TNIBFT -Chapter 19 Leaving with a Clear Conscience

The interaction between Ye Tian and the two children was warm and harmonious. Only Ye Yunting sat by the fire, silent, adding firewood bit by bit.

Shuangxue and Xiao Jiang didn’t seem to reject Ye Tian anymore.

In fact, when Ye Tian now called himself “father,” neither of them objected.

Watching Ye Tian’s smiling profile, Ye Yunting lowered his head and poked at the fire with a stick. Flames leapt upward, casting a red glow across his small face. He didn’t know how long Ye Tian’s kindness would last. He himself was about to leave, and no matter what, he couldn’t feel at ease leaving his younger brother and sister with Ye Tian.

If he was leaving, they had to leave together.

“I’m going to the city with Uncle Fang in a bit,” Ye Yunting said.

Ye Tian turned to look at his aloof and silent eldest son. After a moment’s thought, he said gently, “Be careful out there. Listen to Uncle Fang.”

“Mm.”

Ye Yunting lowered his head. Hearing Ye Tian’s concern, he didn’t know what to say. Looking at the new cotton boots on his feet, he only felt a burning warmth in his soles.

If Ye Tian had remained the same scoundrel as before, he could have left without hesitation. But now…

Ye Yunting clenched his small hand, gripping the stick tighter.

“And take this money with you.”

Ye Tian’s voice sounded from behind him. Ye Yunting trembled and turned around in surprise. He saw Ye Tian standing there with a swollen face, smiling, his large hand extended—seven or eight copper coins resting in his palm.

This…

To Ye Tian, money was like his lifeline. Forget giving it away—over the past few years, Ye Yunting hadn’t even seen where Ye Tian kept his money.

Ye Yunting quickly stood up and waved his hands. “No, no need. I won’t be spending money. You should keep it—buy food or something else.”

“Take it.”

Ye Tian stepped forward, grabbed his eldest son’s frostbitten hand, and placed the coins into his palm. “When you’re out there and your father’s not around, it might help in an emergency.”

When Ye Tian was young, his family wasn’t well-off either. Going out with empty pockets had made him feel inferior and lacking confidence. So he understood that money was important—not just for adults, but sometimes for children too.

A child like Ye Yunting wouldn’t spend recklessly even if given money. Ye Tian was certain of that.

The few copper coins in his palm glowed red in the firelight. Holding them, Ye Yunting felt a burning warmth in his heart. Looking at Ye Tian’s tall back, he didn’t know what to say.

This trip to the city was actually to report early to the City Lord’s residence—to prepare for leaving Ye Tian the next day. But Ye Tian knew nothing about it… and had even given him money.

“I also need to go help at Aunt Li’s house.”

Ye Shuangxue spoke, glancing toward the door. Seeing that it was about time, she looked at Xiao Jiang and Ye Yunting. “Aunt Li’s place seems to have a lot of guests these days. I need to go earlier today.”

After saying that, the little girl tossed aside the wooden basin in her hands and dashed out the door. Watching his daughter move as swiftly as a rabbit, Ye Tian shook his head with a smile.

The “little tyrant flower” suddenly remembered something when she reached the doorway. She slammed to a stop, looked down at the little tiger boots on her feet, and tiptoed like a thief before running off quickly.

It left Ye Tian both amused and helpless.

At this moment, the three children showed no trace of becoming future villains—they were simply innocent and adorable kids.

Ye Tian hoped that his arrival could change their fates… and his own ending as well.

“Big brother…”

Xiao Jiang quietly crouched beside Ye Yunting. He sneakily glanced back at Ye Tian, making sure he wasn’t looking, then covered his mouth with his hand. Looking at the copper coins in Ye Yunting’s palm, he whispered, “That’s all the money he earned yesterday after buying buns and cotton shoes.”

“He didn’t buy anything for himself.”

“He gave you all the remaining money.”

Ye Yunting’s pupils trembled as he suddenly turned to look at Ye Tian’s back. How was this possible?

Was this really still Ye Tian?

His heart churned like a stormy sea. Thinking about how Ye Tian had treated him and his younger siblings over the past two days, Ye Yunting clenched his teeth and said, “Maybe he knows I’m leaving, so he’s deliberately being nice to us.”

“But he really is different now.”

Xiao Jiang grew anxious, his voice rising a little. Ye Tian turned his head and saw the two little kids crouching together, whispering suspiciously. He quickly interrupted, “Xiao Jiang, how do you wash your hair? Shampoo—no, I mean, soap pods. Do we have any at home?”

Uh…

What’s gotten into Ye Tian today?

Seeing the shocked expressions on his two sons’ faces, Ye Tian scratched his head awkwardly. “I… I just forgot where we put the soap pods.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

He felt guilty, afraid the kids might notice something off.

Xiao Jiang stood up and looked at him. “Don’t you never wash your hair? We’ve never seen you do it. There aren’t any soap pods at home.”

Ye Tian: “…”

A few minutes later—

Ye Tian stared at the basin of blackish warm water in front of him and asked doubtfully, “Charcoal water can really wash hair? Are you sure you’ve seen people use it like this?”

“Mhm!”

Xiao Jiang nodded vigorously, looking very obedient.

Ye Tian untied his long hair, which had matted together into a clump, piled on his head like dried cow dung. Fortunately, the weather in Sifang City was cold—otherwise, he’d practically be a walking cesspit. Suppressing his discomfort, he patiently rubbed his hair bit by bit. The charcoal water looked dirty and unscientific, but no matter how dirty it was, it was still cleaner than his hair.

Thinking this, Ye Tian stopped worrying and dunked his whole head into the wooden basin.

Xiao Jiang helped by pouring water over his hair. Ye Tian smiled and said, “I knew Xiao Jiang loves his dad the most. Dad loves Xiao Jiang the most too. Hurry and change into your new cotton pants.”

Xiao Jiang smiled shyly. “I’ll change when we go into the city.”

After saying that, he continued pouring water. Neither of them spoke for a while. Ye Tian was fully immersed in washing his hair when Xiao Jiang, standing above him, suddenly said, “From now on… can you stop hitting us?”

“I like how you are now.”

Ye Tian’s heart trembled.

Xiao Jiang might look shy and easy to fool, but he was actually very perceptive. From a young age, he knew how to read people—otherwise, how could someone born into such a lowly status rise to become the richest merchant in the world in just over a decade?

After soaking for a few minutes, although his hair was still dry and tangled in places, it was much better than before.

Ye Tian didn’t pursue perfection. There wasn’t even a clean piece of cotton cloth at home, so he could only sit helplessly by the fire and wait for it to dry naturally.

“Is Ye Tian home?”

“Ye Tian!”

Just as Ye Tian sat down, someone outside the courtyard shouted anxiously.

Ye Tian looked at Xiao Jiang, who also seemed confused. Standing up, Ye Tian replied, “I’m here. What’s the matter?”

“The village chief wants you to come over right away. He says your daughter stole something from Aunt Li.”

What?!

Ye Tian didn’t even bother about his dripping wet hair. He brushed aside the strands blocking his eyes, grabbed a rag and wiped it roughly, then hurried outside.

The man at the door looked to be in his twenties—thin, hunched, with a sallow complexion. When he saw Ye Tian come out, he glanced him up and down and said flatly, “You should go take a look.”