Chapter 75

Lin Yao’s beautiful face contorted in pain as her abdomen ached in waves. Having never given birth before, she didn’t know how much it would hurt, but the pain was so intense she could barely speak. She could tell it was getting serious.

Gu Shi’an, not wasting any time, picked her up and rushed to the county clinic.

It was summer, so even though it was past six, it was still bright outside.

Dongzi, the mischievous kid, hadn’t been to the county for half a year. As soon as he returned, he gathered his friends to catch cicadas. In these famine years, life was tough for everyone, both in the city and the countryside.

Last winter, many children in the city hadn’t had meat for months and craved it desperately. They resorted to catching cicadas themselves, which was a small way to fill their stomachs.

The vast elm woods on the city outskirts were filled with the continuous chirping of cicadas in summer. A group of boys, carrying cicada-catching sticks and buckets, ran into the woods, startling a flock of sparrows.

They not only caught cicadas but also sparrows for food. Cicada shells, which could be used in medicine, were worth a penny each. Collecting ten or so a day could earn a dime, a considerable amount for a child of eleven or twelve.

These boys, each holding a bunch of cicadas, eagerly anticipated going home to show their parents, hoping to have the cicadas fried crisp in some pig fat, savoring the crunchy taste.

Dongzi wasn’t as greedy as his friends. He enjoyed his time in the countryside, where his sister-in-law raised rabbits. He and his father would trap rabbits in the mountains. In the snowy season, when rabbits came out to forage, they would get trapped easily. The Gu family had meat only once a week in the countryside.

While the countryside was pleasant, it wasn’t as lively as the city.

The group of boys split up at the alley entrance, heading home to their respective families.

Dongzi and Hutou, carrying buckets, ran back home in high spirits. Dongzi, sweating profusely, rushed into the courtyard just as his elder brother was coming out with his sister-in-law. The two collided.

Dongzi, startled, asked, “Brother, what’s wrong with Sister-in-law?”

At that moment, the neighbors, who were relaxing under the banyan tree after dinner, said, “Oh, it looks like she’s about to give birth.”

“It seems so. Hurry and get her to the clinic.”

Dongzi quickly followed his brother, relieved that Gu Shi’an had already borrowed a cart from a neighbor. He had prepared bedding, a small bundle for delivery, a basin, towel, and thermos, and parked the cart under the flower eaves in the front yard. As soon as his wife was ready, he would pull the cart to the county clinic.

The kind-hearted neighbors also offered their help.

The county clinic was two streets away from the courtyard. Ten minutes later, Lin Yao was in the delivery room. Strangely, as soon as she arrived at the hospital, the pain in her abdomen lessened. Had it not been for Gu Shi’an insisting she stay, she could have walked a few steps with her belly.

The clinic’s doctor hurried in, examined her, and said with a smile, “It’s not time for delivery yet. What you’re experiencing is pre-labor false contractions, which usually occur a few days before the actual labor. Your due date is in July. Unless there’s some disturbance, early delivery is unlikely. Don’t worry.”

Relieved, Gu Shi’an was finally able to relax. Although Lin Yao had been through a lot of pain, it was not yet time for delivery. She had sweat a lot, and her once-bright face was now pale.

Since it was late June, only a few days remained until Lin Yao’s due date. She settled into the delivery room.

Gu Shi’an went to go through the hospitalization procedures. His sister-in-law was lying in bed looking uncomfortable, so Gu Shidong ran around anxiously.

When Gu Shi’an came back and saw this scene,he frowned and sent the brat home to wait for their parents, and clean up the dishes. He filled a basin with water, wrung out a towel, and gently wiped Lin Yao’s body.

Lin Yao, feeling sleepy, was reluctant to move.

Gu Shi’an patiently soothed her, wiped her face and neck, then her hands. Knowing she cared about her appearance, he applied some snowflake cream after wiping her. He also used a fan to cool her, taking good care of her.

Lin Yao gradually relaxed in the cool breeze, her fatigue easing as she fell into a comfortable sleep. Gu Shi’an kissed her forehead tenderly, his eyes full of affection.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Zhang Cuilan and her husband, along with Mother Xu went to the countryside and bought two crucian carps from a fellow villager they knew through Second Uncle Zhang.

Crucian carps are great for increasing milk production, and if there were pig trotters, it would be even better.

However, in these times, pig trotters were a rare luxury. Last year’s famine had significantly reduced pig production, and this year’s piglets were still growing. Even in Yunshui County, it was difficult to buy pig trotters.

