Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 42: Splitting the Family

This was immediately followed by a flurry of whispers—

"Phew, I thought something terrible had happened. There’s nothing wrong with this. As long as you two have decided, that’s all that matters."

The crowd began to buzz with discussion.

Most of them were understanding.

This allowed Song Qingya’s heart to settle a bit.

"You want to separate the households, that’s your business. We outsiders certainly have no right to comment! Only idle gossips would have anything to say about it."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

It was true. Separating households was their own family’s business, and outsiders had no right to interfere.

"That’s right, that’s right. You should have split the households as soon as you got married. It’s your husband’s uncle and aunt who don’t know how to act."

Old Li slapped his thigh and lamented.

He had always felt that after Fei Jin married Song Qingya, the right thing to do was for each branch of the family to mind its own business and stay in its own lane.

"Even direct parents-in-law wouldn’t be as meddlesome as them. If you ask me, you should just go ahead and split!"

Aunt Zhou couldn’t help but chime in.

She felt that since everyone was unhappy, it was better to just separate the households to avoid more conflicts in the future.

"Do it sooner rather than later!"

Aunt Zhang said excitedly.

She knew the importance of family harmony all too well.

But some things only become harder to solve the longer you let them fester; it’s better to be decisive.

"It’s for your husband’s aunt’s good, too. After something like this, does she even have the nerve to face you?"

Uncle Chen spoke up slowly from the side.

After all, with what had happened, his aunt had completely lost face.

For her, separating the households might even be a relief.

"If I were Zhou Huaihua, I wouldn’t have the face to live in town anymore, let alone in the house the military assigned to the Fei Village Chief! Just thinking about it makes me feel embarrassed for her."

Granny Ma said, shaking her head.

To her, such a matter was simply too mortifying.

One by one, the crowd voiced their opinions, all of them siding with Song Qingya.

Are you kidding?

They hadn’t yet learned Song Qingya’s masterful cooking techniques, so how could they possibly disagree? 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Their children and husbands all adored her food.

If they could just learn a little, it would be a real advantage; they could even show off their skills at future banquets in the village or town.

At this moment, everyone was willing to do Song Qingya a favor.

After all, offering a simple word of approval was so easy. Who would pass up such an opportunity?

Song Qingya got the result she wanted.

"Thank you, everyone."

She said softly, inwardly overjoyed.

Although on the surface it looked like she was yielding to everyone’s opinion, this was, in fact, the situation she had long hoped for.

In truth, if she and her husband were determined to separate the households,

Fei Zhenwu and Zhou Huaihua wouldn’t be able to stop them.

However, the town was full of gossips.

After all, the relationship between Fei Jin and his uncle was not that of ordinary relatives.

Everyone knew that Fei Jin had been raised by his uncle.

If the separation was too ugly, people would inevitably talk behind their backs.

So at a time like this, everyone’s support was particularly important.

For the sake of her husband’s reputation, Song Qingya knew she needed to build up some goodwill.

That way, when they proposed separating the households in the future, they could claim the decision was made only after consulting the opinions of their fellow townspeople.

And so, no matter how much Fei Zhenwu and Zhou Huaihua objected, everyone would think they were the ones in the wrong.

Song Qingya gave a faint smile.

She turned, went into the kitchen, and brought out the take-home gifts she had meticulously prepared, handing them out one by one to every villager present.

The gifts weren’t valuable, but they were full of thoughtful intention.

"This is honey-twist candy I made myself," Song Qingya said. "I know it’s not worth much, but the children should like it. Take it home for your little ones to try."

In this era, even ordinary candy was a luxury.

Therefore, even a small, sweet treat could cause a huge stir.

They were so used to hearing Zhou Huaihua complain that she was a spendthrift who couldn’t manage a home, they were sick of hearing it. But it never really registered, since it was someone else’s money being spent.

But now, seeing Song Qingya prepare so much food for everyone, and even sending them off with honey-twist candy!

Her generosity was now directly benefiting them.

They had all become beneficiaries.

Suddenly they wondered, who was it that said Fei Jin’s wife had a bad personality?

"Isn’t this just wonderful?"

People exclaimed one after another.

"The village chief’s wife is so generous, and she’s so kind and easygoing. She doesn’t even get angry when she’s been wronged!"

A few children with a sweet tooth couldn’t wait to tear open the red wrapping paper and quickly popped a small piece of candy into their mouths.

Sweetness smeared the corners of their mouths.

"WOW, it’s so sweet, so sweet!!"

One of the children cried out excitedly.

"It’s really yummy."

Another little friend nodded in agreement.

"The pretty auntie’s food is delicious, and her candy is delicious too!"

The small children, who only came up to Song Qingya’s waist, had little faces flushed red.

Tasting this kind of sweetness for the first time in their lives, the children’s praise was the purest and most unabashedly innocent.

Song Qingya gently pinched the twins’ cheeks.

Their soft little faces made her laugh out loud.

Then she stuffed another packet of the sweet honey-twist candy into their arms.

The two children accepted the unexpected gift, breaking into brilliant smiles.

They shouted in unison, "Thank you, Auntie."

Their eyes sparkled as they looked at Song Qingya.

At that moment, the children’s innocent gazes made Song Qingya’s heart skip a beat.

An involuntary longing sprouted in her heart.

’When will Fei Jin and I have a child as cute as this?’

As she lost herself in thought, her ears gradually turned red.

The "great drama" that Fei Zhenwu and Zhou Huaihua had stirred up this time had been too loud.

Everyone in town knew about it.

The news spread faster than the wind; in just a few days, the whole town knew.

Now, wherever Fei Zhenwu went,

people would whisper behind his back that he was the head of the Fei household who was harsh to his nephew’s wife. He had lost all face.

Fei Zhenwu was someone who cared deeply about his reputation.

How could he stand this kind of public gossip?

He grew restless at home and finally decided to sneak away under the cover of night.

He found a donkey cart, sent Zhou Huaihua to the county town to be with Fei Jun, and told them not to come back.

They could return after the whole affair blew over.

One day, Fei Zhenwu got up bright and early, preparing to go back to the mine.

He thought that since it wasn’t yet light out, no one would notice him leaving.

Unexpectedly, he was stopped by Song Qingya as soon as he stepped out the door.

She was standing at the entrance, as if she had known all along that he was about to leave.

Song Qingya asked with a beaming smile, "Uncle, up so early? Where are you off to?"

"I’ve been home for three or four days. I have to go back to the mine now; the foreman is rushing me."

Fei Zhenwu explained hastily.

’That’s strange. Didn’t Ajin’s wife used to like sleeping in?’

’Why is she up so early today?’

In reality, Song Qingya had come specifically to intercept him.

The last time they were in town and discussed separating the households, Fei Zhenwu and Zhou Huaihua had agreed to move out.

But in the days that followed, they didn’t say a single word about it.

This left Song Qingya feeling utterly exasperated.