A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Gui'er immediately ran to the third concubine's place, and under the pretext of taking Taohua to Wing On Department Store the next day, she secretly told Taohua that they were going to meet Wu Dafu.

Taohua was very happy and agreed immediately.

As a result, the next day, when Gui'er came to the Third Concubine's yard in Ah Cheng's car to pick up Taohua, the Third Concubine suddenly pushed Sanmei out and said, "Guier, you go out to play with Taohua, and take your sister Sanmei with you. At this age, you should go out more."

Gui'er and Taohua were both very surprised, but they couldn't say anything. Sanmei was very embarrassed, but she didn't refuse and got into their car.

There was no other way, so Gui'er had to really bring Taohua and Sanmei to Yong'an Laihuo. They first bought some small things like small hairpins and handkerchiefs. At this time, Sanmei said to Gui'er very embarrassedly, "Sister Gui'er, actually my mother wanted me to come out and meet Adjutant Pang. She knew that you would definitely take Taohua out to play the next day when you came back, so she let me take this ride. Adjutant Pang is waiting for me now in the restaurant on the second floor. You guys go play and just come back to pick me up."

When Gui'er and Taohua heard this, they suddenly realized what was going on and felt relieved. It was fine this way anyway. They could cover for each other, so why not?

Guier smiled and said, "Okay then, we'll be back in two or three hours at most."

Sanmei nodded and walked happily to the second floor.

As soon as Gui'er saw her leave, she hurriedly took Taohua to buy some malted milk, biscuits, chocolates, peach cakes, and children's clothes, as well as looser clothes suitable for pregnant women. Taohua bought a pair of imported leather shoes for Wu Dafu. When Gui'er saw this, she also bought a pair for Wu Dahua.

The two of them carried large and small bags and got into Acheng's car and came to the workshop of Wu Dafu and Wu Dahua. They got out of the car and left with the gifts.

As they walked forward, although Ah Cheng was accompanying them, Gui'er found that passers-by would occasionally look at them curiously. Gui'er felt very puzzled. She and Taohua were both wearing ordinary homespun cheongsams today. She also specifically told them that there were ordinary houses near Wu Dafu's furniture workshop, so they must not wear beautiful clothes, otherwise they would not attract attention.

She whispered to Ah Cheng, "Brother Ah Cheng, I don't think something is right. Why are so many people peeking around?"

Ah Cheng smiled bitterly and said, "My lady, you really don't have any sense of self-awareness. You and Miss Taohua are both beautiful women. It's hard not to attract attention when two beautiful girls walk side by side carrying large and small bags of gifts."

Gui'er was a little puzzled. She said, "I'm not good-looking. They must be looking at the peach blossoms. You should pay more attention."

Ah Cheng smiled, patted his waist, where the shape of a pistol was clearly protruding, and said, "Don't worry."

Arriving at the furniture workshop, there happened to be a few customers there. Wu Dafu saw Gui'er and shouted happily, "Sister..."

Gui'er quickly said loudly: "Boss, I want to build a wardrobe."

Wu Dafu reacted immediately and said, "Oh, wardrobe makers, huh? Ladies, please sit inside for a moment. We'll show you some of our common styles later." Then he shouted into the room, "Quick, someone come in and greet the wardrobe makers. Please come in and have a drink and sit down."

Wu Dahua came out, saw Gui'er, and then glanced at Wu Dafu. Wu Dafu winked at him. Wu Dahua was stunned for a moment, and finally reacted. He smiled and said, "Please sit inside."

Gui'er brought Taohua into the main room.

Miss Zhang Si also came over. She was very surprised to see them and quickly said to the two concubines, "Mom, go make some tea."

The two aunts were overjoyed and said with a smile, "Okay, okay."

Guier glanced outside. There was some wood piled up at the entrance to the main hall, blocking everyone's view. She placed the things she had brought on the table and said to Miss Zhang Si, "I bought you some malted milk and some food. Since you're pregnant with your second child, I also bought you some loose clothes. I also bought my brother a pair of leather shoes."

Miss Zhang Si took out the clothes, touched the material, and said, "This material is the most fashionable now. My sister is thoughtful." Her son couldn't wait to open the package of the peach cake. Miss Zhang Si slapped his little hand, and he retracted it. However, he still stared at the peach cake with his eyes, put his fingers into his mouth and sucked it.

Guier walked over, opened the package of peach cakes, took one and handed it to him, saying, "It's okay, I bought it to eat anyway."

The two aunts hurriedly said, "Why don't you thank your aunt quickly?"

The little boy said incoherently, "Thank you, Auntie."

Guier smiled.

Wu Dafu and Wu Dahua each held the shoes bought for them and couldn't let go of them.

Wu Dahua said, "There are foreign words on it. It's imported. It must be expensive. Sister, why spend that money? We don't usually go anywhere where we can wear such expensive shoes."

Gui'er actually felt that if an ordinary family like them suddenly had a pair of imported leather shoes, they would have nowhere to wear them. However, Taohua had already bought one for Wu Dafu, so she naturally had to buy a pair for Wu Dahua as well.

She said, "That's ok. Just save it for weddings or when your second child is born and have a banquet. Then wear it."

Wu Dahua added, "Sister, look, now that our nephew has grown up, it's time for him to be given a proper name. You're an educated person, so why don't you help me think about it?"

Guier glanced at the child. Although he was not as well-off as Sanmei's son, he was still quite neat and tidy, and looked like a child from a respectable family among ordinary people.

She smiled and said, "In this world, a good name isn't as good as good luck. What are your wishes as parents? Or what are your expectations for him?"

Wu Dahua and Miss Zhang looked at each other and said, "I told his mother that the world is a mess nowadays and it would be great if it could always be peaceful. I suggested calling him Wu Taiping, but she said it was too straightforward and sounded like a name given by an uneducated person."

Guier smiled. She thought of the catastrophe that would sweep across most of China in a few years. By then, she herself might not be able to protect herself, let alone these ordinary citizens who had no influence. Does it matter what their names are?

She said, "It's nice to be called Taiping. It would be great if it could always be so peaceful."

One of Miss Zhang Si's concubines suddenly said, "Recently, the storytellers on the street have been saying that the Japanese will attack us. Is that true? This shouldn't concern us ordinary people."

Gui Er didn't want them to be too optimistic, so she said seriously, "It's true, but the Japanese are not like the warlords of the past. They implemented the Three Alls Policy in the Northeast."