Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 127

Chapter 127

The sky had not yet brightened, but the Zhao household was already brightly lit.

Lu Yao was checking the items in the exam basket. Even though he had already checked them once last night, he still felt uneasy.

There were three fine wolf-hair brushes, all pre-conditioned and newly purchased from Bao Mo Zhai. Two ink sticks were packed—one was the most renowned Anhui ink of the time, and the other was a local ink Zhao Beidou was accustomed to using.

A single inkstone and a water pouch were included. Since water could be requested at any time inside the exam hall, there was no need to bring too much.

For meals, there was a set of wooden bowls and chopsticks. Lu Yao worried that porcelain bowls might accidentally break, leaving no way to eat, so wooden ones were more convenient.

A pouch made of fine linen was packed with enough instant noodle cakes to last six or seven days. There was also a porcelain jar filled with stir-fried mushroom and meat sauce made with oil and soy sauce.

In addition to these, the basket contained a sweat cloth, a small box of refreshing oil, and a box of insect-repellent powder. Not a single piece of paper was allowed in the exam basket.

At the second quarter of the Yin hour, the crowing of roosters rang out, and the eastern sky began to show hints of dawn.

Zhao Beichuan knocked on the door of the west wing. Not long after, Zhao Beidou came out, looking energetic.

Today, he was wearing a blue scholar’s robe, with only a white undergarment inside. The weather was not too cold this season, so wearing fewer layers was fine.

In the courtyard, Lu Yao, Xiaonian, and Xiaochun were already waiting.

“Hurry and get on the cart. Go early to line up for the exam, and don’t miss the scheduled time.”

“Mm.” The whole family boarded the horse-drawn cart, and Zhao Beichuan drove them toward the exam hall.

They had thought they had arrived early enough, but when they got there, a considerable number of people were already lined up outside the hall. Zhao Beidou quickly grabbed his exam basket and prepared to join the queue.

Lu Yao held his arm and reminded him, “Be careful while standing in line. Keep your exam basket in front of you to prevent anyone from slipping something into it!”

“Mm, I got it.”

Lu Yao had watched many television dramas in his past life. Some people, unable to do well themselves, grew envious of others’ talents and resorted to dirty tricks to frame others. While one should never harbor harmful intentions, it was equally important to guard against harm. It was better to be cautious.

Just as Zhao Beidou went to line up, the Lin family’s cart arrived. Lin Zijian hopped off quickly with his exam basket and ran toward Zhao Beidou.

“Beidou!”

“Zijian, come over here!”

Madam Lin also stepped down from the cart and walked toward the Zhao family.

“Madam Lin.” Lu Yao greeted her with a smile.

“Sigh, I don’t know if he’ll do well this time.”

“Madam need not worry. Zijian has solid knowledge. He already topped the county exam, so as long as he performs as usual, the provincial exam should not be an issue.”

By the Mao hour, the gates of the exam hall opened. Over three hundred soldiers had been specially deployed from the barracks to maintain order.

This year, there were far too many scholars participating in the provincial exam—an estimated one thousand seven or eight hundred. This included newly qualified scholars from this year, those who qualified in the past two years but had not yet taken the provincial exam, as well as scholars who had failed previous attempts.

Out of so many people, only a handful would pass. It was said that in the last session, only sixteen were admitted in Pingzhou, highlighting the fierce competition.

The crowd buzzed with excitement, speculating about what questions might appear on the exam.

“Silence!” someone shouted from the front. Soldiers at the back echoed in unison, “Silence!”

The crowd immediately fell quiet, and the entire square became still.

“Qingyuan County, Yu Chennan!”

“Present.” A thin, middle-aged man stepped forward. Four examiners responsible for body searches inspected his exam basket, undid his hair, removed his outer clothing, and even checked his shoes and socks. Once he passed the inspection, he was given a bamboo slip with his exam number.

Because the checks were so thorough, they took time. The officials brought in four more examiners, splitting them into two teams, which slightly sped up the process.

“Pingyang County, Zhao Beidou!”

“Present!”

Finally, it was Beidou’s turn. Lu Yao nervously gripped her husband’s hand. Everyone closely watched his figure as he passed the inspection and received his bamboo slip before entering. Only then did they breathe a sigh of relief.

“Alright, let’s go back now.”

The exam would last five days, and they couldn’t wait outside the whole time. Instead, they left a servant at the hall to fetch them if anything happened.

Lu Yao invited Madam Lin to a tavern for a chat, but Madam Lin hesitated and declined. “We’ll be returning to the capital once the exam ends. I need these few days to pack up our belongings.”

“Alright, if you need anything, just send someone to the tavern to find me.”

Back at the tavern, an unexpected guest arrived.

“Boss Zhang, what brings you here?” It was none other than Liang Zhong’s wife, Zhang Yu.

“Your family’s fourth son is taking the provincial exam today, right?”

“That’s right. We just came back from the exam hall. There were so many people—crowded to the point that it was hard to move.”

