Chapter 22: Mother and Child Both Safe

This caught everyone by surprise.

"My goodness, is she going into labor?" one of the villagers exclaimed.

A subtle, nearly imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of Han Xiangxiang's mouth. *She Yuqi, as long as Lin Yinyin miscarries because of you, it doesn't matter if you're at fault or not—you won't be able to escape the consequences.*

In an instant, She Yuqi rushed to Lin Yinyin’s side. She knew clearly that Han Xiangxiang's ultimate target was Lin Yinyin, the "trump card."

"Jiang Bei, please, help me carry her inside."

"Are you sure about this?" Jiang Bei understood the gravity of the situation; one wrong move could land them in serious trouble.

She Yuqi nodded, her expression resolute. Left with no choice, Jiang Bei crouched down and lifted Lin Yinyin from the freezing snow.

Initially, Lin Yinyin was full of resistance, but once she realized Jiang Bei meant her no harm, she allowed him to carry her into the house.

Though anxious, the woman known as the "Shrewish Wang" remained level-headed. She knew that if She Yuqi walked away, disaster would surely follow, but if she intervened, there might be a glimmer of hope.

"Why not take her to the county seat! Shrewish Wang, hurry inside and tell them to send her to the hospital!"

"That’s right! I remember there’s a barefoot doctor in the village. Looking at the She girl’s behavior, don't tell me she intends to deliver the baby herself?"

Shrewish Wang glared at them. "In the middle of winter, do you really think the Lin girl would survive the trip to the county?"

She furrowed her brows and gave a cold huff.

"Humph! Don't talk to me about the barefoot doctor. He isn't home today, and even the village midwife is away. Who knows why everything is happening all at once."

Han Xiangxiang felt a surge of triumph. To ensure nothing went wrong, she had long since sent those people away.

Jiang Bei stepped out of the house, and Shrewish Wang went in to assist. With Jiang Bei standing guard outside, the curious villagers could only stretch their necks and peer into the courtyard.

"Ah! I don't want to do this anymore, I really don't!"

Lin Yinyin’s face grew paler, her eyes losing focus. The veins in her neck bulged, and her hair, damp with sweat, clung to her cheeks as she shook her head frantically.

"Deep breaths. Think about who caused you this suffering. Don't you want your revenge?"

She Yuqi had studied medicine before switching to business. Although she had learned the theory in class, she had never performed a delivery in practice, and with so many years having passed, she was far from confident. But she was determined to give it her all.

Han Xiangxiang wanted her to fail, but she was determined to see her through this ordeal safely.

It seemed She Yuqi’s words had reached her. Lin Yinyin, ignoring the sweat rolling down her forehead, summoned every ounce of her remaining strength and screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Ah!"

She Yuqi offered gentle words of comfort. Seconds ticked by. Lin Yinyin’s strength was fading, but her resentment grew ever stronger. Finally, she gritted her teeth, arched her back, eyes wide, and let out one final, desperate cry!

"Waaah!"

A crisp, clear cry of an infant filled the room.

Outside, the villagers fell silent, holding their breath. Upon hearing the baby’s wail, they let out a collective sigh of relief, their faces breaking into expressions of surprise and joy.

Only the faint, lingering smile on Han Xiangxiang’s face froze instantly.

*No way. That bitch actually knows how to deliver a baby!*

"She’s delivered! Both mother and child are safe!"

Shrewish Wang held the newborn, beaming from ear to ear. She Yuqi exhaled a long, heavy breath.

After the screaming stopped, Lin Yinyin’s lips curled slightly as she whispered weakly, "I want to see my son." Her voice was so faint it sounded as if she might stop breathing at any moment.

Shrewish Wang wrapped the baby in a blanket and carefully handed him to Lin Yinyin. "The boy has thick brows and large eyes; he looks just like you."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Yinyin’s head lolled to the side, and she lost consciousness.

"Oh no! What’s happening?" Shrewish Wang quickly pulled back, cradling the baby and murmuring soft reassurances. She Yuqi rushed over upon hearing the commotion and was horrified to see Lin Yinyin’s eyes tightly shut.

"She’s too weak after the birth. We must get her to the county hospital immediately."

The entire village soon learned that She Yuqi had delivered the baby. Hearing that Lin Yinyin needed to reach the county hospital, they all stepped forward to help.

