Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 145

Chapter 145

 

While the festivities in Pingzhou were lively, things were much quieter in the capital.

 

On New Year’s Eve, only Lu Yao, Zhao Beichuan, and Zhao Beidou shared a meal together. They made six dishes and wrapped a few plates of dumplings.

 

Missing their relatives in Pingzhou, the three of them were not in high spirits. Zhao Beichuan made an exception and allowed his younger brother to have a little wine. Lu Yao, being pregnant, did not dare drink and felt full after eating just one bowl of dumplings.

 

After dinner, the three of them sat in the side room by the fire, cracking melon seeds and staying up late.

 

Lu Yao brought up Lin Zijian. “How is his typhoid fever? Is he getting better?”

 

“No, not yet. When I went to see him yesterday, he was still coughing. He was afraid of infecting me, so we didn’t meet.”

 

“Ah, what a misfortune to suffer such a calamity for no reason. It’s fortunate you didn’t drink that day.”

 

Zhao Beichuan said, “That Lu kid is so sinister. Does he think he can become the top scorer in the imperial exam just by harming you? Does he not realize his own limitations?”

 

“Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding…”

 

“I don’t even know if it’s a good thing for you to enter the officialdom so early,” Lu Yao sighed. After the New Year, Beidou would only be fifteen. At his age, children in the modern era were still in middle or high school. In ancient times, though old enough to marry, they were still just half-grown kids.

 

Being too young wasn’t necessarily a good thing because it meant one still held a pure and idealized view of human nature. A severe setback could be devastating.

 

Zhao Beidou straightened up and said, “For my elder brother, sister-in-law, and my little nephew, I should enter the officialdom early.”

 

They had never discussed this topic before. Now that it was suddenly brought up, Lu Yao couldn’t help but say a few more words.

 

“Though your sister-in-law has never been an official, I know it’s not easy to eat the imperial family’s rice. The officialdom is like a battlefield; one slight misstep can bring disaster to the entire family. Besides, we lack any real foundation. We are from a farming family. Even if we now have a few taels of silver in our pockets, we can’t catch the eye of noblemen.”

 

Lu Yao paused, looking at his younger brother lovingly. “I just hope you do well in this year’s imperial examination and find a good mentor. Having someone to guide you will make things much easier.”

 

Zhao Beichuan held Lu Yao’s hand, deeply moved.

 

Parents love their children and make far-reaching plans for them. Though Lu Yao was not the mother of Xiaodou and Xiaonian, as the eldest sister-in-law, he had played a motherly role since marrying into the Zhao family.

 

If it weren’t for him leading the family upward, they might still be farming in their village, worrying about a few taels of silver. Xiaonian might have casually married into a random family, and Xiaodou, at this age, would probably have been engaged too. They’d all be farming together, day after day, year after year.

 

But now everything was different. They had moved from a small mountain village to the capital of Dawu(The Great Wu). Xiaodou had passed the county-level examination, and Xiaonian had married a capable husband. They even bought a house and a tavern in the capital. Their lives were now a thousand times better than ordinary people’s.

 

Zhao Beichuan was content and deeply grateful.

 

After midnight, Lu Yao began to feel sleepy. His pregnancy made him tire more easily.

 

Zhao Beichuan carefully carried him into the adjacent bedroom and returned to keep vigil with his brother.

 

–

 

After the New Year, time seemed to speed up. More candidates poured into the capital, and the atmosphere for the imperial examination grew more intense.

 

Lin Zijian’s typhoid fever lasted six or seven days. Though he recovered, he was left with a chronic condition—his knees, after being soaked in icy water, ached terribly on rainy days.

 

After seeing a doctor and undergoing acupuncture several times to no avail, he could only wear thick cotton trousers for some relief.

 

Lin Zijian ultimately did not tell his family that his typhoid fever was caused by accidentally ingesting the hanshi powder. However, the incident made him and Zhao Beidou more cautious.

 

People can be unpredictable. It was unclear whether the hanshi powder was slipped by Lu Yuan or another candidate named Du, but the fact that Lu Yuan avoided drinking and specifically encouraged them to drink made them suspicious.

 

From then on, they consciously distanced themselves from Lu Yuan. Though they maintained surface-level interactions, he was no longer considered a close friend.

 

On the sixth day, they began studying at the Taixue Academy. Unlike the Guozijian, Taixue emphasized students’ cultural literacy over political ideology.

