Chapter 133

Chapter 133

As the weather turned colder, the hot pot business at the restaurant flourished.

Almost every day, the shop was packed full, and the private rooms on the second floor needed to be booked ahead of time; otherwise, customers had no chance of getting a table.

With more customers, conflicts were inevitable. At noon, a fight erupted in the private rooms upstairs.

Lu Yao was eating in the backyard when a server hurried over, saying, "Something bad has happened, Owner! The guests in the Chun Pavilion and Mei Residence upstairs are fighting!"

Startled, Lu Yao immediately put down his bowl and chopsticks and rushed upstairs.

As he reached the staircase, he heard shouting from above, "Who the hell do you think you are, insulting me?!"

"You've got some nerve, you bastard!"

"Gentlemen, please, stop!" Lu Yao quickly ordered his staff to intervene.

One was the son of Chen Huizhou, the military governor of Fanyang, and the other was Liang Yong's son. They were both young and hot-headed, and had come to blows over something unknown. Lu Yao couldn't afford to offend either of them, so he immediately sent for Liang Zhong to come and help pull his nephew away.

Ever since Liang Yong's passing, the Liang family's business had drastically declined and was now being pushed to the sidelines. Liang Chang'an, resentful and lacking his father's skills and influence, could only drown his sorrows in alcohol, growing increasingly despondent.

Today, he had come to dine with a few friends. In the middle of the meal, after returning from the restroom, he mistakenly entered the wrong room and found himself in Chen Bin's Chun Pavilion.

The two rooms were directly across from each other. As soon as he entered, he saw Chen Bin embracing a newly purchased concubine. Feeling extremely displeased, Chen Bin stopped him and demanded to know which family he was from and why he was being so disrespectful.

Liang Chang'an, having had a bit of alcohol, replied defiantly, "What's it to you what family I'm from?"

Chen Bin, a spoiled rich kid who was always flattered by others, had never been spoken to this way before. Furious, he retorted, "Can you speak properly? You're a mother-raised, fatherless brat!"

This insult enraged Liang Chang'an, who lunged forward, grabbed the other's collar, and threw a punch. Chen Bin, caught off guard, grabbed a wine jar from the table and smashed it over Liang Chang'an's head. The two then began to brawl, throwing punches and kicks at each other.

The staff managed to pull them apart and led them into separate rooms.

Lu Yao first went to calm Chen Bin. Being a spoiled rich kid, Chen Bin had moved to Ping Prefecture for a short stay, having heard that the food at Lu Family's restaurant was delicious. He had become a regular, visiting almost every few days.

Lu Yao soothed, "Young Master Chen, please calm down. What happened to make you resort to violence?"

"That brat had the audacity to barge into my room, insult me, and even dared to hit me! He's tired of living!"

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Hiss..." Chen Bin sucked in a breath of cold air, his face half-swollen, his anger intensifying. "I'll get his life sooner or later!"

Lu Yao quickly had his staff bring some medicinal ointment. Seeing Chen Bin was still furious, Lu Yao didn't dare say much. Noticing the concubine trembling in fear, he ordered a pot of hot tea for her and had the broken porcelain on the floor cleaned up.

In the other room, Liang Chang'an was shaking with rage, blood seeping from a wound on his head, trickling down his temple.

Lu Yao hurriedly had someone disinfect and dress the wound. Having had business dealings with Liang Yong and having watched Liang Chang'an grow up, he couldn't help but sigh at the sight of him in such a state.

"Why did you provoke him? His father is powerful. If you anger him, he'll make things difficult for you," Lu Yao said.

"He called me a mother-raised, fatherless brat! How could I let that go?" Liang Chang'an shouted angrily.

The insult was indeed harsh, especially since his father had passed away. Lu Yao patted his shoulder. "I've already sent for your uncle. Try to calm down for now."

Soon, Liang Zhong arrived, along with Lady Zhang and Zhang Qiulan.

Once upstairs, Liang Zhong first went to apologize to Chen Bin. That kid was stubborn and insisted that Liang Chang'an kneel to appease him.

Liang Zhong gritted his teeth and went into the next room, furious at his nephew’s lack of effort. He raised his hand, ready to strike.

Zhang Yu and Lu Yao quickly stepped in. "You can’t hit him. The child has lost his father and is going through a rebellious phase. A slap might destroy any remaining affection."

Liang Zhong pointed at his nephew, his voice trembling with anger. "You, you! Why didn’t you inherit any of your father’s wisdom!"

Liang Chang'an pressed his lips together, remaining silent. In his heart, he too felt regret. In business, one shouldn’t clash with officials. Beating Chen Bin could severely impact our business in Fanyang.

He wiped away a tear, his eyes brimming with regret. "He said I had no father to teach me! How could I let that pass!" He broke down sobbing.

Liang Zhong's eyes also turned red, and he pulled his nephew into his embrace. "Who says you don't have a father to guide you? Your uncle is like a father to you. Just because your father is gone doesn't mean you're alone!"

