Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 80

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Shangjing is the capital

Chapter 80

Lu Yao had been considering the idea of opening an eatery for several days.

Firstly, selling breakfast was an extremely tiring job. While they were still young and healthy now, their bodies might not hold up as they aged.

Moreover, in this era with scarce medical resources, overworking the body would undoubtedly shorten one’s lifespan. He was still planning to grow old together with Zhao Beichuan.

Secondly, selling breakfast was too slow a way to make money. Saving one or two coins at a time—how long would it take to achieve financial freedom?

Ever since he dined at a restaurant in the county, Lu Yao had grown more and more determined to open an eatery. Four people, eating modestly, ordered three dishes and two plates of dumplings, and it cost over 200 coins. If they had a few generous customers every day, earning three to four taels of silver daily would be as easy as drinking water!

The key to whether an eatery could succeed lay in the quality of the dishes.

Lu Yao’s cooking skills in his previous life might not have been remarkable—any roadside diner might have outdone him. But in this culinary desert of an ancient world, he was undoubtedly a standout, second to none! Even the old master of the Lin family, who was used to the delicacies of the capital, had nothing but praise for his cooking. How could his skills possibly be poor?

Besides, during his observations these past few days, Lu Yao found that there weren’t actually that many eateries in the city.

The four most famous ones were “Golden Jade Pavilion,” “Elegant House,” “All Blessings Tavern,” and “Tianshui Pavilion.” Among these, Tianshui Pavilion was a bit different—it wasn’t just a place to eat, but also offered companions to drink and sing with.

Of course, these eateries had all earned their reputations, each with their own strengths. There was even a popular saying in the city: “Golden Jade Pavilion for officials, Elegant House for dishes, All Blessings for wine that rivals the divine, and Tianshui Pavilion for the companions by your side.”

As the names implied, Golden Jade Pavilion had official backing, Elegant House was famous for its dishes, All Blessings Tavern excelled in wine, and Tianshui Pavilion had its own unique appeal.

Smaller eateries numbered about a dozen in the city, but compared to the big four, their business was much weaker, largely due to the pricing of their dishes.

Lu Yao visited several small eateries, and all the meat dishes were priced at over 50 coins, while vegetarian dishes ranged from 20 to 30 coins. The menus were simple and almost identical. Even if the common folk wanted to dine out, two visits would be enough; who could afford to keep spending money on the same dishes?

He didn’t want to brag, but he could easily come up with dozens of dishes, each capable of being a signature dish! So Lu Yao believed that opening an eatery in the city would have great potential.

In fact, the eatery didn’t need to be very big—five or six tables would do. Once they gained a reputation, they could gradually expand.

You eat rice one bite at a time and take steps one at a time. He was confident that one day he could open the largest eatery in Pingzhou!

For dinner, Lu Yao braised the fish.

First, he fried the fish in oil until both sides were golden brown, then set it aside.

Next, he stir-fried sliced ginger and garlic in the pan until fragrant, added some sauce from a jar for flavoring, and finally a splash of aged vinegar and a bit of sugar to enhance the taste. With this, the braised sauce was ready. Although he lacked soy sauce for coloring, the flavor was still excellent. He then placed the fish back in the pan, added half a ladle of water, and simmered it over low heat.

Lu Yao adjusted the firewood under the pot and let it simmer for about a quarter of an hour. When he lifted the lid, the aroma of the fish filled the entire house, making the two children rush over, asking what delicious dish he had made.

“Today, I’m making you something you’ve never had before. I promise you’ll want a second helping after the first!”

Xiaonian and Xiaodou were already drooling. If Sister-in-law said it was good, it must be delicious!

“Go call your big brother to wash his hands for dinner.”

“Okay!” Xiaodou ran out to fetch him, while Xiaonian clung to the side of the pot, peeking in. When he saw the large fish, he couldn’t help but exclaim.

“What’s wrong?”

“Sister-in-law, so it’s fish you’re cooking!”

“Yes, have you had it before?”

“Once. Big Brother made it, but it was bitter and not tasty at all.” This was before Lu Yao had joined the family, back when Zhao Beichuan had caught two fish while bathing in the river.

Unfortunately, he didn’t know how to cook. While cleaning the fish, he accidentally broke the gall bladder. Without adding any other seasoning, he just boiled it with a bit of salt. The result was so fishy and bitter that the children spat it out after one bite, and even Zhao Beichuan couldn’t eat more than a few mouthfuls before throwing it away.

Lu Yao shook his head at the waste. No wonder Zhao Beichuan wasn’t interested in selling fish—he’d never tasted good fish before.

“Try my cooking. It’s much better than what your big brother made.”

Xiaonian brought the bowls and chopsticks into the house. Lu Yao used a small earthen bowl to plate the fish and poured all the sauce over it to avoid wasting it.

Zhao Beichuan and the two children sat around the table, hesitant to start. Their previous experience with fish had left such a bad impression that they seemed to have a mental block.

“Don’t just stare at it. Try it!” Lu Yao picked a piece of soft, boneless fish belly and placed it in Zhao Beichuan’s bowl.

