Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

"That's for sure."

Yutian's mother wiped the mud off her hands:

"Have you noticed? Yingzi has been back at her parents' home for days, and Liu Neng hasn't called you once. In the past, if she was short of rice or craving meat, he would have sent you and your father to buy this and that and send it over. Why is he so quiet this time? Not even a word. Yingzi herself hasn't mentioned coming back."

Zhao Si nodded, completely agreeing with this statement:

"You noticed it too? I've been thinking about it all morning, Yutian, let me tell you, something's not right, absolutely not right."

Zhao Yutian paused in his hand as he moved the flowers, and said dismissively:

"Dad, isn't it a good thing that they're not causing trouble? Wouldn't it be better if we could just have a few days of peace? Maybe my father-in-law is just upset because he was scammed, and Yingzi is at home with him, so he doesn't have the energy to cause any trouble."

"What's so good about it?"

Zhao Si's lips twitched even more violently:

"You still don't understand your father-in-law. He's so honest, either he's feeling guilty, or he's up to something. Either way, it's not good for us."

"No way, Dad, aren't you overthinking this?"

"Overthinking it?"

Zhao Si glanced at him sideways:

"Here's what you're doing: after dinner tonight, go and pick up Liu Ying. If she comes back with you willingly, then there's nothing to worry about. But if she makes excuses and doesn't want to come back, then Liu Neng is definitely up to no good, and something's definitely going on."

Zhao Yutian sighed:

"Alright, alright, I'll go with you. I'll pick her up tonight. Honestly, it's like welcoming a queen. Once she gets back, our family will never have a good time again."

Yutian's mother nodded and stacked the empty basins:

"We still have to take her there. It's not right for her to stay at her parents' house all the time. She's married now, there's no reason for her to stay at her parents' house forever."

……

As dusk fell, the snow started falling again outside. Xie Baochang and Su Guifen came over after getting off work. As soon as they pushed open the door, a gust of cool air blew in.

"Dad, Mom, what brings you here?" Lin Chen stood up to take the things and pulled a chair to the bedside.

"Xiaomei is about to give birth. If we weren't so busy at work, we would have come over a long time ago. You guys can't get anything you like to eat here."

"Xiao Meng and the others went to eat. They'll be back soon and we can bring them back."

Xie Baochang put the thermos down:

"Don't eat that restaurant stuff too much. Your mom made some chicken soup for Xiaomei to nourish herself. I also brought a bottle of baijiu and some pig's ear salad. Shall we have a couple of sips?"

Lin Chen smiled and moved the bedside table closer to him:

"Okay, Dad, have a drink."

Xie Xiaomei leaned against the headboard with two pillows under her, and rolled her eyes at the two of them:

"You two are really something, I haven't even given birth yet and you're already drinking."

"It's alright, you guys eat your food, we'll drink quietly."

"Never mind them, you should drink something hot to replenish your strength so you'll have more energy when you give birth."

After Wang Xiaomeng, Chen Yannan, and Li Qiuge returned, they chatted with Su Guifen, sitting on a chair next to her peeling apples. They talked about company matters, saying that the railcars had been approved and that orders were booked until after the New Year. The room was lively, and the drinking over there was even more lively.

Lin Chen and Xie Baochang sat facing each other, poured wine, and clinked glasses.

Xie Baochang took a sip, smacked his lips, and then, with a hissing sound, picked up a piece of pig's ear:

"Xiao Chen, don't be nervous. Xiao Mei said you didn't sleep all night, that won't do."

"Dad, I'm not nervous. I'm fine. I can catch up on sleep during the day."

The two were happily drinking, taking turns sips, when Xie Baochang started talking about work. Lin Chen was grinning from ear to ear when Xie Xiaomei's smile vanished instantly. She grabbed the bed railing, gasped, and arched her back.

"What's wrong, Xiaomei?" Wang Xiaomeng was the first to notice something was wrong.

Upon hearing the sound, Lin Chen immediately stood up, his knee hitting the bedside table, knocking over the wine glass and spilling liquor all over the table, dripping down the edge. He rushed to the bedside in a few steps, half-squatting down to grab her hand.

"pain……"

Xie Xiaomei gritted her teeth, her voice trembling, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead:

"My stomach...it's been cramping and twisting in waves."

"Is she about to give birth?"

Su Guifen quickly came over, reached out and touched her forehead, then lifted the corner of the blanket:

"Has there been any bleeding? Has your water broken?"

