I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s
Chapter 72: I Want to Be with Mother

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: I Want to Be with Mother

Shen Meng was alarmed by what she heard. The due date for Xie Jinghao was still some time away, why would it happen now? She placed the photograph on the table and rushed to open the yard door.

She ran outside, followed by a string of children.

"Jiasheng, when did you come back?"

"Big sister-in-law, you’d better hurry over. Jinghao is lying on the kang bleeding; she keeps calling for you. I really don’t know what to do."

Shen Meng: "..."

I don’t know what to do either, brother, I’m still a virgin, for cryin’ out loud!

"Don’t panic, don’t get anxious, huh, panicking only makes things worse, we definitely can’t have her give birth at home if she’s bleeding, I took Jinghao to see a doctor in the county before, Jiasheng, you quickly go find Uncle Guai, ask him to bring the ox cart here, this is an emergency, hurry up, Mingyang, go to my kang, take down the two quilts from the top of the Kang Cabinet, when Grandpa Guai arrives, have him help lay them out, oh, and Ming Liang, go get Aunt Xifeng, she should be home now, ask her to help look after the kids at our place."

"Okay, I’m on it." Lu Jiasheng also raced to Uncle Guai’s house, full of questions, unable to comprehend how the once barely-talking sisters-in-law were getting along so well now.

Mingyang and Ming Liang sprang into action, each going their own way. Ming Fang dragged Lu Mingkai back inside the house; it wasn’t the time to trouble their mother. Staying quietly at home would be helping her the most.

Shen Meng ran a few steps forward, then back into the house, where she opened a cabinet. Shielded by the doors, she took out a small bottle of ginseng slices from her space, along with a Snickers bar and a bottle of Red Bull, pouring the latter into a soda bottle.

The children noticed their mother hunching over and rummaging through the cabinet, hearing rapid noises but not knowing what she was doing. After a while, Shen Meng holding a bag, hurried toward the Lu Family.

Liu Sanjin was sitting at Xie Jinghao’s doorway, cursing at her.

"You are nothing but a trouble-maker, purposefully doing this for my son to see. You’ve had a child before; what’s there to hurt, to hurt my foot? If I knew this was what you were like, I wouldn’t have let you through the door. You even dared to pull a knife on your mother-in-law, see old man, when you are not at home, the hard life I have to endure!"

Xie Jinghao clutched her belly, moaning "uh uh", sometimes crying out, sometimes enduring the pain in extreme silence. Xiao Gang looked petrified, shrinking by the kang, afraid to move.

"I’m not wrong, you all are too much. Aren’t you afraid elder brother will be angry when he comes back?"

"Shut your mouth, when has it been your turn to speak in the Lu Family."

Liu Sanjin was relentless, as if the woman suffering in the room wasn’t bearing her grandchild.

Lu Changzhu sat at the entrance of the main hall, puffing on an old dry tobacco pipe, frowning deeply, glancing at the incessantly crying Liu Sanjin, impatiently said, "Stop the fuss, we need to help the third son’s wife give birth to the child quickly; we can’t afford any mishap with the grandson."

Others understood that the old master was concerned about the child in Xie Jinghao’s belly; if it indeed was a boy, the old master would likely take Xie Jinghao’s side.

Liu Sanjin’s wailing came to an abrupt stop.

Zhou Jiaojiao covered her face, looking somewhat aggrieved at Lu Jiaxuan, who tenderly patted her back. He wouldn’t forget this day’s incident and wouldn’t let Jiaojiao suffer this grievance in vain.

Shen Meng was shocked to her core by the Lu Family’s actions when she arrived with her things. Xie Jinghao was wailing in pain inside the house, with only Xiao Gang, a child who couldn’t speak clearly, by her side, while the others just stood at the doorway.

"Jinghao, don’t be scared, I’m here now, your elder sister-in-law is here, it’s going to be alright!"

Upon hearing Shen Meng’s voice, Xie Jinghao’s restless heart finally calmed down a bit, and she stretched out a hand to pull Xiao Gang towards her,

"Don’t be scared, son, your elder aunt is here, with her here, nothing will happen to your mom."

The little fellow sort of understood what his mother was saying; after the initial shock, he finally began to cry. He threw himself into Xie Jinghao’s arms, carefully angling his small body to avoid pressing on her belly, and gently patted it, trying to soothe his mischievous little brother or sister.

Liu Sanjin immediately stood up when he saw Shen Meng arrival, and Zhou Jiaojiao turned away feeling wronged, not looking at her. Seeing his wife’s condition, Lu Jiaxuan felt a surge of anger.

"Why have you come? Where’s the third brother? Didn’t he go to call the midwife?"

Shen Meng couldn’t care less about responding; she ran straight for Xie Jinghao’s room. After entering the room, she quickly placed a pillow under Xie Jinghao’s buttocks and then started to fiddle with her trousers.

"E-e-e-elder sister-in-law, what are you doing, you... you..." Xie Jinghao didn’t dare to finish her sentence, fearful that the Lu Family men outside might hear and that she’d be too ashamed to face anyone later.

"The bleeding isn’t too severe. Jinghao, don’t be scared, okay? Conserve your energy. I’ve sent Jiasheng to find Uncle Guai. They’ll be here soon and we’ll go to the county hospital. You’ll definitely be able to give birth safely, don’t be scared."

Xiao Gang looked pitifully at Shen Meng with his sobs and whimpers. Shen Meng paused for a moment and reached out to pat his head.

"Xiao Gang, don’t be frightened. Mingyang will come to pick you up soon, and you’ll go to your elder aunt’s house to have candies and sweet melons with your brothers and sisters."

"I want to stay with mom, stay with mom."

The little guy lisped through his baby teeth, his words not very clear. Xie Jinghao was already in tremendous pain; at such a time, how could Xiao Gang possibly want to go off to play? He didn’t want to leave his mother’s side for a moment.

"Are you deaf? You’re putting on such airs. Jiaxuan is speaking to you and you ignore him completely, and now you want to go to the county hospital? Where’s the money for that? Who has the money? Isn’t it normal for people to give birth at home? What’s with the fuss? It’s not like you haven’t given birth before. Today, I will not provide the money; I dare her to try and go. To give birth to a child and waste money, Jiasheng is my son, if I’m not willing, let’s see if he dares."

"I can’t be bothered to argue with you. You’re a woman too; don’t you know how painful giving birth is? Why Jinghao has to go to the county hospital, you all know very well, especially the one hiding and not daring to come out. Just wait, Jiasheng is out there earning money; when he comes back to find his wife in the throes of difficult labor and not a single sibling or sister-in-law caring, if he still doesn’t stand by Jinghao, then he might as well not bother coming back at all. What good is such a man? What does Jinghao need him for?"

In her pain, Xie Jinghao found a moment of clarity; she felt her sister-in-law was right. This was her and Lu Jiasheng’s child; if he did not stand by her, she would not care for him a bit in the future.

Wu Xianglan lay motionless in the blankets, too afraid to move. She hadn’t expected Xie Jinghao to start bleeding all of a sudden. Thinking of the bloodstains she had seen on the ground, she trembled all over. Although this wasn’t about her this time, she was indirectly involved!

Lu Jiasheng happened to arrive at the doorway just in time to overhear the argument between his mother and his elder sister-in-law. He immediately pushed open the door.

"Let’s go to the hospital, we’re going to the hospital now. Elder sister-in-law, the ox-cart outside is ready, let’s go right away."