Chapter 37: “Seven Lives, Eight Doesn’t”

Everything happened so suddenly that everyone was stunned, as if their souls had been snatched away.

He Yunhuai rushed forward but couldn’t catch Wan Xu. He watched helplessly as she fell hard to the ground, her pregnant belly hitting the ground.

Wan Xu’s labor had been triggered prematurely. The pain was so intense she couldn’t even lift her hands. She felt like she was dying—unable to speak, unable to move.

Everyone paled with fear, too shocked to spare a glance at Second Aunt He.

“Wan Xu, don’t scare your mother like this,” Mother He said, eyes red as she rushed to her daughter’s side.

Wan Xu’s first birth had been difficult, and Mother He had lived in dread of complications during this pregnancy. She had insisted Wanxu take extra care these past months. No one could have foreseen such a sudden crisis.

Blood had already soaked through Wan Xu’s clothes. He Yunhuai quickly carried her inside and laid her on the kang.

Mother He forced herself to stay calm. She instructed He Yunhuai to fetch Doctor Wang, hoping a few doses of medicine might stabilize things. Maybe the bleeding was just…

“Mother, we need to call the midwife,” Su Yi’an said. She feared Wanxu was going into labor. Doctor Wang could stabilize her pulse, but childbirth required a midwife.

“But she’s only eight months along…” Mother He trailed off, glancing at the pale figure on the kang. The unspoken words hung heavy in the air.

Su Yi’an knew the old saying: “Seven lives, eight dies.”

But right now, it wasn’t about the child. It was about whether Wan Xu would survive.

She dragged Mother He out of the room. Only she knew where the midwife lived—sending someone else would waste precious time.

“If she refuses to come, promise her generous payment. No matter what,” Su Yi’an urged.

Still dazed, Mother He nodded and hurried toward the village.

Even as she ran down the alley, she couldn’t understand why Su Yi’an had said those words.

Two knocks, and the door opened.

“What is it?” the midwife’s eldest son asked, reluctantly ushering her inside after recognizing her.

“My daughter-in-law is in labor. Can the midwife come quickly? I came by just a few days ago,” Mother He said. No pleasantries—only urgency. Her only thought was to bring the midwife back.

The eldest son frowned. Someone from the Ye Family had come earlier that day—not for labor, just to check on a pregnant woman, worried the New Year festivities might cause early birth. He’d already promised to help them. His mother had no time to deliver for the He Family.

“My mother isn’t here today,” he said with a straight face. “Try another village.”

Mother He didn’t believe him. He had just welcomed her in—how could his mother not be home?

She called out twice into the courtyard, but no one answered. Left with no choice, she relayed Su Yi’an’s offer of generous payment.

“You should go,” the man said. “If she’s really in labor, hurry.”

The mention of silver had tempted him, but the Ye Family offered more. Even a generous offer from the He Family couldn’t compare.

Mother He’s eyes reddened, but she turned and rushed toward the neighboring village.

Inside, the midwife glared at her daughter-in-law. “Why did you stop me?”

“Mother, we already promised the Ye Family. What would they think if you went to the He Family instead? We’ll get half a tael just for a checkup. Working ourselves to the bone at the He Family would barely earn a few hundred cash.”

The midwife was furious. She had been ready to go—a life was on the line—but her daughter-in-law had stopped her.

Never mind, she thought. There are other midwives nearby. They don’t need me.

Meanwhile, He Yunhuai had already brought Doctor Wang to the house.

On the way, Doctor Wang had asked about the situation and believed it might be a disturbance to the fetus. A few doses of medicine should help.

But the moment he stepped inside and smelled the blood, his heart sank.

He checked Wan Xu’s pulse, quickly wrote a prescription, and ordered the medicine brewed immediately.

“Doctor, how is my sister-in-law?” He Ningwen asked, holding the medicine bowl.

“The baby is likely coming soon. You’ll need to fetch a midwife. Start brewing the medicine now and make sure she doesn’t lose her strength,” Doctor Wang replied, reluctant to say more. At this point, it was all in the hands of fate

Su Yi’an stayed by Wan Xu’s side, constantly wiping sweat from her forehead. Helpless to ease her pain, she could only watch her pant and writhe.

“Yi’an,” Wan Xu whispered. “I want to see Songyuan.”

For some reason, Wan Xu felt that if she didn’t see him now, she might never see him again. She couldn’t bear that thought.

“Of course. I’ll bring him here,” Su Yi’an said, urging He Yunhuai to help Songyuan into the room.

The commotion in the courtyard had reached He Songyuan’s ears. But bedridden, he was powerless.

He Xingchen was brought to his side to keep him company.

