Jinyi Spring

Chapter 68 Resident Mothers
After a few words of laughter and conversation, Grandma Hu said, "You go ahead and do your work. We'll stay here to enjoy the flowers and have some tea. Oh my, it's been two months since I last came, and the courtyard has changed so much. It's like a little garden."

Not only are there colorful flowers, but also vines climbing up the walls and pillars, making it a truly magnificent sight.

Peony laughed and said, "My daughter spends all her money on the clinic and these flowers and plants."

At the beginning of the Si hour, Guo Jialing, Duan Yan, Doctor Fang, Doctor Qin, and Cai Yuxiu, all dressed in casual clothes, arrived one after another.

Cai Yuxiu was dressed in a female doctor's uniform, a light green inner garment, and a dark green long skirt with a vest, the skirt embroidered with patterns of immortal herbs and lingzhi mushrooms.

Apart from Cai Yuxiu who went inside the clinic, the other men didn't go in. They had their gifts taken to the house. They looked inside from outside the clinic and then stood there talking.

Banxia and the other girls quietly introduced each person to their neighbors.

The fact that the head of the princess's household and the family of the junior magistrate of the capital city came to offer their congratulations made everyone envious, and also made the few scoundrels who had been plotting something give up their schemes.

Duan Yan whispered to Feng Chuchen, "Originally, my second master was going to come and offer his congratulations in person, but three days ago, Young Master Ming returned to the capital. My second master has been talking with Young Master Ming by candlelight every night and gets up late, so he didn't come."

Seeing the strange look in Feng Chuchen's eyes, and recalling the rumors circulating in the streets, he explained, "My second master and the eldest young master of the Ming family are cousins. They only discuss scholarship and warfare when they are together. Miss Feng, please don't believe those rumors."

It has a strong suspicion of trying to hide something.

Feng Chuchen feigned ignorance, "What rumors?"

"Oh, nothing."

After a burst of firecrackers, Aunt Wang spoke, briefly explaining the clinic's philosophy and the benefits of prenatal checkups and hospital delivery.

These words should have been spoken by Feng Chuchen, the owner and curator, but since she was a young woman, it was not appropriate for her to say them, so Aunt Wang had to speak them instead.

Aunt Wang was very nervous and had been memorizing for many days. Today she performed quite well and finished speaking smoothly.

The guests were invited to the house for a simple meal, and Aunt Wu's cooking was very popular.

After the meal, everyone left one by one.

The Hu twins didn't want to leave, but Grandma Hu dragged them away.

"They're busy today, let's come back another day when they've sorted things out."

Cai Yuxiu managed to get a stethoscope.

Feng Chuchen generously taught her how to listen to the pulse and fetal heartbeat, and explained the benefits of listening to the fetal heartbeat.

Dr. Fang was indifferent to the stethoscope, thinking it was just for show and not as accurate as taking a pulse. As a skilled senior doctor, he felt it would lower his status to use such a thing.

Dr. Qin secretly got one, but was too embarrassed to take it out and use it at home.

At the beginning of the Wei hour (1-3 PM), a woman who had just gone into labor was brought to the clinic.

This is the first pregnant woman to stay at the facility.

The new mother's husband's surname was Ji, and he lived in Beianfang. He was helped to walk to the clinic in less than 15 minutes.

Most of the residents in Bei'anfang were well-off families, and many were merchants who were good at accounting.

In their view, giving birth at a clinic with a 50% discount, if it's just for one day, is cheaper than hiring a good midwife at home who is more expensive.

If we stay a couple more days, although the cost will increase a bit, it will be more comfortable at home.

It's a win-win situation, so why not?

After examining the pregnant woman, the midwife Wang immediately led her to the delivery room.

The delivery room was draped with long, soft curtains, so even with the door open, you couldn't see inside.

The accountant, Sister Zhao, processed the admission procedures for the Ji family's daughter-in-law and then asked the Ji family's husband, "Will you eat at the clinic or have meals delivered from home?"

