Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 117

Chapter 117

 

At the front, Lin Zijian ate until his stomach was round and full. He had always known the food at the Lu family was exceptional, but he hadn’t expected the flavors to have improved so much over the years.

 

Just this copper hotpot alone was a hundred times better than anything in the capital!

 

The soup base was made from aged chicken and mushroom broth, with the oil carefully skimmed off the top. The soup was light yellow and clear.

 

The tender lamb was freshly sliced that day. Each thin piece, once dipped into the pot for a moment, curled and cooked perfectly.

 

When coated in freshly ground sesame sauce, rich and fragrant, with a hint of their homemade pickled leek flower sauce, and topped with scallion stalks and cilantro from their greenhouse, each bite was a burst of flavor, leaving an endless aftertaste.

 

Once he was full, Lin Zijian turned his attention back to Zhao Xiaonian.

 

In his memory, Zhao Xiaonian was the older sister who used to play with them. Six years later, he hadn’t expected her to grow into someone so stunning.

 

A servant coughed lightly from beside him. “Young Master, we should be leaving.”

 

Lin Zijian turned his head. “Uncle Lin, why are you so insistent on rushing me away?”

 

“The provincial examination is just around the corner, Young Master. You should focus your thoughts on the imperial exams.”

 

Before they had left, Madam had instructed Lin Deng to keep a close eye on the young master. At his age, curiosity about romance was inevitable, but it was critical not to let any improper influences take advantage of the situation.

 

Uncle Lin believed that no matter how beautiful the girls in this restaurant might be, they were not proper people, and it was best for the young master to avoid entanglement.

 

Lin Zijian sighed, stood up, and went to the counter to settle the bill.

 

Zhao Xiaonian quickly stopped him. “How could I take your silver? You’ve come from so far; just treat this place like your home. Wait a few days for Beidou to return, and then you can play with him.”

 

Lin Zijian’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Thank you, Sister Xiaonian. You—”

 

Before he could finish his sentence, Zhao Xiaonian’s eyes suddenly lit up, and she turned and hurried toward the door.

 

Lin Zijian also turned his head and saw a slender man walk in from outside. He wasn’t tall, but his features were handsome, and he spoke gently.

 

“Brother Kuan, you’re back!”

 

Ma Kuan smiled and nodded, taking a long wooden box out of his arms and handing it to her. “I saw this South Sea pearl necklace in Zhongzhou. The pearls aren’t large but are perfectly round. I don’t know if you’ll like it.”

 

Zhao Xiaonian didn’t even open the box to look, nodding with a smile. “I like it. I like everything Brother Kuan gives me!”

 

Ma Kuan’s face turned slightly red from her straightforward words. “I’ll go to the back to report to the boss.”

 

“Go quickly.”

 

Ma Kuan walked briskly to the back. As he passed Lin Zijian, he nodded as a greeting.

 

Lin Zijian watched as Sister Xiaonian held the jewelry box happily while attending to other customers. Feeling despondent, he sighed. “Uncle Lin, let’s go.”

 

In the backyard, Ma Kuan gently knocked on Lu Yao’s door.

 

“Come in.”

 

Lu Yao looked up and saw that Ma Kuan had returned. He immediately stood up and pulled him to sit down. “You’re finally back. I thought you’d arrive before the New Year. What took you so long?”

 

“There was a mishap at the distillery in Zhongzhou. A group of bandits attacked at night, smashing three hundred empty jars. Fortunately, I had buried the wine in advance, or we wouldn’t have been able to meet the supply this year.”

 

Lu Yao caught the danger from his brief description and frowned. “Who was bold enough to raid the distillery at night?”

 

“It was probably the work of some other distilleries in Zhongzhou. Although there’s no evidence, we’ve taken over most of the market there in recent years, cutting off a lot of their profits. I imagine they hate us to the core.”

 

“Were there any casualties at the distillery?”

 

“One worker was killed, and two were injured. I’ve already handled the aftermath. As per your instructions, any incidents involving casualties will be taken care of fully.”

 

Lu Yao nodded. “What about the follow-up from the authorities?”

 

“Since it involved a fatality, the officials quickly arrested the culprits and interrogated them to uncover the masterminds.

 

“Several distilleries found a scapegoat, hoping to evade responsibility. But I bribed a jailer and met with the scapegoat in person, persuading him to implicate the others to save his life. Now, the heads of the three largest distilleries in Zhongzhou are behind bars, so there shouldn’t be any more incidents like this.”

 

Lu Yao knew such matters were certainly not easy to handle, but Ma Kuan had managed it. Securing Zhongzhou would make supply to the northwest more convenient, saving tens of thousands of taels annually in transportation costs alone.

 

“You’ve worked hard. Stay a while longer this time. Go eat something and get some rest. Lan’er has been waiting for you for a long time.”

