Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 154: The Key Clue

Song Chenglu stood in the shadows of a corner, arms crossed, the corners of her lips slightly upturned.

"Sister, do you think... Brother Ajin... didn’t even leave a trace? You think... he’s already been turned to ash?"

She tossed out the words lightly, a silent, vicious, and precise strike to Song Qingya’s most vulnerable spot.

"Song Chenglu! Shut your mouth! Did you come all the way to this rundown courtyard just to gloat? Just to spew this cold, useless nonsense?"

Song Qingya snapped her head up, her eyes bloodshot.

Cheng Peng, trembling with rage, roared at Song Chenglu. "Song Chenglu! Are you even human? The village chief is your own brother-in-law! His fate is unknown, we don’t know where he is, and instead of helping us look for him, you’re just standing here making snide, sarcastic remarks? Do you have any sense of family? Any conscience? Any shred of human decency?"

Song Chenglu flinched, her face paling at his shouting.

She had never seen Cheng Peng look so ferocious and took a half-step back in fear.

"Hmph, what’s the big deal... So what if she’s pregnant? Acting all pitiful day in and day out, trying to get sympathy? Anyone can get pregnant. Even the stray cats and dogs on the street can pop out a whole litter..."

She was still trying to put on a defiant front, but only dared to mutter quietly in the corner.

She was already praying silently in her heart.

’I hope Song Qingya can’t handle the blow, gets overwhelmed, and faints on the spot. It would be best if she just miscarried, lost the baby in her womb, and could never get pregnant again!’

’That way, all her hopes would be dashed, her status in the family would plummet, and then, I, Song Chenglu, could finally turn the tables!’

Song Qingya saw right through her filthy calculations and venomous thoughts.

She slowly turned her head to Cheng Peng, her voice calm.

"Cheng Peng, go get two trustworthy soldiers and have them watch Song Chenglu closely. Without my permission, she is not to take a single step out of this door, not to contact anyone outside, and certainly not to get near any news about the search and rescue."

She had figured it out long ago. Keeping someone so malicious around was just asking for trouble. Sooner or later, something would happen. She couldn’t afford to be merciful.

"Sister! What gives you the right to lock me up? I haven’t broken any laws! This is false imprisonment! I’m going to report you!"

Song Chenglu shrieked and lunged out from the corner, but Cheng Peng darted in front of her, blocking her way with a cold stare.

Song Chenglu flared up. "I’m here to look for Brother Ajin too! The more people, the better! What right do you have to stop me? I’m not some outsider, I’m his sister! Can’t I do my part?"

Song Qingya stared at her coldly, enunciating each word. "You don’t need to help. What you need to do now is stay put and not cause any trouble. Once I find Ajin, or confirm what happened to him, I’ll naturally let you go."

Seeing this, Cheng Peng immediately raised his hand and gestured, quickly summoning two young soldiers.

The two soldiers moved forward swiftly, grabbing Song Chenglu by the arms with crisp, efficient movements and leading her away.

Song Chenglu was shoved forward, protesting under her breath as she went.

Before leaving, she shot Song Qingya a venomous glare.

Once she was gone, the surroundings immediately became a little quieter.

Cheng Peng raised his hand and pointed to a patch of blackened land in the distance. His tone was grave. "Sister-in-law, that’s the last place the village chief was seen. The explosion happened so suddenly, we didn’t have time to react. By the time we got to the scene, it was already... completely destroyed."

Song Qingya followed his finger and saw that the patch of land was indeed unrecognizable.

She bit her lower lip so hard it was nearly drained of color.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she forcefully held them back.

She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and began walking step by step toward the ruins.

"Sister-in-law! Don’t go over there! It’s not safe!"

Cheng Peng hurried after her, reaching out to stop her. "You’re a woman, and you’re pregnant. What if there’s unexploded ordnance underfoot, or the ground is loose and collapses? It’s too dangerous!" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Song Qingya spun around and cut him off without hesitation. "I’m a doctor. I know the dangers better than anyone. And it’s precisely because I have medical skills that I have to go see for myself if there are any survivors, anyone who can be saved! Besides—"

She paused, her voice trembling slightly. "I am Fei Jin’s wife. He last stood on this piece of land, so I should be standing in the same place. Life or death, I will not take a single step back."

Cheng Peng opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but swallowed his words.

He knew that the woman before him, though she appeared gentle, was as unyielding as iron.

Just as she was about to step onto the edge of the ruins, Cheng Peng spoke up again. "Sister-in-law, change your clothes first. What you’re wearing is too thin."

He pulled a military uniform from his pack and offered it to her. "I brought this. It won’t fit well, but at least it’s made of thick fabric that can offer some protection. It’s better than what you have on now."

She nodded silently without another word and turned to walk toward the dilapidated hut next door.

When she emerged, she seemed to have a more resolute air about her.

Meanwhile, Song Chenglu was hiding in that same dim hut, her back pressed against the wall.

She had heard every single word between Cheng Peng and Song Qingya, crystal clear.

She was so anxious she felt like she was about to explode.

’I have to find a way to get out of here. I absolutely can’t just be locked up here, waiting!’

Dressed in the uniform, Song Qingya walked quickly toward the blast site.

Her gaze swept over the surroundings, observing the scattered fragments.

She slowly turned over a piece of shrapnel, her brow furrowed slightly.

"This wasn’t caused by a normal explosive," she murmured to herself, her tone calm. "But whoever did this was an amateur. They don’t understand the properties of explosives at all."

This wasn’t a real explosion, but a clumsy imitation.

Cheng Peng stood nearby, his expression a mixture of nervousness and curiosity.

He was filled with admiration and astonishment, finding it hard to believe that this woman, normally so gentle and intellectual, could pick up on key clues so quickly at such a chaotic scene.

"Sister-in-law, I had no idea you were such an expert at investigating explosion sites," he couldn’t help but say, his tone full of admiration. "You’re even better than the professional scouts on our team! I learned a little about bomb disposal during training, but compared to you, I’m a complete amateur."

"Cheng Peng, come take a look at this."

Song Qingya suddenly spoke up, pointing at the fragments on the ground. "This stuff, at first glance, looks like it was created by a blast. The direction the fragments scattered, their distribution—it all matches the characteristics of a conventional explosion."

She bent down, her speech slowing as she continued, "But if you look closely, the edges are too clean, almost as if they were cut by a machine. A real explosion generates high temperatures and pressure. Metal fragments would be deformed by the heat, and their edges would typically be curled or melted. But look at these—"

She gently ran a fingertip along a break. "There isn’t a single trace of scorching, not even damage to the oxidized layer."