“Yes, exactly. So many of us physicians are at a loss—what could a rustic village woman possibly understand?”
“Isn’t she just here to swindle consultation fees?”
“Master Liu, think twice! If you let us treat her, there may still be a chance to save your child. But if you allow that country woman to meddle recklessly, who knows what might happen!”
The physicians chimed in one after another, their words only making the already anxious Master Liu even more unsettled.
“Physician Jiang, aside from delivering babies, how are Madam Wu’s medical skills?”
How would Physician Jiang know whether Wu Yulan actually knew medicine? He had only been impressed by her skill with breech repositioning and thought she might have a way to turn the baby into the correct position. That was why he had called her over.
Seeing Physician Jiang hesitate and fail to answer, Master Liu’s heart sank halfway.
When the doctors learned that Wu Yulan had never formally practiced medicine, their criticism grew louder.
“Master Liu, you are muddle-headed! How can you let this rustic woman act recklessly?”
“That’s right. If you stop her in time, there may still be a chance to turn things around. But if it’s too late…”
“What nonsense about cutting open the belly and both mother and child surviving! This is clearly a country woman’s scam!”
“Indeed! I’ve practiced medicine for fifty years and have never heard of such a heaven-defying technique. Absurd! Utterly absurd!”
Physician Jiang thought of Wu Yulan’s calm and composed demeanor. For some reason, he simply believed in her.
“Physician Li, just because you haven’t seen such a heaven-defying technique doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist in this world!”
Physician Li let out a cold snort. “Physician Jiang, you’ve practiced medicine for decades yourself. Have you ever seen such a technique?”
“Besides, even if such a method truly exists, it certainly wouldn’t appear in the hands of a rustic village woman!”
“That’s cutting open the abdomen! Not some minor scrape or wound!”
At that, Physician Jiang fell silent as well.
Just then, the cry of a newborn baby rang out from inside the room.
“Waa—waa—!”
Master Liu hurried to the doorway, his eyes brimming with hope.
“The baby’s born! The baby’s born!”
The physicians all frowned upon hearing this.
They had practiced medicine for many years and knew that delivering a baby in a transverse position was extremely difficult—let alone when the village woman inside was performing a cesarean section.
Based on their medical experience, the child was likely cut out. Once the abdomen had been sliced open, could the mother possibly survive?
With that thought, the doctors looked at Master Liu with sympathy.
“Master Liu, it seems the child has been saved.”
“Yes. Saving at least one life is still something. Please accept our condolences.”
“Sigh… please restrain your grief.”
It was as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over Master Liu. The joy at the corners of his brows faded.
Although the physicians spoke this way, he still clung to a sliver of hope. “Earlier, Aunt Wu said she was seventy percent confident that both mother and child would be safe. Perhaps…”
“Master Liu, she’s just a rustic village woman. Do you truly believe her?”
“Exactly. Which of us here hasn’t practiced medicine for decades? You distrust us seasoned physicians, yet choose to believe a mere country woman?”
Physician Jiang murmured, “No… Aunt Wu… she’s not an ordinary rustic village woman…”
Even as he said it, he lacked conviction.
“A woman from the countryside—if she’s not a rustic village woman, then what is she? She’s never studied medicine, nor does she have any medical experience. Could her skills really surpass those of us who have practiced for decades?”
“That’s right, Physician Jiang. This is your fault. If you hadn’t brought just anyone into Master Liu’s residence, Madam Liu wouldn’t have…”
“Yes, Physician Jiang. As a physician, one must answer to heaven and conscience. Don’t, for the sake of a bit of consultation money, bring in some village woman to harm others!”
“Physician Jiang…”
Faced with everyone’s accusations, it felt as though a massive mountain weighed upon Physician Jiang’s shoulders. Clutching his chest, he found it hard to breathe.
“I… I…”
The situation had been urgent. He had only wanted to save a life as quickly as possible.
But Wu Yulan had indeed been the one he called over. At this moment, Physician Jiang felt nothing but bitterness, unsure of how to explain himself.
