Chapter 66 [VIP]

The funeral ended on the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, and the Lantern Festival is just two days away.

Li Cheng wanted them to stay until after the fifteenth of the month before returning home, but Qingsong still had to participate in the children's examination. It would take five days to get home from Tianyang County, and another three days to get from home to Longquan County, so he couldn't delay.

Knowing that he had important business to attend to, the eldest uncle did not linger. He prepared half a cartload of New Year's goods for him. Before leaving, he held Chen Qingyan's hand for the first time, as if he had a thousand words to say, but in the end he swallowed them all back and only said, "Take good care of your mother, and visit her often in the future."

"Why."

On the way back, it started snowing again. On the fifteenth of the lunar month, the group arrived in Qingyang Town and decided to stay in town for a day to rest and have a simple Lantern Festival together.

The inn in town was much cleaner than the roadside inns, and there was a fire burning inside. Sitting around the fire and drinking some hot tea warmed me up completely.

"This weather is really strange. It didn't snow at all before the New Year, but it's been snowing non-stop since the New Year started." Uncle Chen patted the snow off his clothes as he came in from outside.

"Come and warm yourself by the fire," Chen Qingyan invited him to sit down.

Besides them, there was a group of merchants in the inn. It was a festival today, and it was fate that they met. They sat down together and started chatting.

"Your accents don't sound like locals."

The leading merchant said, "We came from Longxi. We should have arrived in Bianzhou around the fifteenth, but unfortunately, there was heavy snow on the way, which delayed us for seven or eight days."

Wang Ying asked, "Is it snowing heavily in Longxi?"

"Wow, this is snowing so heavily! I've lived for over thirty years and this is the first time I've ever seen such heavy snow."

Another young man said, "Although it snowed here in Jizhou, it's far worse than over there. Along the way, we saw many roofs collapsed under the weight of the snow, and many people froze to death."

In this dynasty, less than half of the people had enough to eat and wear. The vast majority of poor people didn't even have cotton-padded clothes in winter, and they froze to death when their houses collapsed.

Everyone sighed in dismay. Wang Ying once again felt incredibly lucky to have gone to the Chen family right after transmigrating; otherwise, she couldn't imagine how she would have survived.

After spending the night at the inn, we continued our journey early the next morning and finally arrived home on the 20th day of the first lunar month.

My aunt was getting impatient at home. They had been gone for so many days without any news, and with the continuous snow, she was worried that something might have happened to them on the way.

The mule cart stopped in front of the house, and Linzi quickly opened the gate. Uncle Chen drove the cart into the yard.

Hearing the noise, Chen Rong came out of the house. "You're finally back. Why were you gone for so many days?"

Li said, "My father passed away on the day we arrived."

"Ouch..."

Li sighed and said, "We only started heading back after the funeral was over. We were delayed by heavy snow on the way and only got back today."

The group entered the house, which was warm and cozy. After taking off their heavy cotton-padded clothes, they felt much lighter.

Chen Rong then pulled Wang Ying aside and asked, "You must have had a long journey. How's the baby in your belly? Has it been naughty lately?"

Wang Ying is now more than eight months pregnant, and her belly has grown significantly since she left.

"He's quite obedient during the day, but he always kicks me at night."

"That must have been a night of revelry; you'll have plenty to do after the baby is born."

After inquiring about the family's situation during this period, Chen Rong replied, "Since you've been away, we haven't had many guests. Sui'er and I have been idly making clothes every day, while Qinghuai has been reading in the study."

After a few more casual words, everyone was too tired, so they finished their meal and went back to their rooms to rest.

Wang Ying took a break and went for a walk in the experimental field. Many of the fruits and vegetables in the garden were already old, and some had rotted on the ground because they hadn't been picked for a long time. It was heartbreaking to see.

Before she could even eat the cherries, they had all fallen to the ground. Wang Ying picked the remaining few to satisfy her craving.

The experimental field's experience bar has reached 90%, and it only needs 10% to level up. It seems that, just as he thought, this child is the key to the experimental field's level up.

He had a premonition that this upgrade of the experimental field might bring about earth-shattering changes.

*

On the twentieth day of the first lunar month, Liang Boqing returned from Changting County and began to discuss the children's exams in the county town.

The county examination was held every other year, while the children's examination was held every year. This year, both examinations were held at the same time, so Qingsong and Qinghuai went together.

The exam started on February 12th and ended on February 15th. In previous years, this time of year was the season of rejuvenation for all things. Although the weather was still a bit cold, the exam was already underway.

But this year is a bit special. Not only is the weather cold, but there is no sign of it warming up. If you have to take three exams outside in this cold weather, you will most likely get sick from the cold.

Based on his experience, Mr. Liang advised, "Why not wait another year? It's so cold this year. If you get sick from the cold, it won't be worth it. You can take the exam the year after next."

Qingsong was obedient and nodded in agreement. He was only twelve years old and there was no rush. It would be just right to wait two years to take the exam with his cousin.

Chen Qinghuai, however, was unwilling to give up. After thinking for a while, he said, "Teacher, I want to give it a try."

He was eager to pass the imperial examination for the title of Xiucai for two reasons: firstly, the pressure from his father was immense, and secondly, he missed his family and planned to return to Shanzhou to continue his studies after the examination.

Seeing that he couldn't persuade him, Old Liang said, "Then let's make preparations and set off the day after tomorrow."

Besides Qinghuai and Liang Lao, Aunt Chen Rong and Lin Sui also went to the county town this time. Lin Qiu was pregnant and they had been thinking about her. They took this opportunity to go back and stay for a while to take care of Lin Qiu until she gave birth.

