Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 105

Chapter 105

 

Lu Yao shared his idea with Zhao Beichuan.

 

“Take over Yazhiju Residence?”

 

“Yes, I asked someone to inquire this morning. The landlord of Yazhiju Residence has been trying to rent it out recently, and the rent has dropped from 600 taels to 530 taels.”

 

Zhao Beichuan frowned slightly. “It’s still too expensive. The yearly rent is almost equivalent to three years of rent now.”

 

“Although the price is high, its location is excellent, and the foot traffic is substantial. Merchants passing through all stop by for food. Plus, the shop is spacious, and there are private rooms upstairs. It can be used to host distinguished guests in the future.”

 

Conservatively estimated, if they moved there, they could earn at least five times as much in a year as they do now.

 

Zhao Beichuan said, “Whatever you want to do, I’ll support you. But I’m just worried that Madam Jiang might cause trouble again.”

 

“Don’t worry. Things are different now. With Zhenbei Wang as our backing, whether she’s Madam Jiang or Lady Scallion, let her try to make trouble with us!”

 

—

 

The next day, Lu Yao contacted the landlord of Yazhiju Residence to discuss renting the property.

 

The landlord, Zhang Dajing, was a chubby middle-aged man. It was currently the seventh month, and the oppressive summer heat had him constantly wiping sweat with his handkerchief.

 

He scrutinized Lu Yao. “The rent for my property isn’t cheap. Are you sure you want to rent it?”

 

Lu Yao replied, “If it’s suitable, we’ll definitely rent it.”

 

The landlord opened the main door, and Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan stepped inside.

 

Yazhiju Residence had been vacant for over six months. The interior smelled musty, cobwebs hung from the beams, and the tables and chairs were covered in a thick layer of dust, giving the place a desolate appearance.

 

Cough, cough. “You can look around by yourselves. I’ll wait in the backyard,” the landlord said, too lazy to climb upstairs because of his heavy build.

 

Lu Yao pulled Zhao Beichuan along to explore the place.

 

It had to be said, Yazhiju Residence was truly spacious!

 

The main hall on the first floor seemed even larger than that of Jinyu Tower, though it wasn’t utilized efficiently. Unlike Jinyu Tower, the tables weren’t separated by screens.

 

Zhao Beichuan wiped some dust off a table. “Although these tables and chairs are dirty, they’re made of good wood. Just repainting them would make them usable again.”

 

“Yes!” Lu Yao agreed. He appreciated this aspect, as making new tables and chairs would take too long.

 

The two went up to the second floor. Upstairs, there were only two private rooms; the rest of the space was filled with round tables, just like downstairs.

 

Lu Yao suggested, “In the future, we’ll remove the scattered tables on the second floor and convert the entire floor into private dining rooms like Jinyu Tower.”

 

Zhao Beichuan nodded. Though he had never been to Jinyu Tower, he trusted his husband’s reasoning.

 

The kitchen was located behind the main hall on the first floor. It had six stove stations, with steaming, boiling, and frying equipment all complete. Back then, Zheng Yuan had even tried to replicate their eatery’s cooking tools, which now worked in their favor.

 

Lu Yao had never been to Yazhiju Residence before and assumed it was only two stories. He didn’t expect it to have a large backyard that could accommodate parking for guests.

 

Next to the yard were more than a dozen rooms. These were originally built for the first shopkeeper’s family. When the shop later passed to Zheng Yuan, these rooms were abandoned and filled with old furniture and other clutter.

 

Lu Yao inspected them one by one, intending to clear out the items, renovate the rooms, and move in to save time traveling between locations.

 

After touring the property, it was time to discuss rent.

 

Zhang Dajing said cautiously, “Shopkeeper Lu, I don’t mean to look down on you, but the rent here is very high. And the minimum lease term is three years. If it’s difficult, we can just forget about it.”

 

Lu Yao smiled. “How high? Name your price.”

 

Zhang Dajing held up five fingers. “At least 500 taels of silver per year. Any lower, and it won’t work. Back when Zheng Yuan rented it, it was 600 taels per year. If he hadn’t ruined its reputation and tarnished this location, it wouldn’t be this cheap now.”

 

“Alright, I’ll rent it for five years.”

 

“Five years?!” Zhang Dajing stood up in surprise.

