The Comeback of the Charming Farmer's Wife

Yang Jinxiu’s affairs didn’t cause much of a stir in the Yang Family, after all, it was someone else’s business.

However, as April rolled in, an issue concerning the Yang Family itself began to spread through the village.

Originally in April, the third branch of the family was eagerly awaiting the imperial examination results of Yang Qingrui and Yang Qingtong. If they passed and became Cultivated Talents, the bearers of good news would come knocking this month.

But on the morning of the eighth day of April, Yang Dongxue rushed to the third branch to announce that her mother was about to give birth.

Calculating the time, Ms. Luo had been pregnant for about two more months than her due date, so a child born after nearly nine months wasn’t considered premature, and it was normal for her to be giving birth at this time.

Childbirth was a major event, especially in ancient times, when it was akin to stepping into the gates of hell. Ms. Wang received the news and hurriedly went to the fourth branch.

When she arrived there, Ms. Liu and the midwife were already present.

Upon seeing Ms. Wang, Yang Xiaochuan didn’t know what came over him and blurted out, "Third sister-in-law, you’re finally here. Please think of something. Ms. Luo has been inside all night and still hasn’t given birth." It turned out that Ms. Luo had gone into labor the night before, but no one had informed the third branch.

Ms. Wang was shocked by these words. What could she do? She wasn’t a doctor, after all.

Deciding not to bother with anything else, Ms. Wang lifted the curtain and went in, "How is big sister doing?"

Ms. Liu shook her head with a somber expression and whispered to Ms. Wang, "The child is too big and just won’t come out. It’s been all night."

Ms. Wang thought about how Ms. Luo always ate voraciously and hardly ever moved about, so it made sense that the child being too big was causing difficulty in birth.

What can you do when someone doesn’t heed advice?

"Then the midwife should think of something. We can’t just leave it like this."

The midwife was also at a loss; she couldn’t make the child any smaller.

"I don’t have any solution," she admitted.

"How can you, as a midwife, not have a solution? I refuse to believe you’ve never encountered such a case before." Ms. Wang, perhaps used to commanding servants over the years, spoke with a sense of innate authority, instilling fear in the midwife.

At this point, Ms. Liu suggested, "Would it be useful to use a labor-inducing drug now? It’s not a case of malposition. I’m afraid if we keep waiting like this, even if the child is born, it won’t be in good condition."

The midwife was startled by this suggestion, and sweat dripped down her forehead. She eventually replied, "We’ve already given her labor-inducing drugs. Let’s try one more time. When I say push, you push with all your might."

Following the midwife’s instructions, Ms. Luo tried once again, "I can’t do it... I can’t..."

But the midwife suddenly shouted, "The head is out, the head is out, put some more strength into it!"

"Not good, the child’s body is too big, it’s stuck."

Ms. Luo exerted all her strength, but the child wouldn’t come down.

Just when there was a wave of joy, there was now a wave of worry, "The child is too big. The head is out, but the body won’t come out and is stuck inside," said the midwife, bustling about.

"What should we do now?" For a moment, Ms. Wang and Ms. Liu were at a loss.

Seeing their confusion, the midwife said, "If you’re willing, I can cut her open a little down there and pull the child out. It’s going to be very dangerous though!"

"This?" As soon as they heard about the threat, everyone thought of hemorrhage.

For a moment, everyone was stunned, but the midwife grew anxious, "You need to make a decision quickly. The child’s neck has been stuck in the birth canal; if we delay any longer, it might suffocate."

While they discussed, Ms. Luo on the bed overheard. She didn’t want to die, and neither could her child. Biting her teeth, she said, "Help me pull the child out."

"Fourth sister-in-law!"

Ms. Wang exclaimed in shock.

"Third sister-in-law, listen to me!"

The midwife seized the opportunity and said, "It’ll be done with just a cut. It’s going to hurt a lot, so it’s best to let her bite down on a handkerchief or a rolling pin."

Ms. Wang and Ms. Liu were stunned, but the next instant Ms. Wang said, "Big sister, go find a handkerchief. I’ll have someone go home and bring some ginseng back, just in case we can still use it afterward."