TNIBFT -Chapter 32 Leaving is better for everyone

Ye Yunting’s eyes darted awkwardly, and he forced a smile, saying, “I just got here… what happened to Aunt Fang?”

As he spoke, Ye Yunting curiously glanced into the courtyard.

Fang Shenghu’s face flushed red. “It’s nothing.”

“Has Shuangxue returned home?”

“Is Shuangxue hurt?” Fang Shenghu asked anxiously, then suddenly remembered something: “Wait here, I’ll go get some money.”

“Uncle Fang…”

Ye Yunting reached out to stop him, but seeing Fang Shenghu’s tall back, he helplessly lowered his hand.

These past years had been hard not only for him and his siblings. Ye Tian was lazy, loved to eat and drink, gambled, and relied entirely on Fang Shenghu, who worked alone at the city lord’s mansion to support them. Yet Uncle Fang had his own family, and a few previous aunts had left because they couldn’t endure his limitless generosity toward Ye Tian.

They had already caused Uncle Fang too much trouble. They couldn’t let their own family situation make him go find a wife again.

Leaving with his younger siblings would be better for everyone.

Ye Yunting silently made up his mind.

“Damn it… are we done for if we don’t survive?”

“There’s only so much money left… we can’t keep going…”

Sharp shouts and scolding came from inside the house. Ye Yunting already guessed the reason, and shame made him hide behind the wall.

“Bang!” A loud crash—the wooden door slammed shut as Fang Shenghu came out, scowling. He looked at Ye Yunting standing in the corner and said, “What do women know?”

“Don’t be like her. Come on, let’s go check on Shuangxue.”

“Mm.”

Looking at Uncle Fang’s honest face, Ye Yunting nodded obediently, his heart heavy with guilt. He stepped on the snow-covered ground, following Fang Shenghu’s broad back step by step.

Outside, the north wind cut through like a blade.

Fang Shenghu squinted, his rough face with a nose reddened by the cold. He glanced at Ye Yunting’s small head, eyes filled with both pride and regret. If the Ye family hadn’t fallen, Yunting would be dressed in fine clothes, commanding servants, admired by all—a favored son of the heavens—instead of like this now.

Shaggy, dirty, barely surviving.

Thinking of Ye Yunting bringing his younger siblings to the city lord’s mansion tomorrow, Fang Shenghu’s voice darkened. “Have you decided about the city lord’s mansion?”

“When we go in, you will live as slaves for the rest of your lives. As long as I live, you will have food to eat.”

Ye Yunting squinted and looked up. Fang Shenghu’s face was full of wrinkles, his lips dry and cracked. In this city, one laborer could barely support a single person. Over the years, Uncle Fang had already done more than enough. He didn’t want to keep burdening him.

“I’ve decided,” Ye Yunting said softly, continuing, “Leaving Ye Tian… it’s better for my siblings and me too.”

Fang Shenghu sighed helplessly.

He reached out and patted Ye Yunting’s shoulder. “You’re still young, Yunting. The Ye family’s honor cannot be trampled. I may be just a servant of the Ye family…”

“You’re not a servant!”

Before Fang Shenghu could finish, Ye Yunting interrupted, “You are Uncle Fang.”

Seeing Ye Yunting’s earnest eyes, Fang Shenghu felt a lump in his throat and his eyes reddened. With these words, everything he had done was worth it.

…

“Throw this away, and this too!”

“Get rid of this one as well!”

“And this one!”

Ye Tian directed the two children in a thorough cleaning of the house. The piles of old junk scattered throughout the rooms were useless except for giving off a rotten stench—and they took up space.

Ye Tian kept picking things up and tossing them into the yard, trip after trip.

“Isn’t this your favorite piece of clothing?”

Ye Shuangxue looked at him in surprise, holding up a filthy, colorless garment and handing it to Ye Tian. Ye Tian squinted slightly; through the stains, he could still make out a dragon-like pattern on the fabric.

He racked his brain but still couldn’t recall it.

Seeing his daughter staring at him, Ye Tian said, “Let’s reluctantly keep this one. All your worn-out sleeping clothes have to go. I bought cotton quilts; I’ll make a bed later so we can sleep comfortably.”

“Really?”

Xiao Jiang’s eyes lit up with excitement—but suddenly, he remembered something and his expression darkened.

Ye Shuangxue’s expression turned strange; she didn’t dare look at Ye Tian and hurriedly bowed her head to work.

Ye Tian noticed their reactions and felt a hollow emptiness inside. No one said anything; the atmosphere in the room grew awkward.

When Ye Yunting reached the doorstep, he saw the yard piled high with junk.

In the past, Ye Tian never allowed cleaning—no one was allowed to touch his things. He often got drunk, holding his treasures, crying and vomiting. The smell was so pungent that it could kill mice from ten meters away.

What happened this time?

Ye Yunting was shocked and hurried into the yard. Fang Shenghu followed behind, glancing inside the house: “Could it be burglars?”

After saying this, he immediately felt it was unlikely. With Ye Tian’s household conditions, it wasn’t just thieves; even mice would have to cry to survive here.

“There’s someone inside.”

Fang Shenghu squinted, peering through the front door. Inside, a man wearing a light gray cotton jacket was bending down, tidying up things. The silhouette looked familiar, but he couldn’t recall who it was at first glance.

Ye Yunting’s face darkened. “It must be someone collecting debts.”

Ye Tian had dealt with this kind of thing more than once. People often came to rummage through his house; if they couldn’t find anything, they would smash and break things to vent their anger.

Sometimes, their frustration would even fall on the three siblings.

Worried about his younger brother and sister, Ye Yunting rushed inside. “Shuangxue, Xiao Jiang?”

“It’s big brother!”

Xiao Jiang quickly got up and ran to the door. Ye Shuangxue put down what she was holding. At the sight of Xiao Jiang, Ye Yunting felt his eyes deceive him. Xiao Jiang’s hair was neatly tied, his face fair, his big dark eyes staring at him, lips red and teeth white. Ye Yunting was dumbfounded.

It felt unreal.

The previously dirty, messy little brother had grown so handsome?

If it weren’t for Xiao Jiang’s voice and excited expression, he wouldn’t have believed this was his younger brother. Seeing Xiao Jiang in brand-new, clean cotton clothes and boots, Ye Yunting was still dazed. Xiao Jiang stepped forward and hugged his arm: “Big brother, today we—”

Before he could finish, Ye Yunting quickly pushed him away, his face flushing. “I’m dirty; don’t soil your new clothes.”

“Big brother should wear new clothes too.”

Ye Shuangxue smiled, her bright eyes shining at Ye Yunting. His head buzzed; his sister in a bright red cotton jacket looked so festive, her small face lively, completely unlike her usual self.

“Big brother, don’t recognize me?”

Seeing Ye Yunting’s gaze fall on her, Ye Shuangxue proudly lifted her chin.

“I…”

Ye Yunting felt embarrassed. He looked toward a corner of the house, where a gray figure was bending down tidying up—no doubt, it was Ye Tian.

He bought new clothes for his younger siblings with such care; what was he planning next?

“Uncle Fang.”

“Uncle Fang!”