Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 16

Zhao Beichuan also spent the night unable to sleep. Listening to the sound of the pouring rain, he tossed and turned on the wooden bed, unable to rest.

 

The rain had been falling since the afternoon and continued into the deep night. He couldn’t help but worry about how things were at home: whether the house was leaking, if Xiaonian and Xiaodou were cold, and what that Lu Xiaolang was doing…

 

“Cough, cough, cough. Dachuan still isn’t asleep?” Lu Guang, sleeping next to him, woke up coughing.

 

“I can’t sleep. The rain is too heavy, and I’m worried about home.”

 

Lu Guang got up to go to the latrine and returned with his straw sandals soaked through.

 

“Goodness, the water outside must be half a foot deep. I wonder if we’ll be able to take a break from work tomorrow.”

 

Zhao Beichuan jumped up and went to the door to take a look; the rainwater was almost seeping into the house.

 

They were staying in an old military camp. When King Yang Xian of Pingzhou regained lost territory, the military camp moved north, leaving this place vacant for the laborers to temporarily stay.

 

The terrain here was slightly higher than in other places, and if there was this much water accumulated here, then it must be even worse elsewhere!

 

Zhao Beichuan was like an ant on a hot stove, anxiously pacing the room.

 

He wasn’t the only one with such thoughts; many others were also unable to sleep and sat up to discuss.

 

“How about tomorrow morning we talk to the officials and see if we can return home for a bit?”

 

“Can that work? There are so many of us.” No one wanted to be left behind; who would do the work if they all went back?

 

“My mud wall cracked last winter; I don’t know if it can withstand this rain.”

 

Hearing this, Zhao Beichuan’s heart leapt into his throat. Their house was also dilapidated; what if it collapsed from the rain?

 

They finally managed to survive until dawn, when the rain gradually lessened. However, dark clouds still hung overhead, suggesting more heavy rain was on the way.

 

Everyone quickly donned their hats and went to plead with the steward.

 

“Sir, please be lenient! I have an elderly mother at home; what if the house collapses?”

 

“Yes, my wife is pregnant, and I’m truly worried!”

 

A crowd had already gathered at the entrance where the official was staying. These people had arrived even earlier than Zhao Beichuan and the others.

 

“If there are no orders from above, I can’t let you return home. Hurry back now,” the official replied.

 

“Sir! We beg you!” Some people had already knelt and were bowing.

 

The young official looked troubled and said, “What I say doesn’t count. Pleading with me is useless; I don’t know how my own family is doing either.”

 

He also had a wife and children, and his own house was dilapidated, causing him to worry deeply. Though he held a small position of power, he earned barely enough to make a living. Who among them had a better life?

 

Everyone shivered in the rain, watching as thunder rolled and heavy rain began to pour again, with many crying out in despair.

 

At that moment, distant hoofbeats suddenly rang out, “Where is the corvée officer of Qiushui Town?”

 

“I’m here,” the young official hurriedly responded.

 

The man on horseback wore oilskin clothing and a hat, holding a command token in his hand. “The county magistrate has issued an order: due to recent rain disasters, the common people have difficulty sleeping and eating. The good fields are at risk of damage, so all corvées are hereby waived. The common people may return home to repair their houses and protect their fields to prevent losses during the autumn harvest!”

 

When the surrounding people heard this, they excitedly knelt down and bowed, shouting, “The magistrate is kind! The magistrate is righteous!”

 

“Alright, quickly gather your things and prepare to return home!” The man on horseback didn’t linger; he still had other towns to visit.

 

Zhao Beichuan took off running back home. He had packed his belongings last night, thinking that if the official didn’t allow them to leave, he would buy his way out of the corvée.

 

According to the government regulations, a person could be exempt from corvée for three coins, but common people were reluctant to spend that money. It might take them several years to save three coins. Unexpectedly, the government had waived the corvée, saving him a considerable amount of money.

 

Everyone dared not delay; upon receiving the news, they hurriedly headed back. The mountain path was slippery and muddy, making it difficult to walk. Many people fell, but as long as they didn’t break their legs, they picked themselves up and continued on.

 

Zhao Beichuan was tall and had long legs, moving swiftly. In no time, he had left many villagers behind.

 

This mountain path was over thirty miles long, and on clear days it would take at least two hours to walk. Today, however, he managed to jog back in just over an hour and reached the outskirts of the village.

 

Standing on a distant hillside, he spotted his house. The once-flat thatched roof now had a darkened patch, and upon closer inspection, he saw that it was a gaping hole!

 

Zhao Beichuan staggered and almost fell. His house had collapsed!

 

Without a moment’s hesitation, he sprinted toward home, hoping desperately that the children were safe; they had to be safe…

 

After a short incense stick burned, Zhao Beichuan stood outside his home, staring at the completely collapsed bedroom. Trembling, he called out, “Xiaonian! Xiaodou!”

 

Unfortunately, there was no response. Zhao Beichuan suddenly recalled that it had also been a heavy rain day when his mother passed away, the rainwater mingled with blood, creating a nauseating smell.

 

He looked at his mother’s gradually gray face and felt fear for the first time, just as he felt now, fear that made him tremble all over.

 

Step by step, he walked to the edge of the collapsed bedroom, calling, “Xiaodou! Xiaonian! Brother is back… where are you?” All he received in response was the rumble of thunder.

 

Just when he was in despair, a voice suddenly rang out from behind, “Zhao Beichuan? Why are you back?”

 

Lu Yao had returned to settle the chicks. Last night, when the house collapsed, he sent Xiaodou and Xiaonian to his neighbor, Sister Tian Er’s house. Now that the rain had lessened a bit, Lu Yao remembered the few chicks he had raised; with the water so deep, he wasn’t sure if they were still alive.

