Republic of China: Guandong Ginseng King

Chapter 478: The Birth of Little Thirteen

As the Japanese and Goryeo have been constantly provoking and causing trouble in recent days, Han Dengju, as the governor of Yanbian, cannot leave for too long.

So after Han Xiutang and Qu Jialing got engaged, Han Dengju immediately led his men to leave Jilin City and return to Yanji Hall.

Chen Yanchuan and Chen Jingya are still studying in Jilin City, so Chen Yunzhe and others have to stay here for a few more days to accompany the children.

Zhang Tianzhi and his family of three finally made the trip back to Jilin City, and they also wanted to spend more time with Lin Ruolan.

The provincial office was busy with affairs, and Qu Shaoyang didn't have much time to spend with his uncle.

Just come back in the evening, a few people get together, drink some wine, talk about the current situation and so on.

Qu Shaoyang repeatedly told the Chen brothers and Tianzhi not to get involved with the revolutionary factions such as Sun and Huang. The court was now cracking down on the rebels, so they must not bring trouble upon themselves.

Of course, there is no need to be enemies with them. Just let things take their own course. Our main task right now is to develop people's livelihood as much as possible.

Andong, in particular, has now become another prosperous port city on land and sea after Dalian.

Dalian is currently under the control of the Japanese. After Xu Shichang became the governor-general of the three northeastern provinces, he was committed to building an international port with extensive connections to compete with Dalian.

Xu Shichang’s targets were Andong and Huludao.

In comparison, Andong is connected to the Anfeng and Ji'an railways, has well-developed transportation, and its port also has advantages. This opportunity must be seized.

These people each had their own tasks, and after staying in Jilin City for a few days, they all set out on their journey home.

Nowadays, transportation is convenient. You can take a train directly from Jilin to Andong. After Tianzhi and his wife arrive in Andong, they can take a train to Fengtian.

After her brother and sister-in-law left, Chen Xiuyun couldn't help but feel depressed.

Fortunately, there were many children in the family, and they all gathered around their mother. After a few days, Chen Xiuyun recovered her mood.

In mid-June, a Mongolian Literature School was established in Jilin City. Students mainly studied Mongolian. The school lasted two years and was specifically designed to train talents in border negotiations.

At the same time, Jilin gentry and chairman of the Jilin Local Self-Government Association Song Yu and others initiated fundraising to establish Jixin Machinery Brick Co., Ltd.

The company only accepted Chinese shares and did not accept foreign shares. The Fengyuanheng Money House in the provincial capital collected the share money on its behalf. Each share was 400 taels, and 500 shares were issued, raising a total of 200,000 taels in Jilin City.

Ordering a set of brick-making machines from Yixin Foreign Company marked the beginning of the use of machines to make bricks in modern times in Jilin Province.

Inspired by this, many gentry and wealthy businessmen in Jilin Province also invested in building factories, such as soap factories, match factories, textile factories, paper mills, etc. The industrial development of Jilin Province was positive.

At the same time, Japan and Tsarist Russia signed the Russo-Japanese Secret Treaty in St. Petersburg.

In the annex to the treaty, the Northeast was divided into two parts, north and south. South Manchuria was the sphere of influence of Japan, and North Manchuria was the sphere of influence of Tsarist Russia.

Tsarist Russia recognized Japan's existing status in Goryeo, and Japan recognized Tsarist Russia's interests in Outer Mongolia.

After the treaty was signed, Japan began to make moves.

On July 11, Japanese Lieutenant Colonel Saito Kiyochiro, under the order of the Japanese government, led his troops from Huining to Yanji.

At the same time, Japan's acting ambassador to Beijing, Abu Moritaro, sent a note to the Qing Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating that the ownership of Jiandao had still not been determined, and that there were more than 100,000 Korean people there, so Japan would send troops to guard it.

