Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 87

Chapter 87

 

If it weren’t for the hassle of making fermentation starter (qu), Lu Yao wouldn’t have bothered buying it. After all, the flavor of the starter affects the flavor of the wine.

 

Since no one sells it, he might as well make it himself.

 

There are various types of fermentation starters: Daqu (large starter), Xiaoqu (small starter), red starter, barley starter, and wheat starter. Lu Yao was skilled in making Daqu, which has a complex production process but yields wine with a rich, mellow taste and a strong fragrance.

 

The reason Lu Yao learned to make fermentation starter traces back to the pandemic in his previous life.

 

During the lockdown, people went stir-crazy staying at home, and the internet became a hub of creativity. Some made handicrafts, others cooked various dishes, and there were even those building robots or rockets. If you could imagine it, someone online was probably doing it.

 

(lol me too i was cooking whatever diys were there on internet)

 

At the time, Lu Yao was isolating at home alone and stumbled upon a video about home brewing. He happened to have plenty of grain at home, so he decided to try making his own wine.

 

He had grain but no fermentation starter, so with plenty of time on his hands, he followed online tutorials to make his own. The resulting wine had quite a good flavor.

 

The first step was to mix hulled barley and peas in a 6:4 ratio and grind them into powder, then mix it with water.

 

Next, he crafted molds the size of bricks and pressed the mixture into them to form compact blocks—this step is called “pressing qu.”

 

In his previous life, Lu Yao used plastic bags to step on the mixture. In this life, he felt it was unsanitary, so he had Xiaonian and Xiaodou wash their feet thoroughly and do the stepping.

 

The resulting blocks, resembling compacted bricks, were left in the unoccupied west room to dry for half a day. Then they were evenly covered with straw to encourage mold growth.

 

Since it was only late April and the temperature wasn’t warm enough for fermentation, Lu Yao lit a fire in the room to maintain a temperature of about 36-37 degrees Celsius.

 

Mold growth took about three days. Afterward, the blocks were removed and dried, with the mold’s growth monitored during this process, called “drying the mold.”

 

The next phase, called “moist heat,” lasted five days. If the temperature was too low, the mold wouldn’t grow. In his previous life, Lu Yao used a heater to ensure excellent mold growth.

 

After about a week of nurturing, he added two more fire pits in the room during the last few days, increasing the temperature to 40 degrees Celsius. After the high-temperature phase ended, the temperature was gradually lowered to acclimate the blocks to room conditions.

 

Finally, the blocks were “cured” for three or four days, completing the process.

 

The cured fermentation starter had to be stored for three months before it could be used. By then, autumn would have arrived—the perfect season for brewing wine.

 

—

 

Time flew, and June arrived. Lin Lao Ye and Lin Zijian were preparing to return to the capital.

 

Before their departure, Lu Yao prepared a large box of homemade treats for them to take back, along with some local specialties from Pingzhou for Lady Lin.

 

Though the capital had no shortage of goods, this was his token of appreciation.

 

Farewells are always bittersweet. On the day of their departure, Xiaodou and Zijian cried their hearts out, their faces streaked with tears and snot.

 

Old Master Lin laughed heartily, “Come now, it’s not like you’ll never see each other again. When you participate in the county and prefectural exams in a few years, you’ll have to visit anyway.”

 

Zijian wiped his tears and asked, “How long will that take?”

 

“You can take the exams whenever you feel confident enough to become a scholar.”

 

Hearing this, he burst into tears again—it seemed like such an impossible task.

 

Lu Yao patted Xiaodou’s head. “You two can still write to each other and encourage each other to study hard. Aim to pass the scholar exams together.”

 

Sniffling, Xiaodou nodded earnestly. “Zijian, remember to write to me when you get back. Let’s not lose touch.”

 

“Alright, it’s a deal.”

 

The two children made a pinky promise. Zijian climbed into the carriage and opened the window to wave goodbye. Xiaodou stood rooted in place, crying so hard he started hiccupping.

 

Lu Yao couldn’t help but laugh. The two kids really hit it off. To find a true friend and confidant in life is indeed a blessing!

 

Only after the carriage was out of sight did Xiaodou turn and follow Lu Yao back to the shop.

 

Zhao Beichuan, seeing Xiaodou’s swollen, tear-streaked face, teased him, “Look at you—was it worth crying like that?”

 

“You don’t have any friends, so you wouldn’t understand the pain of parting from a close friend!”

 

Zhao Beichuan replied, “Your big brother here doesn’t need friends. Having your sister-in-law is enough for me.”

