Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 96

Chapter 96

 

The copper pot hot pot quickly became popular in Pingzhou, and many other restaurants followed suit and started offering it as well.

 

For a time, copper pots became highly sought after in Pingzhou.

 

The blacksmith shop received dozens of orders for copper pots in one day, so much so that the blacksmith’s arms were almost too tired to lift.

 

However, despite other restaurants adding copper pots to their menu, their business still couldn’t compare to the Lu family’s restaurant. After all, they had the advantage of being the first to introduce it, and their ingredients were top-notch.

 

The lamb used was freshly slaughtered and sliced thinly, and the skill required to slice the meat was something not every restaurant could manage.

 

Lu Yao also had to thank Madam Jiang. Without her sending him these five servants, he and Zhao Beichuan wouldn’t have been able to manage all the work themselves.

 

Of course, in addition to the fresh meat, Lu’s wine also attracted customers, and someone even came up with a catchy rhyme: “Hot pot with Lu’s wine, live to ninety-nine,” which enticed many who hadn’t tried it yet to give it a go.

 

Business remained booming until December, and even after the Golden Jade Pavilion started offering copper pot hot pots, the popularity slowly started to decline.

 

As expected, Jiang Ying couldn’t sit still. Although Golden Jade Pavilion sold Lu’s wine, it didn’t offer copper pot hot pot, so seeing how popular it was, they decided to follow suit and introduce it.

 

Their place was larger and more suitable for entertaining guests, so many people of higher status stopped coming to Lu’s restaurant and started dining at Golden Jade Pavilion instead.

 

As for Lu Yao, he wasn’t particularly upset by this; after all, the facilities were what they were. His restaurant was small and couldn’t seat many people, and families with women and children were usually reluctant to dine there.

 

However, with business slowing down a bit, it was actually a good thing since they were about to return to their hometown for the New Year.

 

In the past few days, Zhao Beichuan had been going to the West Market during his free time to see if he could find a suitable cart to buy.

 

He first visited a carpenter’s shop to inquire about prices. A custom-made regular cart would cost over two hundred taels of silver, which was too expensive. Since they wouldn’t use it often, it made more sense to buy a used one.

 

However, buying a used cart was not easy, as regular people didn’t usually own one. Some families didn’t lack money, so it was rare to come across a good deal.

 

This morning, while Zhao Beichuan was buying vegetables at the West Market, he happened to encounter a man selling a cart.

 

The cart looked larger than usual, although it was a bit old and the doors and windows were broken. However, with some repairs, it should be usable.

 

Zhao Beichuan approached to ask the price, and the old man selling it said, “The cart and the horse are sold together, and I’ll give you a discount if you buy both. The total price is three hundred taels.”

 

Zhao Beichuan took a look at the horse, which was so thin that its spine was visible. The cart was also old and really not worth the price. He shook his head and turned to leave.

 

The old man hurriedly grabbed his sleeve. “The price is negotiable. Please take another look.”

 

Zhao Beichuan pulled his sleeve free. “The horse is too thin, its coat looks bad, and the cart is old. The shafts must have been replaced, right?”

 

Seeing that Zhao Beichuan was knowledgeable, the old man realized he couldn’t fool him. “Two hundred taels for both the cart and the horse, but I can’t lower the price any further. This cart is made of old oak wood. If you were to buy a new one, it would cost at least three hundred taels of silver!”

 

Two hundred taels for a cart and a horse wasn’t a bad deal, but Zhao Beichuan only wanted the cart since they already had a mule at home and didn’t need a horse.

 

Seeing that Zhao Beichuan was still hesitating, the old man gritted his teeth. “One hundred and eighty taels, but that’s my bottom price! If my family weren’t in urgent need of money, I wouldn’t sell it.”

 

“Fine, I’ll take the cart and the horse, but I need to confirm that the cart and horse are really yours. I don’t want to buy something that might cause legal trouble.”

 

The old man understood. “Don’t worry, sir. I’ll go to the government office and write up a contract with you. This cart and horse really belong to my family. If it weren’t for our financial troubles, I wouldn’t have sold it.”

 

As they walked, the old man explained that his family’s surname was Guo and they had once been a prominent family in Pingzhou. However, by his generation, their fortunes had begun to decline.

 

Last year, his son had fallen seriously ill, and the family had spent all their money on medicine. While his son’s health had improved, their finances were exhausted. With the New Year approaching, they didn’t even have money to buy new clothes, so they decided to sell the cart.

 

They went to the government office, paid two hundred coins to write a contract, and sold the cart and horse to Zhao Beichuan for one hundred and eighty taels of silver.

