He naturally knew that his wife wasn’t of a particularly delicate disposition, but childbirth was, after all, a major affair and it was her first ti. Even if she was usually strong and resolute, it was inevitable that she would be a bit panicked and scared. He had guessed as much early on and couldn’t help but want to rush over to check on her imdiately. Even if he couldn’t enter the room, standing outside the window and offering a few words of comfort would be good.
The door was shut tight, with a thick felt blanket hung outside to prevent drafts. The windows were also covered by curtains, ticulously sealed. There seed to be voices inside, yet nothing could be seen.
"Don’t worry, I’m doing very well. I’ll definitely give birth to a healthy, chubby baby for you!"
Actually, Hua Xiaomai noticed spotting when she got up in the morning. Fortunately, Granny ng had made thorough preparations and imdiately went out to fetch Midwife Liu Wen.
Hua Xiaomai was leaning on the couch, supported by two thick cotton quilts behind her, holding half a boiled egg in her hand, enjoying it deliciously with her feet propped up. Perhaps having heard his call, she turned her head toward the door, smiled, and waved at him: "You’re back?"
"No shouting!"
During the hour of the dog, excruciating pain, as if draining one’s bone marrow, finally arrived.
However, it wasn’t long before she could no longer laugh.
ng Yuhuai absentmindedly responded, then heard Hua Xiaomai’s robust voice from inside the room.
Seizing the rare opportunity, as the felt blanket was lifted for just a mont, he hurriedly looked inside.
ng Yuhuai imdiately felt a bit of a headache—what... what exactly was going on here?
"Are you sick, or do you think you’re very strong? If you have any strength, save it for when it’s ti to give birth, and then give it your all!" She let loose with a barrage of insults right off the bat.
It was not just the stomach; that kind of pain seed to be pulled by a string, crawling up the spine to the brain, causing it to go numb and the limbs to stop responding, with no strength to muster and cold sweat quickly breaking out on her forehead.
Hua Xiaomai knew she was right and had no choice but to endure the pain, grit her teeth, and followed Midwife Liu Wen’s instructions for breathing and pushing, all while cursing ng Yuhuai in her heart from head to toe a hundred tis over.
Hua Xiaomai had been with her for over a year, had grown incredibly thick-skinned from the constant scolding, and these few words now were nothing more than a mild itch, not a blow to her confidence. With a giggle, she considered the matter settled.
Perhaps the ingredients in those desserts were too rich; they made her feel a bit stifled, and she nearly choked trying to swallow them down. Seeing this, Granny ng couldn’t stand it and went into the kitchen to boil a few eggs and stew a pot of White Fungus Soup, which she hurriedly brought to her side.
"Midwife Liu hasn’t called for the doctor, which ans Xiaomai is doing well, why are you so scared? Giving birth is like this, you’ll understand next ti—what storm haven’t you seen, to be so frightened now?"
...
Midwife Liu Wen kept urging her to breathe and push, but with every effort, her head spun and her vision blurred. Her hand was seized by soone, as if they were trying to help her exert strength, squeezing so much it hurt, and tears burst forth on the spot.
In the room, there were cries reaching to the heavens; outside, ng Yuhuai himself was so anxious that he was sweat-soaked and pale, pacing back and forth along the wall, trying to sit for a while, then quickly standing up again. He wanted to check on the situation but couldn’t enter, and could only worry helplessly from the outside.
Chun Xi’s mother-in-law arrived from her ho in no ti, followed shortly by Mrs. Feng with her two daughters-in-law. Assuming it would take a while longer, none of them seed in a hurry. They sat beside the couch, chatting with Hua Xiaomai and telling her interesting stories as a diversion.
ng Yuhuai felt his hands trembling, and turned to look at her: "It has been several hours since noon, it’s been too long; Xiaomai... she might not hold on..."
"You can’t cry, all your strength will dissipate if you do!" Mother ng ordered sternly at her ear, "You’ve eaten so much, when are you planning to use the strength you’ve saved if not now? Giving birth sooner will bring relief sooner; otherwise, you’re only prolonging your own suffering."
After eating a bowl of chicken soup wontons at noon, she soon went into labor. While the contractions weren’t yet too frequent, she quickly went to the bathhouse to clean herself and had Granny ng bring in all the sweets and snacks she had made in the past few days. Then she calmly climbed onto the couch to wait, occasionally getting off to walk around or find sothing to eat.
"Has the banquet ended?" Granny ng quickly closed the door and looked up at ng Yuhuai. "This is your wife’s first child; it’s naturally harder. Midwife Liu Wen said that in all likelihood, it’ll go on till late into the night. Don’t just stand around here; the kitchen has food. If you’re hungry, heat sothing up for yourself. I’ve cleaned up the side room, so if you’re tired, you can rest there. Today, I really can’t tend to you."
Chun Xi and La i also hurried over after closing up at Daoxiang Garden; one went into the room to help, while the other ward up the food in the kitchen and sohow convinced ng Yuhuai to eat a little, and naturally, they tried to comfort him and reassure him.
As he spoke, they heard the won in the room let out a collective sigh of relief, followed promptly by a resounding, clear cry of a newborn baby.
With so many people around her, Hua Xiaomai felt incredibly reassured, and she was also grateful that she could endure pain well. At least until then, she didn’t find it too unbearable. She felt spirited and cheerful, as if she was full of energy. Even the contractions that ca every so often seed manageable.
Mother ng was furious, she roared at the door, then turned her head and signaled ng Yuhuai to step back, and she stord in with a ferocious and threatening air.
His heart raced, and without holding back, he called out, "Xiaomai." Granny ng imdiately opened the door and stepped out.
Midwife Liu wiped off her sweat, caught her breath, and announced loudly, "The baby has arrived!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to co to Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile phone users, please visit m.qidian to read.)
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