A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Shopkeeper Zhang and Shopkeeper Liu exchanged a glance, awkwardly accepted the gift, and said with a smile, "Young Marshal Sha, you're too polite. In fact, it's us who have been taking care of you all this time."

Shopkeeper Zhang quickly made tea, and Shopkeeper Liu also hurriedly took out the peanuts and melon seeds he had prepared and asked Gui'er and Sha Yanxiao to eat them. For a while, everyone started talking and laughing, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

After a while, Shopkeeper Zhang cleared his throat and said, "There has been nothing to do these days. We just sit in the store and watch the hustle and bustle outside. If we talk about the busiest place, it must be the Xiuchuntang in front." When he said this, he suddenly hesitated.

Shopkeeper Liu took over and said, "Well, I'll tell you the truth. It's about Mr. Duanmu who's pursuing Gui'er. These past few days, a girl from that place came to our shop to get medicine. She told us that he's actually a regular there. We were very surprised. The shop happened to be idle these two days, so we kept an eye on the door of Xiuchuntang all day, and sure enough, we saw him coming in and out there. Logically speaking, it's New Year's Day, so it's really a bit of a spoiler to say it, but since it concerns Gui'er's happiness, we can't care less."

Sha Yanxiao smiled awkwardly and said, "Don't mind me. When we walked in just now, we saw him coming out drunk. I guess it's just his nature. He's been holding it in for too long and thought that young ladies wouldn't go out during the New Year, so he's been acting recklessly."

Shopkeeper Liu quickly said, "Well, Young Marshal, I know this is your family affair. We outsiders shouldn't butt in on it, but my wife and I have watched Gui'er grow up. This Young Master Duanmu is really not a good match. The Young Master Liang before was consistent in his words and deeds, but this Young Master Duanmu is too secretive and scheming. Gui'er has a simple personality, so they are not suitable for each other."

Sha Yanxiao nodded and said with a smile, "Thank you both for your concern for my sister. I will find a way to cancel the engagement."

Shopkeeper Zhang wanted to continue speaking, but Sha Yanxiao had already changed the subject. He obviously felt that this was his own family matter and didn't want outsiders to butt in. Gui'er also hurried to smooth things over before the atmosphere became too awkward.

The two of them sat in Zhenxiufang for more than ten minutes, and then Sha Yanxiao said goodbye. Gui'er originally wanted to play there for a while longer, but because of Sha Yanxiao, she had to get up and follow him.

The two walked out, and when they were almost at the entrance of the alley, a person suddenly jumped out from the corner. Sha Yanxiao subconsciously reached for his waist.

The man quickly raised his hand and said with a smile on his face, "Young Master, it's me, it's me."

Guier looked closely and found that it was the man who delivered cakes to the yard yesterday. He didn't change his clothes and they were still tattered and dirty.

Sha Yanxiao frowned and said, "Who are you?"

At this time, Dali came over and pulled out a gun and pointed it at him. The man quickly said to Dali, "Dali, you bastard, you've become rich now, but you don't recognize your grandfather anymore? Back then, when the young master was away, you were bullied and I helped you."

Dali was stunned for a moment, then stepped forward to take a closer look. He said in surprise, "Feng Laoliu, you're not dead." Then he turned to Sha Yanxiao and said, "He used to be a subordinate of the second-in-command, Lord Long."

Feng Laoliu bent down, bowed with both hands, and smiled: "Young Master, I am here to pay my respects to you. I wish you all the best and prosperity in the new year."

Sha Yanxiao looked at him with a frown, then glanced around, turned his head and signaled Dali, then pulled Guier straight back to the car, started the car and drove away.

When Gui'er heard their conversation just now, her memories from many years ago were brought back. At that time, she first met Song Xichen because she was taken away by Long Ye and was rescued by Song Xichen when he was suppressing bandits. This person claimed to be Long Ye's subordinate, which means that he was from Qingfeng Village. For some reason, he escaped the suppression of bandits and survived. Now he is having a hard time and may not even know that Sha Yanxiao is the young marshal. It was yesterday when he went to the marshal's mansion to deliver something that he saw Gui'er and recognized her.

But his appearance here and stopping Sha Yanxiao meant that he must have followed them. If the fact that Sha Yanxiao was a bandit from Qingfeng Village were to be spread in Jiangcheng, it would be very disadvantageous to Sha Yanxiao.

Gui'er asked Sha Yanxiao cautiously, "Brother, this guy is one of Lord Long's former subordinates, right? If he followed us because he recognized me, then he must have followed Lord Long down the mountain to do something shady that time. It wouldn't be a good thing if he got entangled with us."

Sha Yanxiao drove the car calmly while holding the steering wheel. He said to Gui'er, "Don't worry. I've asked Dali to take care of him. Dali should know the seriousness of the matter."

The two returned to the Marshal's residence. Sha Yanxiao turned on the radio, picked up a newspaper, crossed his legs, and drank tea. Gui'er went to get a book and sat next to him to read. The two seemed to be entertaining themselves, but in fact they were thinking about what had just happened and waiting for Dali to come back.

After a while, Dali came back. Sha Yanxiao waved at him. The two of them went to the study and closed the door. Sha Yanxiao asked, "What's wrong with this guy? What does he want?"

Dali sighed and said, "He used to be a capable subordinate of the Second Boss. But you know the Second Boss, he's a bit of a slut, smoking opium and being a bit of a lecher. After the First Boss passed away, there was no one to control him, so he just let loose. I just asked him about it."

"At the time, Lord Long took a group of them to the city to look for big money. They wanted to capture a rich young man or young lady as their prostitute. They didn't catch any, so they went to a brothel and planned to make a scene, snatch the most popular courtesan and bring her back to the stronghold as his wife. But the brothel owner was cunning and gave them two young girls she had just bought a few days ago and two gold bars. Oh, and Feng Laoliu said one of those girls was Gui'er."

When Sha Yanxiao heard this, his eyes widened. He exerted force and with a snap, the teacup in his hand instantly broke into several pieces.

Dali rarely saw him so angry. He was shocked for a moment. He opened his mouth but didn't dare to say anything else.

Sha Yanxiao casually placed the fragments on the table, shook the water off his hands, and said calmly, "Go on."

"Feng Laoliu said that he and another man were supposed to be looking after the two girls that day, but he got a stomach upset and went to the toilet several times, his legs were weak, so he was lazy and went to sleep in an empty guest room. Because of this, when the police came to suppress the bandits, he pretended to be an ordinary guest and actually got away with it. But after that, he didn't dare to return to the mountain stronghold. He wandered around everywhere, stealing chickens and dogs, and stealing things when he had the chance. It wasn't until the past two years that he settled down and found a job as an errand boy in a teahouse to barely make a living. That day, he went to the Marshal's Mansion to deliver snacks and recognized Gui'er. He was just curious and squatted at the door of the Marshal's Mansion, thinking that when Gui'er came out, he could use what he knew about her past to extort some money. Unexpectedly, you showed up with her. He said he wanted to work for you again."