Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 121

Chapter 121

 

“To the prefectural city?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“This… it’s such a long journey, and your father and I are getting old…” Madam Wang hesitated, not daring to agree.

 

Wang Youtian settled the eggs into the pot and entered the room. “Over the years, my brothers and their wives have done their part. Now it’s my turn to contribute. You and Father should come with us to the prefectural city to retire.”

 

“We’re still able to work. Why talk about retiring now?” Madam Wang refused verbally, but her face was already brimming with joy. Her son’s filial thoughtfulness was enough to satisfy her. How could she truly follow them and become a burden to the children?

 

Lu Yun said, “Mother, come along. Youtian and I bought a house in the prefectural city. There’s plenty of room.”

 

This time Madam Wang was truly shocked. “You… you even bought a house in the prefectural city?”

 

“That must have cost a lot of silver!”

 

Wang Youtian replied, “Not that much. Thanks to Third Brother’s help over the past few years, Second Brother-in-law and I partnered in running a restaurant, and we made some money. Two years ago, during the slack season, we bought a new house. It’s a big two-entry courtyard with seven rooms in total, more than enough for the whole family.”

 

Madam Wang was so moved she didn’t know what to say. “Wait until your father gets back, and you can discuss it with him.”

 

Outside the door, Old Wang returned carrying a basket on his back. He saw his second daughter-in-law crouched by the window eavesdropping and scolded, “Second daughter-in-law, what are you doing here?”

 

“Oh, Father, you’re back!” The second daughter-in-law quickly held her belly and ran into the house.

 

Old Wang was so angry his beard bristled. These two daughters-in-law were getting more and more unruly! After putting down his tools, he noticed a large carriage in the courtyard. Just as he was wondering about it, he heard the voice of his third son behind him.

 

“Father!”

 

“Ah!” Old Wang paused. “Youtian is back?”

 

“Yes!” Wang Youtian ran over to help his father feed the mule. Old Wang took off his hat and scratched his gray hair, smiling as he looked at his son. “Did you come back alone, or did the whole family come?”

 

“Lu Yun, Jinzi, and Yinzi are all back.”

 

Hearing that his two grandchildren had returned, the old man was so excited that he abandoned feeding the mule and quickly headed into the house.

 

On the kang, Madam Wang was peeling eggs for the two children. There wasn’t much delicacy in the village, but eggs were considered a rarity.

 

“Father, you’re back,” Lu Yun greeted respectfully as soon as she saw Old Wang.

 

“Sit, sit. Jinzi, do you still remember Grandpa?”

 

Jinzi had left when he was just over two years old, so he shook his head.

 

On the other hand, Yinzi, who wasn’t shy, called out with a mouth full of egg, “Grandpa.”

 

“Ah! My good grandson.” Old Wang reached out to pick up Yinzi.

 

Madam Wang was startled and quickly held the child to steady him. “Your back isn’t good. Put the child down quickly so he doesn’t fall!”

 

The old man’s back had been injured by a horse kick while he was shoeing it in his youth. It had never healed properly and ached for a whole day whenever he carried something heavy.

 

“No worries. Yinzi isn’t heavy; I can handle it.”

 

The love for grandchildren skips a generation. After so many years apart, the old man had missed his two little grandchildren dearly.

 

He pinched his grandson’s cheeks, tapped his forehead, and tickled him. After playing for a long time, he finally put the child down.

 

“It must have been a tough journey back. How many days did it take?”

 

“Six days in total. We stayed overnight at postal stations along the way,” Lu Yun explained. Then she repeated the plan to bring the elders to the prefectural city. “Father, after a while, why don’t you and Mother come with us? Nowadays, my mother helps watch over both children, but she’s getting older, and taking care of so many kids is exhausting. We don’t trust hired help, so it’d be best if you two could come and assist.”

 

If it was just about retiring and enjoying life, the old couple would surely refuse. But helping take care of children made them hesitate.

 

Madam Wang was willing to go. Who wouldn’t want to see the bustling prefectural city? But Old Wang had other considerations.

 

Although the family had been split for years, their two other sons still lived in the same courtyard. This inevitably led to conflicts.

 

Before Lu Yun’s family left, the eldest and second daughters-in-law had united to bully them. Now that they were gone, the relationship between the two women had fractured.

 

The eldest daughter-in-law, Guo Shi, was a brainless shrew, while the second daughter-in-law, Li Shi, was a scheming troublemaker. They had fought openly and covertly several times. Without the old couple mediating, even blood brothers might have turned into enemies.

 

If the elders left now, who knew what would become of the two families?

 

Sensing his father’s dilemma, Wang Youtian quickly said, “No rush. We’ll stay for half a month this time. You can decide then.”

 

“Alright.”

 

It was almost noon. Madam Wang went to retrieve some money from a chest and handed it to her husband. “Go buy a piece of pork from town, and get some treats for the children.”

 

“Alright. Kill one of the chickens at home and make a stew for the kids,” Old Wang instructed.