 

Zhao Beichuan hadn’t brought that much silver when he came out to buy vegetables, so they hurriedly returned home to fetch the silver.

 

After buying the cart, it took two days of repairs. Although it was old, the material was excellent, and it would last for decades.

 

They replaced the doors and windows, fixed the roof, and painted it with tung oil, making it look as good as new. It was much more impressive than a cart made of boards!

 

During these few days, Lu Yao also bought some items in the city.

 

He bought Lu Mu a set of headwear made from high-quality materials, costing more than thirty taels of silver.

 

He bought fine cloth for his wife and two younger brothers, and a pair of boots for Lu Lin, whose leg disability made ordinary shoes painful to wear. These boots were made of cowhide, and the more they were worn, the softer they became.

 

He didn’t forget Xiao Shitou and Xiao Jinzi either. Besides toys from the city, he bought each of them a silver-and-jade necklace. Although the jade was only as big as a fingertip, it wasn’t cheap.

 

He also bought a large box of snacks from the city, including peanut candy, milk candy, beef skin candy, osmanthus cake, and date cake.

 

When they returned to their hometown, they would visit relatives and friends, so these items were not too expensive but would make a nice gift without being embarrassing.

 

Altogether, he spent just over a hundred taels of silver.

 

On the tenth day of the twelfth month, Douzi also had his winter break. The academy had held an exam, and Douzi ranked fourteenth out of sixty students.

 

The teacher praised him, but Douzi wasn’t too happy with the result because only the top ten could join the B class. It seemed he would have to work harder next year.

 

The children also wanted to buy gifts for others, so Lu Yao gave each of them two taels of silver and sent Lu SHiliu with them to shop while he prepared food for the journey.

 

This time, they weren’t just bringing oil tea noodles. They also brought a large chunk of frozen lamb, a copper pot for hot pot, and pre-made meat soup frozen into blocks. All they had to do was cut a block and add it to the pot when they wanted to eat.

 

They brought three bushels of corn, a small jar of pickled radishes, a jar of wine, as well as cured meat and sausages. These items hadn’t sold well during the hot pot season, so they decided to take them back home for their family to enjoy.

 

They packed several sets of bedding, and besides what they were wearing, each person had two extra sets of clothes.

 

Lu Yao had already had a tailor make clothes for them to wear for the New Year, using high-quality materials. The five sets of cotton clothes cost ten taels of silver.

 

With the family making more money, their standard of living had risen, and their spending had increased accordingly. In the past, a sum of money would have been enough for the family to live on for a year in the village, but now even twenty taels a month couldn’t keep up.

 

Lu Yao couldn’t help but sigh. Indeed, it’s easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but hard to go from extravagance to frugality.

 

The day before they left, Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan took the black dog to the West Market to give the servants a long holiday and gave each of them a year-end bonus of one tael of silver.

 

The money could be spent on food and clothes, but they weren’t allowed to gamble or visit brothels. If they were caught, they would be dismissed immediately without mercy.

 

The servants hurriedly bowed and thanked them.

 

On the twelfth day of the twelfth month, the weather was clear.

 

Finally, everything was ready, and before dawn, Zhao Beichuan harnessed the horse to the carriage, and the family prepared to depart!

 

I have to say, this carriage is really spacious. Lu Yao led the three children inside, and there was more than enough room, not feeling crowded at all.

 

The carriage even had a small foldable table, making it convenient for eating, reading, and writing. The luggage was placed on the roof and tied securely, so there was no worry about it falling off.

 

The thin horse they bought was also brought along, and they could switch it with the big one for a rest along the way.

 

The journey home always made people especially excited. The three children pressed their faces against the carriage window, looking outside, but unfortunately, everything was covered in white, and they couldn’t tell where they were.

 

“Stop looking, the warmth inside won’t last much longer,” Lu Yao said.

 

The children obediently closed the window, and Xiao Nian asked, “Sister-in-law, when will we get home?”

 

“We’ll see how the road is. If it’s easy, we should be home in five or six days.” This was an official road, already cleared by merchants and military travelers, so it wasn’t hard to travel on, unless they encountered heavy snow blocking the mountains.

 

They traveled more than seventy miles on the first day and arrived at a post station by evening. Zhao Beichuan paid three hundred wen for a large room.

 

The room had two heated kangs, one on each side, both warm and cozy. They moved their luggage inside, and Lu Yao set up the copper pot for hot pot dinner.

 

The mule and the horse were placed in the animal shed, where the station attendants helped feed them.

 

Once everything was settled, Zhao Beichuan came in, his body still cold from the outside.

 

“Is it cold? Hurry, take off your shoes and warm up on the kang,” Lu Yao urged.

