TNIBFT -Chapter 305 Can You Still Bear This Hardship?

“Xiao Shuangxue, it’s not that Old Yang is criticizing you. Take me for example—back then, even if you gave me a martial arts manual, I couldn’t understand a word of it.”

“I just treated it like a piece of toilet paper. At that time, it wasn’t that I didn’t have the ability—it’s just that I never had the chance to study and learn to read, right?”

Ye Shuangxue turned her head, crossing her arms in a huff, not wanting to hear any moral lessons.

Old Yang coaxed her, circling around: “If your Old Yang had known how to read back then, he’d probably be a top-tier expert by now…”

“Like you?”

Sun Wuji’s voice dripped with disdain as he glanced at Old Yang.

Old Yang awkwardly forced a smile.

Sun Wuji got up, stretched lazily, and said, “Disciple, whether it’s practicing martial arts or studying, you need to endure hardship. Only by bearing the hardest of hardships can you rise above others.”

“Learning to read and study will enhance your spiritual perception and comprehension.”

Ye Shuangxue pouted, muttering softly, “If you can endure hardship, there’s no end to the hardships you’ll face.”

“I don’t want to endure hardship…”

Watching his little potato of a daughter, Ye Tian could only shake his head in disbelief. Did this child’s rebellious phase really start so early?

The hall grew awkwardly quiet.

At the door, Xiao Wang shouted excitedly, “Lord Meng?”

“It’s Lord Meng!”

“Mom?”

The backup has finally arrived!

At the mention of Lord Meng, Ye Shuangxue’s eyes lit up. She lifted her little skirt and dashed toward the door.

Today, Qin Fengyi wore a dark red, fitted outfit, exuding heroic poise. As soon as she entered the hotpot restaurant, Ye Shuangxue leapt forward and clung to her mother’s legs, soft and whiny: “Mom, mom, hug me.”

Qin Fengyi bent down, a gentle smile on her lips, and held Ye Shuangxue in her arms.

Xiao Jiang and Ye Yunting exchanged a glance.

Seeing Ye Tian staring wordlessly at his daughter, Xiao Jiang quietly stepped behind him and whispered into his ear, “Dad, don’t worry—you’ll always be my favorite.”

Really?

Ye Tian remained skeptical.

He looked at Xiao Jiang with suspicion. “Heh heh…” Xiao Jiang grinned, showing a mouthful of little baby teeth.

Meanwhile, Qin Fengyi was already holding Ye Shuangxue. With her support, Ye Shuangxue’s little face lit up, her eyes changing completely.

“Ah…”

“So sleepy… so sleepy… getting older makes it easier to feel drowsy, I’m going to sleep first!”

Sun Wuji yawned, stretched, and walked toward the back door. He wasn’t going to interfere with young people educating their children.

Old Yang followed: “I seem to be a bit sleepy too!”

“Senior Sun, wait for me!”

Seeing this, everyone in the hall realized what was happening and busied themselves. Within moments, only Ye Tian’s family remained in the hall.

Ye Shuangxue’s big eyes darted around. Seeing Ye Tian looking at her, she quickly clung tightly to Qin Fengyi’s neck, deliberately avoiding her father’s gaze.

The atmosphere was awkward.

Qin Fengyi noticed the subtle tension and raised an eyebrow at Ye Tian, implying something without saying it outright.

Ye Tian could only shrug helplessly.

No one spoke—until Ye Shuangxue could no longer hold back. She spoke up: “Mom, can I stay with you these two days?”

“Will you tell me stories? I haven’t even learned the spear techniques you taught me last time!”

“Can we stay at the inn these two days?”

As long as she didn’t have to go to school, anything was fine.

Ye Shuangxue turned on the charm, completely abandoning her usual stubborn attitude.

Qin Fengyi felt awkward. If it were a few days ago, she would have agreed without hesitation—but now, they couldn’t stay at the inn. With Meng Yuquan back in Dazhou, who in Sifang City was still Lord Meng?

“Um…”

Qin Fengyi glanced at Ye Tian and Ye Yunting. “Are you two teaming up to bully Shuangxue?”

Ye Yunting shook his head.