The men of the Ji family looked at their mother.

Aunt Ji asked, "How much does it cost for meals at the clinic?"

Sister Zhao said, "Two poached eggs in brown sugar water cost fifteen coins, a bowl of chicken noodles costs twenty coins, a bowl of chicken noodles with ginseng costs one hundred coins, and a meat bun costs three coins each... There's a stove in the boiler room; renting it for a day costs fifty coins..."

The Ji family was moderately wealthy. After thinking for a moment, Aunt Ji said, "Although it's a bit pricey, it's more convenient to eat here than at home, and the food is also suitable for new mothers."

Sister-in-law Zhao laughed and said, "Yes, if the new mother gets hungry in the middle of the night, can you just bring her food from home right away?"

The man said, "Let's eat here."

Aunt Ji said to her son, "It's not appropriate for a grown man like you to stay here. Go back, I'll stay here."

More than half an hour later, another woman who had just given birth arrived. She was the young mistress of an official family, and her residence was on Qinghu Street, not far from Beifu Street.

Because her mother-in-law was seriously ill, the family was afraid of bloodshed and, upon hearing of this clinic, rushed her there even though her due date was still two weeks away.

Grandma Chen cried all the way, feeling rejected by her in-laws. The daughter-in-law of a fourth-rank official was going to the clinic to give birth, and such a large house couldn't accommodate her.

How embarrassing!

Moreover, her husband stayed by his mother's side and didn't come to see her off; he only sent an old woman and a maid to accompany her.

She was in a first-class ward, and the two servants who were accompanying her lived in the outer room.

Despite not receiving any discounts for the Class A wards, they still chose to stay there and rented a stove to cook for themselves.

When Aunt Wang and Banxia tried to examine her stomach with a stethoscope, Grandma Chen was very uncooperative.

"You've been exaggerating the medical clinic's capabilities. Can't the doctors take a pulse? What's the point of using this broken tube?"

Aunt Wang patiently explained, "This is a stethoscope. You can't hear a baby's heartbeat when you take a pulse, but you can with a stethoscope. That's why Madam Wen of the Marquis of Wuyi's mansion gave birth to her second daughter so smoothly..."

"My daughter uses this stethoscope to check her up regularly, and if anything is wrong, she gets treatment right away. Even the palace physicians valued it, and one of them took it with her."

After hearing this, Grandma Chen lay down to let them examine her.

After listening, Aunt Wang smiled and said, "The fetal heartbeat is normal, the baby is in the right position, and the baby isn't too big. If nothing unexpected happens, Grandma Chen will be able to give birth normally."

A look of joy appeared on Granny Chen's face.

When Feng Chuchen heard that a young mistress of an official's family had arrived, she remarked that people in this era were quite quick to accept new things, much better than she had imagined.

Looking at the hotel card, I sighed inwardly.

Their names were listed as Ji Qinshi and Chen Lishi.

A married woman doesn't even deserve to have a name.

She went to take Grandma Chen's pulse. As soon as her fingers touched Grandma Chen's wrist, Grandma Chen felt a chill run down her spine.

She retorted angrily, "It's so cold. You're sick and you're still here examining pregnant women. Aren't you afraid of catching their illness?"

Feng Chuchen explained, "It's not an illness. People who can use Yin Shen acupuncture will have a cooler body temperature. Hmm, the situation is good."

Upon hearing the words "Shangyin Divine Needle," Grandma Chen was overjoyed again. If her child was born sick, at least she would have a good doctor by her side.

The next day, when Feng Chuchen got up, Zisu came in to report, "Sister-in-law Ji gave birth to a daughter at midnight, and both mother and daughter are safe..." Feng Chuchen said, "I didn't even hear that."

Mu Jin laughed and said, "I didn't hear it either. Only Song, who is a light sleeper, heard a little bit of the shouting. It didn't affect the neighbors."

Feng Chuchen is most afraid of affecting her neighbors.

