Li Shu had been in the delivery room for an hour, and her pained moans could be heard intermittently from within.
Zhu Ping’an, waiting outside, grew increasingly worried and anxious. He couldn’t help but ask about Li Shu’s condition.
“The baby’s position is a bit off, and Aunt Wang is adjusting it…” The assistant midwife relayed the situation from inside the delivery room.
“What?! The baby’s position is off?!”
Upon hearing those words, Master Li’s body swayed. Fortunately, his two sons-in-law quickly steadied him.
The phrase “baby’s position is off” implied a possible difficult birth, a highly dangerous situation in ancient times. As an old father, Master Li’s heart clenched, and his vision darkened at those four words. Thankfully, his sons-in-law caught him in time.
“Shu’er, Shu’er…” Master Li trembled with nerves, his fatherly heart practically in his throat.
“Let me go in; I can help…” Zhu Ping’an said urgently. In this era, there was no caesarean section, but could a lateral episiotomy work? The technique wasn’t overly complex—proper sterilisation and suturing, perhaps using catgut for stitches that would absorb post-surgery. These were things Zhu Ping’an had read about in novels before.
If Li Shu faced a difficult birth, an episiotomy could surely help.
Just as Zhu Ping’an was about to barge into the delivery room in his anxiety, a loud baby’s cry rang out from within.
“Wah, wah…”
The resounding cry was like a fresh breeze dispersing the dark clouds overhead, sunlight flooding the world.
“She’s given birth, she’s given birth! It’s a little young master!” The joyful voice of the assisting maid came from the delivery room.
“She’s given birth, she’s given birth!!”
Master Li, overjoyed, jumped three feet in the air. His plump frame landed with a thunderous thud, and he immediately began tossing out rewards: “Reward, reward, reward! Dr. Wang gets a hundred taels, each assistant midwife gets fifty taels, every maid and servant present gets ten taels of silver. Beyond them, every servant in the household gets five taels. And this month, everyone’s wages are doubled!”
“Yes!”
Zhu Ping’an also jumped in excitement.
His two brothers-in-law were equally thrilled, leaping up. Upon landing, each gave Zhu Ping’an a punch to the chest. “Congratulations, brother-in-law! You’re a father now!”
“Joy all around, joy all around!” Zhu Ping’an grinned, unable to close his mouth. “You’re uncles now too!”
“She’s given birth, she’s given birth! Miss has given birth!” Hua’er and Qin’er hugged each other in delight, jumping up and down.
The maids and servants in the courtyard were as ecstatic as if it were the New Year. “Thank you, Master! Master is so generous!”
With red envelopes and doubled wages, they wouldn’t receive this much even during New Year celebrations. How could they not be thrilled?
Amidst the jubilation, another loud baby’s cry came from the delivery room. “Wah, wah, wah…”
“Another one, another one! Another little miss! Congratulations, Master, congratulations, Madam! A son and a daughter, both blessings!” The joyful announcement accompanied the cries from the delivery room.
“Wonderful, wonderful! Reward again, reward generously! Dr. Wang gets another hundred taels, each assistant midwife another fifty taels, every maid and servant present another ten taels of silver. Beyond them, every servant in the household gets another five taels. And this month, everyone’s wages are doubled again!”
Hearing he had gained a little granddaughter, Master Li was over the moon, excitedly tossing out more rewards.
“Congratulations, brother-in-law, you’re a father again!” The two brothers-in-law each gave Zhu Ping’an another punch to the chest, congratulating him on becoming a father once more.
“Haha, joy all around, joy all around! Congratulations on becoming uncles again!” Zhu Ping’an was grinning ear to ear.
This was just too perfect.
No difficult birth—Li Shu had safely delivered twins, a boy and a girl. Life was complete.
How could Zhu Ping’an not be overjoyed?
The servants and maids in the courtyard were jumping with glee, congratulating the master and madam while gleefully calculating how much reward money they’d receive, their eyes sparkling with visions of little silver ingots, sharing in the joy.
“I need to see Little Li!” Zhu Ping’an couldn’t hold back and started towards the delivery room.
“Hurry, let us in to see Shu’er and my grandchildren!” Master Li also moved to enter.
“Let’s see our sister and our two little nephews!” The two brothers-in-law followed with big strides.
“Don’t come in, don’t come in! Brother Zhu, don’t rush. I need to tidy up first, then you can come in. Hua’er, Qin’er, quick, come in and help me! My hair’s a mess, my makeup’s ruined. Where’s the rouge and powder? Hurry…”
Li Shu, hearing Zhu Ping’an was about to enter, called out anxiously from the delivery room. The ordeal of childbirth had left her hair dishevelled and her face pale. She didn’t want Zhu Ping’an to see her looking less than beautiful, so she hurriedly called for Hua’er and Qin’er to help her freshen up.
Zhu Ping’an understood Li Shu’s pride—she didn’t want him to see her in an unflattering state.
So, he paused his steps.
“Shu’er, you’re always the most beautiful fairy in Daddy’s heart. If this rascal dares say a single ‘no,’ I’ll risk my two hundred pounds to fight him to the death…”
Master Li coaxed Li Shu from outside the delivery room while glaring at Zhu Ping’an with his small eyes, his expression full of threat.
“Father-in-law, Li Shu will always be the most beautiful fairy in my heart too,” Zhu Ping’an quickly declared.
“Hmph, that’s more like it,” Master Li grunted in satisfaction, sparing Zhu Ping’an for now.
“Master, we’re going in to help Miss with her makeup.”
Hua’er and Qin’er hurried into the delivery room, curtsying briefly as they passed Zhu Ping’an and Master Li.
“No need for formalities, hurry in! Shu’er’s getting anxious,” Master Li urged, waving his hand repeatedly.
Hua’er and Qin’er quickly entered the delivery room.
“Our sister, still fussing over such things at a time like this? Makeup? We’re all family! We’ve been worried sick out here for ages. Let us in to see her and our two little nephews already,” the two brothers-in-law grumbled carelessly.
“Rush, rush, rush! What’s the hurry? You’re worried? Am I not worried? Anxious, anxious—what’s the rush? Don’t you know you can’t eat hot tofu if you’re impatient?!” Master Li smacked each of his sons on the back of the head, scolding them harshly as he struck.
“Shu’er worked hard to give birth to two grandchildren—she’s done a heroic deed. And you two dogs dare to criticise her?”
“If you’re so capable, go give birth yourselves!”
Master Li berated his sons until they were thoroughly chastised.
“Dad, how can we give birth?” The two brothers-in-law scratched their heads, looking constipated and pleading for mercy.
“If you can’t, then shut up!”
Master Li spat at them again.
The two brothers-in-law nodded meekly, not daring to utter a peep.
Living in a household that valued daughters over sons, they were long accustomed to their father’s doting devotion to his daughter.
