Chapter 205: Chapter 197 Elder Xia
When Xia Xue and Xiao Lin had just fallen into slumber, Elder Xia got up. While having breakfast, when the secretary tried to hand him the morning paper, Elder Xia waved it off and said, "There’s no need for these things anymore!"
Xia Yusheng was quite surprised. Every morning during breakfast, Elder Xia would read the business weekly, never missing a day for decades. What was going on today?
"Dad, are you feeling unwell?" Xia Yusheng asked.
"I’m indeed getting old, it’s time to delegate power. Xia Xue was right," Elder Xia said. Despite the words, his tone showed no resentment; instead, he seemed to have let everything go, very calm.
"Dad... Xue Er..." Xia Yusheng wanted to say something, but didn’t know how to begin.
Elder Xia waved his hand and looked at the dozen Xia Family direct descendants gathered around the breakfast table, saying, "After this breakfast, have Lao Liu accompany me back to the old home. From now on, all the matters of the Xia Group are entirely in your hands. The achievements of Yusheng over these years are evident. I’ll instruct the law firm to transfer my shares to you all!"
Xia Yusheng was greatly shocked, and the other Xia Family descendants were also a bit puzzled. They hadn’t taken Elder Xia’s words last night seriously, but now Elder Xia’s demeanor seemed to confirm them?
"Dad, what are you doing?" Xia Yusheng evidently hadn’t taken Elder Xia’s words seriously.
"Alright, even without me, all your efforts over these years, I’ve observed. It’s time to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor!" Elder Xia’s expression was very calm: "Yusheng, your abilities are indeed strong, but sometimes you’re too rigid, easy to break by being too strong. Over the years, why haven’t I let go? Because I’m afraid of your rigidity. Fortunately, your performance has been improving, and I’m reassured. And you, Yusheng, being the eldest, why haven’t I given the management power of the group to you? You act in contrast to Yusheng, sometimes being overly conservative and procrastinating. You’ve been like this for years..."
While eating breakfast, Elder Xia critiqued each member of the Xia Family, with a tone of handing over affairs, making everyone believe that Elder Xia was indeed handing over complete power.
"For many years, I haven’t delegated power, not just because you all haven’t truly grown, but also the most important reason is that our Xia Family started from scratch, without any solid foundation. Yanjing City is vast, with millions of residents, and our billions of assets are too small in such a large Yanjing City. Any carelessness could lead to complete collapse. Fortunately, Yusheng has a good daughter. Later, Xia Xue and Xiao Lin, you should be courteous to them. If there’s anything you can’t solve, it’s best to consult Xia Xue’s husband, Xiao Lin!"
Xia Yusheng knows Elder Xia wouldn’t make baseless statements, and even though Xiao Lin is young, the background he possesses isn’t something the Xia Family can compare to.
This breakfast was eaten harmoniously, yet Xia Yusheng felt very uneasy. To be honest, although Elder Xia hadn’t delegated power much these years, there’s value in holding onto power, after all, Elder Xia has been immersed in the business arena for decades, experiencing things they couldn’t compare to. Once Elder Xia really retires, Xia Yusheng feels he may not be able to control the Xia Group, not to mention if Elder Xia isn’t in charge anymore, should the Xia Group listen to him or to others?
Elder Xia didn’t say much else; after breakfast, he casually packed some belongings and left easily.
At nine in the morning, almost all the direct descendants of the Xia Family went to work, everyone could foresee what kind of matters would unfold next.
Elder Xia left, leaving behind a huge Xia Family, and from now on these people wouldn’t live under Elder Xia’s shadow, they would have absolute freedom.
A little before ten, Xia Yusheng convened a Xia Group board meeting, essentially an internal Xia Family meeting. Elder Xia got up early in the morning, ate some breakfast, and went back to the countryside to enjoy retirement. It seemed he completely let go, and the shares Elder Xia owned in the Xia Group were already entrusted to lawyers to proceed with the transfer at the Xia Group headquarters at ten.
Xia Yusheng, the Family Head of the Xia Family, wasn’t relaxed. Elder Xia left, and didn’t feel the excitement of being able to control the power of the Xia Family, but instead grew more anxious. Although other brothers wouldn’t immediately act aggressively, Xia Yusheng knew this was just a matter of time.
"How should we handle the fourth?" At the nearly end of the meeting, Xia Yusheng, as the eldest of the Xia Family, raised the question.
Xia Yunong was detained in the Xia Family Villa since last night and didn’t attend this meeting. When Elder Xia left, he didn’t say how to handle Xia Yunong; now that Elder Xia isn’t present, Xia Xue’s opinion is the most crucial, since the current freedom is granted by Xia Xue.
At this point, Xia Yusheng’s secretary quietly came in, approached Xia Yusheng, and whispered two words. Xia Yusheng nodded, after the secretary left, he glanced around the room and said, "Let’s adjourn the meeting here for today; we’ll continue this afternoon."
