Courtyard Houses: Starting with Li Yunlong's Comrades-in-Arms

Liu Yuheng helped Liu Erhe carry the simplified belongings to the door, then turned back to Liu Shuanzhu and Liang Cheng and said, "Dad, Uncle Liang, we'll be going now. I'll have Erhe come back and let you know once we've settled in at the hospital."

Liu Shuanzhu nodded, and Liang Cheng waved to him as well. The two stood at the door and watched the family leave the east wing.

Wang Xiuhe and Liang's mother helped Liang Fangfang across the courtyard, one on each side. The crowd in the courtyard had not dispersed; everyone stood at their doorways or on their steps, their eyes all fixed on these few people.

Upon arriving at the gate, Liu Yuheng first opened the back door of the car, allowing Liang Fangfang to slowly bend over and get in. Then Wang Xiuhe and Liang's mother also got into the car. They helped Liu Erhe put the things into the trunk, and then Liu Yuheng sat in the passenger seat himself.

He closed the car door, leaned out of the window, waved to Liu Shuanzhu and Liang Cheng who were standing at the door, nodded to the group of people in the courtyard, and then turned to the driver and said, "Let's go, to the hospital."

The car started and slowly drove away from the alley entrance. Only after the car had left Nanluoguxiang did Liu Erhe ride his Phoenix brand bicycle out of the alley and chase after the car.

Meanwhile, in compound number 95, the lingering warmth of the lively scene from just moments before still hung in the air.

Yan Bugui, holding his ever-present enamel mug, stood at his doorway, looking at the light still on in the east wing. He clicked his tongue and said to He Yuzhu beside him, "Tsk tsk, they're giving birth in the hospital now. How much does that cost? Back in our day, nobody gave birth at home. A midwife would call, hot water would boil, and that was it. These days, even childbirth has become so complicated."

As soon as he finished speaking, the eyes of several middle-aged women and young wives in the courtyard all turned to him.

Mrs. Xu, still holding a bowl of unfinished rice, glanced at Yan Bugui and said in a somewhat indifferent tone, "Teacher Yan, what are you saying? The Liu family is well-off now, and sending their daughter-in-law to the hospital to give birth is their ability. If you think it's too expensive, there are ways to save money."

Yan Bugui felt a little uncomfortable under the gazes of those few people. He gave an awkward laugh, picked up his teacup, turned around and went back into the house, muttering to himself, "I was just saying it casually, just saying it casually," his voice growing softer and softer until it was finally drowned out by the sound of his door closing.

Qin Huairu stood at her front door, holding Banggeng in her arms, her gaze still fixed on the direction where the black sedan had disappeared from the courtyard gate. She gently patted Banggeng's back, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her.

She gave birth to Banggeng at home. That night, she was sweating profusely from the pain. Jia Zhangshi was boiling water at the stove, while Jia Dongxu paced back and forth in the yard. The midwife arrived and worked for most of the night, and finally, both mother and child were safe. At that time, she thought it was just a natural thing to do; who doesn't go through childbirth like this?

But things are different now. Liang Fangfang gave birth at home when she had Liu Yixuan, but with her second child, she went straight to the hospital. She was picked up by a car, dropped off by someone, and taken care of by doctors and nurses. Everything was clean and peaceful.

She glanced down at Banggeng in her arms, wondering if she could go to the hospital when she gave birth to her second child. The chances seemed slim. The Jia family didn't have the resources of the Liu family, nor did they have someone like Liu Yuheng who could arrange everything. She sighed, bounced Banggeng up a little, and turned to go back inside with him in her arms.

Yi Zhonghai stood beside the hanging flower gate, holding a cup of tea in his hand. His gaze lingered for a moment on the extinguished lamp at the entrance of the east wing. His expression was more complex than that of the others in the courtyard.

Liu Shuanzhu's second grandson is about to be born, adding another member to the family, making it a lively and joyous occasion.

And what about him? He's over forty this year, and he doesn't even have a child. He thinks of his family, which has never had any children, and the bittersweet feeling that wells up from the bottom of his heart every time he sees someone in the neighborhood holding a grandchild. He's never told anyone about these things, but every time a child is born, it's like a knife stabbing him in the heart—not too deep, not too shallow, but always painful.

He glanced down at the tea in his cup, which had gone cold, poured the rest of the tea onto the blue brick floor, turned around and went back to his house, walking a few steps slower than usual.

The people in the courtyard gradually dispersed, and one by one, the lights in each household were turned on. The aroma of food wafted out from the cracks in the doors and windows, mixed with the damp, earthy scent of twilight.

It was already dark when the black Volga drove into the hospital gate. The car didn't stop at the main entrance, but instead bypassed the outpatient building and drove along the internal roads towards the inpatient wards.

As the car came to a stop in front of the inpatient department, a person came out to greet them. The person was wearing a white coat with a dark gray Zhongshan suit jacket over it. He was of medium build, around fifty years old, with neatly combed hair and a friendly smile on his face.

He quickly walked down the steps, stood beside the car, and reached out to open the back door.

Liu Yuheng had already gotten out of the passenger seat and strode around to the man, extending his hand: "Dean Wu, thank you for your trouble this time. It's so late at night and you still came down to pick me up in person."

Dean Wu grasped his hand and shook it vigorously, his smile sincere and warm: "Oh, Minister Liu, you're too kind. What do you mean by 'trouble'? It's our hospital's honor that you're willing to send your sister-in-law here. Let's not stand on ceremony. Everything's arranged inside. Let's go in and talk." As he spoke, he turned to the side and gestured "please" towards the building entrance, then waved to the nurse behind him, signaling her to come forward.

A middle-aged nurse in a white uniform quickly stepped forward with a gentle smile on her face. She bent down and glanced into the car, saying softly, "Comrade Liang Fangfang, come, let me help you out. Take your time, there's no rush."

Liang Fangfang leaned out of the car, one hand on the door and the other on her back, her movements a little clumsy but still steady. The nurse quickly reached out to support her arm, and Wang Xiuhe and Liang's mother also got out of the car from the other side, one on each side, and the three women escorted Liang Fangfang slowly toward the building entrance.

Liu Yuheng followed behind, walking side by side with Dean Wu at the very back. The two talked in hushed tones as they walked, their pace neither too fast nor too slow.

Dean Wu glanced at Liu Yuheng, his tone tinged with emotion: "Minister Liu, to be honest, not many ordinary people still come to the hospital to give birth. Most pregnant women are still used to having a midwife at home, feeling that going to the hospital is unlucky, or they're afraid of spending money. Sometimes, when complications arise and they're brought to the hospital, the best time has already passed, and we can only do our best to save them, but sometimes... sigh."

He shook his head as he spoke, his tone carrying a helplessness unique to doctors.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuheng smiled, his tone somewhat joking: "Dean Wu, the way you're saying it sounds like you're complaining that the Publicity Department and the Health Department haven't done their job properly."