Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 135

Chapter 135

 

After sending his younger brother off, it was already late in the evening. Zhao Beichuan entered the room to find Lu Yao already asleep. He quietly climbed into bed and held him in his arms.

 

The next morning, when Lu Yao woke up, Zhao Beichuan had already gotten up and was in the yard helping his younger brother pack his things.

 

This time, they would be staying in the capital for a few months and wouldn’t return before the New Year, so he had to bring plenty of clothes and money.

 

Lu Jia and Lu Bing were accompanying him. Lu Jia was reliable, and Lu Bing was attentive. With the two of them around, Lu Yao wasn’t worried.

 

“You’re awake.” Zhao Beichuan saw him coming over and reached out to tighten the cloak around him. It was almost November, and the weather had become increasingly cold, with overcast skies suggesting it might snow soon.

 

“Have you finished packing?”

 

“Everything’s packed. I’ve arranged with a merchant caravan to travel together, so we’ll just follow them.”

 

“Mm.” The road from Pingzhou to the capital was fairly easy to travel, with plenty of post stations and pavilions along the way. Traveling with a merchant caravan was very safe, so Lu Yao didn’t worry.

 

After Xiaodou carried the last box of books onto the cart, he clapped his hands and ran over. “Sister-in-law, you’re really not coming with me?”

 

Lu Yao reached out to dust off the dirt from his sleeve and said, “We’ll go in a few days, the latest by November.”

 

“That’s good!”

 

“When you get to the capital, find an inn to stay with Lu Jia and Lu Bing, and wait for us to come and find a house.”

 

“Got it.”

 

“Keep your money safe while you’re out, and don’t associate with shady people.”

 

“Don’t worry, sister-in-law. I won’t associate with anyone like that.”

 

Zhao Beichuan grunted, “As long as you know.”

 

Xiaodou felt intimidated by his older brother’s look. Although Zhao Beichuan had never hit him growing up, the oppressive force that ran through their blood made him feel nervous.

 

Lu Yao said, “Help me bring some gifts for Old Master Lin and take them over.” The gifts had already been prepared, and this time, he would have his younger brother take some over first. The rest would be delivered when they went. It wouldn’t do for the child to visit empty-handed.

 

“Got it.”

 

With the instructions mostly given, the time was getting late, so Zhao Beichuan urged him to hurry and not delay.

 

Zhao Beichuan climbed into the carriage and waved reluctantly at his older brother and sister-in-law. “You must come soon!”

 

“Got it. Study hard when you get to the capital.”

 

As the carriage left, the servant closed the door. Lu Yao sighed, “I still feel like he’s just a child. Now, he can manage things on his own.”

 

“Don’t mind him. Let’s go have a meal first, and after that, I’ll take you to the clinic.”

 

“Mm.”

 

In fact, Lu Yao had a vague suspicion in his heart but hadn’t dared to acknowledge it, because deep down, he still felt like he was male and could never get pregnant.

 

But reality often defied expectations.

 

“It’s still early, but it’s been over two months. How many pregnancies has your husband had?”

 

Lu Yao was stunned and couldn’t say a word. However, Zhao Beichuan beside him was overjoyed. “My husband is pregnant?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Ah Yao, you’re pregnant!”

 

After a long pause, Lu Yao finally processed the news. “This is our first child.” Judging by the timing, it should have been from the last time Zhao Beichuan was home before he left…

 

The doctor inspected their faces for a moment and said, “For the first pregnancy, you need to take good care of yourself. Avoid cold, greasy, and raw foods, and stay away from things that can cause miscarriage, like safflower, hawthorn, and crab claws. I’ll prescribe a warming and nourishing formula to help protect the pregnancy.”

 

Zhao Beichuan nodded repeatedly. “Alright, alright.”

