Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

 

The next day, both of them got up unusually late.

 

When Father Lu arrived, Zhao Beichuan had just put on his clothes, and Lu Yao was still wrapped in the quilt, half-asleep.

 

The old man didn’t say anything, just smiled, hands behind his back as he headed to the front yard. Maybe by next year, he’d be holding a grandson.

 

Today, Lu Lin didn’t come, saying there was work to do at home, so only Father Lu came.

 

The real reason he didn’t come was because he had a spat with his wife. He had been coming every day to help with the house construction, and Hu Chunrong had been unhappy about it for a while. This morning, she asked him how much he was getting paid for his work.

 

Lu Lin, drinking porridge, casually said, “We’re family, why would I need money?”

 

“No pay?” Hu Chunrong immediately raised her voice.

 

“Keep it down, don’t let Dad and Mom hear.”

 

“What, did you owe Lu Yao something in your last life that you’re still paying off in this one? Your parents spoil him, and now you’re spoiling him too?”

 

Lu Lin frowned and said, “He’s my brother, and my brother-in-law. What’s wrong with helping him out for a few days?”

 

“Even blood brothers settle accounts clearly. Who does Lu Yao think he is?”

 

It wasn’t entirely Hu Chunrong’s fault for being angry. No normal person could tolerate the awful things Lu Yao used to do. It wasn’t just that he was lazy and greedy, but he also took things from her family behind their backs.

 

When Hu Chunrong gave birth, her family had sent over a basket of eggs to help her recover.

 

Eggs were a luxury item, something most families couldn’t afford to eat. They’d usually save them to sell in town to help cover household expenses.

 

Hu Chunrong didn’t eat them herself either, planning to sell them after her confinement period and use the money to buy some fine cotton fabric for the baby’s clothes.

 

But when her confinement ended, the whole basket of eggs had mysteriously disappeared…

 

She was so upset she cried, asking who had taken the eggs, but no one in the house would admit to it. Could the eggs have grown legs and walked away? Finally, Lu Yun, unable to stand it anymore, quietly told her that it was Lu Yao who had taken them. He’d been boiling two eggs a day and sneaking them under his quilt to eat.

 

When Hu Chunrong confronted Lu Yao, she didn’t say anything harsh, only that they were all family. If he ate the eggs, he should just admit it.

 

To her surprise, not only did Lu Yao deny it, but he also cursed her for being petty and falsely accusing an innocent person!

 

Hu Chunrong was furious. They had a huge falling out and a big fight, and after that, they stopped talking.

 

She had been relieved to see him get married, but now, three days didn’t go by without him coming back for something—borrowing a pot today, asking for money tomorrow—he seemed intent on emptying the house. How were they supposed to live like this?

 

Lu Lin put down his bowl with a grim face. “No matter what, he’s still my brother!”

 

With reddened eyes, Hu Chunrong said, “Fine, fine, you’re all family, and I’m the outsider. Why don’t you and your parents go be part of his dowry too!” After saying this, she packed her things, grabbed the baby, and went back to her mother’s house.

 

Lu Lin, already with a bad leg, couldn’t catch up with her, no matter how hard he tried. Helpless, he had to tell his father that he couldn’t make it today.

 

*

 

Today, they were still building the walls. The masons were doing a good job, laying the mud bricks neatly and quickly.

 

Lu Yao, carrying soaked beans, planned to go to the village to grind tofu.

 

As he passed the front yard, he saw Zhao Beichuan mixing mud. Their eyes met for a moment, making Lu Yao’s heart race and his face flush.

 

Since they had cleared the air last night, it felt like there was a bit more of an intimate atmosphere between them. The feeling made his heart itch, like a kitten’s paw gently scratching.

 

When he passed by the Tian family’s gate, Tian Er sister-in-law called out to him, “Lu Yao, still mad?”

 

Lu Yao stopped and replied, “It’s just kids fighting. No need to stay angry.”

 

“That’s right. Kids don’t understand, just give them a beating and it’ll be fine. Don’t hold a grudge over such a small thing. I actually enjoy getting along with you.”

 

Lu Yao smiled but said nothing.

 

“You’re off to grind tofu?”

 

“Yeah, the kids like eating it. I’m free anyway, so I’m making some.”

 

Tian Er sister-in-law hesitated. “Are you selling the tofu? I’d like to buy some.”

 

“I didn’t soak that much today, but I can spare you a pound.”

 

“That’s plenty. I had some last time and I’ve been craving it ever since. How much for a pound of tofu?”

 

“Just trade a pound of beans.”

 

Tian Er sister-in-law beamed, “Alright, I’ll weigh out the beans and send them over to your house later.”

 

After leaving the Tian house, Lu Yao continued on to the village. Along the way, he ran into quite a few people, some familiar and some not. Everyone he met asked about the tofu.

 

Lu Yao hadn’t realized that the workers his family had hired had done some free advertising for him. They had told people that Zhao’s young husband knew how to make tofu from beans, and that it was delicious—soft, tender, and tasty, without making you feel bloated.

 

Everyone was curious and eager to try it for themselves.

 

“Hey, Zhao’s young husband, are you going to grind tofu?” A chubby auntie walked over from the opposite direction.

 

“Yes, Auntie, do you need something?” Lu Yao stopped. The woman looked familiar, but he didn’t know her name.

 

“I wanted to ask if you could sell me some?”

 

“I didn’t soak enough beans today to sell, but if you can wait until tomorrow, I’ll soak more beans and sell you two pounds.”

 

The woman smiled, “I live by the big elm tree up ahead. The family name is Ding. Just ask around, and you’ll find me.”

 

“Alright, I’ll remember.”

