A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 1313 - 1311: Bitter Memories

The three quickly changed the topic.Somehow, they started talking about Xia Jingfeng’s childhood.

Looking at the table full of snacks and premium tea, Lady Wen smiled and said,

"Back then, when Jingfeng was a child, he was always hungry, and his little face was always sallow and emaciated!"

"The pity is... I didn’t have many options back then!"

"All three children were struggling!"

"You don’t need to mention it; frail like a bean sprout, yet kept gritting your teeth to study hard!"

"I still remember, your little body was covered in frostbite in the winter, and rashes and mosquito bites in the summer!"

"Such a figure would make anyone concerned, even an unrelated person!"

"And your mother!"

"She was even worse off than you, scrimping to let her brother eat more, risking her life several times!"

"As for Tingting, he was like a runaway horse, never returning home, wandering outside every day, who knows what he was doing!"

"Whenever he managed to come home, it always resulted in a fight with father! Eventually, after constant quarrels, he just stopped coming home completely!"

"During those times, we truly suffered!"

Lady Wen reminisced about the bitter memories while eating snacks.

She carefully admired a piece of plum sweet potato cake and sighed.

"The pastries back then were not as exquisite as this!"

"Though they tasted the same, we ate them only because we didn’t have anything else!"

"Sweet potatoes were cheap, a few coins for a pound, and plum powder was made from plum petals in our garden, didn’t cost money, but wasn’t as tasty as store-bought plum powder!"

"Under such conditions, we somehow survived!"

Lady Wen was deeply moved.

It was hard to tell whether it was nostalgia among the elderly or not seeing Xia Jingfeng for a long time.

Her speech flowed out endlessly, until she let out all the thoughts she’d bottled up inside, only then did she stop.

She took a sip of tea, feeling quite relieved.

But seeing Xia Jingfeng and Tang Xun’s expressions were not good, she realized she had said too much.

"It’s all my fault, I talked too much about past troubles!"

"Jingfeng, you all... don’t take it to heart!"

"I’m getting old, oh, look at my mind, it’s getting muddled!"

She patted her forehead.

(Was it really confusion, or was it pent-up feelings seeking release? Who knows!)

"It’s alright, Second Aunt!"

"It’s alright!"

Xia Jingfeng quickly reassured her.

Tang Xun also stepped forward and patted her shoulder.

"Second Aunt, don’t blame yourself! Even if you don’t say it, I’m keen to hear about Second Uncle’s childhood!"

"Anything he has experienced, whether good or bad, I want to know!"

Though I wasn’t part of it, I can ask!

I just want to know your experiences, your encounters, everything about you!

Lady Wen wiped her tears.

"Let’s not talk about it anymore!"

"I’m just an old woman, only causing you discomfort with my ramblings!"

"Today is indeed a good day for you all!"

"Good!"

Xia Jingfeng smiled and diverted the topic.

"Why don’t we talk about how Third Brother is doing now!"

Tang Xun, realizing he couldn’t contribute, simply sat beside Lady Wen and began slowly shelling some open peanuts.

After a moment of reflection, Lady Wen said.

"Wei Feng... his mother has mostly recovered, her mind is clear again!"

"Although she is still somewhat unstable, as long as she isn’t provoked, she won’t have episodes!"

"I don’t really involve myself in his matters, since both his mother and father are there!"

"But seeing as the child is already over twenty and still hasn’t settled down with a wife, it’s quite concerning!"

Xia Jingfeng frowned deeply.

"Wasn’t father always encouraging him to study?"

Lady Wen shook her head with a wry smile.

"Study?"

"I don’t think the child has the aptitude for academics; he’s in his twenties now and hasn’t even passed the Scholar exams, what hope is there!"

"What about martial arts then?"

Xia Jingfeng continued.

"Why not practice more, like our elder brother, and aim for success in martial arts competitions for renown!"

Lady Wen chuckled again.

"In the past couple of years, it seems his father has also considered this idea!"

"Thinking at least he could learn a few moves, and if he joins the army in the future, he could rely on Tingting, finding daily sustenance shouldn’t be difficult!"

"His father even found several Martial Arts masters for him, but..."

Lady Wen paused and continued.

"With his physique, always chubby since childhood! You all know it!"

"Master teaches only those students with potential, and inferior masters just consume money with no value!"

"To this date, his father hasn’t found a suitable one, and the child isn’t willing to bear hardships to learn martial arts, so the matter is left unaddressed!"

Xia Jingfeng seemed incredulous, a hint of disdain in his eyes.

"As a man, one should stand tall, unafraid of hardships!"

"Yet, he hasn’t even started training and is already unbearably fragile, his courage probably can’t match even a young girl!"

Lady Wen chuckled and shook her head.

"What does it matter?"

"Ultimately, it is the indulgence of his father, it’s beyond my concern!"

She drank a bit more tea and continued.

"Later... seeing that he was unsuited for both academics and martial pursuits, wandering idly every day, his father thought, why not find him a wife!"

"With a wife to manage, and future kids, he should settle down!"

"His father began asking around matchmakers to introduce girls!"

"In the beginning, they proposed a merchant’s daughter!"

"I have seen the girl once, with proper features and graceful manners, although a merchant’s daughter, she has learned almost everything from reading to calligraphy with the guidance of tutors since childhood! Skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting!"

"His father and mother were quite pleased, praised her for being cultured and wise!"

"Right before the families were to finalize the engagement, Wei Feng found out and caused a ruckus!"

"He accused his father of looking down on him, intending to marry him to a merchant’s daughter!"

"He adamantly refused, declaring even if forced to marry her, he wouldn’t acknowledge it!"

"His father and mother were furious, but had no choice, they had to drop the engagement!"

"Later, his mother found several more matches for him, all rejected for varying reasons!"

"Discontent for being illegitimate, looks not pleasing enough, temper undesirable, or illiterate!"

"After much drama, he didn’t fancy a single girl!"

"His mother became so upset she had several episodes!"

"Eventually, his father didn’t bother anymore and didn’t ask me to intervene!"

"I just took it as it is, letting nature take its course!"

Xia Jingfeng listened, sometimes frowning, sometimes nodding.