Liu Yuanwai’s eyes were bloodshot as he stared at his wife’s chamber door, tears falling silently.
“Liu Yuanwai, the best course of action now is to quickly have that village woman come out. She mustn’t continue tormenting Madam Liu.”
“Exactly. The dead deserve respect. Don’t let her suffer any further—let her pass in peace!”
Liu Yuanwai’s hand, hanging at his side, slowly clenched into a fist. Now that he fully understood Wu Yulan’s identity, he could only accept this painful reality.
That’s right—Wu Yulan was not a physician, merely a midwife who delivered babies. What could she possibly use to save his wife?
He turned to Physician Jiang. “Physician Jiang, step aside. I do not blame you.”
Physician Jiang shifted slightly, suddenly recalling Wu Yulan’s earlier instructions. “Liu Yuanwai, no matter what, let us wait until Sister Wu comes out.”
“Physician Jiang, why are you still being so stubborn? Do you truly believe that cutting open the abdomen to extract the child can save her?”
Physician Jiang’s gaze was resolute. “I promised Sister Wu I would guard the door. Until she comes out, none of you may enter.”
“Come now, Physician Jiang. You’ve practiced medicine for decades. Do you really believe that rustic village woman can bring someone back to life?”
“Hurry and move aside! If that village woman keeps meddling recklessly, who knows what state she’ll leave Madam Liu in!”
Yet Physician Jiang stubbornly continued blocking the door.
Seeing this, the other physicians all turned to look at Liu Yuanwai.
Liu Yuanwai thought of how his wife’s body might be cut open and handled carelessly even in death, and he could not bear it. “Physician Jiang, move aside!”
Still unmoved, Physician Jiang said, “Liu Yuanwai, I know you are anxious and distressed, but let’s wait until Sister Wu comes out.”
“Have you forgotten? Before she went in, you personally agreed to cooperate with her.”
Liu Yuanwai recalled Wu Yulan’s words and hesitated for a moment. But the physicians at his side kept urging him on. His worry for his wife ultimately overwhelmed him, filling him with panic and unease.
“You men—pull him away!”
With a cold expression, he ordered the servants beside him.
Several servants stepped forward, grabbing Physician Jiang by the arms to drag him aside.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Creak—!
“Liu Yuanwai, you are somewhat lacking in composure.”
Wu Yulan stepped out, her face weary, a baby cradled in her arms.
At the sight of her, Liu Yuanwai hurried forward. “Auntie Wu, my beloved wife—is she…?”
“Is she what?”
Wu Yulan raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to finish.
Smelling the heavy scent of blood wafting from inside, Liu Yuanwai suddenly collapsed to the ground. “My beloved wife… was she… not saved?”
Wu Yulan handed the baby to the waiting old nurse beside her.
“Go in and see for yourself.”
Supporting himself against the doorframe, Liu Yuanwai struggled to his feet. His limbs felt weak and numb, forcing him to limp into the room.
Soon, restrained sobbing could be heard from within.
Hearing this, the assembled physicians assumed the worst and began to scold loudly.
“Hmph! What kind of rustic village woman is this? Knowing nothing, yet daring to deceive people out of money and cause harm!”
Wu Yulan looked toward the elderly physician with graying beard and hair. “Oh? It seems this physician’s medical skills must be quite excellent.”
“Then allow me to ask you—if you encountered a case of transverse fetal position during childbirth, how would you handle it?”
The old physician stroked his gray beard, feigning gravity. “If I were to encounter such a situation, I would certainly proceed with caution.”
“And what would that caution entail? Save the mother? Or save the child? Or simply watch as both mother and child die—two lives lost?”
Faced with Wu Yulan’s sharp questioning, the old physician’s brows twitched. For a moment, he was unable to answer.
“In any case… I would never, for the sake of a consultation fee, deceive people into believing that a woman could survive after having her abdomen cut open to deliver the child!”
Wu Yulan raised her brow slightly. “And how do you know I was deceiving them?”