 

Two people inquiring about buying tofu gave Lu Yao an idea. Why not make a bigger batch tomorrow and try selling it in the village? Even if it didn’t sell, it wouldn’t go to waste. There were enough people at home to eat it.

 

Coincidentally, Zhao Beichuan had bought half a sack of beans yesterday, so he had plenty to use. The day was still early, so he could soak the beans in time to grind them in the evening, and tomorrow he could make tofu.

 

With that in mind, he quickly finished grinding the wet beans in the bucket.

 

Back home, he asked the carpenter to make a tofu mold, then soaked ten pounds of beans in one go. These beans should make about sixty pounds of tofu.

 

If he sold all the tofu, he could trade it for sixty pounds of beans. After subtracting the cost, he’d make a profit of fifty pounds, which, converted to money, would be over two hundred wen!

 

Two hundred wen a day, six strings of cash a month, seventy-two strings a year—Lu Yao grew more excited the more he thought about it. The dream of escaping poverty and heading for a well-off life was within reach!

 

*

 

“Xiaonian, Xiaodou, look at the bamboo dragonfly my dad just bought for me! It’s so fun! You just twist it with your hand, and it flies really high!” Tian Dazhuang ran to the river, jumping up and down.

 

Zhao Xiaonian, who had been digging worms with his little brother, saw him coming and immediately pulled his brother away to another spot.

 

“Hey, stop digging and watch me play!” Tian Dazhuang twisted the stick, and the bamboo dragonfly soared into the air.

 

Xiaodou’s mouth dropped open in amazement, “Wow.”

 

Zhao Xiaonian gave his younger brother a slap, “Don’t pay attention to him.”

 

Xiaodou turned his head and continued digging for earthworms with his sister.

 

Tian Dazhuang showed off for a while, but when he saw that neither of them paid him any attention, he clicked his tongue in boredom, grabbed a stick, and squatted beside them to dig for earthworms too.

 

“Don’t dig in our area.”

 

“There’s no sign saying it’s yours, so why should it be your place?”

 

Just as Zhao Xiaonian was about to get angry, he remembered what his sister-in-law had said, not to stoop to the level of a dog. He pulled his brother and moved further up ahead.

 

Tian Dazhuang, like a shadow, followed them wherever they went. Zhao Xiaonian, unable to bear it anymore, shouted angrily, “What exactly do you want?”

 

“I… I just want to play with you guys…”

 

“No way, you insulted my sister-in-law. Xiaodou and I will never play with you again.”

 

“That wasn’t me, it was Song Ping who said it. I… I was just joking, I didn’t mean to insult your sister-in-law.”

 

“Pah! Was that something to joke about?”

 

Tian Dazhuang hung his head, “I’m sorry, okay? I won’t say it again.”

 

Zhao Xiaonian was still angry with him and didn’t want to bother with him. He held his brother’s hand and prepared to go home.

 

As the three of them walked back from the riverside, they suddenly saw someone sneaking into the nearby woods.

 

Zhao Xiaonian paused, quickly pulled his brother down to hide, and Dazhuang crouched down too, asking, “Why aren’t we moving?”

 

“Shh, I saw Song Ping’s dad.”

 

“What’s he doing?”

 

“I don’t know. Let’s watch.”

 

The three little heads peeked out from the bushes and saw Widow Song standing behind a big tree, seemingly waiting for someone. After a while, a tall, skinny man came walking from the distance.

 

All three children knew him; he was Song Ping’s uncle, Song Changshun.

 

“Sister-in-law, I’ve missed you so much!” The two embraced as soon as they met.

 

Widow Song slapped away the hand that was groping inside his clothes. “Don’t be so eager. How did the matter I asked you to look into go?”

 

“I had someone ask in town. That Lu boy’s lover is called Xu Dengke. He’s a poor scholar, and for one tael of silver, he’ll make sure everyone knows about their affair.”

 

“Really?” Widow Song grabbed his hand in excitement.

 

“Of course! Why do you want to do this though? Still thinking about Zhao Beichuan?”

 

Widow Song playfully slapped him. “What’s wrong with thinking about him? If you could divorce that wife of yours and marry me, I wouldn’t think about anyone else.”

 

Song Changshun didn’t dare go that far. His wife was tough, and if she found out he was messing around with his widow sister-in-law, she’d beat him up for sure.

 

“Don’t mention her, it’s a mood killer. Get me one tael of silver, and I’ll take care of it for you.”

 

“Where would I get that kind of money?”

 

“Doesn’t your mother have some? Find a way to get it, or I can’t help you.”

 

Widow Song hesitated for a while before saying, “Let me think about it. If it works out, I’ll owe you one~”

 

What followed was not suitable for children to see. The three kids didn’t dare watch anymore and quietly left, running back home.

 

Along the way, Tian Dazhuang kept exclaiming, “Oh my heavens! Oh my heavens! How can Song Ping’s mom be so shameless!”

 

Zhao Xiaonian’s little face was tight, and his fists were clenched. He wished he could beat up Widow Song.

 

As they neared home, Zhao Xiaonian stopped Tian Dazhuang. “Do you want to keep playing with us in the future?”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Then you can’t tell anyone about what we saw today!”

 

Tian Dazhuang looked conflicted. “Not even my mom?”

 

Xiaodou shook his head vigorously, “No way!” Even he knew that Tian’s second sister-in-law couldn’t keep a secret. Telling her was as good as telling the whole village.

 

“Well… okay. Do you forgive me now?”

 

“As long as you don’t tell anyone about this, we’re still friends.”

 

Tian Dazhuang grinned, took out his bamboo dragonfly, and handed it to them. “Here, you can play with this for a day. Give it back to me tomorrow.”

 

Zhao Xiaodou happily accepted it. “Thanks, Dazhuang!”