A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Although Gui'er was touched, she had to explain, "I'm very touched that you and Dingxiang are thinking of me this way, but your family... didn't you say your eldest brother passed away and that they need your support? The two sides are so far apart, and if anything happens, you might not be able to receive timely information. Is this really okay?"

Ah Cheng sighed and said, "My mother asked me to marry my eldest sister-in-law, which actually meant that she wanted me to support the family. I couldn't accept it. From then on, I had no way to go home. Before I follow the young lady to Hong Kong this time, I will have someone send part of my savings back to my mother as a settlement fee. Then I can let my eldest sister-in-law find another husband. Besides, I'm not young anymore. The young master said he would give Dingxiang to me. This is great. I can get married without spending money. And I really don't want to fight anymore. Following the young lady is nothing more than running errands. Life is more stable."

Gui'er was stunned for a moment, not even knowing this was happening. She nodded and said, "I'm glad you agree. Then you can go down."

Afterwards, she was afraid that Dingxiang was forced, so she turned back and asked Dingxiang.

Ding Xiang blushed and said, "Brother Cheng is a kind man, well-educated, and has seen the world. I used to be a servant, and I'm old, over 20. I'm afraid the men my parents found for me weren't as good as this one. Miss, if I hadn't seized this opportunity, I might never have found one as good as this one again."

Gui'er nodded and said, "As long as you're willing, it's fine. Speaking of which, you're getting married soon. I have a few silver dollars here. You can use them to make earrings or a ring. It can be considered as a dowry."

When Dingxiang heard this, her eyes were red with emotion. She knelt down with a plop and kowtowed three times, saying, "Thank you very much, Miss. You are truly my benefactor."

Gui'er quickly helped her up and said, "We are like sisters, why are you saying this?"

When Guier knew that both of them were willing, she felt better.

That day, Sha Yanxiao said to her, "Everything is ready. You will leave in a week. I will tell my family two days before departure. Before then, if you have anything else to do or anyone you haven't met yet, go and meet them as soon as possible."

Guier smiled. "I've already met with my relatives and friends. From now on, I'll just live my life as usual. I used to think my life was so boring, but now I realize it's wonderful."

Sha Yanxiao reached out and gently stroked her cheek and said, "Come to think of it, I said before that I would take you out to play. I'll squeeze out some time to take you out to play these days."

Guier nodded happily and said, "Okay."

So over the next few days, they visited all the scenic spots, parks, and temples near Jiangcheng and Fengcheng. They even brought their cameras with them. Every time they arrived at a place, they asked Dali to take photos of the two of them together. They also took many solo photos of Guier. Sha Yanxiao said, "When you write back from now on, I'll look at these photos while reading your letter. It'll be like you're right in front of me."

Gui Er thought this made sense and said, "Well, that's a great idea. Dali, take a few more photos of me and let me take them to Hong Kong."

Dali sighed and said, "Why are all yours the two of you? Where's mine? I came here to have fun, too."

The two of them realized that Daliguang was so busy taking pictures of them that he didn't take any for himself. Sha Yanxiao quickly said with a smile, "Okay, okay, okay, I'll take a handsome picture of you right now so you can take it to your blind date."

When Dali heard this, he said, "That's great. Please help me take a more handsome photo."

Two days before departure, when they were having dinner at his wife's house, Sha Yanxiao finally told her the news that Gui'er was going to Hong Kong.

Everyone was very surprised, especially the Madam and Sha Yanyao. The Madam said, "Gui'er, you're not young anymore. Why don't you think about finding a husband right away? Instead, you're running around to go to school. What's the point? And you're going so far away. What a waste of money."

Sha Yanyao asked Guier, "Sister, why do you suddenly want to study medicine in Hong Kong?"

Guier smiled calmly and said, "It wasn't sudden, actually. When the foreign doctor treated my father here before, I thought he was very skilled. I learned a little bit myself, but it was all useless. I just watched my father suffer so much, but I couldn't help. I felt guilty, so I wanted him to take me in as his apprentice, but I heard from the dean that he was going back to England, so I told my brother that I wanted to continue studying medicine."

Sha Yanxiao took over and said, "I hadn't agreed before. One reason was that Shanghai was too chaotic, and Hong Kong was far away. But then I contacted a classmate there. He said he could make it happen. I only heard from him a few days ago, but school is about to start, so time is a bit tight. I'll leave in two days."

Sha Yanyao said suspiciously, "So soon? Time is too tight. Can we wait until next semester?"

The fourth concubine at the side interrupted and said, "It's okay. My son-in-law left here a while ago and followed his father to Hong Kong. Lily also went with him. He said he would stay there for a long time and set up a business there. Lily wrote back and told me that she was bored. It's just right. Gui'er, when you go there, you must visit your sister more often so that you can take care of each other."

Gui'er quickly and obediently said, "Fourth Aunt, I will."

After the Fourth Concubine intervened, it was difficult for others to say anything.

Gui'er also told the hospital that she was going to study medicine. The dean naturally said all kinds of good things about her, saying that he was looking forward to her returning after graduation, saying that she would be an excellent Western doctor by then. He also welcomed her to join the hospital and replace the foreign doctor. Although Gui'er knew that the dean said this for Sha Yanxiao's sake, she really couldn't hate this dean. After all, they had worked together before, and she knew that although the dean was good at dealing with people, he really saved lives.

When the doctors and physicians who worked with her heard that she was going to study medicine, they all gave their sincere blessings.

After finishing work on the last day, when Gui'er came out of the hospital, she looked back at the hospital and then at the busy street in front of the hospital. She thought of every little thing she did at the hospital and her heart was filled with melancholy.

"Guier, are you off work?" Sha Yanyao suddenly appeared in his car, rolled down the window and greeted her.

"Brother, are you passing by here?" Gui'er was still full of vigilance towards him.

"I just ran some errands and passed by the hospital when I saw you coming out. Today should be your last day at work, right? Did you say goodbye to your colleagues and friends properly?"