On the way to escape famine, my parents divorced

Chapter 595 Maternity Clinic

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There's always a way.

Li Shiyue said resolutely.

For Li Shiyue, she has a trading system, friends, and knowledge about obstetrics and gynecology; many people can send her several TB (a unit of currency) worth of information.

"But I am not preventing women from getting pregnant. I hope that under my rule, women and mothers who want to give birth will have a higher chance of survival."

"Mother, Aunt," Li Shiyue looked at Li Wangchun and Zheng Meiniang, "I naturally hope that the population under my rule will be as large as possible!"
With more people, I'll have more people to use!

But that only works if the woman giving birth doesn't die and the baby can be raised to adulthood!
Otherwise, what's the point of giving birth to a child and causing the death of a woman?

Li Shiyue looked at Li Wangchun and Zheng Meiniang with a determined gaze: "To the outside world, I intend to establish a clinic specifically for women who have given birth and receive medical treatment!"
Among these efforts, we should cultivate more female doctors like Yue Niang!

By spreading contraceptive methods through the clinic, some families who already have several children and do not want to have more can find a solution.

At the same time, the clinic also provides medical care for women who cannot afford medical treatment, and my mother's midwifery skills can also be put to use.

I hope that the women under my jurisdiction can give birth more often, but I hope even more that the women who have given birth are alive!
They all survived and watched their children grow up!

“As for our own family,” Li Shiyue walked toward Zheng Meiniang, “I only wish for my elder sister to be healthy and live a long life. I will love her children as well as her children, but I care more about my elder sister herself!”

Li Shiyue walked up to Zheng Meiniang, took Zheng Meiniang's cold hand, and spoke in a softer tone, but still with unwavering authority: "Aunt, I know you love your child and want to have many children and grandchildren."

But you should feel even more sorry for your daughter, my dear sister!

The charcoal brazier in the study crackled, but it couldn't dispel the heaviness and deep thought conveyed by Li Shiyue's words.

The panic on Li Wangchun and Zheng Meiniang's faces gradually faded, replaced by a complex expression of worry, acceptance, and bewilderment.

They are women steeped in traditional ideas, but more importantly, they are mothers!

Li Shiyue's words, "Compared to that child whose gender is unknown, I value Sister Xia Tian's life more!"

Like a heavy hammer, it shattered their habitual joy, revealing their deepest fear—the fear of losing their daughter, a loved one.

Seeing that they had taken her words to heart, Li Shiyue's expression softened slightly. She sat back down in her chair and continued in a low but clear voice, "Mother, Aunt, everything I said just now came from the bottom of my heart."

When dealing with external matters, the topic of 'contraception' should not be publicized, otherwise it will inevitably attract criticism and shake people's confidence.

All we can do is use the name of establishing a 'maternity ward' to quietly promote the advancement of childbirth medicine, so that more women can safely pass through the gates of hell.

But internally, for our own daughters, especially those like Sister Xia Tian whose bodies can't withstand constant stress, the priority should be contraception and protecting their health.

Zheng Meiniang dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, her voice still trembling, but with a touch more resolve: "Shiyue, you're right... Auntie is confused, only thinking about the joy of having a baby, forgetting that Xia Tian's body can't withstand another such ordeal."

Looking at the unwavering determination in Li Shiyue's eyes, and recalling the terrible state of Li Xiatian's last childbirth, Zheng Meiniang finally shed tears.

She choked up again, saying, "October... Auntie is scared too, but you're right, Xia Tian's health is important, but her life is even more important."

Li Wangchun sighed beside him and said in a low voice, "If there really is a safe way, it would be a good deed for the woman. But October, this, this is truly unprecedented!"

Seeing that their attitude had softened, Li Shiyue felt a little more at ease and nodded, saying, "I understand."

I know what I'm doing and will do it quietly; I certainly won't publicize it.

But I intend to build the 'maternity ward' after the New Year.

Mother, you have extensive experience in delivering babies and have witnessed the many hardships women face during childbirth;
Aunt, you are thoughtful and good at dealing with people;
The preparation of this maternity ward wouldn't have been possible without my mother and aunt's help in overseeing and managing it. We were looking not only for skilled midwives, but also for kind-hearted women who were willing to learn new methods and could empathize with the suffering of women.

Li Shiyue stood up and bowed solemnly to Li Wangchun and Zheng Meiniang. "Mother, Aunt, I can't bear to let anyone else handle this matter. I can only trouble you two to take care of it for me!"

Once Li Wangchun and Zheng Meiniang agreed to help Li Shiyue build a "maternity ward" in Jian'an City;
Li Shiyue frowned and said, "As for now, we need to make sure that Xia Tian's pregnancy is safe and smooth."

Tomorrow I will go to see Doctor Jin and Yue Niang to ask my sister in detail how to take care of herself during this pregnancy and about the future delivery.

However, Li Shiyue looked at Zheng Meiniang with a slightly embarrassed expression, and after a couple of breaths, she still spoke up: "Aunt, as the younger sister, I am naturally not qualified to interfere in my elder sister's bedroom affairs."

However, childbirth is quite difficult for women.

Although Sister Qiutian had approached me before, wanting to help me train female soldiers at the female soldiers' camp.

I persuaded her to wait until Xiaoyuer turned one year old before discussing this matter.

However, Xia Tian's situation served as a reminder to me that Qiu Tian and her husband have a very close relationship.

Li Shiyue finished speaking, but Zheng Meiniang already understood what Li Shiyue meant.

Zheng Meiniang said, "Don't worry, October. Your aunt knows what to do."

To the outside world, just say that you, the female general, are benevolent and compassionate towards the people, and that you specially set up a medical clinic to ensure the safety of mother and child.

As for the autumn... I'll remind her that Xiaoyuer is still young, and there's no rush to have more siblings.

Seeing that Zheng Meiniang understood, Li Shiyue said nothing more.

As a mother, it was naturally easier for Zheng Meiniang to speak with Li Qiutian privately.

Li Shiyue finally showed a tired but relieved smile: "In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Mother and Aunt."

It's late, you should all go back and rest.

What I have said today, I have spoken, and you have heard; let no one else know it for now.

After seeing off her solemn-looking mother and aunt, Li Shiyue remained alone in the study.

She walked to the window again, gazing at the dark night sky and the scattered lights flickering in the governor's mansion.

Outside the window, the cold wind howled.

Amidst the joy of the New Year, Li Shiyue's forward-thinking concerns and decisive actions quietly planted a seed—a seed that sought to challenge conventional wisdom and liberate women from the suffering of endless childbirth.

She knew that the seed she was planting today was challenging rules that had been taken for granted for thousands of years.

The road ahead was bound to be fraught with thorns, but she had no other choice.

For the people she cares about, she is willing to try and forge a path that perhaps no one has ever walked before.

"Sister, you must stay safe."

Li Shiyue murmured to herself, her voice blending into the cold night wind.

The saying "Many children, many mothers suffer" should not be taken for granted as an inherent fate!
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