Chapter 601: Childbirth

Chapter 601: Childbirth

Even after Lin Qing had finished her braised pork, the pregnant woman was still throwing a fit.

The older woman had clearly lost her patience. "Have the kid or don't—I don't care!" she snapped before leaving after finishing her meal.

Everyone else just watched the drama without paying much attention. With no one left to egg her on, the pregnant woman gradually fizzled out.

At this point, there were only four pregnant women in the ward: Lin Shu, who was there resting up for the birth, and three others, including Lin Qing, who were there to give birth.

Apart from Lin Qing, who had been admitted urgently as she had reached her due date, the other two had already had their water broken but weren’t yet in active labor.

Otherwise, the noisy pregnant woman wouldn’t have made such a scene—she had clearly convinced herself that she was the most important person in the world and that her mother-in-law had to jump at her every whim.

To her shock, her mother-in-law completely ignored her.

"Ah! Ah! It hurts, it hurts... I’m giving birth, I’m giving birth!"

Lin Qing and the others' eyes went wide. Was she really going into labor now?

Crap, where was her mother-in-law?

Lin’s mother darted out. "Doctor! Doctor! Someone in the ward is going into labor!"

Soon, doctors and nurses rushed in, and a nurse rolled her bed out.

The pregnant woman in the bed next to Lin Qing was much quieter. Though she had also eyed Lin Qing’s braised pork longingly, she had never actually asked for any.

She had been alone the entire time—unlike Lin Shu, whose husband could only drop off meals during designated hours due to work keeping him busy. Her lunch had been delivered by a nurse.

Though Lin Qing and her mother were curious, they were not about to pry into her personal struggles.

By the afternoon, Lin’s parents shooed Cen Xi back to work.

"Cen Xi, go back to work. Your father and I will hold down the fort here. If anything happens, we’ll call you," Lin’s mother said. Earlier, to prepare for emergencies, Cen Xi had given them his office phone number.

"But..." Cen Xi was reluctant to leave.

Lin Qing also didn’t want him sticking around for nothing and encouraged him to go back. "Listen to Mom! I really don’t feel anything yet—I could be stuck here for days! Go to work!"

Since Lin Qing insisted, Cen Xi had no choice but to agree.

"Alright then. But if anything happens, you must call me immediately."

Lin’s father nodded reassuringly. "Don’t sweat it, I’ll call you right away if there’s any news."

In the end, Cen Xi went back to work.

Lin Qing was still feeling nothing. Even after the drama queen who had demanded braised pork gave birth and was discharged, Lin Qing’s belly still showed no signs of labor.

The quiet pregnant woman next to her also gave birth and left early—all by her lonesome, with no one to pick her up when she was discharged.

Fortunately, over the next couple of days, more people gradually trickled into the ward. Otherwise, Lin Qing would have been left alone with Lin Shu.

Lin Qing finally went into labor on the fifth day of her stay. Perhaps the baby in her womb truly cared for her—after hanging in there just fine, the birth itself was quick and smooth, barely making Lin Qing break a sweat. The entire process took only two hours.

Even the doctor couldn’t help but marvel. "Holy smokes! This is the fastest delivery I’ve handled in months."

"That’s good, that’s good," Lin’s mother murmured, cradling the newborn with tears in her eyes.

She’d nearly given up hope that her Nuan'nuan would ever have a child, but now she finally had one, and she was overjoyed!

However, no matter how smooth the delivery was, Lin Qing was unconscious by the time she was wheeled out.

Cen Xi rushed to her side immediately, only giving the baby a cursory glance before turning his full attention to her.

When they pushed her bed back to the ward, Lin Shu saw it and couldn’t help but think, "Lin Qing must have had a daughter!"

She hoped Lin Qing would have a daughter—a girl would’ve been perfect!

Unfortunately, fate had other plans.

Lin Qing had given birth to a son.

When Lin Shu heard Lin Qing’s mother cooing at the wailing baby, saying, "Oh dear, my sweet little grandson, don’t cry, don’t cry…"

Lin Shu stood rooted to the spot again. How could this be? Why did Lin Qing get all the luck?

Why was it a son? It should have been a daughter—how could it be a son?

She couldn’t accept it. Wouldn’t accept it!

Lin Shu shot a venomous glare in their direction.

Lin Qing’s mother noticed the glare from her periphery and frowned, deliberately turning her back to Lin Shu.

What was Lin Shu’s problem?

She’s family, for heaven’s sake—what kind of look was that?

Lin Qing’s mother instantly went on high alert.

Fortunately, Lin Shu kept her venom to dirty looks. Nothing else happened before Lin Qing was discharged from the hospital.

...

"Mom, can I really not take a bath?" Lin Qing whined pitifully.

"No, absolutely not. Just endure it a little longer."

"Ah!" Lin Qing was at her breaking point.

The heat was unbearable, and she couldn’t even use a fan—she just had to bear it. She felt like she was about to faint from the heat.

Soaked through with sweat, if she didn’t wash soon, she was sure she’d gag from her own smell.

"Nuan'nuan, be good now! Just hold on a little longer. You can’t get chilled during the postpartum period, or you’ll suffer for it later."

Unable to argue with her mother, Lin Qing was stuck suffering through it.

She didn’t even want Cen Xi to stay in the same room anymore, afraid he’d be disgusted by her.

It wasn’t until Cen Xi sincerely proved he didn’t mind that Lin Qing reluctantly agreed to let him stay.

Seeing how miserable Lin Qing was, Cen Xi called his mother for advice. Later, while Lin Qing’s mother was away, he heated water to give Lin Qing a sponge bath, finally making her feel less repulsed by her own state.

"Oh, and Mom sent us some money. She said since she couldn’t come, it’s for her precious grandson, and we’re not allowed to send it back."

After cleaning up, Lin Qing felt much better, her spirits lifting noticeably. She nodded in acknowledgment, accepting it without protest.

"Sounds good! Let's send more things over for Dragon Boat Festival!" There's only half a month left until the festival.

Cen Xi usually went along with Lin Qing’s ideas in such matters. "Sure!"

"Let’s send stuff they don’t have much of there. Your parents don’t have as much stuff as we do here, so let’s send more."

"Alright! I’ll get everything ready tomorrow and send them out early."

"Mm-hmm."

"Wahhh!" The baby suddenly started crying, immediately drawing Cen Xi and Lin Qing’s attention.

Cen Xi skillfully picked up the baby and checked his diaper—no poop, so he’s probably hungry. He quickly handed the baby to Lin Qing.

Lin Qing took him without hesitation, pulled up her shirt, and began breastfeeding.

The baby quieted down as soon as he latched on.

Lin Qing looked down at the child in her arms. "Oh yeah, what are we naming him?"

They’d already given him a nickname—Zaizai—on the day he was born.

For his full name, Lin Qing’s parents felt Cen Xi’s parents should have a say, so they left it to them.

"My dad came up with a few names. Take a look!"

"Cen Jiamin, Cen Jiayan, Cen Jiayang, Cen Jialin..." Lin Qing read from the note.

"Are these in the same style as your elder brother’s kids?"

"Yeah, Dad also named my brother’s children. Which one do you like?"

Lin Qing thought they were all fine—way better than anything I’d think of. "How about Cen Jiayang? I hope he’ll always be sunny and cheerful."

"I like it!" Cen Xi agreed.

...