Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 171: His Wife is So Tough
He gasped for breath and struggled to push himself up. He had just raised his head to see who would dare to pin him down when his gaze met Fei Jin’s, which were as cold and sharp as daggers. He was so terrified he nearly collapsed right back onto the ground.
"F-Fei... Fei Village Chief? Y-You... what are you doing here?"
His face was ashen, and his lips trembled so much he couldn’t even form a complete sentence.
Song Chenglu was completely stunned as well. She stood frozen in place, her eyes glued to Fei Jin.
She never would have dreamed that Fei Jin would suddenly appear at a time like this.
After several seconds, she snapped back to her senses and lunged for Fei Jin without a moment’s hesitation.
Fei Jin had been expecting this. With a slight shift of his feet and a turn of his body, he deftly dodged Song Chenglu’s lunge.
Unable to stop her momentum, Song Chenglu stumbled into empty air and nearly pitched face-first to the ground, cutting a pathetic figure.
"Song Chenglu, are you out of your mind?!"
Song Qingya glared at her, her eyes filled with disgust and fury. "Isn’t this chaotic enough for you? You still have the nerve to throw a tantrum? I didn’t come here to watch you embarrass yourself!"
Song Chenglu steadied herself, her eyes bloodshot as she glared at Song Qingya. She snarled through gritted teeth, "Save me? Cut the act! Stop pretending to be some saint! If it weren’t for you, would I be in this mess today? If you hadn’t stuck your nose where it didn’t belong and kept me from Brother Ajin, would I have been forced to marry a man like Wang Kang? This is all your fault!"
Fei Jin shot her a cold glance. A flicker of undisguised disgust crossed his eyes when he saw her stubbornly dredging up the past even at a critical moment like this.
He dodged the hand she extended to grab him. The movement was sharp and merciless.
"Song Chenglu, get back to the camp immediately! Stay put, or you can find your own way back!"
His words were like a bucket of ice water dumped over her head, dousing the last embers of her fantasy.
’A sliver of hope had remained in her mind—maybe she could still salvage this. Maybe a few soft words could buy her a little more time.’
But his words utterly shattered all her hopes.
She finally understood. In Fei Jin’s eyes, she was utterly insignificant. She didn’t even have the right to argue.
Not daring to defy him, she shot Song Qingya a venomous glare before turning and striding away.
Her gaze was filled with venom and resentment, as if she wanted to burn Song Qingya’s face into her memory.
She stumbled as she walked but forced herself not to look back.
’She knew that from this moment on, she had well and truly lost.’
Seeing her leave, Wang Kang thought he was in the clear. He was just about to ask Fei Jin to let him go when he looked up and saw that Fei Jin’s expression had grown even darker.
His heart clenched, and his throat tightened. The words on the tip of his tongue died before they could escape.
That look in his eyes... it was like he was staring at a pile of rotting garbage.
It wasn’t anger. It was utter contempt and disgust.
Wang Kang’s scalp prickled under that gaze, and his heart hammered in his chest.
He wanted to explain, but his throat was so dry he couldn’t even manage a single syllable.
He finally realized he hadn’t just stirred up some trouble; he’d provoked a veritable god he could never afford to offend.
’From the moment Song Qingya walked in, he hadn’t even touched the hem of her clothes. How had he managed to offend this great deity?’
’The more he thought about it, the more wronged he felt, and the more he panicked.’
’All he did was chime in from the crowd and say, "Now that’s one fine-looking woman." How did that become such a mortal sin?’
’He felt wronged. He felt his luck was rotten. He felt the world was so unfair.’
"Fei Village Chief, I swear I didn’t do anything! I just said it off the cuff, trying to liven things up!"
He desperately tried to look sincere, but to everyone else, he just looked all the more ridiculous.
"I swear, as heaven and earth are my witness! If I had any indecent thoughts, may I be struck down by lightning this instant!"
Tears were welling up in his eyes, not from guilt, but from sheer terror.
He was terrified that if Fei Jin got the slightest bit upset, the man would just break his legs.
He’d heard about the village chief’s methods—on the battlefield, he cut down enemies like weeds and never showed them any mercy.
Now that this killing intent was directed at him, his very bones seemed to rattle.
Song Qingya watched his pathetic display with cold eyes, feeling utterly nauseated.
To her, the man before her was nothing more than a contemptible clown.
He’d grovel without a shred of dignity and swear the most vicious oaths without a second thought, all just to save his own skin.
’She knew perfectly well that Wang Kang’s comment hadn’t just been ’to liven things up.’ It had been a deliberate, malicious, and lewd provocation.’
’He thought he’d hidden his intentions well, that a few excuses would be enough to get him off the hook.’
’But she had seen it clearly—that flash of greed in his eyes, that hint of smugness. He couldn’t hide it at all.’
Song Qingya slowly turned her head, her gaze shifting to the distant mountain forest, no longer wanting to look at him.
’With Fei Jin here, she didn’t have to do a thing.’
But to Wang Kang, Song Qingya’s silence seemed like a tacit admission of his innocence, and a flicker of hope reignited within him.
He ignored the excruciating pain in his wrist, his dignity, and what little decorum he had left.
THUD. He dropped to his knees at her feet.
"Ma’am! Ma’am! Please, say something! I know I was wrong! I’m begging you, ask the Fei Village Chief to let me off the hook!"
His voice was thick with tears as he kowtowed, his forehead hitting the ground with a series of dull THUDS.
As he begged, he secretly peeked up, trying to spot any sign of softening in Song Qingya’s expression.
Song Qingya’s brow furrowed, and she kicked out without a second thought.
The motion was swift and decisive.
The kick, fueled by all her disgust and fury, whistled through the air as it shot straight for Wang Kang’s chin.
Caught completely off guard, Wang Kang took the full force of the kick.
He lost his balance and was sent flying like a limp sack, crashing heavily to the ground.
"OOF!"
He clutched his jaw with both hands, his teeth chattering. The taste of blood filled his mouth.
Song Qingya hadn’t just kicked Wang Kang’s mouth; she had kicked his filthy heart.
Stars exploded in Wang Kang’s vision and his head rang. After a few twitches, he passed out.
Fei Jin walked over to Song Qingya’s side and asked in a low voice, "Are you okay? Weren’t you scared?"
He had seen the entire exchange.
He didn’t blame Song Qingya for lashing out; on the contrary, he found it deeply satisfying.
Song Qingya shook her head, her voice calm. "I’m fine. People like him need to be taught a harsh lesson."
Her gaze remained fixed on Wang Kang on the ground, showing not a flicker of emotion.
’She had only done what needed to be done. That was all.’
Fei Jin gazed at her, his eyes filled with approval. His look was gentle yet firm, as if silently telling her, ’You did the right thing. I’m always here for you.’
’That’s my wife, tough as nails!’
"Let’s go. Back to camp."
Fei Jin gave a sharp, decisive wave of his hand.
With the unconscious Wang Kang in tow, they and their companion, Cheng Peng, slowly departed from the Wang family’s dilapidated courtyard.
As they headed back toward the camp, the sky had grown completely dark, like a heavy curtain drawn overhead. Here and there, the lights of the distant village began to twinkle.
Wisps of cooking smoke curled up from the chimneys of every home. The air was filled with the aroma of dinner, mingled with the scent of firewood—a smell that was strangely comforting.
Children chased each other playfully in an open clearing, their crisp laughter echoing through the night like the ringing of bells.
