Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 98

Chapter 98

 

As the fabrics and boxes were carried over, the adults and children gathered around, curious to see what Lu Yao had brought back from the city.

 

“These bolts of cloth are for my sisters-in-law and the fourth and fifth siblings, two bolts each,” Lu Yao said as he unwrapped the oilcloth, revealing brightly colored, soft cotton fabric.

 

Hu Chunrong touched a bolt and realized it had patterns woven into it. “Oh my, how much does such fine fabric cost?”

 

“Buying individually is more expensive. A whole bolt costs six taels of silver each,” Lu Yao replied.

 

Everyone’s eyes widened in astonishment. Six taels? That’s so expensive!

 

Lu Yun said, “This kind of fabric would be wasted in the village. Take it back when you leave.”

 

Hu Chunrong nodded in agreement. “We don’t need such fine fabric at home.”

 

“It’s bought for you to use, so why take it back? If you can’t bear to wear it yourselves, save it to make clothes for the children. This fabric is soft and cool, perfect for summer clothing.”

 

Hearing it was for the children, Hu Chunrong and Lu Yun stopped refusing. Hu Chunrong chose two darker-colored bolts since Shitou was so mischievous that light colors wouldn’t stay clean for long.

 

Lu Yun picked a sky-blue bolt and a light yellow one. The remaining two bolts, vermilion and emerald green, were set aside for Lu Miao’s wedding.

 

Everyone admired the fabric, finding it hard to put down. Such fine cloth couldn’t even be found in the town, no matter the cost.

 

Seeing everyone so pleased, Lu Yao felt happy himself. Giving gifts was all about bringing joy to others.

 

He opened a wooden chest and took out jade-inlaid silver necklaces he had bought for his nephews. The silver was hollow, making the necklaces affordable, but the jade pieces were valuable. Each thumb-sized jade cost five taels of silver.

 

The jade was clear and carved with cloud patterns, symbolizing good fortune.

 

“Shitou, Jinzi, come here,” Lu Yao called.

 

The two children curiously approached. Lu Yao placed the necklaces around their necks. “Wishing you peace and long life.”

 

The gifts delighted Hu Chunrong and Lu Yun. “Shitou, hurry and thank your third uncle.”

 

“Thank you, Third Uncle!” Shitou touched his necklace, beaming with joy.

 

Jinzi didn’t know how to say thank you yet but clasped his little hands together in a gesture that made everyone burst into laughter.

 

Lu Yao then handed a pair of boots to Lu Lin, who grinned. “I have something too?”

 

“Try them on, see if they fit.”

 

Having had a drink, Lu Lin was in an unusually talkative mood. He took the boots from his brother and compared them to his feet. “They fit. Your feet are the same size as mine.”

 

Hu Chunrong playfully slapped his shoulder. “Third Brother told you to try them, so try them.”

 

Lu Lin sat on the kang, took off his shoes, and put on the boots. They fit perfectly.

 

“These boots are great! So comfortable!”

 

Lu Yao explained, “They’re made with cowhide soles. They’re soft and won’t tire your feet even after long walks.”

 

Lu Lin walked around a bit before quickly taking them off. Such good boots were too precious to wear daily. He decided to save them for special occasions.

 

Finally, Lu Yao took out a small wooden box. “Mother, open it and see if you like it.”

 

“You bought something for me too? Why spend money on me?” Lu Mother said, feigning complaint, though her face was full of joy as she accepted the box.

 

The box felt heavy in her hands, with a copper lock adding an air of refinement.

 

“What’s inside?”

 

“Take a look.”

 

Smiling, Lu Mother slowly opened the lid, and everyone in the room held their breath.

 

Inside was a set of simple yet elegant silver hair ornaments, including two large hairpins, two small ones, and a pair of side combs.

 

Because of her age, Lu Yao had chosen a plain and understated design for his mother, but the set was made of pure silver and costly. Even the wealthiest families in town might not own such a complete set of jewelry.

 

“This… this is too valuable! I’m already half-buried in the ground. Take it back and keep it for yourself!”

 

Lu Yao picked up one of the hairpins and placed it in her hair. “I bought it for you, so you should wear it. In the future, when I have more money, I’ll get you a gold set!”

 

Lu Mother couldn’t stop smiling, touching the hairpin in her hair. “Does it look good?”

 

Everyone nodded. “It looks beautiful, really beautiful!”

 

Lu Mother laughed so hard that she covered her mouth. “This is old age vanity. I didn’t wear such things when I was young, but now I get to enjoy it in my later years.”

 

Her words sent everyone into fits of laughter again.

 

Lu Yao put the remaining ornaments in her hair. Despite her age and wrinkles, Lu Mother’s fair complexion and good bone structure made her look a bit like an old matriarch from a noble family.

