Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 138: Letting Loose

Fei Jin didn’t laugh at her. Instead, he would check her progress every day when he came home. He’d pinch the yarn, count the stitches, and say she had to finish it before the baby was born. His tone was so serious, it was like he was issuing a military directive.

There was just one problem.

Once a man got a taste for it, his needs were unstoppable.

It happened all of a sudden.

During the early stages of her pregnancy, her morning sickness was severe. She threw up everything she ate, so Fei Jin had been very restrained, even deliberately sleeping a little farther away from her at night.

But as her health improved, her appetite returned, and her energy came back, his attitude changed.

He started moving closer at night, his arm wrapping around her waist, his palm resting on her side.

As soon as her first trimester was over, Fei Jin started to let himself go. He wore her out every night, leaving her with an aching back and sore arms. She could barely get up the next day.

Afterward, he would always check to make sure she wasn’t uncomfortable. He’d touch her forehead and ask if she was tired before he would let go.

She would be too exhausted to open her eyes and could only mumble a few complaints.

But he never changed his ways, closing in again the next night.

Fortunately, there was no mother-in-law watching over her, and she had a good relationship with her neighbors. When people saw her looking listless, they just assumed it was pregnancy fatigue and advised her to get more rest. No one noticed the faint marks peeking out from under her collar.

One time, Aunt Chen pulled on her sleeve, nearly revealing the marks on her neck.

She quickly ducked her head and pulled her scarf up, saying the wind was strong and it was a bit chilly.

Seeing her yawn, Sister Yang immediately said, "This pregnancy is taking a lot out of you. You need more sleep."

An older woman nearby agreed, "It’s a blessing for a pregnant woman to be able to sleep."

No one suspected a thing.

In the family compound, life was orderly. No one meddled in other people’s affairs, let alone pried into a couple’s private life.

Fei Jin, on the other hand, started buttoning his shirt all the way to the top every day before leaving, his collar pulled up neatly.

Before heading out, he would glance back at her sleeping form, a gentle smile on his lips and a soft look in his eyes.

Xing Yuandong finally couldn’t take it anymore. After training, he sidled up to Fei Jin and asked, "Village Chief, I know it’s autumn now, but you just finished training and you’re not even taking off your jacket. Aren’t you hot? Are you trying to put some distance between us?"

He said it with a smile, but his eyes were probing.

A few other soldiers were eavesdropping from a short distance away.

Fei Jin wiped his sweat, his tone calm. "I’ve had a bit of a cold lately. Don’t want to catch a chill."

Xing Yuandong glanced suspiciously at his collar. ’What does a cold have to do with wearing thick clothes?’ he thought. ’And he’s even got the top button done up, like he’s afraid of something showing.’

The soldiers under him also sensed something was off and started muttering among themselves:

"The village chief used to unbutton his collar after training. Now he won’t even undo a single button."

"I know, right? He’s even drinking more from his canteen than before, making one trip after another to the latrine."

"The weirdest part is, he doesn’t even shower with the rest of us anymore?"

"I went to the bathhouse yesterday. His clothes were hanging outside, but he wasn’t in there."

Another man shook his head. "Strange. Fei Village Chief’s physique is famous throughout the entire division."

"His muscles are so defined, strong, and good-looking. A lot of guys secretly envy him and want to learn a trick or two, and get an eyeful while they’re at it."

"Don’t you worry. Qingya might look soft and delicate, but when push comes to shove, she’s tougher than I am."

Ever since the incident with Luo Fuman, Yang Yingzi had held a particularly high opinion of Song Qingya.

She praised Song Qingya wherever she went, and her compliments were never the same twice.

One day she’d say Qingya was steady and composed, the next that she was thoughtful and meticulous, and the day after that she was calm under pressure.

She praised her so much that even Wen Xinglu started to have doubts, wondering if Yang Yingzi just saw the good in everyone, seeing only their strengths.

