The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 283 - 282: Gave Birth

Chapter 283: Chapter 282: Gave Birth

"Ziheng, your mom’s going into labor!"

Upon learning that Shen Mingzhu’s water had broken, Pei Yang immediately went next door to wake up Pei Ziheng, then ran back to his room, quickly changed clothes, and after changing, he tried to help Shen Mingzhu change as well.

"No need, just find me a coat to put on."

"Oh, okay."

Pei Yang was also in a panic, hastily tossing aside the clothes in his hand and picking out a cardigan from the wardrobe for Shen Mingzhu to put on.

Just as she was properly dressed, Pei Ziheng hurried over from next door.

"Mom."

"It’s okay."

Seeing her son’s pants on backward, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help but laugh. Before she could finish laughing, a sudden sharp pain in her abdomen made her gasp in pain.

"Mom, what’s wrong with you?"

"Wife, what’s the matter?"

Father and son spoke almost simultaneously, with identical expressions of tension and concern on their faces.

Shen Mingzhu shook her head, took a deep breath, "It’s nothing, I can bear it."

Downstairs, Zhou Shuhuan, who had already received a phone call, was waiting on his motorcycle.

Pei Yang carried Shen Mingzhu onto the back seat of the motorcycle, then turned back to instruct Pei Ziheng to wait in place, "I’ll have Uncle Zhou come back to pick you up once we’re at the hospital."

Pei Ziheng quickly nodded.

Watching her man carry Pei Yang and his wife off on his motorcycle toward the maternity and child health hospital, Shen Baolan maliciously prayed in her heart, Wishing for a girl to be born, just to infuriate Shen Mingzhu!

When they got to the entrance of the maternity and child health hospital, Pei Yang rushed inside with Shen Mingzhu in his arms.

Zhou Shuhuan turned around to go back to the family courtyard to pick up Pei Ziheng and the luggage.

After examination by the doctor, Shen Mingzhu’s water had broken, but her cervix hadn’t dilated, so medication would be needed to induce labor.

Once the paperwork was done and the signatures were made, Shen Mingzhu was wheeled into the delivery room.

Outside the delivery room, Pei Yang couldn’t bring himself to leave, so he had Zhou Shuhuan go and notify Pei Wenping and Shen Chaobei.

An hour later, Pei Wenping, Chen Yi, Shen Chaobei, and Du Juan arrived at the delivery room one after another.

During the waiting period, there was no noise coming from the delivery room, which made Pei Yang extremely uneasy.

"Sister, why don’t you go in and see what’s going on?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than he was scolded by Pei Wenping, "What nonsense are you talking about? Can you just enter the delivery room any time you like? You could not only disrupt the birth but also bring in germs."

Hearing this, Pei Yang quickly said, "Then let’s not go in."

Chen Yi smiled to comfort him, "Pei Yang, don’t worry too much. Childbirth isn’t that quick. If the baby is born before daylight, that would already be fast."

Shen Chaobei chimed in, "Exactly, when your sister-in-law gave birth to Daya, it took a whole day and night."

What was meant to be reassuring only tightened Pei Yang’s heart even more.

To give birth for an entire day and night, how much suffering would that be?

Pei Ziheng too had a tight expression, his little hand clenched into a fist at his side, his whole body exuding intense worry, right down to every strand of hair.

Mom, you must be safe, you must be.

In an attempt to relieve Pei Yang’s stress, Pei Wenping deliberately kept him busy checking whether everything was prepared and inquired about the new house’s renovations, whether the baby’s crib was ready, and if the bedding had been laid.

"Ah..."

It was hard to make it to around four o’clock when suddenly, a loud shout came from the delivery room. Pei Yang sprang to his feet at once.

Pei Ziheng too lifted his head, staring unblinkingly at the delivery room with his large, dark eyes.

Although Pei Wenping rose to her feet as well, she didn’t share the same level of anxiety as the father and son, "It’s fine, she must be having contractions."

Pei Yang anxiously asked, "Does that mean she’s about to give birth?"

"Not so fast. Take a seat and rest; we still have a long night ahead."

Pei Yang didn’t want to sit; he simply couldn’t.

