TNIBFT -Chapter 225 Unfamiliar with Tenderness, Fang Shenghu

Ye Tian rose with a sense of relief, patting Duan Qingshan on the shoulder.

“Money can make the devil work for you, but if you rely only on silver, these people’s appetites will only grow. When necessary, a few deaths as a warning will have more deterrent power!”

Ye Tian said firmly.

Duan Qingshan pondered for a moment. “My father was a general himself. I understand what you mean, Master.”

“Don’t worry, Master. Even if there were a real rebellion, I, Old Duan, wouldn’t frown at all.”

Duan Qingshan’s gaze was resolute, his face lit with a bright, hearty smile.

The scars on his face twisted with his expressions, making him look fierce, but to Ye Tian, they added a sense of boldness, unrestrained spirit, and the true blood of a man.

Seeing Ye Tian staring at him, Duan Qingshan felt embarrassed and lowered his head, smiling. “Back when I was a fugitive, roaming the four seas, my mind was set only on revenge. If it weren’t for searching for Yingying, I probably wouldn’t have lived until now.”

“You let me stay at the hotpot shop, and I became a normal person—I can talk, I can laugh, I can cook. Yingying has been found, and now this life… I’m very satisfied.”

“As long as you need me, losing my head is just a scratch to me. Old Duan will do it!”

Ye Tian didn’t know what to say for a moment.

He took out a prepared box, his expression serious, and said to Duan Qingshan, “Here are thirty thousand taels. Take this money and first go to…”

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Duan Qingshan came out of Ye Tian’s room.

Creak!

He closed the door behind him.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, he saw his sister standing under the old locust tree in the courtyard, rubbing her hands to warm them, craning her neck and glancing left and right. Duan Qingshan’s eyes softened.

Could it be that Yingying was waiting for him?

He was about to speak when…

“Brother Fang!”

Duan Yingying called out.

Duan Qingshan immediately ducked into the corner, covered in dust, trying not to be noticed by his sister.

In the courtyard…

Fang Shenghu strode toward Duan Yingying. Her face flushed, voice soft: “Brother Fang, I’ve made you a pair of cotton boots these past two days. Do they fit?”

“If they don’t fit, it’s okay… I… I can modify them.”

Duan Yingying pressed the bundle into Fang Shenghu’s hands, her small face shy, unable to look at him.

Fang Shenghu looked at the heavy package, lowering his head, lost in thought.

Neither of them spoke.

The northern wind stirred Duan Yingying’s hair; she grew anxious.

Thinking of all the care Fang Shenghu had shown her—saving her from danger, his loyal face, and his broad hands—she wanted to entrust her life to him. She bit her lip and said, “Brother Fang… I heard your wife has passed?”

Fang Shenghu lifted his head.

Duan Yingying immediately panicked, waving her hands: “I didn’t mean that! I… I meant, I’ll take care of you in the future, not just you, but also Yunting and three children. I’ll take care of all of you for a lifetime. Brother Fang, I… I…”

Fang Shenghu understood her feelings.

Yingying was a good girl, but ever since the day he met the Zhu father and son, he had his own mission.

Assassinating Zhao Boping was a one-way mission.

He didn’t want to drag Yingying into it.

Fang Shenghu’s face darkened. He didn’t say a word, his red-rimmed eyes quietly fixed on Duan Yingying. His voice was low and cold: “Take the shoes back.”

Duan Yingying’s eyes widened, and her whole body seemed to falter.

She looked at Fang Shenghu, huge tears spilling down her face. The bravest thing she had ever done in her life was giving him the shoes today.

She lowered her head, trembling, hands clasped to her chest, smiling humbly: “You… you don’t like these shoes?”

“It’s my fault. I should have asked you first.”

She wiped the tears from her cheeks and continued: “I’ll do anything. If I don’t know how, I’ll learn. Brother Fang, just give me a chance. I’ll work hard and will never make you angry.”

Fang Shenghu didn’t dare look up at Duan Yingying, afraid his heart would soften. His voice was icy: “Did I not make myself clear? We are not suited for each other!”

The courtyard was quiet, only the soft sound of sobbing could be heard.

“Sniff… sniff…”

Duan Yingying wept softly, unsure of what to do. Seeing her trembling shoulders, Fang Shenghu frowned, his face full of helplessness and regret.

The next moment.

“Bang!” A muffled thud echoed.

Fang Shenghu covered his nose and took a few steps back. Duan Qingshan stepped forward, hugging his sister, his face full of rage: “You bully my sister! How can you treat her like this?”

In Duan Qingshan’s eyes, Duan Yingying was adorable and gentle, the only family he had in the world, destined to live a happy life.

He never expected things to turn out like this.

“Brother…”

Seeing Duan Qingshan, Duan Yingying’s face was streaked with tears. She rushed forward and clutched his clothes tightly, trying to prevent him from harming Fang Shenghu.

She cried, “It’s my fault for not being worthy of Brother Fang!”

“I’ve always been a broken flower, a fallen leaf. Brother, please stop, just stop!”

Fang Shenghu held his nose, silent, clutching his boots tightly with his other hand.

Duan Qingshan was furious: “I’ll go find the Master! Fang Shenghu, you’ve gone too far! Flirting with my sister every day—is it like I’m blind?”

“Playing with my sister’s feelings—Master won’t forgive you for this!”

“Brother, please stop!”

Duan Yingying’s tearful eyes were misty. She glanced at Fang Shenghu one last time before turning back to her room.

“Yingying…”

“Sister!”

Both Duan Qingshan and Fang Shenghu spoke at the same time. They exchanged a look. Duan Qingshan ground his teeth: “Once I finish the Master’s matters, just wait and see how I deal with you.”

“You despise my sister—you’ll regret it sooner or later!”

Duan Qingshan silently vowed to complete every task Master Ye Tian had assigned perfectly, to carve a bloody path so that his sister would never have to worry about food or clothing, and then to bring Fang Shenghu to marry his sister.

With that, he strode out of the back courtyard.

By the time Ye Tian stepped out of the house, only Fang Shenghu remained in the yard.

He held the bundle in his arms, his face bruised and swollen, lost in thought.

“Was that Duan Qingshan’s voice just now?”

Ye Tian asked.

Fang Shenghu’s eyes darted nervously, and he stammered, “N… no, I don’t think so.”

Then he slunk away, dejected.

Creak!

Creak! The crisp sound of chewing came from the second-floor corridor. Ye Tian turned and saw Zhu Zhongyi holding a white radish, sitting on the dark red railing, enjoying the scene, his gaze on Ye Tian.

Ye Tian glanced at him, about to enter the house.

Suddenly, Zhu Zhongyi spoke: “You didn’t know, did you? Uncle Fang originally intended to come back to marry Sister Yingying.”

Ye Tian was baffled.

Zhu Zhongyi’s eyes were calm, a sarcastic smile on his lips. Without even looking at Ye Tian, he jumped lightly down from the railing and turned into the house.

Brother Fang and Duan Yingying—this was a good thing!

Ye Tian would have to check in with the two of them later.

He went downstairs from the second floor, planning to visit the front hall to see the two children.

…

The next morning.

The hotpot restaurant had just opened.

“Is Ye Tian here?”

“Where’s Ye Tian?”

Someone rushed in anxiously. The busy staff paused, looking toward the entrance.

The person wore a smooth silk padded jacket, his expression worried, glancing around the shop: “I’m the city lord’s steward. Where’s your Master? My young lady is seriously injured and specifically requested to see Ye Tian!”