 

“Yes. If that’s acceptable, let’s sign the contract and then go withdraw the silver.”

 

“Alright, fine!” Zhang Dajing smiled from ear to ear, never expecting Lu Yao to be so well-off that he could immediately take out 2,500 taels of silver!

 

Just a few days ago, Zhang was still worrying about the property. This excellent shop had remained unrented due to Zheng Yuan’s bad reputation.

 

Although a few people had shown interest, they had offered extremely low prices—some even suggesting only 300 taels a year for a two-story building, which infuriated Zhang enough to drive them away.

 

Lu Yao’s ability to produce such a large sum of silver at once was all thanks to the distillery. The remaining 3,000 jin of liquor had been taken by Brother Liang last month, with the payment settled by the end of the month—amounting to 6,000 taels of silver in total.

 

This was also why Lu Yao wanted to move the shop. Money sitting idle is dead; investing it in something worthwhile allows it to generate more wealth.

 

After settling the details, they went to the government office to sign the lease agreement. The term was five years, with stipulations about not damaging the property or subletting it.

 

Once both parties stamped their fingerprints, Lu Yao took Zhang to the silver exchange. While this era didn’t yet have fully developed banknotes, it did have early prototypes.

 

The jade token in Lu Yao’s possession, carved with a landscape design, was issued by the largest silver exchange in Pingzhou and could be used to withdraw deposited silver.

 

Since the Liang family had shares in the silver exchange, the payment for the distillery’s sales was directly deposited there.

 

Two thousand taels of silver was no small amount, filling an entire chest carried by two servants.

 

Zhang handed over the shop’s keys and said with a grin, “I wish Shopkeeper Lu prosperity and wealth!”

 

“Thank you for your kind words.”

 

News of Lu Yao taking over the shop reached the ears of Jinyu Tower’s manager the next day. He immediately reported it to the prefect’s residence.

 

Madam Jiang remained calm upon hearing the news, sipping her tea and saying, “You don’t need to inform me of their matters in the future. The Lu family is no longer what it once was. Don’t provoke them.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Her husband’s term would end in February next year, and she needed to focus on building connections. Business matters were secondary; returning to the capital was the top priority.

 

—

 

Having secured the property, Lu Yao wrote a letter to his hometown, inviting his second brother and Lu Yun’s families to come and help. He planned to leave the old shop to them.

 

This was a decision he and Zhao Beichuan had made together. The new shop would cater to a high-end clientele, requiring a complete overhaul of dishes and pricing, which would naturally attract a different customer base.

 

It would be a pity to abandon the old customers entirely. Transferring the shop to outsiders wasn’t appealing either. Despite its small size, the shop could easily make over 1,000 taels of silver annually—a far better prospect than in town.

 

Managing both shops simultaneously was impossible. Lu Yao lacked the energy, and he also wanted to support his brothers while reuniting their family, especially their mother, who missed her grandchildren and had expressed her desire to return home for the New Year multiple times.

 

While waiting for a reply, Lu Yao left the current shop’s operations to Zhao Beichuan and Lu Miao while overseeing the renovations of the new shop.

 

Eight carpenters and four bricklayers were hired to first relay the flooring in the main hall, replacing the original clay tiles with smooth marble tiles.

 

Just the tiles alone cost over 30 taels of silver, but the finished look was worth it. The room became instantly brighter.

 

Next, all the tables and chairs were repainted. Unlike modern paint, ancient varnish was made from natural tree resin and was expensive. However, the refurbished furniture looked brand new, saving significantly compared to buying new ones.

 

The staircase and railings were also repainted. Lu Yao ordered ten wooden folding screens to section off the main hall into smaller areas, mimicking Jinyu Tower’s design. This provided diners with privacy and minimized disturbances from nearby tables.

 

The second floor was almost completely redone, with eight private rooms created, each with its own theme: Spring Pavilion, Summer Pavilion, Autumn Pavilion, Winter Pavilion, and Plum Room, Orchid Room, Bamboo Room, and Chrysanthemum Room.

 

Drawing inspiration from upscale restaurants he had visited in his previous life, Lu Yao incorporated every possible elegant touch to elevate the atmosphere. Wealthy patrons adored such places that reflected their refined tastes.

