A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Sha Yanxiao said, "It's nothing serious, it just looks suspicious."

The Marshal said angrily, "Suspicious ass, are you looking for trouble with the Song family? Let him go now."

Sha Yanxiao said with a playful smile, "Father, how do you know he's fine? I checked, and he underpaid a lot of taxes."

The Marshal was stunned for a moment, his eyes evasive as he said, "Oh, is that true? Then let him pay the fine and we'll let him go, right?"

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "Yes."

Sha Lili whispered in Gui'er's ear, "Let me tell you, this brick kiln belongs to the family of Mrs. Song, Dad's longtime mistress. For some reason, my second brother doesn't like Mrs. Song very much. I'm afraid she's deliberately trying to bring bad luck upon them this time."

Gui'er was very afraid that Sha Yanxiao's investigation would lead to the discovery that Song Xichen, Manager Zhang and Manager Liu were underground party members, but Manager Zhang had told her not to interfere, so she had to be patient and pretend not to care.

Several days later, Song Xichen went to the pharmacy and told Manager Zhang and Manager Liu that the people from the brick kiln had been released, but were fined 500 silver dollars for tax evasion.

Gui Er said to Song Xichen apologetically, "I'm sorry. It was because of me talking about the past that I caused you such great losses."

Song Xichen smiled and said, "That brick kiln isn't our contact point. It's just that Zhang Laosan inside knows a thing or two about us. Even if they were to fine us, it wouldn't be us. It's just my two uncles, so they should be fined. Don't worry about it."

Shopkeeper Zhang said nearby, "I knew Gui'er was old enough, and the Marshal's Mansion would definitely arrange a marriage for her. Look who they found? And it's involved in so many things. What should we do? Why don't we just move her away?"

Shopkeeper Liu sighed, "You're giving me such nonsense again. Gui'er is the daughter of the Marshal's Mansion. If she disappears, the Marshal's Mansion will have to search all over Jiangcheng for her."

Shopkeeper Zhang said anxiously, "But look, what kind of men have they found for her in this Marshal's Mansion? Either it's Young Master Liang, the whoremonger and gambler, or Young Master Zhou, the opium-smoking, consumptive maniac. Director Song is a good guy, but he's so much older, it's almost like father and daughter. Isn't this just a random matchmaking?"

Song Xichen was standing next to him and smiled a little awkwardly.

Shopkeeper Liu glared at Shopkeeper Zhang anxiously and said, "If you can't speak, then don't speak."

Song Xichen smiled and said, "Shopkeeper Zhang is telling the truth. Gui'er has grown up, and it's understandable that her family is helping her find a partner. But they want to find someone good, and preferably someone who can accept our status. What do you think, Gui'er?"

Gui'er tilted her head and said, "I feel that marriage in this era is primarily about sacrificing women. Take my teacher, Miss Shen, for example. When she first married Sha Yanyao, they were both equally educated and had similar family backgrounds. I thought they would be happy, but they ended up getting divorced. It's actually very difficult for women with progressive ideas to find a partner. I'm also cautious about this. Besides, marriage isn't everything in life. If the Marshal's Mansion insists on forcing me to marry someone bad, I will definitely resist with all my might."

Song Xichen nodded in appreciation and said, "If there is anything, you can tell me at any time and I will help you."

Gui'er returned to the Marshal's residence that day and reported to Sha Yanxiao what the Zhou family's son had said about the silk shop. Sha Yanxiao frowned and said, "Alas, what kind of people are they? Father said that Mr. Zhou from this silk shop was kind, but also very cunning. Don't worry, I'll find someone to verify the situation right away. If they find out that this is the case, this young master Zhou probably won't live for many years. Father will never let you marry him."

Gui'er felt relieved, knowing that the crisis of getting married was resolved.

That day, Gui'er had breakfast and was about to go to the drugstore when Sha Lili suddenly asked Gui'er to go shopping in the mall. Gui'er was surprised. Although she could talk to Sha Lili, she always went out to play with her group of socialite friends. Because she was more frugal in spending and not as lavish as Sha Lili, Sha Lili always said that it was boring to go out with Gui'er.

Gui'er asked her, "Is there something wrong with you?"

Sha Lili shook her head and said, "No, my classmates are all on vacation now, and they can't find anyone back home. So you can just accompany me this time."

Gui'er thought that Sha Lili was also her sister, and although she was weird, she would not harm her, so she nodded and said, "Okay." She told Ah Cheng to tell Shopkeepers Zhang and Liu that she would be there later.

Then Sha Lili took her to Wing On Department Store in a rickshaw. Gui'er was particularly puzzled. Usually, Sha Lili loved to show off and always had to have a car with a driver when going out. She felt that this was the only way to show her status as the daughter of a handsome man. But today she actually took a rickshaw.

Guier smiled and said, "You are very abnormal today."

Sha Lili silently pulled Guier to the hotel on the third floor of Yong'an Building. She finally had some idea.

Gui'er said to Sha Lili, "Are you trying to use me as a cover to meet someone? Is it your lover?"

Sha Lili quickly turned around, covered her mouth and said, "Shh, you're afraid that others won't know, right?"

Gui'er said, "I did help you. If you say that, I'm leaving."

Sha Lili quickly grabbed her and said, "Alright, alright, my dear sister, actually my fiancé is here to see me. He comes every once in a while. I used to ask my classmates to help cover for me, but isn't it vacation now? The classmate who usually helps me cover has gone back to his hometown, so I had no choice but to ask you. Please help me."

Guier thought it was okay to help her, and she was also curious about what Sha Lili's fiancé looked like.

Sha Lili went to the third floor of the Yong'an Hotel. Instead of going to the front desk, she went directly to a luxury suite and knocked on the door.

The door was opened by a young man in his early twenties, with a fashionable side parting, neatly slicked back hair, the faint scent of hairspray lingering in his hair. He had a straight, high nose bridge, thin, pale lips, and wore a navy blue gown with dark patterns. On his wrist was an Omega pocket watch with a mutton-fat jade pendant attached to the watch chain. On his feet were a pair of shiny black leather shoes.

When he saw Sha Lili and Gui'er, he smiled slightly, said to Gui'er, "Hello." Then he welcomed them in.

Sha Lili said to him, "This is my sister Gui'er. Gui'er, this is Zheng Zhaohua."

Guier smiled and nodded.

After hearing this, Zheng Zhaohua looked at Gui'er in surprise and said, "Is this your famous sister who was able to kill bandits with her own hands? She looks quite thin."