Chapter 288: Chapter 288: Hiring Wang Xiaowei as a Housekeeper

During the summer vacation, Zhong Luoning became busy as well.

The two students that Xiao Zhuo introduced to her brought along a few more children who wanted to learn piano. All of them came from well-off families and had their parents’ support.

Throughout the summer, she had to travel between several households every day to teach the kids piano, keeping her constantly on the go.

These days, pianos are a rare commodity in China. Very few people know how to play, and even fewer can play well.

Now, not only can she support her daughter with her own hands, but she can also regularly send things home to help her parents out.

At last, she had slowly climbed out of the abyss of hell, step by step.

Thinking back to those painful days, it all felt like a lifetime ago.

Zhong Luoning also brought some news.

She had hired Wang Xiaowei as a housekeeper, mainly to take care of daily cleaning for the two small villas, cook three meals a day, and help look after Zhong Youran when she was busy with work.

Zhong Youran was recovering well. She had no trouble with basic communication now, though it would still take time for her to fully integrate into society.

For now, Zhong Luoning could only keep her at home. Not wanting to waste her daughter’s musical talent, she had already started teaching her piano.

As for why she hired Wang Xiaowei, it was a matter of chance.

One of her students lived in a nearby villa. One day, as she was coming home from work, she happened to pass by Wang Xiaowei’s employer’s house.

She saw Wang Xiaowei being scolded and shoved by her employer, accused of being lazy and eating too much while doing too little, saying her child was noisy and wasting their food, and telling them both to get out.

The man of the house even shoved Wang Xiaowei hard, making the baby in her arms cry miserably.

Wang Xiaowei knew that this family simply felt her child was growing up and no longer needed breastfeeding, so they wanted to get rid of her now that she was no longer useful.

When she was first hired, her pay was based on a wet nurse’s salary. She never slacked off—besides feeding the baby, she took on all the cleaning and cooking, wearing herself thin for fear of not doing well enough and losing the job.

She admitted she did eat a lot—she had to feed two children, after all. She couldn’t go hungry.

But now she mostly ate the leftovers from her employer’s family, never picky, just eating whatever was available, only in larger portions.

She always made sure the employer’s child ate first, then fed her own. Her son was often left hungry and crying. She even bought rice with her own money, ground it into powder, and made rice cereal for him, only to be falsely accused by the lady of the house of stealing their rice.

All in all, every day there was full of grievances, and her child suffered along with her. She had no choice—bringing a child with her made it hard to find other work.

She never dared let her son play outside, always keeping him shut in the room.

Sometimes, by the time she finished her chores and checked on him, he’d already soiled himself, covered in mess, his bottom red and raw.

If the child cried, she’d get scolded while taking care of him, but she just endured it.

But still, they weren’t satisfied. The lady of the house kept finding fault, trying to force her to ask for a pay cut.

But Wang Xiaowei felt her work was worth the pay and refused to accept less.

And so, that scene unfolded.

Zhong Luoning had met Wang Xiaowei before, but back then she was struggling herself and hadn’t interacted much with her.

But she didn’t believe Wang Xiaowei was the kind of person her employer claimed, so she stepped in to defend her.

Of course, she wasn’t good at arguing, but she at least helped Wang Xiaowei get the wages she was owed and helped her move out.

With nowhere else to go, Wang Xiaowei stayed with Zhong Luoning for a night. After hearing her story, Zhong Luoning felt a sense of kinship.

For a woman, one wrong step can lead to a lifetime of sorrow.

Having also been hurt by a man, she felt a pang of sympathy for this young woman, who was even younger than herself.

As they talked, neither noticed—

While Zhong Youran was playing piano, little Wang Yanqing crawled over on all fours and hugged her leg.

Their eyes met, and Zhong Youran smiled knowingly. She liked those clear, innocent eyes.

She was very sensitive to people’s emotions—she always knew if someone liked her or not.

But this little guy didn’t understand any of that. His eyes were full of curiosity—so adorable.

Zhong Youran really liked this soft, cuddly little fellow.

The next morning, before leaving, Wang Xiaowei made breakfast for everyone as a thank you—she had nothing else to offer.

Her cooking skills had been honed by her picky employers. While she couldn’t make a lavish banquet, she could certainly whip up a tasty home-cooked meal.