Wen Xinglu knew full well that her cousin’s personality was flighty, and she often spoke and acted without thinking.

But this time, her praise for Song Qingya had gone on for months without diminishing. In fact, it had grown even more sincere.

Only then did she realize that Song Qingya might have truly played a crucial role in that incident.

But this time, they were going to ask Wen Junyi to be her master!

He wasn’t just any ordinary doctor; he was a figure revered by the entire traditional Chinese medicine community in the provincial capital.

He never took on apprentices easily, and he certainly wouldn’t make an exception just because someone was sincere.

If you didn’t have real skill, he wouldn’t even waste his breath on you before showing you the door.

When that happened, not only would Song Qingya be embarrassed, but she, the one who made the introduction, would also lose face.

The more Wen Xinglu thought about it, the more uneasy she became, her brow furrowed with worry.

She stole a glance at Song Qingya and saw that her expression was completely serene.

There was no excitement, no apprehension, not even a hint of nervousness.

She was dressed in simple, light-colored clothes, standing perfectly straight, her gaze fixed calmly ahead.

"Cousin, don’t worry so much. I’m just going to express my intentions. If Mr. Wen isn’t willing to accept me, I won’t force it. You just need to help me with the introduction; you don’t have to say anything else."

Song Qingya’s voice wasn’t loud, but every word was clear and distinct.

After speaking, she gently patted the back of Wen Xinglu’s hand as if to comfort her.

"...Sigh, alright then. Just don’t blame me for not warning you."

Wen Xinglu sighed, still feeling unsettled.

She knew she couldn’t persuade her, so she could only take it one step at a time.

"Let’s go, let’s go. Cousin, why have you suddenly become such a nag?"

Song Qingya smiled and started walking forward.

Wen Xinglu hurried to catch up, muttering under her breath, "I’m not nagging, I’m just worried something will go wrong." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

’I’m not a nag,’ she thought. ’I’m genuinely scared.’

Ever since she was a child, whenever she caught a cold or had a fever, her family would always send her to Mr. Wen.

She dreaded drinking that dark, black traditional medicine; it was so bitter it made her grimace.

What she feared even more was acupuncture. Every time the tip of the needle touched her skin, she couldn’t help but tremble.

Unfortunately, Wen Junyi subscribed to the principle of "no pain, no gain," believing that if the meridians weren’t cleared, the root of the illness couldn’t be removed.

His treatments were never gentle. Every time she got sick, she ended up in tears.

Even now, as a married woman with a child in her thirties, just the thought of Wen Junyi’s cold face made her legs go weak.

The man never smiled and was a man of few words. He would answer a question and say nothing more, not one extra word.

Just standing in front of him was incredibly stressful.

The two of them arrived outside a quiet little courtyard.

It was a short distance from the main residential area. There were no voices around, only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Two Yun Hua trees at the entrance were flourishing, their branches lush with leaves and covered in delicate little yellow flowers.

When the wind blew, the fragrance wafted straight into their noses, rich but not cloying.

You could tell at a glance that a person of refined taste lived here; even the air seemed clearer than elsewhere.

Wen Xinglu stood at the gate and swallowed hard.

She took a deep breath and raised her hand, knocking twice on the door knocker.

There was no answer.

She had to raise her voice and call out, "Second Grand-uncle! Second Grand-aunt? Is anyone home? It’s Xinglu, I’ve come to see you!"

The courtyard was silent for two seconds, then the sound of footsteps followed.

"Oh my, it’s Xinglu!"

A kind-eyed elderly woman walked out from the house, a smile on her face. Her voice was gentle as she said, "Yingzi? You’re here too? What a rare visitor."

"Second Grand-aunt, I was thinking of you, so I brought two pounds of white sugar as a small gift for you."

As Yang Yingzi spoke, she took out a package of white sugar, carefully wrapped in kraft paper, from her cloth bag and presented it with both hands.