Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 64

Chapter 64

 

After Lu Yao left, Lady Lin instructed a servant to take the food box to the back courtyard for her father-in-law.

 

After some thought, she decided to personally bring Lin Zijian along for the visit.

 

The weather had been scorching lately, and the old master’s summer fatigue had worsened, leaving him with little appetite. According to the servants, he had only eaten two meals the previous day, each consisting of a small portion of rice porridge, with everything else untouched. At this rate, his health would continue to decline. When could they finally return to the capital?

 

Arriving at the old master’s courtyard, Lin Zijian ran past his mother in excitement. “Grandfather, grandfather, I’m here!”

 

A few coughs echoed from the house as a servant helped the old master sit up.

 

As soon as she entered, Lady Lin was nearly overwhelmed by the smell of medicine and the stale, oppressive air. She quickly asked the servants, “Why didn’t you air out the room?”

 

The old master waved his hand dismissively. “I forbade them from opening the windows. If I catch a draft, my headache will worsen again.”

 

“Grandfather, look what I brought you to eat!” Lin Zijian waved eagerly for a maid to bring over the food box. “This is from the family we visited when I asked the doctor to check on them. They sent it as a token of gratitude for my help!”

 

Lin Jingxian lovingly patted his grandson’s head. “Good boy, but you should keep it for yourself. Grandfather has no appetite.”

 

“Please, just try it! The food here is quite different from what we have in the capital, and it smells so delicious!” Lin Zijian opened the food box and placed a pastry in his grandfather’s hand.

 

Lin Jingxian held up the cake and examined it carefully. It indeed looked different from the ones sold in the capital. He touched it lightly and found it exceptionally soft.

 

“What is this made of?”

 

“I’m not sure. I’ll ask Beidou next time he visits.”

 

The old master broke off a small piece and put it in his mouth. The soft, sweet flavor surprised him, and he let out an involuntary sound of delight. After days of bitterness from drinking medicine, this cake instantly revived his taste buds.

 

“Delicious!”

 

Lady Lin and Lin Zijian’s eyes lit up. If even the old master praised it, then Lu Yao’s culinary skills were truly exceptional!

 

Lin Jingxian ate three pieces in one go, prompting the servants to bring him some ginseng tea. After taking a sip, he sighed in contentment. For the first time in days, he felt a sense of fullness.

 

“I never thought someone in this small Qiushui Town could have such culinary talent, surpassing even the Eight Treasures shop in the capital.”

 

The Eight Treasures shop was the most famous pastry shop in the capital, specializing in eight types of pastries. Its prices were exorbitant, making it unaffordable for ordinary people.

 

The remaining pastries were left for Lin Zijian, but he shook his head while swallowing his saliva. “Grandfather’s health isn’t good. Since it’s rare for you to enjoy eating, you should keep these for yourself. I can eat anything.”

 

Lady Lin’s mind started turning. “Your classmate’s family runs a food shop. They might sell these pastries as well. Next time, let’s buy more from them.”

 

“Alright!”

 

During dinner, the old master tried a few other dishes. Among the braised snacks, he especially liked the bean curd, and the Four-Joy Meatballs were also to his taste. However, he wasn’t fond of the candied shredded radish, so he gave it all to Lin Zijian.

 

—

 

The next day, Lu Yao opened his stall as usual. Over the past few days, his business had suffered due to his illness, so many regular customers came by to check on him.

 

“I came for breakfast yesterday and heard that the owner was unwell. Are you alright now?”

 

Lu Yao took some fried dough sticks out of the pot, wiped his hands, and replied, “I’m much better now. Just a bit of heatstroke—nothing serious.”

 

“That’s good to hear. A day without your tofu pudding feels like something’s missing.”

 

Lu Yao couldn’t help but smile and gave the customer a small discount when calculating the bill.

 

The morning passed by in a flurry of activity. Soy milk sold particularly well today, and there were still over ten bowls of tofu pudding left. Not planning to sell the remainder, Lu Yao decided to take it home for lunch to save himself the trouble of cooking.

 

After cleaning up the shop and closing the doors, Lu Yao prepared to head home.

 

From a distance, he noticed a familiar-looking carriage approaching. There weren’t many people in town wealthy enough to own a carriage, so it quickly caught his attention.

 

Soon, the coachman stopped the carriage in front of his shop, and Lady Lin stepped out, walking straight toward him. “Is your shop about to close?”

 

“Lady Lin, breakfast is only sold until mid-morning.”

 

“What a pity. I was hoping to try your cooking.”

 

“There’s still some tofu pudding left. If you don’t mind, please come in and have a bowl.”

 

Lady Lin nodded with a smile. She had come to return the food box and hadn’t planned on eating anything, but since she was already there, she decided to give it a try.

 

The shop was small but very tidy, with a strong aroma of soy and broth lingering in the air, whetting her appetite.

 

Lu Yao served her a bowl of tofu pudding and, noticing that the stove outside still had embers, added some oil and rekindled the fire to fry two sticks of dough.