 

After getting the medicine, Zhao Beichuan helped Lu Yao out of the clinic. Lu Yao still felt incredulous, his head dizzy as he reached down to touch his flat abdomen. He never expected that he was really pregnant…

 

Seeing that Lu Yao’s expression was off, Zhao Beichuan cautiously asked, “Ah Yao, aren’t you happy?”

 

“I’m happy, I just haven’t come to terms with it yet.” Lu Yao thought to himself that it was a good thing they didn’t have intercourse last night, otherwise, with Zhao Beichuan’s strength, the child probably wouldn’t have been able to survive…

 

Zhao Beichuan was much happier than expected, with a silly smile on his face. When getting on the carriage, he even picked Lu Yao up, causing Lu Yao to punch him, “There are so many people on the street, aren’t you embarrassed?”

 

Zhao Beichuan grabbed his hand and kissed it, “I’m carrying my own husband, what’s there to be embarrassed about? I’m just happy today, I’m going to have my own child.”

 

Lu Yao couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re such a fool.”

 

“Hehehe.” Zhao Beichuan hurried the carriage to the back yard of the restaurant and, when getting off, reached to pick him up again.

 

Zhao Po Po and Xiao Lan’er were watching, and Lu Yao firmly refused to let him carry him. He pinched him a few times before agreeing to let him help him down.

 

Zhao Beichuan wanted to share the happy news, but Lu Yao quickly pulled him back and shook his head. There was a common custom in the common people that it was best not to speak about pregnancy in the first three months, as it could lead to bad luck. Though Lu Yao didn’t believe in such things, it was still best to be cautious.

 

After entering the house, Lu Yao said, “It’s still early in the pregnancy, and the fetal condition isn’t stable. Let’s not tell anyone for now. We can wait for another couple of months.”

 

“Okay, I’ll do whatever you say!”

 

Seeing his excited look, Lu Yao couldn’t help but tease him, “You’re so happy, huh?”

 

“Happy, I’ve been looking forward to having a child with you for a long time.” Zhao Beichuan squatted down next to Lu Yao, “Do you know, I used to often dream about something.”

 

This was the first time Lu Yao had heard him mention it. “What dream?”

 

Zhao Beichuan sat down on a wooden stool and said, “I’ve had this dream intermittently for many years, each time different, some I can’t remember, but others I still can.”

 

“In all of these dreams, you become someone else. Although your voice and appearance don’t change, I know it’s not you. He doesn’t love me, nor does he like Xiao Nian and Xiao Dou. Every time I wake up from the dream, I’m covered in cold sweat…”

 

Lu Yao frowned slightly, “Why have I never heard you mention this before?”

 

“I didn’t want to worry you, but I haven’t had such dreams in the last few years.”

 

“Is it because you haven’t had those kinds of dreams in the past five years?”

 

“Something like that, I can’t remember clearly.”

 

In some inexplicable way, Lu Yao felt that the copper coin given by the old Taoist had played a role. It had helped settle his soul for five years. Now that he was pregnant, tied to this world by blood, he no longer needed to worry about his soul leaving his body.

 

The joy, though delayed, gradually surged in his heart, a bittersweet feeling that made him indescribably happy.

 

Lu Yao said, “I don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl, or even a boy.”

 

“No matter what, I’ll love it.”

 

This was their first child, and possibly their only one, so truly, they would love it no matter what.

 

Zhao Beichuan pressed his head against Lu Yao’s stomach and kissed it through his clothes, “If it’s a boy, let him study and practice calligraphy with his little uncle, and later take the imperial exams. If it’s a girl, she can learn women’s crafts from her little aunt, be raised delicately, and find a husband to stay with us. If it’s a boy, let him learn to do business from you. His mother is so capable, he won’t be any worse.”

 

“You’re thinking too far ahead.”

 

“I just have to plan well. Kids our age already have children in their teens, and in a few years, they’ll be getting married.”

 

True enough, they had married late and only had a child after nine years—now, their child was likely to be one generation behind others. Could they not be happy about this?

