“What is this…” Xia Qingtian looked at the mess on the ground, somewhat taken aback.
Yue Chengfeng’s expression was solemn as he strode inside.
“What’s that smell… so disgusting…” Er Ya fanned her nose as she walked, a look of distaste on her face.
“Shh,” Xia Shang looked at Er Ya and made a shushing gesture.
Er Ya pouted and quickly followed.
The whole room was filled with the smell of dead insects, it was already disgusting, and she wasn’t even allowed to comment on it…
“Dad, are you alright!” Yue Chengfeng saw Yue Jiazhuang sitting on the chair with a gloomy expression. Seeing that he didn’t seem injured, he quickly walked over.
“I’m fine.” The Yue family patriarch shook his head. His gaze swept over Yue Chengfeng, and upon seeing Xia Qingtian, he was momentarily stunned, his lips trembling, “Yan’er…”
“Dad, this is Qingtian,” Yue Chengfeng corrected him from the side, “Your sister’s daughter, Qingtian.”
“Oh, Qingtian…” The Yue family patriarch finally responded, his tone filled with deep disappointment. He then forced a smile and beckoned Xia Qingtian over, “I heard you were coming, so I had someone tidy up your mother’s old room. You can stay there directly.”
“Thank you, Grandpa,” Xia Qingtian said with a smile, then shifted her gaze to the Yue family patriarch’s chest and shoulder.
The Yue family patriarch’s clothes were noticeably wrinkled in these areas, suggesting a dispute, perhaps even a physical altercation.
However, since the Yue family patriarch seemed reluctant to be questioned, Xia Qingtian didn’t pry, pretending not to notice.
The Yue family patriarch then sized up Xia Qingtian again before turning to Yue Chengfeng and saying, “Chengfeng, take Qingtian and her friends to have a meal. Preparations have been made in the side hall.”
“Yes.” Yue Chengfeng also had a lot he wanted to ask, but in the end, he swallowed his words. He simply called for a servant to clean the main hall, and then led Xia Qingtian and the other two to the side hall.
Once the dishes were served, Yue Chengfeng made an excuse and left.
The Yue family had prepared a lavish meal. Er Ya’s eyes lit up at the sight of it and she began to eat heartily, as she was quite hungry.
While eating, Er Ya didn’t forget to serve Xia Shang: “Xia Shang, eat the chicken leg, eat this, Xia Shang, this is delicious too!”
“Er Ya, I can’t eat this much. You eat yours first.” Xia Shang picked up his chopsticks and began to eat after taking his seat, “Qingtian, why aren’t you eating?”
Xia Qingtian glanced in the direction Yue Chengfeng had left, then withdrew her gaze and said, “I don’t have much of an appetite.”
Hearing this, Er Ya rolled her eyes, “You city girls are just too fussy. What’s more important than eating? Master said, food is heaven, and eating is the most important thing in life!”
“Then you eat more.” As soon as she met Er Ya’s bright, sparkling eyes, Xia Qingtian’s heavy mood since arriving at the Xia family lightened considerably.
“Qingtian, please eat a little,” Xia Shang advised, serving Xia Qingtian a piece of dish.
“Xia Shang! You haven’t served me any dishes!” Er Ya puffed out her cheeks upon seeing this.
“I can’t serve dishes as fast as you eat,” Xia Shang said with a troubled look at Er Ya.
“Then, then I won’t eat! I’ll be like you city girls, I’m fussy!” Er Ya said unhappily.
“You should swallow what’s in your mouth first.” Xia Qingtian glanced at Er Ya, pursed her lips, and smiled faintly. She then served Er Ya a bowl of soup, saying, “This is pigeon soup, it’s very flavorful. Are you sure you don’t want to eat it?”
“I, I…” Er Ya stammered, stealing glances at Xia Shang from the corner of her eye.
Xia Shang sighed inwardly and placed a piece of braised pork into Er Ya’s bowl.
With the dish served by Xia Shang, Er Ya’s eyes brightened, and she enthusiastically resumed her feasting.
Seeing Er Ya eat so heartily, Xia Qingtian also developed some appetite and drank about half a bowl of soup.
Meanwhile, Er Ya had finished the bowl of soup Xia Qingtian had served her, as a final touch. She then let out a satisfied burp, “This is great.”
“I’m glad you like it. There will be even more delicious food at the birthday banquet tomorrow,” Xia Qingtian said, propping her face with one hand.
“Birthday banquet? That won’t happen,” Er Ya said, picking a toothpick from the box on the table, “That old man is infected with a蛊, he only has about ten to twelve hours left to live. We might as well cancel the birthday banquet and hold a funeral. Just change the colors, and it’s about the same.”
“What?” Xia Qingtian’s heart skipped a beat. She looked at Er Ya and asked, “Are you telling the truth?”
“Why would I lie to you?” Er Ya shrugged, “Believe it or not.”
Xia Qingtian shifted her gaze from Er Ya to Xia Shang, whose expression was also one of distress.
“Although Er Ya is not very reliable, she never lies,” Xia Shang said to Xia Qingtian, “Er Ya learned medicine from her master since she was young and has treated many strange illnesses in the village. What she says should be correct.”
“Heh heh, Xia Shang understands me the best,” Er Ya said, cupping her face with her hands and looking at Xia Shang with a pleased smile, “It was worth sneaking out to find you through all the hardships.”
“You sneaked out?” Xia Shang’s brow furrowed upon hearing this, “Did you not tell your master?”
“!” Er Ya realized she had let something slip and was shocked. Her large eyes darted around, unsure how to defend herself. She simply clasped her fair hands together and covered her mouth, remaining silent.
“You two, follow me,” Xia Qingtian glanced around, then immediately led Er Ya and Xia Shang back to her mother’s former room.
The room was spotlessly clean, and the furnishings remained as they were when Yue Qiyan was alive. Photos of their family of three were still displayed on the cabinet.
“You know about my grandfather being infected with the 蛊. Can you cure it?” Xia Qingtian asked Er Ya after closing the room door.
Er Ya stood with her hands behind her back, her large eyes scanning the surroundings, seemingly very curious, “I can cure it, but I don’t want to.”
Xia Qingtian wasn’t too surprised by this. As long as Er Ya could cure the 蛊, whether she was willing or not was secondary.
At least knowing there was a solution meant there was hope.
“This room of yours is nice. Good light, good ventilation, wow… you can even see the small garden from here~” Er Ya pressed her hands against the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down, “It’s really nice!”
“Er Ya, why don’t you help Qingtian?” Xia Shang looked at Er Ya, his usually gloomy and indifferent expression now carrying a heavier weight.
“Xia Shang, why are you always siding with her?” Er Ya puffed out her cheeks, looking displeased, “I’m unhappy!”
Just then, Xia Qingtian’s phone vibrated, displaying an unfamiliar number.
Xia Qingtian walked to the side and answered the call, “Hello?”
“Hello, is this Ms. Xia?” A male voice came from the other end of the phone, “I am Er Ya’s third brother. I apologize for Er Ya causing you trouble.”
Hearing this, Xia Qingtian looked back at Er Ya, who was arguing with Xia Shang and stamping her feet in anger. An idea formed in her mind, “I’m sorry, can you wait for me for a moment?”
“Hmm?”