The Cannon Fodder Top is Still Raising His Husband Today [Transmigration] - Chapter 3

To keep the medicine from being cooled by the autumn wind, Song Bo hurried home at a brisk pace.

Song Chazai was sitting by the bed taking care of Jiang Jinxi. Hearing the commotion, she turned her head. “You brought the medicine?”

“Yes.” Song Bo touched the rim of the bowl; it still retained some warmth. Now that he was back, he could take over the task of caring for Jiang Jinxi. He said, “When Uncle got up just now, he was a bit dizzy. Auntie, you should go back and check on him.”

“What?” Song Chazai stood up from the bed instantly. “Then hurry up and give me the medicine. I will feed him before I go.”

“I can feed him. You can head back without worry,” Song Bo said.

To Song Chazai, the idea of Song Bo knowing how to feed medicine was about as believable as a pig climbing a tree. Hearing that her husband was dizzy, she only wanted to return quickly. In her rush, her tone grew impatient. “Do not waste time, give it to me.”

Action was always more direct than words. Song Bo fetched a wooden chopstick from the kitchen and pressed the thin end against the inside of Jiang Jinxi’s lips. He then scooped up a spoonful of medicine, letting it glide down the chopstick from the spoon, flowing into Jiang Jinxi’s mouth without losing a single drop.

This feeding technique was so skillful that Song Chazai was somewhat shocked. Had she misunderstood him all along? Was Song Bo actually a meticulous person?

This thought lasted only three seconds before she dismissed it. Simply knowing how to feed medicine did not negate his past misdeeds.

Her heart was still set on Liu Nanmin. Since Song Bo could handle the medicine, she was happy to be relieved of the duty. “Feed him the whole bowl, do not get lazy.”

“I know,” Song Bo replied.

After Song Chazai left, Song Bo began to feed the medicine slowly, spoon by spoon. Since Jiang Jinxi could not drink it himself, Song Bo had to wait for each spoonful to go down before offering the next.

Being this close, Song Bo realized just how beautiful the man truly was. His eyes were closed in relaxation, and his eyelashes were long. Compared to his tension when awake, he now possessed a certain softness. As Song Bo leaned in further to feed him, he could not see a single pore on the man’s face; his skin truly was like polished jade.

No wonder the men in the book could not control themselves around Jiang Jinxi; he truly had the power to make people lose their minds to desire.

By the time the entire bowl was finished, Song Bo’s arm was numb and aching. Feeding a patient required both precision and patience; a slight slip of the chopstick would send the medicine running down the patient’s face and onto the sheets.

By the time he finished the ordeal, a sliver of light appeared on the horizon. Song Bo was exhausted. Seeing the morning glow, he hurriedly slumped onto the wooden table in the bedroom to steal whatever sleep he could.

When Jiang Jinxi opened his eyes, he was momentarily blinded by the sunlight. He tilted his head to the side, finally taking in his strange surroundings.

The bed was a simple wooden one, lacking the canopy found in aristocratic homes. Jiang Jinxi stared at the wooden beams on the ceiling. It was then that he remembered he had been sold, and for a mere two taels of silver, to a rural villager.

At the thought, his hand gripped the sheets instinctively. He did not know who had harmed him, but it was surely the work of some official opposed to his father.

Currently, he was in a dilemma. Those hiding in the shadows were surely still watching him. He had to stay in this village, preferably appearing as though he were being held under duress.

Jiang Jinxi turned his head slowly. His gaze landed on Song Bo, who was sleeping soundly at the table a few meters away. If he stayed in the village, would this man continue to harbor designs on him like a common lecher? A Ger’s strength was no match for a man’s. If what happened last night occurred again, he would truly have to die to prove his integrity.

Wait! The cinnabar purity mark!

Jiang Jinxi turned his back, hiding under the quilt as he carefully lifted his clothes. Finding the red dot still on his waist, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Hearing a sudden movement behind him, Jiang Jinxi closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. He had not yet decided how to face Song Bo and chose this method to hide for now.

Song Bo stretched, his bones creaking. He had slept for about two hours. Though it was not long, it was enough to refresh him slightly.

Hearing the footsteps approach, Jiang Jinxi’s heart beat rapidly. His hand gripped the sheets under the quilt as he forced himself to appear fast asleep. Then, a warm hand covered his forehead. A man’s voice came from above his ear. “Good, the fever has finally broken.”

After touching his head, the man moved away and left the room.

Only then did Jiang Jinxi have the chance to roll over. His beautiful eyes stared at the ceiling, somewhat confused by what had just happened.

Water usage in Jinli Village was inconvenient. Aside from the well in the Village Head’s home, the villagers had to carry water from the Tianxi River.

Because Jiang Jinxi had soaked in the water vat yesterday, the water was now dirty. Song Bo had to dump it out and take the wooden buckets to the river.

As the lifeblood of Jinli Village, the riverbanks were crowded with people: young men carrying water, women washing clothes, children playing, and elders gossiping. Ordinarily, such a crowd would have jostled Song Bo, but as soon as he arrived, it was as if he were carrying a virus. People kept a distance of dozens of meters. Moreover, the elders would pull their children close and whisper warnings into their ears.

Song Bo finally gained a real understanding of the original host’s reputation.

Fine. He had just arrived in this world anyway; extra social relationships would only be a hassle.

Song Bo crouched by the river. The water was bone-chillingly cold. He used the reflection in the river to clean himself up, filled his buckets, and headed home.