Zhong Luoning saw how Gu Lanting, Ming Ruxue, and Zhong Youran all praised the breakfast and ate heartily.

Suddenly, she realized that the family really did need someone to take care of daily life.

When she was busy, she often neglected household matters, and the children, understanding her situation, never complained.

So Zhong Luoning tentatively suggested, “Since you all like Xiaowei’s cooking so much, why don’t we have her stay?”

Everyone cheered at the idea.

Zhong Youran looked at baby Wang Yanqing, hoping he could stay too.

Wang Xiaowei was stunned—could she really have the chance to stay here?

She knew they were good people, and if she could stay, there would be none of the troubles she’d had with her previous employers.

She couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope.

In the end, Zhong Luoning decided to keep her, arranging for her and her son to stay in a first-floor room in Ming Ruxue’s villa.

After all, there was an unmarried young man, Gu Lanting, living on their side, so it wasn’t appropriate for Wang Xiaowei to stay there. Ming Ruxue’s place was more suitable.

Zhong Luoning set her salary at thirty yuan a month, plus a set of clothes for each season, full room and board, as much food as she wanted, and her child would be fed as well.

To outsiders, they’d just say she was a relative from the countryside helping out—everyone who hired a housekeeper did the same in those days.

Zhong Luoning would pay her salary herself—she could afford thirty yuan a month now that she was earning.

Wang Xiaowei was deeply grateful for their help and quickly settled into her role, working diligently and responsibly.

She kept both houses spotless, carried her child to the market early every morning, and made three varied meals a day.

When Gu Lanting was at work, he no longer had to make do with a quick bite outside at noon—he could come home for lunch.

After Wang Xiaowei arrived, Zhong Youran noticeably put on some weight, and she found a new playmate in Wang Yanqing.

Although he couldn’t answer her questions, he was like a blank slate—so pure. Zhong Youran liked this sense of equality and often teased him.

Wang Yanqing also became livelier in the Zhong household, laughing and crying as he pleased, and Wang Xiaowei no longer had to cover his mouth.

She was truly grateful for the family’s help.

Xu Huaian was set to officially start school in September. Gu Qinghuan thought he wouldn’t be able to send money home this month, but to her surprise, he still did.

A full hundred yuan, only keeping a little for his own expenses.

He also sent a pretty dress, specially picked out at the department store. The style was very fashionable, and it fit Gu Qinghuan perfectly, complementing her complexion.

The two children also got gifts. Dabao received a model warship made from shell casings by Xu Huaian, and he loved it at first sight.

Beibei got a cute doll, which she adored and even took to bed with her.

Ever since Xu Huaian went to Beijing, he had sent home a hundred yuan every month without fail, keeping only a little for himself.

Knowing he was about to start school and would need to wear civilian clothes instead of his uniform, Gu Qinghuan bought him several sets of clothes and shoes appropriate for the era—some Liberation shoes and a pair of casual leather shoes—and sent them to him.

The styles were all very plain. She had her reasons—she worried that if he stood out too much, he’d attract unwanted attention, so she deliberately chose the plainest ones.

She also sent a batch of beef jerky, chili sauce, and a bottle of spiritual spring water.

When Xu Huaian received the package, he immediately saw through his wife’s little scheme and couldn’t help but smile.

He also received letters from the children. Dabao could already write beautifully, and his letter basically thanked his father for the gifts and assured him everything was well at home.

Beibei’s letter wasn’t as good—mostly pinyin with only a few characters—but at least she managed to write something, which was great progress.

Xu Huaian wrote back to both children.

Before the new semester started, Gu Qinghuan provided the Yujie Soap Factory with a new soap formula.

Mugwort soap.

She added mugwort juice to the formula, tested and adjusted it herself, and the result was a success—a pale green soap with a fresh mugwort fragrance.

According to local custom, people liked to bathe and wash their hair with mugwort water, so this soap would surely be popular.

Since mugwort was everywhere and basically free, the price of the soap stayed the same.

Xu Huaiyu was about to leave for university.

Xu Mingshan invited both families over for a farewell meal.

Gu Qinghuan hadn’t seen Yan Lijun for a long time. With her pregnancy, she’d been staying in the staff dormitory, only returning to the village once a month or even less.