 

There, they encountered Du Mao’an again, one of the people they had dined with previously. He looked much thinner, and his face had an unnatural flush.

 

Initially, Zhao Beidou had no intention of speaking to him. Unexpectedly, Du Mao’an approached them first. “Young Master Zhao, Young Master Lin.”

 

Zhao Beidou stopped and asked, “Brother Mao’an, what can I do for you?”

 

“I didn’t expect to see you here. Would you like to have lunch together?”

 

Lin Zijian quickly declined. “We have to return home at noon. Our family has been strict lately.”

 

Du Mao’an hesitated for a moment before asking, “Can you get in touch with Lu Yuan?”

 

Zhao Beidou shook his head. “We haven’t seen him in a long time. Do you need something from him?”

 

Du Mao’an cursed under his breath. “That bastard has been avoiding me recently.”

 

Noticing his unusual behavior, Lin Zijian quickly pulled Zhao Beidou away.

 

After walking a distance, Lin Zijian whispered, “Judging by his appearance, he’s probably just used hanshi powder. He’s wearing only single-layered clothing in this cold weather, and his neck is unusually red.”

 

Mentioning hanshi powder made Zhao Beidou uncomfortable. He hastily dragged Lin Zijian out of the academy.

 

The next time they heard about Du Mao’an was a month later. Rumor had it that he got into a fight with the son of a prince over a courtesan at Yunxiang Pavilion, resulting in his leg being broken.

 

In the Wu dynasty, disabled individuals were prohibited from entering officialdom. The young provincial top scorer, with a promising future, saw his career path abruptly end.

 

–

 

On the thirteenth day of the first month, Xiaonian and her group finally arrived in the capital.

 

Not having seen her sister-in-law and elder brother for over two months, Xiaonian missed them terribly. As soon as the carriage stopped, she eagerly knocked on the door and ran into the courtyard.

 

“Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law!”

 

Lu Yao was inside taking medicine. He had caught a cold and had a runny nose for the past few days. The doctor had prescribed two doses of medicine that were safe for the baby but tasted unbearably bitter.

 

Hearing Xiaonian’s voice, Lu Yao almost choked in surprise. He quickly put down the medicine bowl and had his attendant clean it up before rushing to open the door. He saw Xiaonian running toward him.

 

“Sister-in-law!”

 

“You’re here so soon? I thought it would take a few more days,” Lu Yao said, his eyes curving with joy.

 

“We couldn’t wait any longer! Kuan Ge said we could leave on the third, so we left on the third. We didn’t encounter any delays and came straight to the capital. Where’s my brother?”

 

“He’s not home. He went to the shop. Yesterday, the tavern just hung up its signboard and covered it with red cloth. He’s waiting for you to arrive before officially opening.”

 

“Hehe, I haven’t seen what our shop in the capital looks like yet.”

 

“There’s no rush. You just arrived. Settle in and rest first. You can see it tomorrow.”

 

From the carriage behind, Zhao Fengchun and Zhang Qiulan stepped down together. The two were set to be married in a little over a month. The reason Zhang Qiulan was brought along was that Lu Yao planned to entrust the management of the the capital tavern to the couple after their marriage.

 

Next year, Ma Kuan would be heading to Zhongzhou for the distillery, and Lu Yao’s pregnancy was progressing, making him concerned about his ability to keep up. While the Pingzhou tavern could be left to Lu Miao and his family, the one in the capital required a competent person in charge.

 

Zhao Beichuan and Xiaochun were too introverted to handle the intricacies of business, making Zhang Qiulan the most suitable candidate.

 

Zhang Qiulan, who suffered from motion sickness, had vomited several times along the way and looked pale. Xiaochun stood beside him, anxiously supporting him.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“I’m fine. I just need some rest.”

 

Inside the courtyard, the two of them greeted, “Sister-in-law.”

 

Lu Yao quickly came forward. “Qiulan, are you feeling unwell?”

 

“A bit of motion sickness.”

 

“The west wing has been prepared for you. Go and rest for now.”

 

Zhang Qiulan didn’t protest. Feeling dizzy, he allowed Xiaochun to help him to the west wing.

 

The west and east wings were similar to those in Pingzhou, each having three rooms. The left and right sides were bedrooms, with a central room used as a reception area.

 

The left bedroom belonged to Xiaonian, while Zhang Qiulan’s was on the right. Xiaochun and Beidou’s rooms were in the east wing.

 

The rooms were fully furnished, with brand-new bedding on the beds and scented incense filling the air. It was evident that a lot of care had gone into the preparations.

