May Parker's Reputation Ruined

"Something terrible has happened!" In the middle of the night, Helen Parker burst into the Village Chief's house, her hair disheveled.

The Village Chief, rudely awakened, was in a foul mood. Seeing it was Helen Parker, he snapped, "Why are you yelling in the middle of the night?!"

Helen Parker sobbed, tears and snot streaming down her face. "Village Chief, my May Parker has been ruined by someone! You must stand up for her!"

The Village Chief was instantly wide awake, eyes wide. "What? Who did it?!"

Helen Parker cried, "That wretch—it was Lucky, Su Li's husband!"

At the Su Family home, the Village Chief stood with a grim face, watching May Parker threaten to hang herself.

May Parker's face was streaked with tears as she cried, "I don't want to live! How am I supposed to get married now?!"

Helen Parker hugged May Parker, wailing, "My poor daughter! We were just minding our own business at home—how could disaster strike out of nowhere? That fool Lucky always seemed honest enough, but how could he break into my daughter's room in the middle of the night and ruin her?!"

May Parker sobbed so hard she could barely breathe. "What did I ever do to deserve this? He destroyed my reputation—how am I supposed to marry now?!"

As May Parker spoke, she pointed to a spot of blood on the bed, choking on her sobs.

The Village Chief glanced at the bed and sighed. "May Parker, it's pitch dark—are you sure it was Lucky?"

Clearwater Village is poor; most families can't even afford lamp oil. The Village Chief had a good impression of Lucky and couldn't believe he'd turn out to be a criminal.

"He's my brother-in-law, not a stranger. How could I mistake him?" May Parker cried. "Village Chief, you don't know—every time my brother-in-law looks at me, his eyes are weird. One time he came to me in secret and said, 'Half a sister-in-law's backside belongs to her brother-in-law...' He's definitely been planning this!"

Hearing this, Helen Parker howled even louder, clutching the Village Chief. "Village Chief, you can't blame May Parker for this—it's all Lucky's wickedness! May Parker was sleeping peacefully at home when he barged in and forced himself on her! Lucky's so strong, how could my May Parker fight him off? Village Chief, you have to stand up for her! We're a respectable family, we care about our reputation—how could we possibly frame Lucky?!"

The Village Chief considered it. The Su Family had Simon Evans, a scholar, who valued reputation above all. Although they'd done shameless things before, when it came to a woman's honor, they wouldn't joke about it.

"Alright, let's go to Lily Evans's house and confront Lucky right now!" the Village Chief declared, getting up.

Helen Parker hurried to help May Parker up. With her head lowered, May Parker followed the Village Chief, secretly delighted: she'd heard Lucky was away these days. If she accused him of fleeing to escape punishment, he'd never be able to clear his name, no matter how hard he tried!

Lily Evans hadn't been sleeping well tonight. Tossing and turning, she was startled awake by a knock at the door in the middle of the night. Her first thought was surprise—could Lucky have returned from hunting?

Iron Granny, who guarded the door, asked who it was, then came back to Lily Evans. "Madam, the Village Chief is here with people."

"The Village Chief?" Lily Evans was puzzled. What was the Village Chief doing here in the middle of the night?

With all this commotion, the Evans family was wide awake. Mrs. Wang and the fourth uncle and aunt came out to see what was happening.

The Village Chief sat in the main hall. May Parker sobbed dramatically, while the Evans family stared in confusion, having no idea what was going on.

"Where's Lucky?" The Village Chief looked around but didn't see him.

"My husband went up the mountain to hunt. He's not home," Lily Evans replied.

"Liar! Lucky is always at home—why would he suddenly go hunting now? He's obviously on the run!" Helen Parker shrieked, pointing at Lily Evans and cursing, "You wretch, why don't you keep an eye on your man? What kind of person lets her husband go and ruin my daughter? If you don't give me an explanation today, I'll burn your house down!"