Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 77

Chapter 77

 

“Not coming back? Are you planning to stay in the county seat?”

 

Lu Yao said, “I discussed this matter with Da Chuan for half the night yesterday. Douzi is a child with the potential for studying. If he stays in the town, I’m afraid his talents will be wasted. I’m thinking of taking him to the county seat to study, and we’ll settle down there as well.”

 

Lu’s mother opened her mouth but took a while to respond, “You’ve always been decisive, and I can’t help you much. If you think it’s better there, then go ahead. It’s just that it’s such a long way; I don’t know when we’ll see each other again.” As she spoke, tears began to well up again.

 

Lu Yao felt uncomfortable in his heart too. Hugging her shoulder, he said, “We’ll come back to visit you whenever we can.”

 

“Go, go. You don’t have to worry about me here. Your second brother and sister-in-law are around. And with Lu Yun so close in town, I’ll visit occasionally to help him with the kids.”

 

Lu Yao held her hand and said, “Then once we’re settled in the county, we’ll bring you over to stay for a while.”

 

“Really? I’ve lived this long and never been outside Qiushui Town.”

 

“Of course it’s true! Take good care of yourself, and in the future, watch Douzi pass the provincial exam and become an official. Then you can come live in luxury with us!”

 

Mother Lu laughed and playfully slapped him, “You always know how to make me happy.”

 

Seeing that she had come to terms with it, Lu Yao finally felt relieved.

 

Around noon, Hu Chunrong and Lu Miao returned, pushing a wooden cart. All the tofu they had taken was sold, and half a sack of soybeans was loaded on the cart.

 

Entering the courtyard, Lu Miao saw the mule cart and immediately knew Lu Yao had returned. “Third Brother! Xiaonian! Douzi!”

 

“Yeah, we’re back,” Lu Yao came out to greet them.

 

Hu Chunrong removed her headscarf, smiling brightly, “Just yesterday I was talking to Fifth Brother about you, and here you are today!”

 

Mother Lu said, “Come inside. I have good news for you!”

 

Lu Miao glanced at Lu Yao’s belly, “What’s the good news? Could it be that Third Brother is expecting?”

 

Lu Yao pretended to hit him, and Lu Miao dodged with a laugh. “Is it true?”

 

“No, it’s that Douzi passed the child scholar exam.”

 

“Oh my!” Lu Miao ran to the west room, cupping Douzi’s small face in both hands and rubbing it, “How are you so amazing?”

 

Douzi grinned and said, “It’s nothing; I only barely passed.”

 

Having not seen Lu Miao for a long time, Xiaonian was also very affectionate, pulling his arm to play with him.

 

Lu Yao asked, “Didn’t you say a match was found for Lu Miao? Which village? Is it settled?”

 

Hu Chunrong replied, “The match is with a family surnamed Ding in your Bendou Village. The youngest son is the same age as Lu Miao.”

 

“The Ding carpenter family?”

 

“You know them?”

 

Lu Yao nodded, “Their family has decent character, but they have too many people. I heard they have five brothers, and the first four are married but haven’t split from the family. With all the wives, husbands, and kids, it’s chaotic.”

 

Mother Lu said, “I don’t like that either, but your father arranged it before he passed, so we can’t refuse. Once the mourning period ends next year, the wedding will be held.”

 

“Alright, we’ll come back for the wedding feast.”

 

“Second daughter-in-law, go kill the rooster and make a pot for lunch.”

 

Hu Chunrong agreed and quickly went to the chicken coop to catch a chicken. Since Lu Yao didn’t dare to handle it, he prepared boiling water in the kitchen for plucking the feathers.

 

As they finished cleaning and stewing the chicken, Lu Lin returned, driving the mule cart. He had been helping with a house construction in the village, earning twenty coins a day but without meals.

 

During lunch, Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan told them about handing over the shop.

 

Lu Lin and his wife were both stunned. “Why… why are you giving it up so suddenly?”

 

Hu Chunrong had heard from Lu Miao that the breakfast shop in town was doing great business, making quite a bit every day.

 

“Douzi passed the child scholar exam and will soon go to Pingzhou for the provincial exam. We’re thinking of staying there after the exam.”

 

Lu Lin put down his chopsticks, looking worried, “Pingzhou is hundreds of miles away from here. The journey alone will take four or five days. Do you have any acquaintances there?”

 

“No.”

 

“It’s such a distant place, and you’re unfamiliar with it. If anything happens, we won’t be able to help…” Since Father Lu passed away, Lu Lin had increasingly taken on the role of an older brother, always concerned for his siblings.