 

Sitting on the kang with silver hairpins adorning her head, her two grandchildren in her arms, and her sons gathered around, Lu Mother felt this was the happiest moment of her life.

 

As night fell, candles were lit in the house.

 

Since Lu Yao and his family were exhausted from their journey, Lu Mother urged everyone to rest early.

 

With so many people, sleeping arrangements were divided. Xiaochun slept with Zhao Beichuan and the two elder brothers in the east room. Lu Mother took her three sons to the central room, while Hu Chunrong stayed with the four children in her own room.

 

The rural kang was spacious enough to fit seven or eight people.

 

Lying on the kang, Lu Yao couldn’t fall asleep despite his physical exhaustion. His mind was unusually alert.

 

Lu Yun asked, “How long will you be staying this time?”

 

“Not sure. I plan to leave after Lu Miao’s wedding.”

 

Lu Miao’s wedding was scheduled for February, meaning they could stay home for over a month!

 

Hearing this, Lu Mother was relieved. She reached out to touch Lu Yao’s head. “Stay for as long as you can. It’s not easy for you to come back.”

 

“Mother, why don’t you come to the city with us next year?”

 

“What would I do in the city?”

 

“You can go sightseeing and stroll around.”

 

“Such a long journey… I’m afraid my old bones won’t survive the bumps.”

 

Lu Miao’s ears perked up. “Mother, you should go! I’ll go with you!”

 

“No, you stay here and focus on preparing for your wedding.”

 

Lu Miao pouted and pulled the blanket over her head, sulking.

 

Although Lu Mother secretly wanted to go, she worried that her age would make her a burden to her son and son-in-law.

 

“If I were ten years younger, I’d go help out. But now I’m too old to work. I’d just be a burden needing care.”

 

“You can watch over the house for us. Beichuan and I are busy in the shop all day, and I never feel comfortable leaving money at home. If you come, you could keep an eye on things. And when you get tired of it, Beichuan can bring you back.”

 

Hearing this, Lu Mother was tempted. “It takes several days to travel, right?”

 

“Taking a carriage is quick; it takes about five or six days. This time we got delayed by heavy snow, or we would’ve been back by the seventeenth of the twelfth month.”

 

Mother Lu said, “That’s not too far, then. I remember when your father went to Youzhou for labor duty in his youth; it took him seventeen days just to get there, and his feet were covered in blisters.”

 

Mentioning his father, Lu Yao couldn’t help but feel a bit downcast. “It would’ve been great if Dad were still around. The two of you could go to the county city together.”

 

Grandma Lu sighed. “You could say he wasn’t blessed with good fortune. Just when he had settled all the kids, he left us.”

 

Lu Yun said, “Speaking of Dad, I dreamed of him last month.”

 

“What did he say?” Mother Lu turned her head to ask.

 

“Dad was at home fixing the windows, muttering, ‘This wood won’t do, it needs replacing.’ I was just about to go help him, but then Jinzi needed to pee, and I woke up.”

 

Mother Lu spat, “Even in death, he can’t stay idle.”

 

Lu Yao sighed. “I’ve been so busy every day that I fall asleep as soon as I hit the bed. I haven’t dreamed in ages, let alone seen Dad in my dreams.”

 

Mother Lu patted her two sons on their arms. “Don’t dwell on it. No matter how much you think about it, it’ll only add to the sorrow. You both just need to live well; your father will be happy watching over you from below.”

 

Lu Yao hummed in agreement, and beside him, Lu Miao, who was suffocating under the covers, poked his head out and said, “Third Brother, what’s the story with that child you adopted?”

 

“Oh right, I forgot to ask earlier—where did that child come from?”

 

Lu Yao recounted the events in the county city, and the three of them listened intently. When they heard about Xiaonian and Xiaodou being abducted, Lu Miao was frightened.

 

“When we went to rescue Xiaonian and the others, we found another child with the traffickers—that’s Xiaochun.”

 

“That child’s had a tough life too. His own father sold him to a tooth woman. He tried to escape twice but was caught both times, had his leg broken, and was thrown to those traffickers to be sold.”

 

Mother Lu, enraged, began cursing, “What a beast of a person! Even a tiger wouldn’t harm its cubs, yet he sold his own child!”

 

“Exactly. Da Chuan and I felt so sorry for him that we decided to keep him. Once his leg healed, he started helping out in the restaurant. He’s surprisingly diligent and sensible for his age, so we decided to adopt him and let him be an older brother to Xiaonian and the others.”

 

“That’s good. When he grows up, you could even marry him to Xiaonian.”

 

“I haven’t thought about that,” Lu Yao said. “That would require Da Chuan’s approval. Besides, they’re both so young. There’s no rush for that; let nature take its course.”

