Chapter 429 Tang Tang Gives Birth to a Big Healthy Baby Boy
Ye Shenggae personally watched Chen Tangtang being pushed into the delivery room. Chen Tonghua was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead, and he collapsed onto the ground by the entrance.
Elder Fan and Elder Dang also arrived, fearing any unforeseen circumstances, ready to offer solutions if needed.
Ye Shenggae took some ginseng slices from her master's medical kit and gave them to the nurse, hoping they would help Chen Tangtang gain strength during labor.
Everyone waited outside the door for three hours with no news from inside. Ouyang paced back and forth nervously.
Xia Hong had only given birth to one child herself, and her delivery at home had been smooth. However, not hearing her daughter-in-law’s cries made her uneasy. With her son constantly pacing in front of her, she felt lightheaded.
Inside the delivery room, Chen Tangtang felt relieved once she was at the hospital. She had no contractions and her belly hadn't tightened at all. She lay on the bed, too afraid to move, and eventually fell asleep.
The doctors in the delivery room had been monitoring Chen Tangtang’s condition. In reality, a situation with only amniotic fluid leakage and no contractions essentially meant a difficult labor. If the amniotic fluid completely drained, the baby would suffer from oxygen deprivation and die.
“Inform the family about the patient’s condition and see if they are willing to have a C-section.”
As soon as the little nurse opened the door, she was surrounded by anxious family members, bombarding her with questions, leaving no room for her to speak.
“Please be quiet. The patient’s condition is very serious right now. Can you allow me to explain?”
Ouyang’s legs went weak upon hearing the news, but Zi Yisheng grabbed his collar.
“Hold yourself together.”
The little nurse relayed the doctor’s explanation. Ye Shenggae was puzzled, wondering why labor-inducing drugs weren't being used yet. She knew about them from her eldest sister-in-law’s childbirth in her previous life, which could strengthen contractions and speed up delivery.
“Cesarean. We’ll do a C-section. Hurry and get the baby out. Ensure the mother’s safety above all.”
Ouyang’s trembling hand reached for the pen, but he couldn’t even hold it steady. Xia Hong, impatient and worried, slapped Ouyang.
“Steady yourself and sign quickly! If you delay my daughter-in-law and grandson, I’ll beat you to death!”
Ouyang took a deep breath and stopped as he began to write the first stroke.
“Wait, Ouyang. Would you be willing to let me try? I can use acupuncture to induce Tangtang’s contractions, and perhaps she can have a natural birth. That way, she won’t have to undergo surgery, which would significantly deplete her vital energy.”
Elder Fan and Elder Dang, with their traditional beliefs, considered surgery to be a drain on vital energy that couldn’t be fully recovered through tonics, inevitably impacting one’s health.
“This… Elder Fan, how confident are you?”
“Inducing Tangtang’s contractions will be easy. Whether she can deliver naturally will depend on Tangtang herself.”
Ouyang understood Elder Fan’s meaning. He could make Tangtang feel contractions like any other mother, but whether she could deliver successfully would depend on her own endurance.
The nurse realized this was beyond her authority and quickly returned to the delivery room to inform the doctor.
Everyone else looked at Ouyang, and even Chen Tonghua was unsure what to do at this moment, having no experience with such matters.
The doctor emerged and first addressed Elder Fan and Elder Dang.
“The suggestion from the two elder gentlemen is indeed worth trying. If the patient is unable to proceed, we can still perform surgery. However, we will need the family’s signature, and they will bear all consequences.”
Ouyang looked at Elder Fan, and upon seeing Elder Fan nod at him, he made a decisive call. Time was of the essence.
“Alright, I’ll sign. Let Elder Fan go in and try first.”
Ye Shenggae had wanted to go in as an assistant, but both her masters refused, stating they hadn't given birth themselves and feared it might traumatize them.
The delivery room door closed again. Chen Tangtang woke up groggily to find Elder Fan inserting needles into her and was quite surprised. After the little nurse quickly explained the situation, Chen Tangtang relaxed.