In fact, she was due to give birth in about a month."

"Chapter 289: Yan Lijun Finally Explodes

Unlike Xu Meiling, who had grown plump, Yan Lijun was so thin she was almost unrecognizable—skinnier than when she first married. Dressed in a loose-fitting dress, you couldn’t even tell she was pregnant.

Only when the wind pressed her dress tight could you vaguely see her rounded belly, jutting out like an upside-down pot.

Yan Lijun had been forced by the factory leadership to take leave and come home to rest. Her condition was just too poor.

Leaders in these days weren’t like those in later generations, who’d work you to death if they could.

Yan Lijun looked so unwell that even her boss couldn’t bear to let her work up until her due date. She was granted early leave to go home and recuperate, just in case something went wrong during childbirth.

Having a pregnant woman at home in these times was like living with a sword hanging over your head—one careless moment, and you might be planning a funeral.

Maternal and infant mortality rates were high in the countryside; tragedies like this happened every year. Not long ago, Gu Qinghuan had even heard that a new bride in the village had given birth to a stillborn child—thankfully, the mother survived.

""Why have you gotten so thin?"" Gu Qinghuan asked politely.

Yan Lijun looked troubled and replied softly, ""I just don’t have an appetite in the summer, so I lost weight.""

Lin Xiaomeng shot Gu Qinghuan a look, signaling her not to ask further.

Gu Qinghuan took the hint and dropped the subject.

While cooking, Lin Xiaomeng quietly told Gu Qinghuan that Yan Lijun didn’t want Xu Huaiyu to go off to college at such a critical time. The couple had been at odds for two months over it.

From Yan Lijun’s perspective, she was about to give birth and needed someone to take care of her. She’d fallen out with her own family for the sake of marrying Xu Huaiyu, and her in-laws didn’t treat her well either. She was counting on Xu Huaiyu.

But now, at this crucial moment, he wanted to leave for school—wasn’t that just abandoning her to his parents?

Never mind all the other inconveniences—just the issue of childcare was enough. After her postpartum month, she’d have to return to work. Who would look after the baby? How? These were real problems.

And now Xu Huaiyu was planning to run off and leave her and the baby behind—how was that responsible?

What’s more, Yan Lijun had another worry. She knew Xu Huaiyu was always looking to climb the social ladder. What if, after going to college, he decided she wasn’t good enough, or found someone else? What would happen to her and the child then?

So, she was absolutely against Xu Huaiyu going to college.

The couple had been deadlocked over this. Meanwhile, Xu Huaiyu was spending her hard-earned money on new clothes, new shoes, and even a new suitcase for himself.

If he was like this before even starting college, what would he be like once he actually went?

No wonder Yan Lijun was depressed.

She was in low spirits all day, couldn’t eat or sleep, and had no energy.

Xu Meiling had finished her postpartum month.

She and Chen Jianghe rarely brought the baby over for a meal.

Chen Jianghe held the chubby, adorable baby—nicknamed Miaomiao, full name Chen Ya, a name he had chosen.

Xu Meiling was still quite plump, not having lost any weight.

Chen Jianghe, on the other hand, looked a bit thinner—probably from taking care of both mother and child.

Liu Guifang helped out, but only with her daughter; she never bothered with the baby.

So Chen Jianghe did it all himself, and he was a pretty good dad. The newborn was no longer bluish and wrinkled, but fair and plump.

The whole family gathered around, curious to see the baby.

Yan Lijun, about to become a mother herself, naturally loved children and leaned in to play with little Miaomiao.

Xu Huaiyu, however, ruined the moment. ""Look at their baby—all chubby and healthy. Now look at yours—what is that? I bet my son’s not even as big as a chick.""

That’s how little he thought of Yan Lijun now.

If he’d known he’d have a chance to go to college, he wouldn’t have married so early. He could’ve found a wife from the provincial capital—wouldn’t that have been better than Yan Lijun?

Saying this in front of everyone was really out of line. Yan Lijun immediately burst into tears.

As if this was her fault!

Even Xu Huaizhi couldn’t stand it anymore.

""Third brother, what are you saying? Is that any way to talk? Your wife’s already having a hard time being pregnant, and you’re adding insult to injury.""

