Riding the wind of rebirth

"Xueshan, how are you?" Mai Xiaomiao asked Feng Xueshan, who was sitting in a wheelchair, with concern as her sister-in-law and Zhou Zhi went to handle the paperwork.

"I'm feeling better now." Feng Xueshan held Mai Xiaomiao's hand. "Thank you, Xiaomiao."

"Don't be shy, you're the most important person now." Mai Xiaomiao had been very nervous, holding Feng Xueshan's hand the whole way without letting go. She was still quite nervous, but now that they were at the hospital, she felt a little more relaxed. She wanted to help Feng Xueshan relax but couldn't find a topic to talk about: "The other day I saw Zhouzi flipping through a book looking for characters. I guessed he was thinking of a name for the baby, but he said the baby's name also needs to be matched with the birth date. Like the Eight Characters. Looking for characters is just for backup."

Feng Xueshan, her face pale, still managed a slight smile: "I didn't know he knew this. It's quite something that he's so knowledgeable... Oh dear..."

"It's starting to hurt again?" Mai Xiaomiao's face also turned pale. "I'll go call the nurse."

"No..." Feng Xueshan pulled Mai Xiaomiao: "It's still early, let's wait for them to come back."

"Xueshan's in pain again?" Her sister-in-law ran back with a stack of hospital admission receipts. "We've got a bed ready. Zhouzhi went to get the medicine. Just bear with it a little longer. We'll go upstairs to find a nurse."

When Zhou Zhi brought a bunch of things from the pharmacy to the ward, Feng Xueshan was already lying there: "How are you feeling?"

"I'll go call the doctor right away." Seeing Zhou Zhi come in, the eldest sister-in-law, who was busy packing things into the cabinet, stood up.

“No need, there’s a call system here.” Zhou Zhi walked to the bedside: “There’s a button here, just press it if you need anything.”

This is a single room with a large bed that can sleep two people. There is also a pull-out sofa bed next to it. It has a bathroom, basic furniture, and even a small kitchen. The conditions are quite good.

Of course, the Clover Group also pays a considerable amount of money to Huaxi every year.

Within two minutes, the doctor and nurse arrived together. The nurse started an IV drip for Feng Xueshan, and the doctor came over to check on her and said, "She's still in the first stage of labor, which is the cervical dilation stage. However, it's not dilated enough, and the contractions aren't obvious. It'll probably take a few more hours."

"The baby's position and individual condition were good during the previous ultrasound, and the mother is also healthy, so we still recommend a vaginal delivery." The doctor checked the IV drip: "If the contractions are still not obvious after a few hours, we will administer antibiotics and oxytocin."

"So what do we do now? Wait?" Zhou Zhi asked.

"You just need to stay calm, cooperate with our work, and follow our instructions and advice." The doctor seemed to have seen this kind of situation many times before, and said very calmly, "In addition, you need to maintain your strength through diet and rest, and at the same time, pay close attention to changes in your body. Call us immediately if there are any problems."

"Okay, okay, thank you, doctor," the woman quickly replied.

"So what should we eat? Chicken soup?" Zhou Zhi continued to ask.

"Chicken soup and foods high in sugar should be avoided now," the doctor said. "Pregnant women may experience nausea and vomiting due to contractions or stress. It is recommended to choose easily digestible liquid foods such as rice water, lotus root starch, millet porridge, and noodle soup, which can replenish energy without burdening the stomach and intestines. It is better to save the chicken soup for postpartum recovery."

"The conditions here are good. You can make some low-fat, easily absorbed protein foods such as steamed eggs, soft tofu, and steamed fish to help maintain your strength. Avoid fried and greasy meats."

"We also brought some fruit, apples, grapes, and pears. Is that alright?"

"Apples and pears are fine, but don't eat too many. Grapes are too sweet, so avoid them. You can also supplement your diet with some dietary fiber by cooking some vegetables, such as radishes, carrots, spinach, and lettuce leaves."

"Understood." Zhou Zhi nodded. Luckily, he had brought fruit and eggs. There were two kinds of fruit he could eat, which could be used to make steamed egg custard. He could just go out to the market to buy some vegetables later. "Which of you is a family member of the pregnant woman? Please sign here." The nurse came over with a folder and a pen, looking at Zhou Zhi as she asked the question, as if she had determined that he was the expectant father.

"The baby's father is still on his way," Feng Xueshan said, clutching her stomach. "Can we sign later?"

"Okay, we can have the family member come to the front desk when they arrive," the nurse said.

"Doctor, what are they administering now?" Zhou Zhi asked again as the doctor and nurse were about to leave.

"This is an IV drip," the nurse said. "We'll have antibiotics soon, and the oxytocin injection will depend on the situation; the doctor hasn't prescribed it yet."

"Understood, thank you, thank you."

"Xueshan, would you like some lotus root starch? We just happened to have some with us." The sister-in-law asked, "Zhouzi is so thoughtful, he even thought of lotus root starch."

"Sister-in-law, peel an apple for me, I'll have some," Feng Xueshan said.

"The monk will be here soon." Zhou Zhi came to Feng Xueshan's bedside and took over the task of peeling the apple: "Sister Hong and Lu Lutong also wanted to come over, but I told them not to cause trouble and to wait until after the baby is born."

"You told them that?" Feng Xueshan asked reproachfully.

"We'd find out sooner or later," Zhou Zhi said. "The monk sent a message in the classmates' group."

Feng Xueshan gritted her teeth: "Just wait until he sees how I deal with him!"

“Yes, he really should be dealt with,” Zhou Zhi handed Feng Xueshan a slice of apple. “But it’s too late now, so let’s let him off the hook for the time being.”

"How is Xue Shan?" The ward was quiet for a short while before the door was pushed open. Yang He was still wearing his work clothes, and an anti-static wrist strap for installing equipment was on his wrist: "What did the doctor say?"

"Keep your voice down, Sister Xueshan is resting," Mai Xiaomiao said. "The doctor said it will take a while, and she might need an oxytocin injection."

"Why induce labor?" Yang He's legs went weak upon hearing this. "What kind of explanation is this?"

“That’s how it is in the obstetrics and gynecology department,” Zhou Zhi, who had arrived about twenty minutes earlier than Yang He, was now giving Yang He a science lesson: “If your water breaks, you will have to give birth within ten hours. If your contractions don’t keep up, you will have to take some medication. This is normal. The doctor said that both the mother and the baby are healthy, so there is no need to worry.”

"Elbow, take Yang He to sign the papers first," Feng Xueshan opened her eyes. "Didn't the nurse just say we should go to the front desk when he arrives?"

"Oh right." Zhou Zhi suddenly remembered this: "Yang He came with me to the front desk; the family members haven't signed the papers yet."

"What do I need to sign?" Yang He was filled with anticipation, excitement, fear, and joy—a mix of emotions that left him completely bewildered, his mind racing, as if he were sleepwalking. (End of Chapter)