Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 144

Chapter 144

 

“I’ll go find them!” Zhao Beichuan turned to leave immediately.

 

Lu Yao quickly grabbed him. “Don’t. The kids care about their reputation at this age. If you bring them back so abruptly, how will they face their classmates in the future? Maybe I’m just overthinking. Let’s wait until they come back to talk about it.”

 

“That place isn’t suitable for them to go to anyway. It’s like all the books he’s been reading have gone into a dog’s stomach. This brat, just wait until he comes back. Watch me teach him a lesson!”

 

In fact, Zhao Beidou and Lin Zijian hadn’t done anything wrong. Each time they went to Yunxiang Tower, they directly entered a private room on the second floor to play music, discuss poetry, and debate current political affairs.

 

In addition to Lu Yuan, there was also a friend he brought along named Du Mo’an, who was a few years older and also a candidate in the upcoming imperial exams. Du Mo’an was very talented and was the top scorer in the regional exams of Jizhou, which is why Zhao Beidou and Lin Zijian were willing to meet him there.

 

There was also a musician, a qingguan named Qingqu, who was elegant and upright. His guqin playing was extraordinarily skillful.

 

It was clear to everyone that Du Mo’an admired this person, but Qingqu was polite and warm to everyone, neither too enthusiastic nor too cold, leaving Du Mo’an infatuated like a hooked fish.

 

During the gathering, as drinks were passed around, Zhao Beidou, mindful of his elder brother’s warnings, didn’t touch alcohol. Lu Yuan persuaded him a few times but gave up when he realized Zhao Beidou was resolute.

 

Lin Zijian, however, drank a few more cups and was visibly flushed by the time they left.

 

“Beidou, why do I feel so hot?”

 

“Hot? It’s freezing outside. How can you feel hot?” Zhao Beidou reached out to touch his forehead, realizing it was alarmingly warm.

 

Leaning against the carriage, Lin Zijian felt unbearable heat coursing through him and couldn’t help loosening his collar.

 

“Don’t catch a cold.”

 

“I’m not cold, not at all. I feel so hot that I’d jump into ice water right now if I could.”

 

Zhao Beidou sensed something was off. “It’s late. How about you don’t go home tonight and stay at my place instead?”

 

“Alright, I’ll have Ashu go inform my mother so she won’t worry.” Ashu was Lin Zijian’s attendant.

 

From Yunxiang Tower to Zhangtai Street was just a half-hour journey, yet Lin Zijian’s condition only worsened.

 

Initially, they thought it was the alcohol making him hot, but soon he became unbearably restless, feeling as though his insides were burning. He began unbuttoning his clothes, eventually opening the carriage door to let the cold wind rush in.

 

Startled, Zhao Beidou quickly shut the door. “You’ll catch a cold like this!”

 

“Just a moment, just one moment. I feel like I’m burning up inside!”

 

“That’s not an option. Lu Jia, hurry up and get us home!”

 

“Got it!” Lu Jia cracked the whip, and the horse galloped, bringing them home in just a couple of minutes.

 

By then, Lin Zijian had lost consciousness and was frantically tugging at his clothes, his entire body unnaturally red yet devoid of sweat.

 

Alarmed, Zhao Beidou carried him off the carriage and ran into the courtyard. “Big Brother! Sister-in-law! Come quickly!”

 

Inside, Zhao Beichuan and Lu Yao rushed out. “What happened?”

 

“Sister-in-law, Zijian isn’t doing well!”

 

“It’s too dark to see anything clearly outside. Bring him inside, quickly.”

 

Zhao Beidou placed Lin Zijian on a bed in the west wing. At this point, Lin Zijian seemed delirious, his eyes open but unresponsive, his body in a state of extreme agitation.

 

Seeing this, Lu Yao grew anxious. “Go fetch a doctor immediately, now!”

 

Zhao Beichuan stopped Lu Jia from unharnessing the carriage, and the two of them rushed out again.