Zhao Beichuan greeted them before heading to the kitchen. Xiaochun and Xiaonian also went off to their tasks.

Lu Yao invited her to a private room upstairs. “So, what brings you here today?”

Zhang Yu took a sip of tea. “It’s nothing official—just a personal matter.”

Lu Yao was surprised and wondered what personal matter it could be.

“My nephew, is Xiaochun engaged yet?”

“Not yet.”

“I have a nephew who’s twenty this year. Although he’s a bit older, he’s extremely handsome and well-mannered. His family also runs a business, and he’s been helping my cousin manage the shop since he was young. He’s very skilled in business.”

Lu Yao was delighted to hear this. “That sounds great. We can arrange for them to meet and see if they get along.”

Zhang Yu added cautiously, “There’s something I need to mention first. After hearing it, you can decide if you’re still interested.”

“My nephew’s name is Zhang Qiulan. He was previously engaged and planned to marry as soon as he came of age. However, his fiancé turned out to be a philanderer, keeping a mistress and frequenting brothels even before the wedding.

“Qiulan has a strong personality and absolutely refused to marry someone like that. My cousin had no choice but to call off the engagement. Unfortunately, it’s harder for men than women in this situation. After the breakup, his reputation suffered, and that’s why he hasn’t married yet.

“He visited me recently, and I thought of Xiaochun. What do you think?”

Zhang Yu watched Lu Yao closely for any sign of hesitation. If there was even a trace of reluctance, she would drop the idea. No matter what, the Zhang family’s child couldn’t suffer more humiliation.

To her surprise, Lu Yao smiled and said, “I thought it was something serious. Let’s arrange for them to meet over a meal. If they’re compatible, we can settle the marriage early.”

“Then it’s decided!” Zhang Yu left happily.

Lu Yao went downstairs and found Xiaochun peeling garlic in the backyard. Little Lan’er was beside him, also peeling garlic. She saw Lu Yao and greeted sweetly, “Brother.”

Lu Yao pinched her cheeks. “Good girl.”

Ma Kuan wasn’t around, so Lan’er usually stayed in the backyard with the adults. She had been independent from a young age. At just five years old, she could wash her face, dress herself, and comb her hair, acting like a little grown-up.

“Sister-in-law.”

“I need to discuss something with you.” Lu Yao picked up a clove of garlic and sat beside Xiaochun.

“Has your eldest brother mentioned marriage to you lately?”

Blushing, Xiaochun nodded. “He asked the other day if I liked any girls or boys.”

“Do you have someone in mind?”

Xiaochun shook his head. “No, I’ll leave it to you and Eldest Brother to decide.”

“Do you prefer boys or girls?”

Xiaochun turned red, almost dripping with embarrassment. “Either is fine… but boys are a little better.”

Lu Yao clapped his hands and said, “That’s great! I just happen to have another good match in mind. Do you still remember Boss Zhang?”

Xiaochun nodded. During the county exam, they had tea at Zhang’s teahouse.

“She has a nephew who is a ger, three years older than you, already twenty this year. He’s been learning business management from his parents since he was young and is quite capable. I’m thinking of letting you two meet, and if you’re compatible, we can settle the matter. After marriage, one of you can handle internal affairs while the other manages external matters. It’ll be very suitable to run the restaurant together.”

“I—I’ll leave everything to you, sister-in-law.”

Lu Yao also thought it was better to find Xiaochun a husband who was a little older and more capable.

Xiaochun had a rather introverted personality, similar to Zhao Beichuan, and wasn’t good at socializing. He could manage the kitchen well, but as for entertaining guests in the front hall, he could barely utter a word even if pressed.

Having a capable husband by his side would give Lu Yao peace of mind when handing over the restaurant’s business in the future.

Moreover, Xiaochun had always lacked a sense of security. He had suffered abuse from his parents in his early years, leaving him with significant emotional trauma. Finding someone younger might make it hard for him to form a connection.

The Zhang family quickly responded and scheduled a meeting in two days at Lu Yao’s restaurant to let the two young men get acquainted.

Lu Yao told Xiaochun to dress up nicely. Since he worked in the kitchen every day, he always wore old clothes. There were many new outfits at home that he hadn’t even touched. It was important to make a good impression on the ger during their first meeting.

Xiaochun wasn’t bad-looking to begin with—his features were gentle and well-defined, and his skin, though not pale, had a healthy wheatish tone. Unfortunately, he wasn’t very tall, probably because of the neglect and malnutrition he suffered as a child. He was only about 1.7 meters, but in this era, that was more than enough. Most common men weren’t very tall, and those who exceeded 1.8 meters were rare.

Today, he wore a bright blue robe with silver trim on the collar and sleeves. His hair was tied up in a silver crown, giving him a clean and fresh appearance—a handsome young man indeed.

When he arrived at the restaurant, the workers stared at him.

“Oh wow, Second Young Master dressed up in new clothes today!”