Mother Xu also discussed with the locals about buying a female goat to provide milk for her grandson.

The locals sighed, “There are no goats available. Not even a male goat can be found in the village. Last year, the commune’s canteen ran out of food, so they had to slaughter all the village’s sheep to avoid starvation.”

With the environment being what it was, everyone was helpless.

Eldest Aunt secretly handed a small bag of soybeans to Zhang Cuilan.

“Cuilan, we don’t have much, but take these soybeans. They can be used to make soup, which will also help with milk production.”

Mother Xu, overwhelmed with gratitude, didn’t know what to say and kept thanking the eldest aunt.

The eldest aunt said, “We’re all family, there’s no need for thanks.”

Mother Xu insisted on leaving some money for the eldest aunt’s family before boarding the old ox cart with Zhang Cuilan and her husband to head back to the city.

By the time they returned to Yunshui County, it was already past eight o’clock. The streets of Yunshui County were lit up with countless lights, while the courtyard was quiet. Dongzi was waiting at the door, peeking out for his parents’ return.

As soon as the little rascal saw her mom and dad, he ran over excitedly.

“Mom, Dad, Mom!”

“We’re right here, what’s wrong?”

“My sister-in-law is about to give birth and is at the hospital right now!”

Dongzi’s unclear words startled his mother, causing her to nearly stumble.

Gu Mancang supported Zhang Cuilan as the elderly couple, hearing their youngest son’s urgent report, hurriedly rushed to the hospital.

At that moment, Lin Yao was in good spirits, lying in bed and enjoying some wontons from the hospital’s canteen.

She had taken a nap for over two hours in the afternoon, and was feeling better, though her stomach was still growling.

Gu Shi’an brought some small wontons from the hospital canteen. These wontons were made with a broth of large bones. Although they were called small wontons, they were round and plump with thin skins and ample filling. The filling was made of shepherd’s purse and egg, topped with a handful of green coriander. Each bite released a rich aroma.

Lin Yao ate happily, her eyes smiling with satisfaction.

Gu Shi’an, watching her, had a faint smile on his face. The doctor had just made rounds and reported that Lin Yao’s pregnancy was progressing well, with the baby in a good position. Given Lin Yao’s daily exercises at home, there shouldn’t be any issues with a smooth delivery.

Zhang Cuilan and her husband, relieved to see their daughter-in-law doing well, were comforted.

Dongzi was still loudly asking, “Has my sister-in-law given birth? What did she give birth to? Can I go in and see?”

This troublesome son.

Zhang Cuilan pulled her son aside, scolding, “You little rascal, what nonsense are you talking about? Your sister-in-law hasn’t given birth yet!”

I was so scared that I almost fell down.

Gu Shidong shrank his neck guiltily and scratched his head awkwardly.

He had already been sent home earlier and didn’t know about the latest developments.

“……..”

In any case, it turned out to be a false alarm. The Gu family remained vigilant. The doctor had mentioned that Lin Yao was just a few days away from her due date, so they needed to monitor her closely during this period.

Lin Yao was well taken care of in the delivery room, enjoying good food and drink. During her free time, she walked around the corridor to keep active.

Zhang Cuilan took advantage of the good weather these days to clean up at home, hanging several miles of dried meat under the eaves. It took two or three days for it to dry completely.

The dried meat was wrapped in oil paper and stored in the wardrobe, saved for future use.

On July 2nd, the eighth day of Lin Yao’s hospital stay, Zhang Cuilan returned home to prepare food for her daughter-in-law. The steel plant had resumed operations, and Gu Mancang was busy at the factory.

Gu Shi’an planned to take a few days off to stay at the hospital with Lin Yao during the birth.

However, fate had other plans. The weather, which had been clear and sunny, suddenly turned gloomy. After a few rumbles of thunder, heavy rain began pouring down.

The rain continued for five or six days. A town downstream in Yunshui County was hit by a series of heavy storms, causing the river at the village entrance to swell and triggering a mountain flood. Several villages downstream were submerged, turning the once picturesque countryside into a murky sea.

Fortunately, the villagers from nearby villages had already been relocated to caves in the mountains. County leaders dispatched all available police forces for rescue operations, and the armed forces and militia were also sent out, though manpower was still insufficient.

The Second Corps of the Northern Theater had received orders, and PLA soldiers on rescue missions were en route.

County police officers, carrying sandbags, were on the front lines of disaster relief efforts.

