Since she was still holding food, they couldn't stand outside and talk.
Yi Zhiye and Zheng Wei also followed, heading towards the main room, their expressions not easing at all.
As Shen Xiaoyan placed the food in her hand on the table, she turned and saw Zheng Wei and the other person walk in with heavy steps.
"What in the world is going on?"
Shen Xiaoyan was genuinely puzzled now.
The morning had passed, and Yi Zhiye's old ailments had all been cured, so why were they still like this?
After hearing Zheng Wei explain the situation outside, Shen Xiaoyan and Na Muzhong's faces also changed.
This was truly beyond everyone's expectations. They hadn't thought the poison in Yi Zhiye's body would be so potent.
That Yi Zhiye could live for so many years was truly a blessing in disguise.
Na Muzhong even felt a touch of fear. If she hadn't met Shen Xiaoyan, and Shen Xiaoyan hadn't found a way to resolve the toxins in Yi Zhiye's body, wouldn't Yi Zhiye be destined to die in the near future?
Thinking of that possibility, Na Muzhong felt a cold sweat break out on her back.
"What about that river?"
Hearing Yi Zhiye ask this, Shen Xiaoyan and the others looked at each other.
This river connected to the groundwater. If the toxins spread, then the people in Yingcheng...
Thinking of that possibility, Shen Xiaoyan felt a cold sweat break out on her own body.
She wasn't a saint, but she couldn't just watch so many people die.
Besides, those people were innocent.
Yi Zhiye felt even more tormented. After all, these were toxins expelled from his body. If anyone died because of it, this matter would likely become a demon in his heart, affecting his entire life.
When Lu Taobao brought San Shengzi over, he saw four people sitting there with worried faces.
This scene startled him.
Wasn't Yi Zhiye's injury being treated?
Now they all looked like this, did it mean he wasn't cured?
Lu Taobao felt uneasy. He wanted to ask, but he was afraid of hearing the answer he didn't want, and he stood there dumbfounded for a moment.
It was the three children who broke the awkward silence.
"Father, Mother, we're hungry."
Hearing the three children say they were hungry, Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei immediately snapped back to attention.
This matter could be thought about later. The immediate priority was naturally to feed the three little ones.
Shen Xiaoyan walked over and crouched beside the three children, whispering, "Did you wash up?"
Ruan Ruan nodded upon hearing this. "Uncle Lu has already taken us to wash."
Shen Xiaoyan smiled lightly upon hearing this. She hadn't expected Lu Taobao to be so thoughtful.
After telling the three children to sit down and drink their porridge, Shen Xiaoyan looked at Lu Taobao, who was still standing there in a daze. "What are you spacing out for? Why aren't you coming to eat?"
Lu Taobao hesitated slightly upon hearing this and walked to the dining table. Looking at the table full of delicious food, he was startled.
Could it be that Yi Zhiye was dying, and Shen Xiaoyan had specially cooked these delicious dishes as a farewell meal?
He then looked at Yi Zhiye, who was exceptionally tidily dressed today, and his face had a radiant look. Could this be a deathbed glow?
The more Lu Taobao thought about it, the more he felt he was right. Instantly, he was overcome with grief.
Yi Zhiye felt goosebumps all over his body from Lu Taobao's gaze. Seeing his expression, which looked like he was about to cry but not cry, his skin crawled.
"What do you want looking at me like that?"
Yi Zhiye asked this defensively.
It wasn't that he was overthinking things. Anyone being stared at so intently would likely feel a chill down their spine.
And Lu Taobao, seeing Yi Zhiye like this, assumed Yi Zhiye didn't want him to know the truth to spare him pain. His heart was filled with great emotion.
Such a brother was rare in the world.
He was about to die, yet he still remembered to consider his feelings.
Feeling touched, Lu Taobao's eyes began to well up with tears. His eyes were red and full of tears. He sniffled and suddenly rushed to Yi Zhiye:
"My good brother, travel well. Don't worry, when you get to the other side, I'll burn a lot of silver for you. I'll definitely make you a rich ghost."
Yi Zhiye listened to Lu Taobao's wailing in stunned silence. He felt like he had been struck by lightning.
Being cursed to die so early in the morning, how could he be happy?
"I say, who told you I was going to die?"
Yi Zhiye asked through gritted teeth, secretly calculating how to beat the person who spoke such nonsense to death.
Lu Taobao hugged Yi Zhiye's waist and said with a runny nose and tears streaming down his face, "My good brother, you don't have to hide it from me to spare me pain. I know everything. Your faces just now already explained it all. Don't hide it from me. Although I'm the youngest, my acceptance ability is very strong."
"Brother, go in peace. I will live well for you. Rest assured..."
Rest assured.
Unfortunately, the last two words were destined not to be spoken by Lu Taobao.
Because he was kicked out by Yi Zhiye, who had lost all patience.
"Who told you I was going to die? I'm telling you, my injuries are healed. From now on, even if you die, I won't, understand!"
Yi Zhiye was so angry with Lu Taobao that he spoke without thinking.
After the words left his mouth, he realized he had said the wrong thing.
Just as he thought about explaining, Lu Taobao stood up with a face full of joy. "Really? You're better? That's great."
There was no pretense in Lu Taobao's expression. He was genuinely surprised and delighted.
It's just that...
"Then why did you all have that look like you were about to die just now?"
Yi Zhiye was taken aback. So that's how he had concluded he was going to die.
He helplessly explained about the river again, which cleared up Lu Taobao's confusion.
Knowing he had misunderstood, Lu Taobao felt a little embarrassed. It couldn't entirely be blamed on him; everything had seemed so dire at the time.
But since Yi Zhiye wasn't going to die, then this table of dishes was for a celebration?
If so, didn't that mean he could eat to his heart's content?
He had been worried sick for Yi Zhiye for so long and had even shed sincere tears just now. He really deserved to replenish his energy.
Thinking this, Lu Taobao wasted no time. He pulled over a wooden chair, sat down, and picked up his chopsticks, ready to start eating.
Seeing Lu Taobao eating heartily, Shen Xiaoyan couldn't help but smile.
Perhaps in everyday life, Lu Taobao's always amiable smile made people think he was the easiest to get along with among Shen Xiaoyan and the others, but in reality, it was the opposite.
Even if Lu Taobao could strike up conversations with others and chat the night away upon first meeting, in reality, the other person had not entered his heart at all.
Even with the most cordial smile on his face, his heart was solid and not easily opened to others.
Only with his close friends, who had a rebellious streak, would Lu Taobao reveal his true emotions.
Seeing Lu Taobao eating happily, Shen Xiaoyan knew that Lu Taobao had truly let go of his worries at this moment.
As for the poisoned river outside, it was not within Lu Taobao's consideration at all.
Whether one called him heartless or cold-blooded,
After all, those people had nothing to do with him in the first place, so his behavior was understandable.