CHAPTER 444: CHAPTER 444: THE BABY IS COMING

"How is it?" Mrs. Qi clutched the other hand of the eldest daughter-in-law, anxiously pacing around.

"Why hasn’t the midwife arrived yet?"

"Xiuniang, there’s no need to rush. Childbirth is a laborious job. You should hurry and prepare some food for the eldest daughter-in-law."

"Yes, yes." Mrs. Qi snapped back to reality, remembering that upstairs there was her mother-in-law and son, so nothing would go wrong. She should quickly prepare food and boil more water.

"Mother, I’ll go now," she said, turning to her daughter-in-law. "Eldest daughter-in-law, don’t worry. Mother and grandmother are here. If you really can’t bear it, just call out, don’t hold it in... ah..."

"Okay," the eldest daughter-in-law, covered in sweat, managed to squeeze out a smile, but then winced again in pain, making Mrs. Qi feel extremely worried. She quickly walked out to prepare food.

"Jin’er, take your second sister-in-law back to your room to rest for a while. Have your second brother accompany her, and you can boil some water," the old lady continued to instruct her obedient granddaughter.

Only then did Hua Jin realize she was so focused on her eldest sister-in-law that she forgot about her second sister-in-law, who was also pregnant. She might have been frightened by the scene. Nodding quickly, she turned to see her second sister-in-law’s somewhat pale face.

"Second sister-in-law, let’s go."

Yun Niang knew that her grandmother and sister-in-law were doing this for her own good, so she didn’t insist and followed her sister-in-law downstairs, holding her belly tightly. The image of her eldest sister-in-law in pain kept flashing in front of her eyes, and her heart couldn’t help but feel squeezed.

"Don’t worry, second sister-in-law. Childbirth is like this, and there’s a midwife, a mother, and a grandmother. It will be fine, we just need to wait."

"Second sister-in-law, rest in my room for now. I’ll call the second brother to accompany you." At this point, it was better for the second brother to be with his dear wife, Hua Jin noted that her second sister-in-law seemed frightened, although she was trying to stay calm.

"Okay," Yun Niang nodded and unconsciously touched her belly. She was indeed a bit nervous, especially after seeing the unbearable pain on her eldest sister-in-law’s face... She decided to listen to her grandmother and sister-in-law.

Then Hua Jin quickly went to the kitchen and saw her second brother sitting by the stove, with her mother by the other stove preparing food, cracking eggs into a pot, and a kneaded dough placed to the side.

Hua Jin said, "Second brother, go accompany your second sister-in-law in my room. She might have been a bit scared."

"What?" Hua Yunao immediately stood up in tension. "But..." his gaze landed on the water in the pot.

"Don’t worry, I’ve got this."

"I’ll leave it to you then, little sister," Hua Yunxiang couldn’t sit still any longer and quickly ran to his little sister’s room.

"Wife, how are you feeling..."

Even from the kitchen, the second brother’s voice was loud, showing just how nervous he was.

The atmosphere in their family was really good; the men knew how to take care of their wives. It had to be said that grandpa and dad set a great example.

...If only she could find a man as good as her grandpa and dad, Hua Jin thought... Just then, Luo Song’s handsome face suddenly flashed in her mind, and she shook her head forcefully.

All because Luo Song had been saying lots of random things, and her heart had been in turmoil for a few days even though she didn’t originally have those thoughts.

She casually stuffed a piece of wood into the stove when hurried footsteps were heard at the gate. Hua Jin quickly left the kitchen to greet them, and Mrs. Qi also hurriedly went out, not minding the flour covering her hands.

"Auntie is here. The eldest daughter-in-law is upstairs and her water has broken. Please hurry and take a look."

"Alright, alright," Lia the midwife nodded anxiously upon hearing Mrs. Qi’s urgent tone, speeding up her steps. Just as she was about to go upstairs, she paused and turned to Mrs. Qi, "Oh right, boil more hot water."