 

Inside, Lady Lin took a sip of the tofu pudding and was pleasantly surprised by its flavor. The smooth texture combined with the savory broth made it irresistible.

 

No wonder the old master and Zijian loved his cooking so much—Lu Yao’s culinary skills were truly remarkable!

 

Lu Yao brought over the freshly fried dough sticks. “Does it suit your taste?”

 

“It’s excellent. How much do you sell this tofu pudding for?”

 

“Three wen.”

 

“Only three wen?” Lady Lin was astonished. This dish was far more delicious than the expensive dishes served in restaurants!

 

Lu Yao smiled. “The customers here are mostly ordinary folks. If I set the price too high, fewer people would buy it. It’s just a way to earn some honest money.”

 

Lady Lin tried the dough sticks, which were equally delicious. “With your skills, if you opened a restaurant in the capital, you’d have the whole city flocking to you.”

 

Her casual remark struck a chord with Lu Yao. He had indeed thought about opening a shop in the capital, but he lacked both the funds and connections. As an ordinary commoner, he couldn’t even leave Pingzhou without official documents, let alone travel to the capital.

 

“If the opportunity arises in the future, I’ll consider it…”

 

After finishing her tofu pudding, Lady Lin wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. “I actually came today to ask for a favor. The pastries you made the other day were greatly enjoyed by my father-in-law. He’s been struggling with his appetite, but yesterday he ate so much he felt full.” She paused. “So, I’d like to ask if you could make some more. Name your price.”

 

“Those pastries don’t cost much to make, though they do require effort. If you like, I can have Beidou deliver some tomorrow, free of charge.”

 

Lady Lin’s eyes lit up. This Lu Yao was truly extraordinary. Most people would have jumped at the chance to name a price, but he refused without hesitation.

 

“In that case, I thank you in advance. If you ever encounter any difficulties and need help, feel free to come to the Lin family. I will do everything I can to assist.”

 

Lu Yao was taken aback and quickly expressed his gratitude. He understood the weight of her words. In this era, connections were far more valuable than money.

 

Although the Lin family was here to recuperate, they were undoubtedly at the top of the social hierarchy in this small town. If he could gain their support, he would no longer have to worry about trouble at his shop.

 

—

 

“Hurry up! Stop dawdling!”

 

On the official road, a long line of people moved forward like ants, inching their way along.

 

It was the thirteenth day of their journey from Pingzhou to Yingzhou and the eighteenth day since they left home.

 

Rain had fallen the previous night, leaving the road muddy and difficult to traverse. Puddles were everywhere, and carts frequently got stuck in the mud.

 

Zhao Beichuan pulled a cart step by step while others pushed from behind.

 

“Dachuan, take a break. My brother and I can pull for a while,” Qin’s eldest brother offered. He had already been pulling for nearly an hour without resting.

 

Zhao Beichuan wiped the sweat off his face and said, “Let’s talk after we cross this mountain; I’m not too tired yet.”

 

Currently, he was the only one in the group whose body wasn’t injured. Everyone else had shoulders that were too horrific to look at, with ropes carving bloody grooves into their skin, exposing raw flesh.

 

Zhao Beichuan’s shoulders weren’t shredded because he carried a leather pack on his back, which reduced the friction. Still, the pack had rubbed off a layer of his skin.

 

Ahead was a steep slope. Pulling a grain cart over it was exhausting, and they moved forward at a snail’s pace.

 

Suddenly, there was a gasp from the front. A grain cart was sliding down the mountain!

 

“Get out of the way!” Zhao Beichuan reacted quickly, yanking his cart to the side.

 

Those who couldn’t dodge in time were knocked down. The cart tumbled down, smashing into more than ten people before breaking into a pile of wood at the bottom of the mountain. The injured lay scattered across the ground—some rolling in pain, others unconscious.

 

“What happened?” The officer rode up quickly on horseback.

 

“The person pulling the cart at the front fainted from exhaustion, and the cart got out of control…”

 

“Damn it! Quickly, go retrieve the grain from below!”

 

The clerk trembled as he pointed at a few people to go collect the grain. “Sir, what about the injured?”

 

“See if they can move. If they can, make them keep going. If not, leave them here.”

 

“What? In this desolate wilderness? Leaving them here is the same as a death sentence…”

 

The officer narrowed his eyes. “Or do you want to personally take them back?”

 

The clerk hurriedly knelt down, shaking. “I wouldn’t dare. I’ll do as you command, sir.”

 

“Everyone else, keep moving. No delays!”

 

The others mechanically resumed pulling their carts, inching their way up the slope.

 

When Zhao Beichuan passed by the injured, he glanced down and recognized two of them as villagers from Lu’s village—the father and son he had saved from the river during last year’s labor conscription. He didn’t expect to see them in such dire straits now.

 

After crossing the mountain, the road ahead was flatter. Zhao Beichuan switched positions with others, giving them a chance to pull the cart while he rested.

 

This time, the Gao brothers didn’t shirk their duties. They volunteered to pull the cart. If it hadn’t been for Zhao Beichuan’s shout earlier, they might have been crushed by the tumbling cart. While it might not have killed them outright, broken arms or legs would have left them stranded and eventually devoured by wolves.

