A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Chapter 200 Negotiations with the Tong Family

The next day, Sha Yanxiao took Gui'er out to talk with Master Tong. When the car arrived at the gate of the Marshal's Mansion, they ran into the fourth concubine who had just returned from playing cards outside.

As soon as the fourth concubine saw them, she got out of the car and said, "Hey, are you guys going out? Come on down and chat for a while."

Sha Yanxiao had no choice but to get out of the car. The fourth concubine asked him quietly, "I heard that Miss Shen went to your room yesterday?"

Sha Yanxiao smiled and nodded, saying, "Yes."

The Fourth Concubine covered her mouth with a handkerchief and chuckled, saying, "Do you know why I went to your place? Because Madam always wanted Miss Shen and the Young Master to be alone together, and Miss Shen obviously didn't want to. Maybe she gave a little face because her mother and Madam are sworn sisters, but she didn't say it explicitly. Yesterday, she played with Lily in our courtyard for a long time before leaving. Wasn't it just to avoid the Young Master? Oh, by the way, I heard that Miss Shen also had dinner in your courtyard."

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "Auntie is so well-informed."

The fourth concubine said curiously, "That's not right. Why didn't the lady blame you? She just targeted our family and scolded them. What does that mean?"

"Why are you blaming me, Madam? I just offered her a bowl of soup, and I even took her to see my wife."

The fourth concubine suddenly understood, patted Sha Yanxiao on the shoulder and said, "Oh, I see. If only our Lili and Yanwen were as acquainted with human relations as you are, I would die with my eyes closed."

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "If Auntie has nothing else to do, we'll leave first."

Back in the car, Gui'er asked Sha Yanxiao curiously, "What did you just say? I don't understand."

Sha Yanxiao sighed softly and said, "To avoid suspicion yesterday, I took Miss Shen to see Ji Yiru. Otherwise, we would be in trouble now."

Gui'er suddenly realized what was going on. Sha Yanxiao then warned her, "Before, the Fourth Concubine was scolded because a spy arranged by Madam in their courtyard reported it, saying that the Fourth Concubine was trying to steal the favor. Madam must have spies in our courtyard as well. You should be careful with your words."

Guier nodded fearfully.

Soon the car arrived at the agreed restaurant. As soon as Sha Yanxiao and Gui'er entered the restaurant, the Tong family's housekeeper was already waiting there and led them to the private room upstairs.

After entering, Boss Tong and Tong Yujun stood up quickly. Boss Tong bowed and said, "Thank you, Young Marshal. I'm really sorry to have to trouble you every time."

This time, they did not arrange for Gui'er and Tong Yujun to sit at a separate table, but everyone sat at one table.

Sha Yanxiao sat down with a dagger in his hand and said with a smile, "Boss Tong, you're welcome. I'm only helping you because my sister and classmate Yujun are good friends. But I'm wondering, since you were able to find a way to marry my sister to the Marshal's Mansion, you should have gone back to the person who made the connection. You've kicked him out twice and now come to me for help. I'm afraid that's not a good idea."

As soon as these words were spoken, Gui'er and Tong Yujun looked at Boss Tong in surprise. It turned out that the Eighth Concubine was able to marry into the Marshal's Mansion because of the matchmaking of her own brother.

Boss Tong smiled awkwardly, sighed, and said, "Excuse me, Young Marshal. To be honest, I was ostracized by my clansmen in Shanghai, so I came here to develop my career. However, my foundation was too shallow, and after ten years of development, I haven't made any significant progress. My sister is also of marriageable age, and I wanted to find her a good family. Unfortunately, the local noble families look down on us as outsiders."

"Later, I heard that the Marshal saw me at a banquet and was quite impressed. I thought that for a family as powerful as the Marshal's, even becoming a concubine wouldn't be a disgrace, so I asked Deputy Steward Liu to help me connect with her. But you also know that Deputy Steward Liu later became ill and asked for my hand in marriage. I'm completely clueless now, and I can only turn to you."

At this time, the waiter from the restaurant brought a tray with a sumptuous dish. Boss Tong hurriedly invited them to eat. After the waiter left, he looked at Sha Yanxiao with a smile.

Sha Yanxiao sighed and said, "Alas, your sister shouldn't have married into our family in the first place."

Boss Tong, Tong Yujun, and their housekeeper were all shocked. Boss Tong quickly asked, "What do you mean?"

Sha Yanxiao said, "Your sister originally studied in Shanghai, right? She's planning to return to Shanghai now. I studied in Shanghai before, too. The students there definitely have different ideas than here. And you know my father is a very traditional man. He's extremely disgusted with so-called progressive ideas, like free love."

Boss Tong quickly said, "Being in love is really a misunderstanding. My sister is absolutely loyal to her marriage. As for those progressive ideas, I will talk to her. I believe that after this incident, she is also afraid."

Sha Yanxiao sighed and said, "Well, I'll help you one more time. But after this is over, you have to persuade the Eighth Concubine. If it happens again, I won't be able to help. My father doesn't care about misunderstandings."

Upon hearing this, Boss Tong was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Of course, of course, I will definitely advise her." Then he turned around and signaled the housekeeper. The housekeeper quickly took out a small wooden box, about the size of two bricks. When he opened it, it was filled with golden gold bars. Gui'er's eyes widened. There must be at least thirty or forty gold bars in it.

Sha Yanxiao chuckled and said, "Boss Tong, this is different from last time. Last time, I was helping you, but more importantly, I was helping my father. After all, the Eighth Concubine was pregnant with his child, so I just did it as a token of my gratitude."

Boss Tong's smile froze for a moment, and he said awkwardly, "Young Marshal is absolutely right. We were too inconsiderate. We're running out of time, so we can only raise this little. Why don't you name a number, and I, I, will definitely do my best to meet it."

Gui'er was really not used to such scenes. She felt like she was being ripped off, especially since her classmates were sitting there. But she couldn't get involved in the matter, so she could only feel uncomfortable and pretend to eat.

Sha Yanxiao looked at Boss Tong meaningfully and said with a smile, "Boss Peng, don't panic. I don't want any money. All you need to do is hand over the mining rights that my father gave you to me."

Boss Tong was horrified when he heard this and couldn't speak clearly: "This, this, this, Young Marshal, this is the Marshal's authorization for me to mine. If I give it to someone else easily, what will happen if the Marshal finds out?"

"Then just don't let Father know. It's still nominally yours. I just need to send someone to take over, and you just give me the documents. Boss Tong, you know my father gave you this mine because he doted on his eighth concubine. In the past two years, you haven't just made money from the mine. You've opened more than a dozen new businesses in Jiangcheng. Since taking over Fengcheng, you've probably taken over five or six of the shops that were vacated after the opium dens and gambling houses were cleared out. You did all this under my father's name. How many new factories have you opened in Guangzhou and Shanghai? Do you think I don't know? You've added so much to your fortune, and you're still reluctant to give up this mine?"

Boss Tong was sweating profusely and didn't know what to say for a moment. He just smiled mechanically. Gui'er was very surprised that being the brother-in-law of the Marshal could get so many benefits. She glanced at Tong Yujun, and she was also shocked.

Boss Tong said with a twinkle in his eyes, "Well, well, I'm afraid I need to discuss this with the mine manager."

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "Okay, but you have to be quick. If you haven't thought it through, and Father has made the decision, I won't be able to help you even if I want to."