Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 125

Chapter 125

The Wang brothers agreed, and Old Man Wang began packing up the family’s belongings.

Since they were heading to the military camp in the provincial city to treat horses, he had to bring along his tools for treating livestock. These were not easily purchased elsewhere, as many of them were custom-made and worked well for him.

Old Lady Wang also started packing her clothes and bedding. Elderly people are often reluctant to throw things away, no matter how old they are.

She even dug out the old clothes from her wedding, made of fine cloth. These were the best quality back in the day. She wouldn’t part with them if they still fit.

Holding up the clothes to size them, she decided to take them to the eldest branch tomorrow to see if the two girls could wear them.

By the light of the oil lamp, the elderly couple stayed busy until almost midnight. Being older and needing less sleep, they didn’t feel tired. They sat on the heated kang bed and started chatting.

“What do you think about Lu Yun’s third brother? How is he so capable that he even persuaded the second daughter-in-law to agree?” It was well known that this daughter-in-law was very stubborn and wouldn’t change her mind once she decided on something.

They had thought for sure they wouldn’t be able to go to the provincial city this time. Yet Lu Yao managed to convince her in just one visit.

Old Man Wang sighed, “Back when he had the courage to lead his family to the provincial city with just his husband, his determination and ability were already beyond ordinary. Plus, he’s kind-hearted and takes good care of his brothers. Without him, we wouldn’t be going to the provincial city either.”

“That’s true. I wonder what the provincial city is like,” Old Lady Wang said, full of anticipation. In all her years, the farthest she had ever been was to the town.

“Ah, I wonder if we’ll be able to come back after leaving. I’ll miss these things at home.”

Old Lady Wang scoffed, “What’s there to miss about this old house? Watching the eldest and second sons argue every day is so frustrating that I’ve lost my appetite. Being away from them, I might live another ten years!”

Old Man Wang didn’t respond. He blew out the oil lamp and lay down to sleep.

In the following days, Lu Yun and Wang Youtian taught the second brother how to make cold noodles. Although it looked simple, the process required skill. If the dough wasn’t washed properly, the noodles wouldn’t have the right texture.

Additionally, the condiments needed to be generously used. Skimping on sesame paste, for instance, would affect the taste. Customers might not feel it was worth their money and wouldn’t return.

Wang Youcai studied diligently, knowing this dish was a potential moneymaker. After all, it was the first of its kind in town, and no one had eaten anything like it before!

After learning to make cold noodles, they went to town to choose a shop.

Wang Youcai wanted to rent a spacious shop, but he didn’t have enough money and hoped Wang Youtian could help him out.

Although Wang Youtian could afford to contribute, he had to consider the long-term. “Second Brother, renting such a big shop and only selling cold noodles won’t cover the costs. Think about it—30 taels of silver a year for rent means more than 2 taels a month. All the profit from selling cold noodles would go to rent. How would you have anything left over?”

Wang Youcai thought it over and realized his brother was right. Even if his brother helped pay the first year’s rent, he’d still have to manage on his own afterward.

After much deliberation, they settled on a small shop in Xia Sanli, slightly smaller than their previous breakfast shop, with an annual rent of 16 taels of silver. Wang Youtian chipped in 10 taels, and Wang Youcai scraped together the rest.

With the second brother’s shop arranged, it was almost time to set off.

The day before departure, Zhao Beichuan went to Wanggou Village alone and brought Zhao Granny back.

She didn’t have much luggage, just two small bundles, and she stood nervously beside Zhao Beichuan, not knowing what to do with her hands.

Old Lady Lu, knowing this woman had helped her son-in-law in the past and even saved Lu Yao’s life when he tried to hang himself, felt grateful. She warmly approached her, took her hand, and promised they would sit together in the same cart the next day.

With someone her age to talk to, Zhao Granny gradually relaxed.

Early the next morning, everyone finished packing and got ready to leave.

On the way there, they had carried many items, and the two rear carts had been filled. But now that most of the gifts had been distributed, the carts were empty, and there was room for extra passengers.

Lu Lin locked the courtyard gate. Yesterday’s lively yard now seemed desolate.

Reluctantly, everyone boarded the carts. Old Lady Lu couldn’t help tearing up. She feared this might be the last trip back. The next time… the next time they returned, it might be for their burial.

