Mrs. Iron kowtowed repeatedly, begging for forgiveness, but Lily Evans had already made up her mind and insisted on selling her off.
Seeing this, Mrs. Silver and Mrs. Copper realized that although the mistress usually treated her servants kindly, she was not someone to be trifled with. So they became even more cautious in their service.
As for Lila Green's accusation that Belle was trying to seduce Lucky, Lily Evans didn't even mention it and treated Belle just as she always had.
Now with Mrs. Gold dead and Mrs. Iron sold off, only two maidservants remained. Lily Evans thought she needed to hire more help—not just maids, but also a few young men to guard the house, so no one could barge in and cause trouble again.
Without delay, Lily Evans went to discuss hiring new servants with Mrs. Charlotte Evans.
Meanwhile, Lila Green was thrown out of the Evans household, so furious her nose was almost crooked. The rope wasn't tied tightly, so she rubbed against a big tree a few times and got herself loose. Muttering curses, she stomped toward the village, cursing Lily Evans, Belle, and April all the way.
"Well, well, Sister Lila!" Ernie Lee jumped out from the bushes, leering at Lila Green and reaching out to touch her face.
Lila Green, already fuming, snapped back at him: "Ernie Lee, what are you doing? Keep your filthy hands to yourself! I've already married and turned over a new leaf. If you dare touch me again, I'll chop your paws off!"
Ernie Lee grinned lewdly, "Oh, come on, stop pretending to be pure with me. I know exactly what kind of woman you are! Turned over a new leaf, huh? That bookish weakling Lucky could never satisfy you!"
Lila Green spat, rolled her eyes, and snapped, "Mind your own business!"
Ernie Lee followed behind Lila Green, laughing, "Sister Lila, just came from Lily Evans's house? Did you get the short end of the stick?"
Lila Green's face flushed red, then turned pale. She snapped, "None of your damn business!"
Ernie Lee chuckled, "Sister Lila, I can't stand Lily Evans either. How about I help you get even with her?"
Lila Green stopped in her tracks and turned back, "Really?"
Ernie Lee took the chance to grope her chest, bursting into laughter. "When have I ever lied to you? I've already asked around. Lily Evans has a capable maid named Belle, who's so arrogant she won't even talk to me. I've had my eye on her for ages. Just watch—once I get my hands on her, I'll teach her a lesson and help you get your revenge!"
"Pfft, that sly Belle is clever. Get your hands on her first, then talk!" Lila Green shot Ernie Lee a look.
"Why don't you believe me? Listen, I've tracked Belle's routine for days. She goes to the fields in the morning and comes back alone at dusk. Now that it gets dark earlier, I'll wait for her on the road, cover her mouth, drag her into the bushes—then she'll be mine! Once I have Belle, Lily Evans will have to give me anything I want, or I'll beat Belle to death! Sister Lila, when I get Belle for you, you have to get cozy with me, just once." Ernie Lee said smugly.
Lila Green hesitated, "As long as you can deal with Belle and Lily Evans, I'll get cozy with you—just once! I've married now, it's not like when I was at the Red Blossom Pavilion."
"Deal, no problem!" Ernie Lee agreed eagerly, grinning lewdly. He'd been obsessed with Lila Green's skills from her days at the Red Blossom Pavilion. Once he got her once, there'd be a second and a third—he'd have her whenever he wanted.
Lila Green sashayed away, while Ernie Lee covered his mouth and snickered.
He'd had his eye on Belle for ages—not just because she was Lily Evans's most capable maid, but because he'd accidentally discovered that the Evans family's Mudbrick House, which no one was allowed near, was actually used to grow mushrooms! And Belle knew how to cultivate them!
Mushrooms were worth a fortune. Ernie Lee figured, if he could get Belle to work for him and grow mushrooms at his place, he'd be rich!