TNIBFT -Chapter 14 Don’t You Know Your Family’s Situation?

As Ye Tian spoke, he gave Xiao Jiang a thumbs-up.

The shop owner’s wife nearby smiled and said, “Little brother, I really envy you for having such a good son. Not only is this child good-looking, he’s also smart. My Er Gouzi—besides eating and sleeping, he can’t do anything. Forget keeping accounts, he can’t even count copper coins properly.”

She looked at Xiao Jiang with envy.

Not only was the child well-behaved, he was also clever, and his voice was soft and adorable—who wouldn’t like him?

Xiao Jiang lowered his head shyly. All his life, he had walked around with his head down, afraid of being noticed, afraid of being mocked, excluded, or beaten. Only by staying unnoticed could he avoid all that.

But now, the tightly shut door in his heart seemed to be slowly cracking open, as if sunlight were beginning to seep in. Hearing others praise him, a warm feeling rose in his chest. He instinctively looked up at Ye Tian, and seeing the proud smile on his father’s face, Xiao Jiang lowered his head again and smiled softly.

“Dad will buy you some big meat buns in a bit.”

Ye Tian ruffled Xiao Jiang’s hair as they took the money and said goodbye to the shop owner and his wife, promising to return after they sold out.

…

“Did you put the money away safely?”

Xiao Jiang looked up, nervously staring at Ye Tian’s chest.

When Ye Tian didn’t answer, Xiao Jiang frowned and continued, “There are a lot of thieves in the city. Take it out and check—see if the money is still there.”

The little guy was so nervous he had become unusually talkative.

Ye Tian couldn’t help but laugh. Sure enough, money makes the mare go—having money could even make a withdrawn child speak more.

“Don’t worry.”

Taking the lead, Ye Tian headed straight toward a steaming bun stall. Seeing a customer, the vendor casually tossed a white towel over his shoulder and greeted them with a wide smile.

“Hey there, what would you like?”

“We’ve got fragrant meat buns—one coin each—and vegetable buns, two for one coin.”

Looking at the plump, white buns, their aroma wafting through the air, with the meat buns split open to reveal glistening broth mixed with bright green scallions, Ye Tian nearly choked on his own drool. In his previous life, he would never have imagined that in this life, he’d struggle to even afford a bun.

Saliva practically flying, Ye Tian said, “Meat buns.”

“…Uh…”

The vendor was speechless. Seeing Ye Tian’s bruised face and shabby clothes, he looked at him with disdain. Buying buns was one thing—but why was he drooling all over the place?

“I’ll take ten!”

The moment Ye Tian spoke, the vendor’s face lit up. “Alright! I’ll wrap them up for you right away.”

“Just buy two.”

Xiao Jiang tugged at Ye Tian’s pant leg, shaking it. When Ye Tian looked down at him, Xiao Jiang earnestly said, “You eat one, and my brother, sister, and I can share one…”

The little guy was practically dying of anxiety over Ye Tian’s extravagance. Ye Tian, you’re being ridiculous!

Didn’t he know what kind of situation their family was in?

Ten coins could feed their whole family for half a month!

“I can’t get full with just one.”

Ye Tian refused with a smile. Seeing his son’s anxious expression, he felt a mischievous urge rising in his heart.

Xiao Jiang sighed helplessly. “Y-you can’t eat nine by yourself either. Just buy three—that’s enough.”

By then, the vendor had already packed the buns, their rich meaty aroma filling the air. Ye Tian paid without hesitation and left.

Xiao Jiang followed behind, his little face full of worry.

For the sake of this family, the little guy was carrying far too much on his shoulders.

Over here in Sifang City, the daylight hours were short. By the time Ye Tian finished buying the buns, the sun was already slanting west, its light dim and fading. He took Xiao Jiang to a pharmacy to buy spices like cinnamon bark, star anise, cardamom, and fennel, spending 68 copper coins. He still had two qian and a couple of copper coins left. Ye Tian decided that tomorrow he would grind them into a real “Thirteen Spices” blend and sell it to a restaurant.