 

Lan’er was Ma Kuan’s younger sister, now five years old.

 

Ma Kuan rose to leave but paused at the door. “I saw a young man in the main hall earlier. Is he an acquaintance of the bosses?”

 

“You must mean Lin Zijian. He’s Beidou’s classmate and is here in Pingzhou to take the imperial exams this year.”

 

Ma Kuan nodded and left.

 

Lu Yao watched his retreating figure and couldn’t help but wonder why he was asking about Lin Zijian.

 

At dinner, Lu Yao noticed a string of pearls around Zhao Xiaonian’s neck. Such items were hard to find in Pingzhou, so they were likely a gift from Ma Kuan.

 

He sighed like a doting father. “A grown girl can’t be kept at home forever.”

 

Spring was approaching, but a sudden cold snap brought snow again this morning.

 

Lu Yao lay in bed, unwilling to get up. Nearby, Zhao Beichuan dressed and had the servants prepare a few fresh bed warmers for Lu Yao’s feet.

 

Lu Yao stretched his legs out comfortably, resting them on the warmers. “Are you going to the restaurant?”

 

“I’ll stop by the distillery first. Now that Ma Kuan is back, there’s no need to oversee the restaurant closely.”

 

“Wait a moment.” Lu Yao propped his head up with his hand. “What do you think of Ma Kuan?”

 

“Smart and capable.”

 

Hearing such praise from Zhao Beichuan was rare. Aside from Lu Yao, he hadn’t called anyone else smart—not even Xiaodouzi.

 

“I think so too. How about arranging for him to marry Xiaonian?”

 

Zhao Beichuan froze while putting on his shoes. “Xiaonian is so young.”

 

“She’s sixteen, not that young anymore. Most girls her age in Pingzhou are already engaged. While it feels early, we have to follow local customs. We can’t wait until she’s over twenty to marry her off—by then, finding a good match would be difficult.”

 

“She’s already sixteen…” Zhao Beichuan sat on the bed, reminiscing. In his eyes, Xiaonian and Xiaodouzi were still children, and he felt most at ease keeping them nearby.

 

“Ma Kuan is competent and resourceful, a grateful and kind young man. He’s helped us manage the distillery greatly. Marrying him into the family would make him our brother-in-law, which would also make business dealings smoother.”

 

Zhao Beichuan nodded, not objecting. “We’ll have to see if Xiaonian is willing.”

 

Lu Yao replied, “I’ll ask them both. If they agree, we can set it up now and let them marry in a couple of years.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Lu Yao then brought up Lin Zijian. “Beidou will be thrilled when he returns in a few days. They haven’t seen each other in years.”

 

Zhao Beichuan still remembered the boy. “Back then, if it weren’t for the Lin family’s patriarch, Xiaodouzi wouldn’t have achieved what he has today. We should prepare a generous gift for them after the exams.”

 

“That’s what I was thinking too. But there’s no rush for that. If Xiaodouzi passes the provincial exam, we might have to travel to the capital ourselves.”

 

“That would be great. People say the capital is spectacular. We can go see it for ourselves!”

 

Talking about this, Lu Yao no longer felt sleepy. He got up and dressed to accompany Zhao Beichuan to the restaurant. At the end of the month, they also planned to review the accounts of their other shops.

 

Instead of taking a carriage, they walked leisurely along the snowy roads.

 

By the time they arrived at the restaurant, two tables were already occupied. Xiaonian was helping customers order, while Ma Kuan was at the counter managing the accounts. When he saw Lu Yao, he quickly stood up to greet him.

 

Lu Yao waved it off. “You all go about your work. I’ll head to the back.”

 

Inside, Lu Ming had already heated the kang bed.

 

In winter, staying in the kang room was most comfortable; sleeping in bed always felt icy cold.

 

In the morning, the managers from the other shops brought their ledgers to report their accounts. Lu Yao reviewed them carefully, asked about recent business trends, and confirmed there were no falsified accounts before distributing the month’s wages.

 

Most of the shop managers were trustworthy and wouldn’t dare falsify the books. After all, finding such an easy and profitable job wasn’t common. Offending their employer would mean not only losing their livelihood but possibly facing jail time.

 

By the time they finished the accounts, it was nearly noon. Xiaonian brought in a bowl of hot noodle soup.

 

“Sister-in-law, it’s time to eat.”

 

“Just set it here. Has your elder brother returned?”

 

“He just got back and is busy in the kitchen.”

 

Xiaonian placed the bowl down and was about to leave when Lu Yao stopped her. “Wait a moment. I need to talk to you.”

 

“What is it?” Xiaonian sat beside her, curious.

 

“You’ll be sixteen after the New Year. Your elder brother and I were discussing arranging your marriage.”

 

Hearing this, Xiaonian panicked. “I—I don’t want to get married. I want to stay with you and my elder brother!”

