The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 47 The Suffering of Production
"Eldest sister-in-law, if it hurts, just cry out."

Seeing Zhu Lingling's forehead covered in cold sweat and her lips tightly bitten, Chun Nuan felt a pang of heartache: "If you keep biting, you'll break the skin. Shouting will make you feel better."

Zhu Lingling shook her head.

Her upbringing didn't allow her to cry or shout; no matter how bitter, tearful, or wronged she felt, she would shed tears silently, and no matter how much pain she was in, she would do the same.

"Eldest sister-in-law..."

She was clearly a delicate young lady, yet she was so stubborn.

The first round of torrential rain had passed, but it was getting really dark. Seeing her elder sister-in-law in so much pain, she felt particularly distressed.

“Giving birth is like this, especially the first child, which is more difficult. When I gave birth to Chunyan, I was in pain for a full twelve hours…” Huang was an experienced mother and knew how excruciating the pain was, but she couldn’t help her.

"Third Aunt, please keep an eye on my eldest sister-in-law. I'm going out for a bit."

"Nuan Nuan, where are you going?"

Huang was shocked; she was uneasy about leaving Zhu alone.

"I'm going to Baicaotang to borrow some silver needles from Doctor Chen. I'll give my sister-in-law a few acupuncture treatments, and her pain will be relieved." Chunnuan said, "Don't worry, Baicaotang is close by here, I'll be back soon."

"Okay, be careful on the road."

When Chun Ning heard that her older sister was going out, she ran out as well.

"It's getting dark, I'll go with you."

"it is good."

Chunnuan felt warm inside. Her brothers and sisters supported each other. Chunning had grown up and was becoming more and more responsible and thoughtful in her considerations.

At Baicaotang, Doctor Chen was taken aback when he heard that Chunnuan wanted to borrow silver needles.

“Miss Xiao, there are many precautions to take when applying acupuncture. A slight mistake can lead to serious problems, especially since this is during childbirth…”

How dare she?

"Thank you for the reminder, Dr. Chen. I learned from my grandfather for a while when I was at home in the spring."

Dr. Chen... alright, alright, you've forgotten who your grandfather was.

Anyway, it's just borrowing silver needles; it's not like he's the one administering the acupuncture, so he doesn't bear any responsibility.

The main point is that the employer has also said that they should try to cooperate with Miss Xiao's requests in the future and not be too demanding.

"Thank you very much, Dr. Chen. I will definitely return the money in full tomorrow."

Chunnuan took the silver needles and borrowed Doctor Chen's pen, ink, paper and inkstone to write two prescriptions. Fusheng paid for them and Chunning rushed back.

"With spring in full bloom, is it really necessary to use acupuncture?"

Even though it was springtime and they were preparing to administer acupuncture, Huang was still very worried.

"Third Aunt, I'm giving this acupuncture to relieve pain."

It mainly depends on which acupoint it is. When Chunnuan saw Zhu staring at the long silver needle in her hand with fear in her eyes, she quickly comforted her, "Elder sister-in-law, don't be afraid, it won't hurt."

It doesn't hurt, but it feels a little sore and swollen.

Sure enough, after two needles, Zhu's pain was much less noticeable.

"Third Aunt, how much longer until the baby comes out?"

With tears streaming down her face, Zhu asked.

"It looks like it's still early." Mrs. Huang glanced at him. "But your water broke, and if the baby doesn't come out soon, there might be problems, Nuannuan..."

“Yes, I’ll see how it goes. If it doesn’t work, I’ll use labor-inducing drugs,” Chun Nuan said. “I’ve already asked Chun Ning to prepare the medicine.”

Huang felt at ease seeing that Chunnuan was in a stable mood and seemed to have considered everything.

"Chuning, cook two eggs for your elder sister-in-law."

It was past midnight when Chunnuan took Zhu's pulse, asked about her condition, and then went to the door and called out, "Warm up the labor-inducing medicine. Take it after the egg is laid."

Should we use labor-inducing agents?

Ms. Huang was very nervous.

"Yes, we'll have to use it."

“Spring is here, I…” “Third Aunt, don’t worry, trust me, everything will be alright.”

"it is good."

Huang felt she was being a bit timid and was also putting more pressure on Chunnuan. She secretly despised herself and resolved to change this mindset: "What can I do?"