On July 23, Saito and his delegation set up the Governor-General's Office Police Station in Longjing, despite opposition from Jilin Province and Yanji Office. Saito was appointed as the director and a notice was issued to protect Korean citizens.

They attempted to create the so-called Jiandao islands and designate Yanji, Wangqing, Helong, Hunchun and other places as the second Goryeo and then annex them.

On the same day, Jilin Governor Qu Shaoyang and Governor-General of the Three Northeastern Provinces Xu Shichang jointly sent a telegram to the Qing Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The so-called Jiandao by the Japanese are actually Helongyu, Guangjiyu and other places under the jurisdiction of Yanji Prefecture, located in the north of Tumen River and belong to the Qing Dynasty.

When Zhang Tianzhi and his team surveyed the boundary last year, the ownership had already been determined. At that time, neither Goryeo nor Japan had any objections.

This time, Japan brought up the old matter again, forged a name, and mixed Jiapiqiao into the area. Its intentions are obvious, and its various conspiracies are too much.

On July 18, the imperial court responded by establishing the Jilin Provincial Border Affairs Office in Juzi Street to supervise border affairs in the eastern part of Jilin Province.

Chen Zhaochang, deputy governor of Hunchun, was appointed as the supervisor of border affairs, and Wu Luzhen and Han Dengju were appointed as assistants.

Saito was Wu Luzhen's instructor when he was studying at the Japanese Military Academy. Wu Luzhen got to know Saito and tried his best to deal with him after arriving in Yanji.

The two sides negotiated several times, but Saito was unable to do anything to Wu Luzhen, so he sent people to sneak in, mark the ground and put up poles as boundaries.

Wu Luzhen immediately contacted Han Dengju and led his troops to remove all the boundary poles put up by the Japanese.

Saito wanted to build a railway in Yanji, so he sent a large number of armed personnel to invade the north of the Tumen River, penetrating more than 90 miles and driving wooden stakes along the way.

After Wu Luzhen and Han Dengju learned about this, they immediately arranged for people to remove all the wooden stakes and set up new signs with detailed place names and distances to demonstrate their sovereignty.

For a time, the two sides were on the verge of a war. Japan sent troops to reinforce one after another. Han Dengju and Wu Luzhen deployed their troops on the bank of the Tumen River, ready to fight back.

The two sides were in a stalemate, and Saito did not dare to cross the line. In the end, he had no choice but to withdraw his troops to the east.

Saito was deeply troubled by this and lamented that there were still people in the Qing court, such as Wu Luzhen, Han Dengju, etc., who could not be deceived.

While Wu Luzhen and Han Dengju were negotiating with Saito and others, Xu Shichang, Qu Shaoyang and others telegraphed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to question the Japanese acting minister and order him to withdraw the Japanese troops from Yanbian. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to the Japanese minister demanding the withdrawal of troops.

At the end of July, the Qing government decided that each province should train an army within a certain period of time, and ordered Fengtian, Jilin and Heilongjiang to train one regiment each.

Zhang Tianzhi was the assistant director of military affairs of Fengtian, responsible for the training of the Fengtian Army. After the training of the new army was completed, he was appointed commander of the new army.

The new army of Jilin Province was supervised by Wu Luzhen, who also served as the commander of the new army.

The new army was stationed in the eastern area to consolidate the border defense and become a strong backing for subsequent negotiations with Japan.

At the same time, in order to resist the invasion of the Japanese army, appease the Korean people in the country and maintain local public security.

Jilin Province has set up offices in Helongyu, Liudaogou, Hunchun, Tongfo Temple, Baicaogou, Liangshuiquan, Heidingzi and other places, which are under the jurisdiction of Yanji Hall.

On the morning of August 5, Chen Xiuyun, who was still asleep, suddenly had a stomachache. "Shaoyang, hurry up, take me to the hospital. I think I'm going to give birth early. My stomach hurts so badly."

Chen Xiuyun sensed something was wrong and quickly pushed Qu Shaoyang who was sleeping beside her.

