A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

While riding in a rickshaw on the streets of Jiangcheng, Guier carefully observed the businesses on both sides. It was just after 9 o'clock in the morning, but there were not many people on the streets and the shops were deserted, which was very different from the bustling scene in the past.

This time, Acheng asked the rickshaw to go all the way into the alley, but the rickshaw driver didn't want to, saying that the alley was narrow and it would be difficult to reverse, and he would have to walk a long way to turn out.

Ah Cheng said, "The market is not peaceful now. The reason we take rickshaws is for safety. If you only take us to the entrance of the alley, then why would I ask you to do it? Forget it, I'll give you two more cents. Go ahead and take the rickshaw."

The rickshaw driver hesitated to speak, then sighed and said, "Okay."

Arriving at the Zhenxiu Workshop, Shopkeepers Zhang and Liu were pleasantly surprised to see Gui Erduo coming out to greet them. Shopkeeper Zhang said, "I've heard Director Song say that you were going to graduate early and come back. I didn't expect it to be so soon. You're truly amazing! Come in and have a seat."

Shopkeeper Liu also said to Ah Cheng warmly: "Brother Ah Cheng, come in and have a cup of tea."

Ah Cheng said tactfully, "I can't. I have some friends nearby. I'll go for a walk and come back later."

The shopkeeper affectionately took Guier into the store.

Seeing that there were no one in the store, not even the waiter, Guier asked curiously, "Did the brother from before take a leave?"

Manager Zhang pulled Gui'er to Zhenxiufang. There was no one there, even the door was closed. Gui'er felt something was wrong.

Shopkeeper Zhang said, "The market isn't very peaceful right now, and there are rumors that the Japanese are going to attack us, so everyone is trying to save as much as possible. My Xiufang has basically no business anymore. Not to mention me, even Yunshanglou has seen a lot of slowdown. Who else but the rich and powerful would make such expensive clothes at this time?"

"Also, those wealthy families started to move out. Some went to Malaya, some to Hong Kong. I heard that Hong Kong was British territory, and the Japanese wouldn't dare to touch it. It was also close to the mainland, so it would be convenient to come back. In Malaya, things were cheap. Three gold bars could buy 100 acres of good land, which was also good enough to build houses on. Even if the whole family didn't move, they would send some trusted people there first to prepare. So, the number of people spending money suddenly decreased a lot."

Gui'er hadn't expected the impact to be so significant. Wouldn't this directly impact the local economy? She worriedly asked, "What instructions have our superiors given us? Nanjing is shrouded in white terror, and the comrades are all silent. That's why I was advised to graduate early and return home."

At this time, Shopkeeper Liu also came over from the pharmacy. He said, "Some time ago, Director Song arranged for us to pick up Comrade Lao Meng. He has already left Jiangcheng successfully. After that, although a group came to the city to search for them, Director Song said that Marshal Sha had someone treat them to a meal and give them gifts, and they were fooled into leaving. Although he did this because it involved you, it did help us. Lao Song still wants to win him over. You can discuss it with Lao Song later. It will be very beneficial to us."

Guier nodded. She knew that Sha Yanxiao was also under pressure. In the current situation, the economy of Jiangcheng was in such a state, not to mention Fengcheng. She would talk to him later.

"By the way, our superiors are asking us to keep a low profile now. They say that the National Government is strictly investigating the revolutionaries, and the situation is particularly serious in Nanjing. We actually have spies here too, so you probably can't come here every day like before." said Manager Liu.

"Is it that serious? But when I was here before, I came here almost every day. It's common knowledge." Gui'er also wanted to study medicine with Manager Liu. She wasn't like those wealthy ladies who enjoyed playing mahjong, shopping, or attending operas. She also didn't like watching the women scheming against each other in the Marshal's Mansion. Liu's Pharmacy and the Zhenxiu Workshop were her paradise.

Shopkeeper Liu said helplessly and indignantly, "We also don't understand. With the national crisis at hand, why isn't the government preparing for war? Instead, they're peddling 'pacifying the country before resisting foreign aggression.' This is destroying our own ambitions, boosting others' prestige, and causing panic among the people. But to avoid unnecessary sacrifice, we should try to minimize contact."

Shopkeeper Zhang had always treated Gui'er like her own daughter. This time, she finally came back, but they couldn't see each other often. She felt very upset. She said to Shopkeeper Liu, "I don't think we can be too obvious about avoiding suspicion. After all, Gui'er used to show up at our shop every day whenever she was here. Now that she's graduated and back, she never comes to our place. Doesn't that seem a bit strange?"

Shopkeeper Liu was stunned for a moment, sighed, and said to Shopkeeper Zhang, "Don't I want Gui'er to come? I love her too. We've watched her grow up. Isn't it better to be cautious? I heard that many comrades in other places were arrested. They were all arrested secretly. Once they were arrested, it was as if they disappeared. You can't find them. How about this? Let's discuss it with Old Song and get his opinion. If he says it's okay to meet, then we can make arrangements."

Shopkeeper Zhang finally smiled and took Guier's hand and started chatting happily, asking about her life and exams in Nanjing.

Gui'er was quite depressed when she first heard that she couldn't come to be an apprentice, but she didn't want to object. Now she had a little hope in her heart, and the three of them talked and laughed until noon.

Shopkeeper Liu said, "You guys chat first. I'm going to buy some lunch. We didn't cook today. I'm going to buy some shengjian from Dachanglong." He stood up and walked over with a smile.

Shopkeeper Zhang brought Gui'er to the pharmacy to look after the shop. They chatted while tidying up the medicine cabinets.

At this time, someone walked in: "Boss, please help me get some medicine."

Shopkeeper Zhang asked, "What medicine do you want? Do you have a prescription?"

"I don't have a prescription. Isn't Shopkeeper Liu here? I want him to take my pulse."

"He's out. He won't be back for a while, so please wait here."

"Oh. You don't know how to take a pulse? I've never seen this person before. Could she be the favorite student of Manager Liu that everyone talks about? Why don't we let her take my pulse and see if she's accurate?"

Gui'er was originally tidying up the medicine cabinet. In that era, it was not convenient for young girls to have direct contact with strange men, and men would generally avoid it. Anyone who took the initiative to talk to a strange unmarried woman was considered to be teasing and provoking.

She raised her head and looked at the man. He was in his 30s, of medium height and ordinary appearance. He was the kind that would not be noticeable in a crowd. He was wearing a suit, but the hem of the suit was wrinkled, making him look a bit like a clerk in a foreign company. However, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, and his eyes kept turning to Guier.