Eight months later.
It was once again the season between summer and autumn. After finishing dinner, Wen Fufu walked slowly around the courtyard with her round, swollen belly. The flowers she had planted earlier in the yard had now all bloomed. The small courtyard had turned into a tiny garden, and even the air was filled with a pleasant floral fragrance.
As her due date approached, in order to give birth smoothly, Wen Fufu always remembered what the doctor had said—to move around more to prevent the baby from being in an abnormal position.
Since it was her first time giving birth, it was impossible for her not to feel nervous. Once, in order to understand whether natural birth or a cesarean section was better, Wen Fufu had specifically searched for videos online. The bloody scenes scared her so much that she closed the video after only one minute.
It was too terrifying.
She had never expected childbirth to be so frightening. The cries of those mothers still echoed in her ears even now.
At the time, she had told Shen Xiulan about the uneasiness in her heart and asked whether natural birth or a cesarean section was better. After hearing this, Shen Xiulan had laughed loudly and told her not to think too much and to just let things happen naturally.
“Baby, you have to consider your mom’s delicate body. When the time comes, come out obediently and don’t make Mommy suffer too much. Otherwise, when you’re born, Mommy will smack your little butt.”
The child in her belly seemed to really hear her and kicked once against her stomach.
Wen Fufu had already gotten used to the movements on her belly. She happily rubbed it.
So obedient.
As Wen Fufu continued walking, a wave of pain suddenly came from her stomach. She thought it was just the baby kicking and that it would pass soon.
But then once… twice… three times…
The pain grew stronger and stronger.
Wen Fufu clutched her stomach and immediately panicked.
Was she about to give birth?
That couldn’t be right. Wasn’t it still before her due date?
The feeling in her stomach gave her no time to think. Holding her belly with one hand and supporting herself against the wall with the other, she slowly walked into the room and grabbed her phone. She pressed the call button.
Ever since the due date had been getting closer, in order to avoid accidents, Wen Fufu had set Shen Xiulan’s family as emergency contacts. Now she only needed to press the number 1 to reach them.
“Hello, Aunt Shen, it’s me, Little Fu. I think I’m about to give birth,” Wen Fufu said.
As she spoke, a warm stream suddenly flowed from her lower body.
Her water had broken.
Tears unconsciously flowed down Wen Fufu’s face. She had thought she wouldn’t be afraid and that she could face everything bravely. But when the moment of childbirth truly arrived, her courage collapsed instantly.
“Oh my, Little Fu, hold on! Aunt Shen is coming right now!” Shen Xiulan shouted anxiously on the other end of the phone.
She didn’t hang up. Holding the phone in one hand, she ran all the way to Wen Fufu’s house. Pushing the door open, she rushed into the room and saw Wen Fufu sitting on the floor like a child, crying.
When Wen Fufu saw Shen Xiulan arrive, she looked at her through tear-blurred eyes in confusion.
At that moment, Shen Xiulan realized something.
The person in front of her was only twenty-three years old.
Her heart softened. She walked over and helped Wen Fufu up.
“Why are you crying? Isn’t Aunt Shen here? You’re about to become a mother. Hurry and wipe your tears, or the baby will laugh at you after it’s born. Your Uncle Xiao is already driving over. We’ll go to the hospital right now.”
Wen Fufu raised her hand and wiped her face. She finally felt a bit relieved.
“Aunt Shen, thank you.”
“What are you thanking Aunt Shen for? Can you still walk?” Shen Xiulan asked.
Wen Fufu sniffed with her reddened nose and nodded with red eyes.
“Yes.”
“Your water has broken. There’s no time to change clothes. Where are the things you prepared for the hospital? I’ll go get them.”
Most of Wen Fufu’s skirt had already been soaked by the amniotic fluid.
“Aunt Shen, they’re in the cabinet.”
Wen Fufu had prepared the clothes and daily necessities needed for hospitalization long ago, just in case she went into labor suddenly.
Honk! Honk!
The sound of a car came from the door.
Shen Xiulan grabbed the handbag and wrapped a blanket around Wen Fufu’s lower body while supporting her.
“Your Uncle Xiao is here. We’ll walk slowly. If it hurts, tell Aunt Shen.”
In truth, the pain in Wen Fufu’s stomach had never stopped. The hair on both sides of her cheeks had already been soaked with sweat from enduring the pain.
