11 – Tiger Girl Falls Off the Cliff
Zhang Cuihua called the grimy Liu Yun to her side and whispered, “See that little girl riding the sheep? Everyone says she’s prettier than you. What are you going to do about it?”
Seven-year-old Liu Yun already understood such things. Though her mother usually beat and scolded her, making her resent this mother, she now replied with a sinister expression, “Just a smelly milk baby. I could crush her with one finger.”
For some reason, Liu Yun felt an indescribable hostility toward Little Tiger Girl from the first moment she saw her—a hostility that seemed innate.
The innocent and carefree Little Tiger Girl giggled on the sheep’s back, completely unaware that someone already hated her.
The wild vegetables and edible grasses nearby had all been dug up, so Da Keng had to take his younger brothers and little aunt to a distant hill where some drought-resistant wild greens could still be found.
Bai Dakeng assigned the tasks of herding the sheep and protecting their little aunt to Si Keng and Wu Keng: “You two watch the sheep and Little Aunt carefully. Don’t lose the sheep no matter what. My brothers and I will go dig for vegetables over there. If anything happens, just shout for me.”
Si Keng nodded. “Understood, big brother.”
Wu Keng also nodded. “Understood, big brother.”
Only then did Da Keng take Er Keng and San Keng to dig for vegetables not far away, though he kept the sheep and Little Aunt within his sight the whole time.
Little Tiger Girl climbed down from the sheep and rolled playfully on the ground. The sheep nibbled gently at grass roots with its mouth, gazing tenderly at the little dumpling.
Si Keng and Wu Keng caught several dozen grasshoppers, strung them on dogtail grass, roasted them over a fire, and fed them to their little aunt. After eating the fried grasshoppers, the little one crawled under the sheep’s belly to suckle a few mouthfuls of milk, then contentedly lay on the ground basking in the sun.
Da Keng and his two younger brothers gradually wandered farther away while digging for vegetables. From this distance, they had become mere black specks.
It was then that Liu Yun, who had been hiding behind a large tree, emerged. Carrying a small basket, she put on an innocent and adorable act to coax Si Keng and Wu Keng: “How about big sister plays hide-and-seek with you?”
Si Keng and Wu Keng found the grimy Liu Yun repulsive at first sight. Wu Keng refused: “N-no hide-and-seek!”
Liu Yun wheedled, “Just for a little while?”
“We won’t play. We need to herd the sheep,” Si Keng also refused.
“Just for a tiny while. I’ll leave right after we play,” Liu Yun persisted.
“No!” Wu Keng raised his small fist.
“Waa… just for a minute…”
Si Keng grew utterly annoyed. To get rid of her quickly, he reluctantly agreed.
Liu Yun nearly jumped for joy, thinking, These two fools fell for it so easily!
“I’ll hide first. You go behind the big tree, cover your eyes and no peeking! You can only open them after I count to ten!”
“Fine!” Si Keng and Wu Keng agreed simultaneously and hid behind the large tree.
Now only Little Tiger Girl and the sheep remained before Liu Yun. She studied the little one carefully—truly quite pretty. Children prettier than her shouldn’t be allowed to live in this world!
Her heart pounding, Liu Yun took Little Tiger Girl’s small hand and spoke softly: “Tiger Girl, big sister will take you to a nice place.”
Her voice was gentle, but her expression was chillingly cold.
Little Tiger Girl fearfully broke free and crawled under the sheep’s belly, wrapping her small arms around the sheep’s leg.
Seeing she couldn’t trick Little Tiger Girl, Liu Yun tried to drag her out by force. The sheep grew enraged and butted Liu Yun, sending her tumbling.
As Liu Yun scrambled to her feet, she didn’t forget to loudly continue counting: “One!”
With one hand she pulled at Little Tiger Girl, while her other hand covered the child’s small mouth to prevent her from crying out.Little Tiger Girl was a soft little bundle, no match for a seven-year-old child.
After struggling briefly, she was dragged away by Liu Yun!
Si Keng and Wu Keng had been hiding behind the tree for a long time, waiting for Liu Yun to count to ten, but she stopped at eight without any further sound.
“Hey, are you done? We’re coming out!” Si Keng shouted impatiently.
“Go out,” Wu Keng echoed, covering his small eyes.
But when Si Keng and Wu Keng emerged from behind the big tree, they immediately saw that their little aunt was gone!
Sweat instantly poured down Si Keng’s forehead. Terrified, he rushed over and searched everywhere, but couldn’t find their little aunt anywhere!
Wu Keng cried out: “Little aunt, little aunt, Little Piggy…”
Hearing Si Keng and Wu Keng’s shouts, Da Keng and the others quickly ran over. Da Keng urgently demanded: “Where’s little aunt? Weren’t you supposed to watch her?!”
Si Keng cried anxiously and fearfully: “Big brother, we were playing hide-and-seek with Liu Yun. After just a little while, little aunt disappeared!”
Da Keng’s face turned unusually grim!
How could little aunt disappear in such a short time? Where had Liu Yun taken her?
“Search, search quickly!” Da Keng had no time to lose his temper. If they couldn’t find little aunt, he wouldn’t be able to return home either!
Nearby, the goat anxiously circled around, bleating continuously.
Da Keng quickly crouched down and asked: “Do you know where little aunt is?”
The goat’s eyes showed some unease.
Da Keng hurriedly untied the goat’s rope, and the goat immediately dashed off, quickly running in the direction Liu Yun had gone!
Da Keng led his four younger brothers closely chasing after it!
At the cliff edge…
This place was very deep, deep enough to kill a child who fell from it.
Liu Yun was very familiar with this terrain. Previously, when Zhang Cuihua would beat and scold her, she often tricked her younger sister Liu Yu into coming here, threatening to push her off the cliff.
Zhang Cuihua was an adult, so Liu Yun didn’t dare talk back to adults, but she could transfer her hatred onto children.
Mother loved her younger sister most – taking revenge on her precious darling was equivalent to taking revenge on her.
However, Liu Yun had never actually pushed Liu Yu off this cliff.
Because once when she was about to push Liu Yu, Liu Yu tearfully called out “sister” to her. Hearing that “sister,” she softened again.
She threatened Liu Yu that if Liu Yu dared tell Zhang Cuihua about this, she would really push her off the cliff.
Liu Yu was very frightened and didn’t dare tell her mother.
So Zhang Cuihua never knew Liu Yun’s thoughts were so malicious.
Liu Yun didn’t actually want to push Hu Niu off the cliff – she just wanted to teach this little thing a lesson. She thought it would be quite amusing to see this little thing get so scared she wet her pants.
“Little Tiger Girl, sister will play a game with you,” Liu Yun’s beautiful eyes flashed with evil light.
Little Tiger Girl’s large, moist eyes showed a trace of terror. Her mouth was tightly covered by Liu Yun, wanting to cry but unable to make a sound.
Liu Yun gradually led Little Tiger Girl to the edge of the cliff. “Flying high from here must be really fun. Shall sister send you flying high?”
Little Tiger Girl’s soft little body trembled with fear. Suddenly, she opened her mouth and bit Liu Yun hard!
Liu Yun hadn’t expected such a small child to bite people. Screaming in pain, her hands controlling Little Tiger Girl suddenly loosened!
Little Tiger Girl was standing right at the cliff’s edge. With Liu Yun’s sudden release, she instantly lost her balance, her small body falling down into the depths of the cliff!
Liu Yun was immediately stunned! Her mind went completely blank!She stumbled backward in terror, raising trembling hands as she muttered to herself, “No… I didn’t push her, I never meant for her to die, no!”
She didn’t want her hands stained with blood!!