Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 141

Chapter 141

 

“Unfilial son, stop right there!”

 

Lin Zijian stopped in his tracks and turned back to look at his father, who was chasing after him. His gaze was icy cold.

 

Father Lin was unnerved by his son’s look. “What is that look in your eyes? And who gave you permission to leave for another region?”

 

“I’ve already discussed it with Grandfather, and Mother has also agreed.”

 

“I do not agree!”

 

Lady Lin sneered, thinking to herself that his opinion hardly mattered; their son wouldn’t listen to him anyway.

 

Father Lin stepped forward, grabbed his son’s shoulder, and said, “Zijian, an official career is not child’s play. If you don’t take up a position in the capital, how will you return to the capital for an appointment in the future? Do you think being a local official is easy? One wrong move could ruin your career!”

 

“You needn’t worry about that, Father. If you think it’s inappropriate, you can cultivate Zhang’s child into a cabinet minister instead.”

 

“You! Qinglan, I know you hate me, but Zhang is just a concubine. If you truly cannot tolerate her, we can sell her off. But you cannot use our son’s future to vent your anger.”

 

Lady Lin was so shocked by his heartless words that she trembled all over. She felt as though she no longer recognized the man before her.

 

She thought back to how they had met, fallen in love, married, and had a son, how they had once shared mutual respect and affection. Now, their home no longer felt like a home, and he no longer seemed like a father. How could she have married such a cruel and heartless man? One moment he was embracing Zhang and trying to hit her; the next, he casually suggested selling her off. His ruthlessness was beyond belief.

 

Lin Zijian frowned as well. “My decision is made, Father. You don’t need to persuade me further.” With that, he supported Lady Lin back into her room.

 

Lin Zijian’s family affairs were entirely unknown to Lu Yao, who, after returning home, took Ma Kuan to visit their newly purchased shop.

 

The old shop sign had already been taken down, and the plaque above the doorway was empty. A servant stepped forward, pulled out a key, and unlocked the large door. Before them stood an elegantly designed restaurant with a classic charm.

 

This new shop was more spacious than the Changhe Residence they had visited last night. Most importantly, the backyard still had a kitchen and space for parking carriages.

 

Zhao Beichuan was most concerned about the kitchen. After making a round inside, he returned and said, “There aren’t enough stoves—only three. If we’re making braised dishes, that won’t be sufficient.”

 

Lu Yao patted his hand reassuringly. “We’ll renovate everything before opening.”

 

The first floor had a layout similar to the Changhe Residence, with seven or eight square tables placed directly in the hall. There was no privacy whatsoever.

 

It was clear that ordinary people couldn’t afford to eat here, and those with some status wouldn’t want to dine in such an open hall where others could watch them. These tables seemed entirely redundant.

 

The second floor had four private rooms, much more spacious than those at the Changhe Residence. The tables and chairs inside still looked quite new, so Lu Yao decided not to replace them and just use them as they were. However, the rooms were too plain and would need some redecorating.

 

The third floor was the same, with four private rooms. Lu Yao planned to name these eight rooms after the seasons and the flowers: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum. Simple and easy to remember.

 

After inspecting the upper floors, Lu Yao said, “Keep everything on the upper floors as they are for now. For the first floor, I’ll draw up a design plan and have someone renovate according to it.”

 

Ma Kuan was momentarily stunned, then quickly nodded in agreement.

 

“Also, build a kiln in the backyard—five feet long and three feet wide. I plan to add a new signature dish to the capital’s menu: Peking roast duck.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Zhao Beichuan was curious about how roast duck was made, as Lu Yao had never mentioned it before.

 

On their way back in the carriage, Lu Yao explained the process in detail. “First, clean the duck thoroughly and cut a small opening in its belly to remove the innards. Then, brush honey water on the surface and hang it in a kiln to roast until cooked. The roasted duck will have a crispy exterior, tender interior, a reddish hue, and be rich but not greasy.”

 

“But if you only brush honey water on the duck, won’t it lack flavor?”

 

Lu Yao smiled. “Roasting the duck is only the beginning. A skilled chef will slice it into exactly 108 thin, evenly sized pieces. These slices are then served with lotus-leaf pancakes as thin as cicada wings, sweet bean sauce, and julienned scallions. One bite, and the flavor is unforgettable!”

 

Zhao Beichuan was so tempted by the description that he began to salivate. “When we get home, teach me how to make it!”