“Elder Fan, I’m still scared.”
“What’s there to be afraid of? Every woman goes through this. When the doctor tells you to push, you push with all your might. If I hear you cry out, I’ll spank you.”
Elder Fan feared the young girl would be too delicate, crying out at the slightest pain and exhausting herself before the baby was even born. This was a common mistake made by many women in difficult labors.
“Sob, sob, sob. After I give birth, I’m going to complain to Shenggae about Elder Fan bullying me.”
“Alright, as long as you give birth successfully, you can have Shenggae come find me. The baby, you must conserve your strength and push hard. I’ll be waiting in the next room.”
“Elder Fan, are you leaving too? Can Shenggae stay with me? I’m scared!”
“Nonsense. Shenggae hasn't given birth herself. What if you scare her? Just shut up now.”
After all, it was a woman giving birth, and Elder Fan felt it was appropriate to maintain some distance.
“Ow… it hurts.”
“Endure it.”
Elder Fan nodded at the doctor and then withdrew his needles, moving to the adjacent room to wait. If the contractions weren’t strong enough, he could return to administer more needles.
Soon, Chen Tangtang’s screams and Elder Fan’s scolding could be heard, amusing the doctors and nurses. They had never witnessed such a peculiar childbirth before.
“Good, good, good. I finally hear Tangtang crying out. As long as she’s crying, it means she’s starting to feel the pain.”
Xia Hong excitedly patted her son’s back. However, the more Ouyang listened to his mother, the more something felt off, though he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
Zi Yisheng held Ye Shenggae tightly. Especially hearing Chen Tangtang’s occasional screams, he made a silent resolution.
Three more hours passed. The nurse suddenly emerged, speaking before the family could ask any questions.
“The mother is about to give birth. Hurry and get some food for her so she’ll have strength later.”
“Nurse, how is my daughter-in-law?”
“She’s doing okay. Go buy some food quickly.”
As Ye Shenggae stood up, Zi Yisheng stopped her.
“Let Ah Long go. He’s fast.”
“Alright, buy Tangtang brown sugar eggs. Buy several.”
Ouyang heard this and stopped worrying. At this moment, he was truly grateful to have so many good brothers helping him; otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to leave her side.
Xia Hong was beside herself with worry. Her legs were too weak to stand. If her daughter-in-law had the slightest accident, she wouldn't know how to face her family. She could only pray repeatedly in her heart.
Ah Long was swift. He arrived at the delivery room door with a lunchbox borrowed from the hospital kitchen.
The nurse came out to receive it. She was surprised to see a lunchbox filled with brown sugar eggs, at least seven or eight eggs – a luxury most families could afford. This family truly doted on the expectant mother.
“If it’s not enough, just ask. I’ll have the kitchen prepare more, and you can pick them up anytime.”
The little nurse twitched her lips, wondering if this was why the mother inside was so plump; she ate so much.
Less than an hour later, a piercing scream from Chen Tangtang was heard from outside, followed by the cries of an infant.
“Alright, she finally gave birth!”
Xia Hong, overjoyed, covered her face and wept. Ouyang, however, sat down on the ground, his eyes red.
Ye Shenggae let out a sigh of relief, leaning wearily against Zi Yisheng.
“It’s wonderful, but it was too scary.”
“Yes, it was very scary. We’ll just not have any more children, and that will be fine.”
This was Zi Yisheng’s first time experiencing such an event, and he was inwardly very resistant to his wife going through such a dangerous ordeal.
Ye Shenggae sat up in surprise, finding it hard to believe these words came from Zi Yisheng. Which man didn't want children of his own?
“You said what?”
“I said, can we not have children in the future?”
“Why? I want children. I really, really look forward to it.”
This was Ye Shenggae’s true feeling. Even when she was gravely ill in her previous life, she had hoped to marry and have children. There was no reason why, with a body capable of bearing children, she should forgo that opportunity now.