A few days ago, the river’s current was too swift, with mountain floods occasionally creating huge waves. Recently, after the sun came out, the river levels had decreased significantly.

The arriving PLA soldiers joined the county police in reinforcing the riverbank with sandbags and wooden stakes. The stakes were driven in to stabilize the sandbags.

By evening, the rain began to fall lightly again, though more rain was expected in the coming days.

In these times, bamboo rafts could only carry a few people, and some disaster victims were scrambling to get on them.

Xu Xiangqian, dressed in a raincoat and holding a megaphone, shouted urgently.

“Don’t rush! Line up properly. Elderly and children first on the rafts, women to the rear mountain, and men last!”

“Hey, what are you doing? There are plenty of rafts behind. You, a big man, shouldn’t be pushing in!”

“What’s wrong with you? Are you afraid of dying? Get in line!”

“Ma’am, you can’t cut in. The elderly and children go first, you wait.”

“Old sir, it’s your turn. Someone helped the old man onto the raft.”

“Once on the raft, don’t stick your head out. The river’s waves are high! Don’t lean out!”

Despite the shouting, some disaster victims still ignored the instructions, causing Xu Xiangqian to rush around maintaining order.

In the midst of the chaos, a drenched man put down the sandbag from his shoulder on the riverbank and strode over.

“Go rest, I’ll handle maintaining order.”

Xu Xiangqian was stunned, recognizing the familiar voice. He turned and saw a pair of narrow, slightly tilted black eyes.

Hey, it was Old Gu!

Xu Xiangqian, excited and speechless, said, “Old Gu, you’re finally back! My dad said you were leading the team to assist the folks from Sanshan Village. The situation there was dire, with waves capable of sweeping people away. Looks like you’re okay, and I don’t need to worry about you anymore. Lin Yao must be close to giving birth in the hospital now. When you go back, you’ll be able to hold the little one soon.”

Thinking about his wife who was preparing for childbirth in the hospital, Gu Shi’an felt a pang of pain in his heart. He steadied himself, trying hard not to think about the situation at the hospital.

Gu Shi’an stood by the riverbank, and immediately, the previously restless crowd of disaster victims quieted down. Even the troublemakers among them dared not make a sound. They weren’t fools. Despite Gu Shi’an wearing the same military-green trousers and black rubber shoes as the ordinary rescue soldiers, his eyes were cold and sharp. His gaze was emotionless and icy.

Such a man was not someone to be trifled with.

At the county health clinic.

In the morning, Lin Yao had been lying leisurely in bed, reading a book. After noon, she ate two boiled eggs, and Zhang Cuilan went home to prepare some chicken soup for her daughter-in-law.

As soon as Zhang Cuilan left, Lin Yao started to feel something was wrong. Her stomach began to contract with intermittent pains, accompanied by a sensation of heaviness. She quickly followed the doctor’s instructions, practicing the breathing techniques, and had Dongzi call for the doctor.

Dongzi hurried off immediately.

A few minutes later, the female doctor and a nurse arrived at the delivery room. After examining Lin Yao, the doctor said, “It’s time, you’re dilated to two centimeters. Quickly, push the patient into the operating room.”

The hospital staff was busy, and Lin Yao, holding her stomach, remained optimistic, thinking that reaching two centimeters meant childbirth might not be that painful.

Ideals were rich, but reality was harsh.

As soon as Lin Yao was pushed into the delivery room, the contractions became increasingly intense. The pain, which had been occurring every ten minutes or so, now came every five to six minutes, eventually crashing in like waves. The intense pain made her feel like a fish out of water. She could only grit her teeth, clutch the bed sheets, and follow the doctor’s commands, hoping to get the baby out as soon as possible.

Zhang Cuilan came with a lunchbox to deliver food, and upon seeing her youngest son waiting at the delivery room door, she found out that her daughter-in-law had entered the delivery room.

Gu Mancang, having received the news, hurriedly came to the hospital.

When he arrived, Lin Yao was inside laboring, and Zhang Cuilan was anxiously pacing in the hallway.

Gu Mancang wiped the sweat from his forehead and told his wife not to worry. In fact, he could barely move his legs. He was exhausted from running to the hospital and was heartbroken thinking about the pain Lin Yao was enduring, reminiscent of the time his wife had given birth to their eldest son.

The family anxiously waited in the hallway, peeking through the door cracks.

At half past eleven at night, the sound of a baby crying broke the silence of the night. At the same time, a disheveled Gu Shi’an appeared at the hospital.