 

Zhao Beichuan said, “Second Brother, don’t worry. I went there once while on corvée duty. It should be fine.”

 

Lu Lin sighed, “Since you’ve decided, I won’t say more.”

 

Hu Chunrong comforted her husband, “Don’t overthink it. Back when Lu Yao and Da Chuan settled down in town and started their shop, they were already far ahead of ordinary people. If it were us, who knows where we’d be begging for food.”

 

Lu Lin nodded, “That’s true. Third Brother is indeed more capable than me!”

 

Lu Yao said, “After we leave, the shop in town will be yours to manage. I’ll teach you how to fry dough sticks, make tofu pudding, and stew meat broth. The house lease is up at the end of the year. You can move in to save on rent.”

 

Lu Lin and Hu Chunrong hesitated to accept.

 

Mother Lu said, “If you don’t take over this business, should we just hand it to outsiders? If Lu Yao and Da Chuan can’t stay in the county and return, you can give it back to them.”

 

Lu Lin finally agreed, “Alright, I’ll take care of it with my wife for now. You can take it back anytime if you return.”

 

“Good, it’s settled.”

 

In the afternoon, Lu Yao taught Hu Chunrong how to make tofu pudding tender and smooth. Making soy milk was straightforward—just add enough sugar. As for the meat broth, it wasn’t complicated either. Following the recipe and adding bones would ensure a great flavor.

 

Finally, frying dough sticks and pancakes was Zhao Beichuan’s expertise, so he taught Lu Lin directly. After wasting a few batches of dough, they finally got it right.

 

Lu Yao shared business tips with Hu Chunrong: “Sister-in-law, don’t be fooled by how simple the breakfast items are. The profits are significant, though the downside is that it’s tiring.”

 

“Hard work doesn’t scare me. If you and Da Chuan managed, my husband and I can handle it too!”

 

Lu Yao believed her. Hu Chunrong was a typical strong-willed woman, outwardly gentle but inwardly tough. Most importantly, she had a good heart and treated the family well over the years.

 

“Running a business requires using genuine ingredients. Don’t underestimate the customers; they’ll notice if the quality changes. Once or twice is fine, but over time, it’ll hurt business.”

 

“Back then, others saw our shop doing well and opened a rival breakfast shop nearby. But their soy milk was watery, and their dough sticks were small and thin. Most customers only went once and never returned. Within months, the shop closed.”

 

Hu Chunrong patted his hand, “I understand. I’m not short-sighted.”

 

“Also, maintain good relations with neighbors and the landlord. Our shop’s location is excellent, especially during market days when it gets incredibly busy. I hired Mrs. Liu from next door to help for 500 coins a month.”

 

“That much…” Hu Chunrong was a bit reluctant.

 

“It’s not much. Labor in town is expensive, and Mrs. Liu works efficiently, saving a lot of trouble. It’s worth it.”

 

Hu Chunrong nodded, “Alright, I’ll do as you say. You managed the shop so well; listening to you can’t go wrong.”

 

Running a business isn’t something that can be fully taught; it requires hands-on experience. Lu Yao taught them everything he could. The rest was up to them.

 

In the afternoon, Zhao Beichuan drove the cart to take the family back to town to prepare for their trip.

 

This time, for the long journey, Lu Yao fried two bushels of tea oil powder and packed them in cloth bags for easy consumption. He also made over ten large pancakes, each the size of a basin, enough for the journey.

 

He stewed chicken eggs, claws, and necks, packing them into a jar. With the weather being cool, they wouldn’t spoil quickly.

 

Then there were the belongings. Since this trip was essentially a move, they brought everything they could. Although they had money, they needed to spend it wisely, understanding the challenges of settling in a new place.

 

Given the long journey, Zhao Beichuan arranged for a carpenter to build a wooden cover for the cart, with mats and straw curtains to shield against the cold wind.

 

On the fifth of March, Zhao Beichuan made a trip back to Wangou Village to obtain a household registration certificate for the family of four and to handle the relocation procedures.

 

Since Zhao Beidou now had the status of a tongsheng (child student), relocating to Pingzhou for educational purposes was a perfectly valid reason. The village head quickly issued the necessary documents.

 

The documents still needed to be stamped by the local office in town, submitted to the county office in Pingzhou for review and registration, and finally, new household registrations would be issued to complete the process. The procedure was highly cumbersome, which was why ancient people rarely left their hometowns.

 

During these days, Lu Lin and Hu Chunrong also came to town to help at the shop and were basically able to manage it independently.

 

Fortunately, the shop’s name didn’t need to be changed and continued to operate under the name “Lu’s Food Shop,” offering the same familiar flavors.

