Volume 1: The Days of Mixing with Bandits Chapter 7: Niu Da, Zhu Er, Gou San

  Just as Baitao was sipping wine by the window, at the same time, in front of a dilapidated house on a broken street in Gushan Town, the three bald men that Xufei had seen earlier in the hall were dragging a little girl. The little girl's face was covered with black dust, and her small body was struggling constantly under the hands of several people.

  The girl's screams and cries seemed to have no effect, the neighbors had already closed their doors tightly after hearing her cries and the three big men's loud laughter, not even daring to sneak a peek, while the three big men seemed to be teasing the girl like a cat playing with a mouse, slowly walking down the street, passersby on the side of the road quickly ran away as soon as they saw the three people, no one was willing to stand up and say a word for the crying girl.

  Three big men slowly dragged a girl who was crying and hoarse away for half a street. The fattest of the three, with a smile all over his face, said to the strongest one: "Niu Lao Da, following the imperial army is still the right way to go. Look at us before, we were objects of ridicule, but now these bastards see us and run away like mice."

  The sturdy Han gave his simple-minded subordinate a fierce glare before saying in a low voice, "Zhu Er, you want everyone to know we're traitors? If those bandits and Nationalist soldiers hear about it, the three of us will end up as meat dumplings. We can do business with the Japanese, but some things can be done, not said. Do you understand?"

  Among the three, the slightly thinner big man smiled slyly at Niu Da and said: "Niu Lao Da, I'm not one to speak nonsense, this Zhu Er only knows how to eat. After we take this girl back and lock her up, let him watch over her, and us two brothers will go have a couple of drinks in the afternoon."

  The ox's big eyes moved around and nodded: "This is how it will be done, Zhu Er's mouth is really unreliable. Look at this girl's appearance when she grows up, she'll definitely be a beauty. If we sell her to the camp, we can get at least 50 taels of silver. However, we still have to give that scoundrel Mo Si 30 taels of silver. The masters will put in the effort, but he'll reap most of the benefits."

  Zhu Er wanted to oppose Lao Da's decision, but was glared at by Niu Da and had to shut his mouth tight. Dog San looked at the struggling girl with a sly smile and said: "Niu Lao Da, why don't we brothers help her open her shell? After all, she's going to be sold into a brothel anyway."

  "Nonsense, what's the big deal about having money? Can't a woman with money have fun? This chick is still a virgin and can be sold for a good price, but once she's been deflowered, she'll only be worth a dozen or so bucks. Is this girl not providing us with information? Doesn't he know that this girl is a virgin? Do you want to do it? Are you trying to get yourself killed by Mo Si?"

  Gou San Yi listened and could only dispel his own thoughts, forcing a smile as he asked: "Niu Lao Da, why don't we stay at Zui Chun Lou for a couple of days after receiving the money before returning? These past few days have been suffocating me."

  "Alright!" Niu Da readily agreed, and his eyes also showed a hint of eagerness and fervor. He had grabbed hold of many beautiful girls, but he didn't dare to get close to any of them himself. This was also a kind of torment for him, who was still unmarried at the age of thirty despite being robust like an ox. Niu Da made up his mind secretly that after making some deals and getting rich, he would have to find a young bride to be his wife, lest all his wealth be squandered on prostitutes.

  Niu Da, Zhu Er and Gou San were idle vagrants in Gushan Town. In the past, they relied on stealing and thievery to make a living. They were shunned by everyone wherever they went. However, two months ago, when the Japanese devils and puppet troops occupied Gushan Town, these three lazy good-for-nothings joined up with Mo Sifen, a platoon leader in the puppet army. For the past two months, they had been making a profit by abducting and selling young girls to brothels in Yingkou, aside from being extorted by Mo Sifen, their lives were quite comfortable.

  They also knew the fate of Han traitors, and there was no difference between relying on fake troops and relying on Japanese people. So although they acted recklessly and domineeringly, they didn't dare to leave Gu Shan Town too far away. Once they were discovered by those so-called good men on the mountain and the remaining Northeastern Army, their heads wouldn't be very secure.

  The three men took the girl, who had already cried herself into a state of collapse, to their dwelling place, a dilapidated temple at the northernmost part of Gu Shan Town. After tying her up to a pillar in the temple, Niu Da instructed Zhu Er and then left with Gou San, laughing as they walked towards the town.

  "Niú dà, jì dé gěi wǒ dài zhǐ zhū tī huí lái!"

  Translation: "Bossy cow, remember to bring a pig's trotter back for me!"

  Zhu Er watched the two people walking away in the distance and couldn't help but shout loudly. At this moment, he seemed a bit lonely and desolate. He turned his head to look at the girl tied to the pillar and couldn't help but glare at her fiercely. If it weren't for this girl, he could have followed Niu Da to eat delicious food and drink spicy liquor.

  Niu Da took Ge San to drink, while Xue Fei, who had just eaten, was thinking about his future life. The three years in Northeast China seemed not so easy to mix, with bearded men and ghostly pseudo-military everywhere, not easily eliminated. As a young man from the 21st century, he knew that the people were still in a period of thorough mental enslavement, and it was not easy for him to rebel in this society without some skills. His master required him to become the leader of Huaxia, which was as difficult as asking him to become the country's top leader before coming to this era.

  "Ah... Master! Why don't you give me some magical tools or something? Can't I just use the flying sword to kill the Japanese Emperor and his ministers, wouldn't that liberate Manchuria?"

  Xu Fei stared at the falling leaves outside the window, muttering to himself, but he didn't think that even if he were given a magic treasure now, he would be able to use it.

  He couldn't figure it out and didn't understand, so he simply stood up and muttered to himself: "Anyway, there's nothing wrong with this, let's just investigate the devils and puppet troops in this Lonesome Mountain Town."

  Xu Fei walked out of the house and headed towards the main hall, just after instructing Xiao Er to go out, he heard two drunk men talking.

  "Niu Da... you said that girl is worth fifty big oceans, when the time comes, hand her over to Mo... Mo will give that kid thirty, and we'll have enough left over... let's go have some fun at Zui Chun Lou for a few days."

  "Go... damn it, you still want to stay there for a few more days? Let me tell you, if we find two chicks to play with for two days, we'll have to spend almost all our money. I was thinking of saving up some cash to find a woman..."

  "Niu Da... you're looking for a woman now... haha... forget it! ...by the way, where's Zhu Er looking at that chick? No problem with her?"

  "You think he misses you... This little rascal is so lustful, nothing to worry about! Let's drink, when we go back. Remember to bring that little rascal a pig trotter!"