TNIBFT -Chapter 132 I Roast Rabbits at Home

That guy, Duan Qingshan, has been wandering the martial world for so many years—surely he can’t really think that Xiao Jiang is just a good kid, right?

Ye Tian looked at his youngest son.

At this moment, Xiao Jiang was squatting on the floor, tilting his adorable, jade-like face upward, eyes sparkling like stars, and grinning at Duan Qingshan who had brought him noodles. The little fellow’s lips were red, teeth white; that smile was pure and harmless, like a gentle spring breeze in March.

In a soft, sweet voice, he said, “Thank you, Uncle.”

“You’re the best cook Xiao Jiang has ever met, Uncle.”

The little guy’s expression was sincere, and he didn’t forget to flatter him a bit.

Duan Qingshan tugged at the corner of his mouth, and the icy expression on his face softened slightly. Then, carrying his own noodles, he squatted by the door and began eating. Xiao Jiang glanced at Duan Qingshan’s back and followed him out.

Ye Tian shook his head.

Kids grow up… and all have their own ideas.

After everyone had eaten, Duan Qingshan hurried to clean up the bowls, then swept the floor, even tidied the beds. Watching his busy back, Ye Tian felt something was off.

The formidable general who inspired fear in the original book… turns out he’s skilled at housework?

“Maybe… you should take a break?” Ye Tian’s mouth twitched slightly as he watched Duan Qingshan’s busy back.

Duan Qingshan didn’t turn his head.

He said nothing—just did what needed to be done.

For so many years, he had wandered alone, never having a day of peace. More than anyone, Duan Qingshan longed for a stable home.

Unfortunately, his parents were gone, and his sister was gone too.

He had failed the first mission Ye Tian entrusted to him, and he feared Ye Tian would look down on him. Every adult knows: those without value receive no reward.

“Dad?”

A small arm gently waved. Ye Tian looked down to see Ye Shuangxue clutching his sleeve, smiling sweetly: “We’re not going to the academy today. I want to go to the hotpot restaurant!”

The little tough girl got straight to the point.

“I want to go too.”

Xiao Jiang stepped forward as well, and the two kids tugged Ye Tian left and right.

Ye Tian was about to refuse—saying the weather was cold and the roads were slippery—but before he could speak, Xiao Jiang quickly said, “I promise I won’t slip. I’ll be very careful.”

As soon as Xiao Jiang finished, his daughter nodded immediately: “Me too!”

“I won’t run around recklessly either!”

“Me too, me too!”

“You’re the best dad in the world, so take me with you!” Xiao Jiang clung to Ye Tian’s hand, acting spoiled. Ye Shuangxue, with her round little face, immediately looked at Xiao Jiang with a hint of disgust—he had been too clingy lately. Ye Tian turned to his daughter. Ye Shuangxue moved her small lips and, lowering her head, said, “Forget it if we’re not going.”

“I’m roasting rabbits at home.”

Ye Tian glanced at the two rabbits in the corner nibbling on vegetables. The rabbits were adorably dumb, faces full of innocence and naivety.

Yesterday they were cute… today they were on his hit list.

Truly fickle little creatures!

After tidying up, the kids were dressed and ready. Ye Tian took the two children into the city, while Duan Qingshan stayed home to rest.

The sky had cleared today; the sunlight was weak, and the cold wind brushed against their faces. Stepping outside, Ye Tian instantly felt refreshed.

He trudged through the snow, with the two kids following behind.

“Did you put away the valuables at home?”

Xiao Jiang walked while glancing back at the house, concern on his little face.

Before Ye Tian could answer, Xiao Jiang pulled a few copper coins from his pocket: “This is all my money.” Then he carefully tucked it back, a wary expression on his face. Ye Tian understood exactly what the little guy was trying to say.

This kid… really is money-minded.

Of course, not all of it would stay at home.

If all the wandering knights of the jianghu fought only for money, with their abilities, they could each be powerful magnates in their own right.

After walking for about half an hour, the three of them finally arrived at the new shop on Zhuque Street.

The shop didn’t need any renovation. It had already been designed as a restaurant, and the layout was very reasonable. Over the past two days, Fang Shenghu and Yuan Heipang, along with a few others, had arranged the interior according to the previous layout. Just like before, a larger, taller flag flew from the roof, and the signboard above the door bore bold, flowing characters.

As soon as they reached Zhuque Street, the spicy aroma of hotpot broth filled the air.

The new shop was grand, and the street in front of it was wider. At this time, around 11 a.m., there were already quite a few customers inside.

“Winter solstice has passed; the New Year is almost here!”

“Yes, it’s only in these few peaceful years that our lives have gotten a bit better. Grain prices have dropped this year, and now everything’s getting cheaper as the year-end approaches.”

“If you don’t buy it, and I don’t buy it, we’ll just pick up the leftovers later.”

Even before entering, they could hear the customers laughing.

Grain prices dropping?

Ye Tian frowned. In the original story, by this time, the male lead had already returned to his ancestral home. Around the New Year, grain prices fell sharply. When the spring cold arrived, there was no surplus grain in all of Sifang City, leaving the people freezing and starving, with many dying. Eventually, Shen Jie led the people in killing the large grain merchants and opened the warehouses to distribute grain, thus overcoming the crisis.

To control the grain is to control the lifeline.

Ye Tian felt his blood surge. Now, as the eldest was about to enter officialdom and needed prestige, he couldn’t sit idle. He needed strength, resources, wealth, and even his own men. To control the grain in a chaotic world was to control everything.

“The boss is here!”

“The boss!”

Seeing Ye Tian approach, Yuan Heipang immediately brightened up, smiling widely as he hurried forward.

With this sycophantic attitude, he was the perfect cannon fodder villain.

Ye Tian remained speechless. Noticing the dark circles under Yuan Heipang’s eyes, he asked, “Where were you last night?”

“Ah?”

Bending over, Yuan Heipang looked dazed but still tried to reach out to support Ye Tian. Such a suck-up move. Ye Tian waved his hand away: “Don’t you look in the mirror? With circles that dark, you’re scaring the customers away.”

Grinning, Yuan Heipang rubbed his eyes and proudly said, “It’s because I’m excited about being store manager, couldn’t sleep!”

“Two nights without sleep.”

Ye Tian was speechless.

He quickly reassured him, “Don’t worry, boss. It won’t affect my work.”

“As soon as the bell rings, I get up to pick vegetables…”

“No one works harder than me…”

He got more and more excited, and Ye Tian helplessly waved his hand. “Find a room and rest for now.”

He was way too hyped.

“Boss, I’m fine! Really, I’m fine…”

Ye Tian shook his head and walked behind the counter. He needed to calculate how much liquid capital he currently had. He had to buy grain—large quantities—and rent a place with few people so Duan Qingshan could guard it. When necessary, he would need even more loyal people.

As soon as they entered the hotpot restaurant, the two children immediately went to play, familiar with the place.

Upstairs, in a private room.

“Brother, happy birthday! This is the gift I got you.”

“This is what you said you wanted last time. Look…”

The voice of little chubby Shi Hao?

She couldn’t be mistaken.

Her nemesis came to Ye Tian’s hotpot restaurant for his birthday. If she went out now, would he be mad to the point of dying?

Ye Shuangxue paused, curiosity pulling her closer to the window. Seeing this, Yuan Heipang hurried over, waved at Ye Shuangxue, and then poked a finger through the paper window, signaling her to look inside.

“I don’t want your stupid gift,” the boy’s voice snapped.

Then came a crisp sound: “Bang!”

Like jade shattering. Curious, Ye Shuangxue peered through the small hole in the paper window…