Chapter 40: Premature Birth

Li Chunfang, seeing the situation, couldn’t help but show a joyful expression and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely pick the freshest big fish for you.”

If Liu Yinyin had only bought two or three fish, she would have felt too embarrassed to accept any eggs, as it would just be a casual favor. But since she was buying fish worth twenty yuan, Li Chunfang could manage, but it would take some effort.

If Liu Yinyin were unaware of the situation and didn’t show any appreciation, Li Chunfang definitely wouldn’t take on such a task again in the future.

Having solved another issue, Liu Yinyin finally felt at ease. For the days ahead, she could focus entirely on the child.

It was already the end of October. Liu Yinyin curled her fingers, her baby was about nine months old.

According to Yang Guizhi, the first pregnancy typically results in the baby being born a bit earlier, meaning… her baby was about to be born soon.

Liu Yinyin felt quite nervous. All the baby items at home had been prepared; they were just waiting for the baby to be born.

“Thinking about it during the day leads to dreaming at night.” Perhaps due to emotional fluctuations, Liu Yinyin didn’t sleep soundly that night.

In the vague darkness, she seemed to hear a miserable scream.

Liu Yinyin suddenly opened her eyes.

Gu Cheng was also startled awake. He lit the oil lamp, put on his clothes…

“What happened? It sounds like someone is screaming,” Liu Yinyin said, listening carefully. The scream sounded like it came from nearby. It was a woman’s voice, and the cries seemed to tear through the quiet of the village.

“Stay here, I’ll go out and check.”

Worried that something might be wrong in the village, Gu Cheng quickly got dressed, grabbed the flashlight from beside Liu Yinyin’s pillow, and went outside.

The flashlight was something Gu Cheng had brought back from the army, and now he used it for Liu Yinyin. She had frequent urination during her pregnancy, needing to get up two or three times each night to go to the bathroom. The flashlight was more convenient for her.

Liu Yinyin lay in bed, unable to fall back asleep. Actually, she had a vague guess in her heart… This… sounded a bit like Yang Guizhi’s voice.

A pregnant woman, screaming in the middle of the night like that, it could only be…

Liu Yinyin felt uneasy and truly hoped she was overthinking it.

Not long later, Gu Cheng returned, sighed lightly, and then told her, “It’s the daughter-in-law of the family nearby. She’s giving birth.”

Just as she had guessed…

Liu Yinyin was surprised. “Her due date seemed to be about the same as mine. How could she be giving birth so soon?”

Gu Cheng’s face wasn’t good either. “I’m not sure. It’s chaotic over there now. I heard that she fell, and that caused the premature birth.”

Liu Yinyin frowned. “Won’t they send her to the hospital?”

Giving birth like this was so dangerous.

With a pregnant wife at home, Gu Cheng felt uneasy about such things as well. “They hired a midwife.”

There was nothing that could be done. The family didn’t want to send her to the hospital, and no one else could do anything about it.

Perhaps because she was also pregnant, Liu Yinyin felt particularly uneasy. She lifted the blanket and tried to get out of bed. “Gu Cheng, I want to go and take a look.”

Gu Cheng supported her, intending to tell her that it wouldn’t help, but seeing her large belly, the words were swallowed back.

He could only grab the flashlight and help her out the door.

The home of Liu Ergou was indeed chaotic. The neighbors, unable to sleep due to the noise, had come over to watch the commotion.

The gate to Liu Ergou’s house was open, so Liu Yinyin walked right in.

“Mom, the midwife said that Guizhi can’t give birth, and we need to send her to the hospital…”

As soon as she entered, Liu Yinyin saw Liu Ergou kneeling on the ground, pleading with his mother, Xin Xiujian, to send Yang Guizhi to the hospital.

Xin Xiujian had a stern face and said, “What hospital? Have you seen any woman in the village go to a hospital to give birth? You know what kind of family we are! I don’t have the money.”

The family was headed by Xin Xiujian, and giving birth in a hospital would certainly cost a lot of money, which she didn’t want to spend.

Liu Ergou, having no money, was so desperate that he was nearly crying. “Mom, Guizhi can’t give birth. Both the baby and she might die.”

“Ah, Liu Ergou’s mother, life is at stake. You should quickly get some money and send your daughter-in-law to the hospital,” someone nearby kindly advised.

“Yes, no matter what, that’s your grandchild…”

“Bah!” Xin Xiujian spat on the ground, “What grandchild? What’s growing in her belly is just a liability!”

Xin Xiujian grew angrier the more she thought about it.

She simply lay down on the ground, cursing and wailing, “Oh my heavens, why is my life so miserable? A whole house full of girls! I have failed my ancestors…”

Inside and outside the house, there were cries and shouts everywhere; the chaos was overwhelming.

“Xiujian, stop cursing! If you delay any longer, your daughter-in-law won’t make it!” an auntie advised.

Xin Xiujian immediately snapped back at her, “And what do you expect me to do? It’s not like I caused her difficult labor! I really don’t have any money. If you’re so kind, why don’t you pay for her hospital visit?”

The auntie was momentarily stunned into silence. Embarrassed, she didn’t dare to speak again. What was she thinking? It wasn’t her daughter-in-law, so why would she be the one to pay?

Liu Yinyin felt deeply unsettled. She glanced at Gu Cheng and asked, “Should we… lend them some money?”

After all, it was two lives at stake. They couldn’t just stand by and watch.

Gu Cheng had no objections, but they had left in a hurry and hadn’t brought any money with them.

Going back to get it would waste time, so Gu Cheng borrowed ten yuan from someone he knew nearby.

Handing the money to Liu Ergou, he said, “Take her to the hospital first. I’ll be heading to the county town tomorrow morning. I’ll bring more money to the hospital then.”

Liu Ergou recognized Gu Cheng. Seeing that he was willing to lend him money, he was overwhelmed with gratitude. “Thank you…”

Gu Cheng urged, “Hurry up, don’t waste any more time.”

Liu Ergou was the only son in his family, with no brothers to help him.

The villagers might not be willing to lend him money, but most of them were still willing to lend a hand.

Immediately, someone brought a wooden cart to help Liu Ergou take his wife to the hospital.

Xin Xiujian, seeing that they were actually going to the hospital, showed no sign of joy on her face. Instead, she glanced at Gu Cheng, then turned to glare at Liu Yinyin and said, “Let me make this clear—you have money to lend, but I have no money to pay back.”

She said it so self-righteously.

Liu Yinyin even began to suspect that she had planned this all along, hoping to extort money from others.

She hadn’t planned to bring up repayment so soon, but since Xin Xiujian mentioned it first…

Liu Yinyin wasn’t some saint. She wasn’t going to let herself be taken advantage of. “Repaying debts is only natural. You haven’t divided your family yet, have you? Then whoever manages the household should be responsible for repaying the money.”

Naturally, Xin Xiujian wouldn’t divide the family over a bit of money. She lowered her eyelids and said, “I already told you, we have no money. Even if you ask me, I can’t give you any!”

She was determined to play the deadbeat, acting as if she had no means to pay.

Liu Yinyin’s eyes darted around the house before she suddenly remarked, “Your house looks pretty nice…”