She put on her doctor's gown and went to Aunt Ji's ward.

Sister-in-law Ji had a handkerchief wrapped around her head and was leaning against the headboard, breastfeeding her child.

She laughed, "This is my third childbirth, and it's the easiest one yet. I never thought women could give birth lying down. Oh my, I'm so lucky..."

He looked extremely satisfied.

Aunt Ji brought in a bowl of chicken noodles and said to Feng Chuchen with a smile, "It's really great to have a clinic like this. It puts expectant mothers at ease and keeps the house quiet. When my daughter gives birth, I'll have her give birth here too."

Grandma Chen, heavily pregnant, came to the door and asked in bewilderment, "Miss Feng's house is right next door, and I heard you have a younger brother. So many women give birth here, aren't you afraid of bringing uncleanliness to your home and causing bloodshed?"

Feng Chuchen reiterated a familiar point: "Many people have a misconception that the delivery room is unclean. I don't think so. How could the place where Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy) grants children be unclean?"

“My aunt has spent most of her life in and out of the delivery room, and not only has she not been tainted by the filth, but she has also brought good fortune to her descendants.”

Banxia chimed in, "That's right. Auntie delivered over four thousand babies, which means she went into the delivery room over four thousand times. Not only did she not bring any bloodshed to her family, but she also brought great fortune to her descendants. Now that the young master is cured, the young lady has opened such a large clinic."

Aunt Ji nodded repeatedly, "That makes sense. I glanced at Young Master Feng yesterday, and he's just like a normal child, with a rosy complexion. He doesn't look like a child with a chronic illness at all."

Grandma Chen left thoughtfully. Her father-in-law was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and her husband was a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial imperial examinations), yet everyone said the delivery room was unlucky, fearing that excessive bleeding would kill her mother-in-law…

To save money, and since the mother and daughter were in good condition, Ji's wife left the clinic at noon, bundled up tightly. When her husband came to pick her up, he also gave the clinic ten red eggs.

Feng Chuchen was overjoyed to receive the red eggs. She regarded them as the banners that patients in her past life had presented to the hospital, the greatest praise for the clinic.

Grandma Ji held her granddaughter, the men of the Ji family helped their wives into the car, and the father-in-law of the Ji family drove the car. The whole family was beaming with joy.

Grandma Chen's eyes darkened as she looked out the window.

Although that woman married into a humble family, she was respected by her husband and cherished by her parents-in-law. She must have lived a very fulfilling life.
Despite her wealth and status, none of her husband's family members have visited her since she came to the clinic.

The wet nurse guessed what she was thinking and advised, "The officials and ordinary families are naturally different. The officials have many rules and regulations, which are incomparable to those of ordinary families..."

Just then, the old woman guarding the clinic came over and said, "Second Madam Chen, someone has come to see you and is waiting at the east gate."

Grandma Chen muttered, "Why didn't you come inside when you got here..."

The maid helped her to the east gate, where she saw her husband, Master Chen, and his servant.

Master Chen was afraid of the clinic being dirty, so he didn't even want to go inside.

Grandma Chen, though angry, dared not lash out and asked softly, "Second Master, is Grandma feeling any better?"

"I'm alright. How are you doing here?"

Grandma Chen's eyes reddened, and she said aggrievedly, "This place is nowhere near as good as home. The yard is so small, there's nowhere to even walk around, and there are men from other places hanging around in the yard... The food isn't good either, there are only a few dishes."

"They're very strict; we're not allowed to go outside the clinic, and we get checked three times a day..."

Master Chen said, "There's no other way. If you really don't like it here, then go live in the suburbs. Mother was in grave danger this time. If you give birth at home and something really happens to her, our family can't afford it."

Grandma Chen was even more unwilling to stay at the manor. She could only say, "Sir is right, I'll stay here. Although there are many inconveniences, with Doctor Feng around, the child is much safer."

