A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Sha Yanxiao's expression suddenly relaxed a little after hearing this, and he asked, "How is our former sister-in-law doing now?"

Gui'er shook her head. "It doesn't seem to be going well. They have a child, but neither husband nor wife work and rely solely on money from their family. Director Song said the husband wants to collect rent from their shop. Their family only gives them a fixed amount of money, which they spend on drinking and partying. If it's not enough, he asks anyone in the family for money. He even asks his concubine for money, which makes Mrs. Song very embarrassed."

Sha Yanxiao frowned and said with a smile, "I think Miss Song is a respectable person. How did she end up like this?"

Gui'er sighed. She didn't care much about Song Tingting. She had stayed in the Song residence for a period of time since she was a child. She actually knew very well that Song Tingting was a timid and selfish person. To put it bluntly, she was stupid and bad. It was just that she was a girl and did not show off in her daily actions, so it was not obvious.

What she was thinking about was what Song Xichen had just said to her.

Gui'er asked Sha Yanxiao, "Brother, do you think this Mitsui issue can be resolved by the New Year?"

Sha Yanxiao pondered for a moment and said, "I think it's unlikely. Today, the Duanmu family told my father that they want to hold an engagement ceremony with you before the New Year."

Gui'er became nervous: "Did father agree?"

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "Of course not. I wouldn't agree to that."

Gui'er breathed a sigh of relief. She said to Sha Yanxiao, "Actually, I've also told Duanmu Heng privately that if this goes through, I'll ask my father to give us a portion as a dowry. I wonder if that would make him feel more attractive and more willing to pay attention."

Sha Yanxiao frowned and said to Gui'er seriously, "Guier, I've already told you, try not to have any contact with Duanmu. He's not a good person. Now, we've done everything we can. It all depends on whether they can produce any results. If not, I might ask the Shanghai gangs to help me get it back by force."

Gui'er was a little worried after hearing this and said, "Is this okay? Don't destroy the antiques in the process of snatching them."

Sha Yanxiao sneered, "Even if it's destroyed, it's better than falling into the hands of the Japanese. I'm afraid those gold bars, jewelry, and banknotes will be turned into guns and ammunition to kill our compatriots."

Gui'er felt very heavy after hearing this.

At this time, the housekeeper came over and urged: "Miss, Master, stop chatting. The food is cold. Let's eat first."

The kitchen maid also smiled and said, "The relationship between the young master and the young lady is really getting better and better. They are so engrossed in chatting that they even forget to eat."

Sha Yanxiao and Gui'er then remembered and stood up and walked to the restaurant.

After dinner, Gui'er chatted with Sha Yanxiao for a while before returning to her room. When Dingxiang came in with milk and snacks, Gui'er quickly asked her, "Dingxiang, why don't we see Wu Mingqiang so often this time since we came back?"

Ding Xiang was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Miss, have you forgotten? He was sent to Shanghai by the Second Young Master."

Gui'er then remembered that this seemed to be true. She also wanted to ask Wu Mingqiang about the situation at the mine.

She had a very scary idea in her mind. The death of the leader of Qingfeng Village might be related to the Marshal. After all, he was managing the mine for the Marshal, and finally died inexplicably. His village suddenly became a bandit's den. This was too unbelievable.

"Now that Wu Mingqiang is always going to Shanghai, who will take care of the mine affairs?"

"Oh, that's what you're talking about. I heard that Dali is in charge. Miss, why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

"No, because I thought about the Duanmu family recently trying to take over our mine, so I thought, Brother Dali, when does he usually come? I haven't seen him for a long time." Guier suddenly thought of Dali, who was adopted by the leader of Qingfeng Village since he was a child, and was also Sha Yanxiao's playmate. When Sha Yanxiao was studying outside, he stayed in the village instead. He should know a lot of things.

"He seems to come report to the young master once every ten days or half a month. He always comes in the morning, and after reporting to the young master, he goes out to eat and drink with the other brothers, plays for a day, and then returns to the mine. But since he took over the mine, he has become more financially comfortable and even brings us some delicious food."

While Gui Er was thinking about how to meet Dali alone, she said, "Oh, so that's how it is. I was wondering why I hadn't seen him recently. I thought he had gone back to his hometown."

Ding Xiang smiled and said, "That's because you went to be an apprentice early in the morning and didn't come back until the evening. In fact, Dali also asked about you. The chocolate you ate today was his gift to you."

Gui'er said in surprise: "Oh, really? Then I should really thank him. When will he come over again?"

Ding Xiang counted on her fingers and thought for a while: "When he left last time, he said it would be a week later, which is tomorrow."

Gui'er nodded and said nothing more.

After breakfast the next day, Gui'er was still reluctant to leave for Zhenxiufang.

Sha Yanxiao was puzzled: "You were so eager to go to the pharmacy to be an apprentice in the past, why didn't you go today?"

Guier stretched lazily. "There were a lot of customers at the pharmacy yesterday. I was busy mixing and pounding the medicine. I was exhausted. I'll go over later today."

Sha Yanxiao said distressedly, "Are you so tired? Then it's okay to skip a day, right? I can still take you around to play."

Gui'er quickly said, "Chinese New Year is coming in a few days, so I won't go then. The pharmacy is busy these days, so I'd better go and help out."

Sha Yanxiao smiled and went about his own business.

Not long after, Dali came over as expected. Seeing Gui'er there, he walked in with a smile on his face and said in surprise, "Hey, little girl, I haven't seen you for half a year. You've grown so much taller and become prettier. You're ready to get married now."

Gui'er said shyly, "Brother Dali, long time no see. Stop joking with me. You came here to look for your brother, right? He's in the study."

Dali went to the study with a package. Guier saw that the package looked like it contained some books, most likely account books.

Seeing him go to Sha Yanxiao's study upstairs, Gui'er packed up her things. After a while, when Dali came down from upstairs and was about to go back, Gui'er hurried out as well and pretended to ask Dali casually, "Brother Dali, where are you going?"

Dali said casually, "I've invited some friends to go drink."

Gui Er pretended to be casual and said, "Oh, to the street? Well, I happen to be going to the Liu's Pharmacy near Yong'an Department Store. Can you give me a ride and drop me off at the entrance of the alley? That way, Brother Cheng won't have to make another special trip."