Gu Qinghuan turned away in disgust, afraid she might actually hit him. Useless man—living off a woman and still acting so entitled.

Lin Xiaomeng felt the same. She glared at Xu Huaiyu and spat on the ground.

Xu Mingshan and Liu Guifang just watched the drama unfold, as usual. They always stayed out of things unless Xu Huaiyu was losing an argument—then Liu Guifang would step in.

Xu Huaiyu didn’t think he was wrong at all.

""What did I say that wasn’t true? She’s always making a fuss over nothing.""

Crying, Yan Lijun accused him, ""Xu Huaiyu, don’t you feel guilty saying that? You spend my wages on this and that, dressing yourself up like a peacock, while I only dare eat plain vegetables and black bread. How am I supposed to gain weight?

I wanted to take some grain from home, but Mom wouldn’t allow it—said I was wasteful. What am I supposed to do? Just bash my head against the wall and be done with it?""

These grievances had been building up for a long time. Yan Lijun finally exploded.

It was only because there were so many people present today that she dared speak up. Normally, when it was just her, she wouldn’t have dared confront that mother and son.

No one had expected this. Everyone was shocked.

Xu Huaiyu really was something else—he’d perfected the art of living off a woman while still acting superior.

""Third brother, you got a good sum when the family split. You shouldn’t have spent it all already, right? Why are you wasting your wife’s earnings?"" Xu Huaizhi was utterly disgusted with his younger brother.

""What do you mean her money? Isn’t she family? This woman has no sense when it comes to spending—I have to keep an eye on the money, or she’ll bankrupt us sooner or later.""

Xu Huaiyu put on a self-righteous face, just like his shameless mother.

Everyone was thoroughly disgusted by him.

Even Chen Jianghe, who was holding the baby and watching the drama, covered his daughter’s ears—he didn’t want her to hear such shameless talk.

Xu Meiling, now a mother herself, couldn’t agree with her brother at all. You can’t expect a horse to run without feeding it—how could anyone think that way?

Liu Guifang chimed in, ""Your husband’s right. You’re about to raise a child, you have to be careful.

Back in the years of famine, we ate clay and tree bark—even pregnant women ate whatever there was. You should be grateful you have food to eat now. Don’t be picky.""

Yan Lijun had only wanted to air things out and fight for some rights for herself and her child, but she hadn’t expected the mother and son to be so shameless. She really couldn’t take it anymore.

""Raise a child? With what? Who’s going to raise it?

Xu Huaiyu, you just walk away and leave everything to me. I have to work and take care of the baby alone—no money, no food. Are we supposed to live on air?

Is the child mine alone? They say, ‘Marry a man, wear what he provides, eat what he earns.’ Marrying you is the worst luck I’ve had in eight lifetimes.

You’re a grown man but act like a baby—lying around the house all day, not earning a cent, even needing your mother to bring you food to your bed. Why not have her chew it for you, too?

I finally see it now—none of you care if me or the baby live or die. What’s the point of having a man like you? I’d be better off alone—at least I wouldn’t be this miserable.

Let’s get a divorce! Do whatever you want—I can raise the child myself."" Yan Lijun was furious, and there was a bit of spite in her words.

If Xu Huaiyu was completely useless and only made her life worse, she didn’t see why she had to keep him around.

She’d had enough of life in the Xu family over the past months.

Her outburst left everyone stunned.

Gu Qinghuan never expected that the once-timid Yan Lijun, who’d been so shy when she first arrived at the Xu family, had been hardened by life to this extent.

Lin Xiaomeng saw her own past self in Yan Lijun, and felt a mix of emotions—thankfully, she’d gotten out in time, and Xu Huaizhi now stood up for her and their child.

""You shrew! How dare you talk like that!""

Xu Huaiyu, exposed and humiliated, flew into a rage. He stormed over and slapped Yan Lijun hard.

In a flash, Yan Lijun was knocked to the ground.

Maybe it was the force of the blow, or maybe her emotions were already unstable, but she suddenly clutched her belly in pain.

Lin Xiaomeng’s legs started shaking—she remembered her own experience all too well.

""Her...her dress...""

There were bright red spots on Yan Lijun’s dress—she was bleeding.

Everyone panicked.

Xu Huaizhi rushed to get the cart, and Lin Xiaomeng ran home to grab an old quilt to pad the cart.