 

Xiaochun helped Zhang Qiulan remove his outer cloak and assisted him in sitting on the bed. “Would you like to lie down for a bit?”

 

“Yes.”

 

In the main house, Xiaonian excitedly showed Lu Yao the gifts that she bought for them and the unborn baby.

 

“These are clothes I made for my little nephew. Sister-in-law, do you think they look good?”

 

She had made six outfits in total, all crafted from soft silk and embroidered with designs like the Hundred Blessings pattern, lotus and koi, and auspicious clouds. The colors were vibrant, and the embroidery was exquisite—on par with that of professional embroiderers. Each piece had an inner lining sewn in to prevent the fabric from irritating the baby’s delicate skin.

 

“They look great, much better than the ones I made,” Lu Yao praised. Over the past few days, when he had free time, he had also sewn a few small outfits, basing the measurements on the baby clothes Zhao Beichuan had brought back from Qingzhou.

 

He used soft and luxurious silkworm silk, with each foot of fabric costing 600 wen—a true indulgence. However, since babies require little fabric, two feet were enough to make two outfits.

 

Xiaonian then took out the clothes Lu Yao’s mother had made, along with some hand-me-downs that Dandan and Taozi had worn as babies. “Second Sister-in-law said old clothes are best for babies. They’ve been washed soft, so they’ll be comfortable for the baby to wear.”

 

Lu Yao picked up the clothes and examined them. Several of them looked very familiar, likely because he had held the children while they wore them.

 

After organizing the clothes and putting them away in the wardrobe, Lu Yao asked about the family’s well-being. Had the elderly been in good health during their absence?

 

“They’re doing great. Mother-in-law(lu yao’s mom) is still strong. On the thirtieth, we celebrated the New Year on Changshui Street, and she personally cooked chicken for us,” Xiaonian replied.

 

Lu Yao couldn’t help but laugh. “That old lady can’t sit still.”

 

Xiaonian, rarely showing her tender side, clung to Lu Yao’s arm and nuzzled affectionately. “It’s a pity you weren’t there. Xiaochun and I missed you, Big Brother, and Xiaodou so much.”

 

Lu Yao reached out and gently ruffled her hair. “I missed you too, which is why I had Ma Kuan bring you all here as quickly as possible.”

 

Outside, Ma Kuan and Xiaochun entered the courtyard. Lu Yao asked, “You must be exhausted from the journey.”

 

Ma Kuan smiled faintly. “It wasn’t too bad.”

 

“Stay in the capital for a while and rest. When you have free time, take Xiaonian out to explore. Don’t feel constrained.”

 

“Understood.”

 

It was nearing noon, so Lu Yao instructed Lu Jia to fetch Zhao Beichuan and order a meal from the nearby restaurant to save everyone the trouble of going out again.

 

Before long, Zhao Beidou returned from the Taixue Academy. Seeing Xiaochun helping tidy up in the courtyard, he paused in surprise. “Second Brother, you’re here!”

 

Xiaochun smiled warmly. “Yes, we just arrived not long ago.”

 

“Is my sister here too?”

 

“She’s here, chatting with Sister-in-law in the house.”

 

Zhao Beidou ran eagerly into the house. “Sister!”

 

“Douzi!”

 

The two immediately began playfully wrestling. Xiaonian flicked his forehead, but Douzi held her shoulders to stop her, laughing and roughhousing until they finally let go. Not satisfied, Xiaonian pinched him twice before feeling at ease.

 

“Hiss! Sister, are you even mature? You’re so old and still pinching people.”

 

“I’ll pinch you even when I’m sixty!”

 

Lu Yao laughed so hard his stomach hurt. “Alright, tidy up. Get ready for lunch. Xiaonian, can you check on Qiulan? I noticed he didn’t look too well earlier.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Douzi exclaimed, “Second Sister-in-law is here too?”

 

Lu Yao nodded. “From now on, the capital business will be managed by him.”

 

“Oh,” Beidou replied, uninterested in business matters since his focus was on studying.

 

An hour later, Zhao Beichuan and the others finally returned by carriage. The three younger siblings eagerly surrounded him, clinging to him for a while.

 

Zhang Qiulan, who had taken a nap, looked much better than earlier. Standing at the doorway, he watched the Zhao siblings with envy.

 

Though he also had two younger half-brothers, they were close in age but shared no bond. Influenced by their stepmother, the two harbored hostility toward him and never addressed him as “Brother” unless their father was present.

