The Blessed Farm Girl Has a Spatial Storage

209 Giving Birth

Today, Zhao Ya came to pick her up from school, accompanied by Sun Daqing. When they saw Zhao Zhitong, they began to wave their small hands. "Cousin, here, here!"

Zhao Zhitong also excitedly waved her small hand back. After saying farewell to Qiao Muchen, she ran towards Zhao Ya and Sun Daqing.

Zhao Zhitong asked, "Second Cousin, why are you here too? Are you here to pick me up and take me to your house?"

Sun Daqing conscientiously took the luggage box from Zhao Zhitong and shook his head. "No, you don't have to go to my house today. Grandfather is at your Uncle's house."

Zhao Zhitong was stunned for a moment, then her eyes lit up. She asked excitedly, "Does that mean Aunt is having her baby?"

It seemed her Aunt was due any day now; she had heard her mother mention it many times at home. Her mother also said that her step-grandmother, Mrs. Wang, had become a bit unhinged after Third Uncle was imprisoned. Even if Mrs. Wang weren't unhinged, she might not have helped with Aunt's childbirth. Now that she was acting erratically, there was even less hope she would assist with the delivery. Therefore, Sun Mei had been keeping a close eye on Aunt's situation so she could offer help when the time came. After all, childbirth was a matter of life and death for women.

Sun Daqing nodded. "Yes, I heard Aunt Sun Mei say that labor started this morning, but the baby still hadn't come by evening. Apparently, there's an issue with the baby's position, so they called my grandfather over to take a look."

Zhao Zhitong nodded, her excitement growing. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go see!"

With that, she grabbed their hands and ran towards the house.

This would be Zhao Zhitong's first time witnessing childbirth. She didn't even take her luggage box home, rushing straight to the courtyard.

As they reached the courtyard, they heard Aunt's terrible screams. The sounds were faint, as if her strength was waning, yet they were chilling enough to make one's skin crawl.

Uncle was anxiously pacing outside the delivery room door, with Zhao Dong keeping him company.

Seeing Zhao Zhitong and the others approach, Zhao Dong stood up, blocking Zhao Zhitong as she tried to rush into the delivery room. "What are you three doing here?"

Zhao Zhitong said happily, "I heard from Second Cousin that Aunt is having a baby boy, so I came to see my new little cousin!"

"You silly girl," Zhao Dong said, poking Zhao Zhitong's nose. "Giving birth is serious. Just wait with us in the courtyard. You mustn't go in and disturb your Aunt."

Zhao Zhitong looked at the closed door, then glanced around before asking, "Dad, where's Mom?"

Zhao Dong replied, "Your Mom is in there with your Aunt."

"Oh." Zhao Zhitong nodded and asked again, "And Grandfather?"

Zhao Dong answered, "Your Grandfather is in there taking your Aunt's pulse."

Just then, Sun Kang came out and said to Uncle, "Go and brew this medicine for your wife, then help her drink it."

Zhao Qiu's face was slick with anxious sweat. He took the herbs from Sun Kang, nodding repeatedly. "Okay, okay, I'll do it right away." Still worried, he asked, "Uncle Sun, how is my wife doing?"

Sun Kang sighed. "The baby was in a breech position. I've used acupuncture, and the position is corrected now. However, it's taken too long, and your wife has no strength left. This medicine will aid the delivery. Hurry and brew it."

"Yes, yes, alright." Zhao Qiu nodded repeatedly. "I'll go right now, I'll go right now." With that, he hurried to the kitchen. Zhao Dong also got up to help.

Zhao Zhitong glanced towards the kitchen, then ran to her grandfather's side, her small head craning as she tried to peer inside. "Grandfather, Grandfather, how is Aunt doing?"

Sun Kang knew his granddaughter well. Seeing the look on her small face, he knew the girl wanted to go in. He said immediately, "The smell of blood is strong in there. You should wait outside."

Zhao Zhitong was not one to give up easily. "Grandfather," she pleaded, "I want to learn from you! Think about it, I'll have to examine pregnant women too someday. I have to learn sooner or later. Please let me in! I promise I'll be good and won't cause any trouble."

Sun Kang eventually agreed but warned her sternly not to cause any trouble.

Zhao Zhitong nodded vigorously, patting her small chest to show she understood. Then, she followed Sun Kang into the room.

The first thing Zhao Zhitong noticed upon entering was how dark it was. To prevent the laboring woman from catching a chill, the door and windows were shut tight, leaving the room dim. Next, a strong, coppery smell of blood hit her.

Zhao Zhitong paused. She looked towards the bed, where through the bed curtains, she could vaguely see Aunt lying there. Her hair was completely soaked with sweat and stuck to her face in disarray, her expression contorted in extreme pain. Sun Mei was beside her, helping Aunt sip warm water. An older woman stood at the head of the bed, urging Aunt to push harder.

This was the midwife. Or rather, she wasn't a formally trained midwife. In rural villages, families couldn't afford professional midwives; they relied on experienced older women from the village to help with deliveries. This lack of professional skill was one reason for the high maternal mortality rate in ancient times.

Zhao Zhitong walked to Sun Kang's side and watched intently as her grandfather checked Aunt's pulse through the bed curtains and administered several acupuncture needles.

Just then, Uncle's voice came from outside. "Uncle Sun, the medicine is brewed!"

Sun Mei immediately rose to open the door and take the medicine. She was surprised to see Zhao Zhitong standing by the bed but, having no time to address it then, she merely glanced at her before taking the bowl of medicine.

After drinking the medicine, Aunt seemed to slowly regain some strength and began to push with renewed effort. Listening to those cries, Zhao Zhitong could only imagine the immense pain Aunt must be enduring.

Time dragged on, but the baby still hadn't appeared.

The midwife was also growing anxious. "Mrs. Sun, you must push harder! If you don't, the baby will suffocate in there!"

Aunt's screams grew more desperate. Fear crept into her voice as she trembled, clutching Sun Mei's hand. "Sister-in-law, if... if I don't make it... tell Zhao Qiu... to save the baby..."

Sun Mei cut her off immediately. "Don't say such things! Don't let your mind wander. Hold on, you'll be alright!"

Hearing the escalating, agonizing screams from within the room, Uncle grew even more frantic outside.

Finally, just as Aunt shrieked that she couldn't go on, making Uncle's legs turn to jelly with fear, the clear, loud cry of a baby rang out from the room.

"It's out! It's out!" the midwife exclaimed joyfully.

Zhao Zhitong peered over curiously and saw a tiny, wrinkled newborn.

So ugly. That was Zhao Zhitong's first thought.

Grandpa Bai stated bluntly, "All newborns look like that. You did too."

Zhao Zhitong: ...

She was about to argue that she couldn't have been *that* ugly at birth when she saw the midwife pick up a pair of scissors to cut the umbilical cord—scissors that were visibly rusty.

Zhao Zhitong froze. How could they use those rusty scissors?!

Without a second thought, she cried out, "Granny, don't!"

The midwife, startled, glared at Zhao Zhitong. "You child! What are you doing, causing trouble in the delivery room? What if something goes wrong because of you?"

Now, even her Grandfather and Sun Mei were looking at Zhao Zhitong.

But Zhao Zhitong stood her ground, unafraid. "Granny," she insisted, "those scissors are rusty! You can't use them to cut the umbilical cord. The baby could get an infection, or even tetanus!"