 

Zhao Beichuan dashed over, his eyes red as he grabbed Lu Yao’s arm, “Where are Xiaonian and Xiaodou? Are they hurt?”

 

“They’re next door. They aren’t hurt, just a bit chilled.”

 

At that moment, Zhao Beichuan felt as if Lu Yao was radiating light, experiencing what it meant to be saved from a desperate situation.

 

He took off the bamboo hat on his head and placed it on Lu Yao’s, “I’ll go check on them first!”

 

Lu Yao watched his back as he ran off, adjusting the bamboo hat on his head. He hadn’t even explained why he suddenly returned.

 

Forget it, no time to worry about that; he needed to see if the chicks were still alive. The chicken coop was newly built by Lu’s father, with two levels. Some boards were placed above so the chicks could rest there when they grew a bit bigger.

 

Lu Yao opened the chicken coop door, and a few chicks were huddled on the upper wooden board, trembling but alive!

 

Seeing that the boards were still a distance from the water, Lu Yao didn’t reach in. “You strong little ones, hold on a bit longer. The outside is all water; we’ll change places once the rain stops.” After saying this, he closed the coop door again.

 

*

 

Next door, when Zhao Beichuan entered the house, Zhao Xiaonian and Zhao Xiaodou were wrestling with Tian Dachuan, the two kids pinning him down and tickling his feet.

 

“Douzi, Xiaonian!”

 

“Big Brother?” The two children turned around and rushed over joyfully.

 

Zhao Beichuan tightly embraced the two children, feeling their warm breaths; the heavy stone in his heart finally fell.

 

“Dachuan is back.” Sister Tian Er came over from the east room upon hearing the commotion.

 

“Thank you, Sister Er, for taking them in.”

 

“Oh, this small matter doesn’t need thanks. You should thank your little husband. If he hadn’t brought the kids over last night, they might have been buried under the house.”

 

Zhao Xiaonian said, “Thanks to Sister for waking us up; he let us go first while he almost got hit by the beam!”

 

Zhao Beichuan nodded in gratitude, surprised by Lu Yao’s attentiveness. If he hadn’t married Lu Yao… he didn’t dare think; it was the first time he felt grateful for marrying this little husband.

 

“Will they pursue you for suddenly coming back?” It wasn’t allowed to return home during conscription; the last time Zhao Beichuan came back, he had been stealthy.

 

“The county magistrate issued an order for those serving to return. They’re worried that the flood will wash away the fields and ruin the autumn harvest.”

 

In ancient times, the assessment of officials’ performance was largely determined by tax revenue; high taxes meant the county would be rated as middle to upper grade, while low taxes would naturally result in a lower rating. If natural disasters or man-made calamities occurred, the county head would be the first to take the blame.

 

Sister Tian Er said, “No wonder. It’s good you can come back; it’s hard to have no one steady at home.”

 

While they were talking, Lu Yao came in.

 

“The chicks didn’t die; they’re all alive!”

 

Xiaodou and Xiaonian cheered, “That’s great!”

 

“Come inside and warm up.” Sister Tian Er found a dry cloth and handed it to Lu Yao to wipe the rain off his face.

 

“Thank you.” Zhao Beichuan’s deep voice sounded beside him.

 

Lu Yao looked up in surprise and saw him looking at himself with gratitude. Compared to their first meeting when Zhao Beichuan had been stern, this time he seemed much more pleasant.

 

It had to be said that the guy was really handsome, even drenched like a drowned rat. The damp clothes clung to him, revealing the contours of his abdomen…

 

“No need to thank me; this is what I should do.” Lu Yao felt a bit embarrassed and turned to discuss with Sister Tian Er about letting Xiaonian and Xiaodou stay here for the next few days, giving her ten wen each day for food and lodging.

 

“Oh, why give money? Two kids won’t eat much.” Sister Tian Er said politely, but her smile was wide.

 

“That won’t do. They’ll be a bother to you here; you should take this money.”

 

Zhao Beichuan nodded, saying, “We’re in your debt for these few days, Sister Er.”

 

“It’s no bother, no bother. Do you two have a place to stay? Why not just stay here as well?”

 

The Tian family had three rooms, recently rebuilt a few years ago. The east and west rooms were bedrooms, and the middle was a kitchen, which would be a bit cramped if Zhao Beichuan and Lu Yao moved in.

 

“Can you fit us in?”

 

“There’s plenty of room. Dachuan will sleep with us in the east room; you can sleep in the west room as a family.”

 

Zhao Beichuan said, “Once the weather clears, I’ll fix the house and then leave.”

 

“No hurry; you can stay comfortably for now.” She was hoping to earn a bit more money!

 

Lu Yao gave Sister Tian Er the corn he had salvaged from home. Zhao Beichuan ate a lot, so ten wen each day felt a bit insufficient.

 

Sister Tian Er didn’t refuse and made a pot of thin porridge and a bowl of radish strips with pickled vegetables for lunch.

 

Lu Yao wasn’t very hungry and was full after drinking half a bowl. The two kids didn’t eat much either, but Zhao Beichuan also only finished one bowl before putting down his bowl and chopsticks.

 

After the meal, Lu Yao planned to go home and salvage more things; he had left in a hurry last night and hadn’t managed to take much. The other side of the house looked shaky; if it collapsed, all the pots and pans would be smashed, and several ceramic bowls he had just bought would be ruined, which was such a pity.

 

As Lu Yao stepped outside, Zhao Beichuan followed him out, still placing the bamboo hat on his head and silently walking ahead.

 

Lu Yao adjusted the hat and looked at his tall figure, unable to help but sigh, what a man!