Chapter 8: Living Expenses?

Time was approaching noon.

Lian Ye glanced at the time, estimating that Qianshou Feijian would be back soon.

He simply brought over a chair and sat in the courtyard waiting for him to return.

As for why Lian Ye wasn't cooking?

The reason was simple: there were no ingredients left at home.

Last night Qianshou Feijian said he would go buy today, but looking at this, he seems to have forgotten.

"I don't know what that old brat is busy with every day? Leaving early and returning late..."

Lian Ye propped his chin with both hands, speaking boredly.

He had been here three days, and aside from mealtimes, he had hardly seen Qianshou Feijian, who seemed to be deliberately keeping his distance.

"Heh, do you really think I want to live with you?" Lian Ye gave a small, disdainful curl of his lip.

The Uchiha Elder and Senju Hashirama both spoke,

If he had a choice, how could he possibly be willing to live with Qianshou Feijian?

Not long after, Qianshou Feijian's figure appeared at the doorway.

Seeing Lian Ye sitting in the courtyard, he blinked slightly and asked, "Kid, is lunch ready?"

Lian Ye gave him a look and retorted, "There's no food at home—how am I supposed to cook?"

Upon hearing that, Qianshou Feijian finally remembered the matter of buying ingredients.

This morning he was only thinking about persuading his older brother, so he forgot this.

Seeing Lian Ye's resentful gaze, he gave a dry cough and explained:

"I've been busy lately and forgot about this."

"Heh, you're just the Hokage's brother, not the Hokage yourself—what do you have to be busy about? You probably just crawled out of some female ninja's bed." Lian Ye muttered quietly.

After training all morning, he was already starving.

He had wanted to make a nice meal to treat himself, but upon reaching the kitchen he discovered there were no ingredients left at home.

He was just a brat with no income, no money to buy ingredients, so he could only endure hunger and wait for Qianshou Feijian to return.

Seeing Qianshou Feijian acting as if nothing was wrong, Lian Ye naturally felt resentful, wondering where that old brat had gone off to enjoy himself.

Qianshou Feijian's mouth twitched as he suppressed his anger and said, "We're not cooking today—I'll take you out to eat."

It's already too late to cook; if we let this brat cook, who knows what outrageous nonsense he might spout.

Qianshou Feijian had lived an honest half‑life, yet ended up being slandered by this brat—no one could tolerate that.

Lian Ye's eyes lit up, but he feigned calm and said, "If that's the case, then so be it… I want to eat barbecue."

Qianshou Feijian: "..."

————

Konoha Commercial Street.

Not long after, Qianshou Feijian brought Lian Ye to a barbecue restaurant emitting a fragrant aroma.

Inside, the tempting meat aroma made Lian Ye's throat move, and he unconsciously swallowed saliva.

After several months in the ninja world, living expenses could only be used for daily meals, which were the most basic foods, leaving no spare money for barbecue.

Qianshou Feijian brought Lian Ye to sit at a corner table; the enthusiastic owner quickly approached and handed over the menu.

Qianshou Feijian passed the menu to Lian Ye and said, "You order."

Lian Ye took the menu and, without hesitation, ordered over a dozen plates of barbecue: signature beef, tender pork belly, pork kidney… and finally added a few plates of vegetables.

Qianshou Feijian stared at this scene in astonishment and said, "You ordered so much—can you finish it all?"

"Don't worry, I can finish it." Lian Ye said.

What he ordered amounted to roughly the appetite of three adults.

He had originally wanted to order a few more plates, but then thought better of it, lest he waste food if he couldn't finish; he could always order more later.

Seeing Lian Ye's determined look, Qianshou Feijian said nothing more, but was intensely curious: just how big is an Uchiha's appetite?

Soon, the sizzling grill was brought to the table; the red meat slices curled and changed color instantly upon hitting the high heat, oil splattering, the aroma growing richer.

Qianshou Feijian picked up his chopsticks and turned the meat slices in an orderly manner.

Lian Ye crossed his arms, watching with interest and occasionally commenting.

Don't let his calm exterior fool you—he was already starving crazy.

Lian Ye looked at the meat sending out fragrant steam and swallowed his saliva without showing it.

Even if he was starving to death, he couldn't show it—that's what a proper Uchiha does!

"The heat is about right." Qianshou Feijian picked up the cooked meat and placed it on Lian Ye's plate.

"I'll do it myself." Lian Ye said, picking up a meat slice and putting it in his mouth.

As the barbecue entered his mouth, Lian Ye instantly showed a satisfied expression.

This barbecue is way too delicious!

At this moment, he no longer cared about Uchiha pride, slipping piece after piece into his mouth, occasionally letting out a contented hum.

Qianshou Feijian silently observed Lian Ye's every move; upon seeing Lian Ye devour all the barbecue on the table at breakneck speed, he wore a look of shock.

Still not enough, Lian Ye felt unsatisfied, waved his hand, and had the boss bring out a few more plates of barbecue.

Qianshou Feijian: "???"

How had he not noticed before that this brat could eat so much?

"Burp~ I'm full." Lian Ye patted his stomach, looking satisfied.

This barbecue meal let him eat to his heart's content.

As expected, meat is still the most fragrant.

Qianshou Feijian instinctively glanced at Lian Ye's slightly bulging belly.

This is just too absurd, right?

How can this little brat's stomach hold all this food?

Lian Ye alone ate an amount equal to five people's portions in this meal.

You know, he's still just a six-year-old brat!

Qianshou Feijian was already doubting life—could this really be a brat?

It seems tonight I really need to study why this kid can eat so much…

Lian Ye had no idea what Qianshou Feijian was thinking; he was happily savoring the aroma of the barbecue.

It would be great if I could eat barbecue often.

"White-haired uncle, can we check out?" Lian Ye noticed Qianshou Feijian still staring at him and spoke up to remind him.

Hearing that, Qianshou Feijian came back to his senses and called the boss to settle the bill.

Immediately, the two left the barbecue restaurant together.

Just as they stepped out, Qianshou Feijian suddenly thought of something, pulled out a wad of cash and handed it to Lian Ye, saying lightly, "This is your living expenses; I have something to do, so I'll go first."

After saying that, his figure flickered and he vanished from the spot.

He left Lian Ye staring at the thick stack of bills in his hand, silent for a long while.

After a moment, he slipped the money into his pocket, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly as he murmured, "Heh, this old guy is quite interesting."

I really didn't expect Qianshou Feijian to give me pocket money.

This money truly solved his urgent need; from now on he can eat whatever he wants, no longer forced to live a miserable life.

"Forget it, I'll put less chili in my cooking from now on."

Saying that, Lian Ye walked away on his short little legs.

After Lian Ye's figure had completely disappeared, Qianshou Feijian stepped out from the corner, gazing at his back, and said in an icy tone: "Don't misunderstand, brat, this is your experimental fee……"

Qianshou Feijian could not possibly do something like freeloading off the Uchiha brat.

This money will just be counted as Lian Ye's fee as an experimental subject.

Poor Lian Ye has no idea about this; if he ever learns the truth later, who knows what expression he'll have.