"Wahhh..." Liang Chang'an buried his head in his uncle’s shoulder and wept uncontrollably, the first time he had cried so freely since his father’s death. Zhang Yu, watching from the side, felt her eyes well up.

Lu Yao handed her a handkerchief. Zhang Yu wiped her eyes and said, "I’m sorry to cause you trouble."

"It’s nothing. Soon, we’ll be one family, so there’s no need to mention it."

From the side, Zhang Qiulan called out, "Sister-in-law."

Lu Yao smiled and nodded. "Zhang Qiulan is indeed a handsome young man. Every time I see him, it lifts my spirits."

"Xiaochun is in the kitchen," Lu Yao added.

Zhang Qiulan's face reddened slightly, a rare reaction. He whispered something in Zhang Yu's ear and left the room.

Heading skillfully toward the back courtyard, he found Xiaochun in the kitchen. The fierce heat from the stove had turned his cheeks red, and a thin layer of sweat glistened on his forehead and neck.

Zhang Qiulan's Adam's apple bobbed, and the birthmark at the corner of his eye seemed to glow more vividly.

"The sweet and sour pork is ready," Xiaochun said, placing the dish on a plate and handing it to a waitstaff to deliver. He wiped the sweat from his face with a cloth and turned around, only to see someone standing behind him. His eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over.

"Why are you here? It’s all greasy and smoky in here; you should go outside."

Zhang Qiulan led him to a quieter spot. "My cousin got into a bit of trouble. I came with my aunt and uncle."

"Oh," Xiaochun responded, not knowing what else to say. He fidgeted with the skin on his fingers, his cheeks flushing red with embarrassment.

Zhang Qiulan loved seeing him like this and teased, "Is your hand injury better?"

"Y-Yes, it's better!"

"Let me see."

Trembling, Xiaochun extended his burned hand. The scabs were almost gone, but the new skin was noticeably different in color. The badger oil had worked well; it didn't leave a scar.

"Does it still hurt?"

"N-No, it doesn't hurt."

Zhang Qiulan lightly touched it, and Xiaochun froze in place, his earlobes red as if they were about to bleed.

"Be more careful next time."

"Y-Yes, I will..."

Zhang Qiulan laughed lightly. "Then I'll be off for now. I'll come visit you again when I have time."

"Hmm." Only after Zhang left did Xiaochun return to the kitchen, still clumsy and almost cut his hand again while chopping vegetables. Lu Qing quickly urged him to leave.

Sitting on the steps, Xiaochun hugged his touched hand, grinning foolishly.

*

The incident between Liang Chang'an and Chen Bin was eventually resolved by Liang Zhong, who found mediators to negotiate and settled with a payment of silver.

The incident didn't cause much commotion, and Lu Family's restaurant continued to thrive.

However, since then, Liang Chang'an had seemingly matured. He no longer loitered around the restaurant, drowning his sorrows in drink, but began learning the family business from the senior managers.

He was never a dull-witted person, and having been exposed to the trade for some time, he gradually took over his father's business. Though not as skilled as Liang Yong, he was starting to grasp the business.

*

Meanwhile, on the fifth day of their return journey, Old Madam Zhao fell ill. It was probably due to the long journey and emotional stress, causing her body to suddenly develop a high fever.

Given her age, her condition was critical. Zhao Beichuan fed her medicine, which helped during the day, but her fever would spike at night.

Seeing her condition, both brothers grew anxious.

"Older brother, what should we do?"

Zhao Beichuan wiped Old Madam Zhao's face with a cloth and said, "Let's see if she recovers by tomorrow. If not, I'll ask the escort guards if there's a nearby county."

The next day, Old Madam Zhao's fever worsened. Zhao Beichuan quickly approached the head of the escort agency, asking about the nearest county.

The head of the escort agency said, "Thirty li north is Baton County. Why don't you take her there?"

"Alright."

This detour delayed their trip, and Zhao Beichuan didn't want to burden the escort agency further. "Could you please send my younger brother back first? I'll take Old Madam Zhao to the county for medical treatment."

The head of the escort agency hesitated. "I'll still leave two escorts with you. Otherwise, the journey back might be difficult."

"Thank you, head of the agency!"

Although Zhao Beidou was unwilling, duty came first. He still didn't know the results of the provincial exam, and if he passed, he would need to go to Shang Jing. These matters couldn't wait, so he said goodbye to his older brother.

Zhao Beichuan, with Old Madam Zhao and two escorts, changed their route to head to Baton County. By this time, it was already October.

Back home, Lu Yao began to feel anxious, visiting the escort agency every other day to ask if there was any news from Qing Prefecture.

Unfortunately, in this era, travel depended on walking, and communication was often by shouting. Writing letters for longer distances was a hassle, so no news came back.

Lu Yao couldn't help but worry, fearing they might encounter bandits on the road or fall sick...

With this constant anxiety, and having lost his appetite for food lately, he lost weight, making his chin more prominent.