Still, she pretended to sound relaxed.
“Aunt Shen, I still have strength. I can walk faster.”
Shen Xiulan knew they couldn’t delay. She quickened her steps and helped Wen Fufu out of the house.
Xiao Zhengshan had already opened the car door and was waiting for them to get in.
“Zhengshan, we have to hurry,” Shen Xiulan said.
Xiao Zhengshan didn’t dare delay. Once everyone was seated, he stepped on the accelerator and drove quickly toward the hospital. Fortunately, the county hospital was not far from the village—it only took about ten minutes to arrive.
When they reached the hospital entrance, Xiao Zhengshan stopped the car immediately. He got out and ran inside to tell the nurse at the front desk that someone was about to give birth.
The nurse on duty quickly called a doctor, and together with her colleagues they pushed an emergency stretcher to the entrance.
Wen Fufu was placed onto the hospital bed stretcher.
Before she was pushed into the delivery room, she anxiously grabbed Shen Xiulan’s hand and refused to let go.
Shen Xiulan wiped the sweat from her forehead and comforted her.
“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
The doctor waiting to deliver the baby also comforted her gently.
“The baby is three days early from the due date. It’s probably just impatient to see its mother.”
“Doctor, will there be any problems if the baby is born early?” Wen Fufu asked nervously.
“Generally not. According to the ultrasound results, your baby is very healthy,” the female doctor replied.
Only then did Wen Fufu feel slightly relieved.
Since outsiders were not allowed in the delivery room, Shen Xiulan said a few more reassuring words before leaving.
As soon as the delivery room door closed, Wen Fufu finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and cried out in pain.
Giving birth hurt so much it felt like she was dying.
“Doctor, can I have a cesarean section?” Wen Fufu asked desperately.
“For a cesarean section, your husband must sign the consent form. Miss Wen, we still recommend natural birth. Your body conditions are very suitable for it. The baby is in the correct position and should be delivered soon.”
The moment Wen Fufu heard that her husband’s signature was required, she immediately gave up on the idea.
Where was she supposed to find a husband?
In her mind, that cold and stern face appeared.
If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t be suffering like this.
Wen Fufu gritted her teeth and shouted,
“Doctor, I’ll leave it to you!”
From evening until the first light of dawn appeared over the mountains, Wen Fufu finally gave birth to the baby in her belly.
The moment the infant came out, a loud and clear cry echoed through the delivery room.
Wen Fufu’s face was pale, and her entire body was drenched as if she had just been pulled out of water. She propped herself up weakly. Because she had been shouting for so long, her voice had become hoarse.
“Doctor… I want to see the baby.”
The female doctor, wearing a mask, smiled with her eyes as she carried the baby to Wen Fufu’s side.
“Congratulations. It’s a big, chubby boy. Very healthy. This is the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful baby boy—so plump and delicate.”
Even the nurse assistant sighed in admiration. It was the cutest baby boy they had ever seen, making their maternal instincts overflow.
The baby, who had been crying the whole time, stopped crying when he was brought close to Wen Fufu. He smacked his lips once and obediently fell asleep.
Wen Fufu found it amazing. She reached out and gently touched the baby’s little cheek.
So this was the tiny bundle of flesh that had come out of her belly.
“So it’s a boy… I thought it would be a baby girl.”
She had thought that because the baby had been extremely well-behaved during her pregnancy—so well-behaved that it felt like a considerate little daughter.
“Miss Wen, we’ll push you to the ward to rest now. After we clean the baby, we’ll bring him to you,” the female doctor said.
“Thank you, doctor,” Wen Fufu said gratefully.
Wen Fufu was pushed out of the delivery room. Shen Xiulan and Xiao Zhengshan quickly walked over.
“How are you? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Where’s the baby?”
They had been waiting outside the delivery room the entire time and had naturally heard the baby crying earlier.
Oh my, that cry had been loud and powerful. The baby must be very healthy.
“Aunt Shen, I feel much lighter now. The nurse took the baby to get cleaned.”
“Now you can finally relax. You’ve really worked hard.”
“Aunt Shen, it wasn’t hard at all.”
“You used so much strength—you must be hungry. Rest first. I’ll have your Uncle Xiao buy something for you to eat and replenish your energy.”
“Thank you, Aunt Shen.”