Chapter 1: Ominous Mountain

Far from the city, between two dense mountains lay a small village. The village is neither rich nor poor. As the mountain has provided the villagers an abundance of resources allowing them to harvest through the years with no problems. Life was so great that only one out of ten households would want to send their child to the city as their ancestors once said, 'Go to the city, for the opportunity to be rich is limitless.' Yet the villagers no longer care because life in the quiet village is already rich enough. But within the village there is a rule: No matter what, do not go into the wrong mountain! With two mountain boarding each side of the village, the villager would always heed to visitors of the mountain on the left. The ominous mountain they called, a dangerous place that no one should enter unless they wish to die. The last time someone who was brave enough to go did not return.

"Grandma, why didn't that person return?" A young girl somewhere in her early twenties said as she raised her eyebrows. Her eyes never left her grandmother's side. Those dark brown eyes shine with a child's curiosity waiting patiently for an answer. But instead of an answer, only the sound of a hard smack is heard. The young girl felt a sharp pain on her head. She quickly lowered her head and with both hands she raised them to block the next coming blow.

"Quiet! Did I tell you not to talk when I'm talking!" A grouchy old lady, addressed by the young girl as grandma, stood up from her seat and raised her hands against the girl's head. Her callous hands were as hard as an iron bar. Each hit that she gave resound throughout the wooden hut.

Grandma Wan gripped her hand into a ball and gave her granddaughter Meili a final hit on the head as she bellowed with anger, "Disgusting!" And with that final word Grandma Wan spit at the ground and turns around and walks out the wooden hut.

Meili with her eyes closed and face touching the ground with her hands covering her head, has fear written all over her face. But she did not cry. The consequence of crying would lead to an even bigger hit on her head. Her grandma's favorite place to hit her. The first time she was hit on the head, her grandma retorted that it was because she was born dumb. And in order to help her, her grandma needs to resort to such a method. Back then, her grandma would gently pat her head after hitting her saying that it was for her own good because she loves her very much. But ever since she turned fifteen she never heard her grandma say those lovely words ever again.

Meili got up and patted her dirty clothes. But even if she did, her clothes were still dirty. A torn and small for her, Meili struggled to fix her clothes. When she was done patching the side of her colorless bleak dress, she headed toward the kitchen. The kitchen was not far, only a foot away from where she was. Inside the wooden hut, one could see everything at one glance. From the bed to the kitchen to the living area. There wasn't much to see.

Meili went and got breakfast ready. She prepared her grandma's favorite food, wild boar meat with wild vegetables. While she could only eat a small bowl of rice porridge with some pickle on the side. When she finished setting the table, Meili went to call for her grandma to come and eat. She walked out of the wooden hut with nothing, but her bare foot. The cold air cut through her skin, but she did not shiver from the cold. After living in such poor condition even since she was born she was already used to the harsh weather.

When she passed the small vegetable patch, her steps froze in place. Far in the distance she saw her grandma with a big smile on her face and right next to her was a middle aged man. Both of them walk hand in hand together toward the wooden hut. When they got closer Meili was able to make out a group of men with a bull pulling a cart from behind. And on the cart there seemed to be someone laying on it.

Meili did not call out to her grandma instead she continued to watch them with a blank face.

When they came face to face with Meili, Grandma Wan pointed her wrinkly forefinger at her with a proud smile on her face. " Here is my beautiful granddaughter. Meili come and meet your Uncle Li."

Meili with a blank stare greeted the stranger that was said to be her Uncle. But from the moment she was born, she had never seen another human beside her grandma. Even when she asked why they were the only two living here, her grandma would angrily hit her for asking too many questions.

The man called Uncle Li looked Meili up and down with stars in his eyes. His lips curve up slyly as he quickly holds onto Grandma Wan's hand and thanks her for the cooperation.

Grandma Wan beams at the man showing her half broken teeth. "Now, where is the girl? Let's hurry up or else you'll have to stay for the night here."