Xiao Jiang said, “Sister doesn’t want to go to school.”

“Sister wants to skip school.”

“That’s not true!” Ye Shuangxue’s face turned bright red as she defended herself.

Seeing her daughter’s guilty, evasive eyes, Qin Fengyi’s lips curved into a smile. She turned toward the door and called out, “Nanfeng!”

“Yes!”

Nanfeng appeared in a sleek black outfit, a sword in one hand and a huge bundle slung over his shoulder.

What’s this?

Ye Tian was completely dumbfounded.

Qin Fengyi said, “I haven’t had a place to stay lately, and I can’t stay at the post station anymore. Can you speak on my behalf and see if I can stay at the hotpot shop for the next few days?”

What?

Ye Shuangxue’s eyes widened as she looked at the bundle Nanfeng had set down. Her little head was spinning.

This doesn’t seem like a trick!

The luggage was already packed.

Seeing Qin Fengyi’s hopeful gaze, Ye Shuangxue lowered her head helplessly and said, “Alright.”

She slid down from Qin Fengyi and didn’t dare look at Ye Tian. “Dad…”

Ye Tian ignored her.

“Dad, did you hear what Mom said? Can she stay?”

“She’ll sleep with me and won’t take up any other room, okay?”

Ye Shuangxue’s voice was soft and gentle, completely lacking the defiant tone she had when arguing with Ye Tian earlier.

Ye Tian glanced at his daughter.

Ye Shuangxue nervously twisted her small hands together, occasionally sneaking glances at Ye Tian.

“Dad, Mom can sleep with me too. Just say yes!” Xiao Jiang shook Ye Tian’s arm.

Ye Yunting nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Ye Tian said, “There are plenty of rooms in the shop, so you don’t need to worry about this. But Shuangxue, let me ask you—are you going to the school?”

“Can you still stomach this bitterness?”

Ye Tian’s tone was stern.

Ye Shuangxue glanced at Qin Fengyi. Qin Fengyi could only helplessly shrug. Going to school was a mandatory course for every royal child. Although she might not like it, if she became headstrong and refused to study at such a young age, how would she ever manage the people when she grew up, illiterate?

Seeing her daughter pouting, Qin Fengyi said, “How about this—I’ll personally teach you, okay?”

“The school will be ready soon, and I’ll still be in Sifang City for a while. If you don’t like other teachers, Mom can be your teacher.”

You?

As your teacher?

Ye Shuangxue’s eyes flickered. If that’s the case, it might as well just go to school.

At least you could ignore other teachers’ words, but you can’t ignore your parents!

“No need…”

“I want to go to school! Dad said that even if I can’t learn much, I can sleep well, eat well, and take care of my health there!” Ye Shuangxue looked at Ye Tian as she spoke.

Qin Fengyi turned to Ye Tian, utterly incredulous.

Ye Tian pretended not to see.

The three children returned to the backyard.

In the main hall, only Ye Tian, Qin Fengyi, and Nanfeng remained.

Qin Fengyi said, “Meng Yuquan has already returned to Dazhou, so I can no longer stay at the post station.”

“Understood!”

Ye Tian stood and said, “I’ll take you to your rooms.”

Qin Fengyi nodded. “Not just me, but them too.”

Them?

Ye Tian turned his head and saw a line of burly men standing at the entrance of the hotpot shop—at least thirty of them. Ye Tian twitched his lips but thought, No big deal!

No big deal!

It’s just going to cost a little money.

There’s a bride price and a banquet for a wedding anyway. Ye Tian nodded, “I’ll have people prepare the rooms.”

Meanwhile, Xiao Wang led Qin Fengyi’s attendants to the backyard to arrange rooms, while the noise from the front woke Lin Xianzhong. The courtyard was packed with people, and Lin Xianzhong, looking dissatisfied and half-asleep, came in through the back gate, coldly asking, “So early in the morning, where did all these idle people come from?”

“They have nothing else to do. Eating hotpot so early—aren’t they worried about getting constipated?”

After speaking, Lin Xianzhong finally looked up and saw Qin Fengyi staring at him with an icy glare. Lin Xianzhong’s knees buckled, and with a plop he fell to his knees on the ground.