Then came the old lady's voice from inside, "You've had three children already, and you're still so delicate. Which of those three children did you give birth to in a hospital? You could have given birth at home just fine, right? Wait a little longer, you'll definitely be able to give birth. Go to the hospital. Go to the hospital, going to the hospital costs money. Can't you even think about the little bit of allowance Da Gang earns? Sigh, you're such a spendthrift."

Lin Qingyan sighed inwardly. Sure enough, there are always oddballs out there, and quite a few in this day and age.

She went into the room and saw a woman lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) with her legs spread open, in pain. Her face was covered in sweat, and the hair at her temples was wet.

Two anxious women were standing nearby. One of them advised Grandma Sun, "Auntie, why don't you take Lixia to the hospital? She hasn't given birth yet after all this time. What if the doctor says the baby is breech and the baby suffocates inside? Let's take her to the hospital and have the doctor perform a C-section on her."

Grandma Sun immediately spat at her, "Pah, pah, pah, stop jinxing me. My daughter-in-law will definitely be able to give birth smoothly. Sending her to the hospital is just a waste of money. How much does a C-section cost? It's not your money, so you don't care. I think you're just talking without understanding the situation. Your baby was breech, that's why your baby died in your belly."

After being rebuked by Old Mrs. Sun, the woman immediately left with a cold face.

"Fine, fine, I can't comment on your family's affairs, and I have no say in them. I'll just walk away and stay out of your way. Even if you ask me to take care of it, I won't bother with your family's mess."

Seeing the pregnant woman on the kang (a heated brick bed) in extreme pain and helplessness, Lin Qingyan put down her basket, walked over to the woman, and asked, "Sister-in-law, how long have you been feeling unwell?"

Zhang Lixia recognized Lin Qingyan. Wasn't this the woman who could hunt wild boars and sing beautifully?

"Yes, yes, it's been almost three hours."

Let me check you out.

"You..." Zhang Lixia exclaimed in disbelief, "You...you know how to deliver babies?"

"I used to be a doctor."

When Zhang Lixia heard Lin Qingyan's words, it was as if she had suddenly seen a savior.

"Then, please check me out quickly. My stomach is in so much pain. It would be even better if you could help me deliver the baby. Please let me give birth to the baby quickly so that both me and the baby can suffer less."

"Okay, let me feel the position of the baby in your belly first, just bear with it."

"Um."

Lin Qingyan pressed on Zhang Lixia's stomach a few times, which made Zhang Lixia feel even more pain. Perhaps because she had seen the doctor, Zhang Lixia felt comforted and was able to grit her teeth and endure the pain instead of screaming.

Granny Sun wasn't sure if Lin Qingyan knew how to deliver babies, so she asked Lin Qingyan again, "Are you really capable of delivering babies?"

“I used to be a doctor, so I can deliver babies.”

Lin Qingyan didn't exaggerate her abilities, after all, no one can be 100% certain when it comes to treating illnesses and injuries, and besides, she didn't know much about the pregnant woman's condition yet.

Grandma Sun nodded. "It would be great if you could deliver her baby. She keeps insisting on going to the hospital. How much does it cost to go to the hospital? If you could deliver her baby, it would save a lot of money."

Lin Qingyan wasn't after their money, nor did she care about what they said.

After touching Zhang Lixia's belly, she said, "The baby is breech and needs to be turned. Otherwise, you'll have to go to the hospital for a cesarean section."

"No, no, no, we won't go to the hospital." Granny Sun was the first to object. "If you can help her turn the baby back to the correct position, then please do so. Oh dear, surgery at the hospital costs too much money. We can't go, we can't afford it."

She kept talking about money, money, money. Zhang Lixia said, "If I and my child die together, no amount of money can bring me back."

She was angry because she was dissatisfied with Granny Sun for only caring about money and not about her and her child's lives. She said these words in anger. If Lin Qingyan could help her give birth to the child, she would still be willing to use Lin Qingyan first.

She turned to Lin Qingyan and asked, "Hey, can you help me correct the baby's position?"

"I can try, but I can't guarantee it will go smoothly. Also, it will be very painful when correcting the baby's position, so you have to bear with it. Do you think that's okay?"

While massaging his belly, Lin Qingyan asked her if Zhang Lixia had other plans, and that she couldn't force her to deliver the baby.

"Just deliver the baby the way you want, I can bear it."

The family compound is one kilometer away from the military hospital, and in her current condition, she can't even go to the hospital.

The military region only has a few cars, all of which are for special purposes. Firstly, they simply cannot borrow them, and secondly, even if they did, there wouldn't be enough time. Even if she found a neighbor's bicycle, she wouldn't be able to ride it.

Now we can only rely on Lin Qingyan.

Lin Qingyan picked up the towel next to her and stuffed a corner of it into her mouth.

"Bear with it."

She bit the towel and nodded, "Mmm."

Then, Lin Qingyan increased the intensity of her massage on her stomach.

Within minutes, Zhang Lixia's face was covered in sweat. Lin Qingyan comforted her, "We have limited resources and can't help you with the pain, but you must endure it. As long as you get through this, you and your baby will be safe and sound."