Chapter 946: The Letter

Is Old Master Xia demoted or promoted?

The siblings in the Capital City are indifferent, no one has come to inquire from beginning to end.

Old Master Xia waited and waited, but no one came.

Eventually, unable to hold back, he wrote a letter to them.

After all, the Xia Family cannot do without these children.

He clearly understood in his heart that without them, the Xia Family is finished.

Those two spoiled by Lady Yao.

Rely on them? Ha!

...

By the time Xia Jingfeng received the letter, it was already early March.

That day, he had just returned from the Ministry of Revenue.

He hadn’t even had a chance to eat dinner when the butler sent someone with a letter.

The envelope was sealed with wax, with a few big characters written on it.

’To Xia Jingfeng personally!’

Only upon inquiry did he learn that the letter was sent from Yuxian County in Jiangnan.

"Yu County?" He frowned.

He searched his mind several times, but had no impression.

"Who could have sent it?"

The servant boy said.

"The butler said it seems like a letter from the old master!"

"Old master?" Xia Jingfeng frowned.

Is it the father?

Of course, nominally, that’s his father, but in reality...

In his memory.

That person had never looked him in the eye since his birth.

Just raised him, does he deserve to be called a father?

Sarcasm rose in Xia Jingfeng’s eyes, he couldn’t help but tighten his grip on the envelope, his knuckles turning white.

The servant boy dared not say more.

Having delivered the letter, he withdrew, leaving Xia Jingfeng alone in the room.

He stared at the letter for a long time, hesitating.

Hesitating whether to tear it up and throw it away or to open and read it?!

In the end, reason overcame emotion.

No matter what, he decided to read it first.

After all, that person did raise him, he would be responsible for old age care.

But forgiveness was unattainable.

He couldn’t manage his siblings, nor could he deal with Lady Yao.

If he didn’t repay those old grievances tenfold or a hundredfold, he was already being quite merciful, wasn’t he?

With such thoughts.

Xia Jingfeng opened the envelope.

Inside, there was not much paper, only a thin sheet.

He quickly finished reading it.

There wasn’t much in it.

Firstly, he had been demoted to Seventh Rank County Magistrate.

Secondly, which he had already guessed, was about the siblings.

The letter implied.

The siblings were about to grow up.

The brother needed schooling, the sister needed marrying.

There were neither good academies nor suitable families in the small place.

They wanted to send them to the Capital City, to live with their elder brother.

Let the elder brother find Xia Weifeng a good academy, let sister-in-law find Xia Ruyi a good sister to teach manners, and in the future find a good family in the Capital City.

Upon reaching this point.

Xia Jingfeng smiled, stopped reading further, and tore the letter into pieces.

Then.

With a smile on his lips, he placed the letter over a candle.

Watching it slowly burn, turning bit by bit into ashes.

"Hahaha..."

"Ha!"

He looked at the pile of black ash, laughing heartily.

As if he’d heard the funniest joke in the world.

At this moment, footsteps suddenly sounded outside.

Xia Tingfeng came to his yard after finishing his duties.

From afar, he heard him laughing, and pushed the door open, asking.

"Second brother, what are you laughing at?!"

Seeing it was him, Xia Jingfeng quickly stood up.

"Big brother, you’re here!"

Xia Tingfeng noticed the ash near his seat and frowned, asking.

"Did something happen?"

"What’s wrong with you, second brother? What are you laughing at?!"

Xia Jingfeng stopped laughing and explained.

"I just heard a funny joke, if you’re interested, big brother, shall I tell you?!"

Xia Tingfeng paused and then sat down beside him.

"What’s going on, tell me!"

He couldn’t understand the scholars’ eloquent speak, nor liked riddles.

So Xia Jingfeng didn’t beat around the bush.

He explained about Old Master Xia’s letter, and then sneered.

"This is simply outrageous!"

"I’m myself still living under someone else’s shelter, yet he made such a request disregarding my feelings."

"Moreover, if he truly intended to send his precious ones here, why didn’t he write to you directly and insist on my attention in person?!"

Doesn’t he consider big brother as part of the Xia Family?

Sorry.

In his heart, big brother will always be big brother, but the father, he can never become a true father.

After hearing this.

Xia Tingfeng was not as angry as expected, his expression unchanged.

After a while, he smiled lightly.

"So that’s how it is! I understand!"

Xia Jingfeng was somewhat surprised.

"Big brother, you..." He wouldn’t be agreeing, would he?

Xia Tingfeng refused almost without thinking.

"Impossible!"

"However, for the sake of filial duty, it would be better if you wrote back!"

"My place is small, things are chaotic, besides, your sister-in-law has to manage the house and care for Zeze!"

"If your third brother and third sister come, there might not even be a place for them to stay, and they’ll surely be wronged!"

"So, they had better not come!"

Xia Jingfeng was puzzled.

"Big brother, if we just pretend not to see it..." wouldn’t that be more convenient?

With sarcasm, Xia Tingfeng smiled.

"Of course it’s easier to pretend not to see it, but... if they don’t see a reply, Father and Lady Yao will definitely just send Third Brother and Third Sister here directly!"

"At that time, refusing would be a hassle!"

Xia Jingfeng realized and nodded.

"I see!"

"Big brother, you’re wise!"

Xia Tingfeng smiled bitterly.

It’s not wisdom!

It’s just, he has witnessed more of the shamelessness of Old Master Xia and Lady Yao than Jingfeng has.

Thinking for a while, he sighed again.

"Even so, who knows, Third Brother and Third Sister might already be on their way!"

What’s said in the letter might not be a discussion, just a notice.

"Ah?!" Xia Jingfeng was surprised.

But he soon reacted.

"Come to think of it, that’s quite likely!"

"This letter is nothing but a notice!"

Xia Tingfeng sighed.

"We should handle it carefully!"

"Anyway..."

He suddenly squinted his eyes.

"Anyway, the doors of my Marquis of Xiahou’s Mansion, they’ll never set foot in!"

Xia Jingfeng was reassured.

"Big brother, you’re right!"

The brothers thus reached consensus.

Actually, being parents to this extent is not easy.

One wonders how Old Master Xia would feel if he found out.

Of course, it doesn’t matter.

After all, back then he was indifferent to the four children, he never seemed to care about how they felt, did he?

For all things, there’s a cause and effect.

Retribution has finally arrived, hasn’t it?

...

After receiving this letter, a few days later.

The brothers indeed received a second letter.

The content of this letter... was exactly as Xia Tingfeng anticipated.

Only a short paragraph was written:

Your third brother and third sister are already on their way.

As your father, I currently lack the capability, you, as a brother, should take good care of your siblings!

The letter was signed, as your father Xia Yu.

This time, after Xia Jingfeng read the letter, he didn’t even feel like burning it.

He tore it directly into pieces.

"As expected!"

"They really are coming!"