TNIBFT -Chapter 30 You Can Only Choose One

Two sets?

Xiao Jiang’s eyes widened as he looked at the two thick cotton jackets in his hands. He quickly waved his hands: “No, no, just one set is fine. I’ll be careful when I wear it; it won’t get dirty.”

“Maybe you won’t be able to wear it next year…”

He had never owned new clothes before. The clothes on his back had been picked up in the city—cotton jackets patched over and over, the cotton inside blackened and yellowed, all gathered at the corners. Every night before bed, he had to straighten out the cotton himself, or it would leak cold air the next day. Looking at the clean, soft new clothes in his hands, Xiao Jiang didn’t dare hope for much.

“If you like it, go try it on.”

Ye Tian spoke. Xiao Jiang nodded, his face turning red, stammering as he held the clothes but still wouldn’t go into the back yard.

Seeing Ye Tian staring at him, Xiao Jiang said, “My clothes are dirty. I’m afraid of dirtying the boss’s new clothes, so maybe I shouldn’t try them on.”

The boss and Ye Tian exchanged a glance.

Ye Tian sighed. This child was too sensitive, too considerate of others. How could a person like this ever be a great villain?

The boss said, “He’s a good kid. These cotton jackets aren’t worn under other clothes—they go on the outside. It’s fine if they get dirty; it’ll be Uncle’s problem.”

The boss spoke with a smile.

He had also come from a poor family and understood this kind of embarrassment. He knew that the kindest people in the world were children from poor families with good upbringing—kids who had nothing but still worried about affecting others, full of pride and strong self-respect.

“Boss, do you have clothes to wear underneath?”

Ye Tian asked.

The boss took Ye Tian to pick out two sets of padded clothes for Xiao Jiang to wear underneath. Only then did he push Xiao Jiang to go try them on. A few minutes later, Xiao Jiang came out from the backyard wearing a light gray cotton jacket, his small hair tied up neatly. The whole child looked completely transformed—skin as white as snow, cheeks flushed shyly, big black eyes sparkling with life.

As soon as he appeared, the boss laughed heartily at Xiao Jiang: “Our clothes really are well made! The most ordinary clothes, but on this child, they instantly look different. Like a little schoolboy—what a delicate, lovely child.”

The boss nodded in satisfaction, watching Xiao Jiang as if he were observing a fine piece of work.

A few customers who had come into the store also gathered nearby, continuously praising Xiao Jiang.

Xiao Jiang’s face turned red, and he hid behind Ye Tian’s leg, clutching it and peeking out half his head at the outside world. Ye Tian laughed: “Since you’re taking both the inner and outer layers, and another set of inner clothes, then take that dark green cotton jacket too.”

“Do you have bigger cotton jackets? My eldest son is five too and much taller than the little one.”

Ye Tian gestured to the boss, who quickly nodded. Ye Tian and Xiao Jiang then helped select two sets of inner and outer clothes for Ye Yunting as well.

Ye Shuangxue stood outside in a huff, watching Xiao Jiang surrounded by the crowd. Her small hands clenched the dry grass as she pouted: “Damn Ye Tian, he’s ignoring me, not even calling me. Surely he doesn’t want to buy me new clothes. That stingy guy! And he said he’ll make it up to us later—who would believe that?”

“If he doesn’t want to buy me clothes, I won’t let him succeed.”

Ye Shuangxue craned her neck to look inside the shop and saw Ye Tian checking out, the boss packing a huge bundle of clothes. Her heart raced.

Was Ye Tian about to leave?

He hadn’t bought her clothes yet.

That damn Ye Tian.

Ye Shuangxue stomped her foot. No time to think about it—she ran toward the clothing shop.

Ye Tian was just about to leave, carrying the items, when Ye Shuangxue lifted her chin and entered. Ye Tian found it amusing but kept a serious expression: “Do you know you were wrong?”

Ye Shuangxue rolled her eyes dramatically and had no choice but to lower her head: “I was wrong.”

Ye Tian finally looked at Ye Shuangxue. “Go pick two sets of cotton-padded clothes you can wear, and also the inner padded shirts.”

“Two sets?”

Ye Shuangxue’s eyes widened, her little face lighting up with joy. Ye Tian was truly rich now! She quickly ran over to the cotton coats she had already spotted, and excitedly told the shopkeeper, “Uncle, I want this one.”

“All right.”

The shopkeeper smiled warmly at Ye Tian. He had to admit, this young man was different from others when it came to being a father.

Ye Shuangxue chose a dark red cotton jacket with black cotton pants, and another light red cotton jacket with gray pants—simple, elegant, and convenient for work. The inner padded shirts were a soft yellow and a pale yellow. The little girl couldn’t bear to let go of her new clothes, hugging them like treasures, without even glancing at the skirts hanging on the wall.

Ye Tian paid for the clothes and had Ye Shuangxue carry her set, while Xiao Jiang carried his. The three of them—father and two children—headed to find a place to bathe. Otherwise, their new clothes would stink in less than a day.

“Do you still have money?”

Xiao Jiang followed behind Ye Tian, his small face worried. No matter how much money, it couldn’t last if Ye Tian spent like this.

Two sets of clothes each, all brand new inside and out, plus new boots—no child in the village would spend like this.

“Money is earned, not saved,” Ye Tian said.

Xiao Jiang froze.

He had never heard anyone say that before. Everyone around him was frugal. Take the village chief’s family, for example—they had an heirloom bracelet, but still ate sweet potatoes and plain flour, rarely spent on new clothes (only Shen Jie had new cotton clothes), avoided medicine when sick, and rationed food when hungry. Ye Tian’s words seemed almost rebellious.

But they made sense.

Xiao Jiang analyzed silently: without wearing new clothes, they wouldn’t even be allowed into the bathhouse. The attendants would think they were beggars—or thieves.

Some things were necessities—save where you can, but don’t skimp when it matters. Ye Tian understood this clearly. He had already paid and reserved two baths.

He and Xiao Jiang would share one. Ye Shuangxue would take the other.

Ye Tian doubted the kids could wash thoroughly on their own, so he nagged a bit at his daughter. The little girl, impatient, wandered around, and Ye Tian gave up.

The bathhouse was like those in northern ancient China: a series of small compartments, each separated, preserving privacy.

Seeing the large basin of clear water, Ye Tian eagerly stripped off his clothes. When he turned, he noticed Ye Shuangxue’s clothes were still in the parcel on the floor, so he had to put his clothes back on to carry them to his daughter.

Just as he reached the door to the next bath compartment, he heard Ye Shuangxue’s voice: “Are you on his side?”

“Why do you keep defending him?”

“Don’t forget how he treated us before. His kindness has a purpose. Xiao Jiang, you’ve been fooled by him.”

“I haven’t.”

Xiao Jiang argued, continuing: “Even if he was a bad person before, he’s our father. He was bad before, but now? He has all this money—why doesn’t he just enjoy himself? Why save the roast beef and duck to take back for our big brother? Why does he buy two sets of clothes for us, but only one for himself?”

“That’s… that’s…”

Ye Shuangxue’s voice rose, but after a long while, she still couldn’t explain the reason.

Ye Tian felt warmth in his heart. Sincerity begets sincerity; the children could feel it.

Just as Ye Tian stepped forward, ready to go inside, he heard Ye Shuangxue say: “Big brother has already spoken with the city lord’s mansion. Tomorrow afternoon we must leave. Xiao Jiang, between us and him, you can only choose one.”