Chapter 1: Difficult Labor

In 1960, XXX Unit.

The atmosphere in the office is extremely oppressive. The great victory of this mission did not bring cheers from everyone, because a comrade has sacrificed.

The person in charge of this mission, Qin Zhan, is twenty-three years old this year. Although he graduated from the military academy and became a deputy company commander as soon as he joined the army, giving him a head start compared to other soldiers, every promotion from deputy company commander to company commander was earned through his own efforts.

And the great success of this mission, of course, cannot be separated from his command.

However, someone still died in this mission. Although no mission can guarantee no casualties, and even though he has seen many battlefield fights and experienced the departure of many comrades, Qin Zhan still feels very sad inside.

Qin Zhan is 185 cm tall. His tall and upright figure is somewhat slumped at this moment. The soldier who died was Ji Aihua, a soldier he had recruited. From the first day he joined the army, Ji Aihua had followed him. And this time, Ji Aihua sacrificed himself to block a bullet for him.

It was because, at the end of the mission, a soldier had an unexpected accident that attracted the enemy’s attention and exposed their location, causing the enemy to open fire on them. At the critical moment, Ji Aihua sacrificed himself for him.

Ji Aihua was twenty-six years old this year. He had a simple and honest personality and had started step by step from an ordinary soldier. If he had not sacrificed this time, then based on his merits in this mission, he could have been promoted to deputy platoon commander.

Before the mission, Ji Aihua had also told him that if he could get a major merit and be promoted, he could send more money back home. He also said that his wife was about to give birth, and with more money, his wife, child, and mother could eat better.

Ji Aihua’s mother was a widow. His father died early. His mother raised five siblings by herself, which was not easy. But now…

“My condolences.” Political instructor Chen Zhengming patted Qin Zhan on the shoulder. “Comrade Ji Aihua has already sacrificed. What we need to do is fulfill his last wish and send his personal belongings back to his hometown.”

Every soldier writes a will before going on a mission.

Qin Zhan said, “Mm… I plan to take a leave and personally deliver his things.”

Chen Zhengming opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but finally sighed, “Alright.” Taking leave would also give him time to adjust his mood.

*

Yangguang Production Team

Qin Zhan is pushing a cart, running non-stop toward the commune hospital. Lying on the cart is Ji Aihua’s wife, Ning Xin. He had never thought that just because of his arrival, Ji Aihua’s wife would go into premature labor.

“Aihua’s wife… Aihua’s wife, hold on. Ning Xin… Ning Xin, hold on. Can you hear auntie talking?”

An old woman is running beside the cart. She is the midwife of the brigade. Aihua’s wife was so heartbroken over Aihua’s death that she has no strength to give birth. If they don’t send her to the hospital, the child will suffocate in the womb.

“Sister-in-law, how is my daughter-in-law?” Ji Aihua’s mother, Widow Ji, is also coming along.

Widow Ji is known to be fierce in the Yangguang Production Brigade. Ji Aihua was her eldest son and the one she valued the most. When Qin Zhan was telling her about her son’s death, the daughter-in-law overheard it, which led to the current situation.

The midwife did not get a response, and her heart is uneasy. She looks carefully at Ning Xin again. Ning Xin is lying with her eyes closed, not even groaning. Could it be…?

Her heart suddenly sinks. The midwife trembles as she reaches out to feel Ning Xin’s nose. When she touches her nose, her hand freezes. She cannot feel Ning Xin’s breath.

Widow Ji is also observing her daughter-in-law’s condition and naturally sees the midwife’s action. Seeing the midwife freeze, her heart jumps up immediately. “How is it? Sister-in-law? How is my daughter-in-law?” As she speaks, she also reaches out to feel.

But just at this moment, the previously motionless person suddenly opens her eyes. “My stomach… my stomach hurts so much.” Her voice is like a kitten whimpering.

Ning Xin shouts instinctively. What is going on? Why does her stomach hurt so much? Didn’t she die in a car accident while visiting her parents’ graves? Could it be that she was saved?

The midwife hears her shouting and finally comes back to her senses. Maybe it was an illusion just now. It is good that Aihua’s wife still responds. But hearing that very weak voice, she still cannot feel at ease. “Aihua’s wife, hold on. Once we get to the hospital, it’ll be fine. Think of the child in your belly. You have to hold on, endure it.”

“Eldest daughter-in-law, hold on. We are almost at the town’s hospital. The child is being naughty and making you suffer. When he comes out, I’ll spank his bottom. You have to hang in there.” Widow Ji quickly adds.

At the same time, she cannot help but pray in her heart. Dear heavens, I beg you. The eldest is already gone. Please protect the child and his wife. If a life must be taken, then take this old woman’s instead.

Ning Xin is in such pain she does not have the strength to speak. She also cannot hear clearly what the midwife and Widow Ji are saying. What giving birth? She is completely confused. At this moment, dense memories surge through her mind. In an instant, the impact on her brain and the pain in her stomach cause her to lose consciousness.

“Not good, Aihua’s wife closed her eyes. Comrade… comrade, you have to go faster.” The midwife shouts at Qin Zhan, who is pulling the cart in front.