With no choice, Zhao Beichuan picked up his bowl and began to eat. The fish had none of the fishiness he expected; instead, it was tender, flavorful, and carried a hint of the sauce and vinegar. It was so delicious he nearly swallowed his tongue!

“How is it?”

“Delicious!” Zhao Beichuan eagerly took another piece, eating it with his bowl of millet rice, unable to stop.

Seeing this, the two children tentatively tried a small piece themselves. “Wow!” The taste was incredible!

The crispy, golden skin of the fish, paired with the tender meat and the flavorful sauce, created an explosion of umami in their mouths. How could one word, “delicious,” suffice?

“Slow down and watch out for bones.” Lu Yao picked at the fish head, which was the best part of a carp. He lamented the lack of chili and Sichuan pepper, which would have made it perfect for a spicy fish head dish.

A six-to-seven-pound fish was devoured clean by the four of them, with even the broth being used for soaking rice, fought over by the two children.

Zhao Beichuan sucked on the fish tail and burped in satisfaction, fully convinced of his husband’s culinary skills. Just this braised fish alone could become a signature dish at an eatery!

Having decided to open an eatery, Lu Yao began searching for a suitable storefront.

A small eatery didn’t require a large space, but it couldn’t be too out of the way either. While they said “a good product sells itself,” that only worked if customers could find you. Otherwise, it would be a wasted effort.

Over the next few days, Lu Yao inquired about four or five places. Some were too expensive—a small storefront of less than 70 square meters cost 300 taels of silver a year in rent! Hearing this, Lu Yao turned away immediately.

Currently, he had just over 480 taels of silver. Not only did he need to rent a storefront, but he also had to renovate it, buy tables and chairs, utensils, and kitchenware. Rent that high might cause cash flow issues later.

Another option was a shop in a more remote location, with rent at 170 taels per year. However, the lack of foot traffic worried him—what if they couldn’t build up a reputation before running out of money?

Several days passed without finding a suitable location, leaving Lu Yao increasingly anxious. Living in the city wasn’t easy to begin with, and without a source of income, their savings were depleting day by day.

Time flew by, and by late March, the Zhao family had been in Pingzhou for nearly half a month.

Zhao Beichuan, unable to sit idle, took on a job carrying grain around the city for 30 coins a day. It wasn’t too tiring, but he worked from dawn till dusk.

Lu Yao continued his daily search for a storefront, while Xiaonian and Xiaodou stayed home.

With just over ten days left before the prefectural examination, Xiaodou was nervously reviewing his studies every day. Xiaonian took care of household chores and played in the yard with their small black dog. Around noon, he would cook a pot of porridge and wait for his sister-in-law and brother to return for lunch.

That day, before noon, Lu Yao came back in a hurry, his face beaming with joy.

Xiaonian opened the door. “Sister-in-law, what’s made you so happy?”

“I’ve found the perfect storefront!”

“Really? That’s great!”

It was quite a stroke of luck. Lu Yao had been searching

“The kid has been spoiled by us and can’t endure the greasy fumes of the kitchen. He works for a few days and slacks off for more, so customers eventually stopped coming when they couldn’t get their meals.

Running a business like this won’t work, so we decided to quit altogether and take the money to go home and retire with my husband.

Lu Yao’s eyes sparkled as he nodded. ‘Are you planning to rent out the shop?’

‘Yes, that’s the idea. We signed a three-year lease last year, but when we discussed it with the landlord yesterday, they only agreed to refund half of the rent unless we find someone else to take over.’

‘How much is the rent?’

The shopkeeper glanced at Lu Yao. ‘Are you looking to rent a shop?’

‘I do have that intention, but it depends on the price.’

‘Then come inside and let’s talk. If you think it’s suitable, I’ll transfer it to you at a low price. Otherwise, the longer it sits idle, the more rent money gets wasted.’

Lu Yao followed him inside. The shop wasn’t very large but was kept clean and tidy, with eight tables inside. At the back were two rooms—one for resting and the other for storing supplies.

‘If you’re planning to open a restaurant, the tables and chairs are already here, which saves you quite a bit of money. Want to check out the backyard? The kitchen equipment is all in place too.’

Lu Yao nodded and followed him to the backyard. The kitchen had four cooking stoves and was spacious. In the yard, a pile of firewood was stacked nearly halfway up the wall, showing the meticulous care the elderly couple had put into managing the business.

There was a separate well in the yard, making it convenient for washing vegetables and cooking. Against the wall stood three large earthen jars. In summer, placing ice inside them would serve as a natural refrigerator, keeping meat and vegetables fresh for days.

‘What do you think? Does it meet your needs?’

Lu Yao was beyond satisfied, but he didn’t show it on his face, worried the shopkeeper might raise the price.

‘It’s alright, but the front shop space is a bit cramped.’

The shopkeeper laughed, ‘Ah, young man, a bigger shop means higher rent. Besides, this shop has been around for years and has quite a few returning customers. You can start earning money as soon as you take over! The rent is reasonable too—just 200 taels of silver a year. If you pay for two years upfront, I’ll give you a discount, making it 180 taels per year. How about that?’