 

On the tenth of March, the county office returned the stamped documents, and the Zhao family could finally set off on their journey!

 

Early in the morning before dawn, Zhao Beichuan woke Lu Yao and the two children to start packing the luggage onto the cart. Before long, Lu Lin and Hu Chunrong also woke up and joined in to help load the items.

 

The bedding, clothing for all seasons, and various small household items didn’t seem like much initially, but once packed into the cart, it was so full that there was barely any room left to sit.

 

Hu Chunrong even wanted to catch the chickens from the coop to bring along.

 

“Leave them here for you to keep. With such a long journey, they’ll probably die halfway to Pingzhou,” Lu Yao said.

 

“After we leave, the house will be left to you and Second Brother,” Lu Yao continued.

 

Hu Chunrong held his hand and said, “Don’t worry, I will definitely take good care of Mother and look after the shop for you.”

 

“When we’ve settled down in Pingzhou, we’ll write back. If you can’t read the letter, ask the landlord’s nephew to help.”

 

“Alright, but you all need to take care of yourselves too. With such a long journey, who knows when we’ll meet again…” Hu Chunrong’s eyes turned red.

 

Lu Yao felt a pang of sorrow in his heart, patted her hand, then turned and climbed onto the cart with the two children.

 

“No need to see us off. You all should head back inside.”

 

Lu Lin, still limping slightly, followed behind, saying, “If life in the city doesn’t suit you, just come back. I’ll keep the shop ready for you.”

 

“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

“Don’t worry about Mother and the two younger brothers. With me here, I won’t let them suffer any grievances.”

 

Lu Yao couldn’t hold back his tears, “Hurry and go back.”

 

Lu Lin and Hu Chunrong escorted them to the end of the alley before stopping, watching the cart gradually disappear into the distance.

 

After Lu Yao and the others left, both Lu Lin and Hu Chunrong felt a bit low-spirited. Sometimes, familial ties are just like that. Just two years ago, they were furious with each other, but now, the thought of them going so far away brought tears to Hu Chunrong’s eyes.

 

“Let’s not open the shop today. I’ll go bring Mother and the others over. You can tidy up the house here,” Lu Lin said.

 

Hu Chunrong nodded and cleaned up the house thoroughly.

 

By the afternoon, Lu Lin returned with Mother Lu, Lu Miao, and Little Stone, along with a cartload of luggage. They would be staying in town from now on.

 

The Zhao family’s mule cart had been traveling along the official road for two days.

 

Once March began, the weather started to warm up, and the melting snow turned the road into a muddy mess. The mule cart would occasionally get stuck, taking half a day to free.

 

Fortunately, Zhao Beichuan was familiar with this route, having traveled it last year while fulfilling his corvée duties. He knew which paths were better, where rivers and pavilions were located, so the journey wasn’t too arduous.

 

Around midday, they passed by Liu Family Pavilion. Zhao Beichuan led the mule cart there to rest.

 

Although they weren’t physically exhausted, Dahua, carrying the heavily loaded cart, must have been quite tired. Taking the opportunity to let it rest its legs, they also ate some dry rations to fill their stomachs.

 

Zhao Beichuan led Dahua to the river to drink, while Xiaonian and Xiaodou went to collect firewood. Lu Yao built a small stove with stones and took down the iron pot from the cart, preparing to cook some millet porridge.

 

Lu Yao crouched down and struck the firestone for a long time without success. Instead, a rumbling sound of thunder echoed. He looked up at the sky; it was clear and sunny, with no sign of rain.

 

Suddenly, Zhao Beichuan froze, shouting, “Lu Yao, Xiaonian, Xiaodou, hurry back!”

 

Startled, Lu Yao quickly ran to the cart. Xiaonian and Xiaodou, having wandered farther off, didn’t hear his calls. Zhao Beichuan rushed over, grabbed his younger siblings, and ran back frantically.

 

“What’s going on?” Lu Yao asked.

 

Zhao Beichuan’s face was pale as he tremblingly harnessed Dahua. “Hurry, let’s go!”

 

“But the pot isn’t packed yet,” Lu Yao said.

 

Zhao Beichuan dumped out the water from the pot, grabbed it, and tossed it onto the cart, urging Dahua to move forward.

 

However, mules are naturally slower than horses, and the heavily loaded cart made them even slower. After a few steps, the sound from behind quickly caught up with them. That rumbling wasn’t thunder—it was the sound of hooves!

 

Probably due to last year’s fright, Zhao Beichuan’s legs trembled as soon as he heard that sound.