Lu Yao, worried she’d get upset, kept comforting her. “Don’t worry, Mother. We’ll come back next summer.”

“How can you keep coming back? Aren’t you running a business?”

“Then we’ll come back every two years.”

Old Lady Lu shook her head. “It’s such a long journey. I’m too lazy to make the trip. Let’s see if there’s a chance in the future.”

The carts rattled along until they saw Wang Youcai waiting for them with his cart.

They needed to pick up the soldiers from town to travel together.

The journey back was smooth. There were no bandits, nor was there heavy rain to delay them. Setting out on the sixth day of the sixth month, they arrived in the provincial city on the evening of the eleventh.

With General Ge’s connections, they didn’t enter through the south gate but used the north gate reserved for military access. They didn’t even need to show their household registration papers or travel permits and were allowed entry with just a greeting.

Ge Changbao hurried to report to the barracks, while Lu Lin and Wang Youtian were eager to see their new homes. Lu Yao had many matters waiting for him, so everyone parted ways after entering the city.

Old Man Wang and Old Lady Wang followed Wang Youtian’s cart straight to their new house on Changshui Street.

Entering the alley, Lu Yun opened the cart door and pointed the way. “Father, Mother, that’s our house up ahead. Second Brother’s house is two alleys over.”

“Oh!” The elderly couple looked around carefully. The journey had amazed them. Entering the city, they had been so awestruck by the towering city walls that their legs went weak. The bustling streets inside left them dizzy, not knowing where to look.

“Whoa—” Wang Youtian reined in the horse, stopping the cart at a large, reddish-brown door. He opened the gate and drove the cart inside.

“This courtyard is so spacious!” Old Man Wang exclaimed. The couple had worried their son might have bought a small house, and they might not have enough space.

Seeing the large courtyard, they were finally reassured. This house could easily accommodate several grandchildren!

Back in the provincial city, Lu Yao rested for two days before returning to his busy routine.

At the winery, an issue had arisen. The second batch of fermentation starters made in the spring seemed to have been affected by poor temperature control, resulting in subpar wine that couldn’t be sold.

Lu Shiliu came to report, anxious and uneasy. Hearing the news, Lu Yao hurried to the winery.

“The starters in the storage room look the same as before, but for some reason, the wine tastes noticeably worse than before,” Lu Shiliu explained.

Lu Yao scooped a ladle of distilled wine and sniffed it. The taste was indeed off, though the alcohol content was unchanged. He then inspected the fermentation starters in the warehouse. While their appearance and texture seemed normal, the smell was slightly off—perhaps the temperature wasn’t high enough during the final drying phase.

“How much raw wine has this batch produced?”

“Sixty vats in total, sir.”

“And how much of the starters remain unused in storage?”

“Over 700 catties.”

Lu Yao instructed, “Don’t use the remaining starters. Convert them into fertilizer and send them to the estate. As for the wine and raw spirits already produced, distill them into ethanol for the military camp. I’ll arrange for Ma Kuan to transfer two carts of starters from Zhongzhou soon to ensure this year’s supply.”

Relieved, Lu Shiliu wiped his cold sweat and said, “I’m glad we can salvage this.”

Lu Yao smirked. “Do you know how much silver I’ll lose because of this batch of wine? If it happens again, you’ll face punishment yourself!”

Lu Shiliu’s face turned pale as he bowed repeatedly. “Understood, sir. It won’t happen again.”

After returning from the winery, Lu Yao summoned Ma Kuan and instructed him to handle the matter of transporting starters from Zhongzhou in the coming days.

Coincidentally, Ma Kuan had anticipated this. “I had extra starters made in Zhongzhou this year, as you mentioned the business in the northwest might take off. We’re well-stocked.”

Lu Yao glanced at the ledger from the tavern and asked, “How’s the tavern business these days?”

“It’s about the same as last May and June, though grilled meat sales have slightly declined.”

“Have other establishments started imitating us?”

“Exactly. Somehow they’ve gotten their hands on cumin spice, and now four or five eateries are offering grilled meat almost identical to ours.”

Lu Yao chuckled, “It’s inevitable. Barbecue is not particularly hard to learn, so it’s only a matter of time before others catch on. We can’t compete with them on price; we can only maintain the quality of the meat. Regular customers who are used to our food won’t switch easily.”

