Chapter 33
Liu persuaded Dai to leave with him. But Dai had to take care of her two sons and so she shook her head.
Liu thought for a while and said, “Then I won’t leave either. We must stay together.”
Dai was moved at this. She had not expected a man to sacrifice for her when she was 30. Dai was a woman who knew what was more important. She gave Liu a bite and pushed him away, uttering, “Go away! I don’t want to see you any more.”
Liu shook his head, replying, “I can’t go without you. I know you have to take care of your two sons. Let’s take them with us.”
Dai was further moved at this. She hugged Liu tightly. The next evenings they discussed how to escape with the two kids. How could they be safe? They wondered.
They did not lack money. Dai had given Liu 500 silver coins and they hid the money under the big waxberry tree at the entrance of the village. But there were militiamen guarding there. It was not easy to go through that way.
One day, Dai pretended to go out to dig wild vegetables. She saw the militiamen asking Madame Zhao some questions and found the stones covering the money intact. She felt relieved. She got some wild vegetables and approached Madame Zhao.
Madame Zhao was very thin and looked unhealthy. She said to Dai, “Madame Zhang, don’t just stay here. You can go begging in the city and there you can get some oily and nutritious food. That’s much better than staying here.”
That reminded Dai of begging. Begging was a good excuse for her to leave the village with her two sons. Also beggars seldom got attention from the PLA soldiers. She felt grateful to Madame Zhao for her guide.
Dai waited for another two nights anxiously. Then one midnight the dog took her to the forest. She told Liu about her plan. He gave her many kisses, saying, “What a wise woman you’re!”
Dai smiled contentedly, replying, “It’s a pity we cannot take the silver coins away.”
Liu smiled, remarking, “I have money with me. The silver coins are your dowry. Let me go and fetch them for you.”
Dai hugged her lover, saying, “Let’s give up this act. The militiamen are quite alert.”
Liu was determined to get back the silver coins. He said, “I am not frightened at bloodshed. Wait for me for a while. I’ll get them back for you.”
At the word of killing Dai felt frightened. She dragged Liu, saying, “Don’t fall back into your habit. Don’t kill any more!”
Liu was aware that Dai was kindhearted, replying, “It’s only a joke. How can I kill? Take it easy. I’ll just get back the silver coins. I won’t kill.”
Dai waited for him patiently in the woods. Time passed, and she got anxious. She had a hunch that something bad would happen. She noticed the dog watch ahead cautiously. Suddenly, it rushed forward down the mountain.
Dai knew something bad was happening. She shouted, “Lai Fu, come back. Don’t seek trouble.” Then she heard gunshots. She felt worried.
The gunshots woke up many villagers. Then, drums sounded and she saw many militiamen chase in the direction of the opposite mountain. She prayed that nothing bad would happen to Liu.
The gunshots faded. Liu must be finished, she thought. She fainted at this thought.
When she woke up, she saw the bleeding head of the dog. She heard from her son Zhang Zhong that the new master of the dog had been killed and fell into the abyss of the Ghost Head Cliff. Liu thus disappeared from her life.
