Ma Dan thought of the mother and daughter living at the foot of the mountain. The younger one, Xiaohe, was just like a newly grown plum that was still green and tart, yet had a unique flavor that made people drool. Once she matured, God knows how tempting she'd be.
As for the elder one, if the younger was a green plum, then the older was like a ripe peach, ready to be plucked.
Zhou Yingmei was the Scholar family's daughter, who had learned to read and write from Old Scholar Zhou since childhood. Compared to ordinary village women, she had a bit more knowledge of propriety and elegance, but what of that? Once of age, she was still picked off by someone, and even bore his child.
They say it was a mutual affection with a Marriage Certificate, and they were already husband and wife, but without even a ceremony, what kind of spouse is that?
As for the man who "plucked the peach," claiming to be some distinguished family's young master, pah, even a scoundrel like him knew better—that could be a swindler, and even if he were truly a young master from a distinguished family, how many of those types have eaten their fill and denied responsibility? They are plenty, yet both Scholar Zhou and Zhou Yingmei were still dreaming sweet dreams.
In his view, having not seen the man for so many years, that so-called young master had long forgotten who this woman was.
Neither hoodlums nor distinguished young masters would come to claim a farmer's daughter, so this mother and daughter were doomed to be abandoned.
Since they would be taken advantage of by someone else sooner or later, why not let that someone be Ma Dan?
"Sss!" Ma Dan hissed as he swallowed, wiping the drool at the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, licking his lips, his eyes shining even brighter.
Thinking of the differences between the two, Ma Dan felt a wicked flame ignite within him. He reached towards the door, consumed by thoughts of the wonderful pleasure of topsy-turvy passion, completely oblivious to someone creeping up behind him.
"Hey, what are you up to?"
A cold breath blew on Ma Dan's ear, and someone was behind his neck, like a Mountain Demon creeping on his back, their voice light and ethereal, piercing into his eardrums.
"Ah..." He let out a startled scream before his mouth was covered, a pain struck the back of his neck, and his eyes rolled back as he went limp and collapsed to the floor.
Wufu squatted down, taking a root to lift the man's hair and saw a large mole under his jaw, grown with a few long hairs, plump lips, and slender eyes—a typical hooligan's appearance.
She prodded his face with the stick in her hand and tutted, "With this little courage, you still want to have it all? Who put that idea in your head?"
Wufu glanced at the main house door. Her mother always slept early, so it was better not to disturb her. If she found out what happened, she would probably be scared stiff, if not outright faint.
Standing up, she quietly opened the courtyard door, grabbed Ma Dan's feet, and dragged him outside.
Damn, he was heavy.
Exerting all her strength, Wufu dragged the man out of the courtyard, heading uphill. As for whatever rocks or brambles they hit along the way, she couldn't care less.
Thus, halfway through, Ma Dan groggily awoke to find himself being dragged up the mountain by a white-clad figure with disheveled hair, let out a stuttering cry of "Mountain Demon," and then fainted again.
Wufu cocked her head slightly and hummed, so superstitious were ancient folks. A Mountain Demon, huh?
She struggled to drag the man to a crooked tree, then removed Ma Dan's clothing, including his belt, leaving him stark naked, and used the belt to tie his hands. She went back home for more rope, piled rocks at his feet, and, utilizing her knowledge of physics principles, effortlessly hoisted him up with a pull and drag.
After that, she restored the scene, leaving a naked man suspended from the tree with no trace of human interference.
In the moonlight, watching the swaying man, Wufi felt quite pleased with herself, humming a tune as she descended the mountain. Whether the man lived or died was up to his fate. She couldn't be blamed; it was the work of a Mountain Demon, after all!