 

Zhang Qiulan didn’t bother with them. After all, his stepmother had caused several scenes over his impending marriage, mainly because she didn’t want the dowry shop to leave the family. When Lu Yao invited him to the capital, he agreed without hesitation. Rather than endure the chaos at home, it was better to escape for some peace and quiet.

 

In the main house, a large round table was set, and dishes from the restaurant were reheated and served. For the first time, the family shared a reunion meal.

 

Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan, like the heads of the family, looked at their younger siblings, who were about to start families of their own, feeling a wave of emotion. In the blink of an eye, the children had grown up.

 

During the meal, Xiaonian asked about the restaurant.

 

Zhao Beichuan said, “The restaurant has been fully prepared and is scheduled to open after the Lantern Festival. We’ve already hired the staff—ten workers and four kitchen helpers.” The four kitchen helpers were indentured servants, young and trustworthy, making them reliable for the back kitchen.

 

The conversation then turned to Beidou’s upcoming imperial exam.

 

“It starts on the fifth of February, lasts three days, and results are announced within seven days. The palace exam follows the next day,” Zhao Beidou explained.

 

Xiaonian asked excitedly, “How’s your preparation?”

 

“Completely ready,” Beidou said confidently.

 

Zhao Beichuan snorted. “Don’t be so sure. If you don’t do well, you’ll come home crying.”

 

“Don’t worry, Big Brother. At the very least, I’ll make it as a Jinshi!”

 

Xiaochun couldn’t help but praise him. “Well said!”

 

The atmosphere grew livelier. The meal stretched into the evening, with everyone except Lu Yao drinking. Zhao Beichuan had four bowls of aged wine and ended up drunk, needing Douzi to help him to his room.

 

Lu Yao urged the others to wash up and rest early, knowing they must be exhausted from the long journey.

 

Zhang Qiulan, who couldn’t handle alcohol well, wobbled as he got up.

 

Xiaochun quickly supported him into the west wing. Just as he closed the door, Zhang Qiulan pinned him against it.

 

Though he was a ger, his tall stature and broad frame gave him considerable strength. Xiaochun struggled but couldn’t break free. Blushing, he whispered, “You should rest.”

 

“Call me ‘Gege.’”

 

“Stop fooling around.”

 

Zhang Qiulan leaned in, his warm, alcohol-tinged breath brushing Xiaochun’s ear. “Call me just once.”

 

“Lan-ge…” Xiaochun’s voice trailed off as his face burned.

 

Satisfied, Zhang Qiulan nuzzled his cheek before letting go and staggering toward the bed.

 

Xiaochun quickly knelt to help him remove his shoes, but Zhang Qiulan hooked an arm around his shoulder, pulling him onto the bed.

 

“What… What are you doing?”

 

“Will you stay with me tonight?”

 

“No… No, we’re not married yet…”

 

Zhang Qiulan said nothing, his bright eyes fixed on Xiaochun as he pressed a knee against him. Xiaochun froze, a thin layer of sweat forming on his face. Finally, Zhang Qiulan relented. “Just teasing you. Go rest.”

 

“Alright.” Xiaochun tucked him in, his face still red, and took a moment to collect himself before leaving the room.

 

Guozijian (国子监) and Taixue (太学) were the highest educational institutions in ancient China, often associated with Confucian education and preparing students for the imperial examination system. While they are related, they differ slightly:

 

1. Guozijian (Imperial College):

 

It was the central government school and the highest educational institution in ancient China, especially during the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

 

The Guozijian was managed directly by the court and served as a symbol of state education.

 

It primarily trained elites and nobility, such as sons of officials or talented students who were selected or recommended.

 

Located in the capital (e.g., Beijing during the Ming and Qing dynasties), it also served as a ceremonial space for Confucian rituals.

 

2. Taixue (Grand Academy):

 

It was an older term used to refer to state-sponsored higher education institutions during earlier dynasties, such as the Han and Wei.

 

Over time, “Taixue” became synonymous with advanced schools or academies for Confucian studies, even after the establishment of the Guozijian.

 

Students in the Taixue typically came from the same pool as those in the Guozijian, aiming for success in the imperial examinations.

 

In many cases, the terms could overlap in usage depending on the era, but Guozijian was often the more formal institution in later dynasties. If this appears in your text, it likely refers to elite state schools in the capital, preparing students for scholarly or governmental roles.