 

The group worked together to pull the cart, with Zhao Beichuan shouldering most of the work. Everyone owed him a debt of gratitude.

 

After walking for 20 more miles, they finally reached the border of Yingzhou. The official in charge ordered everyone to rest for half an hour.

 

Many people began sobbing. Moments earlier, some had lost relatives, friends, or fellow villagers. Watching them be left behind was heartbreaking, and they didn’t know if those left behind would survive.

 

Zhao Beichuan took out his water pouch for a sip. He thought about eating a piece of sugar but found only a little left in his pouch. Reluctantly, he put it back and rested his head on his knees.

 

Every part of his body ached. His shoulders, in particular, throbbed more intensely the longer he rested, as if the bones inside had been broken.

 

Others were in no better shape. Father Qin was tending to the wounds on his two sons’ shoulders, sighing heavily in distress.

 

Zhang Mao, sitting nearby, said, “You have to wear the wounds down until calluses form. Only then will they stop bleeding. Just bear with it.”

 

Zhao Guang shot him a glare. Ever since learning about Zhang Mao’s attempted escape, he found the old man insufferable.

 

He sat next to Zhao Beichuan and asked, “Can you still manage? This afternoon, I’ll pull the cart with Father Qin and Old Zhang. You all should take a break.”

 

Father Qin nodded. “Yes, the three of us together should be able to manage.”

 

Zhang Mao turned pale. He didn’t want to pull the cart, but his opinion didn’t carry weight. After his escape attempt, he didn’t dare voice his objections.

 

Zhao Beichuan nodded. “You all can try. If it’s too much, we’ll take over.”

 

Once rested, the official prodded them to continue moving.

 

Zhao Guang, Father Qin, and Zhang Mao worked together to pull the cart, while others pushed from behind. Though slower, it allowed the others to recuperate.

 

In the days that followed, the group rotated duties. The younger men’s wounds gradually scabbed over and stopped bleeding.

 

The closer they got to their destination, the more irritable the accompanying officer and soldiers became. At first, they only shouted at the laborers; now, they began whipping them for moving too slowly. The heavy leather whips tore through flesh with each strike, leaving deep wounds. Several people knelt and begged after being whipped, only to be told to keep moving or face more lashes.

 

“Move faster, or I’ll beat you to death right here!”

 

These threats spurred everyone into action.

 

Commander Ge, gripping his reins, looked grave. Thirty miles ahead lay Datong Pass, a crucial junction where three roads intersected, leading to Yingzhou’s city, Goguryeo, and the Khitan territories.

 

This area had a fatal flaw—it was flat and open, making it ideal for cavalry charges with no cover to hide.

 

During the previous dynasty, trade flourished along these routes before hostilities with the Khitans began. Now, it was a hotspot for ambushes and raids on supply lines.

 

This convoy of over a thousand laborers transporting more than 2,000 stones of grain was like a tempting morsel. Anyone would want a bite.

 

Although there were more than 200 escort soldiers, they wouldn’t stand a chance against a cavalry assault.

 

“If you don’t want to die, you must march 60 miles north today. In three days, we’ll reach Yingzhou’s military camp!” he shouted, spurring his horse among the group.

 

His words reignited hope. Everyone quickened their pace, driven by the thought of finally returning home after delivering the grain. The end was in sight, and the longing for their families gave them renewed energy.

 

By midday, they reached Datong Pass.

 

The road was littered with decaying corpses and horse carcasses from recent battles. People trudged forward, terrified of encountering an ambush.

 

Commander Ge was on high alert, instructing the soldiers to keep their weapons ready for combat.

 

After walking another 10 miles north, they suddenly heard a rumbling sound.

 

“Why is there thunder on a sunny day?”

 

“Don’t know, maybe the weather’s changing.”

 

Zhang Mao’s face turned pale. He recognized the sound—it wasn’t thunder but the sound of hooves!

 

Terrified, he screamed, “Run! The barbarians are coming!”

 

His cry threw the group into chaos. Commander Ge, enraged, grabbed his spear and drove it into Zhang Mao’s back.

 

“If anyone dares to run, I’ll kill them first!” he roared. “This is our territory! If the barbarians come, we’ll make sure they don’t leave alive!”

 

The soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons, while the laborers clenched their fists, too frightened to breathe.

 

Soon, a cavalry unit approached them in the distance.

 

“It’s over,” Zhao Guang muttered, trembling as tears and snot streamed down his face. The fear of death overwhelmed him.

 

The Qin family huddled together. Father Qin handed a wooden stick to his sons. “Don’t be afraid. If it comes to it, we’ll fight to the death.”

 

The Gao brothers clung to each other, terrified. Seeing Zhang Mao killed had already shattered their nerves.

 

Meanwhile, Zhao Beichuan reached into his bag, pulling out a small knife. Gripping it tightly, he had only one thought in mind: He couldn’t die here. He couldn’t leave Lu Yao waiting for him at home.