Ernie Lee Proposes Marriage

Early in the morning, Ernie Lee and Doggie Lee swaggered up to Evans Manor, their voices echoing through the village.

Doggie Lee banged on Evans Manor’s door. “Lily Evans, open up!”

Doggie Lee looked at Lily Evans’s tightly shut gate and asked Ernie Lee, “Second Brother, didn’t you say you’d already won that girl over? Why isn’t Lily Evans’s family even opening the door?”

Ernie Lee spat. “Just wait. Lily Evans will have to come out sooner or later.”

Doggie Lee scoffed, “Second Brother, you said Belle would be yours. Why hasn’t Lily Evans agreed yet?”

Ernie Lee sneered, “Lily Evans is just playing hard to get. I’ll make her beg me to take Belle!”

Doggie Lee scratched his head. “But Second Brother, Belle’s a pretty good catch. Why would Lily Evans give her to you?”

“It’s barely morning, and you’re already making a racket at my doorstep?” Lily Evans glared at Ernie Lee.

Ernie Lee, a blade of foxtail grass dangling from his mouth, grinned roguishly. “Lily Evans, get the dowry ready and send Belle to my house.”

Lily Evans snorted coldly. “Why should I marry Belle off to your family?”

Ernie Lee’s eyes bulged. "Lily Evans, you think Belle is too good for my family?"

Staring at Ernie Lee’s shameless face, Lily Evans felt incredibly relieved for persuading Belle—otherwise, marrying Ernie Lee would be like jumping into a pit of fire.

Lily Evans looked at Ernie Lee, confused. "Ernie Lee, what are you talking about? I don’t understand a word."

Ernie Lee spat and snapped, "Lily Evans, drop the act! Belle is already mine—she can only marry me! If I don’t take her, she’ll never get married! Stop playing games and get five hundred taels of silver for Belle’s dowry. Not a coin less!"

Doggie Lee chimed in, “Second Brother, you really want Belle? She’s got a temper—you sure you can handle her?”

Ernie Lee puffed up his chest. “Of course I want Belle! I like her fierce spirit. She’s mine, and nobody else can have her!”

Caught off guard, Ernie Lee was sent flying. Clutching his belly, he scrambled to his feet, glaring fiercely at Lily Evans. "Fine! You shameless thing, I’ll expose Belle’s scandal right now!"

"My Belle walks upright and sits straight—what scandal? Watch your mouth!" Lily Evans pointed at Ernie Lee, her face icy cold.

Ernie Lee’s face turned purple. “Lily Evans, you dare threaten me? Just wait—I’ll drag Belle off to my house sooner or later!”

Lily Evans glared at Ernie Lee, her voice icy cold. “Try it, and you’ll regret it!”

"You’re full of crap!" Lily Evans’s voice boomed even louder, drowning out Ernie Lee. "Belle was with her family all day yesterday—she never left home, so how could she have seduced you? Ernie Lee, why don’t you look in the mirror and see what kind of person you are! There isn’t a single woman in ten villages who’d give you the time of day. Belle isn’t blind—why would she go for someone as disgusting as you, with sores on your head and pus on your feet? If you keep slandering Belle, I’ll smash your dog head!"