Chapter 9: On Production

After dinner, the Li family sat in the courtyard, enjoying the moonlight and the breeze while sipping red bean soup. After chatting for a while, they each returned to their rooms.

It must be said that people in ancient times really had no nightlife. Furthermore, Chang'an enforced a curfew, which was only lifted for three days around the Shangyuan Festival (Lantern Festival), allowing the city's residents to go out and celebrate.

In Li Sanniang’s memories, the entire city was always bustling during the Shangyuan Festival every year; it was no exaggeration to say that people were shoulder to shoulder.

However, in the years leading up to her coming-of-age ceremony and the few years since she had married, she had never participated in such a grand event again.

She thought that by next year’s Shangyuan Festival, little Dewdrop would be over three years old. Perhaps by then, she could join the Li family in taking Dewdrop out to see the prosperity of the Great Tang.

After coaxing Dewdrop to sleep in the room, Li Sanniang got up, took ten taels of silver fragments from the hidden compartment at the head of the bed, and walked lightly through the small courtyard gate to the quarters of the "Four Little Ones." Before she even got close, she heard the door to their study open, and Li Dalang stepped out.

"Aunt, why have you come over?"

"I was worried, so I came to check on you. It’s so late, why are you still burning a lamp?"

"Aunt, we were wondering if we could finish writing a piece of calligraphy today. Grandfather made it sound simple, but we have to go for training in two days during our rest period, and we still have to go herb-gathering. Plus, we have our academy assignments every day, and there might be even more to do later in the month. Second Brother said it would be good if we could write some today," Li Silang complained to Li Sanniang, pouting.

"Put the calligraphy aside for now. Take off your clothes and let Aunt see if you have any injuries on your bodies."

"Aunt, we are all grown men now; how can we expose our bodies in front of you like we did when we were children? It’s too embarrassing. Father already came to check on us earlier. None of the brothers are hurt, so please set your mind at ease, Aunt."

Hearing Li Sanniang’s words, Li Dalang said with a blushing face.

"Very well, as long as you know what you’re doing."

As she spoke, Li Sanniang took out a purse and looked at the four of them. "I won't say much about the fighting; your grandfather and father have already punished you. You must never rely on your martial arts to act recklessly. Aunt appreciates your intentions, but the affairs of adults have nothing to do with you. You must not do this again in the future. Here are ten taels. I’ll give them to your eldest brother; that way, you won't be strapped for cash if you need to spend money on something."

"How can we take Aunt’s money? If Father finds out, he will surely punish us."

"Then don't let your father know. Your father is strict with you for your own good; you know that yourselves. But Aunt was a child once, too—not to mention that Dalang, you will be fifteen after the New Year. It’s good to have some money in your hands. Don't feel burdened, and don't tell your father. This is a secret between Aunt and you. Alright, just treat it as pocket money from Aunt. Manage it yourselves and listen to your eldest brother. Aunt trusts that you won't waste it."

After giving them a few more instructions, Li Sanniang returned to her room to sleep.

The four boys, however, were thrilled to be holding such a large sum of money. They laughed and played in the room for a while before finally settling down.

The next day, Second Brother Li didn't go to the pharmacy counter. Instead, he went to Xiangguiji to buy four types of pastries. He took the four boys to the academy to ask for a half-day leave from the headmaster, then took a donkey cart to the Wang family in Chongye Ward to apologize.

Except for Li Silang, whose face still showed some reluctance, the others looked quite calm. Under Li Dalang’s gaze, Li Silang also lowered his head and apologized.

They sat at the Wang house for a while, drank a cup of tea, and performed the proper etiquette before taking the four boys home.

Even after returning, they weren't idle. Second Brother Li spent the entire morning busy, directing the four boys to turn and dry medicinal herbs, and helping them move things back and forth.

Except for Eldest Brother Li, who was still on duty, the dozen or so members of the Li family were all present. They were just eating their lunch of wheat rice when Li Gui, the young assistant at the pharmacy, brought in a man with dark skin, wearing a short tunic and drenched in sweat.

"Shopkeeper, this is a member of the Wu family from Shili Slope Village. He says a woman in his family has gone into labor suddenly and is having trouble giving birth. He’s come to our house to ask for someone to help with the delivery."

After the assistant clearly explained the situation, he fell silent, signaling the man beside him to speak quickly.

"Shopkeeper, I am a cousin of the village head of Shili Slope. The village head is my cousin-uncle. Lan-niang should know me."

"Are you Uncle Youliang?"

The dark-skinned man, Wu Youliang, nodded quickly to confirm.

"Mother, it’s my maternal fifth uncle. What’s wrong, Fifth Uncle?"

Second Sister-in-law Li wanted to go to the kitchen to get a cup of tea, and Li Dalang, seeing this, hurried to fetch one.

"Oh, no need to trouble yourself. Shopkeeper Li, it’s like this: my eldest son’s wife went to the fields at noon to bring us food. The path was wet and slippery from watering, and she fell. We were so scared we carried her home immediately, but once we got there, she started bleeding and it wouldn't stop. I went to my uncle, and he told me to come ask for Sister Li. My uncle lent me his donkey cart. Please, Sister Li, help me."

Hearing this anxious and hurried account, Mother Li made a prompt decision, stood up, and said, "You drink your tea and catch your breath first. I’ll pack my basket and go with you."

Seeing this, Li Sanniang hurried to help Mother Li pack. Eldest Sister-in-law Li went to the kitchen to find some prepared snacks, filled a bamboo tube with water, wrapped it all up, and placed it in Mother Li’s basket.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Mother Li was ready to leave with Uncle Wu on the donkey cart. Second Brother Li was worried and wanted to go along, but Mother Li said it wasn't necessary. Finally, Father Li made the call, telling Second Brother Li to take a few doses of miscarriage-prevention medicine and go with her—if it could be used, fine; if not, he could at least look after Mother Li.

Mother Li had no choice but to accept Father Li’s kindness.

Because of this, everyone stopped chatting. After finishing their meal and cleaning up, they each returned to their rooms for a nap.

Second Sister-in-law Li was pregnant and only a few days away from her due date. Hearing about the situation with her fifth uncle’s daughter-in-law, she gently stroked her belly, hoping only for a smooth delivery herself.

After waking from her nap, she took Dewdrop for a stroll around the house as usual to increase her activity and promote the baby's development.

When she reached Second Sister-in-law Li’s room, she was still preparing small clothes for the baby. Soon, Eldest Sister-in-law Li, having finished her chores, also came over. The four women of different ages sat together and chatted. When they brought up the fact that Second Sister-in-law’s family had come to ask Mother Li to help with the delivery, they all sighed with emotion.

The three of them lamented that a woman giving birth is like crossing the gates of hell, and it all depends on whether one has the good fortune to survive.

As they spoke, Second Sister-in-law Li’s expression suddenly changed. She touched her belly, feeling the rhythmic, cramping pain of contractions. Trying to keep herself calm, she turned to Eldest Sister-in-law Li and said, "Eldest Sister-in-law, I think I’m going into labor."

"Ah! Lan-niang, your stomach has started hurting?"

At Second Sister-in-law’s words, Eldest Sister-in-law Li jumped up in a panic, not knowing what to do.

Li Sanniang thought to herself: *It’s finally here. I guessed that since Mother was urgently called away, Second Sister-in-law might go into labor today. Sure enough, it happened.*

Li Sanniang put Dewdrop down, stood up, and looked at Eldest Sister-in-law Li first. "Eldest Sister-in-law, don't panic. I know how to deliver babies. Before I was married, I secretly followed Mother out to help with deliveries. First, help me support Second Sister-in-law into the room."

"Dewdrop, go to the front courtyard and find your grandfather. Tell him Mother is looking for him."

Little Dewdrop never missed a beat and immediately stumbled toward the outside.

"Second Sister-in-law, don't be afraid. This is your third child; it will be easy. I’m here, Eldest Sister-in-law is here, and Father is here too. Everything will be fine. Come, follow my lead, let’s go into the room first."

Just as Li Sanniang and Eldest Sister-in-law Li helped Second Sister-in-law into the room and sat her down, Father Li arrived at the door, carrying Dewdrop.

Seeing Eldest Sister-in-law Li rummaging through the bedding and Li Sanniang pouring water for Second Sister-in-law, Father Li asked directly, "Is the second daughter-in-law going into labor?"

Second Sister-in-law Li endured a wave of cramping pain and gave Father Li a bitter smile, nodding.