 

“Alright.”

 

In truth, Lu Yao had never made roast duck himself. However, he had eaten it a few times during business trips and had even toured a renowned Peking duck restaurant, learning about its preparation process.

 

In modern times, most restaurants used mechanical ovens to cook their roast ducks, resulting in a fairly uniform taste. But compared to that famous restaurant, the flavor always seemed to lack the smoky aroma imparted by fruitwood charcoal.

 

If roast duck could remain a culinary sensation for centuries in the modern era, it would surely gain widespread acclaim here as well.

 

The restaurant renovations weren’t urgent just yet. Lu Yao decided to first look at furniture, as the main house still hadn’t been properly furnished and was rather bare.

 

The capital had specialized furniture shops selling everything from canopy beds to stools. They also offered custom furniture, with a wide variety of materials ranging in price from a few taels to thousands of taels of silver.

 

Lu Yao wasn’t one for extravagance. As long as the furniture was comfortable, there was no need to insist on expensive materials.

 

He ordered a mid-range redwood furniture set, including a canopy bed, a dressing table, a curio cabinet, a five-drawer chest, and two large wardrobes for clothes.

 

For tables and chairs, he also chose redwood but avoided traditional designs. Instead, he had a long sofa custom-made to his specifications. Once completed, he planned to sew a leather cover for it, which would make it quite comfortable to sit on.

 

The entire furniture set cost over 300 taels of silver. Lu Yao added an extra 30 taels for expedited craftsmanship, ensuring it would be completed before the end of the year.

 

After leaving the furniture store, the two went to a nearby tailor shop. Lu Yao ordered two new outfits each for himself, Xiaodou, Ma Kuan, Xiaonian, and Xiaochun.

 

Originally, he had planned to order something for Zhang Qiulan as well, but since he didn’t know Zhang’s measurements and was unsure of his color preferences, he decided to give him a larger red envelope during the New Year instead.

 

The clothes would take seven or eight days to complete, which wasn’t a problem as they still had plenty of clothes to wear in the meantime.

 

Back at home, Lu Yao took out his ledger and started accounting. The expenses in the capital were astronomical—he had spent six or seven hundred taels of silver in just two days. The thought made him wince.

 

He needed to get the restaurant up and running as soon as possible. Every day it wasn’t making money was a day he was losing money.

 

Lu Yao went to Xiaodou’s room to fetch paper and pen and used a wooden ruler to measure and draw the layout of the restaurant’s first floor. He planned to design the space like a modern hotpot restaurant, with wooden partitions about one person high dividing the hall into several private spaces. Each table would seat four to six people, perfect for small gatherings.

 

The seating would be replaced with long benches fitted with leather cushions and backrests, giving the space a high-end yet comfortable feel.

 

Additionally, all the lighting fixtures in the restaurant would need to be replaced. Since the peak business hours for capital restaurants were in the evening, his establishment needed to become the most dazzling one in town.

 

Lu Yao worked on the plans late into the night. When Zhao Beichuan entered the room, he found Lu Yao asleep at the desk.

 

Feeling a pang of concern, Zhao carefully removed the pen from Lu Yao’s hand, carried him to the bed, removed his shoes, socks, and outerwear, tucked him in, extinguished the candles, and then resumed discussing restaurant matters with Ma Kuan.

 

He realized that his understanding of business was limited. In the past, he never thought to learn, believing that his role was solely to cook.

 

But now, things were different. With Lu Yao carrying a child, Zhao couldn’t let him run around everywhere. It was time for him to take on the responsibilities of a husband.

 

On their third day in the capital, Zhao Beichuan and Ma Kuan began renovating the restaurant, while Lu Yao brought gifts to visit two neighbors.

 

The family in the innermost house belonged to the Shi family, whose patriarch was a Sixth-Rank official in the Ministry of Rites. From Xiaodou’s descriptions, Lu Yao learned that this rank was often a stepping stone. As long as there were no major missteps, officials could generally get promoted within three to five years, and the prospects were promising. Thus, Lu Yao prepared a rather generous gift.

 

He knocked on the door for quite a while before a servant finally opened it, scrutinizing Lu Yao and the two attendants behind him. “Who are you?”

 

“I’m your new neighbor, having just moved in recently. I’ve come to pay my respects to Master Shi.”

 

“You wait here.” The servant promptly shut the door with a bang.

