TNIBFT -Chapter 39 Does it count if I run fast?

“I…”

Xiao Jiang’s face turned red as he stammered. He didn’t have Ye Yunting’s courage.

He glanced at Ye Tian, and seeing Ye Tian’s encouraging look, he pressed his lips together and said, “I can do arithmetic.”

“I can count money, and I’m very fast at it.”

“I won’t make mistakes either!” The little guy added quickly, afraid the master wouldn’t believe him.

Arithmetic?

Tao Lichun frowned slightly, leaning down to look at Xiao Jiang. “You mean mathematics, right?”

“Then I’ll test you and see where your talent lies.”

After speaking, Tao Lichun slowly straightened up and scanned everyone in the room. “When there are guests at a household: two share a meal, three share a soup, four share meat. If the total number of cups used is sixty-five, how many guests are there?”

Ye Tian felt his head spin.

The formal phrasing made it hard to grasp the meaning.

Ye Shuangxue looked utterly confused.

Ye Yunting frowned, thinking.

Xiao Jiang glanced at Ye Tian, pressed his lips together again, then looked at the master and said, “There are sixty guests in total, right?”

“Correct!”

Tao Lichun exclaimed, clapping his hands in delight at Xiao Jiang.

For a question like this, even a scholar or an aspiring official might struggle—but this child could solve it in moments. Truly extraordinary talent!

“Father, these three children are amazing! If they studied at our school, it would be easy for them to achieve official titles.” Tao Linger’s large eyes sparkled with excitement; these children were like blessings sent from heaven.

Tao Lichun nodded repeatedly, sitting down with excitement, and said to Ye Tian, “I’ll keep these three children. As for the enrollment fee, one coin per child is enough.”

Ye Tian hurriedly said, “The fee is one thing, but the children still need lunch at noon. The fees aren’t much anyway; it’s only because the master likes them. I was worried the children wouldn’t have a place to study.”

Ye Tian politely declined further, and Tao Lichun didn’t push.

Although he liked these three children, the school wasn’t a charity—it required funds. Ye Tian was completely different from the villagers.

With the children enrolled, Ye Tian had resolved one major matter. For the next few days, he would focus on finding a shop to open a hotpot restaurant.

“Your elder brother and younger brother—one has a photographic memory, the other excels at arithmetic. What about you? Tell the master.”

Tao Lichun bent slightly, looking kindly at Ye Shuangxue, eyes full of expectation, hoping the girl Ye Tian cherished most would surprise him.

“I…” Ye Shuangxue looked embarrassed.

Her dark eyes darted around. She sent a pleading glance at Ye Tian, but he looked elsewhere.

Accepting her fate, Ye Shuangxue turned to the kind master and awkwardly said, “I run fast… does that count?”

Tao Lichun was speechless.

He said nothing, straightened up, and replied, “Perhaps you haven’t discovered your own talent yet. But don’t worry—no talent will be wasted with me here. From today, you’ll also study arithmetic along with your lessons.”

Ye Shuangxue: ???

Ye Shuangxue looked at the master, utterly exasperated.

Ye Tian smirked, looking at the master and Tao Linger. “I’ll leave the children in your care. I won’t interrupt your teaching—I’ll head back first.”

Tao Lichun nodded and looked at Tao Linger beside him. “See the guests out.”

Tao Linger nodded, her face bright with joy as she led Ye Tian out of the courtyard. Her voice was as sweet as an oriole leaving the valley. “How did you educate your three children? I’ve never seen kids this remarkable—they actually have photographic memories!”

Her tone was excited, and her eyes shone with curiosity as she looked at Ye Tian.

As the two of them reached the gate, Ye Tian smiled. “It’s natural, maybe hereditary.”

Tao Linger covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, finding Ye Tian amusing.

Outside, the snow hadn’t melted yet. Someone was hiding under a pine tree, peering in their direction. Ye Tian squinted and immediately felt his pupils constrict. Shen Jie?

It really was Shen Jie!

Shen Jie, his face bruised, was crouching under the pine tree, stretching his neck to look this way. His eyes, full of resentment, met Ye Tian’s gaze from a distance.

Ye Tian suddenly remembered: in the book, there was a supporting female character named Tao Linger, the daughter of Shen Jie’s mentor. Before Shen Jie entered the city lord’s mansion and reunited with his real father, Tao Linger secretly supported him. Shen Jie, fully aware of Tao Linger’s affection, neither rejected nor accepted it—he simply enjoyed the love of this innocent girl.

She even had a child out of wedlock. Later, after Shen Jie reunited with his father, his life path changed, and he never saw Tao Linger or her child again.

In the story, minor characters were merely stepping stones in the male lead’s journey, insignificant.

But looking at the fourteen- or fifteen-year-old girl before him, smiling like a flower about to bloom, whose life had turned tragic because of the protagonist… Tao Lichun valued reputation above all, and he would never have imagined that the student he respected and supported would disgrace his daughter, eventually causing a rift between father and daughter.

Shen Jie must have come this time for money.

After all, he failed to steal the bracelet, the city lord’s mansion wouldn’t allow him an audience without money, and with his mother needing medical treatment, the Shen family had cut ties. The only one he could turn to now was Tao Linger.

Seeing Ye Tian staring blankly at the large pine tree, Tao Linger became curious. Ye Tian immediately moved to block her view. “I think the master isn’t in good health. He has bruises, probably from staying up late and damaging his liver.”

“Ah?”

Tao Linger’s face showed shock as she looked at Ye Tian. “How did you know?”

Of course, Ye Tian knew. On the master’s desk was a thick book, almost finished. It was a crucial moment in reading. He didn’t have time during the day, so staying up at night was inevitable.

It could only be called the experience of someone who had been through it.

“You’re right to listen to me. If this illness isn’t treated in time, it could be dangerous,” Ye Tian said, frowning in apparent anguish. “Has the master been coughing more lately?”

“Yes!”

“Does he start coughing around midnight?” Ye Tian asked again.

Tao Linger was excited. “You’re a divine doctor! You even know that!”

Seeing the girl’s excited expression, Ye Tian continued: “If anyone asks to borrow money, don’t lend it. The master will need a lot of money for treatment; there won’t even be enough for medicine, you know…”

Tao Linger covered her chest with both hands, nodding seriously.

Ye Tian continued, “Also, lately, many scoundrels have been roaming around. Have you heard about them?”

Tao Linger shook her head, looking shocked.

Ye Tian went on, “It’s said that if they approach a girl, an unmarried girl will get pregnant and have a child. These illegitimate children aren’t recognized, are despised, and some even get thrown into pig cages.”

The more Ye Tian spoke, the more exaggerated it became. Tao Linger’s face turned pale with fright—it was terrifying!

Ye Tian glanced at Shen Jie and then smiled, ready to leave.

Hidden in the shadows, Shen Jie saw Ye Tian looking perfectly normal, and his teeth itched with anger. That rogue must have sold his bracelet; the money should have been his! Ye Tian, that dog!

Watching Ye Tian laughing and chatting with Tao Linger at the gate, Shen Jie gritted his teeth in fury.

“You unfaithful harlot!” he muttered under his breath.

Only after Ye Tian walked away did he dare to straighten his clothes, step out from behind the tree, and quietly call to Tao Linger, who was about to enter the courtyard: “Linger!”