After pacing back and forth countless times, he remembered Zhou Shuhuan, who had taken them to the hospital. He briskly walked over to Zhou Shuhuan, "Shuhuan, sorry to have troubled you so late at night. You should head home and rest."

Zhou Shuhuan nodded and, after greeting everyone present, left.

...

Shen Baolan was in a drowsy sleep when she woke up at the sound of the door opening.

"Has she given birth yet? A boy or a girl?"

"Not yet."

Shen Baolan couldn’t help feeling sour, "It’s definitely a daughter, her belly is so round."

Zhou Shuhuan didn’t pay attention to her and went to sleep as soon as he took off his clothes.

Shen Baolan, however, couldn’t sleep, silently praying in her heart that Shen Mingzhu must have a daughter.

Even though she wasn’t as good at making money as Shen Mingzhu, she could have sons, and that made her one up on Shen Mingzhu!

...

Outside the window, the sun was blazing, and the cicadas were crying out as if their lives depended on it.

Shen Mingzhu also felt that her strength was exhausted. The pain, stronger with each wave, caused her body to tremble uncontrollably. Her tears had long dried up, and her throat was burning with pain.

She wanted to give up, no longer wanting to give birth.

She didn’t want to endure such torment and pain for even one more second.

So tired, she couldn’t help but close her eyes, wanting to sleep for a while.

"The cervix is fully dilated to ten centimeters! I can see the baby’s head now!"

The voice of the midwife was like a shot of adrenaline, pulling Shen Mingzhu’s scattered consciousness back again.

At the same time, an even more intense pain seized her, almost making her faint.

"Inhale, exhale, inhale, push down hard..."

Shen Mingzhu’s vision was already a blur, and her brain had lost the ability to think. She just mechanically followed the midwife’s commands, over and over, breathing, pushing, repeating the breathing, then pushing again.

After what seemed like an eternity, an excruciating tearing pain came, and something left her body.

By the time she was awakened, she saw the nurse’s smiling face in front of her.

"Look at the baby, she’s very beautiful."

As the nurse spoke, Shen Mingzhu’s gaze fell on the tiny infant brought before her eyes.

At the moment she saw the clear features, she was somewhat stunned.

The nurse hadn’t lied; the child was truly beautiful.

Pink and tender all over, with a tiny face, tiny nose, and tiny lips, healthy pink in color.

Much more beautiful than the wrinkled little monkey she had imagined.

Shen Mingzhu looked at her, and tears slid down her cheeks, "Why isn’t she crying?"

Hearing her question, the maternity ward staff all laughed.

"Don’t worry, she’s already cried."

"Your little girl didn’t want to make you worry, cried a couple of times and then fell asleep."

Hearing that it was a daughter, Shen Mingzhu suddenly felt her life was complete.

Outside the maternity ward, Pei Yang had been pacing anxiously like an ant on a hot pan, even growing stubble on his chin.

"Why isn’t she out yet?"

"Don’t worry."

"How can I not worry, it’s been more than ten hours..."

Just as he was speaking, the door to the birthing room opened.

The relatives waiting outside the birthing room swarmed around.

Besides Shen Mingzhu, there were two other women in labor in the room.

"The family of Shen Mingzhu."

Hearing the nurse’s words, the other families dispersed, and Pei Yang with his son, Pei Wenping, and Shen Chaobei were overjoyed.

"Nurse, how is my wife?"

"Don’t worry, the mother is fine. Take a look at the baby first."

With the nurse’s reminder, Pei Yang’s attention finally shifted to the tightly wrapped child.

So tiny, her face wasn’t even as big as his fist, with beautiful eyebrows and eyes, sleeping peacefully and well-behaved.

Pei Yang felt his heart almost melt at the sight.

Shen Chaobei rubbed his hands together excitedly, looking at the baby’s face, "Ay, she looks just like your little sister when she was a baby!"

Pei Wenping stared at the baby’s face, her mouth smiling so wide she could hardly close it, "She does look like Mingzhu."

"Nurse sister, may I hold my sister?"

While the adults were discussing the baby’s appearance, only Pei Ziheng said something surprising.