"Oh! Cousin, how can I be so embarrassed? To tell you the truth, the reason I came back so late is that I went out to work as a tutor. I can earn more money every month for the family." Huang Wanzhen sighed, "I can earn money to support the family, so I don't have to spend my mother's pension money. I thought, why not take out my mother's pension money and use it to save my second uncle and cousin."

"No, no," Mrs. Tao refused repeatedly. "We have money at home. How can we use Fifth Aunt's pension money? My father has left a lot of money with me. You can go and do your work without worry." As she spoke, Mrs. Tao took out a big goldfish from her arms. "The money is gone. Wait until my father and younger brother come out and let them earn more."

Huang Wanzhen was silent for a moment, then raised her head and said solemnly, "Okay, then do as my cousin says. I'll call my classmates right away."

Huang Wanzhen took the gold bars and turned around to go to Jixiangtang to call Tian Xiangyu. She guessed that Huang Wanzhen's last treat had worked, and Tian Xiangyu agreed with a smile.

The arrangements made some time ago worked, and Huang Wanzhen slept peacefully.

Early the next morning, Chen Hanfeng took Huang Wanzhen to the money shop, broke a big goldfish into ten small yellow croakers, and asked her for a handling fee of ten dollars.

Chen Hanfeng kept shaking his head. After leaving the bank, he said with a distressed look on his face, "Manager, you are too extravagant. If you are not in a hurry to use it, find a place that can melt gold. Five dollars at most."

Only then did Huang Wanzhen realize how unreliable it was to keep her belongings in the bank. She should exchange them for some gold bars and lock them up at home. In this era, gold bars are the hard currency. If you are prepared in advance, you won't have to rush when something happens and won't suffer too much loss.

"Well, didn't you know this before? Let's not talk about it anymore. Let's go do business first." Huang Wanzhen asked Chen Hanfeng to take her in a rickshaw and head straight to Dongsi Pailou.

In front of a teahouse called "Baoquan Teahouse", Huang Wanzhen waited for a full half hour before Tian Xiangyu and a young man in a long gown and a mandarin jacket appeared.

"This is my brother, Tian Xiangxi."

Huang Wanzhen saw that he was wearing old-fashioned clothes and didn't extend her hand. She just hugged him and said, "Hello, Master Tian. My name is Huang Wanzhen, and I'm Xiangyu's classmate."

Tian Xiangxi nodded and said, "Hello, Miss Huang. Let's go in and talk."

A few people had private matters to discuss, so they didn't sit in the lobby. Instead, they chose a small private room and ordered some tea and snacks.

"Wanzhen, we are both short of time, so let's stop chatting. Here's a flat price of fifty dollars. Do you think it's okay?" Tian Xiangyu had carefully considered the price she wanted. They were classmates, and a few days ago, Huang Wanzhen treated her to a meal, so she wanted to take a smaller share and give the majority to her brother, otherwise it would be difficult to ask him to do something for her next time.

"Okay." Huang Wanzhen took out a small goldfish from her pocket. Tian Xiangyu's eyes lit up. "Great!"

Tian Xiangyu took the little goldfish and stuffed it directly into Tian Xiangxi's hand, "Brother, go and get someone. We'll wait for you here."

Tian Xiangxi was much more composed than Tian Xiangyu. He naturally put the gold bars into his arms, nodded at Huang Wanzhen, and left the private room.

Huang Wanzhen breathed a sigh of relief, as long as things went smoothly.

"You came early? I told you not to come too early. They won't come so early. It's good enough if they can come at 10 o'clock. Those who are addicted to cards will play until who knows what time at night and can't get up in the morning. They may not come in the morning." Tian Xiangyu was in a good mood. She drank tea and ate snacks with a smile.

Huang Wanzhen also picked up a piece of mille-feuille and ate it slowly. "I'm just anxious now. The problem has been resolved. If it's not too late, I want to go back to class."

"Haha, academic masters are just different. Honestly, we've already been admitted to Beiman Girls' High School, so why are we still studying so hard? We should take advantage of this reputation to find a good marriage."

Tian Xiangyu felt that Huang Wanzhen was too stubborn. They had worked together before, so she should teach her a lesson.

"Don't always focus on the school. You have to stand up and look at it from a different perspective. Those senior students of ours who lived well all married good husbands. Their good grades are just a good reputation now. After graduation, they are useless."

Huang Wanzhen didn't want to get too involved with her, but she also didn't want her to notice, so she smiled and said, "Yes! But I don't come from a poor family, so I can only work hard on my grades. I want to go to university in the future."

"Is that so?" Tian Xiangyu put down the tea bowl, thought for a moment, and then continued, "Well, your idea is not bad. Those families with high social status not only look at the girl's own qualities, but also her family background. If your family background is not good, you can continue to study at a university. It's better than getting engaged now, and you will have more choices."

Huang Wanzhen smiled and turned the topic to Tian Xiangyu, "Why? Are you engaged?"

Tian Xiangyu laughed, "It's called 'engagement' now. How come you, a shop owner, don't even know this?"

It was Tian Xiangyu who said the word "engagement" first, but she turned around and disliked Huang Wanzhen for being "unfashionable".

That's what it's like when you ask someone for help. You're unconsciously inferior to them. Huang Wanzhen could only show her signature 'eight-toothed' smile, "Well, are you engaged? When are you planning on getting married?"

"It's been arranged a long time ago. We're getting married at the end of this year. I'll send you an invitation then. Please make time to come." Tian Xiangyu finished speaking, adding, "The eldest son of Vice Minister Lu of the Finance Department is the eldest son according to the previous dynasty."

"I understand." Huang Wanzhen nodded in agreement. "That's great. When you become the head of the family, don't forget your old classmates when you become successful."

Tian Xiangyu was very happy with the compliment and couldn't help laughing.

"Knock-knock-knock", there was a heavy knock and two light knocks on the door, and Huang Wanzhen hurriedly stood up.

Tian Xiangyu waved at her and whispered, "Don't be nervous." Then she stood up and opened the door. "Uncle Wu, you're here," Tian Xiangyu said with a smile.

Tian Xiangxi waved behind Tian Zhongguo, and Tian Xiangyu moved aside to make way for the door. "Come in quickly. What do you want to eat? It's my treat today."

Tian Zhongguo, dressed in a police officer's uniform and a tall hat, walked in without even glancing at Huang Wanzhen. He sat directly at the main seat, pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a puff. "Girl, aren't you studying at Beiman? Why are you here?"

Tian Xiangyu smiled and poured a cup of tea for Tian Zhongguo. "My classmate, I need your help. Please see if you can do it. The rest is easy to handle."

Huang Wanzhen then stepped forward and spoke clearly and concisely, "Hello, Director Tian. I am Xiangyu's classmate. A relative of mine got into trouble and was arrested last month. I hope you can be flexible."

Tian Zhongguo casually brushed off the ash from his cigarette. "What's your name? What's the matter?"

"Dong Yuzhuo, Dong Ruixin, the situation is not very clear. They were arrested half a month ago." As soon as Tian Zhongguo entered the room, Huang Wanzhen was quietly observing his words and actions.