Chapter 188 Liu's Preparations for Childbirth
Old Mrs. Wan's heart skipped a beat. Is she going to give birth?
"Fourth brother's wife, how are you feeling pain now?"
Old Mrs. Wan tiptoed to Liu like a gust of wind.
Liu only felt a twitching pain, and the sweat on her forehead flowed down her face.
The bangs on his forehead were also soaked with sweat.
"Mom, I... it hurts..." Liu had such a stomachache that she didn't even have the strength to speak. She almost slipped off the stool to the ground, with Wan Ersao still holding her arm.
"Second brother, hurry up and get on the bullock cart and go to the town to find a midwife. Bring your fourth brother back as well. How can his wife be in labor without him?"
Wan Laoer had experienced the birth of Wan Ersao before, so he was not so panicked. However, he did not hesitate and immediately loaded the ox cart and left.
"Second brother, I'm coming with you. It's getting dark soon and it's not safe for you to be alone."
Old Mrs. Wan had no time to take care of the two brothers. The two men couldn't help much at home anyway.
"Second wife, come and give me a hand. Let's get the fourth wife into the house and put her on the kang."
Shen had never experienced childbirth, but she knew that giving birth was a test of fate for a woman. She quickly said to Old Lady Wan, "Aunt, let me do it. You go and set up the delivery room."
Old Mrs. Wan did not refuse. She handed Liu over to Shen and Wan Ersao and went to the kitchen without stopping.
Old Mrs. Wan picked up a bag of wood ash from under the stove and went to Liu's room. The wood ash had been prepared long ago, waiting for Liu to use when she gave birth.
After Old Lady Wan entered the room, she cleaned up everything on Liu's kang, poured some wood ash on the kang, and then spread a layer of torn sheets on the ash.
"Okay, get the people in."
Shen and Wan Ersao gritted their teeth and supported Liu, one on each side, but the pain from the contractions in Liu's stomach made it impossible for her to stand.
"Fourth brother's wife, be strong. This is just the beginning. The baby won't be born so early. Let's grit our teeth and lie down on the kang. You will suffer less."
Wan Ersao was also worried for Liu. Giving birth is bound to be painful, it's just that for some people it happens faster and for others it happens slower. When she gave birth to Wan Wen, she was in pain for a whole day and night before the child was born.
Liu gritted her teeth and nodded with difficulty, taking three breaks after every step. It took her a full quarter of an hour to walk from the yard to the wing room.
Shen and Wan Ersao finally helped Liu onto the kang. Looking at Liu's big round belly, they were both a little scared.
As soon as Liu got on the kang, the pain in her stomach disappeared. Lying on the kang, she felt like she was alive again.
Seeing that Liu's expression was no longer as painful, Wan Ersao quickly asked, "Fourth brother's wife, are you no longer in pain?"
"Yeah, it doesn't hurt anymore. I have some strength now. I was in so much pain just now that I couldn't move."
"Yes, that's right. If the pain gets more intense later, it means it's time. If it hurts for a while and then another quarter of an hour, it means there's still a lot to endure. But you're not in pain right now, so I'll go make you a bowl of poached eggs. Eating them will give you the strength to give birth."
Liu had just finished her meal and was not very hungry, but after hearing what Wan Ersao said, she did not refute it. She had heard that it would be easier for women to give birth if they eat a full meal before giving birth.
Old Mrs. Wan had already run back to her upper room and was rummaging through the drawers in the house, looking for a piece of ginseng she had left, ready for use at any time.
Shen stayed to look after Liu, while Wan Ersao went to the kitchen to boil water and cook poached eggs.
Old Mrs. Wan had prepared everything needed for delivery, including the baby's swaddle, all of which were new. The sun had been shining brightly these past few days, and she had taken them out to dry every day. There was a smell of sunshine on the swaddle.
Just as Wan Ersao had finished making the fried eggs, she heard Liu's shouting from the side room.
She hurriedly carried a bowl of fried eggs to the side room, but on the way, Xiao Fubao hugged her thighs.
"Mom, Fourth Aunt is crying, but Fubao won't cry. Fubao is scared."
The little girl tilted her head back, her two big eyes covered with a layer of mist, looking pitiful, which made Wan Ersao feel distressed. She was so focused on Liu that she neglected her daughter.
She quickly squatted down, holding the bowl in one hand and picked up little Fubao from the ground with the other hand.
"Fubao, be good and don't be afraid. Fourth Aunt is going to give birth to a little brother. It will be very painful for Fourth Aunt, so she cried out, just like when little Fubao fell and hurt his hand, he would cry. Fourth Aunt's pain is more than Fubao's, so it won't be so painful if Fourth Aunt shouts out. Fubao, do you understand?"
Little Fubao nodded as if he understood, but still asked curiously: "Why doesn't my brother come out quickly? If he comes out earlier, will Fourth Aunt be less in pain?"
Wan Ersao smiled and said patiently, "Yes, as long as the little brother comes out, Fourth Aunt will not feel any pain. It's just that the little brother is a little shy. He is playing hide-and-seek with your Fourth Aunt and won't come out until the time comes. We should be patient with him, okay? Be good and go play with grandma. Mother will go help your Fourth Aunt give birth to the little brother as soon as possible."
Little Fubao looked in the direction of the wing room with concern, and shouted to the room: "Brother, come out quickly, don't make Fourth Aunt feel sad, come out and play with your sister."
Mrs. Wan kissed little Fubao on the forehead and handed her to Old Mrs. Wan.
"Mother, you take Fubao first. There is blood all over the place during childbirth. I am afraid it will scare the children. You can take all the children to the upper room. My sister Shen is watching them here."
Old Lady Wan took Xiao Fubao and handed a cloth bag in her arms to Wan Ersao, advising her: "There is still half a ginseng here. In case it can be used later, don't feel bad. You must protect the adults. Your parents are not around. They are all your daughters. None of them can be lost. We have no shortage of children, but we lack good wives."
Old Mrs. Wan stuffed the cloth bag into Wan Ersao's arms, called a few kids in the yard, and went to the upper room together.
Mrs. Wan Er looked at Old Lady Wan's back and her eyes felt a little hot. It was such a blessing for her to meet such a good mother-in-law. She stuffed the cloth bag into her arms and carried the fried egg into the room.
"Fourth sister-in-law, the fried egg is ready. Are you still in pain now? If not, eat the fried egg while it's still hot so that you can have more strength to give birth later."
Liu's pain had now disappeared, and the child had calmed down, but she was already sweating profusely, and there was not much of the dinner she had eaten in the evening left after all the ordeal just now.
Shen quickly helped Liu up and put a quilt behind her. Liu half leaned on the quilt and was fed with fried eggs by Wan Ersao. Soon the whole bowl of fried eggs was eaten up.
"Fourth brother's wife, how do you feel? Are you still hungry? If you can still eat, sister-in-law will make you another bowl of shredded pork noodles."
Liu shook her head and held her big belly.
"Second sister-in-law, no need. I'm full. I don't know when the midwife will come. What do you think I'll do if the midwife doesn't come and I give birth?"
Mrs. Liu was a little panicked. If the delivery was smooth, it would be fine. But if it was a difficult delivery, would she not even be able to see the child?
The more Liu thought about it, the more scared she became. She couldn't help crying and missed her mother very much.
It would be better if her mother was around. Now that she was giving birth, there was no one by her side. She could not control her emotions and started to cry.
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