They also needed a bathing tub at home, a copper pot, and he had to buy Xiao Jiang a pair of cotton pants—this kid’s current pair was so soaked in grime that you could smell it from ten meters away.

And the three kids’ cotton shoes were all worn through, with their toes sticking out. After thinking it over, Ye Tian decided not to buy a bathing tub for now—it would be too inconvenient to carry back today. Instead, he would first get the children some cotton shoes and pants.

Half an hour later, Ye Tian carried several large and small packages, walking home with Xiao Jiang under the faint sunlight.

“Xiao Jiang, in a bit, take two meat buns to your Uncle Fang,” Ye Tian said.

Xiao Jiang, who was following behind, froze for a moment. His small feet stopped in place as he stared at Ye Tian’s limping back, his big eyes filled with confusion.

In the past, whenever Ye Tian heard Fang Shenghu’s name, he would curse him viciously—calling him a lowly servant who disrespected his master, a two-faced traitor unworthy of being human, accusing him of not knowing his place, and so on. He had never spoken calmly like this, nor would he ever have let Xiao Jiang call him “Uncle Fang.”

Ye Tian was truly different now.

Not hearing footsteps behind him, Ye Tian turned around and saw the child still standing there. He continued, “Your Uncle Fang has helped us a lot. As people, we must repay kindness. Whoever treats us well, we should treat them well too. Understand?”

“Mm,” Xiao Jiang responded softly.

Looking at Ye Tian’s large footprints in the snow, the little boy stared blankly. Ye Tian’s feet were so big—about the same size as his own hands. Ye Tian was also very capable; he could even sell firewood for money. Xiao Jiang had never seen so much money before. Most importantly, when he was with Ye Tian, he dared to speak, dared to lift his head and look at others, and was even beginning to understand the world.

Xiao Jiang hopped along, stepping into Ye Tian’s footprints as he followed.

The father and son chatted and laughed along the way. Ye Tian would occasionally turn back and wait for Xiao Jiang. The light was dim, and there were few people on the road. One big and one small figure slowly made their way forward through the snow.

…

Meanwhile, at the village entrance of Mingfeng Village—

“Still haven’t found Xiao Jiang?”

Ye Shuangxue’s eyes were red with anxiety, tears welling up as she hoped her brother would bring good news. She hurried forward and grabbed Ye Yunting’s sleeve. He shook his head. “No. Even Ye Tian is gone.”

“We’ve searched the entire village and couldn’t find Xiao Jiang. Some people said… they said they saw Ye Tian take Xiao Jiang into the city.”

Boom.

Hearing this, Ye Shuangxue almost collapsed. Grabbing her brother’s clothes, she said angrily, “That damned Ye Tian—it must be him! He must have sold Xiao Jiang! That beast! Hasn’t Xiao Jiang suffered enough beatings from him already?”

“We shouldn’t have believed him. Cooking last night—it must have been premeditated. Was it to ease his guilt after selling Xiao Jiang?”

Her eyes turned sharp, hatred surging in her heart.

Ye Yunting’s small face was filled with despair. He closed his eyes helplessly, forcing himself to stay calm. His younger siblings still needed him. He said coldly, “We’ll go to the city now and look for him. Maybe we can still find Xiao Jiang.”

“Don’t cry, Shuangxue. Uncle Fang will also bring people to help search.”

Ye Shuangxue nodded, her fists clenched tightly beneath her clothes.

Ye Tian!

If Xiao Jiang had really been sold, she would definitely make Ye Tian pay for it.

“Hey, Eldest, little Shuangxue.”

Seeing the two children standing at the village entrance, Ye Tian immediately broke into a wide smile. Were they here to welcome him?

Although these two children seemed cold and indifferent, Ye Tian knew they weren’t bad at heart. They had just never been properly guided. If they were truly bad, then in the original story, Fang Shenghu wouldn’t have been repaid by the siblings.

He had even gone on to enjoy wealth and prosperity because of them.

“Ye Tian?”