Chapter 16: Wei Wan’s Difficult Labor

At this moment, Liu Jianjun and Wei Wan, who had been standing nearby, stepped forward. Liu Jianjun had an upright posture, his expression carrying a hint of firmness. He furrowed his brows slightly as he looked at Wei Lan, feeling both helpless and pained—he knew all too well that his sister-in-law’s temper had stirred up a huge mess.

Wei Wan, on the other hand, had gentle features, but her figure was slightly bloated. Her prominently swollen belly was particularly eye-catching—she was already more than eight months pregnant. She gently tugged at Wei Lan, signaling her to step back, but her movements were labored and filled with discomfort.

Clearing his throat, Liu Jianjun turned to the crowd and spoke sincerely, “Dear neighbors, this matter was indeed Wei Lan’s fault. As her brother-in-law, I must also take responsibility for not disciplining her properly. Comrade Yang Qingyan, you have been wronged, and I apologize on her behalf.” As he spoke, he bowed slightly in a respectful gesture.

Wei Wan also took a step forward and said softly, “Sister Yang Qingyan, I know my younger sister is reckless and ended up hurting you. As neighbors, we should be living in harmony, yet she made such a foolish mistake. I feel deeply guilty and sincerely hope you can forgive her.” As she spoke, she unconsciously lifted a hand to gently caress her belly, her eyes full of maternal warmth and remorse.

Seeing their sincerity, which was in stark contrast to Wei Lan’s attitude, Yang Qingyan’s anger subsided significantly. She had always believed that one should take responsibility for their own actions. Though Wei Lan was hateful, Liu Jianjun and Wei Wan stepping forward like this showed a sense of responsibility that she couldn’t help but respect.

Her expression softened considerably, and she quickly said, “Brother Liu, Sister Wei, this isn’t your fault. I know you are both upright people. Whether Wei Lan can truly come to her senses is what really matters. Today, for your sake, I won’t hold this against her.”

The residents of the family compound, witnessing the scene, murmured among themselves. They praised Yang Qingyan for her decisiveness and strength while also commending Liu Jianjun and Wei Wan for their reasonableness and sense of responsibility. At the same time, they shook their heads in disapproval at Wei Lan’s pettiness and narrow-mindedness.

However, when Wei Lan saw her sister and brother-in-law taking this stance, anger flared up inside her like a sudden blaze. She felt utterly humiliated in front of everyone, and instead of defending her, her own family was siding with an outsider. The more she thought about it, the more furious she became. Her reason was swallowed by rage in an instant.

She suddenly shoved through the crowd, desperate to escape from this place that had become a source of humiliation.

But in her reckless rush, she completely failed to notice the pregnant Wei Wan standing nearby.

Wei Wan, already struggling with balance, was caught off guard by the forceful shove. Her body instantly wobbled, and after a few unsteady steps, she fell backward.

Instinctively, she reached out to shield her belly, but it was no use. With a sharp cry of pain, agony surged through her abdomen, and bright red blood slowly began to seep from between her legs. Her face turned deathly pale in an instant.

Collapsing onto the ground, she clutched her belly tightly, curling into herself. Cold sweat poured from her forehead, forming large beads that rolled down her cheeks. Her lips trembled, drained of all color from the pain. Her breathing became rapid and uneven, each inhale pulling at the unbearable pain in her stomach. A weak moan escaped her lips—a sound that seemed to be wrenched from the depths of her soul, filled with despair and unbearable suffering. The sound alone was enough to make anyone’s heart tighten with unease.

The crowd erupted into panicked cries.

Liu Jianjun reacted instantly, dashing forward to catch Wei Wan. His voice trembled as he called out, “Wanwan, are you okay?!” His eyes were filled with panic and guilt—if only he had paid more attention earlier, perhaps this disaster could have been avoided.

Wei Wan struggled to answer, her voice weak, “Jianjun, my stomach… it hurts so much… Save the baby… Save our child…”

Yang Qingyan was also stunned by this sudden turn of events. She froze for a moment before quickly reacting and rushing forward, saying anxiously, “Hurry, take her to the military district hospital!” At this moment, all past grievances were pushed far to the back of her mind—her only thought was to save Wei Wan as soon as possible.

Mu Nanhe swiftly pushed through the crowd, remaining calm and composed as he commanded, “A few of you, help carry her, and be gentle!” The crowd scrambled into action, carefully lifting Wei Wan onto a stretcher cart and rushing toward the military district hospital.

Wei Lan stood frozen in place, staring at the chaotic scene before her. Watching her sister’s pained expression, the accusing gazes of the surrounding people, her hands began to tremble. The hatred in her heart was gradually replaced by fear and regret. She knew that her impulsive push might have caused a disaster—but it was too late to take it back now…

The group rushed frantically to the military district hospital, with Wei Lan following behind in a daze. As soon as they arrived, doctors and nurses quickly surrounded them, placing Wei Wan on a stretcher and rushing her into the emergency room, leaving the others waiting outside.

At this moment, Wei Lan’s tears spilled uncontrollably as she cried to her brother-in-law, “I didn’t mean to! I really didn’t mean to!” Her voice was filled with fear and helplessness. However, Liu Jianjun, completely consumed by worry for Wei Wan, had no energy to respond. His brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes fixed firmly on the emergency room door, and his fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.

Yang Qingyan, standing to the side, found Wei Lan’s sobbing unbearable and couldn’t help but snap, “Stop crying.”

Wei Lan seemed startled by the scolding and immediately fell silent, her sobs turning into soft sniffles, though her shoulders continued to tremble.

Inside the emergency room, the sound of Wei Wan’s agonized cries echoed. Each cry was like a sharp knife, stabbing into everyone’s hearts. But gradually, the cries grew weaker and weaker, as if each one drained all her remaining strength, making it even more heart-wrenching.

After ten minutes, the military doctor walked out with a grave expression. Everyone immediately gathered around. The doctor removed his mask, let out a sigh, and said, “The patient hasn’t reached full term, but her contractions have started. She’s going into labor—we won’t be able to save the pregnancy.”

This short statement was like a bomb exploding in everyone’s ears.

Wei Lan’s body stiffened at these words. She stared blankly at the doctor, as if all her senses had been stripped away. Her lips trembled, as if wanting to say something, but not a single word came out.

Liu Jianjun, on the other hand, seemed to have suffered a devastating blow. His legs nearly gave out beneath him, and he almost collapsed to the ground. His eyes were wide with disbelief as he murmured, “How… how could this happen…”

Standing nearby, Mu Nanhe’s expression was solemn. He gently patted Liu Jianjun on the shoulder, wanting to offer some words of comfort, but at this moment, any words felt powerless and pale.

Before anyone could recover from the shock, the doctor’s expression grew even darker as he continued grimly, “Not only that, but during the examination, we discovered that the fetus is in an abnormal position. Since labor has already started, there’s a high risk of a difficult birth. Transferring her to the military hospital will take at least an hour, and by then… the mother’s life could be in danger.”

This statement was like pouring ice water over an already freezing situation, making the already heavy atmosphere even more suffocating.