If You Have the Guts, Come Out

Lily Evans spoke, and Lucky charged forward wielding a stick, looking fierce and intimidating. Ernie Lee was so frightened that he rolled on the ground several times, scrambling to retreat.

Doggie Lee went over to help Ernie Lee up, whispering, "Second Brother, what's going on? Didn't you say you'd already taken care of Belle!?"

Ernie Lee gritted his teeth, "I did take care of Belle, it's absolutely true! Who knew Lily Evans would refuse to admit it!"

Lily Evans took the opportunity to step forward, addressing the villagers who had gathered to watch the commotion. She said sincerely, "Everyone, you all know what kind of person Ernie Lee is. His family is dirt poor, and he spends his days drinking, gambling, and womanizing. He’s notorious for stealing and causing trouble in the village! There’s no way Belle would ever fancy a man like Ernie Lee, let alone be involved with him!"

The villagers agreed—it was true. Ernie Lee was such a disgraceful person that even the thirty-year-old widows in the village wouldn’t look at him, let alone Belle, who was a maidservant from a wealthy household.

"Ernie Lee, are you so desperate for a woman that you've lost your mind? Belle is a beautiful young lady—why would she ever choose you?"

"Exactly! This is like a toad wanting to eat a swan!"

"You came to propose without bringing anything—what a joke! Only someone blind would marry you!"

The villagers all started talking at once, most of them making fun of Ernie Lee.

Ernie Lee was driven mad by their words. He jumped up from the ground and cursed, "What do you idiots know! Anyway, I’ve already taken Belle’s body—she has to marry me!"

Ernie Lee, Belle would never fancy you—how could she possibly give herself to you!" Lily Evans shouted.

"It was me..." Ernie Lee started to say, about to admit he'd dragged Belle into the wild by force, but Doggie Lee stomped hard on his foot, making him shut up immediately.

Doggie Lee pulled Ernie Lee aside and cursed quietly, "Are you out of your mind? If you admit in public that you forced Belle, do you want to be beheaded by the magistrate?"

In ancient times, forcibly seizing a woman was a serious crime. For a poor man like Ernie Lee, going up against someone wealthy like Lily Evans—if it reached the authorities, Lily could easily pull strings to have Ernie executed.

"So—so what should I do?" Ernie Lee scratched his head in panic. He'd come feeling triumphant, certain Belle was already his. But Lily Evans refused to admit anything, leaving Ernie at a loss.

Doggie Lee glared fiercely at Lily Evans, surprised by her cleverness. He rolled his eyes and said, "Second Brother, Lily Evans is tough—we shouldn't go head-to-head with her. Call Belle out. If you coax or scare her a bit, maybe she'll slip up in front of the villagers and admit you took her body. Then she'll have to marry you!"

Ernie Lee clapped his hands in praise, "Big Brother, you’re the smart one! Let’s do it!"

With that, Ernie Lee stood up, cleared his throat, and shouted toward the courtyard, "Belle, my dear Belle! Come out, will you? Last night you kept calling out for joy in my arms, and today your brother has come to propose. Come out!"

Ernie Lee's shout was crude, and his gang of ruffians joined in, hollering toward the courtyard, "Sister-in-law, come out! Don’t be shy! Marry in the morning, bridal chamber at night!"

"Shut up!" Lily Evans snapped as Ernie Lee kept shouting for Belle, sensing trouble.

Lily Evans herself could stay calm and insist Belle hadn’t lost her innocence. But given Belle’s current mental state, if she really came out, she might break down at the sight of Ernie Lee—giving him the chance he wanted.

Ernie Lee also noticed Lily Evans was in a predicament, and said smugly, "Lily Evans, if you have the guts, call out my sweetheart Belle and let her confront me face to face!"