 

Talking about marriage inevitably led to discussing Lu Miao’s marriage.

 

“How are things with the Ding family? Have you agreed on an engagement date?”

 

“Not yet. The original date was set for the eighteenth of February next year, but they haven’t brought it up since.”

 

Lu Yao frowned. “If they don’t bring it up, are we just supposed to keep waiting?”

 

“We’ll see during the New Year. The Ding family’s boy is sure to come over to pay respects. If they don’t mention it, we’ll bring it up.”

 

Lu Miao was secretly hoping the Ding family wouldn’t come so that the marriage could fall through, and he could follow his third brother to the county city!

 

Mother Lu seemed to guess his thoughts. “Don’t even think about running off to the county city. You’re an unmarried young man—how does it look to always follow your brother and brother-in-law around?”

 

Angry, Lu Miao buried his head back under the covers.

 

Lu Yao chuckled. “Don’t worry. If the Ding family’s young man is steady and capable, and his family agrees, you two can come with us to the county city.”

 

“Really?!”

 

“When has your third brother ever lied to you?”

 

Lu Miao immediately cheered up and even began looking forward to his marriage. He started wondering what kind of personality the Ding family’s boy had and whether he was hardworking.

 

It was getting late, and everyone was tired.

 

Lu Yao had just closed his eyes when he heard someone calling his name in a daze.

 

“Lu Yao, Lu Yao?”

 

“Hmm?” He quickly got up and saw his father walking in from outside.

 

His father was still wearing the old clothes he used to wear, his hair tied with a hemp cloth, and carrying a bamboo basket on his back.

 

“Dad, you—you’re back?” Lu Yao’s tears streamed down instantly.

 

“Didn’t you tell your mother yesterday that the house was leaking? I’ve come to fix it for you.” The old man put down the basket and took out a hammer, strips of bamboo, and dried straw.

 

Lu Yao blinked and realized the house was the old one he had lived in when he first married into the Zhao family.

 

The two of them went outside. Lu Yao held the ladder while Lu Guangsheng climbed onto the roof to repair it.

 

When the house was fixed, Lu Guangsheng sat under the eaves to mend the chicken coop. Lu Yao, eyes red, sat beside him.

 

“Lu Yao, let me tell you something.”

 

“Yes, Dad. I’m listening.”

 

“I know you’ve made something of yourself, but take care of your health. Don’t wait until you’re exhausted to regret it.”

 

“Got it.”

 

“Da Chuan is a good kid. Discuss things with him often. He has no parents, so be more accommodating to him.”

 

“I understand.”

 

Zhao Guangsheng reached out and patted his head. “And about your brothers—I know you want to help them all, but everyone has their own path in life. You can’t take care of everything for everyone.”

 

Lu Yao nodded, crying too hard to speak. In his daze, he heard someone calling near his ear.

 

“Lu Yao, Lu Yao, wake up.”

 

Lu Yao opened his eyes and saw the candlelit room. Hu Chunrong was holding Jinzi and coming over.

 

The child had wet himself in the middle of the night and wanted his mother. No matter how much he was coaxed, he wouldn’t stop crying, so she had no choice but to bring him over.

 

Lu Yun took his son and tucked him directly into his own bed. The little boy’s eyes darted around as he hugged Lu Yun’s neck and nuzzled his face.

 

Hu Chunrong asked softly, “Was it a nightmare? Why are you crying?”

 

Lu Yao wiped his tears. “I dreamed of Dad.”

 

“Must be that the old man misses you and came to visit in your dream,” Hu Chunrong said.

 

Lu Yun added, “We were just talking about Dad earlier, and you dreamt of him already. What did he say?”

 

“Not much. He just told me not to overwork myself and to live well with Da Chuan.”

 

Hu Chunrong sighed. “Children are debts of the heart. When alive, they worry; when gone, they still can’t let go.”

 

Mother Lu was a deep sleeper, and their conversation didn’t wake her. Seeing this, everyone quickly blew out the candle and went back to sleep.

 

The next morning, Lu Yao was woken by the sound of crowing roosters. Although the Lu family didn’t keep chickens, the loud crowing came from the neighbor’s big rooster, so loud it made him want to buy it and cook it.

 

Later in the morning, Lu Lin led his two brothers-in-law to the village to buy two cartloads of firewood. This year, because they were busy running the shop in town, they didn’t have time to gather firewood themselves.

 

However, the money earned from the breakfast shop in a single day was enough to buy firewood for the entire winter. Now that everyone had some free time, the men worked together chopping it up, finishing it all by noon.

 

The brothers’ wives were already planning meals. After a busy year, the end of the year was the perfect time to relax and enjoy some hearty feasts.

