A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Gui'er decided to test Sha Yanxiao. She told him that Taohua wanted to sell embroidery samples and said, "I've already asked my classmates. There's a store near Yong'an Department Store that specializes in buying them. The prices are pretty good."

Sha Yanxiao frowned and said, "In addition to the Third Concubine's monthly allowance, Father also gives her Taohua's 10 yuan. Isn't that enough for the other family's food and clothing?"

Gui'er quickly said, "That's not the case. Taohua usually stays at home and doesn't spend much money. She just likes embroidery since she was a child. It would be a waste to just leave her embroidery there. It would be good to go out and exchange it for some money so that she can buy more fine silk thread."

After hearing this, Sha Yanxiao said, "Well, you can run errands for her. But be forewarned. The world is not peaceful these days. Scams, robberies, arson, and murder are common. Plus, the weather is getting colder. The vagrants on the street will risk their lives to survive. Female students like you are undoubtedly fat sheep in the eyes of criminals. Be careful."

Gui'er quickly seized the opportunity to speak up, "Yes, recently the teachers have been saying that public security is declining, and they're asking students to be more careful when going out. By the way, has the case of the assassination of my father been investigated? That job shouldn't happen again, right?"

Sha Yanxiao said thoughtfully, "I did check, but I have no clue at all. It's really strange."

Gui'er said: "That man was originally a subordinate of Lord Long. Could he be related to Lord Long? I recognized him at the time and was afraid that he would do something bad to you, so I pounced on him." When saying this, Gui'er stared at Sha Yanxiao's face, afraid of missing any slight change in his expression.

After hearing this, Sha Yanxiao reached out and touched Gui'er's head. He smiled and said, "That's really thanks to you. But Long Ye was beaten to death on the spot by the police. His men who survived are now in prison. I really can't imagine who ordered him to do this."

Seeing that his expression didn't seem like he was lying, Gui'er probed further: "Could it be that he himself wanted to avenge Lord Long?"

Sha Yanxiao sneered and said, "Master Long is a sarcastic and harsh person, with little affection and gratitude. His subordinates are just a bunch of rabble. Who would be willing to work for him?"

Gui'er looked into Sha Yanxiao's eyes and said cautiously, "Although there were many people at the banquet that day, you can't just enter the Marshal's Mansion if you want. He used such a clever trick to hide in the wedding procession. It seems that someone on the inside had informed him. Brother Yanxiao, after you left Qingfeng Village, did you contact the other subordinates?"

Sha Yanxiao glanced at Gui'er and said, "Most of the people who were willing to follow me at the time have been incorporated into the army and become my direct subordinates. They usually stay in the barracks. Only Dali helps me drive and protect me, but he is always with me, or he is picking you up. He has no time for anything else."

Gui'er looked at Sha Yanxiao's expression and didn't think he was lying.

Sha Yanxiao suddenly stroked Gui'er's face with his hand and said with a smile, "Why are you so interested in this matter today?"

Guier smiled and said, "Of course I was beaten to death. I'm also afraid that he will do it again."

Sha Yanxiao smiled and comforted her, saying, "Since last time, the Marshal's Mansion has increased its guards, so this won't happen again. Even if it happens again, remember that in times of crisis, a girl is already very capable if she can protect herself. She can ignore everything else."

Guier smiled and nodded. She felt that Sha Yanxiao should not be the one behind the scenes.

After that, although Gui'er wanted to investigate further, she didn't know where to start.

She remembered that the two men said they wanted to give opium to the third young master, and an idea suddenly came to her mind. Maybe she could start from there, so she increased the frequency of her visits to see Sha Lili.

That day, Gui'er returned to the General's residence after school and discovered that Sha Yanxiao had bought some grapefruits. Since they weren't available locally, they were quite rare. She told Sha Yanxiao about it and prepared to go find Sha Lili. Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "Why have you been so close to Lili lately? Didn't you like playing with Taohua before?"

Guier smiled and said, "Lily and I go to the same school, so we have common topics."

Sha Yanxiao shook his head and said, "Can the people in their compound even have common topics with others? Their nostrils have grown all the way to the top of their heads."

Gui'er couldn't help but burst out laughing after hearing this. Sha Yanxiao's description was quite vivid. In the Marshal's Mansion, except for the Marshal, his wife, the two young masters and Gui'er, the Fourth Concubine looked down on everyone.

She brought the pomelo to the Fourth Concubine's Jinxiu Hall. When she saw Gui'er, she smiled and said, "Guier is here to play."

Guier said sweetly, "Brother Yanxiao bought some grapefruits and asked me to bring one over."

When Sha Lili heard this, she came over and said, "There are grapefruits to eat." She immediately asked the maid to open the grapefruits and took out some seasonal fruits to eat together.

While they were eating, the Marshal suddenly arrived. Everyone in the room stood up immediately. Gui'er saw a figure quickly walk from behind the screen to the inner room. Gui'er thought it was the Third Young Master, but at this moment, the Third Young Master, Sha Yanwen, came in from outside and respectfully called out to the Marshal, "Father."

When the fourth concubine saw the Marshal coming, she was overjoyed and immediately entertained him warmly. She also asked the kitchen to make some sweet cakes and send them over.

When the Marshal saw Gui'er there, he smiled and said, "You two seem to be able to play together."

The fourth concubine said quickly: "They are all from the same school, so naturally they have a lot to talk about."

The Marshal nodded, sat down, took a pomelo slice, and ate it while looking around. The fourth concubine asked in a delicate tone: "Marshal, what's wrong with you? What are you looking for?"

The Marshal smiled and said, "Nothing. I haven't been here for a while, but you're still as elegant as ever."

The fourth concubine said gently, "Since the Marshal likes it, you can come often in the future."

The Marshal nodded, picked up a bowl of lotus seed soup, and drank it all in one gulp without using a spoon. Then he put the bowl down and said, "I have to attend a military meeting and I'll leave first." Then he strode out, leaving everyone there in a daze.

When the fourth concubine saw that the Marshal had left, she asked everyone to continue eating. Guier saw that he had been out for quite a while, so she said goodbye. As soon as she walked out of the courtyard, she saw a tall figure wearing the same clothes as the person behind the screen.

Guier pedaled a few more times and rushed to the front of the man. She turned around and saw that the man was tall, with a square face, thick eyebrows, big eyes, a high nose, and thin lips. He was handsome, but he looked very frivolous.

The man also saw Guier, and stopped to smile at her.

After seeing this, Gui'er felt uncomfortable all over and quickly rode away on her bicycle.