reach as far as Shanghai."