A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Cars are driving on the busy streets of Shanghai. It is now around 9:00 in the morning, which is the busiest time. Trams, double-decker buses, large trucks, cars, rickshaws, and countless bicycles appear on the streets at the same time, making it very busy.

Although most people on the street were still wearing cheongsams, the style had indeed absorbed many Western elements. There were also foreigners wearing clothes that were no different from modern clothing styles. All of this made Guier feel extremely fresh.

Sha Yanxiao saw her leaning against the car window looking out, and thought it was very cute. He smiled and said, "It's a novelty to come to a big city, right?"

Guier smiled and nodded, thinking to herself, "I just wonder if ordinary people can make a living here."

Soon the car arrived in front of a magnificent gate with European-style Roman columns on both sides and traditional Chinese door knockers on the door. It seemed that this was a residence that combined Chinese and Western styles. The driver got out of the car and knocked on the door. After the doorman opened the door and asked, the two heavy wooden doors slowly opened inward. Led by the car in which the Marshal was sitting, several cars slowly drove into the courtyard.

Sha Yanxiao said to Gui'er, "The Fourth Concubine's family isn't particularly wealthy, but they do have some reputation in Shanghai. However, the Fourth Concubine was born out of wedlock, and only one of her two brothers currently serving in the central government shares the same father and mother. The relationship here is a bit complicated. Be careful what you say when you go in."

Guier nodded quickly.

At this time, everyone got off the car one after another. Only then did Guier see clearly the house in the courtyard, which was a combination of Chinese and Western styles. It had three floors, gray brick walls, red wooden window frames, slightly upturned eaves, and roof tiles, all of which had strong Chinese characteristics. The colored glass windows and arched doors were full of Western style. There was also a fountain pool in the middle of the courtyard. In the center of the pool stood a plaster statue of a little angel. The little angel was holding a vase in his hand, and water was constantly flowing out. The area of this courtyard was nearly twice the size of the Marshal's mansion in Shanghai. It seemed that the fourth concubine's family was indeed quite powerful.

A fat, middle-aged man with fair skin, wearing a suit and gold-rimmed glasses, probably in his forties, walked out of the main entrance of the mansion, a cigar between his fingers. He swung his arms left and right as he walked, as if to make him look lighter. He slowly and leisurely swayed down the stairs, step by step, and said with a smile, "Brother-in-law, you're here."

The Marshal quickly went up to him and gave him a hug, saying with a smile, "Brother, you miss me so much."

Before the middle-aged man could respond, Sha Lili ran up to him, took his hand and said, "Uncle, long time no see."

Sha Yanwen also walked forward quickly and greeted him with a smile: "Uncle, hello, long time no see."

The middle-aged man touched Sha Lili's head, patted Sha Yanwen's shoulder and said, "Well done, my nephew has grown a little taller."

Then, with a somewhat exaggerated gesture, he tiptoed behind them, peeked a bit, and said, "Why can't my sister see anyone?"

Sha Lili just opened her mouth to say something.

The Marshal smiled and said, "She hasn't been feeling well these days, so I'm letting her spend the New Year in her hometown to save her the trouble of traveling."

After hearing this, the middle-aged man asked Sha Lili worriedly, "Really?"

Sha Lili looked at the Marshal cautiously and nodded.

At this time, the lady came forward with the eldest son and said, "Brother, long time no see, son, come and call me uncle."

Sha Yanyao called out awkwardly, "Uncle."

The middle-aged man immediately waved his hands and said, "I don't deserve it. Sister-in-law, I hope you are well. Your son is as strong as ever, hahahahaha."

The atmosphere was a bit awkward, even Guier could hear the hidden meaning in the words.

The Marshal quickly said to the middle-aged man, "Brother, come, come, come, let me introduce you to my second son, Yan Xiao."

Sha Yanxiao took a step forward and said to the middle-aged man in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, "Hello, Director Li, I've long heard of you."

Director Li saw that Sha Yanxiao didn't call him uncle, so he looked at him seriously. Today, Sha Yanxiao was wearing a riding outfit, a black suit and a white shirt, white tights and a pair of black riding boots, which made him look particularly capable and handsome.

Director Li patted Sha Yanxiao on the shoulder and said, "Is this the son you picked up from the bandits? He looks quite energetic."

The Marshal smiled with satisfaction and said, "Yes, he was only recently allowed to return to his roots. However, he has been through a lot and is very methodical in his work."

Director Li nodded, slapped his forehead and said, "Look at me, I'm just busy talking. Please come in."

So he led a group of people into the hall. As soon as they sat down, a well-trained servant came out with tea to greet the guests. The commander asked, "Brother is not at home today."

Director Li spread his hands and said, "It can't be helped. He's a very busy man, working in the Materials Supply Department, unlike me, who works in the Secretariat, and only has a sinecure."

The commander smiled and said, "Of course not. Only the Secretariat knows the latest developments."

At this moment, Director Li suddenly noticed Gui'er, pointed at her and asked, "I've never seen this young lady before. Could she be the legendary one who took the bullet for you?"

The Marshal said proudly, "Exactly."

Guier quickly stood up and said, "Hello, Director Li, my name is Guier."

Director Li walked up to Gui'er with a bit of curiosity and said, "Such a tiny person, actually dares to block the gun? Not bad, not bad, look carefully, the little girl is also very pretty." As he said that, he reached out and pinched her face.

Gui'er was about to push his hand away when Sha Yanxiao, holding a small wooden box, calmly deflected Director Li's hand. He then placed the box in Director Li's hand and said, "Director Li, we've come a long way and haven't prepared any souvenirs. This is just a small token of our appreciation. Please accept it."

Director Li took it, weighed it in his hand, opened it a crack, took a look inside, and said with a smile: "Nephew, why are you so polite? We are all family. Come, come, come, have some tea, have some tea."

The atmosphere suddenly became much more lively, and the Marshal looked at Sha Yanxiao approvingly.

Seeing that the atmosphere was good, Sha Lili said coquettishly: "Uncle, we haven't seen each other for so long. I want to come and stay with you for a few days, is that okay?"

Director Li said in a good mood, "Of course."

Just as he finished speaking, a sharp female voice came from above: "Who is this? Why do all kinds of people want to come to my house these days?"

Everyone looked up and saw a woman in her 30s wearing a gorgeous tweed coat and a white fox scarf around her neck walking down from the second floor. Her high heels made a particularly loud tapping sound as they hit the solid wood floor.

Director Li smiled awkwardly, turned to her and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? We are all family." As he spoke, he shook the box in his hand.

The woman walked forward, opened the lid, took a look, and said with a smile: "Hey, brother-in-law, you came just in time, why are you so polite? Lily, it's been a long time since you came to your uncle's house. Come and stay for a few days. Your cousin misses you."

Sha Lili hesitated for a moment and nodded.

The two families exchanged polite greetings and then said goodbye.

Back at their villa, the Marshal praised Sha Yanxiao's good interpersonal skills. Sha Yanxiao said, "I've heard that Director Li got promoted. There must be a lot of people trying to curry favor with him. Even though we're relatives, we still have to be polite. He's got a lot of inside information at the Secretariat now. I gave him 20 gold bars. If he can give us some information later, it would be valuable."