Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 156

Extra Story 6 – A Peaceful New Year

Lu Yao had always heard that Beichuan looked a lot like his uncle, but he never imagined they would resemble each other this much!

They had the same height and facial features, as if they were carved from the same mold. The only difference was their age. Through his uncle, Lu Yao could almost see what Zhao Beichuan would look like thirty years later.

Qiao Sheng and Li Shi were also sizing up Lu Yao. This young husband looked quite youthful, with exceptionally handsome features and a warm, kind smile that made him seem instantly familiar.

“So, this is Lu Yao?”

“Yes, Uncle, Aunt, you must be exhausted from the journey. Come inside quickly!”

Zhao Beichuan took the two of them into the main hall to sit down, while Lu Yao sent a servant to bring the child over.

Before long, little Quanbao was carried in, still asleep. His tiny chubby fists were raised near his head, and he slept soundly.

At the sight of the child, Qiao Sheng and Li Shi couldn’t sit still. They both leaned in eagerly to take a look.

“This child is truly beautiful. Is it a boy or a ger?” Li Shi asked softly.

“He’s a ger.”

“How wonderful. Have you chosen a name?”

“His formal name is Zhao Jingshu, and his nickname is Quanbao.”

Uncle Qiao gazed lovingly at the little one, faintly recognizing features that resembled his younger sister. When Dachuan was born, he must have looked just like this.

After watching for a while, Qiao Sheng reached into his robe and took out a string of small wooden ornaments he had carved himself.

There was a small sword made of peach wood, a tiny basket carved from a peach pit, along with pig and fish bones meant to ward off evil. They had been carefully polished smooth so they wouldn’t harm the baby’s delicate skin.

Ever since Lu Jia mentioned that Dachuan had a child, Qiao Sheng had hurriedly bought materials and painstakingly carved them along the journey.

Feeling a little embarrassed, he handed them to Lu Yao. “These are just some simple trinkets, something for the child to wear for protection.”

Lu Yao immediately tied them around his son’s wrist. “Thank you, Uncle. These carvings are wonderful—you have such skillful hands.”

Qiao Sheng smiled. “You should put the child back to sleep before he wakes up.”

Lu Yao quickly instructed the servants to take the child back to his crib. Then, he turned to Li Shi and asked, “I heard from Dachuan that Aunt had been unwell. Are you feeling better now?”

Li Shi nodded. “Much better.” Over the past year in Qingzhou, she had been receiving medical treatment, and the city doctors were indeed more skilled. They quickly identified the root of her illness, and after a year of medication, she was significantly healthier. Had she been in their old village, she doubted she would have had the strength to endure such a long journey.

Zhao Beichuan said, “I’ve already arranged a place for you both to stay. You should get some rest first, and later we can all have a meal together.”

“No need to trouble yourself.”

Zhao Beichuan reassured them, “You are family—think of this as your own home. No need to be so formal with me.”

Qiao Sheng and Li Shi’s eyes glistened with tears. “Alright then.”

The arrival of his uncle and aunt brought Zhao Beichuan much comfort. They had so few relatives left, and now that he had the means, he naturally wanted to support them.

Originally, he planned to let his uncle work in one of the shops. Lu Yao managed five businesses, so he could have chosen any of them.

But Qiao Sheng refused. In his words, “I’m just a simple farmer who can’t even read. Other than tending the land, I don’t know how to do anything else. I shouldn’t meddle in things beyond me.”

In the end, Zhao Beichuan arranged for them to move to an estate near Pingzhou, assigning them the role of caretakers to manage the farm’s crops.

At first, Qiao Sheng was reluctant, saying that just a few acres of land to sustain themselves would be enough.

It was Lu Yao who stepped in and persuaded him, “The previous caretaker of that estate has been dishonest. Every year, the grain they turn in keeps decreasing. Now that we have no one overseeing it, we’d really appreciate your help, Uncle.”

Hearing this, Qiao Sheng finally nodded. “Alright then. We’re family—no need to be polite. I’ll make sure to keep an eye on things!”

Zhao Beichuan sighed in relief and personally drove the carriage to take them to the estate. He dismissed the former caretaker and arranged proper housing and livestock for them.

When he returned, he couldn’t stop praising Lu Yao. “Ah Yao, you’re amazing! Just a few words and you managed to convince Uncle.”

Lu Yao chuckled. “The elderly can be stubborn. If you simply ask them to enjoy an easy life, they’d feel uneasy. But if they feel needed, they can settle in with peace of mind.”