Xia Yusheng currently interrupted the meeting because besides it being close to lunchtime, the main reason is that Xia Xue and Xiao Lin have gotten up, and matters regarding Xia Yunong should be left to Xia Xue to decide.
When Xia Yusheng returned to the Xia Family Villa, Xia Xue and Xiao Lin were eating. Regarding Xia Xue, Xia Yusheng couldn’t exhibit fatherly authority in front of her, whether in the past or now, facing Xia Xue, there’s only deep guilt.
"Xiaoxue, time to eat!" Xia Yusheng didn’t know how to start asking Xia Xue about Xia Yunong’s situation. Xia Yunong is currently confined in a room on the second floor, and Elder Xia had already set off back to the main house in the countryside this morning. It was obvious that he was completely relinquishing authority and not participating in the future trajectory of the Xia Family anymore. As for the issue of Xia Yunong, it was naturally left to Xia Yusheng to handle.
"Dad, you’re back? Have you eaten?" Xia Xue greeted Xia Yusheng warmly when she saw him return, in noticeably good spirits.
The attendant beside them had already set a new set of utensils, and Xia Yusheng sat down to eat with Xia Xue and Xiao Lin.
"Dad, where’s Grandpa?" Xia Xue asked, looking at Xia Yusheng.
Xia Yusheng paused for a moment, then said with a hint of melancholy, "After breakfast this morning, your grandpa went back to the ancestral house!"
Xia Xue paused, then looked at Xia Yusheng and said, "Dad, the affairs of the group must be quite troublesome, right?"
"Not too bad, just not sure how to deal with your fourth uncle!" Xia Yusheng replied.
Xia Xue paused for a moment. Previously, her hatred for Xia Yunong was immense. She hated that he had caused her mother’s death, hated that he made her feel like she had a home but no home.
But now she’s engaged, has found a good husband. If it weren’t for Xia Yunong’s persecution, she would have always lived in the Xia Family, never gone out, and never met Xiao Lin. In a way, it seemed like everything was predestined by heaven.
Now that Xia Yunong’s true nature has been exposed, Xia Xue never really thought about what to do with him. But now, with Xia Yusheng asking this, Xia Xue truly didn’t know what to do. She turned to Xiao Lin, who smiled gently and said, "What else can be done? The law is the law, and family rules are family rules. Whatever law was broken will dictate the punishment."
Xia Xue nodded in agreement. Since she didn’t know what to do, let him face whatever punishment is due for what he’s done. She nodded and said, "I trust that my father will handle it well!"
In his heart, Xia Yusheng was secretly grateful to Xiao Lin. Although Xia Yunong committed many crimes, based on Xiao Lin’s way of handling matters last night, Xia Yunong would undoubtedly have no chance of survival. No matter what, it’s been twenty years, and even if it’s uncovered today, Xia Yunong is still his brother; blood is thicker than water.
"Hmm, I know what to do now!" Xia Yusheng realized that Xia Yunong had avoided a severe punishment, but it seemed his remaining years would be spent in prison—that was the best ending for him.
"So, what are your plans for the future?" Xia Yusheng then asked. Given Xiao Lin’s background, it wasn’t possible for him to simply be a small doctor at a school hospital, there must be something more extraordinary.
Xia Xue glanced at Xiao Lin; it was obvious that Xia Yusheng’s question was directed at him. Xiao Lin put down his chopsticks and said, "I’ll stay at the school hospital for now and take a break for a while!"
"Oh!" Xia Yusheng nodded, then sighed and said, "Although I know you’ll take good care of Xiaoxue, I still have to reiterate, take good care of Xiaoxue; she has suffered too much!"
"Hmm, I will, I won’t let her suffer any more grievances!" Xiao Lin replied seriously.
"Dad, don’t worry. Just focus more on the family affairs!" Xia Xue glanced at Xia Yusheng and said coquettishly. Although the elder had left and relinquished power, it didn’t mean Xia Yusheng had fully grasped the authority.
"Alright, alright, I won’t worry, okay? By the way, Xiaoxue, since you’re back, stay at home for a few more days!" Xia Yusheng said.
"There are still many things to do at the hospital, and it’s not convenient to commute from here, so it’s better for me to stay at the school!" Xia Xue declined.
The father and daughter chatted intermittently, appearing harmonious. At least, the relationship between the Xia Family father and daughter had improved a lot compared to before. Maybe it was because Xia Xue had found a good husband, or perhaps Xia Yunong facing justice helped Xia Xue overcome her emotional knots.
After the meal, Xia Xue and Xiao Lin said goodbye to Xia Yusheng. They were in Xia Xue’s own car. Xiao Lin’s car was undamaged inside but in poor condition outside. Yanjing was not a place where such a vehicle could be maintained, so it had been sent toward the capital earlier. It probably wouldn’t return for at least a week. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian () to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)