 

Lu Yun gave Wang Youtian a nudge. “Go with Father.”

 

Wang Youtian hitched their horse to the flatbed cart, and the father and son headed for town.

 

After they left, Lu Yun brought up what she’d noticed earlier. “Second Sister-in-law is pregnant again?”

 

Madam Wang nodded. “The fourth one. She got pregnant right after weaning the third child. She doesn’t do any farm work now and just stays home to rest.”

 

“And what about Eldest Sister-in-law?”

 

“She went back to her mother’s house.” Mentioning the two daughters-in-law made Madam Wang furious. But these matters were too embarrassing to discuss with the younger generation, so she could only complain to her husband.

 

Since the departure of the third family, the two other families had fought four or five times over land.

 

Both wanted the fertile fields by the river and refused the poorer lands on the hillside. Since there was no satisfying division, Old Wang rented the land out to someone in the village for a share of the crop. Only then did the fighting stop.

 

But soon after, they began eyeing the third family’s house.

 

First, the eldest daughter-in-law secretly stored her autumn harvest there, then piled miscellaneous items inside, clearly intending to take over the space.

 

Li Shi, of course, wouldn’t let her. One night, she snuck into the house and doused several sacks of grain with water. Once damp, the grain would mold, and moldy millet could be lethal!

 

Naturally, the two families fought yet again.

 

During that time, Madam Wang was so stressed she lost her appetite and couldn’t sleep. She often thought it would be better to die and be rid of the drama. These were all debts owed by her children!

 

“How have you been these past few years in the prefectural city? You mentioned running a restaurant with Second Brother-in-law. Is business good?”

 

“Business has been great. That restaurant originally belonged to my third brother. Later, when he took over a large inn and got too busy, he handed the restaurant over to us,” Lu Yun explained. “When we first arrived in the prefectural city, Third Brother not only arranged work for us but also provided a place to stay. We didn’t suffer at all.”

 

Madam Wang couldn’t help but sigh. “Your Third Brother is capable. Back when he ran a breakfast stall in town, your father helped treat his mule. He said your Third Brother was more competent than most men. Your father never praises anyone like that.”

 

As they spoke, Wang Youcai and Wang Youliang returned. They had been weeding in the fields in the morning and coincidentally met on their way back.

 

Without the meddling of their wives, the two brothers got along well. But over the years, the growing disputes had made their relationship more distant.

 

As soon as they entered the courtyard, they noticed the carriage.

 

“Whose fancy carriage is this?” Wang Youliang asked.

 

“Could it be Third Brother is back?”

 

The two headed straight for their parents’ house. Sure enough, inside they saw Lu Yun and the two children sitting on the kang.

 

“Eldest Brother, Second Brother,” greeted Lu Yun.

 

Eldest brother Wang Youliang said excitedly, “When did you come back? Where is the third brother?”

 

“He went to the town with Father to buy food.”

 

“This boy must be Yinzi, right?”

 

“Yes,” Lu Yun called his son over.

 

Little Yinzi glanced at the two unfamiliar uncles, then turned and burrowed into his grandmother’s arms.

 

The old lady stroked his small head and said, “He’s just shy since he just got back. You two go wash your hands and get ready to eat.”

 

“Okay,” the two went back to their rooms.

 

When Li Shi saw her husband return, she quickly pulled him aside and said, “You’re finally back! Do you know the third brother’s family has returned from the prefectural city?”

 

“I know, I just saw them at Mother’s room.”

 

“They’ve made a fortune in the prefectural city!”

 

“How do you know that?”

 

“I overheard Lu Yun saying it!” Li Shi recounted what she had heard while eavesdropping, embellishing it a bit.

 

“They’ve now bought a big house in the prefectural city and even opened a restaurant. They have so much money that they can’t spend it all. This time, they came back specifically to take Father and Mother to live out their old age.”

 

Wang Youcai took off his dirty clothes and said, “If they want to go, let them.”

 

Li Shi’s eyes lit up. “Let’s go with them too!”

 

“You’re talking nonsense. Why would we go to the prefectural city? What about our land?”

 

“You blockhead! Farming for a year doesn’t earn much. They’ve only been in the prefectural city for five or six years and already saved enough money to buy a big house! The house prices there must be at least three or four hundred guan; we couldn’t earn that much in our lifetime!”

 

Hearing his wife’s words, Wang Youcai was a bit tempted.

 

But this wasn’t something he could decide on his own. The third brother had to bring it up himself, and he couldn’t shamelessly push for it.

 

Seeing that he wasn’t taking it seriously, Li Shi grew anxious. “If you won’t think about yourself, at least think about our children! Look at the third brother’s two kids—clean and fair, wearing little clothes made of silk. Then look at ours!”

 

She pulled over their two-year-old third son. Despite being about the same age as Yinzi, he was noticeably shorter, darker, and thinner. He wore a shabby apron that had been passed down from his older brothers.

 

“Fine… at dinner later, I’ll bring it up to the third brother. If he agrees, we’ll go. If he doesn’t, then drop the idea.”