 

Lu Yao chuckled. “Silly girl, no one stays unmarried forever. We’re just talking about an engagement first. You can marry in a couple of years.”

 

“Oh…” Xiaonian lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers.

 

“Do you have someone you like?”

 

Xiaonian shook her head, though her ears turned red.

 

Lu Yao teased her. “Then how about letting me decide and marrying you into the Lin family?”

 

“The Lin family? Which Lin family?”

 

“Lin Zijian’s family. He’s Xiaodouzi’s classmate—well-educated and of good character. He’s bound for an official career. Marrying him would make you a magistrate’s wife.”

 

Xiaonian turned pale. “No, I don’t want that! I think of him as a younger brother and have never thought about marrying him! Besides, I don’t want to leave for the capital. I want to stay with you and my elder brother!”

 

Lu Yao feigned a troubled look. “Then what should we do? Shall we bring a son-in-law into the family? But there aren’t many suitable candidates.”

 

Xiaonian’s eyes lit up. “I—I think Brother Kuan is quite good…”

 

Lu Yao chuckled. “Alright, alright. You sneaky girl, hiding your feelings from me.”

 

Xiaonian’s face turned completely red. Realizing her sister-in-law was deliberately teasing her, she stomped her foot in frustration. “Sister-in-law, I’m not talking to you anymore!”

 

Four days later, Zhao Beidou finally returned from his studies, bringing a few classmates with him. Everyone’s faces were wind-chapped, and their hands and feet were frostbitten.

 

As soon as they got off the carriage, Xiaodouzi invited his classmates inside for a meal.

 

The group looked at the tall entrance and shook their heads. “Better not. I’ve heard the food prices at the Lu family’s restaurant are high. It’s not something we can afford.”

 

Most of these students came from ordinary families, with limited pocket money each month. They still needed to buy ink and paper and were reluctant to spend silver coins on such an expensive place.

 

Zhao Beidou said, “It’s fine. My treat—come in and eat whatever you like.”

 

The group exchanged glances but still hesitated. “Brother Beidou, we can’t take advantage of you like that. Let’s find a more affordable place to eat.”

 

Just then, Lu Yao walked out from inside. “Beidou?”

 

“Sister-in-law!”

 

“Why are you just standing here? Why not come in?”

 

“I wanted to treat my classmates to a meal, but they’re worried about me spending money.”

 

Lu Yao chuckled, “You didn’t tell them this restaurant belongs to our family?”

 

“No, I didn’t.”

 

“Take them upstairs quickly then. The Bamboo Room is free. Let your big brother prepare some extra dishes.”

 

“Okay!”

 

Only then did Zhao Beidou pull his stunned classmates into the restaurant.

 

Sitting in the private Bamboo Room, surrounded by vibrant green ornamental bamboo, the group couldn’t help but ask, “Beidou, is this Lu family restaurant really yours?”

 

“You could say that.”

 

“And that gentleman just now—is he the owner?”

 

“Yes, that’s my sister-in-law.”

 

“Why have you never mentioned it before?”

 

Zhao Beidou seemed puzzled. “What does it have to do with our studies? Why bring it up?”

 

The group was overwhelmed with emotion. Previously, seeing him dressed plainly and using ordinary writing supplies, they assumed he came from a similar modest background. They never imagined he was the younger brother-in-law of Lu Yao, Pingzhou’s wealthy merchant.

 

Not only was he so wealthy, but he also studied so diligently. It truly made them feel inadequate in comparison!

 

Zhao Beidou had them wait upstairs while he went to the kitchen to request dishes.

 

In the bustling kitchen, Zhao Beichuan, Xiao Chun, and Lu Ming were busy at the stove, while Lu Qing was preparing ingredients.

 

The reddish-orange flames reached half a foot high, roasting the food in the wok with a sizzling sound.

 

When they finished cooking the dishes, Zhao Beidou finally spoke up. “Big Brother, Second Brother!”

 

The two turned around upon hearing his voice. “Beidou, you’re back!”

 

Xiao Chun walked over and patted his taller younger brother on the shoulder. “What do you want to eat? Second Brother will make it for you.”

 

“I want your stir-fried pork intestines, scallion lamb, and are there any stewed chickens in the pot?”

 

“There are. I’ll have the waiter bring two over later.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Zhao Beichuan removed his apron and washed his hands. Resting one arm on his younger brother’s shoulder, he walked out with him. “How was the academic trip this time?”

 

“It was great. I learned a lot of new things and made some new friends.”

 

“That’s good to hear. By the way, Lin Zijian is here. He should be joining you for the April provincial exam.”

 

“Really? Where is he now?”

 

“I heard he’s staying at your principal’s house. Visit him this afternoon if you have time.”

 

“Okay!”

 

After chatting for a while, Zhao Beidou carried the cooked dishes back upstairs, only to find one person missing in the room. Only Wei Min, Cai Qing, and Yan Guangyu were left.

