Chapter 693 - 358: Juhua’s Childbirth
After Liu Heizi’s family was settled in, Juhua had a young maid by her side, and Huai Zi had a young long-term follower. Only Liu Heizi was still running back and forth between Qingnan Village and Qingbei Village, while his wife observed her postpartum confinement with the Zhang family, meticulously cared for by Yun Ying and He.
After Huai Zi had a long talk with Qingmu, both Qingmu and Liu Yunlan became busy. Liu Yunlan would often come to the Zhang’s courtyard, holding little Hulu, to chat with Aunt Liu. She also constantly asked Yun Ying for advice on various precautions and kept busy helping clean the house and yard, washing and scrubbing nonstop, which made He feel rather awkward.
When Qingmu first told her about the situation, she nearly fainted from shock. She anxiously asked for the details, then went to see Aunt Liu’s stomach for herself. Seeing that Aunt Liu was eating, resting, and moving about without any major problems, and that her milk supply was abundant, she finally relaxed a little. Still, her heart was heavy with worry, so she was incredibly meticulous in her questioning. Since they had to keep the matter a secret from the elders, everything would depend on her for support during Juhua’s caesarean birth. Naturally, she had to ask about every detail.
The younger generation quietly kept the matter a secret, leaving the elders completely in the dark.
Yang Family was puzzled. It was a busy time at home, so why was Liu Yunlan spending all day at the Zhang’s courtyard? ’This daughter-in-law of mine has always been so sensible, not the type to shirk her duties. What’s wrong with her these last few days?’ She wasn’t a harsh mother-in-law; she had only been calling on Liu Yunlan a bit more frequently, but she never gave her a sour look.
After a few more days, on the morning of September third, Juhua felt extremely weighed down. After examining her, Yun Ying and Qin Feng unanimously decided they could wait no longer and immediately began the operation.
All the preparations had been made. The delivery room was incomparably cleaner and more sterile than the one Aunt Liu had used. After Qin Feng and Yun Ying helped Juhua into the room, Zhang Huai immediately stood guard at the door. Only Liu Yunlan went inside to assist and help care for the baby afterward.
Meanwhile, Qingmu stopped the bewildered He and called over Yang Family, along with Zhang Dashuan and Zheng Changhe. He led them into a side room and explained Juhua’s situation in full detail.
Just as one might expect from their age, they couldn’t handle the shock. Yang Family hadn’t even heard the whole story before her eyes rolled back and she fainted. He was a bit more composed, but her face was deathly pale and she was shaking from head to toe. The two men were simply dumbfounded.
Qingmu panicked and yelled, "Aunt Liu had her belly cut open to deliver Jing’er, and look at her! Isn’t she perfectly fine now?" He rushed forward with the frantic Zheng Changhe to catch Yang Family, pressing hard on the pressure point below her nose.
He quickly asked, "Is that true?"
Qingmu regretted his poor choice of words. ’Why didn’t I lead with Aunt Liu’s story? I just had to explain everything from the start. Of course Mother couldn’t handle it.’
Hearing He’s question, he abandoned any sense of order and just blurted things out as they came to him, speaking haphazardly. In short, he told them: Juhua’s health was very poor, and a normal birth would kill her; Aunt Liu had given birth this way, and both mother and child were perfectly fine; Doctor Qin and Doctor Yun were performing the procedure on Juhua right now, so they shouldn’t worry—if they were scared, they just had to look at Aunt Liu.
Just then, Yang Family regained consciousness and was about to burst into tears when Qingmu snapped, "Mother, Juhua is fine! She’s waiting for your help. You’re just causing more trouble! Aunt He, you talk to her!"
He was still trying to process the news herself. Hearing him, she froze. ’Talk to her? What should I say?’
Just then, Aunt Liu entered the main hall with Heiya in tow. She turned to the girl and said, "Go back and watch your brother. Call me if he wakes up."
Heiya nodded and left.
Aunt Liu walked slowly into the room and smiled at He and Yang Family. "Lady, Mother-in-law," she said, "let me tell you, it’s not as frightening as it seems. Doctor Qin and Doctor Yun are incredibly skilled..."
After some time, once Yang Family and He had calmed down, Qingmu continued, "Mother, Aunt He, from this moment on, you need to be extra careful with all the food and supplies. All clothes must be scalded with boiling water. Pots, bowls, and chopsticks need to be frequently boiled as well. Don’t let the chickens and ducks into the courtyard during the day—to keep them from pooping everywhere—and only let them back in at night. The dogs need to be kept far away, and don’t fertilize the vegetable garden with manure. You are not to see Juhua unless you are spotlessly clean. Actually," he sighed, "it’s best to resist the urge. Even if you are clean, don’t go in to see her."
Yang Family and He nodded after each instruction, because Qingmu said it was all on Doctor Qin’s and Doctor Yun’s orders.
Finally, they nervously pulled Aunt Liu into the west wing to hear her story in greater detail and to examine her scar.
After the women had gone, Zheng Changhe shot his son a fierce glare and growled in a low voice, "Quite the man, aren’t you? How dare you hide something this important from us?"
Zhang Dashuan was also fuming, but since Qingmu wasn’t his son, it wasn’t his place to lash out. If Huai Zi had been standing there, he would have given him a good kicking. ’That little bastard,’ he fumed internally, ’he acts like I’m not even his father!’
