CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47: THE AGONY OF CHILDBIRTH

"Sister-in-law, cry out if it hurts."

Seeing Zhu Lingling’s forehead drenched in cold sweat, biting her lips hard, Chun Nuan felt unbearably sorry: "If you keep biting, you’ll break it. Shouting will make you feel a bit better."

Zhu Lingling shook her head.

Her upbringing didn’t allow her to cry or shout; she silently wept through bitterness and grievances, and even pain was no exception.

"Sister-in-law..."

Clearly a delicate lady, yet so stubborn.

By now, the first round of heavy rain had passed, and the sky was truly darkening. Seeing her sister-in-law in such terrible pain made her feel especially distressed.

"Childbirth is like this, especially the first one is more difficult. When I gave birth to Chunyan, I was in pain for a full twelve hours..." Mrs. Huang was experienced and knew how painful it could be, yet she couldn’t help her.

"Third Aunt, keep an eye on sister-in-law, I’m going out for a bit."

"Nuannuan, where are you going?"

Mrs. Huang was startled and felt uneasy about watching Mrs. Zhu alone.

"I’m going to the Hundred Herbs Hall to borrow some acupuncture needles from Doctor Chen. Giving sister-in-law a few needles will relieve some of her pain." Chun Nuan said, "Don’t worry, it’s close to the Hundred Herbs Hall. I’ll be back soon."

"Oh, alright, be careful on the road."

Chun Ning heard her older sister was going out, and ran out to follow.

"It’s dark, I’ll go with you."

"Alright."

Chun Nuan felt warm inside; her siblings always supported each other, and Chun Ning had grown up, becoming more responsible and thorough in considering matters.

At the Hundred Herbs Hall, Doctor Chen was surprised for a moment when he heard Chun Nuan wanted to borrow acupuncture needles.

"Miss Xiao, administering acupuncture requires many precautions; a slight mistake can lead to big problems, let alone in childbirth..."

How could she dare?

"Thank you, Doctor Chen, for the reminder. I learned it for a while from my grandfather at home."

Doctor Chen... alright, alright, I forgot who your grandfather was.

Anyway, it’s just lending acupuncture needles; he’s not the one administering them, so he’s not responsible.

Besides, the owner had said before to cooperate with Miss Xiao’s requests as much as possible, without strict demands.

"Thank you, Doctor Chen, I will definitely return them tomorrow."

Chun Nuan took the acupuncture needles and borrowed Doctor Chen’s pen, ink, paper, and inkstone to prescribe two sets of medicine. After Fusheng caught and paid for the medicine, she hurried back with Chun Ning.

"Chun Nuan, are you really going to administer acupuncture?"

Even as Chun Nuan prepared to give the acupuncture, Mrs. Huang was still very uneasy.

"Third Aunt, I’m using this needle for pain relief."

The main concern was about the specific acupuncture points. Seeing Mrs. Zhu look fearfully at the long acupuncture needles in her hands, Chun Nuan immediately comforted her: "Sister-in-law, don’t worry, it won’t hurt."

It didn’t hurt, just felt a bit sore and swollen.

Surprisingly, after two needles, Mrs. Zhu’s pain became significantly less noticeable.

"Third Aunt, how much longer until the baby is born?"

Mrs. Zhu asked tearfully.

"It seems like it will be a while." Mrs. Huang observed: "But since your water has broken, there may be problems if the baby doesn’t come out soon, Nuannuan..."

"Yes, I’ll assess the situation later. If necessary, we’ll use labor-inducing medicine." Chun Nuan said, "I’ve already asked Chun Ning to prepare the medicine."

Seeing the emotionally stable Chun Nuan, who seemed to have everything covered, Mrs. Huang felt much more at ease.

"Chun Ning, boil two eggs for sister-in-law."

At the third watch, Chun Nuan felt Mrs. Zhu’s pulse, asked about her condition, then went to the door and called out: "Warm up the labor-inducing medicine, and eat it when the eggs are ready."

"Do we need to use labor-inducing medicine?"

Mrs. Huang was very nervous.

"Yes, we have to use it."

"Chun Nuan, I..."

"Third Aunt, don’t worry, trust me, there will be no problems."

"Alright."

Mrs. Huang felt she was a bit cowardly and was also adding pressure on Chun Nuan. Silently chiding herself, she resolved to change this mindset: "What can I do?"

