Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 23: Don’t Leave Me

This string of information left Song Qingya stunned.

She had put in a great deal of thought and effort just to reach the previous 5%.

And now, after a single crying spell, it had jumped straight to 10%?

’A high-risk, high-reward process indeed,’ she thought.

She fought back the smile threatening to form on her lips, maintaining her pitiful expression as she looked at him and pleaded weakly, "I’ll be good. Don’t leave me, okay?"

Fei Jin carefully stroked her back with both hands, comforting her. "I would never abandon you! Don’t let your imagination run wild."

Fei Jin silently admonished himself, believing all the problems were his fault!

’What has Song Qingya done wrong?’

’She only just recovered, yet she hasn’t gotten any proper rest during her recuperation.’

’Instead, she’s been busy preparing meals for me and bringing them to my door.’

He remembered that after they returned from Qi City, Song Qingya hadn’t brought up dissolving their marriage again. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Yet he was the one who was constantly insecure, always worried he would lose her.

’Looking back now, I was far too sensitive and suspicious, mistakenly thinking my beloved’s heart had changed.’

’In reality, Song Qingya’s wish is very simple and pure.’

’She just wants us to get along harmoniously, like we used to.’

’In contrast, I’ve acted like a clueless block of wood, repeatedly misunderstanding her intentions.’

’That’s what led to one misunderstanding and heartache after another.’

At this thought, Fei Jin was overcome with guilt.

He pulled the woman in his arms into a tight embrace.

He said solemnly, "I’m sorry. It’s all my fault."

In the end, Song Qingya chose to forgive him.

"Alright. I’m not one to hold a grudge."

Seeing his wife so easily placated only made Fei Jin feel even more ashamed.

’To have found such a virtuous wife... I must have done something right in my past lives.’

[Congratulations, the male lead’s favorability has increased by another ten points!]

Song Qingya was a little surprised. ’Wow, is this tactic really so effective?’

But she knew her limits. Overacting would only cause problems; it was crucial to know when to stop.

In this day and age, even married couples couldn’t be stuck together all day, lest they become the subject of gossip.

"We can talk about the rest at home. Let’s go to the co-op first,"

Song Qingya suggested.

"Okay," Fei Jin agreed softly, his eyes full of tenderness.

The co-op wasn’t far from there.

But on the weekend, it was especially crowded with shoppers.

Long lines snaked from nearly every counter.

Soldiers were allowed to make priority purchases, but Fei Jin wasn’t in uniform today and didn’t want to abuse the privilege.

So Song Qingya sent him to buy fabric, planning to ask Aunt Wu in town to make them two sets of pajamas later.

She, meanwhile, queued up to buy daily necessities. ’I should stock up this time,’ she thought, ’so I can really show off my cooking skills later.’

Soon, it was Song Qingya’s turn.

Unlike the others who were carefully calculating every penny, she asked for a large quantity right from the start.

"Comrade, please give me five jin of soy sauce, three jin of bean paste, five jin each of white and brown sugar, and ten jin of noodles. I’ll also take five jin each of the sweet rice sticks and walnut cookies, and ten cans of fruit in syrup."

The salesclerk behind the counter looked up.

"Well, well. Are you here to stock a warehouse?"

The salesclerk’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

She sized up Song Qingya, her gaze shifting between the woman’s gorgeous face and her plain, coarse-cloth clothes. An odd expression involuntarily appeared on her face.

’So pretty, but dressed so plainly,’ the clerk thought. ’She has to be a country bumpkin.’

’Does she not even have a concept of weight? How dare she ask for so much?’

The salesclerk said impatiently, "We don’t have anything you asked for!"

She waved her hand, gesturing for Song Qingya to leave the counter.

Song Qingya glanced at the shelves.

They were filled with a dazzling array of goods.

All the products she had requested were still neatly arranged right there.

"You don’t have them? Then what are those behind you?"

There wasn’t a trace of anger in her voice, only simple curiosity.

The salesclerk grew even more impatient.

"I said we’re out to save you some face! Can’t you understand plain language? Even if we had them, could you even afford it?"

This was the first time Song Qingya had ever been looked down on like this.

But she didn’t get angry, still speaking in a gentle voice.

"Why don’t you tell me the price first? You haven’t even sold me anything, so why are you so sure I can’t afford it?"

"Just look at what you’re wearing. Do you look like someone who can afford it?"

The salesclerk pointed at Song Qingya’s clothes.

’Rich young ladies wear either fashionable Lenin suits or those floral dresses popular in the Soviet Union.’

’Who would wear such plain, coarse-cloth clothes?’

Just then, a kind-looking auntie came over to advise Song Qingya.

"Young lady, you’re asking for too much. That’ll be at least several dozen yuan! Why don’t you just buy a jin of brown sugar for now? I just bought some; I can trade you for a bit."

The auntie clearly meant well.

She was hoping Song Qingya wouldn’t make an unwise choice on impulse.

"Thank you, but that’s alright, Ma’am."

Song Qingya smiled and declined the auntie’s kind offer.

Today, she was dead set on challenging this salesclerk.

She wouldn’t back down, no matter what.

"I want to see your manager. I want to ask why you refuse to sell to a customer when you clearly have the items in stock."

"You want to see the director? Take a look at yourself—you think you’re qualified? The director is busy right now!"

The salesclerk’s tone was full of contempt.

It was said that an old comrade-in-arms he hadn’t seen in years was making a special trip to town soon.

Therefore, the director was probably busy entertaining this friend who had come from afar. How could he possibly have the spare time to deal with this?

The rude salesclerk nearly rolled her eyes into the back of her head, her face a mask of impatience.

But just then, her eyes suddenly went wide.

"D-Director, what are you doing here?"

the salesclerk stammered.

The co-op’s Deputy Director Luo was approaching them, accompanying another man.

Not only was Deputy Director Luo’s face beaming with a warm smile,

but he was also proactively carrying several bags of sugar and a few rolls of fine fabric for the man.

And although this accompanying man was not dressed extravagantly, he exuded a powerful, natural aura that made it clear at a glance he was no ordinary person.

"Qingya, haven’t you bought what you needed yet?"

His tone was a stark contrast to the arrogant salesclerk’s.

Under everyone’s gaze, the salesclerk froze, her eyes wide with astonishment.

’Isn’t that the old comrade-in-arms our director is always talking about, the one who saved his life?’

’He’s a true big shot.’

’A war hero who’s faced countless life-and-death situations... He must be a major figure now.’