Bang!
A huge crash interrupted Cheng Su and Third Uncle Cheng’s conversation, followed by a piercing scream.
"What’s going on?"
Cheng Su recognized the scream and knew something was wrong, immediately standing up from the chair and rushing out.
"Sister-in-law Qi, Cheng Su, Cheng Su!" Guiying shouted Cheng Su’s name.
Cheng Su raced to the kitchen and was stunned by the scene before her. She saw Guiying sitting on the ground, behind her was the staircase to the toilet, and next to her was the iron pot she was holding, with water spilled everywhere.
"It hurts, hurry, Sister-in-law Qi, I..." Guiying’s face was pale, one hand bracing the ground, the other clutching her belly, tears streaming down.
"Heaven, this, this is." Third Uncle Cheng, upon seeing the scene, immediately gave Cheng Su a push: "Su Girl, quickly, help her up."
Cheng Su snapped back to reality, hurriedly responding with a couple of "Oh, oh" and, with trembling legs, moved forward.
"I can’t do it, Sister-in-law Qi. My, my water broke, wuuu." Guiying burst into tears.
"Oh dear, dear sister-in-law, don’t cry, save your strength. Once the water breaks, you’ll have to give birth. What if you don’t have the strength later?" Third Uncle Cheng, whose two kids were born at home, remembered the midwife’s advice clearly.
Guiying’s crying abruptly stopped, looking at him with grievance.
Cheng Su’s hands were restless, what to do, she’s going to give birth?
"First help her up and take her back to the room, then go call for help." Third Uncle Cheng said.
Cheng Su quickly, along with him, hurriedly helped Guiying up and into their house, placing her on the bed.
"Shouldn’t we go to the hospital?" Cheng Su was extremely anxious, having no experience with this.
"I’m in so much pain. Sister-in-law Qi, you have to help me." Guiying held her big belly, both afraid to cry and scared.
She was young too, facing such a situation, how could she not panic?
"The hospital is too far from here, afraid we won’t make it, Su Girl, quickly go call someone!" Third Uncle Cheng, older and more composed than Cheng Su, said.
Finally, Cheng Su hurriedly ran out and called for neighbors, soon gathering the sister-in-laws around from next door and across the street.
They were all women, and he, a grown man, felt awkward standing around, so Third Uncle Cheng exited to the hall.
"Water broke, too late for the hospital, let’s have the baby at home!"
"Who will help boil water?"
"Go notify the Health Camp at the military base and have them come to help."
"Don’t forget to notify Wan Dahe."
These experienced sister-in-laws quickly checked Guiying’s condition: her water broke, the baby needs to be delivered soon, or else with no water, the baby can’t sustain for long.
And going to the hospital from here would take at least half a bus ride.
Cheng Su watched them coming in and out, standing in the living room with Third Uncle Cheng, saying: "Third Uncle, I was going to keep you for a meal, but it looks like that won’t happen now. Things are chaotic here!"
"Oh, it’s okay, you help them, I’ll head out first. As neighbors, lending a hand is the right thing to do." Third Uncle Cheng said.
Cheng Su agreed, sending Third Uncle off, then asking the already experienced sister-in-laws what to do next, hearing Guiying hadn’t eaten anything, she quickly cooked a bowl of thick soup with three eggs to bring in.
Hualing came home after work and, seeing her flat like a market with people coming and going, couldn’t help but ask: "What happened?"
Cheng Su grabbed her and pushed her into Guiying’s house, saying: "You came back just in time, Guiying is going to give birth, no time for the hospital, you’re a nurse, quickly help check her condition."
"What?" Delivering at home, Hualing looked bewildered as she was pushed into the makeshift delivery room.