Ruan Shujin patted her chest.
“Uncle, let me reiterate—I’m not scared, I’m just nervous.”
Having said that, she saw Sister Yinglan and her uncle smiling at her, and she quietly turned her head away.
Before long, the train arrived.
It was the end of June; the nights were still bright. Around seven or eight in the evening, there was still a faint light.
Once on board, Ruan Shujin urged everyone to rest while she kept watch first.
Everyone didn’t object—after all, this train ride would take more than ten hours of chugging.
The three adults would take turns keeping watch.
Sleep had to be seized whenever possible.
After the people around her fell asleep, Ruan Shujin checked the time—it had only been a little over two hours. Looking around the carriage, she shifted her position and curled up again.
The envelope in her arms pressed uncomfortably.
Before her eyes, Xie Shouguo seemed to appear again.
Some fathers feel regret, while others worry that what they get from their children is never enough.
Xie Zheng was lucky to have such a good family. Just one glance told Ruan Shujin he was far luckier than she was.
On the other hand, she felt glad she had made the right decision.
In the darkness, aside from the clattering sounds, there were whispers from other carriages. Ruan Shujin occasionally glanced around, then returned to her position.
She didn’t know how long had passed before she could no longer resist. Li Yinglan woke and tapped her shoulder. Ruan Shujin acknowledged her with a knowing nod and closed her eyes. Hours passed in that sleep.
Before, she hadn’t experienced deep sleep. But ever since this second chance at life, Ruan Shujin always felt she never slept enough.
Sometimes she thought it was simply because she was too tired.
Having lived over forty years, for An Minhua, for her parents, for her children… she had never once lived for herself.
So, in this second life, there wasn’t a single day spent just catching up on rest.
It felt like she had been in a long dream. When she awoke, her body ached. Li Yinglan patted her.
“Go wash your face, clear your mind, then eat something.”
Ruan Shujin nodded.
The green train carriage’s setup made her feel a bit disheartened, but she endured.
Leaning against the connecting section, she gazed outside. The scenery wasn’t bad, though when they reached Baotou, it would likely be all yellow sand.
Animal husbandry had stripped the land of its greenery.
And in recent years, the special circumstances had made people forget to cherish the land.
But with her space and spiritual spring, she thought she might try to reverse desertification across every inch of her homeland.
Lost in her thoughts, she was suddenly tapped on the shoulder.
“Ah,” she exclaimed, realizing it was the guide.
“I’m fine. I was just deep in thought.”
“Comrade, sit down and rest. The bumps here will be very noticeable.”
Ruan Shujin nodded and quickly returned to her seat.
She wasn’t sure how long had passed, but judging by the scenery, they were nearing Baoshi.
The carriage was becoming restless.
Ruan Shujin and her companions packed their belongings.
Suddenly, a cry for help came from the rear carriage.
“Is there anyone who can help deliver a baby? Someone’s about to give birth!”
Ruan Shujin and Li Yinglan exchanged glances and rushed over.
Ruan Dong held back Cheng Minsheng and watched the three children.
Sometimes the world is cruel, yet Ruan Shujin couldn’t suppress her kind heart. Li Yinglan was the same.
Ruan Shujin had never been to this carriage. A glance told her enough—she squeezed toward the laboring woman.
The woman lay flat, her belly large, struggling painfully.
Ruan Shujin held her hand.
“Sister, control your breathing!”
The woman, like a drowning person spotting a floating log, gripped Ruan Shujin’s hands tightly.
“Please, save my child!”
Ruan Shujin patted her, soothing her patiently.
Li Yinglan had pushed the crowd toward the front of the carriage, then surrounded the woman with blankets and sheets.
Childbirth is never easy.
Ruan Shujin and Li Yinglan exchanged a glance.
Li Yinglan nodded and said urgently, “I’ll fetch scissors and hot water. You stay here and guide her breathing.”
“All right, Sister Yinglan.”
As Li Yinglan went out, she remembered to close the makeshift curtain.
Ruan Shujin took a crying little girl aside and placed a water bottle in the hands of the three- or four-year-old.
She monitored the laboring woman while comforting the child.
During the chaos, Ruan Shujin gathered scattered blankets and used spiritual spring water from her space to give the woman a drink.
The laboring woman’s cries grew louder. Her hair stuck to her face, and her complexion paled.
When Li Yinglan returned with supplies, she checked the situation and helped Ruan Shujin guide the woman’s breathing.
Li Yinglan was experienced in childbirth despite only having one child, and Ruan Shujin’s knowledge came from giving birth twice under difficult circumstances with An Minhua.
It had been truly exhausting.
Perhaps it was her second child, as the birth progressed relatively quickly.
Before long, one baby arrived. Ruan Shujin quickly wrapped the infant in clothes.
Li Yinglan cut the umbilical cord. They hadn’t even relaxed when the laboring woman lifted her head.
“I… there’s another one in my belly.”
Ruan Shujin and Li Yinglan sprang into action. The second child was in a difficult position and wouldn’t come out easily.
Li Yinglan glanced at her.
“Shujin, your hands are small—reach in.”
Ruan Shujin nodded. Following her memory and Li Yinglan’s instructions, she reached in and pulled the child out.
With the woman’s effort, the second baby cried loudly upon birth.
Ruan Shujin focused on the babies while Li Yinglan monitored the mother.
There were no herbal remedies on the train. Li Yinglan watched the laboring woman, who had closed her eyes, with some trepidation.
When Ruan Shujin emerged with the baby, those nearby breathed a sigh of relief.
“Comrade, how is the woman inside?”
“Temporarily safe. Call ahead so medical staff will be ready at the next station.”
Ruan Shujin spoke, and the green-uniformed soldier ran off.
An older woman pushed through the crowd.
“How’s my daughter-in-law?”
“Grandmother, don’t worry. Mother and child are safe.”
Ruan Shujin looked at the white-haired woman.
“Do you want to see?”
“All right.”
Ruan Shujin made a small path, lowered her head, and watched the grandmother approach the mother, moving awkwardly.
Ruan Shujin followed. The grandmother surrounded the laboring woman.
“My daughter-in-law, can you hear me?”
“It’s all mother’s fault… mother shouldn’t have left.”