TNIBFT -Chapter 4 Hold On a Few More Days

Xiao Jiang was so anxious he was on the verge of tears. Without food, Ye Tian would beat them to death.

Enduring Aunt Fang’s cold looks, they had finally managed to borrow a fish. The three siblings barely got to taste fish even once a year, yet now they had to give it to Zhang Fan—Ye Hanjiang couldn’t bear it.

Ye Shuangxue refused to accept this. Staring at Zhang Fan’s arrogant face, she suddenly grabbed his sleeve and said stubbornly, “Who are you calling a little bastard?”

“Who are you calling useless?”

“Who gave you the right to say that? Apologize to Xiao Jiang!”

Her gaze was icy, like a starving wolf from a glacier. Zhang Fan felt a chill in his heart and instinctively tried to pull away. He used all his strength to shake her off, only to realize that no matter what he did, he couldn’t break free from her grip.

Now he was truly flustered. “Let go of me! Even your father, Ye Tian, listens to me. If you dare bully me, believe it or not, I’ll have him beat you to death!”

“Let go!”

Zhang Fan shook his arm violently.

Ye Yunting stepped forward, taking his sister’s hand, and said helplessly, “Xiao Xue, let him take it.”

Ye Tian shamelessly tried to curry favor with Zhang Fan’s widowed mother, often forcing the three siblings to act as servants for her—serving tea, washing her feet, emptying chamber pots. As long as Zhang Fan shouted once, Ye Yunting was certain Ye Tian would rush out and beat them to death.

He might even sell the three of them again.

Zhang Fan often bullied them, and even if Ye Tian knew, he would clap and praise him. If the siblings ever dared to fight back, or if Zhang Fan was even slightly dissatisfied, Ye Tian would drag them to Zhang Fan’s home and humiliate and beat them in public without mercy.

They simply couldn’t afford to provoke Zhang Fan!

“Brother…”

Ye Shuangxue was unwilling, but seeing Ye Yunting remain silent only made Zhang Fan more smug. He snorted coldly, “At least you know what’s good for you!”

Then, deliberately, he stepped on Ye Hanjiang’s small foot and ground it hard. “And you, you little idiot—your father is trash, and so are you. A whole family of trash! Bastards with a mother who gave birth but didn’t raise you—little bastards, little bastards, hahaha…”

“I’ll bite you to death!”

Ye Shuangxue’s eyes turned blood-red with rage as she lunged at Zhang Fan like she wanted to devour him alive.

Zhang Fan made a mocking face. “Come on then, bite me!”

Ye Yunting tightly held her back, afraid she would act rashly. Ye Hanjiang’s little face twisted in pain, but he clenched his teeth and didn’t make a sound.

“What are you doing?”

Ye Tian’s voice suddenly rang out.

The three children looked up to see Ye Tian, his face bruised and swollen, walking toward them through the snow in the yard like a demon.

Ye Yunting’s expression changed drastically. He quickly stepped in front of his younger siblings, holding one in each hand, and whispered, “Don’t be afraid. Big brother is here. Don’t be afraid—we just need to hold on a few more days.”

“I’ll protect you.”

Ye Shuangxue gritted her teeth, her face full of stubborn determination. Silently, she swore that one day, she would make Ye Tian repay everything, bit by bit.

Ye Hanjiang trembled all over, muttering incoherently, “Don’t hit big brother, don’t hit sister… don’t hit Xiao Jiang… Mother…”

Seeing Ye Tian come out, Zhang Fan grew delighted. He rushed over in a few quick steps, chin raised arrogantly, and pointed at the three siblings. “Ye Tian, I order you to beat these three little brats to death!”

Silence.

The wind howled through the falling snow.

Ye Tian said nothing, only narrowing his eyes as he looked at Zhang Fan.

Just the son of a widow—where did he get the confidence to order him around like this?

“I told you to beat them to death! Are you deaf?” Zhang Fan stomped his foot. The old Ye Tian had always obeyed his every word—he was already used to speaking to him in this tone.