Considering the location, this price was an absolute bargain!

Lu Yao’s heart raced with excitement, but he managed to stay calm and said, ‘Can it be any cheaper?’

The old man hesitated before saying, ‘At most, I’ll knock off another ten taels. Three hundred and fifty taels in total, but that’s as low as I can go. The tables and chairs in the shop will all be yours.’

If it weren’t for the landlord refusing a full refund, he wouldn’t have lowered the price so much. A half-refund was only 200 taels, but renting it out privately could fetch an extra 150 taels. As for the tables and chairs, they were old and wouldn’t sell for much, so he might as well include them in the deal.

Lu Yao agreed, ‘Alright, it’s settled. I’ll go get my husband to take a look. If there’s no issue, we can finalize the paperwork. It would be best to involve the landlord to avoid any future disputes.’

‘Great, great. I’ll inform the landlord and wait for you here.’

Lu Yao rushed home, grabbed the money, and went straight to the grain store to find Zhao Beichuan.

When he arrived, Zhao Beichuan was moving goods. While others struggled to carry a single sack of grain, he moved one as if it were child’s play, effortlessly transporting it.

However, he didn’t overexert himself. Everyone was out working hard to make a living, and he didn’t want to take away others’ opportunities by doing too much.

‘Da Chuan, come quickly!’ Lu Yao called out, and Zhao Beichuan walked over.

‘What’s going on?’

‘Stop working. I’ve found the perfect shop. Come and take a look.’

‘Alright, wait for me. I’ll go settle the morning’s wages with the boss.’

A moment later, he returned with fifteen copper coins. ‘Let’s go. Which shop are you renting?’

‘It’s on Changxing Street, not far from where we live. The little restaurant at the street corner!’

‘They’re closing down?’

‘Yes.’ Lu Yao explained the situation to him. ‘I’m really satisfied with this little shop. Everything is ready, saving us the trouble of buying equipment. And the rent is affordable—200 taels a year. It’s fortunate I came across it today; otherwise, I would’ve had to rent the shop for 300 taels.’

Zhao Beichuan laughed, ‘Seems like you’ve got some luck. Let me see this shop that has you so excited.’

The two headed straight for the corner restaurant. When they arrived, the shopkeeper and his husband were there, along with the landlord. They were discussing the transfer details.

Seeing Lu Yao arrive, the shopkeeper said, ‘Young man, you’re here. This is the landlord of the shop. I’ve explained the transfer to him, and he’s agreed to it.’

The landlord was a stout, middle-aged man with a mustache. ‘I won’t get involved in how you negotiate the rent among yourselves. But when the lease expires in two years, the price will definitely change.’

Lu Yao hesitated for a moment before nodding. A rent increase after two years was reasonable. Depending on how business went, they might move to a bigger shop by then.

‘Then let’s draft the contract. Once the shop transfer is complete, we’re ready to leave.’

Lu Yao didn’t hold back and said he could write. He grabbed pen and paper to draft the contract himself.

Although his handwriting wasn’t great, he made the relationships between the three parties clear. After writing, he asked the accountant to read it aloud.

The shopkeeper had no objections. It wasn’t his property anyway, so as long as the rent was paid, it didn’t matter to him.

The landlord, however, scrutinized every detail, worried about any loopholes.

‘Add a clause at the end: If the property is damaged, compensation will be required, and I reserve the right to reclaim the property.’

‘Compensation for damages is fine, but reclaiming the property might be unfair. If it’s just minor damage to the walls, wouldn’t taking back the shop leave us at a loss?’

The landlord replied, ‘Then just write “compensation for damages.”‘ This request was reasonable, and Lu Yao added it to the contract.

Once everything was confirmed, he rewrote three copies. Each party signed and left their fingerprints. Lu Yao handed over 350 taels in cash to the shopkeeper, and the shop was officially theirs.

The landlord took his copy of the contract and left. The shopkeeper counted the money and handed it to his husband. ‘The shop is yours now. I wish you a prosperous business.’

‘Thank you for your kind words.’

The elderly couple took a last look at the shop they had run for thirteen years. With red eyes, they said nothing more and left.

Only Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan were left in the shop.

Lu Yao let out a long sigh of relief. ‘Finally, it’s done. How do you like the shop I rented?’

‘It’s great, really great!’

‘Come on, let me show you the backyard.’ Lu Yao dragged him to the back. ‘See these stoves? We can set up a steamer, a braising pot, and two woks here.’

‘Look at this firewood. It’ll last us half a year!’

‘And over here, these large jars. They’re perfect for summer storage and will save us a few hundred coins.’

‘There’s still some space left in the yard. We could even set up a millstone and make our own tofu for dishes. It’ll definitely taste better than what others sell.’

Zhao Beichuan could already imagine the bustling scene of their future restaurant. Excited, he lifted Lu Yao and spun him around.

Lu Yao laughed and patted his shoulder. ‘Put me down. Let’s hurry home and start working on the menu!'”