TNIBFT -Chapter 18 The Super Villain Bought Off by a Pair of Shoes

The little girl cried in hiccups, sniffling as she secretly peeked at the new shoes in her arms.

What a classic case of saying one thing but meaning another.

Ye Tian shook his head, amused.

Ye Yunting and Xiao Jiang watched Ye Shuangxue, who kept switching between crying and smiling, and couldn’t help but smile helplessly themselves. Ye Shuangxue feared neither heaven nor earth—her stubbornness rivaled that of a mule. It seemed that only the current Ye Tian could handle her.

“Stop crying.”

“If your tears fall on the new shoes, they’ll get dirty,” Ye Tian said.

Ye Shuangxue’s crying stopped instantly. She widened her bright, round eyes and stared at her shoes like a precious treasure. “Did they get dirty?”

“Let me see.”

As she spoke, she frowned slightly and checked carefully. Seeing only tear marks, she realized Ye Tian had been teasing her. Her little face flushed red at once. Hugging her shoes, she pouted and walked over to the corner by the “dog’s nest,” gently placing them down. Then she stood up, raised her brows, and looked at the three men in the room.

“You guys watch them for me. No one is allowed to touch my shoes!”

After declaring this bossily, the little girl happily ran to the fire, picking up the bowls and chopsticks on the ground. “I’ll wash the dishes today! I’ll wash them from now on!”

Ye Tian smiled and shook his head, not stopping her.

That’s it?

Bought off by just a pair of shoes—and she’s supposed to be some super villain?

…

Meanwhile…

“Woof woof woof…”

“Whine…”

Hearing movement outside, Da Huang immediately became alert, jumping up and barking wildly toward the yard.

The weather in Sifang City changed rapidly. Just moments ago, a storm had seemed imminent, but now that night had fully fallen, the sky had cleared—bright moon hanging high among sparse stars.

Da Huang’s barking set off the neighboring dogs, as if triggering a chain reaction. The chorus of barking added a bit of liveliness to the dim land.

Under the dim yellow lamplight, a shadowy figure sat by the hazy window.

“Xiao Jiang brought you buns?”

Jiang Caiyun frowned. As she used a needle to adjust her hair, she looked at Fang Shenghu and asked in confusion, “What’s going on with Ye Tian’s family? Are you lying, or is Xiao Jiang lying?”

“You didn’t even eat the buns, and our family hasn’t had meat for a whole month…”

Jiang Caiyun was petite, with average but fairly delicate looks. She wore a dark green padded jacket and a blue headscarf with white floral patterns. Her raised brows and sharp gaze gave her a somewhat mean-spirited air—she was Fang Shenghu’s fifth wife.

Fang Shenghu took off his cotton coat and placed it by the bed, not even glancing at Jiang Caiyun. “It’s not that I wouldn’t let you eat the buns. If you want meat, wait until I get my monthly pay and I’ll buy some. Xiao Jiang and the other two kids are still growing—how can you compete with children for food? Besides, where would Ye Tian even get money?”

Fang Shenghu frowned, still uneasy. “No, I have to go ask tomorrow. I can’t let him do anything foolish again.”

At the mention of Ye Tian, Fang Shenghu felt as if his heart might leap right out.

Jiang Caiyun gritted her teeth, speaking coldly, “Ye Tian sure has it easy—eating, drinking, and enjoying himself every day, with you, the fool, supporting him. If it were me, I’d just freeload and wait to die.”

“Enough!”

Fang Shenghu barked coldly, ignoring her as he went straight to bed.

Before long, his snores filled the room. Furious, Jiang Caiyun threw the clothes in her hands into a bamboo basket, her eyes full of resentment. As long as Ye Tian’s family was around, she would never live a peaceful life.

…

Early the next morning.

This was Ye Tian’s third day since transmigrating, and he still hadn’t slept well.

The worn, grimy bedding stung his eyes with its smell, and the cold weather didn’t help either. In the middle of the night, he woke up feeling the urge to relieve himself, but it was so freezing he didn’t even want to get up.