Ma Kuan nodded, “There’s another matter. A few big merchants came to the capital some time ago, wanting to learn the dishes from our restaurant. They offered a hefty price, but since you weren’t around, I took it upon myself to refuse them. I also had someone keep an eye on them to prevent any private contact with our restaurant’s chefs.”

“You did well. The food and drinks at the restaurant are the foundation of our success. No matter what, we can’t let others easily get their hands on our recipes.” Besides, Lu Yao had ambitions—he wanted to open a restaurant in the capital.

If Douzi passed the imperial examination, he might stay in the capital’s Imperial Academy. That would be a great opportunity to explore the market there. People always aim higher. Even though Pingzhou was excellent, who wouldn’t want to develop in a bigger place?

After handling business matters, Lu Yao brought up something personal. “You’re twenty-one this year, right?”

“Yes.” Ma Kuan was unsure why Lu Yao suddenly asked him this.

“You’re of marriageable age. Do you fancy any young lady?”

“I must focus on easing the boss’s burdens and dare not indulge in such matters,” Ma Kuan replied.

Lu Yao thought to himself, Stop pretending. He got straight to the point. “What do you think of Xiaonian?”

Ma Kuan froze, suddenly nervous and at a loss for words. His face turned red as he stammered, “Miss Nian is… very, very, very good.”

“Then, would you like to become my brother-in-law?”

Ma Kuan immediately dropped to his knees with a loud thud and kowtowed deeply. “I would be honored!”

Lu Yao reached out to help him up. Ma Kuan, overwhelmed, was moved to tears. He never expected Lu Yao to actually agree to him marrying Xiaonian.

Ma Kuan’s parents had passed away when he was young. His father’s death had almost dragged down the Lu family restaurant, but the boss didn’t abandon them. Instead, he took him and his sister in, provided for their food and care, and even paid for his medical treatment. How could he deserve to marry the benefactor’s sister?

“When I return from Zhongzhou, we’ll pick a good day to formalize the engagement.”

Ma Kuan wiped his tears. “Thank you, boss!”

“You’re still calling me ‘boss’?”

“Thank you, brother-in-law!”

“Off you go.” Lu Yao watched him practically skipping away and shook his head with a smile. Now that Xiaonian’s marriage was settled, he started worrying about Xiaochun.

Xiaochun was a year older than Xiaonian, already seventeen this year. While it was fine for men to marry later, he still needed to pay more attention to the matter.

That kid was too honest. Over the years, he had worked diligently at their restaurant and tavern. Although Lu Yao never said it aloud, he treated him like a younger brother and had already prepared a generous dowry for him.

Forget it, he thought. I’ll discuss this with my husband tonight.

—

By the time Lu Yao returned from the restaurant, it was already late. He soaked in a hot bath to wash away his exhaustion.

When Zhao Beichuan entered, he found Lu Yao dozing off in the tub. He tested the water temperature with his hand and found it nearly cold.

He quickly woke Lu Yao and carried him out of the tub.

“You’ve soaked my clothes,” Lu Yao said lazily, yawning.

“It doesn’t matter. I was about to bathe anyway. You’ve been overworked these past few days.”

“I’m fine. It’s just the little things piling up. My body’s not tired, but my mind is.” Lu Yao took the towel he handed him and began drying his hair.

“I’ll give you a massage later to relax,” Zhao Beichuan said as he carried the basin out. After rinsing off in the side room, he returned to the bedroom.

Lu Yao had changed into a light jade-colored nightgown, his long black hair cascading over his shoulders. He looked like a flawless piece of fine jade—smooth and radiant.

Zhao Beichuan couldn’t help himself. He pulled Lu Yao into his arms and kissed him for a long while.

“Stop it. I have to attend a birthday banquet tomorrow—Master Qu’s sixty-sixth birthday,” Lu Yao said, blushing as he tried to push him away.

“Then go another day,” Zhao Beichuan said, burying his face in Lu Yao’s neck and inhaling the fresh scent of soap. He undid Lu Yao’s collar and bit the beauty mark on his collarbone.

Lu Yao’s legs went weak immediately. “It’s a birthday banquet… it can’t just be rescheduled. Besides, I’ve already set the time with them. I can’t go back on my word.”

