Even though I was inside my pregnant mother's belly, I could still feel the festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year.
It was also the happiest time of the year, the Lunar New Year. Aunt Zhou and her bodyguard Xiao Fang were in the kitchen preparing the New Year's Eve dinner.
I heard that this year's New Year's Eve dinner is very lavish. It's not exactly a big deal, but when it comes to New Year's Eve dinner, everyone is making the best meal they can afford.
Mom sat in the main room, playing with the four children from Aunt Zhou's family.
It was around this time that I learned that Aunt Zhou's family had three boys and one girl. The eldest boy, Shen Dong, was 7 years old, the second girl, Shen Nan, was 5 years old, the third boy, Shen Xi, was 3 years old, and the fourth boy, Shen Bei, was 1 year old.
This makes up the cardinal directions! It would be even better if there were a center as well.
Before long, the New Year's Eve dinner was served. I could hear my mother and Aunt Zhou chatting and eating.
They felt wronged because they couldn't see or eat anything while inside the pregnant woman's belly.
What can I do? I haven't had meat in so long, especially braised pork and braised fish. I really want to eat something delicious!
But I can't eat it!
What should we do?
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got, and the angrier I got, the more offerings I made to the higher
So much so that she didn't even realize that because she was making offerings there, she was born prematurely.
After finishing her meal, Aunt Zhou tidied up the table and invited Uncle Fang, the guard, to sit down at the table to chat with her mother and watch the children.
Just as they were getting into the conversation, they heard
"Sister Zhou, I'm afraid I'm about to give birth."
"What? She's going into labor?"
"right"
"Quickly, Comrade Xiao Fang, go and push the cart over from the door. I'll go and get a quilt to make the bed. Dongdong, you're the older brother, so take good care of your younger siblings at home. I've already warmed the kang (heated brick bed). You can sleep at home with your younger siblings later."
After saying that, she hurriedly got up and went into the bedroom. First, she grabbed a quilt, and when she saw that it wasn't enough, she grabbed another one to use later. Then, she carried the bundle she had already packed on her back, helped her mother walk out, and didn't forget to give the child some instructions.
"Dongdong, don't be afraid at home, take good care of your younger brother and sister."
"Okay, Mom. I'm a man and a big brother, so I'll take good care of my younger siblings."
"Hey girl, how's it going?"
"It's nothing, Sister Zhou. The pain isn't too frequent right now. We'll take it slowly."
Upon hearing this, I realized that I had been making offerings for meat because I was craving it, and it had actually caused me to be born prematurely. Damn it, I can't blame myself for this!
I can't let anyone know that I was born because I love meat, otherwise everyone will laugh at me. I'm afraid that because of this, I might be talked about for the rest of my life, and then I'll never have the face to see anyone again!
Soon, Mom got on the cart. Guard Xiao Fang pulled the cart in front, and Aunt Zhou pushed it from behind. What should have been a ten-minute walk took more than half an hour.
The reason is simply that it snowed a couple of days ago, and the snow was more than a finger's width thick.
The road wasn't easy to walk on. Although it was cold outside, it was during the Lunar New Year, and the children at home were uncontrollable during the holiday. There were many children setting off firecrackers on the road.
Even if it's not Chinese New Year, such thick snow is still difficult to walk on. After all, everyone goes to work every day, regardless of whether it's windy or rainy, so the roads are a bit slippery.
Another issue is that even if all the snow on the road is cleared, it doesn't stop children from going around looking for snow and having snowball fights. As a result, there are icy patches everywhere on the road, making pedestrians walk very carefully.
Some families are worried about their children playing outside, so someone will stay there to watch over the children, even if they are busy.
Seeing someone pulling a cart and covered with a blanket at this time, people would know they were going to the hospital to give birth and would go over to lend a hand.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the doctor quickly conducted a comprehensive examination and said that it was still early, and the baby would be born no later than tomorrow afternoon or evening.
Mom said to the guard, Xiao Fang, "Xiao Fang, it's still early. Go back to sleep first thing tomorrow morning and start stewing the chicken to make soup. Come over this afternoon!"
"No need, sister-in-law, I'll stay here with you!"
"You don't need to come with me. Go back now and come back tomorrow. You still have several children at home."
"Alright then! I'll come earlier tomorrow."
Xiao Fang turned and left, but instead of going back, she went directly to the duty room.
After showing his identification, he asked for a phone number, dialed a number, and said, "Connect me to the ??? military region." The call was quickly answered.
"Hello!"
"Hello! This is Jiang, the operator from the XX Military Region!"
"Hello Xiao Jiang, this is Xiao Fang. Sister-in-law Li is about to give birth and is in the hospital now. Sister-in-law Shen is with her at the hospital."
"Okay! I understand. I'll go tell the commander right away. You wait there, we'll be right there. Did the doctor say when the baby will be born?"
"Let's talk about tomorrow afternoon or evening!"
"That's hard to say. I'll go tell the commander and I'll be there right away. What about Sister Shen's children? Are they in the hospital too?"
"No, I'm at home!"
