Chapter 211

On the morning of June 28th, after checking that everything was fine with Shi Tingyu, Lu Weiguo got up to head to the training camp for morning exercises.

When he finished his training and brought breakfast back, he saw his wife walking around in the yard.

“What’s wrong, honey? Why are you up so early today?” he asked.

Shi Tingyu didn’t say much, she first ate breakfast, then said, “Weiguo, could you wash my hair for me later?”

Lu Weiguo nodded, still feeling that something was off.

After washing and drying her hair, Shi Tingyu finally said, “This morning, I noticed some blood.”

Lu Weiguo didn’t quite understand. Blood? What blood?

“I might be going into labor. My belly hurt a bit last night, and I saw blood this morning.”

Just as she finished speaking, another wave of pain hit her. Her face turned pale, and she grabbed Lu Weiguo’s arm.

Although it was hot, Lu Weiguo broke into a cold sweat from her reaction.

He knew her belly hurt last night but thought it was another false alarm like before. He didn’t expect it to be the real thing this time.

“I… I…” He didn’t know what to do first.

Shi Tingyu said, “Grab the things we prepared and let’s go to the hospital.”

“Yes, yes.” Lu Weiguo responded repeatedly.

He took a look at his wife and called their neighbor, Mrs. Zhang, to come over and watch the house, then ran to the camp.

He had coordinated about using a vehicle from the camp a few days ago.

He had to go get permission and bring the car back.

Shi Tingyu felt relatively okay, with contractions not too frequent. With Mrs. Zhang’s help, she walked slowly, stopping whenever the pain hit, then continuing once it passed.

Their dog, Lijian, followed closely, whimpering anxiously. It walked when Shi Tingyu walked and stopped when she stopped, never taking its eyes off her.

Mrs. Zhang watched, clicking her tongue in amazement.

Soon, Lu Weiguo came driving back.

He helped Shi Tingyu into the car first, then turned back to get the maternity bag.

These were all things his wife had prepared in advance.

There were clothes for changing, toiletries, and other necessities, as well as baby clothes and diapers.

As soon as the car door closed, Shi Tingyu said to Mrs. Zhang, “Sister, could you please look after Lijian for a couple of days?”

Mrs. Zhang quickly replied, “Don’t worry, go have your baby. Lijian is in good hands with me.”

Now, Shi Tingyu felt reassured.

The saying “a distant relative is not as good as a near neighbor” was truly evident at times like this.

Lijian watched the car drive away, anxiously turning in circles.

Mrs. Zhang, seeing this, said, “Lijian, don’t worry. Your owner is just going to have a baby. She’ll be back after the baby is born.”

Maybe her words worked, as Lijian stopped turning in circles but still looked dispirited.

At the hospital, after an examination, the doctor said, “The cervix is just starting to dilate. It’s not time yet. Family members should go handle the admission procedures.”

Lu Weiguo hurried to complete the admission procedures.

Seeing him running back and forth alone, worrying about his wife, the doctor asked, “Is there no one else from your family here?”

Only then did Shi Tingyu realize she hadn’t informed her parents yet.

When Lu Weiguo returned, she asked him to call her parents and let them know.

Fortunately, there was a phone in the hospital, so he didn’t need to go to the post office.

Shi’s parents were startled when they received the call. The due date wasn’t even here yet, and she was already about to give birth.

They hurriedly took leave and came over.

They were accompanied by a soldier assigned to protect them.

Fortunately, it was a military hospital with good security.

When they arrived, Lu Weiguo was supporting Shi Tingyu as she walked.

Both of their faces were pale.

In fact, Lu Weiguo looked even paler than Shi Tingyu.

He thought childbirth was just about enduring belly pain and then giving birth. He didn’t realize there was something called cervical dilation, which had to open to ten centimeters, and that this process could take up to twelve hours.

Seeing Shi Tingyu in intermittent severe pain, Lu Weiguo felt every minute and second were an eternity of suffering.

When Shi’s parents arrived, Lu Weiguo felt like he had found a lifeline.

Shi’s mother, also anxious, walked over to support Shi Tingyu from the other side, “Xiaoyu, how are you feeling now? What did the doctor say?”

Taking a breath during a break from the pain, Shi Tingyu said, “I can still bear it. The doctor checked earlier, and I’m five centimeters dilated.”

For first-time mothers, labor is slow, and the first delivery requires the cervix to be almost fully dilated before entering the delivery room.

They had to wait a bit longer.

Shi’s mother glanced at Lu Weiguo, who was continuously wiping Shi Tingyu’s sweat, and said, “It looks like it will still be some time before Xiaoyu gives birth. You should rest for a while.”

Seeing him looking as if he might faint at any moment was quite alarming.

Lu Weiguo agreed verbally but didn’t make any moves to rest.

Shi Tingyu, seeing him pacing like an ant on a hot pan, was reminded of their dog, Lijian, circling around her. At this moment, their actions were remarkably similar.

Shi’s father was also quite anxious, wandering aimlessly around the hospital room, unable to do much to help.

Seeing this, Shi’s mother got annoyed and directed her husband, “Go buy some porridge or noodles for Xiaoyu to eat.”

Shi’s father immediately left to get some food.

He returned shortly with the food, but Shi Tingyu had little appetite. She ate only a few bites before stopping.

Lu Weiguo was very worried. His wife usually had a good appetite, but now she couldn’t even finish her meal.

This situation continued until 4 PM when Shi Tingyu was finally wheeled into the delivery room.

Outside the delivery room, Shi’s father, mother, and Lu Weiguo anxiously waited.

Inside, Shi Tingyu’s cries of pain occasionally echoed.

The doctor, seeing Shi Tingyu’s beautiful yet pale face, felt a pang of sympathy.

She gently said, “Childbirth is like this. You need to endure it, don’t be afraid, and try not to scream. Save your strength, and it will hurt less.”

Shi Tingyu nodded.

When the next contraction hit, she tried her best to endure it, only a stifled whimper escaping her throat.

The doctor praised her, “Very good,” and then instructed, “Follow my breathing and push.”

Shi Tingyu focused on ignoring the pain, following the doctor’s instructions, breathing, pushing when needed, and resting when possible.

At this moment, Shi Tingyu became rational. She knew that following the doctor’s guidance was the best way to minimize the pain.

Outside the delivery room, Lu Weiguo felt his heart nearly stop with every cry of pain from his wife.

When the cries ceased, he became even more anxious.

“Mom, why can’t we hear anything from inside?” he asked.

Shi’s mother, also deeply worried for her daughter enduring the pains of childbirth, tried to calm herself and replied shakily, “Not crying means she’s conserving her strength, which is good for the delivery.”

Despite her words, Shi’s mother couldn’t help but tear up.

Having gone through childbirth herself, she knew the pain all too well. Now, her daughter was experiencing it, and it pained her deeply.

Shi’s father gently patted his wife’s hand, comforting her, “Xiaoyu has always been healthy and walks almost every day. The doctor said the baby is in good condition too, so don’t worry.”

Though Shi’s father was worried as well, he knew he couldn’t afford to panic.

With his son-in-law not being dependable at the moment, he needed to stay strong to comfort his wife. He couldn’t let himself fall apart.