A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Jin Bao smiled and said, "What's so unreasonable about him? I saw it clearly during the banquet. He didn't look for anyone else but specifically went to chat with you. Moreover, he kept looking at you during the banquet. When you were close to that Young Master Song, his face was not very good. Maybe he really is interested in you. Don't give up just because he is the son of the housekeeper. I think marrying him is much better than marrying that craftsman that Taohua married."

Gui Er smiled bitterly and said, "That's not the case at all. I'm afraid she might not even be interested in me. If we consider her background, she does seem like a good choice, but she's not interested in that."

Jin Bao quickly said, "If you're interested, I can ask him for you. If you're interested, wouldn't everyone be happy?"

Gui'er's eyes were almost rolling to the sky. She quickly said, "Jinbao, please don't do that. Oh, I beg you. I saw him cuddling with a dancer in the street. He and I are really not the same kind of people."

Jin Bao suddenly realized what was going on and said, "No wonder you ignored him. You saw him hanging out with a dancing girl, didn't you? You're so naive. All men in the world are like that. Your eldest brother has a wife and concubines, isn't he? He's the same. I believe your second brother, who has such a good relationship with you, just didn't let you know. It's normal for men to have affairs outside."

Gui'er was stunned. She didn't expect that Sha Yanyao would do something so foolish outside. However, judging from Jinbao's clothes, Sha Yanyao had indeed made a lot of money in the past two years, which also proved the saying that men become bad when they have money.

"How about it? Do you want me to ask around for you? I'd also like to see if I'm willing to act as a matchmaker based on our friendship. If it were someone else, I wouldn't get involved in this mess."

Gui'er looked at Jinbao with great confusion. She couldn't figure out for a moment whether she really wanted to help her, or whether Zhao Yingwu had already contacted the first wife and wanted her to test her. Now Sha Yanxiao needed the first wife's support, so she must stand on Sha Yanxiao's side.

She thought for a moment and said, "Jinbao, you're not usually in Jiangcheng, so you don't know a lot of things. Have you noticed the new eighth concubine?"

Jin Bao looked at her in confusion and said, "I did see her, but she's not very pretty. She even came all the way to the main room to greet the lady. And this woman's eyes flicker when she sees a man. It's obvious she's not a serious person."

"There are indeed many rumors in the mansion, but since the Marshal likes her, no one can say anything. It's just that everyone says she has affairs with many men, and Zhao Yingwu is one of them. You also know that I always prefer to keep things simple. Since there are such rumors about Zhao Yingwu and the Eighth Concubine, I will not consider him."

"That's fake, right? After all, the Eighth Concubine is already pregnant. Who would seduce a pregnant woman?"

"This is the key point. The Marshal can barely walk, but the Eighth Concubine got pregnant not long ago. I'm afraid there's something fishy going on. If the Marshal finds out, he'll definitely kill us all. That's why I don't want to get involved with those people. If they get involved, I'll be in trouble. I just want to live a peaceful life."

Jin Bao covered his mouth in shock and whispered, "You mean whose child is in the Eighth Concubine's belly?"

Gui Er quickly said, "I didn't say that. It's just that there's this rumor about this person and the Eighth Concubine. I'm afraid of being implicated and don't want to take the risk. You know I've always been very cautious in my life. Besides, now that I have a job, I don't want to take any risks."

Jin Bao sighed and said, "I see. This is difficult for you. You grew up in this wealthy family, working diligently. Zhao Yingwu is definitely someone you don't want to mess with. I'll keep an eye out for you. If there's a suitable one in Nanjing, you can go there. You've been there for a few years anyway, and you have friends and family there."

Gui'er could only smile and nod, saying, "You're right. Let's think about this matter over time."

The two of them bought some things, mostly clothes and cosmetics for Jinbao. Jinbao felt that the imported goods at Wing On Department Store weren't high-end enough. Gui'er remembered that He Ruizhu was in the business of importing high-end goods, so she said to her, "I have a classmate whose family is in the business of importing luxury goods. If you're interested, I can take you there to have a look. Even if they don't have a certain item, you can order it if you ask."

Jinbao immediately became interested and said, "There's a store like this! That's great! Please take me there."

The two of them got in the car and came to He Ruizhu's store. It had been several days since they last saw each other in the hospital. Guier didn't know how she was doing now, so she wanted to take this opportunity to see how she and her husband were doing.

The two of them rode in a carriage to the He family's trading company. As soon as they entered, Jinbao was stunned by the magnificent sight. The floor was a mirror-like marble with an exquisite mosaic pattern, like a flowing scroll. From the ceiling hung several magnificent crystal chandeliers, casting a fine light that made the entire space seem dreamlike.

The walls were inlaid with massive mirrors, their edges carved with exquisite European patterns, which complemented the reflected scenery and enhanced the spaciousness of the space. The display shelves, crafted from dark mahogany with a rich texture, held a dazzling array of jewelry, perfumes, leather goods, and other luxury goods. The lighting in the jewelry section was exceptionally soft, and the pearl necklaces shone with a lustrous luster, while the diamond rings sparkled, seeming to speak of their extraordinary beauty.

Gui'er told the waiter that she and He Ruizhu were classmates. The waiter, not wanting to be inconsiderate, quickly informed them. He Ruizhu came over with a beaming smile, greeting them both warmly. Jinbao was immediately captivated by the ornate jewelry, her eyes sparkling as she examined each piece carefully, exclaiming in admiration. After trying on several necklaces and earrings, she immediately ordered several, each of them costing a fortune, making her a major customer.

While Jinbao was checking the order with the clerk, He Ruizhu quietly took Guier's hand and said gratefully, "Guier, thank you so much for bringing me such a good customer. You really helped me a lot."

Guier took the opportunity to ask softly, "How are you and your husband doing now?"

He Ruizhu's expression darkened a bit, and she sighed softly, saying, "He still refuses to go to the hospital for a checkup. A while ago, one of our long-time servants discovered that he had a concubine outside, and that the concubine was already pregnant. He actually used this as an excuse to say that I was infertile and wanted to take the concubine in. This really angered the whole family. My father finally stopped opposing my divorce this time, so I have already filed for divorce in court."