"Okay, I understand. You wait there for now!"
"yes"
"What's wrong, Xiao Jiang?" a soldier nearby asked.
"Deputy Regiment Commander Li's wife is about to give birth. I'll go tell the commander. You stay here and keep an eye on things," Xiao Jiang said hurriedly.
"OK"
Not only did he not know, but even the pregnant woman and Aunt Zhou did not know that Comrade Xiao Fang did not leave, but instead called the military region leader directly.
About an hour later, several officers in military uniforms came over.
There were several people standing at the entrance of the operating room. Apart from Aunt Zhou, they were all leaders from the hospital. They rushed over from home after hearing the news. There was no other way, not only because Liu Linjuan was a military family member, but also because she was one of the few people in the hospital who could perform major surgeries.
So even though Liu Linjuan is not old, she has a long military service record and is very capable, so she can speak up for herself among the leaders in the hospital.
Upon seeing these people, several military leaders quickly asked, "Comrade Zhou, what's the situation?" Minister Chen asked.
Upon hearing the voice, the group quickly saluted the individuals.
"Greetings, esteemed leaders."
After the leaders returned the greetings, one of them said
"What time is it? Stop with the formalities, Xiao Zhou, tell me quickly, what's the situation with Xiao Liu?"
"Yes, Dr. Liu just went in and is already three centimeters dilated. It should be soon!"
"Wasn't it supposed to be tomorrow afternoon or evening?" the minister asked.
"Isn't that inaccurate? Don't forget, Xiao Liu has been a martial arts practitioner since he was a child."
"Besides, this girl has been walking to and from work every day since she got pregnant, which is good for childbirth. Unlike others, she won't have to wait at least two or three days to give birth to her first child," said Dr. Wang.
"Old Wang is here too?" the minister asked.
"Yes, I'm here. What time is it?"
"It's 10:45 PM now," a leader said, raising his hand to check his watch.
"Looks like this kid's in a hurry to come out; he's planning to ask us old folks for New Year's red envelopes!" Old Wang said.
"Old Wang is absolutely right, that's exactly how it is."
"By the way, Comrade Xiao Zhou, don't worry about things at home!"
"I just sent another soldier over to take care of the children at home," the government official said to Zhou Tao.
"No need, sir, Shen Dong is fine with things at home!" Zhou Tao said hurriedly.
“That won’t do. Although Shen Dong is seven years old today, the other children in the family are still young. How can he, a child, take good care of three children? You don’t need to worry about this for now. He should be arriving at Xiao Liu’s house soon.”
"I'll have your sister-in-law come over to relieve you first thing tomorrow morning," Minister Chen said quickly.
"How can we let Sister Fang come?" Zhou Tao said.
“It’s alright. It’s the New Year, and there’s nothing much going on at home. Let her come over and lend you a hand.”
Meanwhile, in the delivery room, obstetrician Liu Hui said, "Dr. Liu, your baby certainly knows how to pick his time!"
Choosing this time to give birth—is she planning to ask me, her aunt, for a red envelope (cash gift)?
"Sister Liu, you're joking."
"You are a doctor yourself, you know what to do without me telling you."
"Know"
"That's good. Bear the pain for now and conserve your strength."
Okay, got it.
"Xiao Liu, now do as I say. Take a deep breath, relax, inhale, exhale, relax, that's it."
After hearing what the doctor said, I felt myself rising uncontrollably in waves. Then I heard outside telling me to inhale and exhale, and I knew I was about to come out, so I followed along and gradually became in sync with my mother's rhythm.
I just didn't expect that even if I cooperated with the pregnant woman, I wouldn't be able to come out right away. I was so tired that I didn't even want to cooperate anymore when I heard it.
"Dr. Liu, it's almost time, the baby will be born soon, hang in there."
"good"
Outside the delivery room, a high-ranking official asked, "Why is there no movement?"
"It's alright, Liu has experienced everything on the battlefield, she can handle this little pain!" Old Wang said.
"Come on, keep going, quick, I can see the head! Yes, push harder, take a deep breath, inhale, exhale, keep going!" said Dr. Liu.
Upon hearing this, I cooperated closely, because only in this way could I be born smoothly.
After a while, the distant sound of bells rang out, signaling the arrival of a new year—the 51st year had passed. Then, after the bells had struck 108, a loud "waaaah!" was heard.
I never imagined that when the bell rang, I would uncontrollably walk outside, and then I heard:
"Dr. Liu, the baby has been born, it's a girl. Quickly cut the umbilical cord and then clean the baby up."
"Dr. Liu, please don't move yet. You need to wait a little longer."
"good"
"Has it been born?" a leader asked.
"She gave birth. At this time today, Xiao Liu is the only one giving birth," said a hospital leader.
"Come here, Dr. Liu, this is your little girl. What do you think? Isn't she beautiful?"
"What do you think of this child! He'll grow up to be even more handsome than you two!"
"Yeah?"
"I wouldn't lie to you. Putting everything else aside, of all the babies I've delivered, this one is the best-grown."
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