Uncle Li turned around and shouted at his men to bring the cart. When they brought the cart, Meili saw a beautiful girl in red sleeping with a peaceful expression. But her chest did not move, nor did she make any sound of breathing. Meili blinks her pure clear eyes unsure of what is going on. She watched the men take down the clothes the girl was wearing, quickly piece by piece. When they get to her undergarment, they stop and step away.

Grandma Wan took the red clothes in her hand and handed them to Meili. "Quickly put this on."

Meili looks down at the red embroidered dress and slightly frowns. She did not want to wear the clothes at all. "Grandma, why do I need to wear this? What happened to her?"

"Tsk, I told you to wear them! Now go and wear it!" Grandma Wan said with irritation in her voice.

"Grandm-" Meili felt her ear being twisted. She winces at the pain. "Ungrateful child! I'm doing this for your own good! Now quickly go and wear them." Grandma Wan pushed the clothes into Meili's hands and gave her a push toward the wooden hut.

Not long after, Meili came out dressed in the red embroidered dress that the lifeless girl wore. Before her face was dirty from touching the ground, but now that she washed her face there was a moment of silence between the others as they looked at each other. Somehow both girls bore an uncanny resemblance to each other.

"Did you see? I did not lie to you. Now hurry up and pay." Grandma stretches her hand to Uncle Li and with a smug look she watches him take out the money.

Uncle Li was also shocked to see that the old woman's granddaughter resembled his daughter. He was happy beyond words as he quickly took out the money and handed them to the old woman. His heart hurts to see the money going away, but he knows that when he brings the girl to his soon to be son-in-law they will pay him even more. His daughter's dowry is not small at all, so when she unexpectedly passed away on the road he cursed the heavens for giving him a daughter, but didn't let him reap the reward.

When they dejectedly wanted to return to their village, the old man roared at all his men to go forward. No matter what, the wedding has already been set, and he is going to get the bride price one way or another!

The old man was set on bringing his dead daughter to her soon to be husband. But when they came to a split in the road, the middle road heading toward the village, the right toward the right mountain, and the left toward the ominous mountain. And just as they were turning to walk on the middle road, they saw an old grandma walking toward them from the left road.

The old grandma, grandma Wan saw their distressed faces and walked up to them. When she saw the lifeless girl, she asked them if they were willing to do business with her. The old man waved his hand at her telling her to go away as they were busy with their own business. Besides that he did not like the thought of talking to someone coming from the ominous mountain. Who knows if the old woman talking to him is human at all.

The old woman was not angry by their unruly behavior, instead she details how she can help them solve their problem. Soon before they realized it, they were already walking up the ominous mountain. As for the old man, he was already warming up to the old grandma as they talked about the transaction that will solve his problem.

Uncle Li mumbled to himself as he gave Meili one more glance before telling her to get on the cart. Meili turns and stares with a childlike scare expression at Grandma Wan for her attention. Never in her life has she worn something this soft and beautiful, and her feet, it was no longer cold. But again, she wanted to get Grandma Wan's attention and see if the clothes she wore were fine for her to wear. She did not want to get hit again. However Grandma Wan did not look at her. She was busy counting the money in her hands.

Meili sat on the cart, but she realized that the lifeless girl was not there. Meili tapped one of the men, "Excuse me, where is the young lady sleeping here?"

The young man did not answer her. He took a step back and turned his back to Meili, not giving her any attention.

Meili pursed her lips and wished to ask another, but saw that the others had distanced themselves from the cart like the young man.

Uncle Li did not wait and motion for the others to head down the mountain. Meili watches as they depart from the place she calls home. She raises her hand up and slowly waves at Grandma Wan with a sad face. When they were about to pass through the dense forest, Meili was still waving her hand knowing that Grandma Wan could still see her. But her grandma never looks at her nor waves back.

Grandma Wan did not wave back. She stares at the group of people leaving and slowly curls her lips into a toothless grin. Her laugh crackled with the cold wind. With the money held tightly in her hand, she turned to walk into the hut but not before a small shadow weeping sadly was pulled inside.

Uncle Li and the others finally descended down the mountain before the sunset. They quickly make their way to the village. Uncle Li was ecstatic to know that he could get the bride price with no problem. They have found a replacement, the bride they are bringing is well and alive.