Chapter 19

Chapter 19

This chicken wasn't particularly fat, weighing about four or five pounds. After plucking and removing the innards, there was only a little over three pounds of meat left.

Lu's mother cooked, using the simplest method to make a large pot of cabbage and carrot chicken soup since the clay pot couldn't be used for stewing.

When serving the food, she carefully picked out vegetables for the Tian family, but Lu Yao couldn't stand it and added a few pieces of chicken, earning him a glare and a scolding from his mother, calling him a fool.

The remaining chicken soup was served in a clay basin, and with the good weather, everyone sat in the courtyard eating with their bowls and chopsticks.

Zhao Xiaodou and Zhao Xiaonian had been drooling with hunger; they hadn't eaten meat since last autumn when their eldest brother hunted a few wild rabbits on the mountain.

The rabbit meat had a strong earthy taste, and Zhao Beichuan's cooking skills were mediocre, making the dish quite unpalatable. Still, the three siblings devoured every bit without wasting anything.

Lu Yao was also craving meat. Since he had come here, he hadn't had a single meal with meat, almost turning into a rabbit himself from eating grass. However, with more vegetables than meat in his bowl, he didn't dare to pick just the meat.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Beichuan placed both chicken legs in his bowl, saying, "Eat more to nourish your body."

"Mm..." Lu Yao nodded, his heart blooming with joy. This guy really knows how to care for others.

Lu's mother couldn't bear to eat much meat and only picked at the chicken head and feet, while Xiaonian and Xiaodou ate until their mouths were greasy.

Zhao Beichuan poured a bowl of yellow wine for his father-in-law and a little for himself, chatting as they drank.

After a bowl of wine, Lu Guangsheng became more talkative, "Da Chuan, don't worry about building the house. Although I have no other skills, when it comes to masonry, nobody can match me!"

Lu's mother secretly pinched him, knowing that he talked too much after drinking.

"Why did you pinch me? Even if you pinch me, nobody can match me!"

Zhao Beichuan chuckled, "Ah."

"My eyes are like a ruler. Just one glance at any house, and I can build it for you!"

Lu's mother rolled her eyes, thinking about how their pigsty took two years to finish, yet he still boasted.

The children ran off to play after finishing their meals, leaving the adults to chat.

By the end, Lu Guangsheng started pouring his heart out to Zhao Beichuan.

"Da Chuan, you're a good kid. Your father-in-law saw something special in you right away. Lu Yao has been spoiled a bit, so if he has any shortcomings, please bear with them."

"Don't worry, he's pretty good everywhere." Zhao Beichuan glanced sideways at his husband still gnawing on a bone, his lips curving slightly.

"I know my son better than anyone. If he weren't difficult, he wouldn't have stayed unmarried for so long, always dreaming of becoming a Scholar..."

"Smack!" Lu's mother hit Lu Guangsheng, "Enough!"

Drinking a bit too much, he nearly revealed some secrets about his son.

Lu Guangsheng paused, remembering not to say too much, and waved his hand, "Let's not talk about it. It's all in the wine."

After drinking, Lu's mother pulled him away, and Lu Yao, unable to keep his parents, could only see them off.

At the village entrance, Lu's mother stopped him, holding his hand and asking, "Are you really done with that Scholar in town?"

"Yes, I made things clear with him last time."

"Don't tell Da Chuan about this. Men, even if they understand, will still harbor resentment over such matters."

"I know."

Lu's mother took out a string of coins from her bosom and handed them to him, "Take this money. You'll need it for building the house and buying furniture. Don't borrow more from home; your sister-in-law will cause trouble again."

"Alright, I understand."

Watching the two elders walk away, Lu Yao turned back towards the house.

At the gate, he saw Zhao Beichuan squatting in the courtyard washing dishes. With his sleeves rolled up, revealing strong arms and a broad back paired with a narrow waist, he looked impressive...

Lu Yao blushed, realizing they were officially married but hadn't consummated their relationship.

First, the conditions didn't allow it; living in someone else's house with children around meant no privacy. Second, Zhao Beichuan seemed distant, barely speaking to him.

Was he just inexperienced, or did he not find him attractive?

Hearing footsteps, Zhao Beichuan turned, "Back already?"

"Yes, let me wash the bowls."

"They're done."

As Lu Yao bent down to pick up the bowls, their arms accidentally brushed together, the warmth causing him to tremble and almost drop the bowl. Inside, he cursed himself for being weak while regretting not prolonging the touch.

Zhao Beichuan shook off the water from his hands, watching his back and sighing.

Although Lu's father only spoke half of what he wanted to say, Zhao Beichuan understood that Lu Yao had once wanted to marry that Scholar.

A sour feeling rose in his chest. If he were to propose a divorce now... No, he had just recovered; it would be best to wait a bit longer.

As night fell, Zhao Xiaonian and Zhao Xiaodou, who had played all day, washed their feet and fell asleep immediately.