 

Xiaodou’s face turned red with frustration. “That’s completely different! You wouldn’t understand even if I explained!” He stormed off with his school bag and headed home.

 

Lu Yao patted Zhao Beichuan on the shoulder. “He’s feeling down. Don’t tease him.”

 

Zhao Beichuan grabbed Lu Yao’s hand and pressed it to his cheek. “Xiaodou says I don’t have a confidant. Aren’t you my confidant?”

 

“Oh? Am I just a confidant to you?”

 

“Well, no. You’re also my family, my lover, my soulmate. What does it matter how many people are in this world? Having just you is enough.”

 

Zhao Beichuan rarely spoke like this, and it moved Lu Yao deeply, striking a chord in his heart.

 

Looking back over the years, Zhao Beichuan had raised two children alone, without friends or elders to lean on—only Lu Yao by his side. Lu Yao couldn’t help but grasp his hand, his heart overflowing with love.

 

“Hey, hey, hey! What are you two shopkeepers doing?” At the door, Lord Cao peeked in and knocked.

 

Startled, Lu Yao quickly let go and awkwardly got up to greet their guest. “Ah, Lord Cao, you’re here! Come in and have a seat.”

 

Lord Cao laughed and teased, “Newlyweds really are affectionate. My wife and I have been married for seventeen or eighteen years, and holding her hand now feels like holding my own.”

 

Blushing, Zhao Beichuan muttered a greeting and escaped to the kitchen to chop vegetables.

 

Lu Yao laughed. “Isn’t that how it is with every couple? Over time, it’s all about daily life—firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, and tea. You can’t be lovey-dovey every day.”

 

“True enough. By the way, I’m here to order two tables of food for tomorrow, but I don’t want to eat here. Can you deliver it to my house by noon?”

 

“Of course. Are you hosting guests, Lord Cao?”

 

“No, tomorrow’s my wife’s 35th birthday. She doesn’t like eating out, so I thought I’d bring your food home for her to try.”

 

Lu Yao chuckled. “You just said holding hands feels like holding your own, but isn’t this quite loving?”

 

“Haha,” Lord Cao couldn’t help but laugh too.

 

He ordered ten dishes, two portions each, totaling 1,400 coins, and paid on the spot.

 

“Just deliver it to me by noon tomorrow. If you’re busy, an hour earlier is fine too.”

 

“Don’t worry, it’ll be there on time.”

 

Having placed his order, Lord Cao stayed for a chat.

 

“Your business is booming. Why not hire more people to help out?”

 

Lu Yao answered honestly, “I’m worried about trade secrets being stolen.” Stir-frying isn’t hard to learn. Even a helper could pick up the skills in ten days or so.

 

As the saying goes, “Teach a student, starve the master.” Before establishing a solid foothold, he wanted to avoid such risks. He’d reconsider if things got too busy in the future.

 

“So what’s your secret? Why does your food taste so good?”

 

“Are you interested in learning, Lord Cao?”

 

“Me? I wouldn’t know where to start! By the way, Yajai Ju has been hiring chefs left and right recently. They even introduced a braised fish dish, but it doesn’t taste nearly as good as yours. I went once and never went back.”

 

Recently, Lu’s Eatery had nearly driven Yajai Ju out of business. Yajai Ju initially thrived thanks to Lord Cao, but its current slump was partly his doing as well.

 

Many regulars were food connoisseurs, loyal to flavors rather than establishments. If they felt your food wasn’t up to par, they’d stop coming altogether. While some new customers still visited, the loss of regulars halved their earnings.

 

Yajai Ju’s boss, Zheng Yuan, was so stressed that he had mouth ulcers. He dared not resort to underhanded tactics and could only hire skilled chefs to improve the menu, hoping to win back customers.

 

However, the results were disappointing. The new chefs couldn’t replicate Lu’s flavors, and their menu revisions drove away even the few remaining regulars, leaving Zheng Yuan gnashing his teeth in frustration.

 

Lord Cao toyed with his walnut and asked, “Why don’t you sell wine? Most eateries make a fortune from alcohol. A typical meal might cost two taels of silver—400 coins for food and over 1,000 for drinks.”

 

Full Fortune Restaurant owed much of its success to its house-brewed sake, which was so good that Lord Cao visited once or twice a month just for it.

 

Lu Yao smirked mysteriously. “Wine will be ready in two months. Then you can taste our homemade brew.”

 

“Oh? You know how to brew wine?”

 

“I know a thing or two.”

 

“Alright, alright, I’ll be looking forward to tasting the wine from your place!”