Xiaochun’s face turned red with embarrassment, and he hurriedly ran to the kitchen.

Zhao Beichuan saw him and laughed, pulling him back to the front. “The kitchen’s full of smoke and oil—don’t get your new clothes dirty. Wait here for a bit; your sister-in-law will be here soon.”

Xiaochun was so nervous that his palms were sweating. Apart from his sister-in-law and younger sister, he had barely interacted with other gers. Just thinking about meeting a stranger for a match made him feel like he was going to wet himself.

After waiting for half an hour, Lu Yao finally arrived, accompanied by Zhang Yu and her nephew, Zhang Qiulan.

This ger was tall and slender, even taller than Xiaochun. He wore a crimson robe, and his hair was loosely tied with a jade hairpin at the back of his head. His slightly upturned phoenix eyes held a hint of aloofness, and there was a small red mole at the corner of his eye.

Lu Yao couldn’t help but marvel at his appearance. Zhang Yu hadn’t lied—this young man really was striking. Among all the people Lu Yao had met, he had never seen someone this good-looking.

Zhao Fengchun was momentarily stunned and quickly stood up awkwardly to greet him.

Lu Yao patted him on the shoulder. “Let’s head upstairs.”

The four of them went to the Spring Pavilion, which had been prepared in advance.

Xiaochun was still too nervous to speak, lowering his head and lost in his own thoughts, while Zhang Qiulan leaned on his chin, observing Xiaochun with interest.

Before coming here, Zhang Qiulan had been extremely reluctant. His previous experience had left him disillusioned with marriage.

He believed he could manage just fine without a husband. He was good at business and could run a shop himself. Why did he need someone else to control him?

Zhang Yu knew what he was thinking and patiently persuaded him. “If you don’t get married, you’ll always be treated as the daughter of the Zhang family. Your father can protect you while he’s alive, but when he’s gone, how will you, as a ger, hold onto the family business? Those useless brothers of yours will devour you whole.”

In the Wu Dynasty, gers and women had no inheritance rights. When Zhang Qiulan’s father passed away, all the family businesses would go to his sons.

Zhang Qiulan said nothing. His situation was complicated. His mother had died when he was three, and his father remarried, having several children with his stepmother.

They weren’t close at all. Zhang Yu was right—if his father wasn’t around, his half-brothers wouldn’t let him manage the business anymore. Even the money he earned might end up in their pockets.

Thinking of this, Zhang Qiulan clenched his teeth in frustration. Why hadn’t he been born a man?

Seeing he was listening, Zhang Yu continued, “The person you’re meeting is the younger brother of Shopkeeper Lu. Though not related by blood, he grew up with them. Haven’t you always wanted to meet Lu Yao? This is your chance—if it works out, you’ll be family.”

Zhang Qiulan’s eyes lit up. Lu Yao—who in Pingzhou hadn’t heard of him?

A ger who had become one of the most prominent businessmen in the area within just a few years—everyone admired him.

“Alright, I’ll go!” Even if it was just to meet Lu Yao, he was willing to give it a shot.

It was almost lunchtime by then, so Lu Yao arranged for a meal, and they chatted while eating.

The Wu Dynasty had an open-minded culture, and meetings like these had long been common.

After introducing themselves, Zhang Qiulan said, “I only have one requirement—no concubines or fooling around after marriage. If you can’t promise that, then forget it.”

“I—I can promise that!”

“Do you have any requirements?”

Xiaochun shook his head.

Lu Yao said, “Xiaochun is a bit shy. I hope you don’t mind.”

Zhang Qiulan replied, “I don’t. I don’t like sweet-talkers anyway.”

Xiaochun looked up and saw Zhang Qiulan studying him. His face turned red again.

Zhang Qiulan found it amusing—this guy was so honest and straightforward.

Since Zhang Yu knew about Xiaochun’s past, Lu Yao didn’t hide anything and said, “Xiaochun cut ties with his parents years ago and won’t contact them again. If the marriage is settled, I’ll buy them a separate house on Changrong Street so they can live independently.”

“I heard you’re good at business?”

“I know a little,” Zhang Qiulan said modestly. Compared to Lu Yao, his skills were like child’s play.

“You can keep running your business after marriage. We’re not too traditional about such things.”

The more Zhang Qiulan heard, the more satisfied he felt, and he even started finding Xiaochun more pleasing to the eye.

After the meal, both families thought this was a good match.

When Zhang’s family left, Lu Yao quietly asked his brother, “What do you think? Do you like him?”

Xiaochun nervously nodded. He didn’t dare to tell his sister-in-law that Zhang Qiulan had secretly slipped him a sachet containing a fine jade gourd, as if coaxing a child.

Author’s Note:

Marrying an older, capable husband is like striking gold.

With a tall, slender, business-savvy husband, you’re set for a life of comfort!

TL – I too hope i get a cute big tall older husband

Husband Inspo – Link