 

“It’s alright,” Zhao Beichuan replied. He was wearing two layers of cotton clothing, and his pants were reinforced with sheepskin, so the wind couldn’t get through, though his face was a little sore from the cold wind.

 

The three children had already lit the charcoal fire, and Xiao Chun cut two plates of lamb meat. Lu Yao broke up the frozen broth blocks and put them into the pot. In no time, a fragrant aroma filled the room.

 

There’s nothing better than having a bowl of hot pot in the dead of winter!

 

Lu Yao brought out the wine and poured a bowl for Zhao Beichuan. “Warm yourself up with this, a little drink will help you sleep better.”

 

Zhao Beichuan picked up the bowl, and after a sip, the warmth spread from his throat to his stomach.

 

“In the blink of an eye, a whole year has passed. I wonder how things are at home now.”

 

Zhao Beichuan knew he was missing his home, so he gently held his hand. “Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law are reliable people, and Mother is in good health. There shouldn’t be any problems at home.”

 

“Let’s hope so. I’m thinking of bringing Mother to the city to live this time.”

 

“Alright, do you think Second Brother and the others would agree?”

 

Lu Yao thought for a moment. “We’ll see. If not, maybe Second Brother’s family could also come to the city. After spring, Lu Sixteen and the others will need to start brewing wine, and with just the few of us at the restaurant, we won’t be able to handle everything.”

 

“Alright, let me know what you decide.”

 

After finishing the meal, Lu Yao cleaned the pot, put it back into the bundle, sealed the wine jar again, and double-checked the luggage, urging the children to rest early since they had to set off early the next day.

 

Zhao Beichuan had been driving all day, and he was so tired that he fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow. Lu Yao was already thinking about next year’s business.

 

It would be best if Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law could come to Pingzhou with them; they could definitely earn more money than staying in Qiushui Town. But Lu Yao had more than just one brother—he also had to think about Lu Yun and Lu Miao. Well, he’d discuss this when they got back.

 

They slept through the night, waking up early in the morning, refreshed and ready.

 

For breakfast, there was corn porridge and pickled radish, and everyone drank a large bowl. Zhao Beichuan led the mule and horse out, harnessed them to the carriage, and continued the journey.

 

Before dawn, the lights in the Lu household were already on, and the kitchen was filled with the steam rising from the boiling soy milk.

 

Hu Chunrong stirred the hot soy milk in the pot and added more firewood. Lu Lin brought in the second batch of ground soybeans and joined her in cooking.

 

“Is all the soybeans ground?”

 

“Mm.”

 

“Mother said we’ll go back to Lu Family Village for the New Year in a few days, but the house hasn’t been tidied up yet. I think it might be better to just celebrate in the town.”

 

Lu Lin replied, “Mother misses the old neighbors in the village. The town is nice, but we don’t know anyone here. She feels lonely.”

 

“Alright, then you go back the day after tomorrow to clean the house, and come back to bring us along.”

 

“Okay.”

 

The first pot of soy milk was ready, and Hu Chunrong ladled it into a wooden bucket to make tofu. Lu Lin took the ladle from her and began preparing the second batch of soy milk.

 

Hu Chunrong straightened her back. “I wonder if Lu Yao and the others will make it back this year. The road is so long, and the weather is so cold. They’ll probably have to wait until spring.”

 

“Lu Miao’s engagement is in February, so he should be back by then.”

 

Speaking of Lu Miao, Hu Chunrong couldn’t help but comment, “The Ding family has so many people! I heard they all live together in one courtyard, with the wife, husband, and children—don’t you think that’s a bit too much to handle?”

 

Lu Lin laughed. “More children means more blessings. Other families would be jealous if they knew.”

 

“Enough of that. Look at Lu Yun’s family. The three brothers don’t even talk to each other anymore. With five brothers in the Ding family, who knows if they’ll fall out one day and make things even more chaotic.”

 

Inside, Lu Miao had already gotten up, put on his clothes, and overheard the conversation between his second brother and sister-in-law.

 

Actually, he was feeling nervous too. He was a shy person and disliked interacting with others. Just thinking about marrying into the Ding family made his head hurt. But this was a marriage his father arranged before passing away, and there was nothing he could do to refuse.

 

Soon, Hu Chunrong came over holding Xiao Shitou. The child was still half asleep, so she laid him down in Lu Mother’s bed to continue napping.

 

“Mother, we’re going to the shop now. We’ve left porridge and tofu in the pot for you.”

 

“Alright, go ahead.”

 

Lu Miao followed them out. They moved the prepared dough and soup base to the carriage. His second sister-in-law, who had caught a cold, wasn’t coming today.

