The Blessed Farm Girl Has a Spatial Storage

210 The Difficulty of Life

"What?" The midwife apparently did not know what tetanus was and hummed to express herself.

"You ask around. I'm an old hand at delivering babies in the nearby villages. Countless babies have been born through me, and all I've done is cut their umbilical cords like this. I've never heard of any 'wind' or anything."

The midwife didn't understand, but Sun Mei did. Her attention had been entirely on her sister-in-law, so she hadn't noticed what the scissors looked like. When she finally saw them, she immediately agreed, "Madam, let's be more careful. This really can cause tetanus."

The old woman was somewhat angry and wanted to say more, but Zhao Zhitong insisted, "Madam, what if something happens to my Aunt?"

"You see, there are many bacteria and viruses on the scissors..."

Grandpa Bai hurriedly interjected, "Young girl, they don't know what bacteria and viruses are."

Zhao Zhitong thought for a moment and rephrased, "There are many tiny things on the scissors that can make people sick and cause wound infections. Although they're very, very small and we can't see them, they must be killed with alcohol or fire before cutting the cord. That way, the wound won't get infected."

Sun Kang, standing beside them, was hearing this for the first time, but he felt that what Zhao Zhitong said made a lot of sense. Knife wounds were indeed prone to infection. The things the young girl described that cause wound infections must be like the decaying flesh on some wounds, which also has to be removed for the wound to heal.

So, he nodded in agreement, "Let's listen to the young girl."

He then fetched a candle and sterilized the scissors in the flame before handing them back to the midwife to cut the umbilical cord.

The midwife was still unhappy about it, but since the physician had spoken, she complied.

Finally, Uncle, who was outside, scrambled up from the ground, anxious and flustered. He ran to the door and shouted for a while. When there was no response from inside, he started pounding on the door, "Uncle Sun, Uncle Sun! How is my wife, the child's mother? Why is it so quiet?"

At that moment, the midwife emerged from behind the curtain, holding the baby, and smiled at Zhao Qiu by the door, "Stop pounding, stop pounding! She's given birth. It's a boy!"

Hearing this, Uncle was overjoyed but still asked about Mrs. Sun's condition and why he couldn't hear her voice.

When he finally learned that she was just exhausted and had fallen asleep, he let out a profound sigh of relief. Disregarding the custom that men were not allowed in the delivery room, he pushed the door open and went inside.

Upon entering the room, he first went to the bedside to check on his wife, Aunt, and then carefully held his son.

Just then, Aunt woke up. Opening her eyes, she saw Zhao Qiu standing by her bed holding the baby. Her heart warmed instantly, but she said, trying to shoo him out, "Child's father, what are you doing in here? Get out, quickly! The delivery room is unclean and considered bad luck. Men from the family shouldn't enter."

Uncle didn't mind in the least. He placed the baby beside Aunt, took her hand, and said gratefully, "My dear wife, you worked so hard to give birth to our child. How could it be unclean or bring bad luck?"

Then, he let Aunt look at the baby.

The little infant was very well-behaved. He had only cried a few times right after birth and was now fast asleep. Aunt looked at him, her eyes red-rimmed, her face filled with love, and her heart swelled with warmth.

Her husband was genuinely good to her. Ever since she had a falling out with her mother-in-law and they moved out of the old family house, her life had improved significantly. Now, she had a son, and her husband was earning money working with his Second Brother. Good days lay ahead.

Sun Mei had already led Zhao Zhitong out of the delivery room, giving the couple some space.

The midwife, after receiving her red envelope, left happily.

Sun Kang was in the courtyard writing a prescription for Aunt's postpartum recovery. The difficult birth had taken a toll on her body, and if she didn't recuperate properly, conceiving again in the future would be challenging.

After getting the prescription, Zhao Qiu went with Sun Kang to fetch the medicinal herbs.

Zhao Dong and Sun Mei also prepared to go home. Sun Mei planned to bring some eggs from their home for Aunt. If there was no chicken soup, at least she could have some eggs to eat.

At first, Zhao Qiu adamantly refused the eggs. However, Sun Mei eventually persuaded him by mentioning Aunt's delicate health. He accepted them, thanking her repeatedly and promising to repay her as soon as he earned some money. Sun Mei just smiled, waved her hand, and left.

As soon as they left the courtyard, Zhao Zhitong grabbed Sun Mei's hand, tilted her little head up to look at her mother, and asked in her child-like voice, "Mom, was it as painful and dangerous for you when you had me as it was for Aunt just now?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Mei couldn't help but be drawn into her memories. In this world, giving birth to Zhao Zhitong had indeed been a brush with death. Back then, that mother-in-law of her original body, Mrs. Wang, hadn't cared whether her original self lived or died during childbirth. She hadn't even called a midwife; only her Elder Sister-in-law, Zhu Clan, was by her side, supposedly looking after her. But Zhu Clan was half-hearted. At the time, the original owner of the body had a difficult birth and hemorrhaged, nearly resulting in two deaths—mother and child. In the end, it was Zhao Dong who had gone to find the original body's father, which was how her life was saved. However, her body was severely weakened, making it impossible for her to conceive again.

In her previous life, giving birth to Zhao Zhitong had been so much better. The medical and sanitary conditions were excellent, and her mother-in-law had been there to take care of her. However, she had given birth to Zhao Zhitong naturally and had suffered tremendously in the process. Indeed, since ancient times, for a woman to give birth was like walking through the gates of hell.

Zhao Zhitong tilted her head, noticing Sun Mei was lost in thought, her mind elsewhere. She tugged at Sun Mei's hand and called out to her a few times, finally pulling her mother back to the present.

"Mom, what are you thinking about? You haven't answered my question yet."

Sun Mei came back to her senses, reached out to pinch Zhao Zhitong's small cheek, and said with a smile, "Yes, my dear. Giving birth is truly not easy for any woman."

Zhao Zhitong nodded her little head. This was the first time she had witnessed the birth of a life with her own eyes. The process was beautiful and magical, but also incredibly difficult. It was also the first time she truly understood how hard-won life was. Grandpa Bai had said that every life in this world is precious, and we must cherish it immensely because the arrival of any life is something a mother fought desperately for!

With this thought, Zhao Zhitong suddenly felt that her mother was truly great. She opened her little arms, wanting a hug.

As Sun Mei picked her up, Zhao Zhitong hugged her neck tightly, gave her a big kiss on the cheek, and said in her sweet, child-like voice, "Thank you, Mom, for fighting so hard to bring me into this world. You've worked so hard. Tongtong will love you for my whole life."

Looking at the little girl who spoke such heartwarming words like a little adult, Sun Mei was momentarily stunned. After a moment, a smile touched her lips, and she too kissed Zhao Zhitong's cheek, saying, "Mommy isn't tired. Your arrival is the best gift Mommy has ever received. Mommy is very happy."