"What? She's going to give birth? This is early again?" Qu Shaoyang was startled when he heard this and quickly sat up, muttering to himself while getting dressed.

Chen Xiuyun gave birth to four children, and basically every time she gave birth prematurely.

Because of this, Qu Shaoyang didn't dare to go anywhere recently, and stayed in the main courtyard every day to accompany Chen Xiuyun. Sure enough, this time it was early again.

"Well, I guess so. My stomach hurts so badly right now. Call someone and take me to the hospital."

Chen Xiuyun has given birth four times and is very experienced. She feels that the pain in her stomach means she might give birth soon.

While Qu Shaoyang was putting on his clothes, he called the maids who were on night watch outside to come in, help Chen Xiuyun put on her clothes and simply comb her hair.

At the same time, Qu Shaoyang went out to ask people to prepare the car and sedan.

Soon, Chen Xiuyun was dressed properly, and Qu Shaoyang helped her get into the sedan chair. Several strong servants carried Chen Xiuyun and quickly came to the gate of the mansion and changed to the carriage.

Qu Shaoyang also got on the carriage and held his wife in his arms to protect her. The coachman drove the carriage straight to the Provincial Hospital.

When they arrived at the hospital, they didn't care about the formalities and took her directly to the delivery room for examination. Most of the doctors in the hospital's obstetrics and gynecology department were trained by Chen Xiuyun and had superb medical skills.

Moreover, during Chen Xiuyun's pregnancy, doctors came to her home regularly to check on her, and everything was normal.

"Master Qu, please rest assured. Madam is in good condition now. The birth canal has been almost opened. I think she will be able to give birth soon."

After the examination, a nurse came out to take the baby's swaddling clothes, blanket and other things, and gave some instructions.

At this time, Meng Lanxin, Lin Ruolan and others heard the news and rushed over. Everyone was waiting anxiously outside the delivery room.

Chen Xiuyun has given birth to four children. Although she is a little older, the labor process of a multipara is always much faster than that of a primipara.

About half an hour later, everyone heard a "wow" from inside, and the thirteenth child of the Qu family arrived.

"It's born, it's born. Listen, the cry is so loud, it must be a boy."

Lin Ruolan was in the corridor and heard the noise inside and said happily.

Qu Shaoyang doesn't care about girls or boys. There are so many children in the family. It doesn't matter what kind of children they are. The most important thing is that Chen Xiuyun is safe.

After a while, a nurse came out holding a candle bag and handed the child to Qu Shaoyang with a smile.

"Congratulations, sir. It's a little boy, weighing 6.7 jins. Both mother and child are safe. Madam is in good condition and will be able to come out soon."

Qu Shaoyang took the child and took a look at him. All newborn babies looked the same, with wrinkled faces, but this little guy had a very fair complexion, and he closed his eyes and didn't cry or make a fuss.

"Lan Xin, I leave the child to you, please take good care of him."

Qu Shaoyang handed the child to Meng Lanxin and took him to the ward. He stayed outside the delivery room, waiting for Chen Xiuyun to come out.

After a while, the nurse came out and called people, saying that the woman in labor could be taken to the ward.

Qu Shaoyang didn't bother with anyone else and went straight in, picked up Chen Xiuyun, and sent her back to the ward to rest.

In early August, the weather was pretty good, neither too cold nor too hot, so it wasn't painful to be in confinement after childbirth.

Chen Xiuyun gave birth quickly, so she consumed less physical energy and is in good spirits right now.

"Shaoyang, don't stay here. There are still many things to do in the government office. Go eat something quickly, change your clothes and go back to the government office.

Here I have my master's wife, Lan Xin and the others, they can all take care of me."

"Yes, yes, Shaoyang, you should go back home first, we are here.

The government has so many things going on right now, and we can't do without you. Don't worry about Xiuyun, we will definitely take good care of her."

