sjar Chapter 1108 Participating in the Horse Racing Club
Chapter 1108 Participating in the Horse Racing Club
Gui'er frowned slightly. The mother and daughter's style hadn't changed at all. She smiled and withdrew her hand: "Fourth Aunt is joking. I'm struggling to make ends meet myself. I'm barely making ends meet. It's nothing like your family's wealth and power."
The fourth concubine, having been rebuffed, smiled slightly and changed the subject: "By the way, Gui'er, there's a horse race at Happy Valley on the third day of the Lunar New Year. I heard the jackpot is particularly generous this year, even the magistrates of foreign firms are going to participate. If you're free, why don't you come with us? Besides, the racetrack is a place frequented by many celebrities and noblemen. If you meet someone you like and we happen to know each other, I can introduce you."
Sally's eyes lit up: "Yes, Gui'er, I heard that people who go to the horse races are all rich. Maybe you can meet some big shots. If not, it's good to broaden your horizons."
Gui'er remembered what Wu Mingqiang had said: the racetrack was a mixed bag, with all sorts of people, especially since the Japanese had recently planted many spies there. She dared not go and join in the fun. She made an excuse: "I have an appointment with a classmate to review my studies, so I'm afraid I can't go. Besides, I don't know anything about horse racing."
“That’s precisely why you have to go, because you don’t understand. This is how socialites in high society socialize. Although your father has passed away, the family’s reputation is upheld by you, so you can’t let it down,” the fourth concubine said emphatically.
Gui'er rolled her eyes inwardly, and struggled to keep herself from showing her anger.
“Auntie is right, and I know you want us to be more ambitious. But what is our background? If we get too close to those wealthy socialites, they will care about our origins. If they ask, they will find out that we used to be armed in the mainland. Now, the Japanese are already at Hong Kong’s doorstep. If they really invade, what if they come after us? Don’t forget, our old comrades are still fighting the Japanese with Second Brother in Jiangcheng.” Gui’er deliberately lowered her voice and whispered in Fourth Aunt’s ear.
The fourth concubine and Sally's expressions changed; they naturally knew the pros and cons.
"Oh dear, I knew it! Gui'er is so thoughtful. By the way, how is your brother doing? He's leading such a large group of people, he must be doing quite well. Why haven't we heard from him? Your eldest brother is the same; all his younger brothers are dead, and not a single one of them has been heard from. We wanted to send a letter to announce their deaths, but we don't even know where to send it. Well, it's true, our family is, after all, from a concubine's line. Your father never really cared about us before, treating us like we didn't exist, let alone now that your father is gone." The fourth concubine wiped away her tearless eyes as she spoke.
"The second young master..."
“My second brother is still in our hometown, leading a group of people to fight the Japanese in the mountains. We haven’t been in contact with him for a long time, so we don’t know what’s going on there.”
Dingxiang almost let slip the truth, but Gui'er quickly covered it up. Subconsciously, she felt she couldn't tell them the truth. If the mother and daughter knew that Sha Yanxiao's life was in danger, who knew what they would do?
"But my elder brother, he sent me a message through someone a while ago, saying that he seems to have become a bureau chief in Shanghai now, because it seems that Director Tian sacrificed himself and took his place."
"Really?" The mother and daughter looked surprised.
"That's a good thing, but Shanghai is now occupied territory. He's living in constant fear, how can he possibly care about us? The Marshal's Mansion is doomed," said the fourth concubine.
"Sigh, why worry about so much? Let's have some fun during the New Year first. Come on, by the way, I remember your name is Dingxiang, right? You've been a long-time resident of the Marshal's Mansion for many years. Gui'er must have treated you well. Here, have a red envelope." Sha Lili was unusually generous: "We're going to the racetrack. You should come too, and see for yourself."
Gui'er wanted to decline, but Dingxiang encouraged her from the side, saying, "Miss, it's the New Year, you should go out and relax. The racetrack is lively, even if we don't know anyone, it would be good to go and have a look." Then she said shyly, "I also want to go and see the world."
Seeing this, Acheng wanted to speak up to stop them, but seeing that Fourth Aunt and Shalili were there, he felt he shouldn't speak up and kept winking at Dingxiang.
Gui'er thought for a moment. It was the New Year, and it wouldn't be good if she stayed at home and prevented others from going out to play. Anyway, Fourth Aunt and her daughter couldn't do anything to her, so she said, "Alright then. Dingxiang and Brother Acheng can go too."
It was already afternoon when they arrived at the Happy Valley racetrack, which was already packed with people. Outside the white fence of the racetrack, Westerners in suits raised champagne and chatted, while wealthy Chinese businessmen in long gowns waved folding fans. Occasionally, elegant ladies in cheongsams leaned against men, their exquisite earrings swaying gently with laughter. In the outer stands, vendors and laborers stood on tiptoe to look, the white smoke from cigarettes mingling with the aroma of roasted peanuts, filling the air with the scent of roasted peanuts.
Gui'er wore a custom-made cheongsam given to her by Wu Mingqiang, with a short shawl over it. Fourth Madam and Sha Lili were also dressed very elegantly. From the outside, they certainly looked like a family of noble ladies.
They crowded into the middle tier of the stands. Sally's eyes widened as she stared at the tall horses in the arena, tugging at Gui'er's sleeve: "Look at that brown one, its mane is so shiny, it's sure to win!"
The fourth concubine was busy looking around at the people. When she saw a British officer in uniform, she pulled Biyun up to greet him and received a few awkward "Happy New Year"s in return. When she returned, she was full of pride: "See? These foreigners still give us some face."
Dingxiang, holding the bag of roasted chestnuts that Acheng had bought for her, was eating them with great relish: "Miss, look, there's a sugar painting vendor over there!" She was pointing to a corner of the stands where an artist was using syrup to outline the shape of a horse on a stone slab, surrounded by a circle of children.
The crisp sound of bells rang out on the track as riders in brightly colored jockey uniforms waited at the starting line, reining in their horses. The moment the referee waved the green flag, a dozen horses shot off like arrows, their hooves pounding the ground. The crowd in the stands erupted in cheers and whistles that were deafening.
"Number 3! Go Number 3!" Shali shouted at the top of her lungs, still clutching a newly bought lottery ticket in her hand—she had heard the gamblers next to her say that Number 3 was an undefeated champion, so she placed her bet.
Gui'er had no interest in watching the horse race; her gaze kept involuntarily sweeping across the crowd. She saw several men in black short jackets, their waists bulging, staring in the direction of the foreign firm executives; not far away, two men who looked like Japanese businessmen were observing through binoculars, a faint smile playing on their lips. Wu Mingqiang's words rang in her ears: "The racetrack is an intelligence hub; all sorts of people exchange information here."