After the Salted Fish Transmigrated into a Book, He Discovered the Whole Family were Villains - Chapter 6

Jian Chengxi was ecstatic as he stared at the message confirming his welfare application had been approved, when suddenly a chill swept over him from behind.

“Achoo!”

He covered his nose and rubbed it, a little puzzled.

Jian Chengxi took a deep breath, turned his head, and explained to the concerned child, “It’s nothing, just a bit of wind. Maybe the weather’s getting colder. I’ll wear more clothes next time and it’ll be fine.”

After he spoke, he noticed the clothes the two children were wearing.

Li Suisui’s clothes were faded from washing and covered in patches, while Li Chen’s were so thin they were practically paper. Some parts were even torn without a single patch, the original color of the fabric long lost. The original owner had a whole wardrobe full of beautiful clothes, yet the two children were dressed worse than beggars.

Just as he was thinking, the little girl tottered over, holding his hand with worry. Her hand was small, soft, and thin. Her dark eyes sparkled. “Daddy, you have to take care of your health.”

After all, if Daddy got sick, he would care even less whether she and her brother lived or died.

Jian Chengxi hadn’t expected the children to care so much about him and was deeply moved. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I was just really happy our application got approved. We have money now. You and your gege have been wearing the same clothes for so long, you must be cold, right? How about I take you both to buy some new clothes?”

He thought the kids would be thrilled to hear that.

But instead—

Li Suisui and Li Chen exchanged a glance, their mood suddenly tense.

Daddy had never bought them new clothes before. Now he was suddenly bringing it up, maybe he wanted to dress them up nicely so he could sell them for a good price.

The atmosphere turned heavy in an instant.

Li Chen subtly stepped in front of his sister. The usually quiet and reserved boy was the first to speak. “We’re not cold.”

Jian Chengxi was stunned. “How could you not be cold? These clothes are so thin. It looks like the weather’s getting colder. I didn’t even see your winter clothes when I cleaned out the closet yesterday. What do you two wear in the winter?”

Li Chen pressed his lips together and said nothing.

Li Suisui stepped forward, sneaking a cautious glance at him, and said softly, “We wear Daddy’s old clothes from before.”

Jian Chengxi was shocked!

The original owner was absolutely heartless. Buying clothes for himself without a second thought, but making his young children wear his old hand-me-downs?

Are you even human?

It was outrageous!

Jian Chengxi took a deep breath and said firmly, “That won’t do. Don’t worry, Daddy will definitely buy you new clothes this year!”

Li Suisui hadn’t expected Daddy was still set on selling them.

It was Li Chen who gave Jian Chengxi a glance and quietly, almost casually, reminded him, “But we still need to buy food for the winter.”

Jian Chengxi froze.

Right—besides clothes, they were also short on food. Even though they had received welfare, it was only around three hundred yuan. If he bought two sets of clothes, they might end up going hungry this month. He had completely forgotten about that. It was the child who had thought ahead, but… did that mean they shouldn’t buy clothes at all?

Just as he was thinking—

Jian Chengxi’s eyes suddenly lit up. He stood up with the two children and said, “Don’t worry, Daddy has a plan!”

…

The main street of the underground city.

The streets bustled with people and traffic, with orcs and elves weaving through the crowd, making for a lively scene.

Shops lined both sides of the road. Because of the presence of the eight major races, the variety of stores here was immense. There’s weapon shops, nutrition supply shops, even spirit pet vendors, everything you could imagine.

Jian Chengxi stopped in front of a clothing store, negotiating the price. “Boss, look at these clothes, the tags are still on and I’ve barely worn them. Taking them back won’t be a problem.”

The shop owner waved his hand. “No way, you’ve already worn them. How could I possibly take them back?”

Jian Chengxi raised his hand. “I’ll take half price.”

The boss still shook his head. “No, no way.”

“Then I won’t ask for money. How about you trade me two sets of winter clothes for kids instead?” Jian Chengxi said, lifting the suitcase. “There are several pieces in here that I bought at your store at full price. I’ve barely worn any of them. With all these clothes, trading for two kids’ outfits should be more than fair, right?”

The shop owner hesitated.

Jian Chengxi had always been the textbook example of a rich fool. He had spent a lot of money here before on overpriced clothes. These clothes really were almost brand new and taking them back wouldn’t be a loss at all.

But…

Jian Chengxi was so gullible. If he could squeeze a little more out of him, that’d be even better.

The shop owner put on a troubled face and said, “But our store’s never had a case like this, Mr. Jian. I really do want to help you, but…”

Jian Chengxi simply lifted the bag, decisive and straightforward. “Alright then. Since you’re in such a tough spot, I won’t make business hard for you. I’ll just try asking somewhere else.”

The boss was stunned and quickly grabbed him. “Hey, don’t go, don’t go! I didn’t say no.”

Jian Chengxi looked back at him. “I’ve been a regular customer at your store, but I didn’t expect this kind of treatment. It seems like this’ll be the last time I shop here.”

“Oh come on, Xixi, don’t say that,” the owner said with a beaming smile, suddenly all warm. “You’re having a hard time so how could I not help you? You’ve got two kids at home. I’m not some heartless monster…”

Jian Chengxi quickly added, “Great, then throw in two pairs of kids’ shoes.”

The shop owner was stunned.

Jian Chengxi grasped his hand with a triumphant smile. “Boss, I knew you were a good person!”

The shop owner: “…”

His smile gradually faded.

Walking out of the clothing store under the boss’s murderous glare, Jian Chengxi managed to leave without spending a single cent, taking with him winter clothes and some swindled shoes for the two kids. His mood couldn’t have been better.