 

He also set aside a few days to have Lu Shiliu and the others clear out the backyard’s clutter. Usable items were sent to the distillery, while the rest were chopped into firewood.

 

Lu Shiliu had recently been promoted to supervisor, taking charge of most distillery operations.

 

Last month, the distillery added ten more laborers, not purchased by Lu Yao but sent by Liang Zhong.

 

They were disabled veterans who had suffered severe injuries on the battlefield—some missing arms, others a leg—and struggled to survive without families.

 

Liang Zhong said, “Just give them a place to live and enough food to eat.”

 

These people, though old and disabled, work just as hard as the slaves, never slacking off. Even with their disabilities, they do what they can to contribute.

 

After some time, Lu Yao decided to treat them like household servants, giving each person 200 wen of wages per month. This money could be used to buy clothes and food, but gambling and visiting brothels were strictly forbidden. If caught, they would be reported to Vice Commander Liang and taken away immediately.

 

—

 

When Lu Lin and Hu Chunrong received another letter from Lu Yao, it was already August.

 

This time, the two of them took it to a nearby retired scholar, asking him to read it out loud.

 

The old scholar was a regular at their shop. He had once taught at the local school but had stopped due to age. Instead, he now ran a small booth next to the eatery, helping people read and write letters for a modest fee of ten wen per letter.

 

Opening the letter, the old scholar first congratulated them, saying, “Congratulations!”

 

Lu Lin and Hu Chunrong were confused. “What are you congratulating us for?”

 

The scholar then read the letter aloud: “With the help of a benefactor, business is flourishing, and I have expanded the shop. I am truly overwhelmed and humbly request Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Fourth Brother, and Fourth Sister-in-law to come to the prefectural city to assist me.”

 

“Your younger brother is asking you to go to the prefectural city!”

 

As the couple left the scholar’s home, they were in a daze. Earlier in the year, Lu Yao had mentioned this briefly, but they hadn’t taken it seriously. They thought he had just settled down and didn’t want to trouble him. Unexpectedly, he had written again so soon, saying he was too busy to manage alone.

 

Hu Chunrong hesitated and asked, “Should we go?”

 

She was reluctant to leave their shop, which had greatly improved their lives over the past two years. At the same time, the allure of life in the prefectural city tempted her, leaving her torn.

 

Lu Lin tucked the letter into his pocket and said, “I’ll go to Willow Tree Village and discuss this with Lu Yun and Youtian before making a decision.”

 

“Alright.”

 

The couple returned to the shop, tidied up, and then Lu Lin set off in a mule cart toward Willow Tree Village.

 

It was the harvest season, and both Wang Youtian and Lu Yun were in the fields. Only Wang’s elderly mother was home, watching over the children.

 

When she saw Lu Lin arrive, she greeted him warmly. “Lu Yun’s brother is here! Come on in.”

 

“Auntie,” Lu Lin replied, parking his cart. The children ran over curiously, and Lu Lin picked up the youngest, Jin Jin. “Jin Jin, do you remember your second uncle?”

 

The shy child nodded. Though almost two years old and able to understand adults, Jin Jin still had a lisp.

 

“They’re in the fields and won’t be back until later.”

 

Lu Lin decided to go find them and help out. “Which field are they in?”

 

The elderly woman pointed northward. “Just keep heading that way. Once you pass the big elm tree, you’ll see the hillside fields.”

 

Lu Lin put Jin Jin down and handed the children a handful of apricots from his pocket before driving the cart toward the mountains.

 

The cart traveled along the mountain road for half an hour. After passing a large elm tree, he spotted the Wang family’s mule cart and parked beside it. Just as he approached the field to lend a hand, he heard the sounds of a heated argument.

 

Quickening his pace, Lu Lin saw Lu Yun in a shouting match with Wang’s eldest sister-in-law. Nearby, Wang Youtian was trying to calm Lu Yun down. “Enough! Don’t stoop to their level.”

 

“When our father divided the land, why should half a mu of what we planted go to them? If they don’t return that half mu of millet today, I won’t let this go!” Lu Yun fumed.

 

Wang’s sister-in-law shouted back, “Nonsense! Which eye of yours saw me take it? Maybe your family harvested it and is now falsely accusing us!”

 

Lu Yun’s eyes reddened with anger, and he raised his sickle, ready to fight.