The sun was high now, and he should cook breakfast, but Song Bo did not know how to use an ancient stove and did not have a single cent on him. No matter how reluctant he was, he had to thicken his skin and head to Song Chazai’s house for a meal.

He walked to the gate of her home. Since it was daytime and people would be seeking medical attention, the gate was wide open. Entering the courtyard, the first thing he did was check if the bamboo basket he left yesterday had been taken.

“Stop looking. It is too late for regrets.” Song Chazai’s voice came from behind him.

Song Bo was delighted. He turned and called out, “Auntie.”

Song Chazai did not respond, but her expression was not as dark as it had been the night before.

To get a free meal, one must play the victim. Song Bo walked to her side and sniffed the air like a dog. “What is that scent? It smells wonderful.”

There was no complex scent, only the sweet aroma of steamed buns from the stove. Song Chazai glanced at him from the corner of her eye, understanding his motive.

“It seems to be the scent of steamed buns,” Song Bo said, unperturbed by her silence. “I have not had breakfast yet. It is the perfect chance to experience Auntie’s cooking.”

Song Chazai had not expected Song Bo to be so thick-skinned as to invite himself to some buns without being asked.

Despite her slight change of heart after seeing him feed the medicine, she had not forgiven his past verbal abuse. She said, “Just stand there.”

Song Bo nodded obediently and stood perfectly still.

Before long, Song Chazai came out of the house carrying a bowl of medicine in one hand and a wooden basket in the other. Song Bo recognized the basket immediately. Seeing a crack on the second slat of the right side, he was certain it was the one he had brought yesterday.

Song Chazai handed the basket and the bowl to him, saying stiffly, “Wash the bowl and remember to bring it back.”

The basket was covered with a white cloth, and heat was radiating from it, suggesting it was full of buns. Song Bo realized his aunt was a truly good person. He said, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Seeing Song Bo’s humble demeanor, Song Chazai pursed her lips. Finally, she could not help but blurt out, “Find an honest way to live. You have a family now.” As soon as she said it, she felt a bit of regret. Why tell him such things? It would only lead to more trouble.

To her surprise, Song Bo responded quickly and without any sign of impatience.

“Yes, I will think about it seriously.”

Hearing a positive response for once, Song Chazai watched him walk away with an indescribable feeling in her heart.

On the way home, Song Bo pondered the problem of making money. The original host’s last savings had been used to buy Jiang Jinxi. Currently, the household was literally unable to keep the pot boiling. As a capable adult male with a husband to support, he had to take on the responsibility of providing for the family. It was easy to think about but hard to do. However, everything is difficult at the start. After delivering the medicine and feeding Jiang Jinxi, he would go out to look for legitimate ways to earn money.

Back home, Jiang Jinxi was still lying in bed. Song Bo stepped forward and gently shook him awake.

Jiang Jinxi had fallen back asleep while Song Bo was out. Being shaken awake now left him in a daze.

“Get up and eat your food and medicine.” Song Bo’s tone was not particularly friendly, but his movements were gentle.

This abruptness was a facade. In the original plot, if Jiang Jinxi left this house, he would be caught and humiliated by others. Although Song Bo did not want to deal with the trouble of the original protagonist, he did not want to see a living person dragged into the mud. After weighing the options, he decided to keep Jiang Jinxi at home. To ensure Jiang Jinxi did not run off, Song Bo had to utilize the original host’s personality to make Jiang Jinxi realize the man who bought him was a scumbag, which should inspire some level of caution.

“Yes.” Jiang Jinxi rose from the bed. Because he had been feverish all night, his body was weak and limp. He wanted to get up quickly but the more he rushed, the more he struggled. Eventually, he could only turn his gaze toward the man who was standing with arms crossed, staring at him indifferently.

“That… I cannot get up.” Jiang Jinxi looked up from below, his crystal-black pupils reflecting a faint sense of helplessness.

Song Bo had actually wanted to help the moment the man began to struggle, but to maintain his persona, he remained standing there as an idle bystander.

Ideally, he should have added a harsh remark to solidify the persona, but Song Bo was not a real scumbag and had no store of insults in his vocabulary. He could only keep his mouth shut, maintain an impatient expression on his face, and then gently support Jiang Jinxi up from the bed.

After helping him sit at the wooden table, Song Bo clapped his hands and resumed his pose with arms crossed, standing behind Jiang Jinxi like a statue. “I have other things to do. You had better finish those buns and the medicine quickly.”

Jiang Jinxi nodded timidly. He picked up a bun and ate it in small bites, feigning fear. He had already decided to stay in Song Bo’s home for the time being. Compared to the hidden predators outside, a blatant scumbag was easier to deal with. This type of person usually enjoyed the feeling of controlling others, so he needed to act like a little white rabbit.

“You are already my husband. You had better not think of escaping.” Song Bo took a step forward and sat across from Jiang Jinxi. Resting his chin on his hand, he said, “The village is only this large. If you dare to run, the consequences…” This threat not only helped establish his scumbag persona but also suppressed Jiang Jinxi’s thoughts of fleeing. It was killing two birds with one stone.

Jiang Jinxi stole a glance at Song Bo. The words were threatening, but for some reason, he did not feel any actual force behind them. When his father used to scold him, it was far scarier than this man.

Nevertheless, he lowered his gaze and replied, “Yes, I know.”