A smile appeared on Master Chen's face as he took out a silver note from his pocket. "I'm busy at the yamen and also have to take care of my mother. I don't have much time to come see you. If you want anything to eat, have someone buy it for you. If you have an attack, send someone home to deliver a message so I can come see you."

Grandma Chen took the silver note, and Grandpa Chen got into the carriage and left.

Watching the carriage disappear at the street corner, Granny Chen felt a deep bitterness in her heart.

The old woman advised, "Second Madam, Second Master is right. If you give birth at home, and something happens to the Old Madam, you'll be blamed even if you weren't the one who caused it."

In the late afternoon, as Feng Chuchen was sitting in the clinic reading medical books, Zisu reported, "Miss, two more women who have given birth have come to stay. One family is surnamed Tang, and the other is surnamed Zeng."

The Tang family lived in the next alley and ran a dry goods shop. Having heard there were still 50% off spots available, they quickly brought the woman who had just started labor over.

I won't come if there aren't any 50% off spots available.

Not cost-effective.

After Aunt Wang went to the delivery room for a check-up, she came out and said to Tang's mother-in-law and husband, "The fetus is too big and in an abnormal position. This is the mother's first time giving birth, so she is very likely to have a difficult delivery. A family member must stay at the clinic to watch over her."

They knew their daughter-in-law was heavily pregnant with her first child, but they were also worried because the baby was breech.

The man went to wait for his wife in ward B1, while his mother went home to prepare food. They lived nearby and were frugal, unwilling to spend extra money on meals at the hospital.

The Zeng family were servants of Princess Yanghe's residence. Duan Yan told the man in the family that the young master meant for his wife to give birth at Tongji Women and Children's Hospital.

They were eager to please their master and had heard about all the good things about the clinic, so they were very willing. When they found out that there was only one 50% off spot left at the clinic, they quickly sent their wife, who hadn't yet had an attack, over to stay in ward B2.

Feng Chuchen went to examine the pregnant woman.

When she has a prenatal checkup, they only check her pulse, feel her belly, and listen to her with a stethoscope; they don't examine her genitals.

The birth canal of the Tang family's daughter-in-law has opened, but the fetus is malpositioned and still not moving.

Based on experience, I know this woman is going to suffer a lot; she definitely won't be able to give birth tonight, and it would be good if she could give birth tomorrow night.

They gave her labor-inducing drugs, and Aunt Wang then guided her into the correct fetal position, causing Tang's daughter-in-law to scream in agony.

To avoid disturbing the neighbors, they boarded up the small window.

Although some noise could still be heard, it was only audible from the back of the house and did not affect the residents in the front.

Midwife Zhang and Midwife Li are on duty at night. If there is an emergency that they cannot handle, they can go next door to find Midwife Wang and Feng Chuchen.

The Tang family's daughter-in-law did not give birth that night.

Wang, the midwife, spent another whole day busy, but the baby still hadn't been born, and the woman in labor was in excruciating pain.

The Tang family man and his mother were extremely anxious.

That evening, the baby finally turned into the correct position and moved down.

However, the baby was large, the mother was short, and she had a head and buttocks, making natural childbirth difficult.

Feng Chuchen whispered a few words to Aunt Wang, and then Aunt Wang found the Tang family mother and son.

They discussed it, saying, "Before my eldest sister passed away, she came up with a method: if the fetus is too large or the uterus is too small, surgery can alleviate the mother's labor pains and make childbirth much smoother. It involves an episiotomy..."

Before she could finish speaking, Granny Tang shouted in terror, "Surgery? Does it mean cutting open her belly to take the baby's milk?"

She jumped up and said to her son, "This is a shady business. Take your wife away right now, and I'll go to the county government to beat the drum and appeal for justice."

Before Aunt Wang and Tang's son could react, Tang's mother-in-law's expression changed again. "Wang, if my daughter-in-law's lodging expenses are waived, I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said. Otherwise, don't blame this old woman for being impolite."

They even tried to extort money from me.