When Lu Miao came over and saw him like this, he knew Lu Yao must be worried about his husband. "You were just advising me not long ago. Why are you the one losing sleep now?"

Lu Yao rubbed his temples and said, "I don't know. These past few days, I've been feeling restless and having nightmares. I remember the last time we went back to our hometown, we encountered many bandits. I'm afraid they might run into trouble..."

"Don't worry. If your husband could fend off the barbarians, mountain bandits shouldn't be as fierce, right?"

"True. I hope they return soon."

"Third Brother, do you want to see a doctor? I've been feeling like your complexion looks off."

Lu Yao also felt that he had been particularly fatigued lately and occasionally felt nauseous, but apart from that, he didn't have any other discomfort. "No need. It's probably just that I'm worried about Beichuan and Xiaodou, along with being tired from managing the shop recently."

"You have to take care of yourself. If not, when your husband comes back, he'll definitely be angry."

Lu Yao chuckled. "Got it."

On the seventeenth of October, Zhao Beidou and his group finally returned!

Upon hearing the news, Lu Yao hurried back from the distillery, feeling excited when he saw Xiaodou. "You came in first place in the provincial examination, did you know that!"

Xiaodou grinned widely, his eyes barely visible. "Yes, I just heard them say so."

"Quick, come inside. You must be tired after such a long trip. Have you eaten? I’ll have your Second Brother cook some noodles for you."

"Yes!"

As they walked, Lu Yao noticed something was wrong. "Where's your eldest brother?"

Zhao Beidou then explained, "Grandma Zhao fell ill on the way. Elder Brother stayed behind with her in a town in Qing Prefecture for medical treatment. He sent me back with the escort agency."

Lu Yao's smile froze. "He didn't come back?"

"Don't worry, sister-in-law. Elder Brother told me to tell you not to worry. The escort agency assigned two escorts to stay with them. They’ll be back in at most half a month, or as soon as four to five days."

Nevertheless, Lu Yao couldn't help but feel disappointed. "Come inside quickly, have some food, and take a good rest after your bath."

"Yes." Zhao Beidou hurriedly entered the house.

Lu Yao felt a tightness in his chest and a sting in his nose, making it hard to breathe. Tears welled up as he thought about waiting so long for his husband to return. He quickly dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief.

He usually wasn't this emotional and wasn't sure why he had suddenly become so vulnerable. After calming down, he managed to suppress his emotions and quickly composed himself before returning to the backyard.

Zhao Beidou had washed his hands and was waiting for his second brother to make some noodles. He looked noticeably thinner after the journey, with some stubble on his face.

The boy had grown up.

Lu Yao pulled up a stool and sat across from him. "Was your journey smooth?"

"Yes, it was smooth both ways, but on the way back, one of the carriages broke down, costing us half a day to repair."

"Did you find any relatives back home?"

Zhao Beidou nodded and recounted the details of their trip back to his sister-in-law.

"We even found our uncle. Elder Brother looks so much like him, it’s as if they were cut from the same cloth!"

Lu Yao became curious, wondering just how alike two people could be.

After a short while, Xiaonian also hurried back. She and Ma Kuan had been looking at houses recently. Initially, Lu Yao wanted to buy a house for them, but after some consideration, since they would live in it after marriage, it was better to let them buy it themselves. He would give them more money when they married.

"Xiaodou!"

"Sister."

"You’re finally back! Did you find any relatives back home?"

"I was just telling my sister-in-law that we found our uncle and our cousin uncle. Elder Brother and I also visited the ancestral graves to pay our respects. We plan to move our parents' graves there next spring when the weather gets warmer."

"That's wonderful! But where is Elder Brother? Why isn't he here with Grandma Zhao?"

Xiaodou repeated what he had just said. As soon as Xiaonian heard this, she looked at Lu Yao. Seeing her worried expression, Xiaonian quickly took Lu Yao's hand. "Don't worry, Lu Yao. Elder Brother will return in a few days, and he'll be fine."

"I'm alright."

Xiaonian then asked about the situation back in their hometown.

"It's similar to Wan'gou Village. Our cousin uncle’s family is doing well, but our uncle’s family is not. Auntie is sick and has been taking medication."

Lu Yao asked, "Did you have someone examine her?"

"Yes, it took two days of persuasion from Elder Brother and me, but we eventually convinced them. We took them to Qingzhou City, where Elder Brother rented them a place and gave them money for medical expenses."

Lu Yao finally felt relieved. "That’s good. We don’t have many relatives left, and this uncle is our only close family. We should take care of him."

"Elder Brother said the same."

Lu Yao added, "A few days ago, Zijian sent you a letter. I left it in your room. He probably wants to know when you’ll be heading to Shangjing."

He needs to prepare in advance for the imperial examinations, which will take place in February next year.

Xiaodou quickly finished his bowl of noodles and hurried home by carriage.

Still feeling uneasy, Lu Yao entered the house. But before she could catch her breath, worse news hit her in the afternoon—the Khitan had brought an army of 100,000 south!