 

After sending off Master Cao, the eatery began to welcome customers one after another, all of whom had reserved their tables the day before. The dishes were served promptly, and the patrons were satisfied.

 

As the weather grew hotter by the day, hearty dishes of meat and fish were losing their appeal, while cold and refreshing dishes were becoming increasingly popular. That day, a customer requested a bowl of chilled soup noodles. Suddenly, Lu Yao thought of another delicacy—cold skin noodles.

 

Cold skin noodles were a specialty from his hometown. Lu Yao had grown up eating them and could make them with his eyes closed. With cucumbers in season, they could be the perfect ingredient to pair with cold skin noodles.

 

—

 

In the afternoon, after clearing the last table, Lu Yao took the earnings and went to the blacksmith’s shop to inquire about getting an iron tray made. He requested it to be as thin as possible with two handles on the sides for lifting.

 

Following Lu Yao’s specifications, the blacksmith finished the tray in two days. Although slightly thinner than a wok, it was still quite heavy. Making the cold skin noodles was likely going to be Zhao Beichuan’s task again.

 

The method for making cold skin noodles was simple. First, knead a piece of dough and let it rest until soft, then wash it repeatedly in water. This process needed to be repeated three or four times until the dough no longer stuck to your hands. This was the wheat gluten.

 

Set the gluten aside to ferment until it developed a honeycomb texture, then steam it and cut it into small pieces for mixing with the cold noodles later.

 

Next came the noodles. The starchy water, which had been left to settle overnight, would separate into two layers. The clear water on top was carefully ladled off, leaving the thick starch slurry at the bottom—the raw material for the cold skin noodles.

 

The iron tray was brushed with oil, and the slurry was spread evenly across its surface. Once the water in the pot boiled, the tray was placed in for two minutes, and a thin sheet of cold skin noodles was ready!

 

Freshly made cold skin noodles were translucent and glossy. Once cooled, they were cut into strips the width of a finger, then mixed with shredded cucumber, minced garlic, sesame paste, sugar, vinegar, salt, and a splash of water.

 

The result was a dish that combined the garlicky spiciness with the fresh sweetness of cucumber. The noodles were smooth and springy, making for a perfect bite.

 

The highlight of the dish was the wheat gluten, which soaked up the sauce and burst with flavor in every bite. It was the soul of the dish!

 

The only regret was the absence of chili oil. However, since people in this era had not been exposed to chili, they might not have been able to handle it even if it were available.

 

As soon as Lu Yao finished mixing a bowl of cold skin noodles, it was devoured by the three siblings. The second sheet was ready and similarly eaten up, followed by the third.

 

Lu Yao chuckled helplessly. “If you keep eating like this, there’ll be nothing left to sell.”

 

Xiao Nian blushed and rubbed her belly. “Sister-in-law, your food is just too delicious. I couldn’t help myself.”

 

Zhao Beichuan licked his lips. “How much are we selling this dish for?”

 

“I’m thinking ten coins.”

 

“Ten coins? That’s too cheap! This dish is far more labor-intensive than chilled cucumbers.”

 

“I forgot to tell you—it’s not just a dish but a main course, called cold skin noodles.”

 

Zhao Beichuan still thought the price was too low. “Let’s make it fifteen coins. At ten, no one would buy chilled wild greens or cucumbers anymore.”

 

Lu Yao gave it some thought and agreed. “Alright, let’s set it at fifteen coins. I’ll prepare extra today and start selling it tomorrow.”

 

—

 

“Hey, Old Zhang, where are you rushing off to with that bowl?” Two elderly men greeted each other on the street.

 

“To Lu’s eatery to get some cold skin noodles. If I’m late, they’ll sell out again.”

 

“What are cold skin noodles?”

 

“I can’t explain it, but my grandson loves them. Ever since he tried them once, he’s been asking for more.”

 

“Are they good? How much do they cost? I’ll go get a bowl to try.”

 

“They’re delicious—fifteen coins a bowl. They only sell fifty bowls daily, and if you’re late, you won’t get any.”

 

Fifteen coins didn’t seem too expensive, so the old man, curious, followed him to Lu’s eatery.

 

By the time they arrived, a long line had already formed outside. Some people were eating on the spot, while others brought their bowls to take away.

 

In less than half an hour, all fifty bowls were sold out. Disappointed customers peered inside. “Shopkeeper, are there really none left?”

 

Lu Yao replied, “That’s it for today. Come back tomorrow.”