"She girl, I’ll go home and get some bedding, wait a moment."

"She girl, we don't have much, but take these wild vegetables to make some millet porridge for the Lin girl."

"Thank you all for your help," She Yuqi said, genuinely grateful to the kind-hearted villagers. Most of the people in Xiaogou Village were, in fact, quite honest and simple.

"Jiang Bei, I’d like to use your ox cart..."

"Yuqi, my old yellow ox hasn't been eating well these past few days, it might not have the strength..." Lin Zhilan had no desire to let her cart carry someone who was half-dead; what if she died on the cart? That would be terrible luck for future transport!

Just then, the brigade leader of the educated youth center arrived leading an ox. "Saving a life takes priority. Use the brigade's ox."

The village head and Secretary Wang arrived shortly after and, faced with the emergency, nodded in agreement.

The village head told She Yuqi, "She girl, you don't need to go. I will contact the Lin girl’s family and the head of Xiaohe Village to come and check on her."

"The baby was just born; he can't travel. He’ll have to stay with you."

"Ah? The baby stays with me?" She Yuqi felt a bit worried, but Lin Yinyin’s condition was critical, and with the bitter cold, the baby being premature, there was no better alternative.

She had no choice but to agree. She watched as the village head took Lin Yinyin away, and the crowd of villagers dispersed.

The house was drafty. Worried the baby might catch a chill, She Yuqi took Xiaoxiao to the back mountain to gather firewood.

Shrewish Wang had never had children and didn't know how to care for one, so she ran back to fetch her sister, Wang Meiling. Meiling was only a year younger and already had three children of her own. She was happy to help, having heard the story and feeling deep sympathy for the infant.

"Sister, has this baby had any milk since he was born?"

Meiling looked at Shrewish Wang, then at She Yuqi. Both shook their heads in unison.

Shrewish Wang chuckled, "Meiling, do me a favor. You feed him for a few days until his mother returns."

Over the next few days, Han Xiangxiang was deeply sullen. Every time she stepped out, she could hear the laughter and chatter coming from the house next door. She, however, was forced to sneak around to see "Brother Qi."

Once Qi Tian’s injuries had healed, he had no desire to keep shoveling cow dung, so he feigned illness within the educated youth center. Hu Jun and Liu Xiaonao, fearing he would pin his problems on them, dared not mock him anymore.

On this day, with the youth center empty, Han Xiangxiang finally dared to approach. Through a crack in the door, she whispered, "Brother Qi, I’ve come to see you."

Qi Tian, who had been reading leisurely, shoved his book under his pillow, closed his eyes, and said weakly, "Come in."

Han Xiangxiang twitched her mouth in annoyance but pushed the door open and stepped inside. The odor of the room hit her, and she nearly fainted. Despite her disgust, she put on a show.

"Brother Qi~"

She spoke in a sugary, affected tone. Qi Tian felt a surge of pleasure. It was true he liked Su Wanyi, but She Yuqi had never spoken to him like that. In Han Xiangxiang, he finally felt the joy of being a man.

But when he opened his eyes, he let out a sharp cry! "What the hell is that!"

Han Xiangxiang covered her swollen cheek, cursing inwardly, but acted aggrieved. "Brother Qi, my sister didn't mean it. She hates me and misunderstands our relationship—it’s only natural she’d be like this."

"My father found me a stepmother, and they both dote on my sister. Who cares about a motherless child like me? I’m used to it." She began to sob into her hands, crying quite pitifully.

Qi Tian’s heart softened. "I always knew she was cold-hearted, but I never imagined she could be this cruel."

Han Xiangxiang rejoiced internally, continuing to stir the pot. "It’s all my fault for creating a rift between you and my sister. I even knelt before her, but she still won't forgive me. Does she really want me to die in front of her?"

"It’s not your fault. She’ll come crawling back to me in a few days." Qi Tian was confident; every time they quarreled, She Yuqi would be the one crying and begging to make up. He was used to it and assumed this time would be no different.

Han Xiangxiang sat beside him, leaning in closer. Qi Tian frowned. "Xiangxiang, is there anything else? If not, you should leave. Someone might come back, and it would be a misunderstanding if they saw us alone."