Chen Qingyan originally planned to go with them, since he had taken the test once and had experience, but Wang Ying was about to give birth, and he didn't dare to go anywhere at this critical moment.

Wang Ying's belly grew bigger day by day, gradually growing from a gourd shape into the size of a watermelon.

These past few days, Li has not dared to let him go out. The snow outside has stopped and then started falling again, making the ground slippery. If he accidentally slips and falls, it could be disastrous.

Wang Ying felt fine; she was still hoeing the experimental field every day, away from her mother-in-law's knowledge.

The vegetable shop has reopened, and business is even better than last year. After the Lunar New Year, most families have almost finished eating the cabbages and radishes they stocked up on, and they don't know when spring will come. So, those with money are willing to buy some fresh vegetables to eat.

Chen Qingyan takes his younger siblings to help out at the shop every day, and the trials and tribulations of the past few years have greatly transformed his personality.

In the past, it would have been absolutely impossible for him to show his face in public and sell things.

Now, he not only greets guests openly and generously, but even if someone asks him about cheating on the imperial examinations, he can calmly say, "I was framed." Whether people believe him or not, he has a clear conscience.

*

In mid-February, the snow finally stopped, and the weather showed signs of warming up.

It just so happens that these few days are the days of the county examination. Chen Qingyan said, "Qinghuai is quite lucky. He will definitely have no problem taking the exam in this kind of weather!"

Madam Li smiled and said, "Yes, since the weather is nice, let's take out the children's clothes later and have the servants wash and hang them out to dry. They'll be able to wear them in a while."

"Sigh." Most of the child's clothes were made by his third aunt; the stitches were fine, the colors were bright, and the fabric was soft and gentle on the skin.

“I will also go to the mountain when I have some free time to ask for a talisman for you, to bless the child’s safe birth.”

The morning was sunny and bright, but the weather suddenly changed in the afternoon. Around 1:00 PM, a strong wind suddenly blew up, scattering the clothes drying in the yard all over the ground. Wang Ying hurriedly went out to collect the clothes.

As he walked to the door, he slipped and fell on his bottom, making him grimace and groan in pain.

I forced myself to stand up, and suddenly felt a gush of water flow from my lower body, instantly soaking my cotton pants.

His face turned pale then red, then pale again; even though he had never given birth, he knew that his water must have broken.

"Help! Help!"

Upon hearing the noise, Uncle Chen in the courtyard immediately ran out, "Oh dear, young master, what's wrong!"

"It must be her water breaking. Go and call your mother quickly."

"Hey!" Uncle Chen helped him to the bedroom, then ran to the front yard without stopping.

As it happened, Li went to the mountain to worship Buddha and wouldn't be back until the end of the 11 PM.

Uncle Chen was sweating profusely with anxiety because he couldn't find anyone. Remembering that there were people at the shop, he immediately ran to find the doorman, Lin Zai, and said, "Go and call the young master back quickly, the young master is about to give birth!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zai took off running outside and arrived at the shop in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. "Young Master! Young Master, come home quickly, the young master is about to give birth!"

Chen Qingyan ignored the customers buying groceries and ran home without even putting on her coat. Halfway there, she called out to Lin Zai, "Go and call the doctor over!"

"Why."

When he arrived home, Li Shi happened to be back as well. She didn't know that Wang Ying was about to give birth. Seeing him panting, she asked, "What happened?"

"Ah Ying is going into labor!"

Li was startled and quickly went to call the midwife.

Inside the room, Wang Ying had already changed into her work clothes and laid out cowhide and an old mattress on the bed to prevent the bedding from getting dirty.

Uncle Chen went to the kitchen to order water to be boiled, as it would be needed during the delivery.

"Ah Ying, Ah Ying!" Chen Qingyan's voice arrived before he even entered the room. When he entered, he saw Wang Ying lying on the bed. Apart from being a little pale, she didn't seem to have much of a reaction.

"How are you feeling? Does it hurt?"

"It's alright..." As soon as he finished speaking, a piercing pain rose up his tailbone, making him tremble.

Before long, Li came in with two midwives. They had originally calculated that Wang Ying would give birth in about ten days, but they didn't expect her to give birth so soon.

Holding his hand, Li felt extremely guilty. "It's all my fault. I had to go to the mountain to worship Buddha today. If anything had happened to you, I would have wanted to die!"

"It's not your fault, I just tripped and fell..."

"Never mind all that now, the most important thing is to give birth to the baby quickly." The midwife shooed Chen Qingyan out and examined Wang Ying's body.

"My lord, don't worry, the baby will be born around 5 PM."

Wang Ying's voice trembled slightly, "I just lost a lot of amniotic fluid, will I be alright?"

Another old woman pressed his belly and said, "It's alright, there's still plenty left."

Li sat beside them, comforting them, "Don't be afraid. They are all well-known midwives in our town. They have delivered many babies. You can't go wrong by listening to them."

"Um."

Before long, Qingyun and Qingsong closed the shop and returned. The two children, their cheeks flushed from running, asked as soon as they entered the house, "Has your sister-in-law given birth?"

"No." Chen Qingyan paced back and forth anxiously, feeling as if ants were gnawing at his heart, making him extremely agitated.

The doctor also arrived and was placed in a side room to wait, so that he could provide timely assistance should any problems arise along the way.

Wang Ying's painful groans could be heard from inside the room from time to time. Chen Qingyan was so anxious that he was covered in sweat and almost rushed in several times.

It hurts, it hurts so much!

Wang Ying felt as if his body was being torn in two. He clenched his fists, veins bulging on his head, and cold sweat dripped down his temples onto the pillow.

Nobody ever said that childbirth was such a painful experience for a young man!

"My lord, take a deep breath and take it slow. Don't use brute force!"

A note from the author: