Chapter 5: Difficult Birth

Dongling, Jiazhou Prefecture, Deer Village.

Recently, three things have been circulating in the village.

The first is that the only son of Master Zhang from the county, who has been sickly for over a decade, has suddenly taken a turn for the worse. With no medicine able to help him, it is unclear how many days he has left.

The Zhang family is quite strange. Since the time of their ancestors, they have not been blessed with many descendants. By Master Zhang’s generation, he married at seventeen and later took in over a dozen concubines who looked like they were well-suited for childbearing.

Yet, it wasn't until Master Zhang was in his thirties that Madam Zhang finally bore him a son, but the child was in poor health. As for those concubines, let alone sons, they hadn't even produced a single daughter.

The villagers sighed, saying that no matter how much silver one has, what is the use if the family line is broken? With no one to burn spirit money for them after death, wouldn't they just suffer in poverty in the underworld?

Their sympathy was tinged with a bit of schadenfreude.

Who would have thought that a day later, news would spread that Master Zhang had spent a fortune to invite the retired Imperial Physician, Xue Henian, to diagnose his son.

The elderly Physician Xue was once the head of the Dongling Imperial Hospital and possessed superb medical skills. Master Zhang’s son was saved.

Moreover, that was an Imperial Physician—someone who had once treated the royal family! This was the closest the villagers had ever been to royalty in their entire lives.

Money makes the mare go! This time, the villagers were left with nothing but envy.

The second matter concerns the Song family, who moved to the east end of the village over a decade ago. Their son, for some unknown reason, was injured.

When someone in the village gets sick or injured, don't they just go to Hu Er, the barefoot doctor, to get some random medicine to eat?

Yet, the Song family’s son actually checked into Renji Hall. I heard he has to stay for at least a month—what a massive amount of silver that must cost! The Song family’s mistress has even rented a house in the county; it’s likely they won’t be coming back.

Renji Hall is the medical clinic opened by the aforementioned retired Physician Xue after he returned to Jiazhou. On the surface, it is said that the old physician is benefiting his neighbors, but in reality, the consultation fees at Renji Hall are quite high. Only wealthy families can afford it; if a villager were to go once, it would cost a family several years' worth of living expenses.

The Song family usually keeps a low profile, so no one knew they were actually a wealthy family.

However, the Song family does not engage in farming. The mistress and her son are dressed in fine clothes all day, looking like the wife and young master of a wealthy household, doing no work at all. Only the little girl of the Song family goes up the mountain every day to gather firewood, dressed in rags and as thin as a bean sprout.

I heard the head of the Song family works as a clerk in a shop. How much could a clerk earn? So, where does the Song family’s money come from?

The third matter is that Hu Er, the village’s barefoot doctor, performed a miracle in the neighboring Niu Village, pulling Niu Dayong’s mother back from the gates of hell after she had already stopped breathing. Everyone present said that Hu Er was a divine doctor reborn.

The villagers didn't know that Niu Dayong’s mother had fainted due to phlegm obstructing her heart, and Hu Er had simply cleared the phlegm in time. But regardless, the barefoot doctor Hu Er had transformed into the "Divine Doctor Hu."

For the past few days, Xie Qingli had been busy processing medicinal herbs and conditioning her body, preparing for her path of revenge. When these rumors reached her ears, she just smiled and let them pass; the villagers were just that simple and gossipy.

That evening, several villagers ran past Xie Qingli’s door carrying an old woman. Xie Qingli faintly heard the words "difficult labor." Not knowing whose family was in trouble, she quickly followed.

It turned out to be Hu Er’s wife, Li Lanzhi. She was nine months pregnant, and while organizing herbs this morning, she had accidentally bumped her waist and had been in abdominal pain ever since.

After an experienced village midwife examined her, she declared the fetus was in the wrong position and feared it would be a difficult labor. Hu Er was so pale with fright and panic that he had completely lost his head.

A woman suggested that Old Madam Zhang from the town specialized in delivering babies for wealthy families and was very experienced; they should invite her. Hu Er hurriedly begged a few young men to go fetch her.

The young men were full of vigor and, finding Old Madam Zhang too slow, simply carried her on their backs and sprinted back. Old Madam Zhang was shaken to the point of dizziness and retched as soon as she was put down.

Hu Er hurriedly asked Old Madam Zhang to go inside and check.

Old Madam Zhang said smugly, "Oh my, so it’s the 'Divine Doctor Hu.' Even a divine doctor has things he can't cure and needs an old woman like me to step in? Doesn't that make me better than a divine doctor?" With that, she went inside with a smirk.

Hu Er’s face turned beet red with embarrassment. Yesterday, he had been floating on air because of the "Divine Doctor" title, fantasizing about a life of luxury and servants. Now, he only wanted his Zhi’er to be safe and to live a steady life with her.

Not long after, Old Madam Zhang came back out, shaking her head regretfully at Hu Er: "The fetus is in the wrong position. Even the Great Luo Immortals couldn't help. Prepare for the funeral!"

Old Madam Zhang’s words were a death sentence for Li Lanzhi and her child. Hearing this, Hu Er fell to his knees, weeping and beating his chest.

"Do you have silver needles? Prepare a set for me." A crisp, youthful female voice rang out.

Hu Er, covered in tears and snot, stared blankly at the young girl before him. She was dressed in coarse cloth, her frame thin, but her large eyes shone like jewels. He couldn't recall who she was for a moment.

Seeing Hu Er’s daze, Xie Qingli said with slight anger, "What are you standing there for? Don't you want to save Sister-in-law Lanzhi?"

Hu Er hurriedly snapped out of it and stammered, "Yes, yes, yes, I’ll go get them right now."

Hu Er prayed silently in his heart: "Ancestors of the Hu family, and all the gods in heaven, I don't care who this girl is, as long as she can save Lanzhi, I, Hu Er, will acknowledge her as my mother and honor her for the rest of my life." As he rose to leave, his sleeve was grabbed by a withered hand. He turned to see it was Old Madam Zhang.

Old Madam Zhang looked Xie Qingli up and down with disdain: "You little brat, you haven't even grown your hair out yet, do you even know where a baby comes from?"

"I’ve been a midwife for over a decade. I’ve delivered at least eighty or a hundred babies. A breech birth like this has never been saved."

Xie Qingli said coldly, "Just because you can't, doesn't mean others can't."

Old Madam Zhang was furious: "You little wretch, born without upbringing, spouting nonsense and treating human life like a joke."

Old Madam Zhang thought to herself, she must not let this girl try. If she actually saved her, wouldn't her own reputation be ruined? And if the families of those who had died in childbirth before came looking for her, it would be trouble!

Saving a life was urgent, and Xie Qingli had no patience for bickering with Old Madam Zhang. She delivered a sharp chop to the back of the old woman’s neck, and Old Madam Zhang slumped to the ground.

Without time to care about the surprised gazes and whispers of the villagers, Xie Qingli said to the stunned Hu Er, "Go get the needles, and go grab a dose of labor-inducing medicine. Boil it and have it ready. You know the prescription, right?"

Hu Er ran as he replied, "I know, I know."

Inside the room, the pale Li Lanzhi lay on the bed, eyes closed, breathing faintly—she was on the verge of death.

Xie Qingli held Li Lanzhi’s hand and said softly, "Sister-in-law Lanzhi, don't be afraid. You and your child will be safe." Li Lanzhi had often helped Xie Qingli; she was the only light in her bleak life over the past decade, and she would not let anything happen to her.

A tear slid from the corner of Li Lanzhi’s eye. She could hear the outside world but was too weak to open her eyes. She had heard Old Madam Zhang’s voice clearly. She had thought she and her child were at a dead end, but unexpectedly...

Hu Er brought a set of silver needles. Xie Qingli washed her hands, carefully scorched the needles over a flame, then lifted Li Lanzhi’s clothes and skillfully inserted them.

Hu Er held Li Lanzhi’s hand tightly, staring nervously at Xie Qingli. Before long, Li Lanzhi slowly regained consciousness. Hu Er jumped for joy, weeping with happiness.

Xie Qingli said gently, "It’s not time to celebrate yet. Sister-in-law Lanzhi needs to eat something to regain her strength. Is there any brown sugar at home? Boil a bowl of brown sugar water, and find another midwife to come in."

"Not Old Madam Zhang." That woman was no good; there was no telling if she would cause trouble.

Hu Er wiped his tears with a grin: "Yes, I have everything. I’ll go prepare it." Soon, he brought back a bowl of steaming brown sugar water, followed by a kind-faced midwife.

Li Lanzhi drank the brown sugar water, her complexion regained some color, and she felt a bit of strength return.

Xie Qingli scrubbed her hands with strong liquor, washed them with hot water, and placed them on Li Lanzhi’s belly, gently feeling for the position of the child. Then, she rubbed both hands in one direction simultaneously.

After about half an incense stick of time, Xie Qingli asked the midwife to check the position. The midwife’s eyes widened: "Good heavens, the position is corrected."

After Li Lanzhi took the labor-inducing medicine, her cervix dilated fully, and the contractions became more intense. Half an incense stick later, a loud, clear cry of a baby echoed through the small courtyard.

The midwife shoved the baby into the arms of the grinning Hu Er, turned to help clean Li Lanzhi, changed the bedding with nimble hands, and took the soiled items out of the room.

Hu Er wrapped the baby with trembling hands and excitedly brought the child to Li Lanzhi’s side. He turned and knelt before Xie Qingli with a thud, shouting loudly, "Mother!"

Xie Qingli was so startled she choked on her own saliva: "Cough, cough, cough! Are you calling Sister-in-law Lanzhi 'Mother'? You must be too excited and missed a word?"

Hu Er said solemnly, "No, I am calling you. From this day on, you are my mother."

Xie Qingli jumped back in fright. She had just saved a life; how did she end up with a son, and one over a decade older than her? By his logic, wouldn't she be a grandmother today? Just thinking about it gave her goosebumps.

Seeing the confusion on both Xie Qingli and Li Lanzhi’s faces, Hu Er hurriedly explained: "When you said you could save Lanzhi in the courtyard, I made a silent vow. If you really saved her, I would acknowledge you as my mother."

"Besides, saving a life is like being a second parent. It is fitting for me to call you that."

Xie Qingli was speechless. Was this man not right in the head? She didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Who repays kindness like this? I’m only thirteen. If someone your age calls me 'Mother,' how can I show my face in public?"

Hu Er was shocked: "You’re already thirteen? I thought you were ten at most." As he spoke, he gestured to Xie Qingli’s height.

Xie Qingli was speechless with rage...

Li Lanzhi, on the bed, looked at the foolish-looking Hu Er and hurriedly signaled him with her eyes: "You fool, how can you call an unmarried girl that? You’ll ruin her reputation. If you want to repay her, just respect her in your heart. Now that she is all alone in the Song family, if she has any difficulties, just help her out more."

Hu Er finally stopped acting foolish: "Yes, Sister Song, it was my rudeness."

Xie Qingli corrected him: "My surname is not Song. The Song family are not my relatives. You can just call me 'Qingli'."

Hu Er whispered, "Qingli?" What a strange name.

Li Lanzhi looked at Hu Er’s dazed expression, feeling a bit helpless, and asked gently, "I still don't know if it’s a boy or a girl?"

Hu Er froze again, blankly saying, "I don't know either. I was too excited just now and forgot to look."

Looking at these two simpletons, Xie Qingli chuckled: "It’s a boy. You two really fit the saying: 'Birds of a feather flock together.'" She checked Li Lanzhi’s pulse; it was steady, and she was out of danger. After giving a few instructions, she left.

Walking outside, she finally couldn't help but burst into laughter. On her heavy path of revenge, she had actually encountered two such pure people—a bit silly, but also quite adorable.

Inside the room, the two of them blushed...

The medical parts are all fabricated and have no basis in reality. Please don't take them seriously. The same applies hereafter~

(End of chapter)