Inside, a small oil lamp lit the room. Zhao Beichuan sat on the ground weaving straw ropes, which had many uses—tying crops in autumn and firewood in winter.

Lu Yao, having eaten too much, felt uncomfortable and watched him weave the rope from the bed.

He divided the straw into two strands, then twisted them forcefully, causing them to intertwine. While twisting, he added more straw to ensure the rope was long enough.

Zhao Beichuan's hands were large, with thick, long fingers covered in calluses. Lu Yao remembered the day he was delirious and bit his hand, finding it hard and rough.

After watching for half an hour, Lu Yao yawned, "Aren't you going to sleep?"

Zhao Beichuan paused, thinking his light might disturb Lu Yao's rest, and put down his work, "I'll go to sleep now."

The bed was three meters long. Lu Yao slept on the inner side, while Zhao Beichuan slept on the outer side, separated by the two children, creating a barrier between them.

Blowing out the lamp, the room was filled with only breathing sounds.

In the darkness, inappropriate thoughts swirled in Lu Yao's mind, making him squirm under the covers, feeling a burning desire within.

Having lived a celibate life in his previous incarnation, he died without ever experiencing a man's touch. Why, in this life, where it was legal and acceptable, was he still denied?

He silently cursed Zhao Beichuan, wondering if he was incapable. Couldn't he act like a real man and pounce on him, engaging in some vigorous activity!

"Aren't you comfortable?" Zhao Beichuan suddenly asked.

"No, no, I'm fine..."

"I thought you had a fever again."

Lu Yao: ...

Yeah, he's being quite the troublemaker now!

Of course, he didn't dare say that out loud. Who could blame him for having the desire but not the courage?

"Nothing, go to sleep."

Soon, light snoring came from beside him, and Lu Yao let out a sigh of disappointment. How long would he have to endure this life of watching pigs run without getting to eat pork?

*

The next morning, Zhao Beichuan got up early to start clearing his old house.

If the whole house had collapsed, it would have been easier to deal with. But with half of it still standing, things were a bit tricky. It was a pity to tear down the kitchen, but leaving it there would take up space needed for the new construction.

Zhao Guang from across the street, Tian Erlang from next door, and Qin Dage from the back yard all came over to offer advice.

Zhao Guang pointed at the kitchen and said, "In my opinion, don't tear down this half. Rebuild the collapsed part, and you should save a lot of money."

Tian Erlang waved his hand, "Building a new house within an old one means two funerals in three years; that’s not auspicious. It's better to demolish everything and start anew."

Qin Dage, being a sensible person, suggested a compromise, "Da Chuan, your place has plenty of space. Why not move the foundation forward a bit? Leave the back room as is and use it as a storage shed for things you don’t need often."

Zhao Beichuan thought about it and found the idea feasible, and it wouldn't delay the land clearing.

"Alright, I'll follow Qin Dage's advice. I'll lay the foundation in front and clean up the back room myself. As long as I can move in before winter, it will be fine."

Deciding to build a new house meant preparing materials. First, stones for the foundation, then adobe bricks made from yellow mud, straw, and wood.

Wan'gou Village was nestled among mountains, surrounded by hills. Finding well-shaped stones was difficult. Although the old house had some stones, most were buried underground and hard to move. Zhao Beichuan borrowed a wooden cart from the village to collect stones from other villages.

Yellow mud and straw were plentiful. For the wooden beams, the next day, Lu Guangsheng and Lu Lin brought seven straight old pine trees. These were perfect for the roof beams, durable and resistant to water.

The two stayed to help clear the collapsed old house, moving usable stones and wood aside and piling the unusable ones nearby.

During this time, Lu Yao wasn’t idle either. He took the two children to the river to collect small stones for filling gaps in the foundation. Only with a solid foundation could the house stand firm.

Zhao Beichuan also hired three experienced masons and two carpenters from the village, along with the Lu family father and son, making a total of eight people.

The masons received twenty cash per day plus one meal, while the carpenters earned thirty cash per day.

During the slack farming season, everyone was available and didn’t mind the low pay. Working for ten to fifteen days would earn them four to five hundred cash.

Lu Guangsheng and Lu Lin refused payment, and Lu Guangsheng even got upset if Zhao Beichuan insisted, accusing him of treating them like outsiders. Zhao Beichuan had no choice but to discuss this with Lu Yao.

"Dad and Erlang won't accept any payment, and I feel bad about it."

Lu Yao was sorting beans, planning to make tofu since he had nothing else to do these days. "My dad has that temper; don’t think too much about it. Once the house is built, buy him two jars of yellow wine, and he’ll be happier than anything."

Zhao Beichuan’s lips moved but he didn’t say anything more. He disliked owing favors and planned to find a way to settle the payment after the house was finished.

Seeing that Lu Yao hadn’t finished sorting the beans and he was still there, he couldn’t help but ask, "Is there anything else?"

"No, I’m going to work." Zhao Beichuan left with a dejected expression, thinking that Lu Yao indeed still didn’t want to interact with him.