Third son’s wife, push harder! Come on, you’re almost there—push!”
“I… I can’t… I don’t have any strength left…”
The pregnant woman lying on the bed spoke more and more weakly. The midwife hurried out and looked toward the courtyard, addressing Old Madam Wang and Old Master Wang:
“Auntie, your Jinping has run out of strength. If this drags on, then…”
She didn’t finish her sentence, but everyone in the yard understood—if it continued, neither the mother nor the child might survive.
“Aunt Li… if… if it really comes to that, save the mother—save Jinping!”
The midwife, Aunt Li, looked at the Wang family’s third son. His handsome face was filled with anxiety, but he said nothing further, instead glancing at Old Madam Wang.
“Mother, you must save Jinping!” cried Wang Tiezhu (male), his voice urgent.
Before his words even settled, Old Madam Wang spoke firmly:
“Aunt Li, if things go bad, we save Jinping. As long as the person lives, nothing else matters.”
Aunt Li’s expression eased slightly, and she quickly returned inside to continue the delivery.
Looking at Qian Jinping (female), she gritted her teeth and said:
“Jinping, your mother-in-law and husband said that if the baby can’t be delivered, they’ll save you. But for the child, you must push harder!”
Qian Jinping’s eyes reddened.
“No… Aunt Li, if something goes wrong, you must save the child.”
Just as she finished speaking, Wang Tiezhu’s voice rang from outside:
“Jinping, don’t say that! If only one can be saved, I want you! Either both of you are safe, or at least you are—there’s no third option!”
His voice was firm yet restrained with emotion.
Hearing this, Qian Jinping bit her lip—and suddenly felt strength returning to her body.
“Third son’s wife, the baby’s head is coming out! Push a little more! Look how well your family treats you—you must keep going!”
Aunt Li was a well-known midwife across many villages. She had even delivered the county magistrate’s wife’s child. She had seen all kinds of people—but families as decisive and compassionate as the Old Wang family were rare. That was why, even though they weren’t wealthy, she was willing to come.
Outside the room:
Old Madam Wang and Old Master Wang waited with their three grandsons.
The eldest son’s wife, Zhang Xiu’er (female), helped inside.
The second son’s wife, Zhao Shuqin (female), boiled water in the kitchen.
Wang Dazhu (male, eldest son) chopped firewood.
Wang Erzhu (male, second son) stood beside his younger brother, patting his shoulder in comfort.
Old Madam Wang clasped her hands and prayed to the sky for the safety of both mother and child.
Just as she lowered her head, she suddenly saw a streak of golden light flash across the sky.
Startled, she nudged Old Master Wang. He looked up as well—and both of them followed the light as it descended… straight toward the third son’s house.
Before they could recover from their shock, Aunt Li’s joyful voice rang out:
“Ah! The baby’s born! Finally born—mother and daughter are safe!”
Aunt Li came out holding the baby.
Old Madam Wang and Old Master Wang stepped forward to look at their newborn granddaughter, smiling with relief. Whether grandson or granddaughter—as long as it was a child of the Wang family, that was enough.
Meanwhile, Wang Tiezhu rushed into the delivery room. Seeing his pale wife, he tightly held her hand.
“Jinping… we have a daughter…”
His voice trembled—filled with joy, but even more with concern.
Qian Jinping looked at her husband and smiled gently.
“I’m fine… I’ll recover after some rest.”
Zhang Xiu’er, watching the couple holding hands, couldn’t help but tear up.
In the countryside, most people didn’t care much about pregnancy. Women often worked in the fields even with big bellies.
But not in the Old Wang family.
Early pregnancy: light work only
Late pregnancy: even cooking was not required
Zhang Xiu’er felt that she and her sisters-in-law were truly fortunate to have married into such a family.
Old Madam Wang handed the baby to Wang Tiezhu, then took out 200 copper coins and a prepared basket, giving them to Aunt Li as payment and thanks.
Aunt Li was pleasantly surprised. She had come mostly out of goodwill, yet still received money and gifts—further proof that the Wang family knew how to treat people well.
After seeing the midwife off, Old Madam Wang returned and instructed:
“Xiu’er, go cook two eggs with brown sugar for your sister-in-law. She just gave birth—she must be exhausted.”
“Yes, Mother, I’ll go right away,” Zhang Xiu’er replied, heading to the kitchen and calling Wang Dazhu to bring firewood.
“Second son, hang a red cloth on the door,” Old Madam Wang ordered.
Wang Erzhu quickly obeyed.
In rural areas, hanging red cloth at the door signified a newborn. People with mourning in their household would avoid entering.
However, in these times, most families only did this when a boy was born.
Girls were often looked down upon as “money-losing burdens.” Many wouldn’t even receive proper postpartum care.
But the Old Wang family believed:
Boy or girl—it was still a child of the Wang family.
In fact, after three grandsons, they were even happier to finally have a granddaughter.
Old Master Wang checked the sun—it wasn’t noon yet—then took Wang Dazhu and Wang Erzhu up the mountain to set traps, hoping to catch a wild chicken to help Jinping produce milk.
Wang Tiezhu stayed behind, holding the baby and caring for his wife.
In the kitchen:
Old Madam Wang directed Zhang Xiu’er and Zhao Shuqin to prepare lunch. She took out leftover wild boar meat from winter.
Menu for the day:
Braised wild boar
Spicy stir-fried rabbit
Stir-fried wild greens
Egg drop soup
After arranging everything, she went to check on Jinping and the baby.
As she crossed the courtyard, she noticed the red cloth had somehow fallen.
Walking toward the gate, she overheard voices—
Under a nearby tree, several village women were gossiping:
“Tsk, what are they so happy about? Hanging red cloth like that.”
“Yeah, I heard it’s just a girl. What’s so precious about that? And they’re even cooking meat at noon!”
“Exactly! No one else hangs red cloth for a girl—only their family, acting so special.”
Old Madam Wang’s anger flared instantly.
She strode over in a few steps.
“Well, well—aren’t these the three most notorious gossips in Baofu Village? What’s wrong? Did you eat too much salt this morning, talking nonsense like this?”
Hands on her hips, she glared at them.
These three women were infamous across nearby villages—lazy, always chasing gossip, sitting under shade with snacks, criticizing others all day.
The leader, Widow Chen, rolled her eyes and snapped:
“Oh? Is this tree yours? We can’t even sit here and chat without bothering you?”
Widow Chen was known for her sharp tongue—especially after her husband died, no one could control her anymore.
The other two—Old Madam Tian and Yu Datou’s wife—stood by in agreement.
Old Madam Wang scoffed:
“The tree isn’t mine—but the stones you’re sitting on were carried here by my son! Sitting on my family’s stones and gossiping about us—who gave you the nerve?”
She glanced toward the third son’s house and continued:
“And yes, my Jinping gave birth to a girl—and I treasure her dearly! You look down on girls? Aren’t you women yourselves? Disgusting!”
With that, Old Madam Wang turned and walked away proudly like a victorious rooster, muttering:
“Hmph, daring to gossip at my doorstep… you’ve got some nerve.”