Chapter 507 - 508: Looking for a Doctor

Chapter 507: Chapter 508: Looking for a Doctor

Gu Dashishi felt he was the most aggrieved old master of any official family. His son, Seventh, was a Magistrate, but he, the father, didn’t get to bask in any of the glory.

Especially now that he had no men or Silver under his control, his days grew increasingly unpleasant.

What infuriated him most was that he had no idea what had gotten into that damned old hag. Now, no matter what he did, she opposed him at every turn.

They were supposed to be husband and wife, but they were living more like bitter enemies.

"You’re the one who started it. I couldn’t even be bothered with you, but you insisted on coming out here to make things unpleasant for yourself.

How much can those two children possibly eat? Besides, they’re Le Hua’s own daughters. As their maternal grandfather, you can’t even find it in you to tolerate them?"

"The He Family isn’t without people of their own. Don’t you know members of the He Family have been loitering at the village entrance lately?" Gu Dashishi refused to believe that damn woman didn’t know.

Li Cuicui said, "Have you forgotten? They took my surname a long time ago. What does the He Family have to do with them?

The next time you see them, if you have any backbone, you’ll grab a broom and chase them off.

After how they treated our daughter back then, you could beat them up and they wouldn’t be able to say a word."

"Don’t bring up those unfilial children to me," Gu Dashishi said. "They expect me to stick up for them? Then why don’t they show some respect to me, their father?"

Li Cuicui retorted, "Is this family starving you? Are you lacking for clothes?

Go look around the village and see who has a better life than you. You should learn to be content."

"Hmph. In that case, why don’t you give me half the Silver they gave you?"

"So you finally show your true colors. As long as I am the mistress of this house, I’ll be the one to decide on all family matters, big or small.

If you want some Silver of your own, that’s fine. There’s work to be done in the fields. You do it, and I’ll pay you a wage.

And how you spend the Silver you earn? That’s up to you. I certainly won’t interfere."

Gu Dashishi turned his head away. He hadn’t done farm work in ages. ’How could I possibly manage it?’

"Now that your family has been found, there’s no need for those two children to keep your surname. I think they’re looking more and more like the He Family every day. They have a whole family, you know. Don’t be the villain here. Just give the children back!"

’I’m not magnanimous enough to raise children for another family,’ Gu Dashishi thought. ’Whether their name is He or Li, they’re not descendants of my Gu family.’

The moment he mentioned the Li Family, Li Cuicui’s expression darkened instantly.

She had been heartbroken for over a month, ever since learning that her eldest and second brothers were gone.

But this man standing before her... Her family had helped him for decades, yet in the end, he was so cold and heartless. She felt her deceased brothers’ efforts had been completely wasted on him.

A pang of guilt struck her. She went back to the escort agency in town and had them deliver 50 taels of Silver to each of her three nephews. With that, she had spent every last bit of the private funds her son had given her over the past few years.

With no Silver left, she felt a sense of panic, which naturally led her to be a bit more frugal with the food budget.

’That old coot deserved it, anyway. He shouldn’t think his recent passive-aggressive attitude would change anything.’

"Mother, Mother!" Xie Ruyi’s voice arrived before she did. "Le Di’s wife is in labor! You have to go check on her, quickly..."

Gasping for breath, Xie Ruyi leaned against the doorpost. "Mother, Le Di’s wife’s baby is breech! I don’t know what to do... Please, go and help!"

Li Cuicui shot to her feet with a WHOOSH, sending the shelled green peas scattering across the floor. She paid them no mind. "Did you send for a doctor? What about the midwife? Has the midwife arrived?"

Xie Ruyi’s eyes were red with anxiety. "The midwife is inside, but the doctor still isn’t here! Mother, please, hurry over and take a look!"

"What are you standing around for? Go! This is our great-grandchild! We can’t let anything go wrong," Gu Dashishi said.

Gu Dashishi, for once, reacted quickly, already rushing out the door. "What good is getting your mother? She doesn’t deliver babies! Hurry to the front of the village and get Liu Tian. She’s not a midwife, but she knows some massage techniques that might help."

Li Cuicui snapped back to her senses. "Right! Go get Liu Heizi’s mother! When I was giving birth to my youngest, the baby was breech, and she was the one who helped turn him."

Xie Ruyi was too exhausted to run anymore. Besides, with her mother-in-law here, it was as if she’d found her pillar of support. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the ground.

"Mother, I can’t run... Please, you go for me."

"Useless girl," Li Cuicui had no time for her now. "Sister Song, let’s go."

Granny Song scrambled to keep up. As they passed Gu Yuanshui’s house, she didn’t forget to bang on the gate. "Go inform your master, quick! The eldest master’s second daughter-in-law is in labor!"

Without waiting for a response from the doorway, Granny Song hurried forward to support Li Cuicui. The old Madam couldn’t afford to take a fall.

＆

「Inside the delivery room」

Xie Yuewei felt a chill seep through her body. She couldn’t summon any more strength.

"Young lady, you can’t fall asleep now! The baby in your belly is waiting for you!"

"I have no strength left... I just feel so cold..."

The midwife at her side grew anxious, though her face betrayed nothing. "They’ve already gone for the doctor. Just hold on a little longer. You know, you’re the envy of everyone for miles around.

Do you really want to watch someone else live this wonderful life of yours?"

Xie Yuewei struggled to open her eyes. "But when will the doctor get here? I don’t think I can hold on much longer."

"Right," the midwife suddenly recalled something. "Did you have any ginseng before the labor started?"

In her current state, Xie Yuewei had no capacity to think. "I don’t know... I don’t know..."

Seeing she couldn’t get an answer out of her, the midwife anxiously lifted the door curtain to peek outside. Ha! There wasn’t a single person in the courtyard. ’How outrageous!’

She turned back to the laboring mother, who was on the verge of unconsciousness. The midwife could only grit her teeth, walk over, and pat her cheeks firmly. "Don’t fall asleep! Even if you don’t care about yourself, you have to think of the child in your belly..."

Just as the midwife was trying everything she could to keep the mother from passing out, Li Cuicui came running in, dragging Liu Tian along with her.

"Quick, take a look at her!" Li Cuicui burst into the delivery room with her companion. "What’s happening? Yue Wei? Wake up! Look at Grandma!"

"How can you just barge in like that?" the midwife asked, her face a mask of displeasure. ’This is already a difficult situation, and now more people are here to make a mess.’

"I’m the baby’s grandmother. You must be the midwife my eldest daughter-in-law hired, right? How is my granddaughter-in-law doing? Why isn’t she responding to me?"

"Oh, the baby is breech. She’s been in labor for ages and is completely exhausted.

I already told your eldest daughter-in-law to fetch a doctor, but he still isn’t here after all this time. If something goes wrong, I won’t be held responsible."

Hearing this, Li Cuicui felt like steam was about to come out of her ears. ’Just how unreliable is my eldest daughter-in-law to have hired a midwife like this?’

She didn’t have time to dwell on that. She shoved the midwife aside, rolled up her sleeves, and stepped in herself.

Seeing Liu Tian already pressing on the abdomen, she moved to assist. "Nanny Liu, what’s the situation? Is it a breech birth?"