Dong Damei misunderstood her brother's words, feeling that he was trying to get close to her, or rather, trying to win her over, and that he would ask her for money to help him pay off his gambling debts.
Dong Damei said, "Look at you, don't try to get close to me. If I'm not mistaken, you've lost all your money again. I don't have any money to help you pay off your gambling debts."
Dong Qing cried after hearing his eldest sister's words. Before his wife Li Yuzhu died in his previous life, he, as her younger brother, had no good feelings for his three older sisters. He secretly vowed that he must make something of himself in this life, so as to live up to the love of his three older sisters and to live up to the love of his wife who had died in his previous life.
Dongqing knelt on the ground and recounted his wife's difficult childbirth to his eldest sister. With tears in his eyes, he said, "Elder sister, it was always my fault for being a disappointment. Hit me, please."
Dong Damei reached out and pulled her younger brother up from the ground, tears welling in her eyes. "My silly brother, why didn't you tell me sooner that something so serious happened? I don't have that much cash at home, and your brother-in-law is on night shift. I'll take the cash to the hospital right away. You go to your third sister's house quickly. The three of us sisters will try to raise as much as we can. We can pay the bills tomorrow."
In those days, no family would keep too much money at home. Dual-income families would only earn about 100 yuan a month, and very few families would keep 200 yuan in cash at home. It was enough for a family to keep 30 to 50 yuan a month. Why would a family keep so much money at home? My third sister was single, so she would not keep so much money at home. She would deposit any money she had in the bank.
No matter how much hatred exists between siblings, it's all on the surface. They only hate their brother for not living up to his potential, but deep down they still love him.
When it comes to a real situation, there's no reason for them not to help their brother. This is the bond that comes from blood ties, the kinship that is solidified by blood, and it can never be severed. Gold and silver have a price, but the love between siblings is truly priceless.
Dong Damei went into the bedroom, quickly took the money to the living room, handed it to Dong Qing, and said, "Your third sister just graduated from university last year and is still single. She doesn't have much money, so don't expect her to give you any. We only have 120 yuan in cash at home. We'll withdraw the rest from the bank at dawn."
Dong Qing took the money and put it in his pocket. Dong Da Mei went into the bedroom, took off her pajamas and changed into a dress, and walked out of the house with her younger brother.
The siblings came downstairs, and Dong Damei said, "Little brother, go back to the hospital first and pay the surgery fee. I'll go to your third sister's workplace to let her know; we'll be there soon."
Dong Qingren was away from home, but his heart never left his wife. He was always worried about the safety of the mother and child. After listening to his elder sister's words, he nodded, got on his bicycle, and rode to the hospital in the rain.
When Dongqing returned to the hospital, he saw his second sister and brother-in-law sitting in front of the operating room waiting. His second sister was holding a newborn baby in her arms.
In the early 1980s, county-level hospitals did not have nurseries at all. After a child was born, as long as the baby's vital signs were normal, the child was directly handed over to the family.
Dong Ermei said, "Your younger brother is back. Come and see your son."
Dong Ermei handed the newborn baby to Dong Qing; the baby's nose and eyes looked very much like hers. After looking at the child, Dong Qing asked, "How is Yuzhu?"
Dong Ermei said, "The doctor said that it was timely to bring them here. If they had come any later, the mother and child would have died. Yuzhu's baby was breech, so the doctor performed a cesarean section. It was the right thing to give birth at the hospital. If she had given birth at home, she would have died. Don't worry, the mother and child are safe. The surgery should be over soon."
Li Yuzhu's baby was breech, and Dong Qing knew more than that. In her previous life, Li Yuzhu died in childbirth due to breech presentation. Otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed her to the hospital in the pouring rain. The baby wouldn't wait to be born when it was time. If she had a natural birth, she would have given birth on a stretcher, which would have been even more dangerous.
If Li Yuzhu had been able to give birth naturally in her previous life, she could have delivered the child even if Dong Qing hadn't returned all night. However, there would have been many safety risks, but it wouldn't have resulted in the death of both mother and child.
Pregnancy and childbirth are a woman's nature. Even when no one is around, as long as the baby is in the correct position, the woman can still give birth.
In the 1970s and 80s, conditions were poor, and there were instances where women gave birth to children alone at home under special circumstances.
Giving birth at home carries certain risks, but in case of unforeseen circumstances, one has no choice but to grit their teeth and deliver the baby. If complications arise during childbirth, the mother may die during her postpartum period. Whether a mother and child can survive a childbirth at home depends entirely on the mother's condition.
Not long after Dong Qing arrived at the hospital, Dong Da Mei arrived with her third sister. Dong Mei borrowed some money from her colleagues in the dormitory, and the three sisters pooled together four hundred yuan. Dong Er Mei took the money to the window and paid the hospitalization fee.
After Li Yuzhu was taken to the ward following her surgery, Dong Sanmei held the newborn baby and said, "I'm finally an aunt!"
Dong Damei said, "All four of us siblings are here. I have something to say. My younger brother doesn't have the means right now, and my third sister, who just started working last year, also doesn't have the means. My second sister and I are each contributing two hundred yuan to cover our siblings' medical expenses. Second sister, do you think this arrangement is acceptable?"
Dong Ermei said, "I have no objection to your arrangement, eldest sister."
Dongqing said, "I have a problem with this. Eldest sister, second sister, you can temporarily cover my medical expenses, but I must repay this money because none of your families have it easy."
The three older sisters were overjoyed to hear this. They didn't care whether their younger brother returned the money or not; helping him was the right thing to do. As long as he could turn over a new leaf, that was all that mattered.
The fact that their younger brother has finally come to his senses is what makes the three sisters happy; it's the result they've been hoping for for so long.
With tears in her eyes, Dong Ermei said, "Second sister hopes you can pay back the money. Let me clarify first that I'm not stingy. The fact that you can pay back the money shows that you've grown up, really grown up..."
Dong Ermei cried at the end. He was her only younger brother, and she had spoiled him a lot in the past. She always felt that it was her parents and older sister who had spoiled him. If her brother could finally wake up, she would have no reason to be unhappy. Her happiness had nothing to do with whether or not the money was returned.
Dong Damei shared the same sentiment as her second sister, and said with tears in her eyes, "Little brother, you really should grow up."
If Dong Qing hadn't learned from his past life, he believed he would never have woken up this time, much less grown up as his sister said. God had given him another life, and he would cherish it no matter what. He secretly vowed to treat his wife well for the rest of his life and never let her suffer any more grievances.
Dongqing said, "Don't worry, sister. I'm going to make something of myself for my wife and kids."
Dong Sanmei suddenly noticed tears streaming down Li Yuzhu's face as she lay in the hospital bed. She asked, "Sister-in-law, you should be awake by now, right?"
Li Yuzhu opened her beautiful, lifeless eyes, which were filled with tears, and said, "I heard everything you and your brother said, Dongqing. I hope what you just said is true. I don't ask for wealth or riches with you, but please stop gambling, okay?"
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