 

Wang Youtian held him back tightly. “Enough! Don’t lower yourself to her level. It’s just half a mu of millet—consider it fed to dogs. It’s not worth fighting over.”

 

“Lu Yun, Youtian, what’s going on?” Lu Lin hurried over.

 

When Lu Yun turned and saw his brother, he quickly wiped away his tears and forced a smile. “It’s nothing, Brother. Why are you here?”

 

Lu Lin didn’t reply, instead casting a stern look at Wang Youtian.

 

With a sigh, Wang Youtian explained, “This morning, when we came to harvest this field, we found half a mu already cut. It couldn’t have been anyone else but my eldest brother and sister-in-law who secretly took it.”

 

Family disputes like this were tricky for Lu Lin to comment on. Although the Wang family had divided their household, they were still blood relatives. It wasn’t worth causing a major rift over half a mu of millet.

 

“Alright, stop crying and finish harvesting this field quickly. I came to discuss something with you.”

 

Lu Yun wiped his tears. Although he didn’t know why his brother was there, he obediently picked up his sickle and got to work. With three people working together, they finished harvesting before nightfall.

 

Meanwhile, Wang’s eldest sister-in-law smirked. “I told you the youngest wife was easy to bully. This year, we took half a mu; next year, we’ll take a full mu. In a few years, we might claim the whole field!”

 

Wang’s eldest brother snapped, “Stop causing trouble! You’ll tear this family apart!”

 

“What did you say? Do you have any conscience? Who am I working so hard for?” She began wailing dramatically.

 

Her husband, exasperated, said, “Fine, fine. I was wrong. Get up and keep working!”

 

—

 

After harvesting the grain, Lu Lin helped them transport it home.

 

Lu Yun remained glum on the way. At home, Wang Youtian planned to buy wine and food, but Lu Lin stopped him. “No need to buy anything. I came to talk about something and will leave afterward.”

 

“That won’t do! You’ve worked all day—you must stay for a meal.”

 

“Whatever you have at home is fine. There’s no need to go out and buy anything.”

 

Lu Yun cooked a piece of salted meat they had left, and the three of them sat down. Lu Lin then took the letter from his pocket and handed it to them.

 

Since neither Lu Yun nor Wang Youtian could read, Lu Lin summarized the contents: “Third Brother has taken on another big shop and is too busy. He’s asking us to go to the prefectural city to help.”

 

Lu Yun was so excited that tears streamed down his face. “Great! I’ve wanted to go for so long!”

 

Unlike his husband, Wang Youtian remained calm. He pulled Lu Yun’s sleeve and urged him to sit down. “Did Third Brother mention anything else in the letter?”

 

“He said the prefectural city offers more opportunities and better pay. Also, you wouldn’t have to worry about labor conscription. He has connections there and can transfer your household registration to exempt you from future service.”

 

This last point swayed Wang Youtian. Their recent conscription had involved working just 30 li away to dig canals and repair roads for two months, but there was no guarantee it would always be so manageable.

 

“Brother, are you and Sister-in-law going?”

 

“We haven’t decided yet, but your sister-in-law seems inclined to go,” Lu Lin replied thoughtfully.

 

Lu Yun suggested, “Why don’t we all go together? Treat it as a chance to visit Mother. If it doesn’t work out, we can return. What do you think?”

 

After some consideration, Lu Lin agreed. “Alright, let’s plan for it. Prepare over the next few days, and we’ll meet in town on the sixth of August to set off together!”

 

After dinner, as night fell, Lu Lin departed for town.

 

Once he was gone, Wang Youtian visited his parents to inform them of the plan.

 

The elderly Wang patriarch was delighted. “That’s great news! Of course, you should go!”

 

“But what about you and Mother if we leave?”

 

“Do you think your brothers would let us starve? Besides, I’m not too old to work yet.”

 

The elder Wang was forward-thinking and understood the rarity of such opportunities. “If someone is willing to help you, you should seize the chance. If you live well, your mother and I will have peace of mind.”

 

His wife nodded in agreement. “Go ahead. Don’t worry about us.”

 

With their encouragement, Wang Youtian made up his mind. The next day, he harvested the rest of the crops, leaving half for his parents and selling the rest in town for travel expenses.

 

On the sixth of August, early in the morning, he loaded his mule cart with his family and headed to town.