TNIBFT -Chapter 161 Are You Teaching Me How to Do Things?

As soon as Ye Tian said this, Shi Xuan’s expression turned awkward. The foot he had just stepped forward with froze midair, leaving him stuck in an uncomfortable position.

He lowered his head to glance at his toes. His light-colored cotton boots had already turned into two different shades from the slippery, wet road.

If the grain shop wasn’t sold quickly, it would end up stuck in his hands. Thinking of this, Shi Xuan forced a smile and said ingratiatingly, “I can sell it to you cheaper. You should know, half a month ago, many people offered ten thousand taels for my family’s grain shop, and my father still refused.”

“Five thousand taels. I’ll transfer everything to you right now.”

Yuan Heipang stood between Ye Tian and Shi Xuan, glancing at one and then the other.

Seeing that Ye Tian didn’t speak for a long time, Yuan Heipang chuckled foolishly and said, “How about you come inside and sit while you talk?”

Then he turned to Ye Tian and asked, “Is that okay?”

“The main thing is, the door’s open—it’s pretty cold outside.”

He added that explanation to himself.

Only then did Shi Xuan dare to step inside.

With a bang, Yuan Heipang shut the door, then ran to a corner of the hall and squatted down. He took out a handful of sunflower seeds from his pocket, sat on the steps, and watched Ye Tian while cracking them.

Shi Xuan had originally disdained associating with Ye Tian, but that night he had heard rumors that the City Lord’s Mansion and several wealthy families in the city were packing up to leave overnight.

Disaster victims were gathering endlessly outside the city.

At a time like this, if even the city lord was leaving, those who stayed behind would be walking straight toward death.

Shi Xuan took out the deed to the grain shop from his chest and, showing full sincerity, placed it on the table. He continued, “Even if I don’t sell it to you, I’ll sell it to someone else. If you don’t want it, I’ll leave right now.”

After saying that, Shi Xuan picked the document back up and tucked it into his chest.

Ye Tian smiled. “I don’t have ten thousand taels.”

“If you truly want to sell, I only have two thousand taels.”

“Two thousand taels?” Shi Xuan exclaimed. Ye Tian clearly wasn’t being sincere about the deal. He stood up, preparing to leave, when Ye Tian suddenly spoke from behind him:

“If you walk out of here, you won’t even be able to sell it for two thousand taels.”

“With so many disaster victims outside the city, once the city lord leaves, they’ll swarm in and loot the granary clean. Forget money—you might even lose your life.”

Shi Xuan halted mid-step.

Ye Tian continued, “Also, your father Shi Shanxiang isn’t dead. Everyone in Sifang City knows that. If disputes arise over this business later, aside from me, I doubt many people would want it. And the wealthy families in the city are all leaving. Who’s going to take over so much grain from you? If you weren’t unable to find a buyer, you wouldn’t have come to me, right?”

Ye Tian spoke calmly, as if it were nothing.

Shi Xuan nearly ground his back teeth to dust. Everything Ye Tian said was spot on. He gave up pretending and said bluntly, “Four thousand taels. Besides this, I’ll also give you the Shi family residence. When my father bought it, it cost at least three to five hundred taels.”

“I’m not interested in your Shi family residence.”

Ye Tian shook his head, then stood up and took out four five-hundred-tael banknotes from behind the counter, placing them on the table.

“Two thousand taels.”

His gaze was calm. As Shi Xuan looked at the banknotes in front of him, his heartbeat quickened.

He had never held so much money before. Normally, Shi Shanxiang only gave him a few taels for pocket money—dozens at most. But this was two thousand taels. Several of his classmates had already packed up their belongings to flee, but his own family had sold off anything valuable due to Shi Shanxiang’s poor management.

The most valuable thing left was this grain shop—but it couldn’t be carried away.

“Three thousand taels.”

Shi Xuan gritted his teeth, trying to make Ye Tian raise the price.

Ye Tian replied, “One thousand nine hundred taels.”

“Whoever wants this grain shop can take it. If I keep it, it’ll be looted in the end anyway. You can keep it for yourself.”

