Chen Qingsong thought of the man who had used his name to send food to Xu You.
He casually asked the soldier serving food, “Who came by for an extra meal last night? I could smell stir-fried chicken even while I was training.”
“Oh, it was Commander Shen’s orderly. He asked for the fattest rooster they had. It filled two whole lunchboxes.”
Chen Qingsong wondered if he had heard wrong.
“Shen Xu?”
“Who else in the base would be eating an extra meal in the middle of the night besides Commander Shen? He’s got a good salary and he’s single, so of course he can afford to indulge.”
Chen Qingsong barely remembered how he made his way to the hospital.
His mind was filled with one thought: Shen Xu was that rat hiding in the shadows. He was actually trying to steal his girlfriend!
Shen Xu had taken a liking to Xu You, yet Xu You had chosen him!
The discovery stirred Chen Qingsong’s vanity and brought a sense of crisis with it. He had to hurry up and get the marriage on the agenda.
Chen Qingsong brought food to his mother and gave her all the money and ration coupons in his pocket.
“I’m busy with training. From now on, take the money and coupons yourself and get your meals from the cafeteria.”
Mother Chen readily agreed.
“Sure. I can take care of myself. Don’t let this distract you from your training.”
“If it’s nothing urgent, don’t bother Comrade Xu. She’s busy with work. Wait until I come back tonight.”
“Sure, I know she’s a busy person. How would I dare disturb her…”
After leaving the inpatient department, Chen Qingsong went to the military district service station and bought a pound of egg cakes, which he delivered to the emergency department.
Xu You was treating a pregnant woman whose water had already broken. She only had time to glance at Chen Qingsong.
“Thank you.”
The pregnant woman had been brought in by Deputy Commander Li of the Third Regiment. The moment the woman was placed on the stretcher, she was rushed into the emergency room.
Xu You spoke rapidly.
“Put the pregnant woman on oxygen. Record her blood pressure and fetal movements.”
Deputy Commander Li let out a huge sigh of relief. Seeing the egg cakes in Chen Qingsong’s hands, he said, “My second child picked the worst possible time to arrive. I interrupted you and your girlfriend while you were talking.”
“Comrade Xu’s work is important. Commander Li, don’t be nervous. Your wife will definitely give birth safely.”
“With Doctor Xu here, I’m definitely at ease.”
Chen Qingsong stayed and chatted with Deputy Commander Li for a while. Once his family arrived, Chen Qingsong quietly left.
When the emergency room doors opened again, Xu You spoke extremely quickly.
“Eight months pregnant with ruptured membranes, but the cervix hasn’t dilated. We’ve already contacted the heads of obstetrics and pediatrics for a consultation.”
Deputy Commander Li panicked and asked loudly, “Her water has broken, so why hasn’t the cervix opened? What happens to the baby if it doesn’t open? Will something happen? Doctor, you have to make sure both my wife and child are safe…”
Xu You said, “Family member, please stay calm. Why did the pregnant woman’s water break?”
Deputy Commander Li hesitated.
Xu You tapped the medical chart, reminding him, “There are two lives lying in there.”
“I’ll tell you, but Doctor Xu, please keep it confidential. My eldest daughter accidentally pushed my wife down. My wife told her to finish her homework first, but she wanted to go outside and play. They argued, and then…”
Xu You asked, “Was she simply pushed to the ground, or did she hit something? Did she bleed immediately? How long was it between the fall and when you brought her here?”
Deputy Commander Li answered each question one by one.
Just then, the heads of gynecology and pediatrics arrived.
Xu You briefed both of them on the situation, and they entered the emergency room together.
The head of gynecology said, “Even after being given oxygen, fetal movement remains infrequent. The fetus is at risk of asphyxia. I recommend a C-section.”
The pregnant woman was still conscious and naturally heard the doctor.
“I agree to the surgery. I only ask that you save my baby.”
The pregnant woman signed with trembling hands.
Xu You said, “I’ll go get the family member’s signature.”
“All right. We’ll have the medical staff transfer the pregnant woman to the operating room,” the head of obstetrics said.
