A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Gui'er was also very sad when she heard this, and asked with concern: "Is business doing well now? Is it enough to cover the family expenses?"

Zhao Ruyu sighed and said, "That's all. The elders at home will help out a little, and I'll earn a little myself. Zhuzi and I had originally decided to send our children to school in the future, but now it seems we can only pretend to be blind."

After hearing this, Gui'er quickly took out the silver dollars she had on her. She didn't plan to spend much money on this trip, so she only brought five silver dollars, which she gave all to Zhao Ruyu.

Zhao Ruyi quickly declined, saying, "How can I take your money? I can earn it myself."

Gui'er said, "Sister Ruyi, you should accept it. Even if not for yourself, you should consider the child. He still needs to read, even if it's only for a year or two, so he can learn a few words."

Zhao Ruyu finally accepted it, wiped her eyes, and said gratefully, "Thank you so much, you are my lucky star."

At this time, Ah Cheng urged: "Miss, we have been out for long enough, it's time to go back."

Gui Er remembered that she had indeed wasted some time, so she quickly stood up and said to Zhao Ruyu, "Sister Ruyu, I'm leaving first."

Zhao Ruyu quickly took a piece of oil paper, packed up some spring rolls and rice cakes, and handed them to Gui'er, saying, "Take them and eat them on the way. Come back next time. By the way, where do you live? I'll bring the kids to visit you later."

Gui'er was about to tell her the address when Ah Cheng interrupted her and said, "Miss, please get in the car."

Seeing Ah Cheng winking at her, as if not wanting her to tell him the address, Gui Er said to Zhao Ruyu, "Sister Ruyu, I'm leaving now. I'll come over to drink soy milk next time I'm free."

After the rickshaw left the street, Ah Cheng said beside it, "Miss, you haven't seen this person for several years. Don't trust him. Shanghai is so chaotic now, and there are so many scammers."

Gui Er sighed and said, "But she doesn't seem to be pretending, because when I saw her before, she wasn't as down and out as she is now. Back then, she was wearing a silk cheongsam, very respectable."

Ah Cheng smiled and said, "There are so many families in this era who are in dire straits. Miss, you are kind-hearted, but everyone has their own destiny. It's better not to interfere too much, so as not to get into trouble."

Gui'er also thought it made sense. The few silver dollars she gave could only temporarily alleviate the difficulties.

As soon as she returned to the villa, Gui'er received a call from Sha Lili, saying that Tang Yaozu invited them to dinner. Without thinking, Gui'er said, "That guy has greasy hair and powdered face. I don't know what he's up to. I don't want to go."

Sha Lili said, "What's wrong with you? Are you suffering from paranoia or something? The boss of a financial group invited you to dinner, something many people only dream of, yet you're so ungrateful?"

Gui'er said, "I'm not in business, so what good is there in having dinner with him? Even if Second Brother knew, he wouldn't necessarily let me go."

Sha Lili said, "Then just think of it as being for my sake. He's discussing with my uncle about jointly investing in a tea shop in Hong Kong. My mother can then invest a little bit in the shares and earn back the money from the broken engagement."

After hearing this, Gui'er felt that it would be a bit awkward to refuse again, so she said, "Then I have to ask my second brother first and give you an answer later."

During lunch, Gui'er told Sha Yanxiao about this matter. Sha Yanxiao frowned and said, "That person has a bad reputation. How could he know you two?"

Guier said, "He came over to chat with me yesterday at the banquet."

Sha Yanxiao snorted and sneered, "This rich businessman specializes in playing with female celebrities. I think there was a woman named Zhang Youyun, who seemed to be a movie queen. He wanted to use her fame to advertise his products. But when he found that the effect was not ideal, he kicked her out of the house. She had already retired from the film industry and could not get a leading role in a movie again. In the end, she was reduced to working as a prostitute."

"What is a traveling prostitute?" Guier knew that prostitutes were definitely the kind who sold their bodies, but this was the first time she heard of a traveling prostitute.

Sha Yanxiao was stunned for a moment before realizing he had said too much. However, seeing Gui'er's eyes wide with curiosity, he could only helplessly say, "It's the kind that doesn't belong to any brothel. They just stand on any corner of the street to attract customers."

"So that's how it is. If that's the case, then I won't go," Guier said.

Sha Yanxiao nodded and continued reading the newspaper.

Guier called Sha Lili and told her that Sha Yanxiao wouldn't let her go. Sha Lili didn't dare to say anything, so she could only say sullenly, "Okay then," and hung up the phone.

As a result, not long after he hung up the phone, Marshal Sha suddenly came to Sha Yanxiao's study to find him.

Gui'er was sitting on the side reading a comic book. Thinking they had something to discuss, she stood up and said to the Marshal, "Father, you guys chat. I'm going to leave first."

The Marshal said, "No, no, your fourth aunt just called and said Tang Yaozu invited you and Lily to dinner. Don't you want to go?"

Sha Yanxiao interrupted, "Father, it was me who stopped her from going. That man has such a bad reputation."

The Marshal sighed, plopped down on a sofa, crossed his legs, and scratched his hairless head with his hands as he said, "Your sisters are not young anymore. It's time for them to go out and socialize. What's the point of staying stuck in the house all day?"

Sha Yanxiao frowned and said, "Father, have you heard about the scandal between Tang Yaozu and that female star? I'm worried that my sisters will suffer."

The Marshal laughed and waved his hand, saying, "Who dares to take advantage of my daughter? It's just a meal. Okay, you can just ask someone to go with you. Guier, go with your sister Sha Lili." After that, he stood up and left.

Sha Yanxiao's face didn't look good, but he still stood up and called Dali, saying, "Go eat with Gui'er and Lili later."

Gui'er had no choice but to call Sha Lili again and say, "Father has agreed. You can go."

Sha Lili was very happy to hear this and said, "Then I'll let you know once Mr. Tang and I confirm the time."

Then he put down the phone, and within half an hour he called again to inform Guier, "We're going to have dinner. Sha Lili's uncle will send a car to pick us up. Guier should dress up nicely."

Gui'er didn't want to go in the first place, and the last sentence made her even more alert. She went straight back to her room and picked out a dark silk cheongsam without embroidery or beading, the most unremarkable one. This was also one of the gifts Sha Yanxiao gave her when she came back from Nanjing. Although the style was not very eye-catching, it had a thick layer of fox fur inside, which made it very warm to wear.

She checked the pocket pistol again. Sha Yanxiao had asked Wu Mingqiang to get a new box of bullets, about a dozen rounds. Guier filled it up and put it in her handbag, ready to take it with her when the time comes, just in case.