Qin Zhan is already running. He was worried that running too fast would cause something to happen to the pregnant woman in the cart. But hearing the midwife shout like this, he can no longer worry about anything else and starts running wildly.

In the blink of an eye, Qin Zhan leaves Widow Ji and the midwife far behind. The midwife is stunned just watching. This male comrade runs too fast. Faster than even the ox carts in their brigade.

Yangguang Production Brigade is a bit remote. Coming from the town means bumpy mountain roads. Normally, walking would take about an hour and a half. Fortunately, this is not Qin Zhan’s first time coming here, so he is familiar with the road. He pulls the pregnant woman and runs to the town. Behind him, Widow Ji and the midwife are no longer in sight. But Qin Zhan does not dare to waste time. After asking someone in town, he directly brings the pregnant woman to the hospital.

In these days, not many people go to the hospital even in the county town, let alone the town’s hospital. So when Qin Zhan pulls up with the cart and shouts, “Doctor, the pregnant woman is in difficult labor. Come quickly and save her,” the nurses and doctors inside immediately come out to help. While pushing the pregnant woman into the operating room, one of the nurses says to Qin Zhan, “Comrade, please go and register the admission procedures.”

Qin Zhan apologetically says, “Comrade, I am the comrade-in-arms of the pregnant woman’s husband. Her husband was an outstanding soldier who went down during a mission. I don’t know the pregnant woman’s name, so I cannot register the admission. But her mother-in-law is on the way and should arrive soon. I will pay a deposit first. Can we handle the formalities after her mother-in-law arrives?”

Even if she were not a military widow, just an ordinary pregnant woman, as long as someone pays a deposit, the hospital will arrange emergency treatment. “No problem.”

Qin Zhan gives the nurse the money and asks her to handle it. He then quickly follows to the door of the operating room. But standing there, his heart does not dare relax.

Not long after, the doctor inside comes out. “It is a difficult labor. The pregnant woman’s condition is not optimistic. She has no strength to give birth on her own. We have to do a cesarean. But the anesthesia will not take effect quickly. The child cannot wait for the anesthesia to kick in. While administering anesthesia, we must also operate. Family members must sign the surgical consent. If the situation is not good, do we save the mother or the child?”

Qin Zhan’s steady figure staggers. Although he had mentally prepared for the worst on the way here, hearing the doctor’s question, it is still hard to accept. “I am not a relative. Can we wait for her relative to arrive and then decide?”

The doctor also understands his difficulty, but he helplessly shakes his head. “Every extra minute of waiting means more danger. By then, it will not be a matter of choosing one over the other.”

Qin Zhan takes a deep breath and grits his teeth. “She is the widow and child of a hero. Please try to save both if possible. If we really can only save one, then—”

Before the words “save the mother” are spoken, hurried footsteps come from behind. Turning around, it is Widow Ji and the midwife.

Qin Zhan says to the doctor, “That is the mother-in-law of the woman inside. This matter must be decided by her.”

“Comrade Qin, how is my daughter-in-law?” As soon as Widow Ji saw Qin Zhan, she hurriedly asked about her daughter-in-law. Her heart was in turmoil and she was very uneasy.

Qin Zhan did not dare delay and quickly explained the situation inside. “…Auntie, what do you think?”

Save the mother or the child?

Hearing Qin Zhan’s question, Widow Ji suddenly felt dizzy and her vision blurred. She seemed to see her eldest son walking toward her.

“Not good, the old lady has been stimulated.” The doctor shouted, “Call the emergency doctor.”

Qin Zhan quickly supported Widow Ji.

Before losing consciousness, Widow Ji tightly grabbed Qin Zhan’s hand. “Save… save…” She still did not say the last word.

The obstetrician saw this and said to Qin Zhan, “Lay the old lady on the ground and don’t move her. Wait for the other doctors to come. Also, what about the woman giving birth inside? Save the mother or the child?”

Qin Zhan held the unconscious Widow Ji on the ground without moving. At the same time, he quickly answered, “Save the mother.” His voice was firm, but within the firmness was helplessness. “Comrade, that is the wife and child of a hero. If possible, please try to save both.”

“Rest assured, we will do our best to save both.” Unless absolutely necessary, they would not choose one over the other.

After promising, the doctor quickly went to the operating room.

Not long after, a nurse brought another doctor who examined Widow Ji’s condition and said to Qin Zhan, “Carry the old lady to the ward. From preliminary observation, it seems she is only shocked, but judging from her body, further checks are needed.”

In times like these, with famine ongoing, Widow Ji had become extremely thin. Now stimulated again, no one could say what might happen.

“Thank you, comrade, for checking.” Qin Zhan said.

After carrying Widow Ji to the ward, a midwife stayed to watch over her. Qin Zhan then went to wait at the operating room door. Seeing the door tightly shut, his heart beat faster and faster. Though he had never believed in superstition, for the first time in his life, he had the impulse to pray to the gods, hoping they would bless the mother and child with safety.

Time passed second by second. Qin Zhan did not know how long he had waited. At last, he saw the operating room door open and hurried forward. “Doctor, how is the situation?”