“Father, is Mother alright?” He Xingchen asked, worried but unaware of how serious it was.

“She’ll be fine,” He Songyuan said, stroking his head—reassuring the child, and himself.

She has to be alright. She has to survive this.

He Yunhuai returned and quietly sent He Xingchen away before lifting He Songyuan onto his back.

“But Wan Xu—” He Songyuan’s voice broke.

“Big Sister just wants to see you. The midwife isn’t here yet.”

A cold drop slid down He Yunhuai’s neck. He Songyuan was crying.

“Doctor Wang’s already done acupuncture. Now we’re just waiting.”

As they exited the house, Mother He returned—with the midwife.

Yun Niang and her husband arrived at the same time.

It was truly fortunate. They had just returned from town when they saw Mother He desperately asking where the neighboring village’s midwife lived.

Not every village had one. The nearest was two villages away—a full hour on foot.

But Yun Niang had a mule cart.

When the midwife heard someone was in labor, she jumped aboard without hesitation.

Only on the way did she begin to ask questions. When they arrived, she rushed inside and even chased Su Yi’an out.

Only women who had given birth could remain in the room; no one else was allowed.

“We were lucky to run into you,” Mother He said, tears streaming. She couldn’t bear to think how long she would have taken on her own.

Wan Xu’s pained groans echoed from inside, sending chills down Yun Niang’s spine.

“We should head back now,” Yun Niang said.

The He Family was in complete disarray, and there was no real need for them to stay. It would be better to wait until the child was born before visiting again.

Madam He thanked them again as she escorted them out.

Just outside, a few women had gathered to gossip. Su Yi’an didn’t care for their past behavior, but Madam He rushed to beg them for help.

Childbirth was a momentous and difficult event, especially for a premature baby.

Yang Ersao, who had come just to watch the scene, was suddenly pulled inside and left stunned.

“Hold her legs back,” the midwife said calmly. She had seen countless cases like this.

Wan Xu’s water had already broken. The child had to be delivered, dead or alive—it couldn’t stay inside her any longer.

“More hot water,” the midwife ordered.

Basins of hot water were carried in, while basins of bloody water were carried out. As dusk deepened outside, snowflakes began to fall.

It was snowing.

Su Yi’an built a fire in the courtyard. She and He Yunhuai sat around it.

He Ningwen and He Xingchen were sent inside with He Songyuan—away from the bloody scene.

He Songyuan had refused at first, wanting to stay outside for Wan Xu. But Doctor Wang had insisted. In his condition, the cold would only make him collapse.

Time crawled by, and Wan Xu remained in labor.

Bowl after bowl of ginseng soup went in. The midwife and Doctor Wang urged her to hold on. Childbirth required strength. And without that final push, the baby wouldn’t come.

Su Yi’an sat pale-faced, wiping tears from her eyes.

If only I hadn’t left her today. If I’d stayed with her, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.

It was the first time she’d felt true fear—the raw reality of life and death.

“Was it like this before?” she asked, pressing a hand to her chest.

He Yunhuai shook his head. He had been too young when Wanxu gave birth to Xingchen—away at the academy. By the time he got home, it was over.

“Never mind. I’ll make something for her. She must be starving,” Su Yi’an said, rising to the kitchen to cook noodles.

As she turned, she noticed a shadow lingering near the gate. Her heart jumped.

Then the figure waved—just a man and two children, about He Ningwen’s age.

“Is my mother here?” the smaller child asked. His mother had gone to see what the commotion was but hadn’t returned. His father sent him to look, and afraid to come alone, he had waited for the others.

Su Yi’an guessed he was Yang Ersao’s son.

“Come in,” she said, bringing stools to the fire. “They won’t be out for a while.”

Seeing them shivering from the cold, she went back to the kitchen, added noodles, and served each child a bowl.

The long night stretched on. Su Yi’an lost track of how many times she added firewood or warmed medicine.

All she remembered was people rushing in and out of the room, too busy to spare them a word.

Inside, Wanxu had gone from lying on the kang to standing.

A thick quilt had been laid out. Yang and Aunt Zhou held her arms, Aunt Wang supported her from behind.

The He Family had no birthing frame—this was all they could do.

“Push harder! The baby’s almost out!” the midwife urged, pressing on her abdomen.

Blood dripped from Wan Xu’s legs. She bit down on a cloth, clenching her fists so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palms. She could no longer feel the pain in her hands.

“Another sip of soup—drink and push! Just one more push!” the midwife said. The baby’s head was already visible.

By the fire, Su Yian grew increasingly restless. She rose and paced by the door.

Then, a firecracker exploded in the distance, followed immediately by the cry of a newborn from inside the house.