Xu You took the surgical consent form and found Deputy Commander Li.
“After evaluating the situation, the department heads have agreed that because the fetus is at risk of asphyxia, we should perform a C-section.”
“This is a surgical consent form? Isn’t she just giving birth? How did it suddenly get to the point where she needs surgery?”
Xu You explained the reasons for the surgery to the family.
As soon as Mother Li heard this, she started making a scene.
“We’re not giving birth in this hospital anymore! We’re going home! I’ve delivered several babies back in the countryside. I’m much more capable than these doctors who haven’t even grown all their hair!”
“Mom, stop making a scene! Didn’t you hear the doctor? If they don’t perform a C-section, both of them could die.”
After persuading his mother, Deputy Commander Li tremblingly picked up the pen.
“Doctor Xu, I’m entrusting my wife and child’s lives to you.”
“We’ll do everything we can.”
Xu You really wanted to leave immediately, but she still had to explain the possible surgical risks to the family.
“Even if the surgery is successful, your wife may have difficulty becoming pregnant again in the future. There is also a risk of infection at the incision site, and she may need to remain in the hospital for a long time for treatment.”
As soon as Mother Li heard this, she slapped the pen out of Deputy Commander Li’s hand.
“What if the baby in my daughter-in-law’s belly is another girl? Is the Li family going to have no son and no heir?”
“Mom, saving their lives is what matters!”
Just as Deputy Commander Li picked up the pen, Mother Li snatched the surgical consent form and tore it apart.
“This hospital is only trying to scam you out of money! Give my daughter-in-law back to us. We’re going home!”
Xu You took a step back.
The commotion had become so loud that the medical staff preparing for surgery all came over.
“What do we do? Are we still performing the surgery?”
“Of course we are. Why wouldn’t we? The pregnant woman already signed the consent form.”
Xu You turned around and asked someone from the security department, “Please help me find the base commanders and have them come here to sign. I’ll go to the operating room first.”
“I’ll sign! There’s no need to bother the commanders over something this small.”
Xu You firmly but calmly rejected him.
“Out of consideration for saving paper, I’m worried that Auntie is too emotional and might tear up the surgical consent form again. It would be better to have the leaders present.”
Deputy Commander Li collapsed onto the floor, his face ashen.
It was over.
His entire career was finished.
Just yesterday, the leaders had read out the higher-ups’ directives: women could hold up half the sky; no one was allowed to look down on female comrades or discriminate against women in favor of men…
The head of obstetrics personally performed the surgery. As the department head’s prized student, Wang Shu naturally served as the first assistant, and she also secured the position of second assistant for Xu You.
Xu You had someone call Doctor Pan over. He was extremely unhappy about having to come in an hour early.
“I wonder who it was that acted all high and mighty yesterday, saying she’d never ask for an early shift change.”
Xu You immediately appealed to his interests.
“I’ve already told the logistics department to calculate two extra hours of overtime pay for you, deducted from my salary.”
“Deal.”
Doctor Pan agreed immediately.
After Xu You and Doctor Pan completed the handover, she headed straight for the operating room.
Everyone in the operating room was already prepared. The head of pediatrics was also waiting nearby to receive the newborn.
Once the anesthesia took effect, the head of obstetrics calmly said, “Prepare to open the abdomen.”
Xu You watched the obstetrician’s movements closely.
“Second assistant, apply pressure to the abdomen.”
Xu You responded immediately, placing her palm firmly on the uterine fundus and pressing down as instructed.
Because of the pressure, amniotic fluid splashed out and sprayed Xu You directly in the face. She instinctively closed her eyes.
Her breathing grew heavier.
She seemed to be back on the operating table again.
No matter how everyone had already pronounced Senior Brother Liang’s death sentence, she had insisted on performing one final surgery on him.
Even then, the blood had splashed onto her surgical gown…
“Second assistant!”
The head of obstetrics suddenly raised her voice, pulling Xu You sharply back to reality.
“The head is out. Second assistant, support it.”
“Okay.”
Xu You gently supported the fetus’s head and guided it out with a smooth motion.
“It’s a girl.”
Everyone in the operating room fell silent.