Passing by another shop, he still bought two bottles of nutrient solution.

Li Chen’s leg injury hadn’t healed and he needed proper nutrition. No matter how poor they were, he couldn’t cut corners on the kids.

He hadn’t realized until he bought them that nutrient solution cost ten yuan a bottle. Two bottles had already eaten up twenty yuan. With only three hundred yuan in welfare, there was no way it would cover a month’s expenses.

You don’t understand the cost of living until you’re running a household.

On the way home, Jian Chengxi started doing the math again.

Just as he was thinking—

“Mm…”

Not far from home, a strong force suddenly yanked him to the side. Startled, he looked at the person in fear, about to cry for help, when the figure whispered, “It’s me, Xiao Xi.”

Jian Chengxi took a closer look and saw a pale, slender man standing in front of him.

Wang Zhe gripped his hand a little anxiously. “Xiao Xi, what happened? Didn’t we agree just a couple of days ago to leave together? You said you were going back to get the jade pendant. I waited for you at home for so long and never saw you. I thought something had happened to you!”

Jian Chengxi was stunned.

It took him a while to react, and then he realized—could this person be…

The system chimed in at just the right moment:【That’s right. He’s the original body’s lover, the man he was cheating with, Wang Zhe.】

Jian Chengxi stared at him in shock and blurted out, “Wang Zhe?”

Wang Zhe quickly nodded. “Xiao Xi, my darling, do you know how much I’ve missed you these past few days? Come, let me hold you…”

As he leaned in, Jian Chengxi felt sick to his stomach. He shoved him away with all his strength and took a few steps back. “Who the hell are you? Stay away from me. I have kids and a husband.”

Wang Zhe froze.

He stared at Jian Chengxi, dumbfounded, as if he didn’t recognize him anymore. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Xiao Xi, what’s wrong with you?”

Jian Chengxi looked at him with disgust. “Nothing’s wrong. Wang Zhe, whatever happened before is in the past. I have children to take care of. I’m not going anywhere with you and don’t come looking for me again.”

…

Wang Zhe rushed forward as Jian Chengxi turned to leave. “Xiao Xi, what’s wrong? Are you mad at me? I know, you’re afraid my mother will give you a hard time, right? Don’t worry, we’re all moving to Sky City. If you come with me, you’ll live in comfort. Are you worried she’ll reject you because you have kids and won’t let you marry me?”

Jian Chengxi simply went along with it. “Yes.”

But Wang Zhe immediately promised, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely talk her around.”

While the two of them were talking—

Behind a nearby treehouse, two small figures were watching from a distance.

Li Suisui and Li Chen stood behind the house as the sky gradually darkened, the sunset stretching their father’s shadow long across the ground. They had only come to wait for him, thinking he might be on his way back but they hadn’t expected to see this. These past few days, Daddy seemed like he had changed, no longer hitting or yelling at them. They had thought maybe he was finally getting better. Turns out, he was still the same as ever.

Jian Chengxi started walking back.

But Wang Zhe chased after him, raising his voice. “Xiao Xi, I’ve even thought it through for those two kids of yours. When we move to Sky City, I’ll find a family here in the underground city to sell them to, isn’t that the best solution? Someone else will take care of them, and no one will get in our way anymore.”

Li Chen and Li Suisui listened quietly to every word.

“Didn’t you always say you were being dragged down by that burden?” Wang Zhe coaxed softly. “Someone like you, so wonderful, it’s already a grievance for you to be stuck with Li Lingfeng like a living widow. Those two little cripples will only ever be a stain on your life. I’ve taken care of everything. Don’t worry, now that I’m here, you’ll never have to see those annoying kids again.”

The sunset stretched their shadows long across the ground.

Behind the treehouse, the two small figures leaned against each other, looking especially desolate.

When Wang Zhe said they would be sold, neither of them moved.

But the moment he said they were stains, something their own father despised, Li Chen’s small hand clenched into a fist, his lips pressed into a tight line.

There was a dark heaviness in both their eyes.

When such words fell on their young ears, they didn’t cry and didn’t scream. There were no tears.

Only silence.

…

“Smack!”

The sharp sound of a slap echoed down the street.

A clear handprint burned on Wang Zhe’s face as Jian Chengxi stood in front of him, calmly withdrawing his hand. “Are you done talking?”

“You…” Wang Zhe clutched his face in disbelief. “You hit me?”

Jian Chengxi raised an eyebrow. “You insulted my kids. Why wouldn’t I hit you?”

Wang Zhe looked at him like he had lost his mind. “Xiao Xi, what’s wrong with you? Did I say anything that wasn’t true?!”

Jian Chengxi let out a cold laugh. “And what does any of that have to do with you?”

“You’re not just wrong—you couldn’t be more wrong. My children are not the stain on my life,” Jian Chengxi looked down at him, his gaze icy. “You are.”

Wang Zhe stared in disbelief. “Jian Chengxi, what are you saying? If you leave me, you can forget about ever getting out of the underground city!”

Jian Chengxi replied, “How I live from now on has nothing to do with you and my children are none of your business either. Wang Zhe, I’ll tell you one last time, don’t come looking for me again. Otherwise… every time I see you, I’ll hit you.”

His eyes landed squarely on Wang Zhe’s face.

Wang Zhe, now thoroughly humiliated, pointed at him, his hand trembling. “Are you out of your mind?”

Jian Chengxi seemed to let out a cold laugh. At that moment, Wang Zhe felt as if the distance between them had grown impossibly far and Jian Chengxi’s voice was detached and full of disdain, “Get lost.”