 

At noon, Lu Yao cooked for the family. Yesterday, they had just butchered a pig, and the house was stocked with plenty of meat. He made a pot of braised pork ribs, a plate of sweet-and-sour pork, sesame-coated eggs, and lion’s head meatballs. Even though the kitchen didn’t have all the seasonings he needed, the food still tasted better than what they served at the restaurant, leaving everyone stuffed.

 

Mother Lu exclaimed, “No wonder you dared to open a restaurant in the county city. Your cooking skills are truly impressive. Lu Yao, who taught you to cook?”

 

Her question was on everyone’s mind. Back when Lu Yao lived at home, he was the type to burn holes in pots, and now he could make such delicious dishes. It was hard to believe.

 

Lu Yao didn’t want to tell the truth, so he casually made something up. “Some of it I figured out on my own, and some I learned from other restaurants in the city. Over time, I just got better.”

 

Mother Lu didn’t doubt him, as Lu Yao had always been full of quirky ideas as a child.

 

After lunch, Zhao Beichuan wanted to visit Wangou Village. Lu Yao, knowing he was homesick, packed a few boxes of candy and pastries, brought the three children, and got on the carriage.

 

From Lu Village to Bayangou Village, there was a shortcut, but in the winter, the icy road was too dangerous for the carriage. So they took a longer route along the main road.

 

As soon as the carriage entered the village, Xiaonian and Xiaodou opened the window and looked out. The familiar scenery brought tears to their eyes.

 

Although they no longer had any family here, they still had many unforgettable memories.

 

“Look, that’s our house!” Xiaodou pointed to the ruins in the distance.

 

“I see it, I see it!” Xiaonian said excitedly.

 

When the carriage stopped, the two children hesitated to go inside, as the house was now just broken walls covered in a thick layer of snow. The fence around the yard had long been dismantled and sold for firewood.

 

“What happened to this house?” Xiaochun asked curiously.

 

Xiaonian sniffled and said, “This was the house we built, but someone burned it down. After that, we went to the town.”

 

Lu Yao reached out and patted Xiaonian and Xiaodou on their heads. “It’s all in the past. Aren’t we living much better now?”

 

The two children nodded vigorously.

 

Not far away, Zhao Guang, who had been visiting neighbors, spotted the large carriage from afar. Curious, he walked over to inspect the people inside.

 

Zhao Beichuan pulled down the scarf from his face. “Uncle, don’t you recognize me?”

 

Zhao Guang froze. “Oh my! Isn’t this Da Chuan? I thought you’d gone to the county city. Why are you back?”

 

Zhao Beichuan smiled. “Back for the New Year.”

 

“And Xiaonian and Xiaodou?”

 

“Uncle Zhao,” the two children called out as they opened the carriage door.

 

“Ah, come in, come in!” Zhao Guang ran to open the gate, beckoning Zhao Beichuan to drive the carriage inside.

 

However, the gate was too narrow for the carriage, so they tied it outside since they would be leaving soon.

 

“Wife! Da Chuan is back!”

 

Inside, Grandma Zhao quickly got out of bed upon hearing the news. In the cold weather, she only wore an old jacket, sitting by the heated kang with a quilt wrapped around her.

 

Lu Yao carried a box of sweets and pastries into the house. Grandma Zhao’s eyes welled up with tears as she exclaimed, “You’re back! I heard you went to Pingzhou Prefecture.”

 

Lu Yao replied, “Yes, we came back for the New Year.”

 

“That’s wonderful, truly wonderful.”

 

Xiaonian and Xiaodou followed behind, and Grandma Zhao pulled them inside. She took some brown sugar from a small basket hanging from the beam and made sugar water for the children.

 

The old pottery bowls had chipped edges, and there were still traces of unwashed millet. The brown sugar water she made was full of sediment and tasted unpleasant, but Xiaonian and Xiaodou still held the bowls and drank it all.

 

Grandma Zhao reached out to pat their heads. “You’ve grown taller and more handsome. Your sister-in-law has taken such good care of you. If your mother could see this, she would finally be at peace.”

 

Xiaonian had already forgotten what his mother looked like, and Xiaodou had never even met her.

 

Meanwhile, Zhao Guang was circling the carriage outside, his eyes full of envy. “The last time we went to the town market, we chatted with your mother-in-law. She said you’d gone to the county city to open a restaurant. Must’ve made a fortune, huh? This carriage alone must cost seventy or eighty strings of cash!”

 

“Hmm,” Zhao Beichuan responded vaguely, afraid the truth would shock him.

 

Even Zhao Guang’s guess was more money than the villagers could earn in a lifetime.

 

Zhao Guang’s eyes gleamed. “Da Chuan, I’ve got a favor to ask. Does your restaurant need workers? Take me with you. I can chop wood and run errands. Just pay me five hundred coins a month!”