A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Gui'er felt that she was now the head of the family. Although she was disappointed, she still had to appear happy. She even prepared red envelopes for everyone, just like Sha Yanxiao, and was waiting to give them out on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

When it was time for the New Year's Eve dinner, Gui'er told everyone to sit down and eat together, saying, "There aren't so many formalities now, let's eat together and have a lively time." So everyone sat down and enjoyed a meal together in a cheerful atmosphere.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, Gui'er and everyone set off fireworks in the courtyard for a while before returning to her room.

She had just entered the room when someone knocked on the door.

When she opened the door, she saw Wu Mingqiang, who smiled shyly and said, "Miss, are you resting?"

Gui'er asked, somewhat puzzled, "Not yet. We just finished eating. What's up, Brother Wu?"

Wu Mingqiang turned around, picked up a large box from the side, and said with a smile, "In the past, the young marshal would prepare New Year's things for the young lady. Now that the young marshal is not by my side, I have taken the liberty of arranging some things for the young lady. Do you like them?"

Gui'er didn't buy any new clothes this year, partly to be frugal, and partly because she genuinely wasn't in the mood for such things. She instinctively wanted to politely decline, but then she thought, "It's the New Year, and we've already bought everything; we can't spoil the fun." So she smiled and said, "How could I let Brother Wu spend so much money?"

Wu Mingqiang said with a happy face, "What's so special about this? Come on, take a look and see if you like it." As he spoke, he carried the box into the house and put it on the table.

Gui'er had no choice but to walk over and open the trunk. On the top layer was a new cheongsam from the Repulse Bay Trading Company, made of moon-white georgette embroidered with silver plum blossoms, and adorned with tiny pearls at the neckline. A tag hung on the dress that read "Moon Kee." Gui'er recognized the brand; many of her classmates from very wealthy families seemed to have this name embroidered on their clothes. It must be a fairly famous tailor shop in Hong Kong, but Gui'er hadn't bought any new clothes since coming to Hong Kong, so she had never shopped there.

Next to it was a patent leather handbag from Paris, its gilded buckle gleaming in the light, and its interior lined with crimson velvet.

On the lower shelf, three pairs of shoes were placed side by side: crimson satin embroidered shoes, beige Oxford shoes, and black patent leather ankle boots, all with non-slip soles. In the jewelry box, there were jade earrings paired with a red gold necklace, and a hairpin inlaid with a sapphire.

Among this pile of luxurious items, the one that caught Gui'er's attention the most was a teddy bear plush toy. She hadn't expected that plush toys existed in this era. However, this teddy bear looked completely different from modern ones, and it looked very much like a real bear. The fur felt wonderful to the touch.

Gui'er picked up the teddy bear and hugged it to her chest, feeling a sense of comfort in her heart.

Wu Mingqiang said happily, "That's great! I knew you would like this, Miss. I had someone bring it back from abroad, and it took quite a bit of time."

Gui'er said, "Thank you, Brother Wu, you're so kind. These things must be quite valuable, right? How can I accept your money? I'll pay you back however much you owe me."

Wu Mingqiang quickly said, "No, no, Miss, this is a gift for you. The price doesn't matter, as long as you're happy. Don't worry about the money. I earned quite a bit back in Jiangcheng thanks to the young marshal's care. Although I came here in a hurry, I transferred most of my money. After coming to Hong Kong, I also bought some shops to rent out. Although I don't earn much, I can still afford to buy these things."

Gui'er knew he was telling the truth. Unlike her, who had rushed over, he had arrived in Hong Kong earlier, and most of his assets in Jiangcheng should have been transferred there.

Thinking of this, Gui'er stopped making excuses and said with a smile, "Brother Wu is a talented person. There was no problem with him starting his own business. You're still here taking care of me. It's all thanks to you."

Wu Mingqiang's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he said, "What's the big deal? It's my honor to take care of Miss for the young marshal. Miss, I..."

"Knock, knock, knock." Someone knocked on the door again.

Gui'er found it a bit strange. If it were Dingxiang delivering milk, she wouldn't knock on the door; she would just say, "Who is it? Come in."

The door opened, and it was Ah Si. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Miss, Brother Qiang, I'm sorry to bother you, but someone is here to see Brother Qiang."

Wu Mingqiang frowned and said, "Who is it that comes to see me at this time?"

"...over there in Shitang..."

Gui'er and Wu Mingqiang were both stunned for a moment.

Wu Mingqiang quickly said to Gui'er, "Miss, believe me, I have nothing to do with them anymore."

Gui'er frowned and asked A-Si, "Did they say what it was about? It's the New Year, could they be here to deliver gifts?"

Ah Si stammered.

Gui'er had no choice. Although she really didn't want Wu Mingqiang to get involved with that side, since the person had come, she had to deal with him. So she said to Wu Mingqiang, "He's here during the New Year, so we have to treat him well. Brother Wu, why don't you go down and meet him?"

Wu Mingqiang nodded and said, "Miss, I'll send her away right away. I really haven't collected any protection money from them." Then he got up and hurriedly went downstairs.

Gui'er sat for a while, then, unable to contain her curiosity, she quietly pushed open the door and came out, peering down through the gap in the second-floor railing.

The person who came was not Rumeng, but one of the women who had knelt down and begged her at the pawnshop earlier, and she seemed to be the youngest one.

She stood in the courtyard, gesturing excitedly as she spoke to Wu Mingqiang, but they were too far apart for Gui'er to hear.

Wu Mingqiang looked very troubled, scratching his head and cheeks. Suddenly, as if he had made up his mind, he turned around and went into the house. He went into his room and came out with a pistol in his hand. He put the pistol in his lower back, then quickly walked into the yard, jumped into the car, told the woman to get in and sit down, and drove away.

Gui'er was bewildered. She quickly came downstairs and asked, "What happened?"

Everyone else stammered, but Ah Si hesitated for a moment before saying, "Miss, that woman just came over and said that Miss Ru Meng seems to have been kidnapped by a gang leader who said he's going to torture her to death."

Gui'er was momentarily stunned.

Ah Si continued, "Miss, that girl Ru Meng and Brother Qiang are actually from the same hometown, or even neighboring villages. I saw her once or twice when we were kids, so..."

Gui'er finally realized that Wu Mingqiang was planning to demand someone from the underworld. Wasn't that suicide? Who in the Hong Kong underworld didn't have a gun?

She said, "Can Angkor Wat alone manage? Brother Si, do you know where the place is? Could you secretly go and meet him?"

Ah Si nodded and said, "Okay."

Acheng said, "I'll go with you."

Dingxiang suddenly hugged Acheng and said, "You can't go. What will you all do if you go? Are you going to your deaths?"

Acheng pushed her away and said, "Don't stop me. If we're too late, we might not be able to save them."