 

Fortunately, these weren’t enemy forces but a military unit returning from a defense shift in Yingzhou. Leading the group was someone familiar—Captain Ge, who had escorted the grain supply to the frontier last year.

 

From afar, they noticed the mule cart but didn’t think much of it until they passed by and glanced at the cart, instantly recognizing the people inside.

 

Zhao Beichuan had left an indelible impression on Captain Ge. Someone who could pull down a Khitan warhorse barehanded and reject the prince’s favor was truly one in a million.

 

“Whoa~” Ge Changbao reined in his horse, stopping in front of the mule cart.

 

Zhao Beichuan also halted and cautiously looked up.

 

“Kid, do you still remember me?” Ge Changbao asked.

 

“Sir… Sir?” Zhao Beichuan quickly got off the cart and bowed respectfully.

 

Ge Changbao laughed and dismounted. “Didn’t expect to see you here. What are you hauling in this cart?”

 

“My youngest brother passed the county-level exam, so we’re heading to Pingzhou for the provincial exam. We figured we’d move the whole family along.”

 

“Oh, so you’ve got a scholar in the family, huh? Quite the talent for both brains and brawn,” Ge Changbao remarked.

 

Zhao Beichuan wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Not at all, not at all…”

 

“Don’t be so stiff. You’re no longer under corvée service, and I’m not here to draft you. We’re just catching up.”

 

Ge Changbao, though strict during their previous encounter, had no ill intentions. He even reported Zhao Beichuan’s contributions during the battle at Datongkou, demonstrating his good character.

 

“I saw you were about to rest. No need to rush. Come to the pavilion with me for some food before continuing your journey,” Ge Changbao said.

 

Zhao Beichuan didn’t dare decline, securing the mule cart back at their previous spot and instructing the family, “You eat first. I’ll go chat with the officer.”

 

Lu Yao, concerned, asked, “There won’t be any trouble, right?”

 

“Don’t worry, it’s fine,” Zhao Beichuan reassured before hurrying to the pavilion.

 

Inside the pavilion, two men were seated—Captain Ge and another military officer named Liang. As Zhao Beichuan approached, Liang remarked, “So this is the strongman you mentioned who pulled down a warhorse at Datongkou?”

 

“Exactly! Come, sit down,” Ge Changbao said.

 

“What’s your name?” Liang asked.

 

“Zhao Beichuan,” he replied.

 

“Right, they called you Dachuan, didn’t they? Are you planning to settle in Pingzhou?”

 

“The tutors in town are limited. I want to send my younger brother to study in the provincial capital, hoping he can learn more,” Zhao Beichuan explained.

 

Ge Changbao, uninterested in scholarly matters, waved dismissively. “If only you had accepted the prince’s offer back then. Who knows? You might have earned an official rank by now.”

 

“I know nothing of warfare and am unfit for such responsibilities,” Zhao Beichuan said.

 

Ge Changbao chuckled, shaking his head. Skills could be learned, but this young man clearly had other aspirations.

 

“I told them you pulled down a warhorse with your bare hands. They didn’t believe me. Why don’t you arm-wrestle Liang here and prove it?” Ge Changbao suggested.

 

Though Zhao Beichuan was hesitant, Liang, eager to test his strength, said, “Just arm-wrestling. Let’s see how strong you really are.”

 

“Fine,” Zhao Beichuan agreed reluctantly.

 

As the match began, they locked hands and exerted force. Liang, who could lift a grindstone, was impressed to find himself struggling against Zhao Beichuan’s grip. After a while, Liang’s strength waned, and he conceded.

 

“You’re incredible!” Liang exclaimed, massaging his sore arm.

 

Zhao Beichuan, still uneasy, apologized. “Forgive me, sir.”

 

Liang handed him a bronze token. “If you need help in Pingzhou, come to the Liang family.”

 

“Thank you, sir.” Zhao Beichuan hurriedly took the bronze token with both hands.

 

A soldier brought over the prepared meal—three simple side dishes and three bowls of millet rice.

 

With his nerves on edge, Zhao Beichuan shared a meal with them. Ge Changbao invited him to drink together again when they reached Pingzhou.

 

Ge Changbao felt quite grateful to him. If it hadn’t been for this young man, thousands of lives might have been lost back then. That battle was a victory, the grain was successfully delivered to the frontier, and he even received commendation from the prince. One could say Zhao Beichuan was his benefactor.

 

After finishing the meal, the army resumed their march. Riding on horseback, they moved very quickly, soon leaving the mule cart far behind.

 

Zhao Beichuan handed the bronze token given by Liang Zhong to Lu Yao for safekeeping and continued driving Dahua forward.