 

Meanwhile, Lu Yao fetched a basin of warm water, instructing Zhao Beidou to help wipe Lin Zijian’s forehead, neck, limbs, underarms, and the backs of his knees. The evaporation of the warm water provided a slight cooling sensation, causing Lin Zijian to shiver before suddenly struggling violently.

 

“Don’t move! Don’t move!” Zhao Beidou held him down, eyes red with worry. How did it come to this? They had just had dinner, and now this?

 

Before long, Zhao Beichuan returned with the doctor, who entered the room at once.

 

“How is he?”

 

Lu Yao’s expression was grave. “There’s been no improvement. Calling his name gets no response, and his body is scalding to the touch.”

 

The doctor approached, taking Lin Zijian’s pulse and examining his eyes and tongue. “Did he consume Hanshi powder with alcohol?”

 

“Hanshi powder?” Lu Yao and Zhao Beidou exclaimed in unison.

 

“Yes. This is likely his first time taking it, and the dosage was quite high. The drug hasn’t been expelled from his system yet, causing internal heat to burn his organs. If it isn’t expelled soon, his life will be in danger.”

 

“How do we expel it?”

 

“Draw a bucket of cold water and soak him in it.”

 

Lu Yao hesitated. “Won’t soaking him in cold water during this weather give him chills?”

 

“Which is more important—chills or his life? If you don’t do this now, you may not be able to save him!”

 

“Hurry! Quickly, do as the doctor says!” Lu Yao urged Zhao Beichuan and Zhao Beidou to fetch cold water.

 

Shortly after, the two returned carrying a large tub filled halfway with cold water.

 

“Undress him and put him in. Soak him for half an hour, and he should be fine.”

 

Gritting his teeth, Zhao Beidou stripped off Lin Zijian’s outerwear and lowered him into the tub.

 

The icy water made Lin Zijian thrash about, but Lu Yao comforted him. “Be strong; it’ll be over soon.”

 

Lin Zijian gradually calmed, regaining his senses. He looked around, his voice hoarse. “What happened to me?”

 

The doctor collected his things, preparing to leave.

 

Lu Yao escorted him out, asking quietly, “He might’ve ingested it accidentally. Will this leave lasting effects on his body?”

 

“There will be some impact. Considering his young age, I assume he hasn’t married yet. Long-term use of this substance can lead to infertility.”

 

“And what about other effects, like his studies?”

 

The doctor laughed. “Once someone gets addicted to this, how would they have the energy to study? I suggest you keep a close eye on him to prevent further exposure.”

 

“Thank you.” Lu Yao handed over the payment and instructed Lu Bing to escort the doctor out.

 

Returning to the room, he found Lin Zijian out of the tub and dressed in Zhao Beidou’s loose clothes, finally looking more comfortable.

 

Lu Yao’s tone was serious. “Where did you go tonight, who were you with, and what did you consume during the meal?”

 

Zhao Beidou and Lin Zijian exchanged glances, both realizing something was amiss, and recounted the evening’s events.

 

“So tonight, only Zijian and that Du scholar drank, while Beidou and Lu Yuan didn’t?”

 

The two nodded. Zhao Beidou added, “Lu Yuan doesn’t handle alcohol well. The last few times he had just one cup, he got drunk, so he hasn’t drunk since.”

 

“And that Du fellow—did his demeanor change after drinking?”

 

“I didn’t notice; the room was dimly lit. But his mood did seem more excitable than usual.”

 

“From tomorrow onward, neither of you is allowed to go out to eat with Lu Yuan, nor should you associate with him.”

 

Zhao Beidou was startled. “Sister-in-law, do you think Lu Yuan did this?”

 

Lin Zijian also found it unlikely. After all, the three had known each other for some time, were classmates, and Lu Yuan didn’t seem like the scheming type.

 

Zhao Beichuan’s tone was firm. “Zhao Beidou, listen to your sister-in-law. You’re not to see Lu Yuan again. Understood?”

 

“Yes,” the two young men replied in unison, intimidated.