Ye Tian let out a cold laugh and looked down at Zhang Fan in front of him. The boy looked like an upper primary school kid from his previous life—young-faced yet arrogant. His round cheeks were flushed red from the cold, his tiny eyes nearly squinting shut, and a faint layer of dark fuzz clung to his upper lip. Standing next to Ye Yunting and his siblings, Zhang Fan appeared even taller and more robust.

Such a big kid, bullying a five-year-old.

Ye Tian’s gaze shifted to the dead fish in Zhang Fan’s hand, its gills tied with dry grass. He spoke, “You want to eat fish?”

Zhang Fan froze.

Before he could react, the fish was snatched from his hand. Grabbing the body, Ye Tian shoved the fish head straight into Zhang Fan’s mouth.

“Is it good?”

“Didn’t you want to eat it?”

“Don’t be shy—have more. Uncle’s treating you. Oh, and did you take a laxative before coming? You’re spewing crap everywhere. Since your mother didn’t teach you how to behave, Uncle will teach you today. No need to thank me.”

With one hand pressing down on the back of Zhang Fan’s head and the other forcing the fish forward, Ye Tian showed no mercy.

The stench of the dead fish made Zhang Fan gag. Some kind of liquid from the fish’s mouth seeped into his own, making him want to vomit. He shook his head frantically, struggling, his face smeared with fish blood. Muffled whimpers escaped his mouth, and tears of grievance welled up in his eyes.

Was Ye Tian crazy?

When he got home, he would definitely tell his mother and have her teach Ye Tian a lesson.

Clutching Ye Tian’s hand, Zhang Fan twisted his head, struggling. “I won’t eat it anymore! I won’t! I won’t!”

“I was wrong! Ye Tian, let me go—sob, sob…”

Ye Tian sneered. When dealing with a brat like this, you had to give him a taste of his own medicine.

Usually mature beyond his years, Ye Yunting now stood with his small mouth slightly open, staring in disbelief. Ye Tian… was this really Ye Tian? Not only had he not beaten them, he was actually disciplining Widow Zhang’s son?

Ye Shuangxue stared at Zhang Fan’s mouth, torn at the corners and smeared with fish blood, her face filled with shock.

Ye Hanjiang gazed blankly at Ye Tian’s shadow on the snow. Everything felt like a dream. If it was a dream, he hoped he would never wake up.

“Xiao Jiang, come here.”

Ye Tian suddenly called out. Startled, Xiao Jiang trembled all over, lowering his head as he slowly stepped forward.

Ye Yunting and Ye Shuangxue instantly tensed up.

As expected—this was the real Ye Tian. He wasn’t helping them; he was just in a bad mood and picking on whoever he saw. Even Widow Zhang’s son had been beaten today—there was no way the three of them would escape.

“Did he step on your foot?” Ye Tian asked.

Xiao Jiang froze, not understanding what he meant. He timidly lifted his head, his dark eyes looking at Ye Tian.

Still gripping Zhang Fan’s wrists, Ye Tian continued, “However he hit you, you hit him back the same way.”

“Don’t be afraid. No matter what happens, you still have your father.”

What?

Father?

This was the first time Ye Tian had acknowledged that he was his father. Xiao Jiang’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared blankly at Ye Tian.

At that moment, the setting sun shone on Ye Tian’s face. Bruised and battered, hair disheveled, he stood there with a silly grin, looking at Ye Hanjiang. That smile seemed to strike straight into the boy’s small heart.

His whole body trembled with excitement, unable to believe it was real.

Seeing Xiao Jiang crying yet still not moving, Ye Tian frowned, thinking the boy was too scared. With a tone of frustration, he said, “Forget it. I’ll do it this time.”

Under Zhang Fan’s astonished gaze, Ye Tian stomped hard on his foot.

“Ah—!”

Zhang Fan let out a miserable scream, breaking free from Ye Tian’s grip as he hopped in place in pain.

“If you dare bully my son and daughter again, Zhang Fan—not just you. When I get ruthless, I’ll beat your mother too. Got it?”