In truth, the estate mainly produced sorghum and millet for brewing wine, and the annual yield wasn’t particularly high. Lu Yao didn’t care about the minor losses—it was simply a way to provide comfort to the elderly couple.

Zhao Beichuan pulled Lu Yao into his arms, cupped his face, and gave him a kiss. The love in his eyes was almost overflowing.

Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was already the twelfth lunar month. Little Quanbao was almost eight months old.

Recently, he was teething, constantly gnawing on things, and drooling everywhere. Lu Yao jokingly gave him a new nickname: “Drool General.”

“Oh my, the little general is awake!”

Hearing his mother’s voice, Quanbao immediately flipped over and crawled toward him with all his might.

Lu Yao picked him up. He was noticeably heavier, already measuring two and a half feet tall and weighing twenty-five pounds at just eight months old. He had inherited Zhao Beichuan’s genes—his tiny arms and legs were incredibly strong. Sometimes, when he flailed his little fists and accidentally hit someone’s face, it could bring tears to their eyes.

“Ah! Ah!”

“Say ‘Mama.’”

“Ah!”

“You little dummy.” Lu Yao playfully tapped the baby’s nose, only for Quanbao to grab his finger and start gnawing on it.

“Don’t chew on that—it’s dirty!” Lu Yao quickly pulled his hand away.

Quanbao pouted, his little mouth quivering, and suddenly burst into tears, looking utterly pitiful.

“Alright, alright, don’t cry! Mama will give you a teething stick.” Lu Yao hurriedly took out a piece of Sichuan pepperwood, which Uncle Qiao had personally carved for Quanbao’s teething.

Once he had something to chew on, Quanbao stopped crying and stared at Lu Yao with his big, grape-like eyes.

Lu Yao gently bumped foreheads with him a couple of times, making the little one giggle and reveal two tiny budding teeth.

The two were playing when Zhao Beichuan came home.

It had snowed heavily outside, and his shoes and socks were damp. Ignoring his wet clothes, he rushed in to see his husband and son.

“Quanbao!”

“Ah!” The little boy flailed his tiny fists excitedly at the sight of his father.

“Daddy’s hands are cold. I’ll hold you later.”

Lu Yao handed him a cloth. “Wipe the snow off your head. Where were you that you got covered in snow?”

“Master Cao from the Fifth Household called me over. The imperial rewards have arrived.”

“Imperial rewards?”

“For the supplies we sent to the Zhenbei Army last year.”

“Oh, I had forgotten about that.” When they returned earlier in the year, Master Cao had mentioned that the imperial court would issue a reward, but after so long with no news, Lu Yao assumed the matter had been dropped.

“What was the reward?”

“A decree is at Master Cao’s house, and the rest of the items are in our storage. You can take a look later.”

Lu Yao went to check and was surprised to find an ebony plaque inscribed with “Loyal and Righteous Merchant,” bearing the emperor’s signature and the date.

This was worth far more than gold!

Lu Yao was the happiest because this meant that a merchant’s status would no longer be a weakness in Beidou’s official career.

In the future, if anyone tried to make an issue out of his brother and sister-in-law’s identity when he entered officialdom, he could simply throw the imperial plaque in their faces!

Lord Cao was also pleased. His elder brothers were all officials in the court, and they had received commendations for this matter. In the past, he had always felt inferior to his brothers, but now he had finally accomplished something to bring honor to the family.

As night fell, Lord Cao invited everyone to stay for a meal. Lu Yao made an exception and drank two cups of wine, so that by the time he stepped outside, his steps were unsteady. Just as he reached the door, he saw Zhao Beichuan waiting for him with a horse-drawn carriage.

Lord Cao quickly stepped forward to greet him. “Brother Zhao, you’re here! Why didn’t you come in? Come, come, come, have a few more drinks.”

“I just ate at home. I’ll drink with you next time.”

“Alright, it’s a deal then!”

Lord Cao watched as the two got into the carriage and left, waving them off while shaking his head with a smile. This couple had been married for so many years, yet their relationship was still this strong—it was truly enviable.

At the end of the year, all the children returned home to celebrate the New Year. This year, they didn’t go to Changshui Street but stayed in Changrong Street instead, gathering for a family reunion dinner.

During the night watch, Lu Yao asked about business affairs in Shangjing and Zhongzhou.