 

Lu Bing was indignant. “What’s with that attitude?”

 

Lu Jia hurriedly kicked him. “Watch your words.”

 

Lu Yao said, “The capital is not like Pingzhou. We need to be more mindful in how we speak and act. As the saying goes, ‘A gatekeeper at the prime minister’s residence is of the seventh rank.’ Even a servant shouldn’t be offended lightly.”

 

Lu Bing quickly bowed his head. “I understand my mistake.”

 

However, the Shi family acted arrogantly. After a while, the servant returned and said, “Our madam is feeling unwell today and will not be seeing any guests. Please come back another day.”

 

Lu Yao smiled and said, “In that case, I will visit another time. Please accept this small token of appreciation.”

 

Lu Jia and Lu Bing handed over the boxes they were carrying. The servant didn’t even bother to be polite and simply took them before shutting the door.

 

Having been turned away by the Shi family, Lu Yao didn’t mind too much. Although this dynasty did not explicitly rank scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, commerce was still considered a lowly profession, so it was not surprising to encounter disdain.

 

Lu Jia and Lu Bing returned home to fetch a second set of gifts. Lu Yao then knocked on the door of another household.

 

This time, the Xu family opened the door quickly. The gatekeeper once again inquired about their purpose, and after Lu Yao introduced himself, the servant hurriedly welcomed the three into the side hall. “Please wait a moment; I will inform our master right away.”

 

Lu Yao speculated that the head of this household must have previously instructed the gatekeeper to treat neighbors courteously.

 

Not long after, a medium-built man in his fifties, with slightly graying hair, walked over from the backyard.

 

Lu Yao quickly stood up and cupped his hands in greeting. “You must be Master Xu. I am Lu Yao, your new neighbor. Today, I have come to pay my respects.”

 

Xu Zhanguang promptly raised his hand in return. “A pleasure to meet you! I heard a few days ago that the Li family’s courtyard had been sold. I was planning to visit, but it seems you’ve come to me first.”

 

Lu Yao said, “I should have visited earlier, but we’ve just moved to the capital, and the house is still in disarray, so we’ve been delayed by a couple of days.”

 

“No matter. Please, come in.”

 

Master Xu led them to the flower hall for receiving guests, where a servant brought tea.

 

As Lu Yao observed him, he found him increasingly familiar.

 

Master Xu, puzzled, touched his face and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that, Young Master Lu? Is something amiss?”

 

“Apologies, but does Master Xu have relatives in Pingzhou?”

 

Xu Zhanguang paused in surprise. “Indeed, I do. My ancestral home is in Pingzhou, in Qiushui Town, Pingyang County.”

 

Hearing this, Lu Yao couldn’t help but laugh. “What a coincidence! My hometown is also Qiushui Town, Pingyang County. Do you happen to have a nephew named Xu Bin?”

 

Xu Zhanguang’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Well, I’ll be! What a small world! I can’t believe we’ve run into a fellow townsman here in the capital. You know Bin’er?”

 

“Not only do I know him, but the tofu recipe your nephew sent to you back then came from me. You even sent us a box of porcelain in return.”

 

“My goodness, who would believe such a tale? Quickly, call my wife over!”

 

The servant hurriedly ran to the backyard, and soon, a kindly-looking woman came over, scrutinizing Lu Yao curiously. “Young Master Lu, are you really from Qiushui Town?”

 

Lu Yao nodded. “That’s right. I’m an old acquaintance of Xu Bin.” The connection as fellow townsmen instantly brought the two families closer.

 

Xu Zhanguang asked, “How long has it been since you moved out of Qiushui Town?”

 

Lu Yao did a quick calculation. “It’s been almost eight years. We initially moved from the village to Qiushui Town. At that time, we were making a living selling tofu, and that’s how we met Xu Bin, who was delivering tofu to your restaurant.”

 

“What’s this about the tofu recipe?”

 

“That’s a long story.” Lu Yao recounted how their tofu shop had faced jealousy and trouble, and how Xu Bin had stepped in to help. While everything he said was true, he exaggerated the details slightly, making it sound like the relationship between his family and Xu Bin was particularly close.

 

Xu Zhanguang remarked, “Bin’er is indeed a warm-hearted person. That tofu recipe has also been a great help to me.”

 

The Xu family had originally built their fortune in the restaurant business. Later, this particular branch of the family moved to the capital due to certain circumstances. Initially, their restaurant business didn’t fare well, but the tofu recipe sent by Xu Bin helped them establish a foothold.