 

The three of them arrived at the shop, and Hu Chunrong reached to open the door. A small spider fell from the door gap and paused in the middle before slowly crawling away.

 

Hu Chunrong said, “Hey, a lucky spider came in. If it falls early, it brings good luck. If it falls late, it brings wealth. Someone will be coming today.”

 

“Who is it?” Lu Lin asked as he poured oil into the pot.

 

Lu Miao said, “Maybe it’s Fourth Brother and the others. With the New Year coming, they might be in town buying food.”

 

The last big market of the year in Qiushui Town was on the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, and many people came to the market. As dawn broke, people from three miles around started to arrive—selling pigs, selling sheep, and even chickens and geese they raised themselves, along with dried mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms. The market was bustling with people coming and going.

 

The food stalls were busy as well, and Lu Miao and Hu Chunrong were so busy they barely had a moment to rest. Lu Lin was frying dough sticks, sweating all over, but still couldn’t keep up with the customers waiting in line.

 

Around Chen time, a mule-drawn cart stopped beside the shop. Lu Yun, holding Little Jinzi, got off the cart. “Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law.”

 

Hu Chunrong quickly went forward to take the child. “I said this morning someone would be coming, and here you are! Let Auntie give you a kiss, darling.”

 

Little Jinzi, not feeling shy, kissed Hu Chunrong’s cheek, which delighted her greatly.

 

“It’s cold outside. Go inside and play with your brother. Xiao Shitou is getting bored at home.”

 

Lu Yun took the child and said, “Alright, I’ll take Jinzi to Mother and leave him with her. I’ll come back to help you in a little while.”

 

“No need. The crowd has thinned out now, and I can manage. Spend some more time with Mother.”

 

Wang Youtian drove the cart to drop off his wife and child, and since winter had set in, it had been a while since Lu Yun had come to town.

 

Upon entering the yard, he called, “Mother.”

 

Lu Old Lady hurried out, “Ah, Jinzi’s here! Come in and let Grandma hug you!”

 

Lu Yun handed the child over and entered the house. He took off the layers of cotton wrappings from Jinzi, and the child stood up from the kang, curiously looking around at the room.

 

“You don’t recognize Grandma’s house, do you?”

 

“Ah—” Jinzi pointed at Lu Old Lady.

 

“You know I’m Grandma?”

 

“Ah, ah.” The little one was still small, but he could understand what was being said.

 

“My good boy.” The old lady was very fond of him, rubbing her face against his. Maybe it tickled him, and the child giggled, looking incredibly adorable.

 

“Our Jinzi is growing up to be so handsome. He doesn’t look like you two, but he does resemble Third Brother a bit.”

 

Lu Yun smiled, “It’s only right for a nephew to resemble his uncle.” Among the three brothers, Lu Yao was the most handsome, and now it seemed his luck was also the best. It would be great if his son grew up to be like him.

 

Speaking of Lu Yao, Lu Old Lady couldn’t help but sigh, “Since I received that letter in the spring, there’s been no news from him. I wonder if he can come back before the New Year.”

 

Lu Yun knew his mother missed Third Brother, so he said, “They’ve just settled in the capital, so they probably won’t be able to come back anytime soon.” After all, the capital was so far away, and it wasn’t easy to make the trip back.

 

“Ah, enough about him. Come here, Jinjin, come to Grandma.”

 

Jinzi shook his head. He preferred playing with his brother, Xiao Shitou, who was still as lively as ever, pulling out all his toys for his little brother to play with, acting very much like an older brother.

 

Seeing they were playing so well, Lu Yun stood up to go help at the shop.

 

“Don’t leave for lunch. Stay and have a meal with us later.”

 

“Alright, I still need to buy some things for the New Year. I’ll return in the afternoon.”

 

Since the family had separated, the Wang family bought their own things. Now, when they met, they didn’t speak a word to each other. It truly proved the old saying, “When brothers fall out, it’s worse than being enemies.”

 

Lu Old Lady understood the situation in their family. She patted Lu Yun’s hand and said, “As long as you and Youtian are doing well, it’s enough. At least you two are happy.”

 

Lu Yun headed toward the food stall, washed his hands, and began to help Second Brother knead the dough and cut the dough pieces.

 

Suddenly, a tall carriage pulled up not far away and stopped beside the shop. The driver shouted, “Shopkeeper, how much are your dough sticks?”

 

“Two wen each.”

 

Zhao Beichuan took off his cotton scarf, revealing a big smile. “Give us ten, please.”

 

Lu Lin was stunned. The chopsticks in his hand fell into the oil pot with a splash. He hobbled over excitedly, grabbing Zhao Beichuan’s hand and shaking it. “How did you all come back? How did you come back?”