A wave of heat struck, carrying the scent of blood. With the doors and windows tightly shut, how could the woman in labor endure this?
The first thing Yu Banxia did upon entering the room was to crack open a window slightly.
“Who are you, girl? Who let you in? And why are you opening the window? This is a woman in labor—she can’t withstand the wind!” a woman scolded unhappily.
Ignoring her, Yu Banxia proceeded to crack open another window before walking over to the bedside.
“It’s already early summer. She needs strength to give birth. If it’s so stuffy and hot, heatstroke would only make things worse.”
“I’m the doctor Xu Yong invited. You can either keep chatting with me or let me save her.” Besides this woman, there was another elderly midwife and a young woman assisting in the room.
Everyone’s foreheads were damp with sweat, a clear sign of how hot it was inside.
Hearing that she was a doctor, the midwife was taken aback. Just as she was about to say something more, Yu Banxia had already taken a seat by the bed.
First, she checked the woman’s pulse. Then, she opened her acupuncture kit, inserted a needle into the woman’s arm, and gently twisted it.
Before long, the woman in labor regained consciousness.
“You’re awake. This is a Minor Vitality Pill. Taking it will help restore your strength, but it’s not cheap. I may need to charge you fifty coins—and that’s already a very reasonable price.”
“If you agree, I’ll give it to you. If not, I won’t force you.”
“Give it to my daughter-in-law. We can afford it,” Xu Yong’s mother quickly spoke up.
The young woman beside her stiffened for a moment but then, realizing this was a matter of life and death, let it go.
Yu Banxia first administered the medicine and then addressed the woman in labor.
“Your baby is in an abnormal position. I can help adjust it, but the process will be very painful. However, if you endure it, your child will be able to come out smoothly.”
“Your baby may have the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck, so we can’t delay too long.” As soon as Yu Banxia said this, everyone in the room was shocked.
A look of curiosity appeared in the midwife’s eyes. This young girl was truly remarkable.
Just by checking the pulse, she could tell that the baby was in an abnormal position and might even have the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck?
“Miss, please go ahead. I’m not afraid of the pain, as long as my child is safe.” The woman in labor had already regained her strength. Seeing how quickly she recovered after taking the medicine, Xu Yong’s mother grew even more trusting of Yu Banxia.
Yu Banxia nodded and opened her medicine chest, taking out a porcelain bottle.
When she opened it, a strong aroma of alcohol filled the air.
Then, they watched as she found a basin, poured the alcohol into it, and soaked her hands inside.
She then walked up to the midwife. “Sorry, please step aside.”
The midwife nodded blankly and obediently moved aside. It wasn’t until Yu Banxia took her place that she reacted.
“How can an unmarried girl like you deliver a baby?” the midwife said, about to step forward, but Xu Yong’s mother grabbed her arm.
“Since we’ve invited the young doctor, let’s trust her.” Hearing this, the midwife had no choice but to agree.
Yu Banxia reached in with one hand, quickly found the baby’s foot, and gently pushed it upward while using her other hand to adjust the woman’s belly.
To prevent the woman from experiencing too much pain, she used a bit of her special ability.
“Ah…” The woman in labor finally cried out in agony. Hearing her screams again, the people outside couldn’t help but feel a surge of hope.”It seems this young doctor is truly remarkable. It hasn’t been long since she went in, and the person is already awake.”
“She really does have some skill.”
Although the process was painful, with the help of Yu Banxia’s special ability, the fetal position was corrected before long.
“Where’s the midwife?” Yu Banxia withdrew her hand and called out to the midwife.
The midwife quickly responded and hurried over.
“When your belly tightens and hurts, take a deep breath and focus all your strength on this spot.” Yu Banxia gently pushed the belly as she instructed the mother. Before the mother could respond, a wave of pain struck.
Following Yu Banxia’s guidance, she pushed with all her might, and then her entire body relaxed.
“Wah…” The midwife skillfully cleared the fluid from the baby’s nasal passages, turned the baby over, and gave a light pat on the bottom. Soon, the baby began to cry loudly.
Yu Banxia walked over to another basin of water.
“Auntie, could you please scoop some water for me to wash my hands?” Yu Banxia said to Xu Yong’s mother.
Xu Yong’s mother hurried over, her face beaming with joy, and repeatedly expressed her gratitude.
“Young lady, thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, my grandson and daughter-in-law would have been in grave danger.”
Yu Banxia smiled at her. “As a doctor, it’s my duty to save lives and heal the sick. Otherwise, what’s the point of studying medicine?”
“Old sister, it’s a big, healthy boy,” the midwife announced, having already finished tending to the baby.
The young woman had already wiped the baby clean and wrapped him in swaddling clothes.
“Oh, hahaha, my third son has an heir now, an heir! Hahaha…” Xu Yong’s mother was overjoyed.
“Old woman, what was born?” Old Xu’s cheerful voice came from outside.
Xu Yong’s mother quickly replied, “It’s a grandson!”
“Hahaha, good, good!”
“Mother, how is my wife?” Xu Yong’s voice also came from outside.
Xu Yong’s mother glanced at her daughter-in-law, who was already looking much better, and once again marveled at the effectiveness of the medicine Yu Banxia had given them.
She had only charged them fifty wen—they had gotten an incredible bargain.
“She’s doing well, son. You brought an excellent doctor. We must properly thank her later.” Xu Yong’s mother laughed happily.
Outside, Xu Yong, his mother-in-law, and the others were all beaming with joy.
“Childbirth inevitably causes some damage. This medicine will help you recover sooner.” Yu Banxia took out another porcelain bottle and also gave her a small oil-paper package containing some cotton swabs.
“These cotton swabs can only be used once. Reusing them carries a risk of infection.”
The mother carefully noted everything and was immensely grateful to Yu Banxia.
“Thank you so much for saving my life today, young doctor. Earlier, I saw two shadowy figures, one black and one white, standing by my bedside.”
“After you arrived, those two said, ‘We can’t take this person today,’ and then I was awakened by you. You are my savior.”
“Young doctor, for this little one of ours, could you please bestow a name upon him?” The mother held the baby and smiled warmly at Yu Banxia.
Yu Banxia looked at the little one and then smiled. “Let’s call him Jing Wang. ‘Jing’ means prospect or scenery, and ‘Wang’ means hope or expectation. This name signifies a future full of hope, implying that he will have limitless prospects in the days to come.”
“Good, good! Let’s call him Jing Wang. We still don’t know your name, doctor.”
Yu Banxia’s words were heard outside as well. The people in the courtyard murmured the name, all agreeing it was an excellent choice.
Who would have thought that Yu Banxia was not only highly skilled in medicine but also well-learned?Those who had earlier mocked the old scholar’s family for putting on airs now instantly realized that Xu Xiucai had thrown away a treasure.
She treated him well and possessed medical skills—if he had married her, would he have ever worried about living poorly?
Truly, a shallow-minded thing raised by a widow, unfit for any respectable occasion.
This was what everyone present thought.
“My name is Yu Banxia, from Anping Village.” As soon as Yu Banxia spoke these words, silence fell over the room once more.