Ye Tian crossed his legs, one hand lightly tapping a rhythm on the table.

Shi Xuan’s face flushed red. “Two thousand five hundred taels, alright? The grain shop—that’s the lifeblood my Shi family has built over generations.”

“One thousand eight hundred taels!”

Ye Tian cut him off. “Stop dragging this out. I heard the City Lord is about to leave, and I’m even considering whether I should run too. Forget natural disasters—there are rumors that Sifang City is about to go to war with the Great Zhou. Can anyone still stay in a place like this?”

Shi Xuan’s expression turned ugly, his face alternating between red and purple like he was badly constipated.

Gritting his teeth, he said, “Then… two thousand taels.”

Ye Tian smiled and pushed the banknotes in front of him toward Shi Xuan. “It’s one thousand eight hundred taels. But I don’t like dealing with small change, so just include your Shi family’s ancestral residence in the deal.”

“Anyway, you won’t be living there anymore.”

Without another word, Shi Xuan handed over all the prepared documents—the land deed, business contract, and property deed—in one go to Ye Tian.

“Boss, let me see, let me see!” Yuan Heipang tossed aside the sunflower seeds in his hand, wiped his hands on his clothes, and hurried forward, flipping through the documents carefully.

Then he exclaimed excitedly, “All correct!”

“All correct!”

“Everything’s here. When it comes to doing business, this kid Shi Xuan has way more conscience than when it comes to being a person.”

Shi Xuan’s face darkened. Taking the money, he turned and left without a word.

…

Great Zhou Imperial Capital.

In the imperial garden, under the warm winter sunlight, Qin Fengyi wore a bright yellow dragon robe. Beneath the sunlight, the embroidered dragon patterns seemed almost alive, shimmering brilliantly with every movement, the golden dragon radiating an imposing aura.

Despite it being winter, the garden was still in full bloom.

Several palace maids and eunuchs were even placing charcoal braziers beside the rare flowers and plants.

Qin Fengyi sat in a wheelchair, her pale hands holding a letter as she read. Her palm-sized face was completely hidden behind the paper. From afar, one could only see the imposing imperial crown atop her head and her long black hair cascading beside her ears. The maids and eunuchs standing nearby didn’t even dare to look directly at their sovereign.

As if even a single glance at that flash of imperial yellow would be a desecration of the God of War.

“Despicable!”

Qin Fengyi suddenly erupted in anger, slamming her palm onto the dragon head carved into the wheelchair.

The vividly carved dragon head shattered instantly, splinters scattering across the ground. The palace maids and eunuchs who had been standing respectfully nearby all dropped to their knees, not daring to breathe loudly.

Qin Fengyi stared at the letter, her hands trembling as if she were forcibly suppressing her emotions. After finishing reading it, she crushed the letter into pieces.

“Your Majesty!”

Not far away, the Right Chancellor Lin Huarong hurried forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, this matter must be the Left Chancellor’s doing. Otherwise, within the imperial capital of Great Zhou, right under the Son of Heaven, who else could freely enter the palace and commit murder?”

“Your Majesty, you must punish them severely!”

Lin Huarong raised his head slightly, stealing a glance at Qin Fengyi.

The letter he had just presented was precisely an accusation against the Left Chancellor for failing to control his subordinates. As long as Qin Fengyi gave the word, he would move immediately to arrest them.

Let the entire Great Zhou see clearly whose realm this truly was now!

Lin Huarong sneered inwardly. This was the first time since the emperor awoke that she had been so furious—things were about to get interesting.

Feigning concern, he continued, “Your Majesty, shall we issue an imperial decree? This old minister is willing to carry out the arrests.”

“Are you teaching me how to do things?”

Qin Fengyi raised her head, her gaze cold as it swept over him.

Meeting her eyes, Lin Huarong’s legs went weak, his mind buzzing. In that single glance, it felt as though he saw boundless killing intent. With a thud, he dropped to his knees and said, “This humble servant would not dare.”

Qin Fengyi slowly removed the blanket covering her legs, narrowing her eyes as she stared at the man kneeling before her. With overwhelming authority, she declared:

“I’ve tolerated all of you for far too long!”