Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 43: Playing the Rogue

To make matters worse, one night, Zhou Huaihua secretly ran back to the county seat in the middle of the night.

Song Qingya asked around everywhere but couldn’t find a single trace of her.

Song Qingya thought to herself.

’What if Fei Zhenwu also left this quietly?’

’Who knows how long this household separation would be dragged out?’

Delays breed trouble, and Song Qingya just wanted to get this settled as soon as possible.

She wasn’t willing to wait endlessly any longer.

So, one early morning, she found Fei Zhenwu and handed him a small packet of money, saying, "This is Ajin’s living allowance for the month. As per the old arrangement, this is your share."

The moment he saw the packet of money, Fei Zhenwu’s eyes lit up.

However, just at that critical moment, Song Qingya suddenly snatched her hand back.

Fei Zhenwu lunged for it but came up empty-handed.

Fei Zhenwu immediately looked displeased and asked, "What’s the meaning of this?"

Facing his question, Song Qingya explained, "Uncle, we both know we owe you a debt of gratitude for raising Ajin. Ajin and I are both very thankful for that, which is why I have no objection to giving you a share of his monthly allowance and food rations. But I’ve married into this family now. In the future, Fei Jin and I will have our own household, and our expenses will surely be high. So, I hope you can make good on your earlier promise and finalize the separation of our households. Would that be acceptable?"

After hearing Song Qingya’s words, Fei Zhenwu’s expression immediately darkened.

’If I don’t agree to this household separation she’s talking about, does that mean she won’t give me any more money in the future?’

At that thought, he felt it was simply too unfair!

"So, you’re here to talk about separating the households," Fei Zhenwu sneered. "Is this your idea, or Ajin’s? And where is Ajin now? I want to talk to him."

His attitude toward Song Qingya had become quite cold, even a little impatient.

"He’s already gone to his unit for training. If there’s an issue, why can’t you discuss it with me?"

Song Qingya responded calmly, but her eyes held a hint of imperceptible resolve.

"You’re just a woman, what could you possibly understand? What is there for me to discuss with you?"

Fei Zhenwu waved his hand dismissively.

"Oh."

Song Qingya’s eyes widened in feigned surprise as she deliberately drew out the word.

"So, Uncle, you believe that we women can’t be reasoned with? That we can’t have a proper discussion with you about family affairs?"

"Of course!"

Fei Zhenwu huffed loudly, looking at her with disdain. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Whether we separate the households or not, is that a decision for you women to make? If you ask me, Ajin has been led astray by you. Otherwise, how would he dare suggest such a thing to us? Ajin always lived with us before, and I never said a word about it."

Fei Zhenwu grew more agitated as he spoke.

"But you clearly promised to separate the households last time."

Song Qingya looked at him calmly.

"Just because I agreed last time doesn’t mean I agree this time. I’ve changed my mind now, so what?"

Fei Zhenwu had a brazen, fearless look on his face.

Seeing the situation, Fei Zhenwu schemed to stall for time and said, "Let’s wait until Ajin gets back to discuss this."

Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside, accompanied by a clatter of chaotic footsteps.

Several furious aunties and grandmas stormed in, their backs ramrod straight.

They started berating Fei Zhenwu right to his face.

"Well, aren’t you impressive! You clearly promised Qingya you’d separate the households, and now you’re going back on your word?"

"And you say women can’t be reasoned with? All that nonsense you spout sounds like a bunch of hot air. Does that mean all men are reasonable?"

The grandmas, not to be outdone, chimed in with their own accusations.

"Like husband, like wife, I see. I thought you were a reasonable man, Mr. Fei. How could you treat your niece-in-law like this behind her back?"

The aunties’ voices were laced with sarcasm.

"No wonder Zhou Huaihua goes around spreading vicious gossip and ruining the girl’s reputation. I bet you’re the one backing her! Otherwise, where would she get the nerve to be so brazen?"

"That’s right, that’s right!"

The people around all chimed in, their voices rising and falling, cornering Fei Zhenwu with no way out.

Fei Zhenwu was completely caught off guard by this sudden crowd of women.

As he was being berated by the very women he looked down on most, Fei Zhenwu’s face turned the color of a beet.

Today was the day Song Qingya had arranged to teach everyone how to cook.

She had deliberately chosen this moment to start trouble, having perfectly predicted Fei Zhenwu’s reaction.

Her plan seemed to be proceeding very smoothly.

Because Fei Zhenwu was behaving exactly as she had anticipated.

She had long expected that Fei Zhenwu wouldn’t honor his promise.

This sort of shameless behavior had become a habit for him, and today proved it once again.

Therefore, if Fei Zhenwu really chose to deny his promise,

then she would let him continue playing the scoundrel.

It was the perfect opportunity for everyone to see his true colors.

His wife, Zhou Huaihua, couldn’t always be the sole scapegoat.

Not while he stood on the sidelines, pretending to be blameless.

Only after Fei Zhenwu had been thoroughly chewed out and the crowd had heard enough of his embarrassing deeds did Song Qingya step forward to mediate.

When she spoke, her tone was as gentle as ever.

"Grandmas, Aunties. This is all my fault. I only meant to teach you how to cook, I didn’t expect to cause everyone so much trouble. Please don’t make things hard for my uncle. Since he doesn’t want to keep his promise, we shouldn’t push him too hard. Let’s just let things take their course."

"How could we possibly do that?"

A woman immediately retorted.

"Oh, Qingya, you’re such a pushover! At this rate, that family will bully you to death!"

Another woman couldn’t help but chime in.

"It’s a good thing we came today. If not, wouldn’t this uncle of yours just find more ways to make life difficult for you? If you ask me, we should settle this household separation today and get it over with."

"That’s right! It has to be settled today. While we’re all here, we can help get it done. That way, there won’t be any regrets later."

"You’re really planning on separating? But I heard some people are living off the Fei Village Chief."

"Yeah, if the households separate, it’ll be the end of the world for some people."

This sentence sent the crowd into a roar of laughter.

"Tsk. What kind of adult needs their nephew to support them? It’s so humiliating. Instead of staying in their own home, they shamelessly come over to mooch off food and lodging."

The aunties from the town were all sharp-tongued, and their words were designed to make one squirm.

Fei Zhenwu was completely powerless against them.

He wanted to retort, but he was facing a group of women and worried that cursing back would be beneath him.

Besides, even if he wanted to curse at them, he couldn’t out-curse them. A physical fight was even more out of the question, and he could never win an argument against a whole crowd.

And so, Fei Zhenwu was speechless for a long moment before finally forcing the words out through gritted teeth.

"Who said I don’t agree to separating? Since you all want to separate so badly, then fine, we’ll separate! You think I can’t support my own family?"

Song Qingya smiled and handed the paper packet in her hand to Fei Zhenwu.

Then she said to everyone.

"Then I’ll have to ask all you aunties to help me with the separation."

"Alright!"

"Alright. Xiao Song, you just leave it to us."

By the time Fei Zhenwu realized he had been played, it was already too late.

Within minutes, he saw his own peach wood cabinet being carried out, ready to be moved.