Gu Qinghuan poured a cup of water for Yan Lijun, insisting she drink it. This water was special—drawn from her space’s spiritual spring. She hoped it would protect Yan Lijun and her baby.

Even Xu Meiling knew to run inside and grab a flashlight for them.

It was getting dark—traveling at night without a flashlight was out of the question.

Yet, the people who should have been the most concerned just stood there, unmoved.

Xu Huaiyu, still sulking from their argument, didn’t budge.

You’re so tough? Go to the hospital yourself, then.

He didn’t feel a shred of guilt.

Liu Guifang put on her mother-in-law airs and said, ""What are you all doing? Isn’t there a midwife in the village? It’s almost dark—going to the hospital is such a hassle.""

No one paid her any mind.

Xu Mingshan, ever the armchair critic, pretended to scold Xu Huaiyu, but no one was interested in his performance.

Xu Huaizhi got the cart ready, glared at Xu Huaiyu, and shouted, ""Aren’t you going to carry your wife onto the cart? You expect me to do it?""

Clutching her belly, Yan Lijun took in everyone’s reactions.

At that moment, she felt nothing but utter disgust for this family.

Adversity reveals true colors—even her eldest brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law were helping her get to the hospital, while the man who’d hurt her did nothing.

If she survived this, no one would ever push her around again.

Xu Huaiyu reluctantly picked Yan Lijun up and put her on the cart, then stood aside as if it had nothing to do with him.

Lin Xiaomeng shouted at him, ""Bring your family’s money! Your wife’s having a baby—don’t expect us to pay for it.

And you pull the cart! My husband isn’t your servant. If anything happens to your wife tonight, it’s your own fault—don’t blame us.""

Xu Huaizhi agreed with his wife. Seeing Xu Huaiyu still unmoved, he picked up a stick and threatened to beat him.

This useless fool—why hadn’t he beaten him to death years ago?

Sometimes, the saying ""an elder brother is like a father"" is no joke. Xu Huaiyu had been disciplined by Xu Huaizhi since he was a kid, and he flinched reflexively. Grudgingly, he went inside to get the money, then started pulling the cart toward the commune."

"Chapter 290: The Four-Pound Boy

Chen Jianghe and Xu Meiling knew there was no way they’d get to eat this meal today, so they got up and carried their child home.

Xu Meiling also took the pot of chicken soup she’d been simmering.

Xu Huaizhi talked tough, but in the end, he still followed Xu Huaiyu, worried that if Xu Huaiyu ran out of strength halfway, it would delay Yan Lijun’s treatment.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiaomeng and Gu Qinghuan settled their own children, found the swaddling cloths and baby clothes Yan Lijun had prepared, and quickly caught up with the cart.

After all, when it comes to childbirth, there are things two men can’t help with, but they could lend a hand.

Even though they usually looked down on Xu Huaiyu a thousand times over, with two lives at stake, they had no choice but to help.

If they didn’t, given Liu Guifang and Xu Huaiyu’s attitude, it was hard to imagine what might happen to mother and child.

Yan Lijun’s water broke halfway there, and she started having contractions—painful for a few minutes, then easing up for a bit.

Lin Xiaomeng, the only one among them who’d given birth before, comforted her: “Don’t worry, this is normal. When I had Dacheng, it was the same—waves of pain, just like needing to use the bathroom.

Rest up now, you’ll need your strength for the hard part ahead.”

It was Yan Lijun’s first time giving birth, and having someone reassure her made her feel much better.

“Th-thank you, sisters.”

Gu Qinghuan, seeing that Yan Lijun’s spirits weren’t too bad, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

She still remembered how miserable Xu Meiling had looked that day.

“You haven’t had dinner—if you go into labor hungry, you’ll have no strength. I have some White Rabbit candies here, eat a few.” Gu Qinghuan fished a few White Rabbit candies from her pocket and pressed them into Yan Lijun’s hand.

Yan Lijun’s hands trembled as she unwrapped a candy and popped it into her mouth. The milky sweetness filled her mouth, but her heart felt as bitter as if it were soaked in bitter herbs.

If she’d known Xu Huaiyu was this kind of person, she’d never have married him.

Men’s words are all lies—those vows and declarations of love before marriage are all fake.