"After your sister-in-law gives birth, cutting the umbilical cord and dressing the baby will be your responsibility; I won't do that." Chunnuan's job is to check on her sister-in-law to see if the placenta has come out, how well her contractions are going, and whether there's any heavy bleeding, among other important things.

"I know these things, I can do them."

That's right, believe that there is power in believing.

Springtime brings confidence.

Zhu Lingling ate two eggs and drank most of a bowl of labor-inducing medicine. Soon the pain intensified, and she couldn't help but cry out.

"It hurts, it hurts so much."

"Yes, it hurts." Huang felt sorry for her: "Hold your third aunt's hand. When the baby comes out, you must push hard and not stop. If you stop, the baby will stop too."

"Third Aunt, I want to..."

Zhu Lingling felt both embarrassed and anxious. Why did she feel this way at this moment?
"What are you thinking about? Tell me."

"Second sister is still a young lady from a respectable family. Second sister, you should go out first."

Zhu Lingling felt that the warmth of spring should not be polluted, as giving birth was truly too embarrassing.

“Eldest sister-in-law, I can’t go out. I’m not your sister anymore, I’m a doctor.” Chunnuan said, “A doctor has to stay by your side. Tell me what you want to say, don’t worry about me.”

"I...I need to poop."

Shameful, so shameful!
"Yes, yes, that's exactly the feeling, like you need to poop quickly." Huang exclaimed excitedly, "I felt the same way when I gave birth to Chunyan. I felt so embarrassed. The midwife told me to do whatever I wanted and not to worry, and to push. I really wanted to disappear into the ground, but childbirth is something you can't stop doing. I was just thinking about the baby's well-being, so I didn't care about anything else..."

With advice from someone who had been through it all, Zhu felt comforted.

Third Aunt is right, the child is the most important thing, and she will do her best to get the child out to see her as soon as possible.

"Eldest sister-in-law, do whatever you want, don't say anything, just put all your strength into it."

Zhu Lingling nodded, her hands gripping the edge of the bed so tightly that the veins were visible; she had truly used all her strength.

"Third Aunt, could you please take a look at the situation?"

Upon seeing this, Chunnuan quickly called out.

"Hey, okay, I see it, I see the baby's hair, it's coming out, Lingling, push!" Mrs. Huang shouted excitedly, "Quick, quick, it's out, the baby's head is out, push harder, keep going..."

Chun Ning was both excited and nervous when she heard her third aunt's shouts from the outer room.

He also put his hands together in prayer and muttered some incantations.

"All bodhisattvas, ancestors of the Xiao family, grandfather, eldest sister-in-law, the eldest son of the next generation of the Xiao family, you must bless her and her child with safety..."

From a young age, he learned to worship Buddha from his grandmother and to worship at the ancestral hall from his grandfather. At that time, he felt that the Bodhisattvas in the sky and the ancestors of the Xiao family could give him strength and make him feel at ease.

"Chuning, prepare hot water," Chunnuan called from the inner room. "Make four more brown sugar eggs for my elder sister-in-law."

"Okay, I'll go right away."

Chun Ning ran very fast.

While boiling eggs over a fire and ladling hot water, I suddenly thought: When I first came to Sichuan, my grandmother said that everyone in the Xiao family, regardless of gender, had to learn to cook. It really came in handy.

What if he's still a spoiled rich kid who knows nothing?
He carried the hot water to the doorway and then brought over the boiled brown sugar eggs.

"Sister, everything is ready."

"Okay, wait."

Chun Ning's heart clenched when she heard her elder sister-in-law's heart-wrenching cries of pain.

The eldest sister-in-law, being a young lady of the Zhu family, was extremely particular about rules and etiquette. For someone who usually speaks softly to shout in pain, it shows just how much she was suffering.

If I marry and have children in the future, I will definitely love my wife even more.

The eldest brother also cherishes his sister-in-law. If he knew how much pain and suffering his beloved daughter had endured for him and for bearing his children, how heartbroken he would be!

Thinking of her father and elder brothers who were exiled to the northern desert, and thinking of her elder sister-in-law who was giving birth to a new generation and new hope for the Xiao family, Chun Ning secretly made up her mind that she would protect her younger brothers and sisters as they grew up; she would definitely take good care of the family for her elder brother.

(End of this chapter)