Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 98: An Assertive Woman

The doctor had even asked her curiously if he had eaten anything special recently.

"Qingya... um... do you have any more of this medicine? I’d like to keep brewing it for Old Luo a few more times after I go back home."

Yang Yingzi hesitated for a moment before asking cautiously.

"Yes, of course. When we head back today, we’ll help you pack it up to be shipped."

Song Qingya agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

"Qingya, I really don’t know how to express how grateful I am to you."

Yang Yingzi said, her voice thick with emotion.

"It’s nothing. As long as Brother Luo is safe, that’s all that matters. Oh, by the way!"

"I haven’t seen Weiwei around these past few days. Where’d she go? I even had Ajin buy her favorite peach pastries for her."

The moment she said that, the room fell silent.

"I sent Weiwei back to my mother’s."

Yang Yingzi said in a low voice after a few seconds of silence.

"I’m having her grandmother look after her for now. I’ll bring her back after a while. She’s still so young, she can’t go to the provincial capital. Besides, with her dad in the hospital, I can manage him on my own. It would just be too inconvenient to have a child with me."

Song Qingya nodded gently in understanding.

"That’s true. A place like a hospital has all sorts of people coming and going, and the air isn’t very good. It’s definitely not a suitable place for a child to visit often."

Her gaze shifted, and she noticed luggage bags and other items of all sizes piled up on the living room floor.

Then, she bent down, picked up a sofa cushion that had fallen on the floor, and patted the dust off it as she began to organize the tasks ahead.

"Ajin, help Yingzi pack these things. And she shouldn’t have to worry about lunch; we’ll make it."

"Okay, sure."

Fei Jin immediately replied and began helping to pack with deft, efficient movements.

Yang Yingzi stood to one side, looking a little embarrassed.

"This won’t do! Xiao Fei, put that down, don’t do this kind of work! You’re a man of status and position, how can we have you doing tedious and tiring chores like this? I can do it myself, please stop."

Yang Yingzi rushed to stop Fei Jin, who was clearing away the dishes.

"Officials aren’t made of iron," Song Qingya chimed in, observing the exhausted look on Yang Yingzi. "There’s no rule that says they can’t do chores. Yingzi, just look at the dark circles under your eyes. You clearly haven’t been sleeping well, and your body can’t take much more of this. Please, just let us do this for you."

As she spoke, Song Qingya walked over to Yang Yingzi, placed a hand on her shoulder, and gently guided her to a seat on the sofa.

"Yingzi, the most important thing for you right now is to rest."

The dark circles under her eyes and her weary expression made it clear she had been overwhelmed with worry and hadn’t gotten any real rest.

Hearing this, Fei Jin no longer protested. Instead, he smiled and continued with his work, calling back with a laugh.

"Please don’t be so formal, Yingzi. Just think of it as guests helping out. There’s no need to distinguish between host and guest, right? Besides, housework isn’t that hard."

Hearing this, the rims of Yang Yingzi’s eyes reddened, and she felt a prickling in her nose.

She said nothing, only silently squeezed Song Qingya’s hand, her fingertips digging in.

She repeated, over and over:

"Thank you... I’m so, so grateful. Qingya, Xiao Fei, thank you so, so much... Really... Thank you."

It is in times of crisis that one most clearly sees the warmth and coldness of human nature.

Luo Fuman’s sudden, severe illness was like a mirror, revealing who her truly trustworthy friends were and giving Yang Yingzi a deeply personal understanding of that saying.

’In the past, she had secretly wondered if she could leverage her connection to Luo Fuman to get closer to his family, thinking it might help her own prospects.’

’But thinking about it now, how petty those thoughts seemed.’

’They treated her and her husband with such sincerity, giving so freely and without reservation.’

’And yet, she had been scheming for her own personal gain.’

At this thought, she was filled with shame and unease.

Meanwhile, the sound of stir-frying and the fragrant aroma of cooking drifted from the kitchen.

’Fei Jin was a really good cook; his control over the heat was perfect.’

Yang Yingzi leaned back on the sofa, watching him bustle about, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to do.

She had always been an independent and capable woman who prided herself on never slacking when it came to housework.

But now, to have an outsider take care of everything, left her feeling somewhat conflicted.

In the era she grew up in, these trivial tasks were considered a woman’s responsibility.

She had always believed she should be the one doing these things; letting an outsider handle them just didn’t feel right.

"Yingzi, you’ve been taking care of Brother Luo for days now. You’ve lost weight, and you’re so tired you can barely stand."

Song Qingya coaxed gently from the side.

"Just let Ajin handle these things. Relax and get some rest. If you insist on doing it yourself, you’ll just make us all feel awkward. Xiao Fei is quite handy, and he’s happy to do it."

Yang Yingzi nodded after hearing this.

"Mm, okay then. I’ll listen to you."

A thought suddenly popped into her head.

’Once Luo Fuman recovers, maybe I should have him learn to do some chores?’

’Why should this kind of work only be for women?’

But on second thought, she sighed softly.

’Forget it. First, I’ll let the old man get his health back.’

These past few days, her mind was completely consumed by Luo Fuman’s condition. Even though the food Fei Jin cooked was fragrant and looked appetizing, she couldn’t taste a thing.

Song Qingya knew that no amount of words would help at a time like this.

’When a loved one was seriously ill, how could anyone possibly feel at ease?’

After they finished eating, she gently patted Yang Yingzi’s back.

"Yingzi, I’ve thought it over. You’re going to Qi City to take care of Brother Luo, right? Ajin and I would like to go visit, too. While I’m there, I can take his pulse and see how he’s recuperating."

In fact, Yang Yingzi had been mulling this over for a while.

’Even the medicine sent from so far away is working,’ she thought.

’If Qingya goes in person, the results should be even better.’

But she didn’t voice this thought.

After all, they had already helped so much—diagnosing the illness, writing a prescription, and even sending supplements.

’How could she trouble them to travel such a long way?’

So she had squashed the idea as soon as it popped into her head.

But to her surprise, Song Qingya had brought it up herself.

"Ah? Really? No, no, you can’t go! You’re not in any condition to travel. Just the thought of it makes my heart ache for you..."

A look of concern also crossed Fei Jin’s face.

"Qingya, you’re still so weak. You’re really not fit for a long journey. Let me go alone."

"Don’t worry, I can take care of myself."

Song Qingya smiled faintly.

"Besides, I’ve been thinking of using this chance to go back to my parents’ house for a couple of days."

Yang Yingzi was deeply moved to hear this.