A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

He Ruizhu also nodded and said, "The world is not peaceful now. Many of my classmates haven't seen each other since graduation, but we must not lose contact."

Afterwards, Gui'er told Shopkeeper Liu about Sha Yanxiao's decision. Shopkeeper Liu was quite happy and said, "As long as you leave here, you will be safe. You can continue your medical studies in Hong Kong. It's a good thing."

After Manager Zhang found out, he asked Manager Liu to call Gui'er and Song Xichen to his home. He used his unique skills to prepare a table full of dishes as a farewell party for Gui'er in advance.

Although it was a very rich meal for them, it was actually just four dishes and one soup.

Shopkeeper Zhang picked up a piece of fish for her and said, "Eat well when you get there. Don't harm your health. You were poisoned and injured when you were a child. The Marshal's Mansion doesn't have any other advantages, but at least the food is good. But if you leave the Mansion and go to a strange place alone, it's hard to say." He turned his back and wiped away his tears.

Shopkeeper Liu frowned and said, "What are you doing like this? It must be so painful for the children to see." He turned to Gui'er and said, "Study hard for medicine. When you come back, you can save the dying and the wounded, and you can save the lives of many of our revolutionary comrades."

Song Xichen took out a piece of paper and said, "This is my home address in Hong Kong. I've agreed with my brother Xilun that you can find him when you get there. He'll take care of everything for you."

Gui'er folded the note and put it in her purse. She bowed deeply to the three of them and said, "Thank you three seniors for your care. I will remember this."

Back at the Marshal's residence, Sha Yanxiao said to her, "I'm worried about you going to Hong Kong alone this time. And since Wu Mingqiang can't stay here any longer, I'm sending him there. On the one hand, he'll investigate the local environment for me, and on the other hand, he'll protect you from the outside. I've already sent him there first. But he's quite ambitious. I've taken every precaution regarding those properties. You're the only one who has the key to the warehouse, and you're in charge of all the bank account passwords. Don't trust anyone else; you're the only one who can handle this. Do you understand?"

Gui'er knew that it was a huge fortune, and nodded with some trepidation.

Sha Yanxiao looked at her and said, "As a girl, if you have no relatives or friends around you, you're bound to be criticized. But I heard that Lily and her husband have recently gone to Hong Kong. The fourth concubine is seeking to leave the Marshal's Mansion to live with their son and daughter in their old age. Of course, she also wants to take some of the Marshal's belongings with her. I will help her get it from the lady. This way, she can give her face and we can consider her a relative when she goes to Hong Kong."

"I've already contacted the school, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong. One of my former classmates is currently teaching there. I've already written to them asking them to look after me."

"The accommodation has been arranged. Actually, the house was originally purchased by the Marshal. He dug a secret room underground. There is a bookshelf in the bedroom on the second floor. There is a secret door on the wall behind the bookshelf that leads directly to the secret room. You will know when you go there. I will give you the key before I leave. The bedroom was originally intended to be the Marshal's own bedroom. I asked Wu Mingqiang to replace the furniture with some girls' favorites. He doesn't know the secret of this bedroom. Don't tell anyone. This is your bargaining chip for survival in Hong Kong."

"Also, I asked Wu Mingqiang to recruit some servants, doormen, cooks, and so on in the local area."

Gui'er quickly said, "Wouldn't it be too ostentatious for me to hire so many workers by myself?"

Sha Yanxiao shook his head and said, "Don't show off. The house is big and surrounded by wealthy people. This is a standard configuration. But if it's all locals, I'm afraid they will rebel. I plan to let Dingxiang and Ah Cheng go with you."

Although Gui'er would feel more at ease if she had a few acquaintances accompany her, she didn't know when she would be back. Once the war broke out, it would be easy to lose contact. Acheng and Dingxiang might not see his family again. Thinking of this, Gui'er felt a little reluctant.

She said to Sha Yanxiao, "Do they agree? I'd better wait until I ask them first."

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "I've already discussed it. However, if you're still worried, you can ask them in person."

That evening, when Dingxiang brought up the milk, Guier asked her, "My brother plans to send me to study in Hong Kong. He wants you to go with me."

Ding Xiang smiled and said, "Yes, the young master has already told me, Miss, we have been inseparable all these years. I also followed you to Nanjing. I would be worried if you went to Hong Kong alone, so it would be better for us to have company."

Gui'er was very grateful after hearing this, but she still reminded him, "But you've probably heard something about the current situation. They say the Japanese are going to attack. This war will make things different. If you're separated from your parents right now, it's hard to say what will happen in the future..."

"Miss, I understand what you mean. My parents are just like that, actually. I've been your personal maid for these years, and my monthly salary is higher than others. My parents are also servants in the manor. Although they live on the farm, they know about it. Every time I come back from abroad, they try their best to squeeze money from me, saying that when we came back from Nanjing, didn't you give me a few days off to visit them on the farm? Most of my savings have been given to them. When I went there, I deliberately wore the flowered gown you gave me as a reward. My mother also asked me to take it off and give it to my sister-in-law, and she gave me a patched old dress. It would be so embarrassing to come back wearing it. I think it would be more comfortable to go to Hong Kong, where the mountains are high and the emperor is far away. Otherwise, they will probably try to get me married so that they can earn the bride price. As for who I marry, it will be just one of the farmers or hunters on the farm, and I will have to do farm work later. It's better for me to be with you, Miss. And... Anyway, I am happy to do it, Miss, don't worry." Dingxiang said with a smile.

After hearing what she said, Gui'er didn't know what to say, so she asked her to ask Ah Cheng to come up and question him herself.

Ah Cheng came up and said shyly, "Miss, Ding Xiang said you were looking for me?"

Gui'er nodded and said with a smile, "Brother Cheng, my brother is planning to send me to Hong Kong to study medicine. He wants you and Dingxiang to come with me. I think Hong Kong is far away, and I can't come back every so often like I did in Nanjing, so I wanted to ask you in person what you think."

Ah Cheng nodded and said, "I am willing. In fact, I also know that this time, besides studying medicine, the more important thing for you is to avoid disaster. I have been with you for so many years, and I would not be at ease if someone else went with you."