Chapter 46 On the Eve of Labor

Chapter 46: Before the Birth

Hearing Wu Qiu say this, Su Su felt reassured and handed over the things he was holding. "It's good that Lord Lei is fine; we should celebrate properly. These are for you. This is medicine my husband and his fellow martial artists use for treating wounds. The pills in this box can be dissolved and applied to wounds to relieve pain and reduce bruising. The other box contains a secret formula for trauma powder, passed down through generations by their master and disciples. It's said to contain secret ingredients from Nanzhao. Please keep them. If they prove useful, that would be even better!"

He then mysteriously pulled Wu Qiu aside and said, "There's one more thing, just for you."

He pulled out a few yellow papers from a small bundle. Wu Qiu saw they looked like talismans. Remembering the incident with Ling Geer's mother-in-law giving baby clothes, Wu Qiu was hesitant to take them directly. Cui Nanshan, who was nearby, quickly came over to examine them. He carefully checked the symbols on the papers and even sniffed them before smiling. "Oh, how thoughtful! Where did you get these talismans?"

Knowing Wu Qiu wouldn't recognize them, he promptly explained, "These were written by a Taoist priest in our Yongning City. They're called 'Birth Talismans.' They're posted in the room when a brother or woman is giving birth to ensure safety."

Su Su smiled beside them. "When I was giving birth to Xiao Shiliu, my husband went to get one for me. I found it very helpful. Yesterday, I hurried over to get some for you too."

Wu Qiu's face flushed slightly. He took Su Su's hand and smiled. "It's so thoughtful of you to remember me and go through all this trouble to get these for me. Why don't you come in for a bit and have some snacks?"

Su Su said he had other errands to run and took his leave first, promising to visit Wu Qiu again in a few days. Wu Qiu took the talismans back to the room to show Lei Ding. Lei Ding also smiled. "Indeed, I was thinking of going to get some myself in a few days. Since I can't go out now, it's perfect that he helped. I'll have to thank them properly another day."

Hearing this, Wu Qiu noticed something else and smiled playfully. "Brother, I thought you didn't believe in this sort of thing? I've never seen you pray to gods or Buddhas. Even when you go to temples, it's mostly to enjoy the scenery. How come you'd think of getting these?"

Lei Ding propped himself up to sit on the bed and took Wu Qiu's hand. Thinking he wanted a closer look at the talismans, Wu Qiu handed them over, but Lei Ding just wanted to kiss his hand. "Regardless of what I believe, it's a benevolent wish. Having them is naturally good."

At this point, Wu Qiu remembered his due date was only a month away and grew nervous again. He lowered his head, pursed his lips, and after a long pause spoke up. "I hope these talismans can truly protect us... I've seen neighbors—brothers and women—give birth a few times. I remember once, a brother from a neighboring family wailed so pitifully, crying out all day. Now that it's my turn, I'm really a bit scared. Do you think... will there be any danger? Can I really give birth to the child safely?"

Lei Ding hugged him, patting him gently and comforting him like a child. "Father has spent over twenty years refining his midwifery skills. Most children in our neighborhood were delivered by his hands. He's encountered some dangerous situations too, but always managed to save them in the end. I may not be a specialist, but I am a physician. With us here, nothing will happen. Qiu Er and the child will both be safe."

He usually spoke cautiously, never making absolute promises, but today he was very firm, leaving no room for doubt. Wu Qiu knew he was afraid he'd worry too much. Hearing this and remembering Cui Nanshan was indeed skilled in this area, Wu Qiu felt slightly more at ease. He asked again, "I've heard elders in the village say the delivery room is the most unclean, yin place. They say in the old days, they'd build a thatched shed outside for pregnant brothers and women to give birth there, and only bring the child home after a full month. Although we don't do that anymore, men in the family are absolutely not allowed to enter. But... if you're not by my side, I..."

He wanted to say he'd be scared, but feared imposing on Lei Ding. He felt conflicted, and the rest of his words remained unspoken, held back awkwardly. Lei Ding listened patiently. Seeing he had stopped speaking, he first leaned in to give his lips a couple of light kisses, so he couldn't keep biting them. "You still haven't broken this habit. Whenever you're thinking about something, you bite your lips. Look, they're so red. Let me see if they're broken."

Wu Qiu blushed and pushed him lightly. "I'm talking seriously with you, and here you are, just thinking about how to take advantage. Good thing I wasn't wearing any lip rouge today, or you'd have eaten it all."

Lei Ding also laughed. Seeing he wasn't as tense as before, he slowly explained, "When Father delivers babies for other families, Qiu Er, sometimes he doesn't let the men in. Do you know why? It's not because of any taboo; it's because those men just get in the way. If a man is calm, he can be allowed in to accompany them. Some cry louder than the person giving birth inside; they just go in and cry. Others grab the physician and make a scene, immediately blaming them, asking why they're letting their husband suffer so much pain. Don't you think that's just causing trouble? Also, sometimes the person giving birth is too embarrassed to have their husband see, so they say not to let them in. But I'm a physician. Accompanying you won't be a hindrance. As long as you want me there, I'll naturally stay with you."