 

Zhao Beichuan wasn’t satisfied and gave his brother a light punch. “You dare to go drinking in such a place? Your sister-in-law and I went there today. It’s a complete cesspool of depravity!”

 

The boys blushed, embarrassed. They had been somewhat curious about the allure of such a place, which was why they had agreed to go in the first place.

 

“Big Brother, Sister-in-law, I know I was wrong. I won’t go to such places again, and I’ll avoid Lu Yuan’s invitations in the future.”

 

Lin Zijian echoed his sentiments.

 

Lu Yao sighed. “Although we can’t prove Lu Yuan is responsible, he’s undeniably connected to this incident. You’re both preparing for next year’s imperial exams. Don’t waste your energy on meaningless distractions. Especially you, Zijian. Given your family’s circumstances… you need to bring your mother some pride.”

 

Lin Zijian’s eyes reddened. “I understand, Sister-in-law.”

 

“It’s late. Clean up and rest early. I won’t speak of this matter to others. Whether or not you inform your family is up to you, Zijian. But if you feel unwell, you must speak up.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The next day, Lin Zijian was still suffering from typhoid fever. After soaking in cold water for an hour in the dead of winter, it was too much for anyone to bear.

 

When he got home, he fell ill and had a fever for several days. When Zhao Beidou came to see him, he had just finished drinking his medicinal soup and was shivering from the bitterness. “Hiss—this really does more harm than good!”

 

Zhao Beidou smiled wryly. “Let’s stay home and study in peace. After the new year, we can go to the Imperial Academy for a month of learning.”

 

“Alright.”

 

The matter was set aside for the time being. Whether it was due to Lu Yuan feeling guilty or just being busy with the New Year, he hadn’t come to invite the two of them out again in recent days.

 

Zhao Beidou gradually pieced together the whole story, but he still found it hard to believe Lu Yuan could turn into such a person. His heart was filled with not just anger but also sadness. After all, he had once regarded Lu Yuan as a good friend, just like Lin Zijian.

 

–

 

Elsewhere, Ma Kuan hurried back to Pingzhou just in time for New Year’s Eve.

 

Xiaonian and Xiaochun were overjoyed to hear of his return and immediately ran out to greet him. But when they reached the cart, they found only Ma Kuan, with no sign of their sister-in-law or elder brother.

 

The smile on Xiaonian’s face froze. “Didn’t Sister-in-law and Elder Brother come back with you…?”

 

Ma Kuan reached out to ruffle Xiaonian’s hair. “It’s such a long journey, and Sister-in-law is pregnant. He couldn’t handle the back and forth.”

 

“Then… what about New Year’s?”

 

“Sister-in-law told me to bring you two to Auntie’s house for New Year. It’ll be livelier with more people.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“I also brought some specialty goods from the capital on the cart. Take a look later to see if there’s anything you like.”

 

Xiaonian nodded absentmindedly. Without Sister-in-law and Elder Brother, the New Year felt like it was missing something, leaving him feeling unsettled.

 

Seeing this, Xiaochun quickly changed the subject. “Big Brother and Sister-in-law have settled down in the capital, right?”

 

“Yes, the house has been bought, and the restaurant has been taken over. After the New Year, I’ll take you both to the capital.”

 

At that, Xiaonian finally perked up a little. “Really? That’s great!”

 

Xiaochun said, “Brother Kuan, you must be exhausted from the trip. Go rest. The restaurant has been closed for a while, and we brought Xiaolan’er to stay with us at home.”

 

“Alright.” Ma Kuan followed them back to the courtyard on Changrong Street.

 

Not only was Xiaolan’er there, but Grandma Zhao was also staying with them. Since the restaurant was closed, they were worried about leaving the two of them alone, so they decided to bring them over to live and eat together.

 

Ma Kuan hadn’t seen his younger sister in months. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Xiaolan’er building a snowman with Lu Taozi, Dandan, and Yinzi.

 

Lu Miao came out when he heard the commotion and said in surprise, “Ma Kuan, you’re back! We thought you wouldn’t make it before the New Year.”