The restaurant in Shangjing had done exceptionally well this year. In just half a month of December, it had brought in more than nine thousand taels of silver, with an annual net profit exceeding one hundred thousand taels.

Zhang Qiulan had even brought back an account book. Lu Yao smiled and said, “It’s our own business—I trust you.”

In Zhongzhou, with an increasing number of clients from the south, the production of liquor had also surged. Ma Kuan had expanded the distillery again, purchasing thirty acres of land to establish an industrial park similar to those in modern times.

Inside were not only wine cellars, brewing rooms, grain storage, and yeast fermentation warehouses but also dormitories specifically built for the workers, providing them with food and lodging.

Lu Yao truly admired the young man. Despite having no guidance, he had managed to carve out his own path as an entrepreneur.

Lu Yao then asked about Xiaonian’s life in Zhongzhou and whether she was adjusting to the environment there.

“The living conditions are fine, but the food is quite different. Zhongzhou mainly eats wheat-based food, unlike here where we have millet rice.”

“Zhongzhou grows wheat, so naturally, the people eat what they cultivate.”

“The fruit over there is also nice. Kuan-ge, what was the name of that sour-sweet little fruit you picked for me in the summer?”

“Jingtao.”

“Yes, that’s the one! It’s a pity it’s not easy to transport. Otherwise, I’d send a basket for you all to try.”

Jingtao, also known as cherry, was indeed not found in Pingzhou. Hearing about it made Lu Yao crave it a little. “When it gets warmer next year, we’ll take a trip to Zhongzhou.”

“Really? You must bring Quanbao along! You have to come!”

Finally, they talked about Zhao Beidou’s career in the imperial court.

Zhao Beidou, who was usually serious and reserved in court, now sat hugging a soft pillow, continuously stuffing candied fruit into his mouth. “It’s going well. The inner court isn’t busy. Every day, I either edit documents or go to the palace to read to His Majesty. Occasionally, I correct the Crown Prince’s essays.”

The current emperor had six children, most of whom were daughters and ge’er. Only the youngest, the sixth prince, was born to the empress and was now thirteen years old.

Despite being the youngest, the emperor did not pamper him. The prince had to rise at dawn to study, attend lectures from great scholars in the morning, and practice the six arts of a gentleman in the afternoon. He was an extremely diligent child.

Because Zhao Beidou was young, he got along well with the prince. Sometimes, when he went to the Eastern Palace to correct essays, the prince would even take out his treasured snacks to share with him.

Zhao Beichuan frowned. “In the court, always think twice before you speak and act. We don’t have strong backing, and we can’t help you much. You’ll have to rely on yourself—just don’t make enemies.”

“I understand,” Zhao Beidou nodded, sitting up straight.

Lu Yao patted his arm. “Did you send anything to your mentor for the New Year?”

“I did. Second sister-in-law helped me prepare it.”

Zhang Qiulan added, “I heard that the Prime Minister enjoys tea, so I found him a set of Eighteen Arhats tea utensils for Beidou to send over.”

Lu Yao nodded approvingly. “Any news from Zijian?”

“He wrote me a long letter before the New Year. He’s been assigned as a Tongzhi in Huzhou. The weather there is quite hot—even in winter, the leaves don’t wither, and a thin cotton robe is enough to get through the season. As for Madam Lin, she’s doing well too. She fell ill shortly after arriving, but she recovered quickly.”

Zhao Beidou hesitated before continuing, “Speaking of which, before I left, I visited the Lin family to bid farewell to Grandpa Lin. I heard that Zijian’s father seems to have offended someone in the bureaucracy and has now been dismissed from office…”

Lu Yao, who was well aware of the Lin family’s situation, sighed. “Being dismissed might actually be a good thing. A few years later, when Zijian returns, his father will be old and probably won’t be able to make any more trouble.”

As the night deepened, Zhao Beidou suggested playing a game of aeroplane chess. But Lu Yao was too tired to stay up any longer, so he left them to play while he and Zhao Beichuan returned to their room.

In the glow of red candles and under warm blankets, the two snuggled together, looking at their sleeping son on the small bed, his cheeks rosy from the warmth. A deep sense of happiness filled their hearts.

“Husband, happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year.”

[Author’s Note]

This concludes the extra stories related to the main plot.

Next will be a few extras about Xiao Quanbao’s growth, modern AU extras, and the much-requested stories about Xiao Chun and Zhang Qiulan.