Protect the mother!
Chun Nuan heard her grandmother and eldest aunt’s words and secretly made up her mind: she would protect both the mother and the child, and absolutely not let any accident happen!
"Chun Ning, keep an eye on Third Aunt coming to town, I’m leaving first."
"Sis, be careful."
"Don’t worry, I’ll be fine."
Chun Nuan grabbed a bamboo stick by the door as a cane and rushed into the rain.
On the way, occasional lightning and thunder boomed, and Chun Nuan even regretted leaving.
I hope Eldest Sister-in-law is alright.
In town, in the small courtyard, Zhu Ling sat by the kitchen door for a long while, unable to get up.
She had just entered the kitchen to cook something to eat when a big thunder struck down, her legs gave way, and she sat on the ground.
Her stomach hurt, and a puddle of water flowed beneath her. At first, she thought it was blood. She touched it with her hand, smelled it, and found it had no bloody scent. Having heard her mother-in-law and the others talk, she realized it was probably the amniotic fluid that broke, meaning the child was about to be born.
Leaning against the doorpost, feeling a bit helpless and scared, she couldn’t even imagine how she would give birth to this child if Chun Nuan didn’t return.
She regretted the choice she made back then; she should have stayed in the Capital and returned to her maiden home to give birth.
However, she also understood she no longer had the privilege to return to her maiden home to give birth.
Once married, a woman is like spilled water. The Xiao family got involved in trouble, and all in-laws cut ties. If she returned to the Zhu family, her marriageable sisters wouldn’t treat her well.
Her mother had even hinted that if she was willing to divorce and return to the Zhu family, she would be placed in her own dowry estate, meaning, for the sake of her siblings, she couldn’t take her back home.
Once married, go wherever your husband goes.
Moreover, her husband was very fond of her, and the Xiao family never treated her as an outsider, so she resolutely followed them to Shu City.
The difficulties in Shu City far exceeded her imagination.
At this moment, she missed her mother, her husband, and wished someone from the Xiao family was with her.
She was extremely scared!
"Rumble..."
Another thunder rolled by, and Zhu Lingling began to cry.
"Eldest sister-in-law, eldest sister-in-law..." Suddenly, she heard Chun Nuan’s voice.
"Second sister-in-law, is that you?"
"It’s me, eldest sister-in-law, where are you?"
Chun Nuan entered the courtyard, lit the lantern, searched her bedroom, study, and herb room but found no one.
"Second sister-in-law, I’m in the kitchen."
"Eldest sister-in-law..."
Chun Nuan ran over and was startled to see her sitting on the ground.
"Eldest sister-in-law, did you fall?"
"Yes, I fell, and then I felt something flowing out. It was dark, and I couldn’t see, but when I touched the water and smelled it, it didn’t seem like blood."
"It’s the amniotic fluid," Chun Nuan quickly said, "The amniotic fluid broke, eldest sister-in-law, does your belly hurt?"
"It hurts, very much, every once in a while the pain becomes unbearable."
Zhu Lingling felt that she had already tolerated a life of hardship these days and wasn’t afraid of suffering, but she was truly afraid of the pain!
No one told her that giving birth would hurt so much.
"Eldest sister-in-law, I’ll help you get up slowly. We must go to the next room to give birth."
Next to the kitchen was a servant room that Chun Nuan had prepared early for her eldest sister-in-law’s delivery.
Everything was ready inside, to her surprise, it was needed so soon.
Until she lay in bed, Zhu Lingling felt like she was dreaming.
"Second sister-in-law, I thought..."
"Eldest sister-in-law, don’t worry, don’t be afraid, I’m here," Chun Nuan said, "Don’t think about anything now, are you hungry?"
"Yes, a bit hungry, but when my stomach hurts, I don’t feel hungry."
"I’ll go boil some eggs for you to eat."
Red sugar eggs, which should be prepared, were in the small courtyard. Chun Nuan quickly went to light the fire and boil the eggs.