"After sister-in-law gives birth, taking care of things like cutting the umbilical cord and dressing the baby is up to you; I don’t know how to do that." What Chun Nuan needed to do was to check if the placenta was delivered, how the contractions were, whether there was heavy bleeding, and so on—critical matters.

"I can handle these things."

That’s right; there is strength in belief.

Chun Nuan was also full of confidence.

Zhu Lingling ate two eggs and drank over half a bowl of labor-inducing medicine. Before long, the pain intensified, and she couldn’t help but cry out.

"It hurts, it hurts a lot."

"Yes, it hurts." Mrs. Huang felt sorry for her: "Hold onto Third Aunt’s hand, and when it’s time to push the baby out, you must use all your strength, don’t stop; if you stop, the baby will also stop."

"Third Aunt, I want to..."

Zhu Lingling felt both ashamed and anxious; how could she have such urges at this moment?

"What do you want? Speak up."

"Second sister is still a young girl, Second sister, you should go out first."

Zhu Lingling felt she couldn’t pollute Chun Nuan; childbirth was really too embarrassing.

"Sister-in-law, I can’t go out. I’m not your sister now; I’m the doctor." Chun Nuan said, "The doctor must stay by your side. Say whatever you want, don’t worry about me."

"I... I want to relieve myself."

Embarrassing, so embarrassing!

"Yes, yes, it’s exactly this feeling. When you feel like relieving yourself, it’s close." Mrs. Huang became excited: "I had the same feeling when I gave birth to Chunyan; it was very embarrassing, but the midwife told me to do whatever I needed to, don’t mind anything, just put all my strength into it. I really felt like crawling into a hole at the time, but with childbirth, you can’t stop; all I could think about was the baby’s well-being, so I ignored everything else..."

With her experienced guidance, Mrs. Zhu found comfort internally.

Third Aunt was right; the child was the most important. She needed to use all her strength to let the baby meet her sooner.

"Sister-in-law, do whatever you need to do, don’t speak, just muster all your strength and use it."

Zhu Lingling nodded, gripping the edge of the bed tightly, her veins visible, truly using all her strength.

"Third Aunt, could you help check the situation?"

Seeing this, Chun Nuan quickly called out.

"Yes, alright, I see, I see the baby’s hair. It’s coming, Lingling, push harder." Mrs. Huang shouted excitedly: "Quick, quick, it’s coming, the baby’s head is out, push harder, keep going..."

Hearing Third Aunt’s shout, Chun Ning in the outer room felt both excited and tense.

He clasped his hands together, murmuring.

"All revered Buddhas, ancestors of the Xiao family, Grandfather, sister-in-law is giving birth to the Xiao family’s next generation’s eldest son. Please ensure the safety of mother and child..."

Having grown up learning to pray with his grandmother and pay respects at the ancestral hall with his grandfather, at this moment, he felt that all the venerable deities and Xiao family’s ancestors could give him strength and peace.

"Chun Ning, prepare hot water." Chun Nuan shouted from inside the room: "Boil four more brown sugar eggs for sister-in-law."

"Alright, I’m on it."

Chun Ning ran quickly.

As he lit the fire to boil eggs and poured hot water, he suddenly thought: When we first came to Shu City, grandmother said that everyone in the Xiao family needed to learn how to cook, and it’s proven useful.

What would he do if he were still a pampered young master who couldn’t do anything?

He brought the hot water to the room door and cooked the brown sugar eggs before carrying them over.

"Sister, everything is ready."

"Good, just wait."

Hearing his sister-in-law’s heart-wrenching cries of pain, Chun Ning’s heart tightened.

His sister-in-law was a lady of the Zhu family, who valued rules and etiquette the most. To have torn her voice to cry out in pain showed how much she was suffering.

One day when he married and had children, he vowed to cherish his wife doubly.

His elder brother also cherished his sister-in-law; if he knew that the gentle girl he treasured endured so much pain and suffering to bear a child for him, how much his heart would ache!

Thinking of the father and elder brother who were exiled to the Northern Desert, thinking of the sister-in-law giving birth to a new generation for the Xiao family, new hope, Chun Ning silently vowed to protect and see his young siblings grow up and to take good care of his family for his elder brother.