"What? This...this little rascal, this jinx..." Upon hearing what Granny Cao said, Old Lady Lu immediately started pointing at the window and cursing again.
The screams of Widow Wang inside the house grew weaker and weaker, and Granny Cao's brows furrowed more and more. Jiang Ling didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but unexpectedly, everyone's eyes were now on her.
Granny Cao was a shrewd person. She immediately ran to Jiang Ling, knelt down, and said respectfully, "Madam An, please help Lu Wangshi for the sake of us being from the same village!"
"Yes, yes, Madam An has many ideas and plans, she will definitely find a way to save Widow Wang."
"I don't think so. Don't forget how Old Lady Lu and Lu Youren treated Madam An before!"
"Oh dear, I wonder if Madam An can save Widow Wang. Widow Wang's fate is also considered unlucky."
The commotion caused Jiang Ling a headache. She rubbed her temples and looked at the crowd. Although she didn't want to help, she now had a title and a rank, so she had to manage the affairs of the village and be responsible for everyone.
Thinking of this, Jiang Ling helped Granny Cao up with a sigh and whispered to her, "Granny, let's talk in private!"
"You...you good-for-nothing who can't bear a son! How do you want to harm my daughter-in-law? Let me tell you, with me here, you can forget about it..." Old Mrs. Lu, seeing that Jiang Ling was going to discuss things with Old Mrs. Cao alone, assumed that she would harm Widow Wang and immediately jumped out and started cursing.
"Village chief, what do you think I should do about this? I have an idea, but I'm afraid some people will think I want to kill her daughter-in-law!" Jiang Ling ignored the old woman Lu who was cursing and instead emphasized the words "daughter-in-law".
"Old hag Lu, can't you just shut your mouth! What good has Madam An done to harm your daughter-in-law? In every way, what does Madam An eat or use that your family doesn't? How did you treat Madam An before? Madam An didn't pursue the matter because she's magnanimous. And yet you're here cursing and swearing. If you keep this up, I'll tie you up and throw you into the ancestral hall!"
The village chief's words still carried some weight in the hearts of these villagers. Now that Jiang Ling had been given a title and rank, she was even more of a god-like figure in their eyes.
"Alright, Granny Lu, shut up! You should apologize to Madam An right now!"
"Old woman Lu, how can you still not distinguish between what's important and what's urgent at this point!"
"Yes, yes, Madam An helped your daughter-in-law despite past grievances, and yet you still speak ill of her like this..."
The crowd's spittle nearly drowned Old Lady Lu. Even though she was usually arrogant, domineering, and unreasonable, she deflated like a punctured balloon in the face of their accusations, sitting on the ground with her head drooping and not uttering a word.
Lu Youren suddenly ran to Jiang Ling's side and knelt down in front of her, pleading desperately, "Jiang...no, no, Madam An, please save her, please..."
Seeing Lu Youren's tearful appearance, Jiang Ling felt a little uncomfortable. Although she was not the original Jiang Ling, she had inherited all of the original Jiang Ling's memories.
In those dark and hopeless memories, Lu Youren never pleaded for her, not even uttering a kind word.
"Mrs. An, what do you want with this old woman?" Granny Cao, who was standing to the side, asked quickly when she saw Jiang Ling's somewhat dazed look.
"Ah... Granny Cao, let's... let's talk further!" Jiang Ling's gaze fell on a corner, and the people around her tactfully made way for her.
"Madam An, do you have any way to cure the breech presentation?" Granny Cao asked Jiang Ling with expectant eyes.
"Yes...yes, but the method is very risky!" Jiang Ling thought that most modern women would have an episiotomy when giving birth, and a cesarean section was out of the question without anesthesia. Moreover, the hygiene conditions were not up to standard. If they really cut open Widow Wang's abdomen, she would probably die in no time.
Thinking of this, Jiang Ling gritted her teeth and whispered something to Granny Cao.
Clearly, episiotomy had not been discovered in this era. When Granny Cao heard Jiang Ling mention episiotomy, she immediately turned pale with fright and shook her head like a rattle drum.
"No, no, I've been delivering babies for so many years and I've never heard of such a method. Isn't this too risky!"
"Grandma Cao, is there any other way besides this? After the baby is born, you can stitch it up again and the flesh will gradually heal. Trust me, okay?" Jiang Ling knew that the situation was urgent and could not be delayed any longer.
Granny Cao was still hesitant. Seeing Granny Cao's expression, Jiang Ling quickly turned to the village chief and said, "Village chief, now that Widow Wang... Madam Lu is having a difficult childbirth, there is a way we can try, but this method is risky and requires the consent of Lu Youren or Granny Lu!"
Seeing the resolute look in Jiang Ling's eyes, the villagers hurriedly asked, "What method do you have? Tell us quickly!"
Jiang Ling called several people over and then said, "We need to make a cut below her waist. If there's enough space, the baby can be born, but this method is very dangerous..."
"What do you mean, 'cut a knife'? Why don't you just say 'open her up and pull the baby out'? Madam An, are you still trying to murder my daughter-in-law?!" Old Mrs. Lu started throwing a tantrum again.
Jiang Ling wanted to have her abdomen cut open, but unfortunately, she didn't have the means. Ignoring Old Lady Lu, Jiang Ling continued, "After the baby is successfully delivered, the wound will be stitched up. It will take about ten to fifteen days for the flesh to gradually heal. Even if there is a scar, it won't be visible in a private place! The situation is urgent, so you should consider it yourselves. I think Widow Wang can't hold on much longer!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Lu Youli's wife, Madam Yin, rushed out in a panic, tears welling in her eyes, and cried out to Old Madam Lu, "Mother! Mother! Something terrible has happened! Sister-in-law! She's fainted!"
"You must make a choice now! You can't delay any longer!" Jiang Ling emphasized after hearing that Widow Wang had fainted.
"I...I'll listen! Granny Cao, my wife is counting on you!" Lu Youren said through gritted teeth at the crucial moment!
"Come on! Granny Cao, let's go inside quickly!" Upon hearing Lu Youren's reply, Jiang Ling hurriedly pulled Granny Cao into the house.
While Granny Cao was checking on Widow Wang's condition, Jiang Ling had already bought sutures and disinfectant from the mall, as well as a bottle of electrolyte water and a piece of chocolate. Taking advantage of Granny Cao's inattention, Jiang Ling stuffed the chocolate into Widow Wang's mouth and then poured in a few mouthfuls of electrolyte water.
Under the influence of chocolate and electrolyte water, Widow Wang gradually regained consciousness. She looked around with a face full of despair, as if she had already prepared herself to die.
"Hurry up, Grandma!" Jiang Ling said as she handed over the already sterilized scissors.
Soon after, the sound of flesh being cut reached Jiang Ling's ears. Jiang Ling grimaced and felt a slight soreness in her lower abdomen. With a scream from Widow Wang, the loud cry of a baby echoed throughout the room.
After a few seconds of silence, everyone outside burst into cheers. Old Mrs. Cao was covered in sweat again, but she still forced herself to stitch up Widow Wang's cut wound.
“It’s…it’s a boy!” said Madam Yin, who was standing to the side, with a happy expression.
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