After boiling the eggs, she diluted them with a ladle of water, added two pieces of old ginger, and put in a bit of brown sugar, so when Third Aunt and Chun Ning came, each would drink a bowl; otherwise, after the eldest sister-in-law delivered, they’d also need a health consultation.
"Eldest sister-in-law, eat slowly, eat a few bites when it doesn’t hurt; it’s best if you can finish these four eggs."
"I don’t think I can finish. Normally, I can’t eat that much."
Two eggs were her limit.
"Today is different from usual," Chun Nuan said, "Giving birth requires strength. Don’t exert yourself now, don’t have other concerns, wait for my cue to exert strength later..."
"Second sister-in-law, surely you won’t be alone with me during my delivery?"
She’s an unmarried girl!
"Third Aunt will be here soon. Eldest Aunt originally wanted to come, but I was worried about her slipping and causing trouble. Third Aunt is, after all, ten years younger than Eldest Aunt, which makes me feel more at ease," Chun Nuan said, "Besides, Third Aunt has given birth many times and has experience."
"Thank you, second sister-in-law, it was right not to let mother-in-law come. If she accidentally slipped, it would be my fault."
"I considered that too; our Xiao family can’t afford any mishaps."
Chun Nuan gestured for Zhu Lingling to eat a little more.
"Ouch..."
When it hurt, sweat flowed, and there was a feeling of difficulty breathing.
Thankfully, it wasn’t constant pain, after a while, it would ease; otherwise, it would really be unbearable.
"The cervix should be dilating." In fact, Chun Nuan hadn’t seen a woman give birth because when she was previously called for consultations, it was only when there were severe problems after childbirth, and only well-acquainted midwives would call her.
"Eldest sister-in-law, I’ve heard there’s a midwife in town named Cai, what do you think..."
"No need." Zhu Lingling, in pain, gasped and said, "I’ve also heard others say, Midwife Cai’s delivery skills aren’t good, three lives have been lost by her. Compared to her, I trust you more."
"Second sister-in-law, if something happens, please save my child first!"
"Eldest sister-in-law, there won’t be any accidents." See, this is a mother’s instinct, thinking of the child first: "Grandmother and Eldest Aunt both instructed, you traveled far with us to Shu City, and if someday we return to the Capital, we would not leave anyone behind... no, we would bring the child back to the Capital, not a single one will be missing!"
"Second sister-in-law..."
Zhu Lingling was so moved that she cried!
She knew she made the right choice!
When faced with accidents and disasters, her natal family chose to abandon her, but she chose to follow the Xiao family. Even if she carried the Xiao family’s bloodline, the Xiao family never said they would give up on her.
"Eldest sister-in-law, calm down, calm down, we need to conserve energy now!" Chun Nuan took the bowl from her hands, "Eldest sister-in-law, trust me, I won’t let anything happen to you, and nothing will. Your baby is positioned well, the child is small in size, you will definitely have a safe delivery."
If not for the fall, Chun Nuan could really assure that nothing would happen, but now it was hard to say, Chun Nuan still gave her reassurance.
Just as she said this, Chun Nuan faintly heard someone knocking at the door.
"Third Aunt and Chun Ning have arrived." Chun Nuan quickly ran to open the door.
"There’s ginger soup in the kitchen pot, Chun Ning, scoop a bowl for yourself and Third Aunt. Third Aunt, my room is on the left, find any of my clothes to change into and help watch over the eldest sister-in-law." Chun Nuan instructed, "Chun Ning, boil a pot of hot water, and dry your clothes too."
"How is Lingling?" Mrs. Huang asked hastily, "Is she alright? Do we need a doctor or a midwife?"
"Her water broke, she’s about to give birth. This town’s midwife isn’t reliable, the doctor may not even be as good as me. Third Aunt, tonight we’re on our own."
"This..." Mrs. Huang was startled, "Nuannuan..."