"We’re already boiling it, Auntie Li. My eldest sister-in-law is in your hands now," Hua Jin said nervously.

"Don’t worry, I’ll do my best," replied Lia the midwife.

Watching Auntie Li go upstairs, Mrs. Qi, a bit embarrassed, turned to face Dr. Sun, realizing she hadn’t greeted him amidst the rush.

"Dr. Sun, thank you for your hard work," Mrs. Qi quickly said.

"You’re welcome, Mrs. Cheng. It’s a doctor’s duty to save lives," Dr. Sun responded.

Just then, Hua Yunxiang emerged from his room, having comforted his wife, and upon seeing Dr. Sun, he went to greet him warmly. Hua Jin also served tea without missing a beat, executing their manners perfectly.

"Dr. Sun, I have some things to attend to here. If there’s anything you need, please feel free to ask my younger son," Mrs. Qi said apologetically, raising her flour-covered hands with an embarrassed smile.

"You go ahead and do your work," Dr. Sun said understandingly.

Mrs. Qi nodded and quickly returned to the kitchen, with Hua Jin following.

The second brother had only boiled one bucket of hot water, which definitely wasn’t enough. Hua Jin contemplated if there was time to help her sister-in-law take a bath, because after the baby was born, such an opportunity wouldn’t come easily.

"Eldest daughter-in-law..."

Just as Mrs. Qi finished kneading the dough, the voice of the eldest daughter-in-law’s mother came from the door; she hurriedly went out to greet her, while Hua Jin stayed busy scooping boiled water into a wooden tub.

"In-law, you’re here, that’s great. With you here, the eldest daughter-in-law won’t be afraid anymore. She’s upstairs, my mother and the midwife are with her. You head up first, I’m making food here."

"...Thank you, in-law. My daughter-in-law is truly blessed to have such a good mother-in-law like you..."

"Oh, come on, there’s no need for such formalities between us. I’ve watched the eldest daughter-in-law grow up; she’s like a daughter to me. No need for politeness; hurry and go upstairs..."

"Okay," the eldest daughter-in-law’s mother couldn’t wait, and nodded, heading straight upstairs, not even noticing Dr. Sun in the main room. The eldest daughter-in-law’s father wanted to go up as well but, as a man, he could only wait downstairs.

Mrs. Qi greeted them briefly and then returned to the kitchen to continue preparing food.

Hua Jin had already added water and was ready to boil the third pot.

Refilling water, she added more firewood in the stove, and at that moment, Mrs. Qi poured the boiled eggs into a bowl filled with a large amount of black sugar, drizzled with sesame oil, making for a visually appealing red and appetizing dish.

"Mother, you go upstairs and feed sister-in-law first. I’ll take care of the noodles. Also, see if there’s still time for sister-in-law to take a bath," Hua Jin said.

Mrs. Qi looked at her daughter with gratification. The child had truly grown up, thinking everything through carefully, and she nodded in approval.

"Alright, I’ll go up first. Don’t get too flustered yourself, be careful."

"Don’t worry," Hua Jin assured her mother, gesturing for her to go quickly.

Upstairs, the eldest daughter-in-law’s mother arrived just as Lia the midwife finished checking on her.

Seeing her daughter lying on the bed, drenched in sweat from pain, the eldest daughter-in-law’s mother felt her eyes immediately well up with tears, but she held them back, knowing she couldn’t let her daughter worry at this moment.

"Eldest daughter’s mother is here," the old lady greeted her.

"Mother..." Seeing her mother, the eldest daughter-in-law was visibly emotional, trying to sit up.

"Don’t move, I’m here. Save your strength..." the mother quickly held her daughter down.

The eldest daughter-in-law nodded. With her mother by her side, her heart felt more at peace.

Everyone’s attention then shifted tensely to Lia the midwife; Hua Yunao was no exception.

"Auntie, how is the eldest daughter-in-law? Is it time?"