 

“Luckily, the child’s mother is capable and has built such a great family fortune. It’s a blessing for him to be born into our family.”

 

Lu Yao kicked him, “Stop talking nonsense, this is fate.”

 

“Alright, alright, it’s fate. Whatever you say.”

 

This joyous news disrupted Lu Yao’s plans. Originally, they had planned to go to the capital in November, but it seemed that would have to be postponed. Even if Lu Yao wanted to go, Zhao Beichuan wouldn’t let him.

 

Since becoming pregnant, Lu Yao didn’t feel any different from usual, except that his body got more easily fatigued. Other than that, there were very few reactions. After taking the medicine from the clinic, even the dry heaving had decreased a lot.

 

However, Zhao Beichuan was very nervous. He was afraid Lu Yao would fall while walking, and worried about jostling him in the carriage. Even at night, he planned to move to another room, fearing that he might unintentionally crush him in his sleep.

 

After dinner, when Lu Yao entered, he saw Zhao Beichuan carrying the blankets to the west room.

 

“Those blankets are from summer. Why are you taking them out?”

 

“I’m going to sleep in the west room…”

 

“You dare move out, huh!” Lu Yao crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, a smile of anger on his face.

 

Zhao Beichuan, feeling nervous under his gaze, said, “I’m just afraid I’ll crush you.”

 

Lu Yao snorted coldly, went straight into the room, and slammed the door shut.

 

Zhao Beichuan hurriedly knocked on the door, “Ah Yao, Ah Yao? Don’t be mad, I won’t move, alright?”

 

After a long time with no answer from inside, Zhao Beichuan had no choice but to spread out a mat on the floor outside the door.

 

Lu Yao heard the rustling sounds from outside and quietly opened the door a crack. Seeing Zhao Beichuan lying on the floor, he angrily kicked him.

 

“Get in here.”

 

“Eh.” Zhao Beichuan hurriedly grabbed the blankets and quickly lay back down on the bed.

 

“I’ve always been afraid of the cold. What am I supposed to hold onto for warmth after you leave?”

 

“Tomorrow I’ll set up the heated bed in the west room.”

 

“Then you’ll have to sleep with me in the west room. I can’t sleep peacefully without you.”

 

Zhao Beichuan reached out and pulled Lu Yao into his arms, gently patting his back, “Okay, I’ll stay with you.”

 

“Beichuan, I’m just pregnant, my body is fine. You don’t need to be so nervous. You see, my sister-in-law still worked every day when she was pregnant.”

 

“Mm.”

 

“You’re making me anxious too. This child, though it’s hard to come by, is ours, so it won’t go anywhere. If it’s not ours, it can’t stay either. Let’s just calm down and treat it like normal.”

 

Zhao Beichuan kissed his hair, “Okay, I’ll do as you say.”

 

The weather grew colder, and it had snowed recently, causing the temperature to drop suddenly.

 

In the morning, Lu Yao and Zhang Yu went to Xiao Chun’s new house. The furniture had already been bought, and everything that needed to be prepared was almost done. They planned to announce the betrothal in a few days and marry in February of the next year.

 

Zhang Yu carefully looked around the small yard and said while walking, “This house is really well arranged and spacious enough. Looking at it makes me want to buy another yard.”

 

“Take advantage of the low property prices now and buy it quickly.”

 

Because of the war, many officials and nobles had packed up and fled. Some went to the capital, while others went south, fearing that the barbarians would attack the city, causing their families to be destroyed.

 

There were many houses for sale on Changrong Street, and the prices had dropped significantly. Originally, a house worth over ten thousand taels could now be bought for just six or seven thousand taels, and houses worth five or six thousand taels were now being sold for just over three thousand taels.

 

Lu Yao planned to buy a few more houses. Once the war stopped, property prices would rise, and they could sell them for double the price.

 

Zhang Yu hesitated, “I wonder how things are going on the frontier.”