 

Reluctantly, Li Shi nodded, already scheming how to get Wang Youtian’s family to agree.

 

Half an hour later, Wang Youliang and Wang Youcai returned from town with a cart full of food, including pork and other provisions—all paid for by Wang Youtian.

 

The two older brothers immediately came out to greet them.

 

“Eldest brother, second brother!”

 

“Hey, third brother.” After so many years apart, the three brothers were visibly emotional.

 

Together, they entered their parents’ house, where the old lady had already set the table with dishes. She had slaughtered a chicken and stewed it with radishes, alongside a pot of steamed grey wheat buns.

 

Wang Youtian sniffed the air and said, “I’ve been craving Mother’s cooking in the prefectural city; it smells so good!”

 

The old lady handed him chopsticks with a smile. “Eat while it’s hot. Lu Yun, bring the kids over to eat too.”

 

“What about the second sister-in-law’s family? Have they eaten?”

 

Wang Youcai waved it off. “Don’t worry about them. There’s food at home.”

 

The old lady still went to call them, not for Li Shi’s sake but out of consideration for the children, as they were her grandchildren after all.

 

Soon after, Li Shi arrived with her second and third sons. The eldest, now ten years old, was apprenticed at a carpenter’s workshop in town and only returned once a month.

 

The eldest brother’s family only had two daughters, who were with their mother at her parents’ home.

 

When the dishes were served, Li Shi quickly grabbed the two chicken legs and placed them in her sons’ bowls.

 

The old lady frowned and immediately picked out a few good pieces of meat, placing them in Jinzi and Yinzi’s bowls. “Eat up, my dears. You must be hungry.”

 

Jinzi picked up his chopsticks and ate small bites. Yinzi, still full from having bean curd earlier, played with a chicken claw instead of eating.

 

Meanwhile, Li Shi and her two sons devoured the food as if they hadn’t eaten in days, barely chewing before reaching for the next piece.

 

Wang Youcai, seeing how inappropriate their behavior was, scolded, “Enough! Don’t eat like you’ve never seen meat before. You’ll hurt your stomach.”

 

Frightened of their father, the two boys put down their chopsticks.

 

Li Shi was immediately displeased. “The kids hardly ever get to eat meat; let them enjoy it. Lu Yun and the kids don’t seem to care much for it, probably because they’re used to eating chicken in the city. It’d just go to waste otherwise.”

 

Encouraged, the boys resumed eating ravenously. The youngest, in his haste, swallowed a chicken bone and began choking, clutching his throat and crying.

 

Everyone panicked, rushing to pat his back and clear his throat. It took a long time to dislodge the bone, after which he vomited a mix of chicken and bun pieces all over the floor.

 

Furious, Wang Youcai turned red and shouted, “You foolish brat! You’re stuffing yourself to death over a few pieces of chicken! Get out of here!”

 

Li Shi, holding her crying child, also began to sob. Her soft-spoken complaints cut even deeper than sharp words.

 

“Yes, I’m foolish. I only wanted my sons to have better lives. Look at Jinzi and Yinzi, so well-fed and well-dressed, while ours…”

 

She wiped her tears. “If they could eat meat regularly, they wouldn’t be so desperate.”

 

Her words made Lu Yun uncomfortable, but while he sympathized, he couldn’t offer help. He had only achieved his current life through the support of his third brother-in-law and had no means to assist others. Moreover, in the village, everyone lived like this, yet no one else behaved as she did.

 

After crying, Li Shi took her children and left. Yinzi, frightened, curled up in Lu Yun’s arms and refused to eat any more.

 

Lu Yun also lost his appetite and excused himself to tidy up the room. They planned to stay the night and head to Lu’s family village the next day.

 

Once they left, only the Wang brothers and their parents remained in the room.

 

Wang Youliang invited his brothers to eat and drink.

 

“How have you been in the prefectural city these years? I heard you’re helping the third brother-in-law?”

 

“Yes, more or less. I’m running his restaurant with Lu Yun’s second brother.”

 

Wang Youcai casually inquired, “How’s business?”

 

“It’s decent—enough to get by.” On the way back, he and Lu Yun had agreed to downplay their wealth. First, they didn’t want to attract trouble; second, they truly didn’t have much compared to Lu Yao’s immense wealth.

 

Wang Youcai wasn’t satisfied with the answer and pressed further. “You must earn at least a few hundred guan a year, right?”

 

Wang Youtian smiled. “Do you think money in the prefectural city grows on trees?”

 

“Still, it should be at least a hundred or two hundred guan. Otherwise, how could you afford to buy a house there?”

 

Wang’s father frowned and said sternly, “Why are you prying into this? Whatever the third earns is his own business; it has nothing to do with you!”

 

“I was just asking. If business in the city is good, I thought I might give it a try…”

 

“Clack!” Wang senior slammed his chopsticks on the table. “What nonsense! You can’t even manage your own few acres of land, and now you’re dreaming of running a business in the city? Tell me, what kind of business would you do?”