 

“Where’s Lu Yuan?”

 

Wei Min replied, “He said he wanted to return to the academy early and left.”

 

“He should’ve at least finished the meal before leaving.” Zhao Beidou wanted to chase after him, but Cai Qing and Yan Guangyu held him back.

 

“Forget it. He probably feels out of place with us.”

 

Among the five of them, Wei Min and Yan Guangyu’s families were slightly better off, and Cai Qing came from a scholarly family. Only Lu Yuan’s background was less affluent.

 

Lu Yuan had always thought that Zhao Beidou, like him, came from a farming and studying household, which was why they got along so well. But after learning today about Zhao’s wealthy background, he instantly felt betrayed and stormed off, hurt and resentful.

 

At this age, their self-esteem was fragile. His departure was an act of defiance.

 

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Beidou understood and sighed. “He didn’t have to act like this. I’ll talk to him once we’re back at the academy.”

 

The meal lost its flavor for Zhao, but the others couldn’t stop praising the food.

 

After the meal, Zhao Beidou saw them off and eagerly took a carriage to visit Principal He’s house.

 

On the way, he was still bothered by what had happened earlier. But when he saw his childhood friend after so many years, all his worries vanished. The two hugged each other tightly before letting go.

 

They examined each other, their eyes full of joy.

 

“You’ve grown taller. In your letter, you mentioned being seven feet and eight inches tall. Now you look several inches taller than me!”

 

Zhao Beidou laughed. “That letter was written six months ago. I must’ve grown a bit more since then. How did your county-level exam go?”

 

“I ranked first.”

 

“That’s amazing!” Zhao Beidou was genuinely happy for his friend. But considering Lin Zijian’s academic prowess over the years, it wasn’t surprising he secured the top rank.

 

Lin Zijian said, “The county exam was too easy. The real test will be the provincial and academy exams.”

 

“Then we must compete properly. I haven’t fallen too far behind in these years.”

 

“I’m counting on it!”

 

The two exchanged smiles, their eyes brimming with youthful pride.

 

—

 

With only a month left before the provincial exam, Lin Zijian decided to stay at the academy and study with the students there.

 

This was a major exam year, and the atmosphere in the academy was tense. Everyone hoped to excel and achieve glory.

 

At noon, the two finished lunch and went to the classroom with their books to study.

 

Since Lin Zijian was new, he only knew Zhao Beidou and stuck by his side these days.

 

Both had studied under Lin Jingxian but had developed their own insights over the years. Lin Zijian excelled in interpreting classical texts, while Zhao Beidou was skilled in argumentative essays. They complemented each other, debating history and current affairs, which greatly enhanced their knowledge.

 

But there was one person who wasn’t happy—Lu Yuan.

 

After leaving the Lu family restaurant that day, Zhao Beidou had sought him out to explain that he hadn’t intentionally hidden anything. The restaurant belonged to his sister-in-law, and he had never considered it his own, so he didn’t feel the need to mention it.

 

Still angry, Lu Yuan responded coldly, “Someone as wealthy as you, Young Master Zhao, should stay away from someone like me, lest you catch my poverty.”

 

This angered Zhao Beidou. Was their four or five years of friendship at the academy worth such words? Knowing Lu Yuan’s sensitive nature, he decided to give him some space and deliberately ignored him for a few days, even pretending not to see him when they crossed paths.

 

Lu Yuan cried several times out of frustration. His best friend not only ignored him but also became close with the well-to-do young master from the capital. This made him feel incredibly hurt.

 

Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to apologize. Finally, as the provincial exam approached, he sent a book of past exam questions to Zhao Beidou through someone else.

 

The book was a collection of past provincial exam solutions that Lu Yuan had painstakingly gathered over time.

 

That very afternoon, Zhao Beidou went to Lu Yuan’s dormitory in person, bringing an ink stick and a brush as peace offerings.

 

Lu Yuan held the gifts in silence for a moment before both of them burst into laughter. They reconciled and returned to being close friends.

 

Zhao Beidou introduced Lu Yuan to Lin Zijian. At first, Lu Yuan was apprehensive, thinking Lin, as a young master from the capital, was beyond his reach.

 

But as they interacted, Lu Yuan found that Lin wasn’t as arrogant as he had imagined. Instead, he was approachable and knowledgeable. Lin Zijian also admired Lu Yuan’s unique perspectives and literary talent. The three became fast friends!

 

Author’s Note:

 

① The measurement “seven feet eight inches” here refers to ancient units of length, where one foot is slightly over 23 cm, different from modern measurements.

 

Additional Note: Zhao Beidou had taken the provincial exam once before, but he was too young to pass at the time and was admitted to the academy as an exception. The other academy students already held the title of scholar and didn’t need to take the provincial exam again.