After marriage, his true colors showed right away.

If he could support the family, shoulder responsibility, and put his family first, she’d accept it.

But not only was he addicted to living off others, lazy and gluttonous, squandering the money she’d worked so hard to earn, but at critical moments, he didn’t care about his wife or child’s lives.

She really couldn’t find a reason to keep putting up with Xu Huaiyu.

That slap just now didn’t just land on Yan Lijun—it struck her heart as well.

On the way, Xu Huaizhi switched places with Xu Huaiyu once, and Gu Qinghuan and Lin Xiaomeng also helped push the cart from behind.

They finally managed to get Yan Lijun to the commune clinic. By then, everyone was drenched in sweat and looked a mess.

The doctor on duty was a man. Xu Huaiyu instinctively objected, insisting they get a female doctor.

Yan Lijun’s contractions were coming closer and closer together—she couldn’t even express her own wishes.

Gu Qinghuan saw how much pain she was in. There was no time to switch doctors now, and in a place this small, who knew if there even was a female doctor?

A regular midwife might not be as reliable as a male doctor, anyway.

“We only have a male doctor here. If you really don’t want him, go find a midwife,” the middle-aged doctor said, a little displeased.

This was a matter of life and death—did they think doctors were just for show?

Xu Huaizhi and Lin Xiaomeng didn’t know what to do. This was a big deal, involving a woman’s reputation. If they made the decision and something went wrong, they’d be blamed.

Xu Huaiyu was also hesitating.

“Is this really the time to worry about that? Her life is at stake! Hurry up and carry her in. Doctor, please get ready to deliver the baby. She fell and went into premature labor—her due date isn’t until next month,” Gu Qinghuan said crisply, explaining the situation.

Seeing her take charge, Xu Huaizhi and Lin Xiaomeng made up their minds and helped the doctor carry Yan Lijun into the operating room.

Xu Huaiyu glared at her, displeased. “Who asked you to speak here?”

Gu Qinghuan grabbed him and shoved him two meters away.

“Get out of the way! This is about life and death, so I’ll speak up. Just wait—if anything happens to Yan Lijun, her parents will tear you apart.

A man who doesn’t care about his own wife and child—what makes you think you deserve to go to Workers-Peasants-Soldiers University? Dream on!” Gu Qinghuan said this on purpose, forcing him to make a decision.

Sure enough, Xu Huaiyu thought quickly—if something happened to Yan Lijun today, her leech of a family would definitely come after his, and who knew how much it would cost to settle things.

Besides, he couldn’t let anything jeopardize his chance to go to Workers-Peasants-Soldiers University.

So he had no choice but to compromise and, under Gu Qinghuan’s pressure, signed the consent form.

Yan Lijun was wheeled in, and the four of them sat in the dimly lit hallway to wait.

Now, Xu Huaiyu actually started to get anxious, pacing back and forth, muttering to himself.

The soundproofing was poor, and Yan Lijun’s screams of pain echoed down the corridor, sending chills down their spines.

Gu Qinghuan had never given birth herself—she’d only heard others say how painful it was. Seeing it for real, she felt her brain go numb. It was terrifying.

To scream like that—how much must it hurt? She instinctively moved closer to Lin Xiaomeng.

Lin Xiaomeng patted her on the shoulder. “It’s normal—childbirth is always like this. When I had Dacheng, I was in pain from ten at night until eight or nine the next morning before he was born.

It felt like I had one foot in the grave—half my life was almost gone. But now, I can’t even remember exactly what the pain felt like.”

The screams continued, and Gu Qinghuan listened for about an hour.

Finally, the operating room door opened.

A nurse came out holding a tiny bundle.

“It’s a boy. Mother and baby are safe. The baby is premature and underweight—just a little over four pounds.

Who wants to hold him? I have to go help the doctor. The mother is still being stitched up—she tore pretty badly.”

As soon as Xu Huaiyu heard it was a boy, his face lit up with joy.

He had a son now.

He wanted to hold the baby but didn’t dare—he was so tiny, all wrinkled up like a little monkey, a stark contrast to Xu Meiling’s chubby baby girl.

Neither of the men dared to hold him. Xu Huaizhi even took a step back, indicating he was not up for the task.

Gu Qinghuan didn’t dare either.

