Just as Cheng Su had anticipated, the Zhang family caused a commotion about leaving the hospital immediately after hearing the cost of hospitalization. The hospital staff explained that the child was born premature, only eight months along, and there’s an old saying "seven months survives, eight months does not." If they insisted on leaving the hospital, the hospital would not be responsible for any consequences.
With just these words, the Zhang family matriarch, who had been making a racket, changed her tune instantly and said the child should stay, but the mother could be discharged.
Naturally, the hospital did their part in persuading them, mentioning how difficult childbirth was on the body, especially given it was a C-section, and how complications could easily arise. Discharge was out of the question.
Mother Zhang was unwilling to listen, claiming the hospital was only in it for the money, which nearly drove the head nurse to the brink of rage. Then they called for the only person related to the maternity patient who had a say in matters.
And that person was none other than Cheng Su!
Cheng Su didn’t waste words, but simply looked at Zhang Jisheng and said, "You can choose not to stay in the hospital. If Qi Fenglian were to worsen, as long as you can handle Qi Taiguo’s fury, then it’s fine."
Zhang Jisheng immediately cowered at the mention of his older brother-in-law’s name, and said he would pay. Mother Zhang was still ranting, "What’s so great about being in the military? Could he possibly dare to kill someone? Those who kill will be taken to firing squads, does he dare?"
"Whether he dares or not isn’t for you to decide," Cheng Su said with a sneer, unable to hide her disdain. "Old Qi is especially protective of his own. After all, Big Sister was the one who largely raised him, and he respects her the most."
Mother Zhang and Zhang Jisheng fell silent in unison for a moment, because Cheng Su was speaking the truth.
Qi Fenglian is only a little more than three years older than Qi Taiguo, but as is often the case with children from poor families who mature early, being the eldest sister, she began helping to take care of her brother as soon as he was born. Their bond as siblings has been strong ever since.
To say that Qi Taiguo was protective was an understatement. In middle school, when someone made a joke about Qi Fenglian’s chest and she came home crying, Qi Taiguo, furious like a young bull, beat up the boy.
If he found out the Zhang family, over a few bucks, disregarded Qi Fenglian’s life and death, wouldn’t he fight with everything he had?
Nowadays, you can challenge anyone you want, just don’t compare wrath with Qi Taiguo, who never lets any offense pass.
"We’ll pay, we’ll pay," Zhang Jisheng took out a ten Great Unity bill from his pocket and handed it to the payment desk.
Seeing this, Mother Zhang felt a pang of distress at the expense, saying, "Giving birth doesn’t make her more precious than others. What a waste of a lot of money."
Cheng Su couldn’t care less to listen any further. She turned around, only to see Qi Fenglian standing not far away, supported by Qi Fengping, her eyes brimming with tears.
She hurried over, taking hold of her other hand and scolded, "Big Sister, why have you come out? You’ve just had a C-section and shouldn’t be moving about like this." She then glared at Qi Fengping, criticizing her thoughtlessness.
Qi Fenglian was indeed in great pain. As Cheng Su reached out to her, she leaned all her weight onto Cheng Su, her face pale as paper. "I... I just wanted to see the child."
"He’s safe and sound in the incubator. Take care of yourself first. If something happens to you, how can the child be alright?" Cheng Su’s brows furrowed deeply. "I’ll help you back. A C-section isn’t like natural birth. You’re tormenting yourself by not being careful, and if you end up with postnatal complications, it’ll be hard for you to even hold your child."
Cheng Su wasn’t trying to scare Qi Fenglian. It’s well-known that natural births are preferred. Although painful during delivery, they’re much better than enduring surgery. A woman could be up and walking the day after a natural birth; however, after a C-section, one must lie in the hospital for several days, and recovery is many times slower.
It was only because Qi Fenglian was so desperate to see her child that she disregarded the extreme pain and sweated profusely, only to come out to witness such a disheartening scene.
There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart, as the saying goes!
"Taiguo’s wife, my heart is so bitter!" Back on the hospital bed, Qi Fenglian couldn’t hold back her tears, and they fell uncontrollably.