TNIBFT -Chapter 11 As Handsome as Your Father

Xiao Jiang’s little face flushed red, even the tips of his ears turning crimson with shyness.

Seeing his youngest son’s reaction, Ye Tian couldn’t help frowning. This reaction was even more timid than the second child, who at least had a bit of a fiery temperament. This child had clearly been frightened by Ye Tian’s past beatings—his personality had become somewhat twisted. In the future, he would definitely have to help correct it.

“Hmph.”

Ye Yunting snorted coldly, turned around, lifted the door curtain, and went inside.

Ye Tian looked at the proud, aloof little figure and shrugged helplessly.

Sunlight slanted across the courtyard, the glare reflecting off the snow making it hard for Ye Tian to open his eyes. The air was bitterly cold—each breath felt like needles pricking his nose and lungs. Suddenly being transported here, he still wasn’t quite used to it.

“What do you need the stone mill for?”

A voice came from inside. Fang Shenghu lifted the curtain and stepped out, carrying a granite millstone the size of a washbasin, looking at Ye Tian.

Ye Tian didn’t hide anything and smiled. “I want to start a small business.”

Fang Shenghu was startled again.

His eyes widened so much they nearly popped out.

Ye Tian… starting a business? Was this really the same Ye Tian? Didn’t he used to think commerce was beneath him and damaging to his status? What had happened to him? Looking at Ye Tian’s bruised and battered face, Fang Shenghu now suspected his brain had been knocked loose.

“Thanks. I’ll return it after I’m done.”

Amid Fang Shenghu’s shock, Ye Tian took the millstone, held it in his arms, and didn’t forget to turn to Xiao Jiang. “Son, come home with Dad.”

Xiao Jiang didn’t react at first. His round, dark eyes looked around, making sure Ye Tian was calling him. Only then did he shyly lower his head and follow behind like a little penguin.

The courtyard gate stood open. Against the vast, snowy world, the figures of Ye Tian and Xiao Jiang gradually disappeared into the distance.

Fang Shenghu watched for a long time, frowning, before finally turning to Ye Yunting beside him. “Yunting, your father really does seem different. About the City Lord’s residence… do you want to discuss it with him?”

“He’s not my father!”

Ye Yunting cut him off coldly, his tone clearly trying to distance himself.

His small face remained calm as he looked into the distance, watching Ye Tian stop from time to time to wait for Xiao Jiang, smiling and waving at him.

A sudden tightness filled Ye Yunting’s small chest.

Wasn’t this the scene he had once longed for?

After all the harm Ye Tian had caused them over the years, could it really be forgiven so easily? Could a simple apology erase everything? Did that mean he had to forgive him?

And besides… all of this might just be Ye Tian’s act.

Fang Shenghu lowered his head in silence.

Over the past few years, he had witnessed how much the children had suffered. If you haven’t endured someone else’s pain, you have no right to urge them to be kind.

“But once you enter the City Lord’s residence, things won’t be up to you anymore. If you take your younger siblings in, you’ll become servants there—looked down on for the rest of your lives,” Fang Shenghu analyzed the pros and cons. Deep down, he felt that maybe Ye Tian still had hope, that perhaps he might finally take responsibility as a father.

And even if he didn’t… wasn’t there still himself?

As long as Ye Tian stopped abusing and tormenting the children, Fang Shenghu was willing—even if it meant selling his blood or flesh—to ensure the Ye family line would continue.

“No. The three of us siblings can at least survive if we enter the City Lord’s residence. If we keep following Ye Tian, it will only end in our family’s destruction,” Ye Yunting said. He lifted the curtain and added coldly, “There are still two days left. Right now, I only hope Ye Tian won’t stir up any trouble for the sake of that one string of coins.”

“As for my younger brother and sister, I’ll take care of them. At the very least, once we enter the City Lord’s residence, we won’t have to worry about food and shelter, and we won’t have to live in fear of being beaten to death or sold off at any moment. We’re all just servants anyway—who we serve doesn’t really matter.”

Looking at Ye Yunting, who wasn’t even as tall as his thigh, his small face completely expressionless and his voice cold to the bone, Fang Shenghu didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Ye Tian had brought this upon himself.

…

“Creak—!”

“Creak—!”

Under Ye Tian’s effort, the granite millstone kept grinding, producing a constant squeezing sound. Fine black pepper powder trickled out from the round spout onto a piece of yellowed cotton cloth.

Xiao Jiang squatted beside the millstone, his small body curled up. His big black eyes shifted between the pepper powder and Ye Tian, occasionally sneaking glances at him. Ye Tian, focused on his work, looked calm. The more Xiao Jiang looked, the more he felt Ye Tian actually looked quite nice—nothing like his usual frightening self. But the moment Ye Tian glanced over, Xiao Jiang reflexively raised his dark little hands to cover his face.

That self-deceiving gesture made Ye Tian burst out laughing.

“Xiao Jiang, when you eat, don’t you notice any smell?” Ye Tian asked curiously while turning the millstone.

Xiao Jiang thought for a moment, then said, “Yes—something smells good.”

Ye Tian shot a disgusted look at Xiao Jiang’s little hands. “I think it smells like pickled radish—sour, right? You little rascal, you’ve got to wash your hands more often. Illness enters through the mouth. If you don’t wash your hands, you’ll get sick easily, understand?”

Xiao Jiang nodded, half-understanding, his gaze drifting to Ye Tian’s fingers.

Long fingers… but the nails were packed with black dirt.

Noticing his son’s stare, Ye Tian felt a bit embarrassed and instinctively tried to pull his hands back. But to save face, he straightened up and said confidently, “I’m setting a bad example on purpose—for your sake. It’s all part of my good intentions. Later, the two of us will go wash up together.”

“Mm.” Xiao Jiang pressed his lips together and nodded seriously.

Some things he understood… he just didn’t say them.

“This cotton cloth is for filtering the pepper powder. Once the larger bits are removed, we can bag it up and sell it,” Ye Tian explained while working with Xiao Jiang to pack the powder. The powder was fine, and the air was filled with its sharp, pungent scent.

“Achoo!”

“Achoo!”

Father and son sneezed one after the other. Seeing each other’s miserable state, Xiao Jiang’s eyes sparkled as he stared at Ye Tian, his little face breaking into a bright smile.

If only Ye Tian could always be like this.

Half of the pepper stored in the firewood pile was gone. Ye Tian filled more than eighty small bags in total. A full kraft paper bag held four liang of pepper, while a half bag held two liang. They would be sold separately at different prices. There were only twenty full bags, while the rest were half portions—first-time buyers would likely prefer smaller amounts to try.

After finishing, the father and son used the remaining hot water to wash their faces and hands.

The basin of water turned so murky it was impossible to see their reflections. Ye Tian was speechless—how lazy the original owner must have been to end up like this.

After washing up, Xiao Jiang completely stunned Ye Tian.

Though his little face lacked some flesh, his skin was delicate and fair, his lips red and teeth white. His large obsidian-like eyes sparkled beneath long fluttering lashes—if this were his previous life, he’d definitely debut as a child star. Noticing Ye Tian staring at him, Xiao Jiang lowered his head shyly.

Ye Tian patted his head proudly. “As expected of my son—just as handsome as your dad.”

Xiao Jiang’s face flushed red, and after a while, he nodded shyly. “Mm.”

“Hahaha…” Ye Tian laughed heartily. In the novel, these three siblings would grow up to be powerful villains with both looks and strength. With his own appearance, there was no way Ye Tian alone could produce such good-looking children—their mother must be quite beautiful.

Thinking of this, Ye Tian suddenly became excited…