"How long has it been hurting? Don't be afraid. Sanniang knows how to deliver babies. She was mischievous when she was little and followed your mother out to help with many deliveries. I’ll take Dewdrop and go to the kitchen to boil water. Your mother’s spare basket is in the corner cabinet in our room; Sanniang, go get it yourself, the door isn't locked."

After saying this, Father Li took Dewdrop to the medical hall to tell the assistants that there would be no consultations this afternoon and that the two young assistants should manage the pharmacy counter themselves.

He also grabbed a dose of medicine, planning to boil it in the kitchen first—if it could be used, great; if not, even better.

In Second Sister-in-law’s room, Eldest Sister-in-law Li had just finished setting up the birthing bed—a layer of straw on the floor, covered with a quilt, and topped with a sheet.

Yes, in Li Sanniang’s memory, ancient women did not give birth lying in the lithotomy position on a delivery bed like modern women. Because conditions were inadequate, they gave birth standing up, which allowed them to exert more force and made the delivery smoother.

With Second Sister-in-law’s consent, Li Sanniang lifted her skirt and checked; the cervix was already dilated to three fingers. A woman who had given birth before was always faster.

She had Eldest Sister-in-law Li support Second Sister-in-law as she walked around the room, while Li Sanniang went to Father and Mother Li’s room to retrieve the spare basket.

Taking the basket, Li Sanniang took advantage of the fact that no one was around to take out the obstetric instrument kit she had won in a lottery from her system inventory, placed it in the basket, and covered it with a cloth.

However, just before leaving, Li Sanniang turned back and returned the kit to her inventory.

After all, the dark green bag and those metal instruments, which clearly didn't belong to this era, would be very hard to explain if she took them out to use.

She would have to draw them later and find a craftsman to forge them; only then would she have an excuse to use them.

She went to the kitchen and saw Father Li letting Dewdrop play under the jujube tree while he himself was boiling a large pot of water and brewing the medicine on a small stove.

Li Sanniang carried the basket back, took over Eldest Sister-in-law Li’s work, and asked her to make a bowl of egg soup noodles for Second Sister-in-law.

Li Sanniang checked again; the cervix was now dilated to five fingers.

Second Sister-in-law was sweating profusely from the pain, but since this wasn't her first time, she knew not to scream and waste her energy, so she endured the pain and clenched her teeth.

"Second Sister-in-law, relax your jaw. If you keep clenching like that, you’ll break your teeth. Here, bite on this cloth. I’ve checked, it’s already five fingers dilated. It won't be long now."

At this moment, Eldest Sister-in-law Li brought in a basin of hot water and placed it on the table for easy access.

After all this busyness, over an hour had passed. After setting down the hot water, Eldest Sister-in-law Li went back and brought a bowl of freshly made soup noodles with four or five eggs in it.

Li Sanniang hurried back to her room to change her outer garment, covered her hair with a patterned cloth, used a pair of sleeve garters to tie up her cumbersome sleeves, and went to the kitchen to carefully scrub her fingers, hands, and forearms with soap.

Eldest Sister-in-law Li was helping Second Sister-in-law eat the noodles. Li Sanniang quickly took the scissors and needles from the basket to the kitchen, asked Father Li to help boil and wash them, then wrapped them in a piece of white unbleached cloth from the basket and brought them back to set aside. It would be convenient if she needed anything later. If things went smoothly, she would probably only need the scissors to cut the umbilical cord.

In fact, the most important aspect of modern surgical procedures is sterility.

Under the current conditions, this was impossible to achieve. It was Li Sanniang’s own lack of foresight; when she received her second system task, she should have started sewing a surgical gown. But considering that people at this time believed only those mourning a death wore white unbleached cloth, she hadn't rushed to make one.

As for the instrument kit from the system, she would have to find an opportunity to have a craftsman forge a few sets so that if she had the chance to use them, she would have a plausible origin story.

Returning to Second Sister-in-law’s room, she had her take off her shoes and stand on the temporary birthing bed on the floor. She asked Eldest Sister-in-law Li to help remove Second Sister-in-law’s skirt. At this point, the cervix was dilated to nearly ten fingers; it was time to push.

"Second Sister-in-law, it’s almost time. Listen to me, you can start pushing now. Gather your strength... alright, push!"

Giving birth is very exhausting. I expect she should be able to deliver in the next chapter.

Thank you for reading.

(End of chapter)