A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Everyone in the room stretched their heads and looked at Gui'er in surprise. Wu Dahua asked, "What is the Three Alls Policy?"

Guier said, "It means looting everything, burning everything, and killing everyone."

Everyone present had a change of expression. Wu Dafu suddenly said, "Oh, sister, our village has some land that's quite remote. Some time ago, I ran into someone in our village who said they wanted to sell some of that land. Sister, do you think we should buy that land? If the Japanese really come, we can go back to our village. It's quite secluded there. It's just that it's a bit troublesome to leave the city. It takes most of the day to walk. In the past, we would leave at midnight for the market and arrive in the city at noon. After we sold all the land and harvested the harvest, we would go back again and arrive at midnight."

Gui'er didn't have much affection for her nominal hometown. She asked, "How much is it? It's too expensive, so it's not worth it."

Wu Dafu thought for a moment and said, "I asked, and the price isn't that high. An acre is only two or three yuan. I'm thinking if I can buy a few dozen acres and build a farm on that mountain, I'll have a way out if anything happens. What do you think, sister?"

Gui'er thought for a moment and decided that this was indeed a feasible solution. She nodded in agreement and said, "Okay, we can do it. You buy more. I'll also contribute a little." Then she took out all the silver dollars she had, about a dozen or twenty yuan, and handed them to Wu Dafu, saying, "You know, the situation is turbulent right now, and no one can predict what will happen. I have one favor to ask of you. If Sha Yanxiao ever loses a battle, you must take us in. This can be considered a way out for Sha Yanxiao."

Wu Dafu nodded quickly and said, "Of course, sister, don't worry. We are all family. If that day ever comes, I will definitely not ignore it."

Guier saw that it was almost time and she had finished talking, so she got up and prepared to say goodbye.

Wu Dafu quietly pulled her aside and said a little embarrassedly: "Sister, I want to ask, when can I marry Taohua? Taohua and I have been waiting for a long time."

Gui'er looked at Wu Dafu, then at the shy Taohua, and said, "You know the situation in the Marshal's Mansion is complicated. Recently, Sha Lili and Sanmei have been planning to get married. I thought that if they can get married, the Marshal will not stop Taohua. I will take this opportunity to intercede with the Marshal and speak well of you two. When the Marshal is in a good mood, he might agree to your relationship."

Wu Dafu and Taohua were delighted when they heard this. Wu Dafu said excitedly, "Really, sister? I'm counting on you. As long as I can marry Taohua, I, Wu Dafu, will remember your kindness for the rest of my life."

Taohua blushed as well, and said softly, "Gui'er, thank you. If this really works out, I don't know how to thank you."

Guier smiled and waved her hands: "We are all family, why say these things. As long as there is a chance, I will definitely help you."

Afterwards, Gui'er and Taohua sat in the workshop for a while longer before getting up to say goodbye. They returned to Wing On Department Store and went up to the second floor to pick up Sanmei. As they stepped onto the escalator, they saw Sanmei emerging from the Wing On Hotel on the third floor. Her hair was a little disheveled, and her clothes were a little wrinkled.

Taohua and Gui'er exchanged a glance, suspecting that Sanmei had in fact checked into a hotel with the adjutant. However, it was inconvenient for them to reveal this, so they pretended they hadn't noticed anything. They smiled and went to pick up Sanmei, returning to the Marshal's residence together.

When Sha Yanxiao came back in the evening, Guier told Sha Yanxiao about her visit to Wu Dafu's house during the day and the purchase of the farm with them.

Sha Yanxiao shook his head and said with a smile, "The few acres of land your brother bought can't even support an army, but it's good that they left a way out. If something happens, you'll have a place to go."

Gui'er quickly said, "Brother, I won't desert. I will fight with you to the end."

Sha Yanxiao touched her head and said, "Silly child, you're a girl, you've been to school, you've studied medicine, you can do a lot of things. If it really comes to that, you must work hard to save yourself, understand?"

Gui'er didn't want to upset Sha Yanxiao, so she nodded and said, "Okay, I understand."

At this time, Wu Mingqiang walked in and saw Gui'er in surprise, saying, "Miss, you're back? Yes, it's time for vacation again. It's my fault. I was so busy that I forgot to prepare a gift for you when I came back from Shanghai this time."

Gui'er was surprised that Wu Mingqiang had returned from Shanghai. She was very curious about what mission Sha Yanxiao had sent him on, but she couldn't ask directly, so she smiled and said, "Little Wu, you're so polite. You've already given me so many gifts before."

Sha Yanxiao stood up and waved to Wu Mingqiang, then said to Guier with a smile, "I'll come down and have dinner with you later." Then the two of them went to the study.

Gui'er was quite curious about the situation in Shanghai. She wondered whether Wu Mingqiang knew about the catastrophe that had happened in Shanghai before. But she thought that he should not know, after all, he was secretly arrested by the authorities' spies.

The thought of so many comrades being arrested made her a little restless, so she read the newspaper and observed secretly.

After talking for about 20 to minutes, the two came out of the study. Sha Yanxiao didn't look very good, while Wu Mingqiang walked over with a smile to chat with Guier and asked about her final grades.

Gui Er took the opportunity to ask Wu Mingqiang with a smile: "Little Brother Wu, you don't need to go back after your business trip to Shanghai, right? It's almost the New Year."

Wu Mingqiang smiled without any suspicion and said, "That depends on what the young commander thinks. Anyway, I'm alone, so it doesn't matter where I celebrate the New Year."

Gui'er quickly smiled and said, "No, why don't you stay and have the reunion dinner with us. It will be lively and fun."

Wu Mingqiang was very happy to hear this. He suddenly smiled and said, "Miss, I haven't seen you for a few months. You have grown taller and become more beautiful."

Gui'er didn't know why he suddenly said that, but when she looked up, she saw that Wu Mingqiang had grown taller and was almost the same height as Sha Yanxiao. He now looked like a suave and elegant gentleman. He was completely different from the handsome boy a few years ago who had a ruthless look between his eyebrows.

It was then that Gui'er remembered that Wu Mingqiang was actually only 4 or 5 years older than her, and was just in his early 20s. However, after so many years of experience, he was very calm and composed. Even old veterans in their early 30s like Ah Si and Ah Cheng followed his lead.

Seeing Gui'er and Wu Mingqiang chatting enthusiastically, Sha Yanxiao came over and said to him, "You've finally come back, why don't you go take a look at the mine?"