Wu Qiu's eyes lit up. "Really? But... people say the delivery room is unclean, men can't enter. Besides, you've just been so badly injured. Could it be... conflicting?"

Lei Ding lovingly pinched his cheek. "Still worrying about me? How is it unclean? Inside will be you and our child. What could be unclean about that? If seeing some blood makes it yin and unclean, then look at all the blood I've lost from my back now. Doesn't that make me the unclean one? Yet Qiu Er is still willing to stay with me while I recover, isn't he?"

He cupped Wu Qiu's face and carefully kissed his lips again. "I'll be with you the whole time. Don't be afraid, Qiu Er."

Finally, Wu Qiu broke into a bright smile again. He really wanted to ask Lei Ding how he could be so good, but ultimately felt too shy to ask. He just nestled in Lei Ding's arms, rubbing his face against him. Lei Ding knew when he fell silent like this, he was mostly shy. He didn't press further, letting him snuggle in his arms. But the sting in his back was a reminder of what had happened.

He gently pressed Wu Qiu's head against his chest so he couldn't see the fleeting grave expression on his face.

Wu Peng, Xue Hu, Liu Yu... As long as they were around for a day, they were a threat to him and Wu Qiu. Before long, they would learn he was still alive and well. A dandy like Liu Yu might not have deep schemes and might not continue pursuing this matter, perhaps already distracted by some new novelty. But Wu Peng was sinister and vengeful; he would definitely not let things rest. Moreover, they had tried to harm his family. Even though everyone was safe now, Lei Ding had no intention of letting it go.

But now was not the time. Lei Ding looked down at Wu Qiu nestled in his arms and thought this. For now, he would wait until he recovered and guarded Wu Qiu through the birth of their child—

He would never allow anyone lurking in the shadows to use such underhanded methods against his family.

It was now nearly May. Wu Qiu's belly had grown rounder, a heavy weight low in his belly. Cui Nanshan told him labor could start anytime in the coming days, so Lei Ding stayed by his side even more closely. Wu Qiu had been having a hard time these days, couldn't get a good night's sleep. Lei Ding arranged several soft pillows for him—one under his lower back, one behind him to lean against, one at his side to rest his arm on—and wrapped him in a quilt. Looking at Wu Qiu's complexion, he couldn't help but feel heartache. "Maybe lie down for a bit? Sitting up to sleep probably isn't restful either."

Wu Qiu shook his head. "Lying down never feels as comfortable as sitting up. This child is so heavy; lying down makes me feel like I can't breathe. I'm fine like this. Anyway, we're together. Brother, just hold my hand, consider it like hugging me to sleep."

These past few days, Wu Qiu's appetite hadn't been as good as before, and he often felt unsettled. Lei Ding had seen him secretly crying several times. When asked, it was never about anything serious, just tears he couldn't hold back. Seeing him like this, Lei Ding also felt heartache, finding new ways to comfort him every day. Now, seeing him sitting there, looking so weary, Lei Ding also sat up and hugged him, sighing. "Qiu Er has really had a hard time these days. Sleep, I'll hold you."

But Wu Qiu smiled. "At least it's almost over. I'm actually quite eager to see the child. What do you think he'll look like? I always wonder about that."

Lei Ding also smiled. "You'll know soon. Maybe he'll come out to see you tomorrow."

Wu Qiu seriously considered his words. "Tomorrow... Tomorrow is the first day of the fifth month. That's a good date too. It would be nice if he really came tomorrow."

Lei Ding laughed. "Whenever he comes, that day will be a good day."

They were just joking late at night, neither taking it seriously, never expecting they had actually summoned the little one. The next afternoon, Wu Qiu felt drowsy and fell asleep leaning against the bed, while Lei Ding sat beside him reading. Not even a quarter of an hour had passed when he heard Wu Qiu turn over. Lei Ding quickly put down his book and asked, "What's wrong? You woke up? It hasn't been long; you can sleep a bit more."

Wu Qiu frowned. "When I closed my eyes just now, I felt an ache in my lower back and a tightening pain in my belly. I thought it was like the past couple of days, that it would go away on its own after a while, so I didn't pay much attention. But then it hurt again just now, disturbing me so I couldn't sleep."

Lei Ding helped him sit up and checked his pulse, frowning as he instructed, "Qiu Er, stay here and don't move. I'll go get Father to come take a look."

Wu Qiu blinked, holding his belly, not daring to move. "Is it really time?"

Lei Ding kissed him. "Don't be afraid. It seems our child really is coming. This little one really can't stand being talked about. We only mentioned it last night, and today he's in a hurry to come. Seems he can hear us talking."

Wu Qiu's heart pounded wildly. This day had finally come! The child he had been anticipating for so long was finally about to be born!

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