Han Xiangxiang bit her lip, eyes brimming with tears. "Brother Qi, do you hate me?"

"I just felt a bit dizzy and leaned on you by accident. It was my clumsiness."

"That’s not what I meant!"

"Really?" Han Xiangxiang forced a sweet smile. Qi Tian looked at her ugly face, yet he still enjoyed the gentleness in her voice, so he nodded. "You are Yuqi’s sister; of course, I won't hold it against you."

Han Xiangxiang’s smile froze, and she instinctively clenched her fists. *She Yuqi again! Why does every man like her? It’s so unfair!*

Filled with resentment, she leaned into Qi Tian’s ear and whispered something. Qi Tian’s expression turned increasingly ugly. Seeing her goal achieved, Han Xiangxiang rose, satisfied, and prepared to leave.

She bumped head-on into Hu Jun, stumbling back. "Ouch!"

Hu Jun was annoyed, but as he looked up, their eyes met. His anger vanished instantly, and a blush crept across his dark face. "Sister Xiangxiang, are you alright?"

Despite his hulking stature, Hu Jun was only eighteen, two years younger than Han Xiangxiang.

Han Xiangxiang took a deep breath and pinched her voice, speaking coyly, "I’m fine. And you?"

Hu Jun’s face turned even redder. He rubbed his head, giving a foolish grin. Han Xiangxiang rolled her eyes inwardly. *Why does every idiot fall for her?*

As Han Xiangxiang’s figure faded into the distance, Hu Jun lingeringly watched her go. Liu Xiaonao ran over. "I just saw Sister Xiangxiang here. What were you two talking about?"

"Nothing much..."

Liu Xiaonao pouted, sounding sour. "Fine, keep your secrets. Next time, I’ll go talk to Sister Xiangxiang alone." He then paused, "Wait, that’s not right. There’s no one in the youth center right now—why was Sister Xiangxiang here?"

Liu Xiaonao was young and quick-witted. Hu Jun’s eyes widened as if realizing something, and he rushed into the room.

Qi Tian had heard the commotion outside and had already begun feigning sleep before they entered.

"It couldn't have been to see this guy!"

Seeing Qi Tian sound asleep, the two stayed silent.

...

Late at night, everyone in the youth center had drifted off to sleep.

Qi Tian opened his eyes, sat up, reached for his glasses, and seeing that everyone was asleep, carefully put on his clothes and climbed down from the crowded earth bed.

Once out, his stomach began to growl loudly. He trotted all the way to Su Wanyi’s house.

Xiaoxiao happened to be stepping out. Upon seeing Qi Tian, she puffed out her cheeks and screamed at the top of her lungs, "Sister! That shorty is here again!"

Qi Tian was startled. He rushed forward, fumbling to cover Xiaoxiao’s mouth, making a "shushing" gesture.

"Hush, I’m here to see your sister. Xiaoxiao, don't you like your brother-in-law anymore?"

"When I used to buy you candy, did you forget all that?"

Xiaoxiao showed no mercy, biting down hard on Qi Tian’s palm.

"You are not my brother-in-law! I have a brother-in-law, and it’s not a shorty like you, you hear me?"

"Ah! Xiaoxiao, you brat, how can you be so rude!" Qi Tian, stung by the pain, clutched his bleeding hand, his face contorted. Xiaoxiao, frightened, sat on the ground and burst into tears.

Qi Tian rolled up his sleeves, preparing to teach the child a lesson.

At that moment, a hand grabbed his wrist. Immediately after, Jiang Bei delivered a flying kick to Qi Tian’s stomach. Qi Tian rolled several times on the ground before coming to a stop.

"Who? Who is the bastard that kicked me!"

As Qi Tian looked up, he met Jiang Bei’s cold, indifferent eyes.

"Jiang Bei, it’s you!"

"I knew it! I was wondering why Yuqi stopped paying attention to me—it was you playing tricks! Have you already moved in together?!"

Qi Tian stumbled into the house, and upon seeing the scene inside, he froze. Yuqi sat there, cradling a newborn, soothing the infant with a look of pure tenderness.

She wore a round-necked purple sweater beneath her slender, swan-like neck, her fair skin tinged with a soft pink. The baby’s tiny hand gripped her dark hair. It was a picture of harmony and beauty, but to Qi Tian, it was an eyesore.