Only Lin Xiaomeng stepped forward and took the baby, experienced and steady.

The baby’s cries were as soft as a newborn kitten’s—so faint you’d miss them if you weren’t listening closely. No wonder they hadn’t heard anything before.

Gu Qinghuan and Lin Xiaomeng both felt sorry for the poor child—born before term, weighing only four pounds. Who knew if he’d survive?

In these times, it wasn’t uncommon for babies not to make it. Even kids who made it to their teens could die unexpectedly, let alone such a fragile newborn.

That’s why every family had so many children—to guard against the possibility of losing one.

Have a few more, so if one doesn’t survive, another might. That’s the cruel truth of life.

The four of them gathered around to look at the newborn.

For once, Xu Huaiyu didn’t cause any trouble.

Suddenly, the baby let out a loud wail, his little face turning red, veins bulging on his forehead. Lin Xiaomeng unwrapped the blanket to check.

“No wet diaper—he must be hungry!”

Gu Qinghuan searched through Yan Lijun’s “delivery kit,” but there was no formula.

Not surprising—formula was a luxury in those days. You needed ration coupons, and a single can cost half a month’s wages.

But Gu Qinghuan had formula in her space.

She quickly came up with an idea.

Gu Qinghuan mixed a spoonful of formula with spiritual spring water and brought it over, telling the others it was milk candy water made from White Rabbit candies.

No milk? Milk candy water would have to do.

Never mind what newborns are supposed to eat—at a time like this, survival comes first.

Gu Qinghuan deliberately used spiritual spring water for his first drink, hoping it would help the little guy grow up healthy.

Lin Xiaomeng fed him little by little with a spoon.

The little one, smelling the milk, was starving—he sucked with all his might.

Eating is instinct for a baby.

Seeing the baby drink the “milk candy water” and stop crying, drifting off to sleep, the adults all breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then, Yan Lijun was wheeled out—she’d already fallen asleep.

Gu Qinghuan told Xu Huaiyu to go pay the bill, while she followed the doctor to ask about Yan Lijun’s condition.

Back then, doctors and hospitals were still quite humane. Because their case was urgent and there was only one doctor and nurse on duty, they hadn’t even collected payment before rushing Yan Lijun in to deliver.

Gu Qinghuan asked about Yan Lijun’s condition. The doctor said she was severely depleted, skin and bones, with extensive tearing that required a lot of stitches. She should take this chance to rest and recover.

He especially warned that during the postpartum month, she must not do any work or strenuous activity, to prevent uterine prolapse.

He even told Gu Qinghuan several stories of rural women whose uteruses had fallen out, warning her to be careful.

It was enough to scare any young woman who hadn’t given birth.

Gu Qinghuan had never known that having a child could have such serious consequences.

“You’re from the city, aren’t you? You don’t sound local.

In rural areas, women are still very backward in their thinking. Most choose to give birth at home, and without proper technique, nine out of ten will tear.

If you’re lucky, a good midwife will stitch you up. If not, they just leave the wound as it is.

If the mother isn’t careful, the tear gets worse and never heals. If she goes back to work right away in that state—

If she exerts herself, the uterus and even the intestines can fall out.

The worst case I saw—

A woman in her fifties, brought in by her daughter.

She went home to sleep with her mother, smelled something foul, and checked everywhere until she found it came from her mother.

Her mother refused to let her look, but her daughter forced her way in and found a strange cloth bag in her mother’s underwear. No wonder she walked funny.

The stench came from that bag.

What was inside? Her mother’s intestines, uterus, and other organs, all infected and festering together.

Imagine the pain, but her mother never uttered a word.

She’d had five children, and after each birth, went straight back to heavy labor, which led to this. And out of concern for modesty, she never sought treatment.

We couldn’t treat something that serious here—she’d have to go to the provincial hospital.

I suggested surgery in the city—maybe there was hope.

But in the end, they didn’t go, and not long after, the woman passed away. Such a pity.

Rural people are too ignorant, always valuing things that don’t matter, and end up hurting themselves.

If they’d found it early and treated it early, it would never have gotten that bad.” The doctor spoke with deep feeling.

He could tell Gu Qinghuan was sensible, which was why he shared so much."

"Chapter 291: All About Having Babies