"They had a baby boy. Although both mother and child are safe, it was a tough ordeal. At first, one leg came out, but the other got stuck and wouldnât come out, so a cesarean section had to be done. The mother lost too much blood, and the incision location might mean she wonât be able to have more children in the future. Fortunately, the country now advocates family planning, having only one child is good. As long as the body is nurtured well, it wonât be an issue."
"Is the baby okay?"
Although Lin Chuxia doesnât think much of Tang Lili, the child is innocent.
The amniotic fluid broke early, and after such a long labor, itâs hard not to affect the baby.
Doctor Wang sighed, "As of now, the vital signs are normal. But although this child is full-term, he looks much smaller than a full-term baby. The delivery took a long time, and when he was first born, he didnât cry at all. Doctor Li and I worked hard to get him to cry. Though the cry was quiet, thankfully, there were no mishaps. With good care, he can slowly grow."
"Thatâs good," Lin Chuxia nodded.
Doctor Wang added, "So you need to listen to the doctors, that way you can endure less pain. But as of now, your pregnancy looks good, the fetal position is straight, the delivery should be smooth."
Lin Chuxia gently rubbed her belly, tenderly and softly, "I hope so."
............
Sister-in-law Fu was carrying a basket of groceries out the main entrance when she saw a well-dressed woman standing at the neighborâs doorway.
She had seen this person before, when the neighbor Linâs mother came, this woman was also there.
Though she arrived a little later than Linâs mother, with Minister Weiâs family.
At the time, she even quarreled with Linâs mother. From what she heard, this woman seemed to be some relative of the Lin Family.
Thinking of this, Sister-in-law Fu stepped forward a few steps, glanced at the locked door and asked, "Are you looking for Lin?"
Zhuang Jingshu nodded but couldnât recognize the woman in front of her, she was with Lin Chuxia yesterday.
Judging from the direction she came from, sheâs Lin Chuxiaâs neighbor.
"Do you know where she went?"
Zhuang had been there for a while, the yard door was locked.
Thinking Lin Chuxiaâs belly is so big, she usually doesnât go to Old Sir Heâs place much, couldnât have gone far, just thought to wait for her a while.
Unexpectedly, she waited over an hour and still didnât see her.
"Oh, I heard she said she was going to the hospital for a checkup, she should have gone to the hospital."
Sister-in-law Fu saw the disappointment on the womanâs face, remembered that this woman spoke up for Lin Chuxia that day, and kindly suggested, "Why donât you come to our house and sit for a while, wait for Lin?"
Zhuang Jingshu smiled and shook her head, "No need, I can come back tomorrow."
Sister-in-law Fu hesitated, but couldnât resist saying, "I donât know what your relationship with Lin is, but I can vouch that Lin isnât the type of person her mother says she is."
"Hmm?" Zhuang Jingshu raised her eyes, "Seems like you have a good relationship with Lin?"
Sister-in-law Fu gave a small smile, "Well, we live on the same street, and we often sit together and chat. I do passable needlework, and since Lin got pregnant, she often pulls me along to do needlework together. Over time, we got closer."
"But... Linâs mother says bad things about her, why do you think sheâs a good person?"
Upon hearing this, Sister-in-law Fuâs smile faded and her voice got a bit louder.
"Do I not have eyes or mind? Lin and I have lived here for over a year; Iâve seen her clearly. To be honest with you, I had wondered before, that Lin and her husband had been here for so long, Iâve only ever seen Linâs mother-in-law, never her biological mother, even after Lin got pregnant, Iâve only seen a brother from her family come over. I thought perhaps their home was far away, and itâs not easy for her family to come even once. I was even wondering if Linâs mother would come when she gives birth. A woman giving birth is like going through the gates of hell, if her mother doesnât come, and something happens, wouldnât it let the in-laws have control over her fate? Yesterday, I saw her mother and understood."
A mother like that should really not come, what good would it do?
Just add to the aggravation?
"So, we should use our eyes and hearts to see things, not just listen to rumors."
Zhuang Jingshu nodded, "Youâre right, I think Lin is a good kid too."
Getting this agreement, Sister-in-law Fu showed a smile.
"Thatâs right, not to mention, among the families living in this big courtyard, there arenât many who can find fault with Lin. I really canât understand how her mother can be so dismissive of her. I have kids myself; itâs hard not to care for the flesh that fell off your own body. Even if some value boys over girls, itâs not so much as to disdain their own daughter. Is she their biological one, or adopted?"
After speaking, Sister-in-law Fu felt she might have said too much, how did last nightâs complaints with her husband end up being spoken outside?
Quickly waving her hand, "I didnât mean it that way, Iâm just feeling sorry for Lin... Big sister, donât take it to heart, my mouth really has no filter."
Zhuang Jingshu gave a light smile, "I know, I also pity Lin very much."
Sister-in-law Fu secretly let out a sigh of relief, and didnât dare stay much longer.
She kept feeling that this woman had something strange about her; she hadnât meant to say much, but with just a few words from the other, her mouth went off like a dam.
Afraid she might spill more, she quickly carried her basket and left.
Once Sister-in-law Fu had walked far, Zhuang Jingshu looked again at the tightly closed door.
Gone for a hospital checkup, judging by the days, itâs about time for the birth, indeed she should check frequently at the hospital.
Childbirth for a woman is like going through the gates of hell.
Guo Cuihua probably doesnât care at all whether her daughter gets through safely.
.............
Sister-in-law Fu returned from buying groceries, and from afar, saw someone standing at Lin Chuxiaâs door.
This wasnât the same woman she saw when she left, but a young man.
She knew this person too, Lin Chuxiaâs brother from her family.
Yesterday the mother from her family came, scolded Lin Chuxia for no reason, and today the brother from her family comes again?
Sister-in-law Fu shook her head internally.
Every family has its own troubles.
Previously seeing Lin Chuxia and Qin Yangâs smooth days, not only did the couple have a good relationship, but both were good at making money.
In the whole courtyard, theirs was the most respectable life.
Who would have thought Lin Chuxia would have such a troubled family, such a mother.
Sister-in-law Fu saw the neighborâs door still locked, paid no attention to Lin Jiadong at the door, and went home directly with her groceries.
As soon as she entered home, her daughter Hu Yaping came out, "Mom, I finished my homework, let me help you with the groceries."
Sister-in-law Fu answered, looked at her daughter and thought of Lin Chuxia.
When you talk about a child, daughters are the ones who are considerate.
Her daughter usually isnât very chatty, but is mindful of whatâs going on, knows to care for her mother, helps with work whenever she has time, and never makes her worry about her studies even a bit.