Lin Ruolan quickly nodded in agreement, and Meng Lanxin also said that Qu Shaoyang should go back first.

Qu Shaoyang thought, there are so many people taking care of them in the hospital, and he won’t be able to help much if he stays.

"Okay, I'll go back to the government office first. If you have any questions, send someone to find me."

Just like that, Qu Shaoyang left the hospital, went back home to pack up, have a meal, and then returned to the yamen to do his work.

When Chen Xiuyun was seven or eight months pregnant, a wet nurse had already been found. Someone went to fetch the wet nurse to be responsible for feeding the baby.

The others took good care of Chen Xiuyun and prepared some light and nutritious meals for her.

Chen Xiuyun and her son stayed in the hospital for two days. As nothing happened, they were discharged and went home to recuperate.

Three days later, a third-day bath banquet was held in the mansion, and some close relatives and friends came to congratulate.

Qu Shaoyang named Xiao Shisan Qu Zhenxiang.

Little Zhenxiang is very easy to worry about. He rarely cries or makes a fuss after he is born. He just eats and sleeps every day.

Chen Xiuyun started to produce milk the night after she gave birth to Zhenxiang. She fed the baby herself during the day, and the wet nurse would take the baby away to feed him at night.

Chen Xiuyun planned to feed the babies for four or five months and then hand them over to the care of a wet nurse.

The news of Xiao Zhenxiang's birth soon spread to Linjiang and Andong. Doctor Chen and his wife took a train to Jilin City to visit their daughter and grandson.

As for Mr. and Mrs. Qu Laokouer, they are busy with the autumn harvest now. Both Linjiang and Fusong are very busy. Even though Mr. Qu Laokouer is no longer working in the fields, he still has to stay at home and take charge.

So they asked someone to send a lot of things over, saying that they would come back to visit the child when they were less busy for a while.

When Doctor Chen and his wife arrived in Jilin, little Zhenxiang was already more than ten days old. His big black eyes looked around, his little face was brighter and fuller, and his rosy complexion was particularly rare.

Mrs. Li held her grandson in her arms all day long and loved him very much.

Of course, she also couldn't help but remind Chen Xiuyun to be more careful in the future and not to have any more children.

At Chen Xiuyun's age, she has given birth to five children. Giving birth is very harmful to a woman's health.

During the casual conversation, the marriages of the younger generations would inevitably come up.

Currently, Zhenbang and Jialing have already been engaged, but the other children haven't yet arranged their marriages.

In Li's opinion, it is time to arrange the marriages of other children as well. The sooner it is settled, the sooner she can feel at ease.

"Your second brother is a rough man, all he does is lead troops to fight, and your second sister-in-law doesn't care much about this either.

They both loved Jingya like the apple of their eye, and they always urged her not to get married early and to stay for a few more years.

Oh, they have made me so worried.

My dear, you are Jingya's aunt, and the child is now in your hands. You and Shaoyang should take more care of it. If there is a suitable one, choose one for Jingya."

When talking about her second son and second daughter-in-law, Li became furious.

These two bastards don't even care about their own daughter's lifelong affairs.

There was no other way, she had to risk her reputation and ask her daughter for help.

"Mother, my second brother and his wife love their daughter so much that they don't want her to get married early to take care of the household and raise children.

It's the same with Jialing. Sister Fengzhi and I have agreed that we will get married a few years later. Jialing should be at least 20 years old before we can get married.

Mother, times have changed, and children's thinking has changed. It is not popular to get married too early nowadays. Let the children play for a few more years."

Chen Xiuyun laughed when she heard this. Her second brother and his wife were such a funny couple.

I really don’t know what my second brother and sister-in-law will think when Jingya finds someone she likes in the future. My second brother might even beat someone up.

"Mom, your children and grandchildren will have their own blessings, so you should just enjoy your old age in peace and don't get involved in your children's affairs.

Their generation is completely different from ours, and I hope they can go further and fly higher.”

(End of this chapter)