“I’ll be gentle. It’s been a long time since we’ve done this.”

Lu Yao nodded slightly.

Having gained his consent, Zhao Beichuan slid off Lu Yao’s undergarments, deliberately leaving his upper clothing half on and half off, teasing him with glimpses.

Lu Yao couldn’t take the teasing and urged him to hurry. Zhao Beichuan smirked mischievously, gripping his slim waist and deliberately going slow. When Lu Yao grew frustrated and pushed him away, taking the initiative to straddle him, Zhao Beichuan finally began to move in earnest.

Lu Yao’s pale feet arched, his toes curling and trembling in midair as they moved rhythmically.

Much later, Zhao Beichuan fetched another basin of hot water and carefully cleaned the exhausted Lu Yao before extinguishing the lights.

Lu Yao, who had dozed off earlier, was now too tired to fall asleep but couldn’t help murmuring as he rested on Zhao Beichuan’s shoulder, “Today, I talked to Ma Kuan about marriage.”

“What did he say?”

“He was so happy he cried.”

Zhao Beichuan snorted. “That kid is too cunning. I’m worried Xiaonian might suffer if she marries him.”

“It’s better to have someone clever than someone foolish. Besides, we’re here. Even if Ma Kuan misbehaves in the future, we’ll be there to stand up for Xiaonian.”

That was true. Ma Kuan couldn’t even hold up against one of his punches. If he dared to wrong his sister, Zhao Beichuan wouldn’t hesitate to skin him alive.

“As for Xiaochun, ask him when you have time what kind of girl or boy he likes. If there’s someone suitable, let’s arrange his marriage as well.”

Zhao Beichuan kissed Lu Yao’s forehead. “Alright, stop overthinking. Get some sleep.”

—

By the time Lu Yao had managed the restaurant and distillery’s business, it was already July.

Finally freeing up some time, he took Xiaodou and Lin Zijian on a trip to the Taoist temple.

With the autumn imperial examination approaching, they went to pray for divine blessings, seeking peace of mind and resolving the matter of the copper coin given to him by the old Taoist priest years ago.

On the carriage ride, Zhao Beidou and Lin Zijian were excitedly discussing the temple, while Lu Yao, lost in thought, kept dwelling on the coin.

After leaving the city, the carriage traveled for half an hour before arriving at the foot of Qingyun Mountain. From there, they had to climb a hundred steps to reach the temple.

Having been there once before, Lu Yao found his way up the stone steps with ease.

Once they reached the temple courtyard, the three first sought out a young Taoist to receive incense sticks, then headed to the main hall to make offerings and pray.

It was Zhao Beidou’s first time in such a place, and he seemed unfamiliar with the rituals. Lin Zijian, however, was very experienced, having frequently visited temples and Taoist shrines with his mother back in the capital.

When people face insurmountable problems in real life, they often pin their hopes on the intangible powers of gods and deities.

The temple looked even more dilapidated and deserted than five years ago. The lacquer on the main hall’s beams had flaked off, exposing wood that had been riddled with ant holes.

The Qingyun Temple plaque above the main hall’s entrance was so faded that the name was barely legible. Lu Yao thought to himself that the temple indeed needed urgent repairs.

The three knelt in the main hall, made their offerings, and prayed. Afterward, Lu Yao got up to inquire about the temple’s abbot.

Before long, an elderly man with white hair and a Taoist robe approached. This was the temple’s abbot, Qingxuzi, but he was not the one who had given Lu Yao the copper coin.

“May I ask why you’ve sought me out, good sir?” the abbot inquired.

“Five years ago, when I came here to pray, a Taoist priest from your temple gave me a copper coin. He asked me to return it in five years and assist in repairing the temple. May I ask if that priest is still here?” Lu Yao asked.

The abbot stroked his beard and replied, “May I see the coin you speak of?”

Lu Yao removed the coin from around his neck and handed it over.

The abbot carefully examined it for a moment before exclaiming, “This… this is impossible!”

Lu Yao’s heart sank. Could it be that the old priest had already passed away?

“This is the ‘World-Stabilizing Coin’ of our founder, Taoist Lingxiao. But he ascended to immortality more than thirty years ago.”