Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 44: Winning Hearts and Minds

"Hey, be careful!!"

But no one listened to him.

Everyone pitched in.

Before long, they had finished packing up Fei Zhenwu’s family’s belongings and moved everything into the courtyard.

The cart driver who had come to pick up Fei Zhenwu was stunned.

"Aren’t you going back to the mines? Why is there so much stuff?"

Fei Zhenwu was furious and couldn’t be bothered to speak.

Song Qingya spoke up for him.

"Uncle, you’re so thoughtful. We just finished packing everything up, and you immediately sent someone to move it."

She then turned and began directing everyone to load the packed items onto the cart, not forgetting to speak to the driver.

"All of this needs to go to the old family house. Thanks for making the trip, sir."

"No problem, not at all."

The driver readily agreed.

The cart driver looked completely baffled, unsure of what was going on.

However, the distance from here to the Fei Family’s old house was just a little over a kilometer.

It was much closer than the trip to the mines.

So naturally, he was happy to help.

Fei Zhenwu watched as the contents of "their home" were carried out, piece by piece.

Song Qingya blinked her big, bright eyes and asked with an utterly innocent expression—

"Uncle, didn’t you say you were going back to the mines? How come you haven’t left yet? Don’t you worry, I’ll help you pack up every single thing. Nothing will be left behind; it will all be delivered to the old house."

Fei Zhenwu could only swallow hard, unable to say a single word.

He finally understood why Zhou Huaihua always said this new niece-in-law was no simple character.

She looked so gentle and fragile, but her actions were anything but hesitant.

Her every move was calculated, cornering him with each step.

And yet, all the onlookers sympathized with her, thinking she was the one being bullied—a poor, defenseless woman.

’Good heavens, who is bullying whom here?’

This recently married niece-in-law had only been here for a few months, and she had already driven his family out to the old house.

’If she stays any longer, what will become of us?’

But at this point, Fei Zhenwu had no desire to cause any more trouble here.

His only thought was to get out of this place as quickly as possible and put as much distance between himself and Song Qingya as he could.

’I can’t afford to provoke her, but at least I can avoid her!’

After settling the matter of the family division, Song Qingya gave the women who had helped her a little "reward."

In the kitchen, she personally taught them how to knead dough, chop vegetables, and more.

"I never would have thought you’d teach us so many tricks, and so patiently too."

"You’re so young, where did you learn all this? This is amazing!"

another woman chimed in.

"The Fei Village Chief is so lucky," a third woman remarked. "I heard from my husband that when you bring him food, the whole division headquarters can smell it the moment he opens the box! It makes my husband’s mouth water."

"Once I learn, I’m going home and making this for my kids!"

...

As more and more people joined the discussion,

Song Qingya held nothing back, generously sharing even more practical tips and tricks.

With just a little guidance, their existing skills allowed them to understand quickly.

Because of this, Song Qingya found her role was more of a guide during the process.

So, Song Qingya’s job wasn’t difficult at all; she just had to do the talking.

The once-quiet courtyard was now crowded with people who had come to learn and share.

Around noon, everyone simply brought their own grain, oil, rice, flour, as well as various vegetables, meats, and fish to the Fei Family’s home, deciding to work together to make a special communal meal.

The aroma of the food soon began to drift through the air.

Just then, the head chef of the base’s mess hall found something very strange.

Why were the soldiers, who usually scrambled to get their food, nowhere to be seen today?

He asked around and finally learned that it was because...

The women had all brought lunch for their husbands.

One by one, the women carried carefully prepared lunch boxes, their faces beaming with happy smiles.

With a delicious meal made by their own wives, who would want to eat at the mess hall?

That monotonous, bland canteen food.

How could it possibly compare to a home-cooked meal?

What’s more, these dishes were specially made to suit their husbands’ tastes.

On the training ground, soldiers were holding their lunch boxes.

They looked at each other, and then back at their own food, suddenly realizing something was off.

Everyone opened their lunch boxes, and to their surprise, the contents looked somewhat similar.

Some soldiers even started to doubt their own eyes. ’Is this an illusion?’

"Hey, how come all your dishes look about the same?"

a young soldier asked in confusion.

The lunch box in his hand was filled with a colorful and fragrant stir-fry.

"Did my wife really make this? How can it be so delicious?!"

another man exclaimed in amazement.

He remembered his wife’s cooking always being rather disappointing.

But today’s meal was exceptionally tasty; he could hardly believe it was made by the same person.

"Yeah, my wife’s cooking has never been great. How did her skills suddenly improve by leaps and bounds?"

"How come your fish is from the same one as mine? I’ve got the head, you’ve got the body. Did they buy some pre-made meal together?"

Someone sharp noticed a particular detail.

"No way! My wife is way too frugal. It’d be a miracle if she spent money on takeout."

A veteran soldier firmly disagreed.

He knew his wife’s thrifty nature very well.

It would actually be more unbelievable if she had bought a pre-made meal.

Just then, Xing Yuandong walked over, chest puffed out, holding the lunch his wife, Fang Huihui, had just brought him. He was here to solve the mystery.

"Look at you lot, dumb as posts. You’re always saying how you envy the village chief’s wife for her great cooking and bringing food to the base, right? Have you not noticed anything different?"

Xing Yuandong teased them deliberately.

"Don’t tell me... the Village Chief’s Wife made all of these?"

a young soldier couldn’t help but ask.

"Of course not! Actually, Qingya is holding a free cooking class at her house, teaching everyone how to cook! I took a peek at noon. Xiao Sun’s wife, Xiao Hu’s wife, and Old Third’s wife were all there learning to make flatbreads!"

Xing Yuandong continued to explain.

"Oh, no wonder my wife started bringing me good food recently. I was wondering what was going on."

someone said, the realization dawning on him.

With that, all their questions were answered.

A sharp-eyed soldier noticed the braised pork belly and stewed pork with bamboo shoots in Xing Yuandong’s lunch box.

It was a stark contrast to the simpler meals in their own hands.

He asked curiously, "Captain Xing, what’s the deal with the fancy dishes you’ve got? Weren’t they all supposed to be cooked together?"

Xing Yuandong tilted his head back, looking smug.

"But of course!"

he said proudly.

"My wife’s relationship with the Village Chief’s Wife is on another level. She has plenty of good stuff to teach!"

His words were full of showing off.

"I’m so jealous."

a soldier next to him sighed, a flash of envy in his eyes.