 

“Right now, it’s a matter of the bold surviving and the timid starving. If you’re worried that Pingzhou will fall, you should leave quickly.”

 

Zhang Yu laughed, “Where would I go? My business is in Pingzhou. You can’t run from the temple even if you escape the monk. That’s why I bought that shop I was looking at a while ago. I saved quite a bit of silver.”

 

There were many others in the city with similar thoughts, but not many had this much silver. Most were still watching and waiting.

 

The two of them joked and walked out, and Zhao Beichuan had already arrived in the carriage to pick them up.

 

Zhang Yu teased, “You two have been married for so many years, and your relationship is still this good.”

 

Lu Yao coughed a little awkwardly.

 

Zhao Beichuan had a thick skin and didn’t feel embarrassed at all. What was wrong with picking up his own husband?

 

After saying goodbye to Zhang Yu, they got in the carriage and went straight back to the restaurant. It was lunchtime, and many people were eating. Regular customers waved and greeted them when they saw the two of them.

 

“Boss Lu is back!”

 

“Hey, Brother Zhang is here, eat and drink well.”

 

“Lord Fang, how come you have time to sit today? You can eat first. Dachuan and I just finished eating.”

 

“Shopkeeper Chen, you all eat first.”

 

After exchanging pleasantries, they arrived at the back yard, where Xiao Chun and Zhang Qiulan were sitting in the warm pavilion chatting. Lu Yao smiled and gave Zhao Beichuan a look, signaling him not to interrupt, and they both went into the room.

 

Just then, Ma Kuan came to report on the alcohol situation at the winery, “The three thousand jin of alcohol has been packed and sealed. It’s ready to be delivered at any time.”

 

Lu Yao said, “You go to Lord Cao Wu’s house first, and greet him. After all, he took the lead on this. We’ll just follow their lead.”

 

“Alright.”

 

“One more thing, in a few days, go to the capital and arrange a house for Xiao Dou there.”

 

Originally, this matter was something Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan were supposed to handle together, but now they couldn’t leave.

 

The journey from Pingzhou to the capital was over a thousand miles, and the road was bumpy with the cold weather. Zhao Beichuan was worried that Lu Yao’s health wouldn’t handle it, so he insisted on not letting him go. Instead, he had Ma Kuan go in their place.

 

“Understood.” Ma Kuan didn’t ask too many questions and nodded in agreement.

 

Lu Yao gave him ten thousand taels of silver. With this money, they could buy a yard in the capital. If the situation at the frontier got worse, they would have a place to stay in advance.

 

After Ma Kuan left, Lu Yao started feeling a bit hungry. He had only exchanged pleasantries with the guests earlier and hadn’t had lunch yet.

 

“Hubby, I’m hungry.”

 

“What do you want to eat? I’ll go make it for you.”

 

“I want noodle soup.”

 

“Do you want it with braised?”

 

Lu Yao thought for a moment, “Braised with eggs and vegetables, and add a little sour radish.”

 

Zhao Beichuan went to the kitchen to cook. When Xiao Chun saw that Big Brother was back, he hurriedly stood up, “I… I’m going to help.”

 

Zhang Qiulan stood up and said, “Then I’ll go. I’ll come visit you in a few days.”

 

“Mm.” Xiao Chun turned to leave but was suddenly stopped by someone holding his hand.

 

Zhang Qiulan looked at him gradually reddening earlobes, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, “You’ll send me off, right? My carriage is in front.”

 

Today, he was wearing a moon-white robe, with his hair tied back with a red ribbon. With the red mole at the end of his brow, he looked exceptionally handsome.

 

Xiao Chun was dazzled by his smile, and nodded, “Okay.”

 

The two of them walked through the main hall when several men suddenly walked toward them.

 

The man in the lead looked at them with ill intentions, and after a while, he spoke, “Oh, isn’t this the young master of the Zhang family? I heard that after you called off our engagement, you found a partner and got married. Could this be the little guy you’ve taken as your husband?”