Jiang Zhi and the scholar's wife had already considered the possibility of separation or death, and were even preparing to turn the tide at the crucial moment.
Actually, the atmosphere in Tianjiawopeng was relatively peaceful at this time.
Tian Gui had already been taken to Xu Genqing's house. The rest of them could only wait anxiously at the door. The two houses were next to each other, and they could hear each other if anything happened.
Tian Tao'er and her two siblings didn't leave; they just sat by the wall.
Tao'er's mother wasn't a first-time mother, and she had fallen and disturbed the pregnancy, so the labor was starting very quickly.
The cervix opened in just one hour, and with Xia's mother and Liu's mother taking care of her, everything was going smoothly.
Lianhua and Xu Gensheng's wife, Pi, were about the same age and were sisters-in-law from different branches of the family. Neither of them had ever been pregnant. At this moment, they were hiding behind the stove, listening to the conversation inside and whispering among themselves.
Pi lowered her voice and said, "Lianhua, when are you planning to have a child? If it's really not possible, you should see a doctor!" Qin keeps saying outside that Lianhua is sick and can't have children.
Lotus lowered her eyes slightly, unconsciously snapping a blade of grass in her hand: "I don't know either. I can only see a doctor when I have enough money!"
She couldn't say that she and Xu Genqing rarely shared a room.
Living in a shack, with the beds on both sides separated by a thin bamboo curtain, my mother-in-law had to get up to urinate every now and then, and I lay there not daring to even breathe loudly, how could I give birth?
But as time went on, with people talking about it every day, she began to wonder if she was sick.
Lianhua countered, "Sister-in-law Pi, then why don't you and Brother Gensheng have any children?"
Pi raised his chin: "You need a pigpen to raise piglets! I'm waiting to separate the family first so I can live on my own."
Xu Gensheng also had brothers and parents. Pi had always wanted to separate the family and didn't even have children.
Xu Gensheng was a chatterbox; he would sit in one spot while talking to someone, and he would wander around until midnight before coming back to sleep. Even though Pi wanted to separate from the family and have children, he wasn't in a hurry.
As the two were talking, they heard Liu call from inside: "Lianhua, make a bowl of sweet egg soup!"
"Okay!" Lianhua and Pi quickly started the fire.
Tian Tao, who was standing by the wall, jumped up: "Sister Lianhua, I know how to burn it!"
Because Tao'er's mother was nearing her due date, Tian Gui prepared brown sugar for the family and also spent money to buy some fermented rice. Since the weather was still hot, he didn't dare to put too many eggs in, so he only bought five and put them in a cool place in the bran.
Tian Tao'er took out all five eggs and said to Lianhua, "Sister-in-law Lianhua, how is my mother?"
She was an unmarried young woman, and they weren't allowed into the delivery room; she could only wait outside.
Lianhua comforted her, "Your mother is fine. Do you want a younger brother or a younger sister?"
Tian Tao'er forced a smile: "My younger brother and sister are both naughty!"
Lotus then remembered that both the spring and the stream were mischievous, and the stream even wanted to go into the water with the boy to catch fish.
Jiang Zhi also came over from the scholar's wife's place, carrying the brown sugar and a hen that Li Laoshi had bought.
After eating, Peach's mother regained her strength and lay still without moving; the bleeding also stopped.
Seeing that Tao'er's mother was in good condition, Jiang Zhi realized that Xia's mother and Liu's mother had been mistaken and it was just a false alarm. She was relieved that everything was alright.
However, Jiang Zhi still asked if they should call a doctor to take another look.
As a result, everyone said that in the countryside, it's already good enough for a woman to have a midwife when she gives birth, since doctors don't deliver babies.
Having a doctor on hand in advance is not only expensive, but it also makes it seem like you're begging for something bad to happen.
Seeing that everyone was wary of this, and even Xia's mother objected, Jiang Zhi felt that if she said anything more, she would become a jinx.
Even in modern times, there is ongoing controversy surrounding cesarean sections and painkillers.
Every era has its own unique and quirky ideas, and this is especially true here.
If I weren't the village chief, and I brought up the matter of life and death too early, I'd probably get scolded and kicked out.
Tian Gui and his group opposed it not only because of taboos and money, but also for other reasons.
Few folk healers understand gynecology, let alone obstetrics.
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners are even less likely to deliver babies.
Women usually give birth at home and then ask neighbors who have given birth before for help with the delivery.
Or like Tian Gui back then, he cuts a child with a pair of scissors, leaving the outcome to fate.
Moreover, Tao'er's mother is now in stable condition and does not need a doctor to save her life at all.
A little while later, Xu Gensheng called her again: "Aunt Jiang, Errui and Xiaoman are back!"
After harvesting the rice, Errui, Xiaoman, and the villagers have been busy these past few days.
First, they went up the mountain and cut down all the trees that had been burned to death by the wildfire and had been dry for more than a year, so that they could continue construction when the autumn rains came.
While we were at it, we also took care of a few charcoal kilns nearby.
The owners of these charcoal kilns either stayed in better places and never returned, or they were never able to return.
Xu Genyou plans to organize these charcoal kilns and distribute them to outsiders in the village.
The reason Jiang Zhi was asked to go back was because, during the sorting process, a complete kiln of charcoal was discovered.
Perhaps in their haste to leave, the owner forgot about the charcoal. Now Xu Genyou is asking, what should be done with it?
A kiln of charcoal is valuable; when prices are high, it can sell for more than one tael of silver.
When Jiang Zhi heard that there was charcoal, she didn't want to get entangled with the owner who might return in the future, so she decided to hand it over to the village: "Send this charcoal to the city to sell, and keep the money in the village's accounts for spending."
The mutual aid group has been established for several months, but the ledger that Xia Xiucai was asked to set up is still blank.
We save any profits we make, which is also for the future construction of a school, bridges and roads in the village, and for any important events in the village.
As darkness fell, news finally arrived from the Tian family.
Li Laoshi relayed the message: "Tian Gui has another son!" The village has finally gained another member.
Jiang Zhi hadn't gone up the mountain yet, waiting for this news. Now it seems that it's finally over safely.
Before he could even feel happy, Tian Tao came running over crying, "Village Chief Jiang, my mother... my mother has fainted!"
Jiang Zhi's heart skipped a beat, and she jumped up: "Li Laoshi, go to town again and ask a doctor with a good reputation to come." With that, she hurried towards Tian's shack.
At this moment, the old mule was tied outside the drying shed. Li Laoshi agreed, mounted the mule's back, and headed towards the main road.
But after walking a few steps, he was stopped by Qin: "Hey, Li Laoshi, why are you running back and forth like that? This mule isn't yours!"
Li Laoshi glanced at her sideways, pulled the mule away, and said, "Get out of the way, who's as idle and annoying as you!"
Qin was covered in mud and sand kicked up by the old mule. She spat it out a few times and pointed at Li Laoshi's back, jumping up and down and cursing, "What are you so proud of, you old bachelor who died without a son to carry his nameplate?"
At this moment, the village was filled with people, all of whom were villagers who had heard the news.
Seeing Jiang Zhi hurrying away, they all rushed over, asking all at once, "Sister-in-law Jiang, is Tian Gui's wife really having a difficult childbirth?"
"Oh dear, at her age, having children is so difficult. I heard about a woman back in my hometown who was over thirty and shamelessly got pregnant; her childbirth was absolutely horrific..."
Jiang Zhi turned around and angrily shouted, "Shut up! No one will think you're mute if you don't speak!"
The man immediately shut up and moved aside.
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