 

The ten or so remaining bowls in the kitchen had been pre-ordered by yesterday’s customers and couldn’t be sold.

 

“Alright, I’ll come earlier tomorrow.”

 

Lu Yao carried the pots and utensils back to the kitchen. Before noon, they had already made over seven hundred coins. After stringing the money together, he tossed it into the money box.

 

The total savings in silver now amounted to around three hundred and seventy taels, with an additional seventeen or eighteen strings of loose coins. Once it reached twenty strings, he planned to exchange it for silver.

 

In the prefecture city, Lu Yao found that money was incredibly easy to make. The eatery had only been open for just over two months, but the income had already surpassed that of their breakfast shop back in Qiushui Town. The city was full of opportunities. With brains and skills, it was far better than staying in town!

 

Lu Yao reviewed the ledger and recorded the earnings from the cold skin noodles. He then called Xiao Nian to watch the front while he went to the kitchen to help Zhao Beichuan with food prep.

 

The two worked efficiently, one washing vegetables and the other chopping them. Before long, everything needed for the day’s dishes was ready.

 

Wiping his hands, Lu Yao said, “The day after tomorrow, Douzi starts school. I’m thinking of sending something to the teachers to ask them to look after him. But I’m not sure what would be appropriate. A light gift might seem insincere, but a lavish one would make me uncomfortable.”

 

Zhao Beichuan replied, “If you ask me, don’t bother. If Douzi does well, the teachers will respect him without any gifts. If he doesn’t, even a mountain of gold won’t change their opinion.”

 

Though Lu Yao agreed in principle, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he should do something.

 

“How about I make some pastries in advance for Douzi to share with his classmates?”

 

Zhao Beichuan clapped him on the back. “Douzi’s classmates are probably older than us. Who would care for a child’s snacks? If he really can’t adapt to life at the academy, just let him attend a regular school for a few years. He can return when he’s older.”

 

“Alright.”

 

—

 

On the morning of June 26, the Zhao family rose early.

 

After breakfast, Zhao Beichuan hitched up the mule cart to take the family to the academy.

 

The cart carried not only the three of them but also two large bundles. One contained stationery, three sets of clothes, shoes, socks, two strings of coins, and a bag of candy.

 

The other held bedding, a straw mat, and a newly made wheat chaff pillow.

 

As the mule cart swayed along, Lu Yao held Douzi’s hand, repeatedly reminding him, “Get along well with your classmates and don’t throw tantrums. At home, everyone spoils you, but at the academy, no one will.”

 

“I understand.”

 

“Most of them are much older than you. If anyone bullies you, don’t fight back. Go straight to the teacher or instructor.”

 

“I know.”

 

Lu Yao gently smoothed Douzi’s hair. “If you really miss home, just come back. We won’t blame you—don’t force yourself.”

 

Zhao Bei Dou’s eyes reddened. “Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. I’ll be fine. You, Brother, and Sister must also take care. I’ll come back to visit when I have time off.”

 

Xiao Nian, parting from her brother for the first time in years, hugged him tearfully.

 

Douzi, also reluctant, choked up and said, “Sister, wait for me to come back, and we’ll have ice drinks together.”

 

“Alright. Be good and listen to your teachers.”

 

Soon, they arrived at the academy. The mule cart was not allowed inside.

 

Lu Yao asked Zhao Beichuan to wait outside while he carried the luggage and led the two children inside.

 

The academy was similar to modern schools. Upon entering, they had to register and pay fees. Since Zhao Bei Dou wasn’t a state-supported student, they had to pay two taels of silver per month, amounting to twenty-four taels for the year.

 

This wasn’t much for Lu Yao, who paid the full year’s fee upfront.

 

After registration, they were given a token with the dormitory and bed number. Zhao Bei Dou was assigned to Dormitory C, Room Three, Bed Two.

 

Lu Yao led the children to the dormitory. Inside, there were six beds, each with a wooden cabinet beside it for personal belongings. Students could buy a lock for the cabinet.

 

Lu Yao helped Douzi set up his bed and organize his belongings before leaving with Xiao Nian.

 

Douzi sat on his bed, curiously looking around, his face full of excitement.

 

Before long, an elderly man in his forties entered, carrying a bamboo basket. He paused, surprised to see Douzi, and asked, “Whose child are you? Why are you sitting here alone?”

 

Douzi quickly got off the bed and bowed. “Greetings, sir. I am Zhao Bei Dou, a new student this year.”

 

The elderly man was stunned, then returned the bow with some hesitation. “I-I am Li Shi Ting from Pingyuan County, also a new student this year.”