"No...it just hurts..."

Xie Xiaomei gasped in pain, but her condition was still okay:

"It was fine just now, but suddenly it started to hurt."

"Don't panic, don't panic!"

Lin Chen turned and ran outside, shouting at the top of his lungs:

"Nurse! Nurse! The woman over here is having labor pains!"

Within half a minute, the female doctor rushed in, her white coat billowing in the wind. She lifted the blanket to examine him, then looked up and said:

"The contractions are regular, and you're dilated to two centimeters. Let's move you to the delivery room. Family members, please prepare the hospital bag."

Lin Chen was already prepared and quickly asked:

"Doctor, is she alright with all that pain? Is she in danger?"

"This is normal for first pregnancies."

The doctors and nurses remained very calm; they had seen this many times before. While pushing the child, they said:

"Don't panic, grab your things and come with me."

Chaos erupted in the ward. Xie Xiaomei was moved onto a trolley, groaning in pain as her body tensed. Lin Chen gripped her hand and followed the trolley out, his steps unsteady.

"Brother Chen... I'm scared..."

Xie Xiaomei was in so much pain that tears streamed down her face.

"Don't be afraid, Xiaomei, I'll be waiting for you outside."

Lin Chen's voice was a little tense as he bent down and whispered in her ear:

"I stayed at the door the whole time, without leaving for even a moment."

The trolley turned into the delivery room, and the door slammed shut, keeping everyone outside and blocking out most of the sounds inside.

The corridor lights were bright, and several people stood at the entrance to the delivery room, but no one spoke first.

Lin Chen paced back and forth, feeling the same way Xie Dajiao had when she gave birth. He thought he wouldn't be so nervous with his second child, but no wonder he was just as nervous.

The soles of their shoes scraped against the terrazzo floor with a screeching sound, making onlookers dizzy.

"Xiao Chen, stop swaying, it's making me dizzy."

Xie Baochang rubbed his hands together and stomped his feet incessantly on the spot:

"First pregnancies are always slower, you have to wait a while, don't rush it."

"I'm not in a hurry, I'm not in a hurry."

Lin Chen said this, but his eyes kept glancing towards the delivery room door:

"Why is there no sound? They didn't even call out. Could something have happened?"

Su Guifen leaned against the wall, her hands clasped together, and muttered something under her breath, her lips moving rapidly:

"May the Bodhisattva protect me, may the Bodhisattva protect me, and may my daughter's birth be smooth and safe, and may both mother and child be well."

Wang Xiaomeng went over and held her arm, patting it gently:

"Don't worry, Auntie, Xiaomei has always been in very good health. She'll definitely be fine. The doctor is watching her closely; there's nothing wrong with her."

Chen Yannan nodded in agreement, wiping away her tears with a tissue. She didn't know why, but seeing Xie Xiaomei being wheeled in made her unable to hold back her tears, even as she continued to comfort Su Guifen.

"Yes, Auntie, the doctor just said everything is normal, so don't worry too much."

Li Qiuge stood to the side, her eyes fixed on the door of the delivery room. She was infected by the tense atmosphere, her heart pounding with anxiety. Seeing Lin Chen pacing anxiously, her heart also clenched.

More than an hour passed, and there was still no movement inside. Lin Chen stopped and peered through the crack in the door to listen, but he couldn't hear anything except for indistinct voices.

"Why is it so slow?"

He muttered as he straightened up, rubbing his legs that had gone numb from squatting:

"Can't I go in and check on her? I'll go in and keep her company."

"That won't do."

Xie Baochang quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him back:

"Family members aren't allowed in the delivery room. Going in would only cause trouble. Just wait a little longer, it'll be fine then. That's how it is."

They stayed up for another hour or so, and the group of people looked exhausted.

Lin Chen stood at the door. When he heard any movement inside, he suddenly looked up, his neck stiffening. When there was no movement, he continued to stare blankly, as if he were nailed to the spot.

"Brother Chen, please have a seat."

Li Qiuge handed over a bottle of mineral water:

"We've been standing here for hours."

Lin Chen shook his head, took the water, and drank a sip; his throat was hoarse.

"No, I'll wait here."

Just then, the delivery room door creaked open, and a nurse came out carrying a baby wrapped in a pink floral blanket. Her smiling eyes were visible through her mask, and there was a bit of sweat on her forehead.

"Xie Xiaomei's family!"