 

“Big Brother!” Xiaolan’er saw her brother and ran over excitedly.

 

Ma Kuan lifted his sister and gave her a little toss. “You’ve gained weight—your little face is round now.”

 

Embarrassed, Xiaolan’er buried her face in her brother’s scarf. “Sister Xiaonian keeps feeding me delicious food, so I got chubby.”

 

“Shame on you! You love eating just as much!” Xiaonian reached out to tickle her, and the little girl laughed until her face turned red.

 

Lu Miao asked, “How are things in the capital? My third brother and his husband didn’t come back?”

 

Ma Kuan put his sister down and replied, “Sister-in-law and Elder Brother stayed in the capital to set up the new shop. They won’t come back for the New Year. They’ll return after Beidou finishes his exams, and they’ll also handle Fengchun’s wedding.”

 

“That works out well. Everyone, get ready to spend the New Year at Changshui Street with me.”

 

“Alright.” Ma Kuan simply moved everything from the cart over, saving himself another trip. Among the items were gifts Lu Yao had prepared for several families, as well as things he had bought himself, packed into dozens of boxes.

 

When they arrived at the Lu residence, Lu Lin and Wang Youtian were in the courtyard slaughtering a pig. Without Zhao Beichuan’s help this year, the two of them looked a bit overwhelmed.

 

Seeing this, Xiaochun and Ma Kuan rolled up their sleeves and pitched in, while Shitou followed with a basin to catch the pig’s blood.

 

Grandma Lu, bundled up in a thick cotton robe, stood watching the scene with her hands tucked into her sleeves. “In the blink of an eye, the children have all grown up.”

 

Grandma Wang nodded in agreement. “That’s right. In a few years, your Shitou will be an adult too.”

 

The children were both scared and curious about the pig slaughtering. They covered their eyes but peeked through their fingers. Dandan and Yinzi were so frightened that they cried loudly, and Lu Miao quickly carried them inside, one in each arm.

 

Once the pig was slaughtered, Lu Lin told Xiaochun and Ma Kuan to wash their hands and head inside, saying he and Wang Youtian would handle the rest.

 

Inside, Grandma Lu held Ma Kuan’s hand and asked about Lu Yao’s situation. When she heard they had opened another restaurant in the capital, she scolded, “That boy doesn’t take care of himself. Couldn’t he wait until after the baby was born? What if he overworks himself?”

 

“Don’t worry, Auntie. Elder Brother won’t let Sister-in-law overwork herself.”

 

Grandma Lu was somewhat reassured. Her third son-in-law was a steady and reliable person, but being so far away still left her anxious. She repeated her concerns several times until Hu Chunrong pulled her away.

 

“Ma Kuan, you and Xiaochun go rest in the west room. You’ve traveled so far without taking a proper break.”

 

“It’s fine. I’ve already had a few naps in the carriage.”

 

But Hu Chunrong insisted and shooed them into the west room.

 

Xiaochun said, “Brother Kuan, don’t be so polite. If you’re tired, take a nap.”

 

Ma Kuan was indeed exhausted. The constant travel had made his already thin frame look even more frail, and there were dark circles under his eyes. “Alright, I’ll sleep for a while. Call me when it’s time to eat.”

 

“Okay.”

 

By the time Xiaonian arrived, Ma Kuan was already asleep. She carefully sat down at the edge of the kang.

 

Xiaochun, understanding the situation, got up and said, “You keep an eye on him for a bit. I’ll go help the others with cooking.”

 

“Alright, you go ahead.”

 

When the door closed, Xiaonian gently took Ma Kuan’s hand. His thin hand was chapped from the cold, with many frostbites on it. Feeling a pang of heartache, she covered his hand with hers.

 

Ma Kuan didn’t sleep soundly. Squinting slightly, he saw Xiaonian by his side, clasped her hand, and drifted back to sleep.

 

Xiaonian’s heart raced. After a long moment, she leaned down and gave him a light kiss on the forehead, like a dragonfly skimming the water.