 

Eventually, the humble eatery transformed into Baiyu Lou, one of the capital’s most renowned restaurants. Over the years, with the wealth they accumulated, they were able to purchase this house on Zhangtai Street.

 

Xu Zhanguang commented, “The houses here on Zhangtai Street aren’t cheap. Judging by your financial capability, you must have had some good fortune.”

 

Lu Yao nodded. “My younger brother took the path of officialdom, so we moved to Pingzhou City and opened a restaurant there. Over time, we built some wealth. Now I’ve come to the capital with him for the imperial exams and to see if we can explore some new business opportunities.”

 

Xu Zhanguang’s expression shifted again. “Your younger brother actually passed the provincial examination?”

 

Lu Yao smiled modestly. “It’s my husband’s younger brother. He was just lucky.”

 

If Xu Zhanguang had been polite before, he was now entirely invested in forming a connection. For merchants, conducting business was their expertise, but forging ties with officials was incredibly challenging. Even lavish gifts often failed to yield results. Knowing that the Lu family had such a talented individual made this a golden opportunity.

 

“Are you planning to settle in the capital?”

 

“We’re not sure yet. There’s too much business in Pingzhou that requires our attention. For now, we’re just testing the waters here. If things go well, my brother and others will come to manage it. If not, it won’t matter.”

 

Xu Zhanguang laughed heartily. “Young Master Lu, with your abilities, you’re sure to succeed! If you have any questions in the future, feel free to ask me. It’s rare to meet someone from the same town in the capital. We should look out for each other!”

 

“Thank you, Uncle Xu.”

 

After leaving the Xu residence, Lu Yao still found it hard to believe that he had encountered a relative of an old acquaintance in the capital. When Zhao Beichuan returned at noon, Lu Yao shared the news, surprising him as well.

 

“That man is really Xu Bin’s uncle?”

 

“Absolutely. The moment I saw him, I thought he looked familiar. A single question confirmed it—he’s from our Qiushui Town.”

 

Zhao Beichuan said, “I’ll visit him next time if there’s a chance.”

 

“Sure. How’s the work at the shop going?”

 

“We’ve just managed to hire the roof masons today. They’re rebuilding the heating walls as you suggested, so customers won’t feel cold in winter. But we haven’t found a carpenter yet.”

 

“Don’t rush. Take your time. This afternoon, I’ll have Lu Jia deliver a message to Madam Lin, inviting her to a meal and an opportunity to connect with members of the merchants’ guild.”

 

Zhao Beichuan hesitated. “Take care of yourself and don’t overwork.”

 

“Don’t worry; I know my limits.” At four months pregnant, Lu Yao felt physically comfortable. His slightly rounded belly wasn’t a burden, and his energy levels were high.

 

Still worried, Zhao Beichuan cuddled with Lu Yao during their midday nap, resting his hand on his wife’s belly.

 

Suddenly, Lu Yao exclaimed, “Oh!”

 

“What’s wrong?” Zhao Beichuan sat up in alarm.

 

Lu Yao looked surprised, pointing at his belly. “I think… it just moved!”

 

“Really?” Zhao Beichuan pressed his face against the small bump. “Baby, can you move again for Daddy?”

 

Lu Yao felt a sensation akin to a small fish swimming inside. “It moved again!”

 

“Why can’t I feel anything?”

 

“Maybe it’s too faint to feel from the outside.” Lu Yao placed his hand on his belly, marveling at the odd sensation. A tiny life was growing inside him, connected by blood—a miraculous feeling.

 

He found himself anticipating the child’s arrival, wondering whether it would be a boy or a girl, and whom it would resemble more—him or his husband.

 

At the same time, he worried. Was the baby healthy? In this era, there were no prenatal checkups, leaving him uncertain about the baby’s condition—a source of anxiety.

 

Sensing his concern, Zhao Beichuan kissed Lu Yao’s belly gently and reassured him, “Don’t worry. Both of you will be healthy and safe.”

 

After a short nap, Lu Yao wrote an invitation to the Lin family, asking Madam Lin when she might be available for a small gathering and suggesting she help introduce him to members of the merchants’ guild.

 

Madam Lin happened to be free and promptly sent invitations to her friends, arranging for a gathering the day after tomorrow at Changshun Restaurant.