Ye Tian looked around blankly. The dilapidated surroundings hadn’t changed—he was still in this world.

“You’re awake?”

Just as Ye Tian was feeling troubled, Xiao Jiang gathered his courage and walked over, looking at him with a bright smile. Yesterday’s Ye Tian had been very kind—he hoped today would be the same.

Seeing the boy who looked so much like himself, Ye Tian felt a bit of comfort. He forced a small smile and said, “Why aren’t you wearing your new shoes?”

Ye Shuangxue walked in from outside. Hearing this, she raised her head to look at Ye Tian.

Only then did Ye Tian notice that all three children were still wearing the shoes they had picked up. Xiao Jiang’s cotton shoes had holes at the toes, exposing them; Ye Shuangxue’s shoes clearly didn’t fit; and Ye Yunting’s were oversized adult cotton shoes, making it hard for him to even walk.

“I bought those new shoes for you to wear. If your feet get frostbitten, they might have to be amputated—you’ll become disabled.”

Ye Tian deliberately tried to scare them, baring his teeth for effect.

Ye Shuangxue asked curiously, “What’s ‘disabled’?”

“It means your body is incomplete. Don’t you know? Lots of people lose their hands and feet to the cold—you’ve heard of that, right?” Ye Tian exaggerated his expression as he looked at the three children.

They had indeed seen people who had lost limbs to the cold. The three kids exchanged glances.

“You’re still growing. If you don’t wear the shoes, you won’t be able to wear them next year—that’d be a waste. And if your toes freeze off, you won’t even be able to walk properly. Hurry up and put them on.”

“I’ll go put mine on!”

Xiao Jiang’s little face tensed with worry. He quickly grabbed the wrapped new boots from the corner and carefully slipped them onto his feet.

Seeing this, Ye Shuangxue hurried to change into her new shoes as well.

“Why isn’t the eldest changing?”

Ye Tian looked at Ye Yunting.

Lowering his head, Ye Yunting said, “My shoes can still be worn. I’ll leave mine for my younger brother and sister.”

Ye Tian knew the boy was sensible—but he was only five years old, and yet he carried too much responsibility, always putting his siblings first.

“When their shoes get worn out, I’ll buy another pair,” Ye Tian said. “You’re all children—you’re all the same in your father’s eyes. From now on, I’m here. Eldest, don’t put so much pressure on yourself.”

Hearing this, Ye Yunting trembled slightly.

It felt as if something inside him had cracked open. All the hardship he had endured these past two years—did Ye Tian know about it?

At that moment, Ye Yunting felt acknowledged, as though everything he had done was worth it.

But… how many days could Ye Tian stay like this?

Not knowing whether the boy understood, Ye Tian stood up after speaking, preparing to fetch water to wash his face and hair.

Going to negotiate business at a restaurant while looking disheveled would probably get him kicked out before he even entered. No matter the era, people judged by appearances.

“I’ll help you fetch water!”

Seeing Ye Tian about to get water, Ye Shuangxue’s eyes lit up. She rushed forward first, rolled up her sleeves, and quickly scooped hot water for him. After filling it, she stood beside Ye Tian with a “praise me!” expression, lifting one foot and then the other, afraid of dirtying her new shoes.

The little “tyrant flower” was actually being filial today.

Ye Tian suppressed a laugh, casually washed his face, and said, “Daughters are the best. My daughter knows how to fetch water for her dad—not like those two bratty boys.”

Ye Shuangxue lifted her chin, her little expression full of pride.

Ye Tian continued, “If your dad makes money today, I’ll buy my little cotton-padded jacket some candied hawthorn.”

“Really?”

Ye Shuangxue nearly jumped up. Puffing her cheeks like a little hamster, she stared at Ye Tian excitedly.

Following behind her, Xiao Jiang mumbled softly, “But… we don’t have any money left at home!”