Chapter 45 - 45 45 Killing Ma Liu

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Killing Ma Liu Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Killing Ma Liu Xiantao Village, bordering the Mianshui.

Mianshui is an ancient river, a tributary of the Yangtze River, also known as the Han River during the Qin and Han dynasties.

The Mianshui River stretches downwards, penetrating several nearby prefectures, among which is Mianshui County.

And by the time it flows to Xiantao Town, it becomes a case of three peaches surrounding one water.

Upper Peach, Zhongtao, and Xiantao, where the three peaches meet, there is a river bend, an important site for the entire Xiantao Town’s spring ploughing, summer sowing, and irrigation.

In the past, villages often fought over this irrigation water.

Moreover, due to this river channel, getting from Zhongtao to Upper Peach required a long detour, until the locals later pooled funds to build a small stone bridge. It wasn’t big, but it indeed saved people a long walk.

And the folks even named this small stone bridge: Kangle Bridge.

Ma Liu’s family originally lived in Xiantao Village, but later, after being tainted by the vice of gambling and losing their house, they fled, thinking they would die in the wilderness. However, unexpectedly, within a few months, he became a broker for Yu’s Treasure House, for Yu Sanliu, causing harm to many.

Later, Ma Liu became wealthy, and Yu Sanliu even won him a property in Zhongtao Village, rewarding him for his profitable efforts.

Over these two years, he too became wealthy, made substantial money following Yu Sanliu, committed many sins, and got involved with Widow Wang from Upper Peach Village, his days passing comfortably.

And ever since Ma Liu received a new task from Yu Sanliu, he felt his chance to become more prosperous was just before him. Last time by helping the Young Master with a small matter, he was given a house. This time, perhaps the reward would be even more substantial.

Thinking this, an upbeat Ma Liu bought some food and drink and went to Upper Peach Village to find Widow Wang.

After a round of drinking and merrymaking, clearing his acupoints, a refreshed Ma Liu with an unrecognizable gait left the Wang family.

“Burp—I’m off.”

Ma Liu staggered away from Widow Wang’s house, while Widow Wang, with her eight-year-old son by her side tidying his clothes, was sent out. Ma Liu groped Widow Wang’s face and slurred, “You’re still so smooth, burp—”

Widow Wang chuckled and said, “I am old and faded, not a match for those younger women. If Sixth Master thinks my service is decent, please visit more often; Xiao Bao and I rely on you, Sixth Master.”

“Heh, sure, sure, Xiao Bao, come here, call me Dad.”

Ma Liu said to Widow Wang and reached out to pinch the child’s face, but the child turned his head away, refusing to acknowledge him as father.

Slap!

Unexpectedly, Ma Liu raised his hand and struck him: “Little bastard, you don’t know what’s good for you.”

“Sixth Master, Sixth Master, please don’t be angry. Xiao Bao is just a child; he doesn’t understand these things. Please, Lord, have mercy.”

Widow Wang hurriedly pleaded.

Ma Liu glanced at Widow Wang, then pointed at Xiao Bao and said, “You little beast, your mother serves me obediently. What are you, a ball? I’ll let you off this time. Next time, I’ll skin you alive.”

“This little beast, burp— I’m leaving.”

Ma Liu tottered forward, and at this time Widow Wang called out from behind, “Sixth Master, take care, go slow.”

Turning her head, she looked at Xiao Bao, whose face was now swollen, and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Xiao Bao, holding his face, didn’t say a word, crying as he ran into the house.

“This child.”

Widow Wang followed him in.

Curling up in a corner, Xiao Bao wept quietly...

Widow Wang sighed, looked at the half-eaten roasted chicken on the table, and passed it to Xiao Bao. She hadn’t dared to eat a bite of meat during the meal.

“Eat.”

She placed the roasted chicken in front of Xiao Bao.

“I won’t eat.”

Tears in his eyes, Xiao Bao turned his head to one side, and Widow Wang sighed, saying, “In the future, stay away from him when he drinks. If you don’t want to call him dad, then don’t.”

“Alright, stop crying. Have a bite of the roast chicken, it’s delicious.”

“I won’t eat. I don’t want his stuff.”

“Oh, why are you so stubborn, child? Don’t cry anymore. Does it hurt?”

“I’m not crying because it hurts.”

“Why are you crying then?”

“He, he bullied Mom!”

Upon hearing this, Widow Wang’s expression darkened, and Xiao Bao continued, “The villagers all say Mom is a slut, shameless, wuu wuu wuu...”

Hearing these words, Widow Wang’s face fell, and she patted Xiao Bao, but her own tears couldn’t help but fall.

She just turned her head away so that Xiao Bao wouldn’t see.

Xiao Bao looked up at Widow Wang and said, “Mom, are you crying?”

“No, I’m not.”

“But you’re clearly crying, Mom, I saw it.”

“It’s nothing, eat your meat.”

Widow Wang wiped away the tears from the corner of her eye, and Xiao Bao said, “Mom, can you not associate with Ma Liu anymore, he, he’s not a good person.”

At these words, Widow Wang’s expression stalled.

She looked into Xiao Bao’s eyes and said, “Xiao Bao, you’re a big kid now, there are things that Mom has to tell you.”

“Your dad developed a gambling addiction and lost all our belongings; I don’t know if he truly drowned or if they beat him to death, leaving us, a widow and orphan, with nothing but poverty.”

“We still owe Ma Liu money, and Mom can’t repay it.”

“If it were just me, I could die to maintain my virtue, but there’s also you, Xiao Bao, I can’t die.”

“For you, I have to endure...”

Widow Wang sobbed uncontrollably, Xiao Bao went to wipe her tears, and mother and son embraced and wept bitterly. Xiao Bao, with tears in his eyes and hatred in his gaze, made a silent vow to himself that, once he grew up, he would surely kill Ma Liu!

...

“One yo and a watch, moonlight shines on the flower platform; Sister Qiuxiang has made a plan, she says it won’t be late for her to come...”

The moonlight fell, and Ma Liu, who had drunk a bit too much, staggered towards Zhongtao Village, humming a little tune and with his gaze wandering.

He soon arrived at Kangle Bridge.

Having passed Kangle Bridge meant he was at Zhongtao Village. The moonlight tonight was really bright, Ma Liu’s eyes scanned around.

“Hm?”

Then he saw a small piece of silver not far off.

Ah, his lucky stars must be shining today.

Walking over to pick it up, it was one piece of silver.

“This?”

Ma Liu’s eyes lit up, his face broke into a smile, and he quickly pocketed it.

Then he looked around to see if anyone was there, but when he lifted his head, not far ahead, there was another piece of silver.

Ah...

Good things come in pairs!

Ma Liu immediately went to pick it up, and when he looked up again, there was another piece of silver not far away.

So he kept picking up silver on his way, and before he knew it, he was by the river. By that time, he was halfway sober. How strange these pieces of silver were to have been dropped all along the way to the riverbank, and all one piece each, this?

He had a feeling something was amiss.

Thinking this, he looked into the river; the moonlight reflected on the water, where his own reflection was clearly visible.

He saw his drunken, bleary-eyed reflection in the water, and as he stared at it, suddenly his vision blurred, and it seemed as if an extra shadow appeared behind him.

Rubbing his eyes, he first thought he was seeing things, but looking again, he was horrified to discover there really was a head behind him, staring straight at him...

“Chen, Chen Jiusi!”

“How can it be you!!”

Ma Liu yelled in disbelief, but the next moment he suddenly felt a large hand clamp on the back of his neck, and then he was pushed face down into the water...