Chapter 59

Wang Yuan’er stayed at her maternal grandparent’s house for two days, and it felt like she had lived two lifetimes. These were the happiest days she had ever experienced, where she could run around and play like a carefree child.

During these two days, she truly realized that blood ties, no matter how distant, are never broken. As the saying goes, “Even when the bone is broken, the tendons remain connected”—a timeless truth.

In her past life, she had thought her maternal family to be cold and indifferent, ignoring them completely. But that wasn’t the case. Even her grandfather, Scholar Liang, who was so upright and strict, had a soft heart like tofu. Though his words might have been sharp as knives, he would secretly buy them tasty snacks and fun toys during their visit, awkwardly passing them to Grandma Liang to give to the children.

Then there were her uncle and aunt, who were kind and gentle people. Her aunt, in particular, was a straightforward and lively woman, treating the sisters with genuine warmth and closeness.

In her past life, she must have been blinded by resentment to have cast aside such relationships.

Wang Yuan’er carried a bundle of trinkets from the market and returned to her uncle’s house. Entering the courtyard, she saw a familiar figure standing there. Upon closer look, she realized it was Uncle Tie Zhu, who lived next door to the Wang family.

“Uncle Tie Zhu?” she called softly, her heart skipping a beat.

People don’t visit without reason, and Uncle Tie Zhu doesn’t interact with her grandparents much. For him to appear here now—did something happen at home? Could it be that something had happened to her mother?

Her heart tightened.

“Ah, Yuan’er, you’re back. Quick, pack up and go home,” Uncle Tie Zhu said, wiping the sweat from his forehead, his voice hoarse. “Your mother is about to give birth.”

Crash!

Everything Wang Yuan’er was holding fell to the ground. She rushed to him in just two steps. “How did this happen?”

Her mother wasn’t due yet—why was she suddenly giving birth? What had happened in between?

“I don’t know. It seems she had a quarrel with your second aunt and took a fall. No time to talk—go back quickly.”

A quarrel and a fall?

Wang Yuan’er’s mind went blank, only snapping back to reality when she heard Wang Qing’er calling her name.

“Everything is packed.” Grandma Liang and her aunt came out of the room, carrying the sisters’ belongings.

Grandma Liang held an extra bundle in her hands. Outside the courtyard, there was the neighing of a horse. Soon, her uncle came rushing in.

“The carriage is ready. Are Yuan’er and the others back yet?” It was clear her grandmother and uncle had already been informed.

Wang Yuan’er’s mind was chaotic, and she was pushed onto the carriage. She finally returned to herself after the carriage had traveled a long distance, realizing her face was wet. When she touched it, she found it was covered with tears.

She had been crying!

“It’ll be okay,” Grandma Liang said, holding her hand.

Wang Yuan’er looked at her grandmother, who pressed her lips tightly together, her face stern. Her youngest sister obediently nestled in her grandmother’s arms, silent, while the usually lively Wang Qing’er stubbornly wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

Knowing her grandmother and uncle were accompanying them back calmed Wang Yuan’er a little, but her worry only deepened. Her mind kept drifting to the worst possibilities.

The memories of her past life were too vivid. The same circumstances surrounded childbirth. Yet now, Madam Liang’s situation was even more dangerous. A fall and premature labor—this was extremely unfavorable for both mother and child.

Wang Yuan’er’s body trembled, her hands clenching into fists.

From beside her, Grandma Liang’s soft Buddhist chants filled the air, with one scripture after another reaching her ears. The soothing sound of the prayers lingered, but it didn’t comfort her heart. Could the Buddha truly protect them?

Chapter 60

The carriage raced forward without stopping, cutting the usual three-hour journey in half. As soon as it reached the Wang family’s gate, Wang Yuan’er jumped off and rushed into the house.

The courtyard was eerily quiet. Wang Min’er stood in the middle while Grandpa Wang squatted by the main house door, smoking his water pipe. Neither Grandma Wang nor Madam Zhang was in sight.

Wang Yuan’er dashed forward, grabbing Wang Min’er’s hand and shouting, “Where’s my mother? How is she?”

“Ow, ow, that hurts!” Wang Min’er cried, struggling to free her hand. “She hasn’t given birth yet!”

Wang Yuan’er let go, and Wang Min’er glared at her, ready to scold, but upon seeing Grandma Liang and others approaching, she quietly stepped aside.

“Where’s the hot water? Isn’t it ready yet?” someone called from the east room.

Wang Yuan’er looked over and saw it was Aunt Tie Zhu from the neighboring house. But where was the midwife?

“Coming, coming!” Madam Zhang emerged from the kitchen, drenched in sweat, carrying a large basin of hot water.

Without thinking, Wang Yuan’er moved to rush into the east room, but Grandma Liang stopped her. “Yuan’er, stop. You’re not allowed in there.”

Wang Yuan’er froze, turning to look at her grandmother helplessly. Her lips moved, but no words came out.

“You’re a young lady; you can’t enter the birthing room. Your grandmother is here,” Grandma Liang said. After greeting Grandpa Wang briefly, she hurried into the east room without further pleasantries.

“Eldest Sister.” Wang Chun’er emerged from the kitchen, her face dirty and her eyes swollen like peaches, clearly from crying for a long time.

Wang Yuan’er quickly asked, “How’s Mother? Do you know? How long has she been in there? Is Midwife Song delivering the baby?”

Wang Chun’er shook her head, choking back tears. “Midwife Song went to the neighboring town for a delivery. Aunt Tie Zhu is helping instead.”

Hearing this, Wang Yuan’er swayed on her feet. How could this happen? Midwife Song was the most renowned midwife in town, trusted by nearly every family for deliveries.

On the other hand, Aunt Tie Zhu was said to have learned some midwifery skills from her mother, who was also a midwife. But she was nowhere near as skilled as Midwife Song.

“What about the doctor? Has one been here?”

“He came and left,” Wang Chun’er nodded. “Mother has been in labor for three hours now. Eldest Sister, do you think…”

“Don’t say such things!” Wang Yuan’er cut her off, glaring fiercely at Madam Zhang as she emerged from the east room.

Madam Zhang, already feeling guilty, didn’t dare say a word under Wang Yuan’er’s glare and quickly retreated back to the kitchen.

Wang Yuan’er muttered a prayer under her breath and walked to the window of the east room, listening to the sounds inside.

Inside, Madam Liang’s voice was faint. Grandma Liang and Grandma Wang kept encouraging and comforting her while Aunt Tie Zhu directed her on how to push.

“Mother, Mother-in-law, if… if it comes to it, save the child,” Madam Liang said, drenched in sweat, clutching her mother’s hand tightly while looking at her belly.

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Grandma Liang scolded lightly, muttering a Buddhist prayer. “Bodhisattva, please forgive her.”

Grandma Wang said nothing, but her eyes were red. Her gaze swept over the basin of bloody water on the floor, sending a chill through her heart.

“Sister-in-law, just a little more effort. You’re almost there,” Aunt Tie Zhu said, sweating profusely as she checked the situation under the bedding. It was a difficult labor.

Madam Liang was pale, her entire body weak, and she could not muster any strength. Her lower body contracted in waves, and her consciousness began to fade.

“Auntie, I think we need to call the doctor again. Otherwise, we won’t be able to save either the mother or the child!” Aunt Tie Zhu said through gritted teeth, looking at the unconscious Madam Liang.