TNIBFT -Chapter 60 Is This Really Your Restaurant?

Tao Ling’er had run off in a panic, and it definitely had something to do with Shen Jie.

Shen Jie had been beaten half to death and then taken away by the city guards. Tao Ling’er’s mood was like a bolt from the blue. Even if she were dying, she could never have imagined that Shen Jie would be arrested under such charges.

She was one hundred percent convinced of his innocence, and without thinking, she wanted to rescue him at all costs.

This was the charm of the protagonist.

Last night, Ye Tian had already figured it out: the villagers were able to find Widow Zhang’s house so quickly because Shen Jie must have been involved. If it had been the old Ye Tian, he would have been completely defenseless against Widow Zhang. With Shen Jie’s knowledge of Ye Tian, he would have been captured on the spot, and everyone would have been calling for his head.

Shen Jie’s intelligence was still intact, but he knew the original Ye Tian too well, which allowed Ye Tian to easily turn the tables.

Next time, it wouldn’t be so simple.

Ye Tian took a deep breath and looked at the three little ones in front of him. Each one was soft and sweet, adorable like snow. A smile lifted the corners of his mouth.

“I’ll give you two choices. First: go help out at the hotpot restaurant and earn five coins each.”

“Second…”

Ye Tian raised two fingers, but before he could finish, the three children spoke in unison:

“We choose the first one!”

“I choose the first one too,” added Ye Yunting timidly, his eyes darting to Ye Tian before lowering his head immediately.

Something felt off.

Why were the three little rascals being so easygoing today?

And the eldest—he would normally always choose the second option if it meant being with Ye Tian instead of something else, no matter what the terms.

Ye Tian’s gaze landed on his daughter. Today, Ye Shuangxue hadn’t even tried to raise the stakes?

She stood quietly with her head lowered, lost in thought. Her reaction today was unusually calm.

So young, and yet she could already have worries?

Better ask her after today’s work.

Ye Tian laughed. “Fine. With wages, you’re employees. That means you have to listen to me all day today.”

Ye Tian led the three children on foot toward the hotpot restaurant in the city.

“Hotpot Base?”

The three children exchanged glances as they looked at the large characters on the sign above the door.

Ye Yunting’s lips twitched. Other people’s restaurants had elegant names like Qingfeng Mingyue Tower or Ting Yu Xuan, graceful and poetic.

Ye Tian’s name… well, it was hard to describe.

Would anyone actually come to eat here?

Xiao Jiang craned his neck to sneak a peek inside. Seeing the lavish and exquisite interior, his eyes lit up and his small mouth opened slightly. Excited, he asked Ye Tian, “Is… is this really our restaurant?”

“No.”

Immediately realizing he had misspoken, Xiao Jiang hurried to clarify: “I mean… is this really your restaurant?”

“You’re impressive,” he said carefully, “everything inside is bright red with golden peony patterns. I’ve never seen a house so beautiful before…” The little one spoke cautiously, constantly glancing at Ye Tian as if afraid he would be angry.

Yesterday, everything was fine. Why were the children being so polite today?

Ye Tian frowned, reached out, and lightly patted Xiao Jiang on the head. Then he stepped inside the restaurant and said,

“What do you mean ‘yours’? It’s mine—it’s ours. You’re my real children. If I die, you’ll be the first in line to inherit it.”

“Don’t worry, Dad promises you’ll be rich kids.”

Ye Tian winked at the three children.

The three nodded obediently, too shy to look at him.

The atmosphere felt a bit strange.

“Boss, everything is ready. All the dishes are prepared, and we’re just waiting for customers,” said Yuan Heipang as soon as Ye Tian entered, smiling as he reported.

“The bowls and chopsticks are also ready, just as you requested,” added Xiao Wang, coming out of the kitchen while wiping his hands, reporting his own work.

Ye Tian nodded.

He went around with the four employees, checking the work before the official opening.

The three children were placed in the main hall. Xiao Jiang tilted his face up, staring at the grand, golden-hued restaurant with eyes full of longing. Excited, he turned to his older siblings and said, “Ye Tian’s restaurant is so beautiful! I’d dare say it’s the nicest restaurant in Sifang City.”

“Don’t get carried away. Didn’t we say this morning that we’ll never trouble Ye Tian again? We eat the good stuff ourselves, and handle our own matters.”

“Just like before.”

Ye Yunting said seriously.

Xiao Jiang’s smile froze; he glanced at the hotpot restaurant with envy, then sighed, “Got it.”

Ye Shuangxue pressed her lips together, then slowly said, “Then let’s go help him attract some customers.”

“Okay!”

When Ye Tian came out of the kitchen, the three children were ready to head out.

Seeing them, Ye Tian couldn’t stop smiling.

He had only jokingly asked them to come help, but the children were too young—hot oil and boiling soup everywhere made them practically useless. Ye Tian just wanted them to see their family’s hotpot restaurant.

Seeing Xiao Jiang’s shocked eyes and the satisfied looks of his children, Ye Tian felt fulfilled.

As the children started to leave, Ye Tian asked, “Hey, where are you going?”

“Are you finding it too boring?”

“I even saved rooms for you; later you can try some of Dad’s cooking.”

Ye Tian’s expression was excited.

The three children reacted nonchalantly. Ye Yunting said, “We’re not leaving because we’re bored. There aren’t any customers, so we’re going out to bring some in.”

Ye Tian looked at them suspiciously.

Seeing that they seemed in a bad mood today, he thought for a moment and said, “Fine, don’t go too far—safety first.”

“You don’t need to worry about the restaurant’s guests. I’ve already done some advertising. It’s not mealtime yet, so there won’t be anyone.”

After giving these instructions, Ye Tian handed a few coins to Ye Yunting and told him to keep an eye on his younger brother and sister, then let them head out.

“Boss, are the kids being naughty?”

Seeing Ye Tian frown at their backs, Yuan Heipang stepped forward, trying to flatter him: “Honestly, I’ve never seen a boss this good to his kids. First day of opening, anyone would want to earn more money, and you’re saving the best private room for them. If it were me, and my son didn’t listen, I’d show him who’s boss. I’d tell him to go east, and he’d never dare go west.”

“Come on!”

Ye Tian didn’t want to hear more. Calmly, he said, “I’m worried because my kids are too sensible. Can your kid compare?”

Yuan Heipang: …

Watching Ye Tian walk away, Yuan Heipang felt utterly confused.

Too sensible… and you’re worried about that?

…

The streets were bustling.

It was an auspicious day, so more pedestrians than usual were out. Ye Yunting led his younger siblings, talking to everyone they met, but they didn’t manage to bring a single customer to the hotpot restaurant.

Ye Shuangxue grew anxious. “Big brother, what should we do?”

“Will he think we can’t do anything at all?”

Xiao Jiang frowned, stunned. They didn’t even know what hotpot was. How could they attract customers when they didn’t know anything?

“Move!”

“Move!”

The sound of hooves rang out. People on the street panicked, scattering everywhere in chaos; the cries of children and women filled the air.

Xiao Jiang looked at a woman on horseback coming toward him. He suddenly asked, “Sister, have you ever eaten hotpot?”