The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 920 - 898: Zhou Xi Gives Birth

Chapter 920: Chapter 898: Zhou Xi Gives Birth

Time whooshed by; although uneventful, their busyness with work prevented the three from noticing that the wheat in the fields had already been harvested, and the villagers had begun to gather soybeans.

Manbao and the others could only glance at the busy crowds in the fields before and after school each day, then head off to study and do homework.

Mr. Zhuang now closely monitored their schoolwork, granting them only one day off each month. Had the three not taken turns pleading with him about the importance of balancing work and rest, they probably would not have even had that single day of respite.

Taking a break was difficult, and taking time off was now a hundred times more difficult than before.

In the past, they could take personal leave; but now, unless they were seriously ill, they had to attend school despite being sick.

At most, Mr. Zhuang would move your desk from the middle of the room to the very edge, claiming it was to prevent infecting other classmates.

As a result, everyone was even afraid to fall ill.

Manbao found taking time off to be very challenging, but upon hearing that Zhou Xi was about to give birth, she mustered the courage to ask Mr. Zhuang for a leave.

After some thought, Mr. Zhuang agreed but said, "You are only allowed to go for two days; after two days, you must return to class."

Manbao joyfully accepted and excitedly ran home to pack her medical basket. Then she rushed to find Ms. Qian and Junior Ms. Qian, who were about to leave the house, "Mother, sister-in-law, the teacher has agreed to give me leave, and I want to see eldest sister too."

Ms. Qian, aware of Manbao’s medical knowledge and that, despite being a young girl, she was stronger than them in certain aspects, reached out and pulled her onto the ox cart, "Alright, let’s go together."

Zhou Dalang saw that they were all seated and started driving the ox cart toward the town.

It was Second Son who had run back to inform them; of course, he also went along.

Datou and Daya were currently managing the town store, with Zhou Liulang and Second Son helping out there. Second Son said, "Early this morning, eldest aunt’s neighbor came over and said eldest aunt was about to give birth, so I ran back to inform everyone. By the time we arrive, she probably will have given birth already, right?"

He felt that Third Aunt-in-law had given birth quite quickly.

Ms. Qian shook her head, "Your eldest aunt is having her first child; it won’t be that quick—let’s just hope that Heaven Master blesses her with a smooth delivery."

Manbao quickly flipped through her small booklet, reviewing the childbirth precautions she and Teacher Mo had compiled once again.

Ms. Qian turned to see her reciting from the booklet, feeling a bit dizzy, she quickly averted her gaze and thought for a moment, "Manbao, you’re familiar with the shopkeeper at Jishi Hall. If your elder sister has any difficulties during childbirth, rush to get the doctor, understand?"

Manbao put away her booklet, assuredly answering, "Mother, don’t worry. I’ve already consulted with Elderly Doctor Lu before, and I’ve also felt eldest sister’s belly. I believe the baby is in the correct position."

Ms. Qian was still anxious.

Mainly because Zhou Xi’s pregnancy had not been smooth, and childbirth for a woman was like having one foot in the grave.

Worrying all the way, Ms. Qian arrived at Pine Tree Street, where Guan Xin’s home was bustling with neighbors.

Some neighbors recognized Junior Ms. Qian and Second Son on the ox cart and immediately knew they were from Zhou’s family, hastening to greet them with a smile, "Oh, are these relatives from Guan Xin’s wife’s side?"

Ms. Qian smiled before saying a word, performed a half curtsey, and hastily inquired, "I am Xi’s mother; how is she?"

"All’s well; she is currently sitting inside, it hasn’t started yet," the neighbor chuckled, "Both of them inexperienced with their first child, she cried out about giving birth as soon as she felt movement, but it’s actually still early."

While they were speaking, Guan Xin had heard the commotion and came out. Seeing Ms. Qian, he promptly approached, "Mother, big brother, sister-in-law, you’ve arrived."

After finishing his thoughts and seeing Manbao, he became even happier, "Sister-in-law is here too, please come inside quickly."

He originally wanted to send someone to specifically invite his sister-in-law home, after all, she knew medical skills.

Manbao greeted him and pushed her way into the house with Ms. Qian, only to see Zhou Xi sitting on the bed with a big belly, surrounded by quite a few people, even the air seemed a few degrees murkier.

Manbao frowned slightly, Ms. Qian’s expression remained unchanged, she smiled and said to everyone, "The two children don’t know any better, it’s troublesome for the neighbors to look after them, Guan Xin, please invite everyone to sit in the hall, don’t neglect the guests."

Guan Xin obliged and hurriedly asked everyone to leave.

The people in the house saw that Zhou Xi’s family had arrived and were reluctant, but still left with smiles, warmly telling Zhou Xi, "Call on us for anything, it’s inconvenient for you to give birth, just leave the household chores to us, distant relatives aren’t as good as close neighbors..."

Zhou Xi responded with a smile and only relaxed when everyone had left.

Manbao immediately turned and opened the window, Zhou Dalang only came in to glance at Zhou Xi and, seeing she was alright, felt it wasn’t right to stay any longer, so he took Second Son and left.

Junior Ms. Qian picked up the leftover fruit from the guests and swept up the trash from the floor.

Ms. Qian sat beside Zhou Xi, reached out to touch her belly, and asked, "Has the water broken?"

Zhou Xi blushed and shook her head, "Not yet, but the pain is severe. I thought I was about to give birth, but the midwife came to see and said it would be today or tomorrow at the latest, Guan Xin didn’t let anyone leave."

"Where is she?"

"In the kitchen," said Zhou Xi, "so many neighbors came, Guan Xin was afraid of offending the midwife, so he asked her to sit in the kitchen, and if I needed to eat, she could help prepare something."

"How can we let the midwife be preoccupied with these tasks?" she said, looking toward Junior Ms. Qian.

Junior Ms. Qian quickly took the swept-up trash outside and headed to the kitchen to attend to the midwife.

With only the three family members left in the room, Manbao squeezed next to Zhou Xi, cheerful and said, "Elder sister, let me feel your pulse. I want to see if I can tell when you’ll give birth."

Zhou Xi laughed and rolled up her sleeve, stretching out her arm, "Alright, you check."

Guan Xin glanced into the room, saw that his wife had been taken care of, and was finally able to let go of the heart he’d been holding up.

Hearing the lively noise from the hall and courtyard, he quickly turned and went out.

There were too many neighbors who had come, young women, older women, and some elder ladies, at least a dozen from the nearby houses crowded the not-so-large courtyard of the Guan family.

Just three women could make quite the scene, let alone more than a dozen gathered together, Guan Xin went around offering his regards, promising to treat everyone to red eggs after the child was born, then started to escort people out while chatting.

It took him a good fifteen minutes to send everyone off.

The midwife in the kitchen sighed with relief when she saw Dason, and couldn’t help but say to Junior Ms. Qian who was boiling water, "They’re all full with nothing to do, exerting so much for just a meal and a couple of red eggs."

Junior Ms. Qian looked up at her with a smile and asked, "Should I boil one pot of water or both?"

"Just one," said the midwife. "It’s Ms. Guan’s first birth, and she’s just started to feel pain, there’s no telling when it’ll actually happen, no rush."

No sooner had she spoken, on the other side in the room, Manbao was seriously feeling Zhou Xi’s pulse. She lifted her little head with concern, listened closely, and after feeling her belly, said curiously, "Elder sister, why do I feel like you’re about to give birth?"

Zhou Xi’s face changed slightly, then with a trembling voice, she said, "Mother... I, I seem to be bleeding, my thighs are wet."