Zi Yisheng had never particularly longed for children. He only wanted to spend his life with his beloved. Witnessing this scene only diminished any residual hope he might have had for children.
“Giving birth is too dangerous. I don’t want to risk losing you. So, can we just enjoy our time together as a couple?”
“No. If you don’t want children, I’ll find someone else to have them with. You can’t strip me of my right to be a mother.”
Zi Yisheng’s face darkened upon hearing his wife’s threat to find someone else. This girl knew exactly how to infuriate him.
“You dare! You won’t have that chance.”
“Then you have to let me have children, or I absolutely will have my chance.”
Ye Shenggae was also angry. They had only been married a short while, and he was already trying to control her wishes. Although his reasoning was touching, refusing to have children was unacceptable.
Ye Mu’en, standing nearby, was the most composed. In both of his lives, he had never considered marriage or having children, so he felt indifferent to everything happening today.
However, upon hearing his sister’s conversation with Zi Yisheng, he reacted. He had been looking forward to having a beautiful niece, and now that prospect was being ruthlessly taken away.
“I think you could find another man, a good man who’s willing to let Shenggae have as many children as she wants.”
“Hmph. Haven’t you seen how dangerous childbirth is? Don’t even think about other men.”
The trio’s argument was interrupted by the opening of the delivery room door.
“Family of Chen Tangtang, congratulations. Your wife has given you a big, healthy baby boy.”
Ouyang scrambled to his feet and asked, without even looking at the baby,
“Is my wife okay?”
“Yes, yes. The mother is tired and asleep. You can take the baby first.”
Xia Hong impatiently pushed her son aside and gently took the baby, her voice returning to its usual gentle tone.
“Nurse, is the baby healthy?”
“Yes, very healthy. Six pounds and six ounces, quite plump.”
The nurse enjoyed seeing families who doted on their wives, so she was very patient.
Ye Shenggae leaned in to look at the baby. It was wrinkled, covered in vernix caseosa, and looked dirty. However, the way its tiny hands were near its mouth made her heart melt.
“Here, Shenggae, you and Mu’en hold the baby. Let my grandson grow up to be even more handsome.”
Before Ye Shenggae could react, the little one was placed in her arms. Ye Shenggae froze, feeling that every part of the baby was soft. She struggled to support its head and bottom.
“Aunt Xia, I don’t know how to hold him. You better catch him from below.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got him.”
Looking at the little one in her arms, Ye Shenggae’s heart softened completely. If she hadn't been afraid of the baby's low immunity, she would have kissed its little face.
Ye Mu’en proudly walked over, not forgetting to smirk provocatively at Zi Yisheng. The implication was clear: their Ye family was good-looking, and Zi Yisheng, in others’ eyes, wasn't quite as handsome. Hence his smugness and pride.
Zi Yisheng was unbothered. He was considered handsome, and compared to his brother-in-law, he was indeed a little less so. But he was proud of his beautiful wife, which showed his good taste and decisive actions.
The proud Ye Mu’en’s expression changed the moment the baby was placed in his arms. A baby less than his arm’s length, how could it be so difficult to hold?
“Aunt Xia, let Shenggae hold him more. She’s much prettier than I am.”
Everyone could see Ye Mu’en’s true thoughts, but no one dared to expose him.
“Why isn’t my wife out yet? What’s going on? Mom, do you know what’s happening?”
Xia Hong looked at her son with even more disdain, holding the baby tighter.
“The doctor has to clean up your wife. You have time to check on your son, but you, the father, don’t care about the child.”
Ouyang had no such inclination. He wouldn't be at ease until he saw his wife. Besides, his son could be seen anytime.
Ye Shenggae observed everything. A woman’s worthiness of bearing children for a man should be evident at this moment. In any case, she felt Tangtang had found the right person.
Zi Yisheng, seeing that his wife was ignoring him, became anxious. They had only been married for three days, and he feared his wife would get angry and return to her parents' home.
“Wife, our future child will be very good-looking too.”
Ye Shenggae gave the man beside her a sideways glance, her tone still somewhat displeased.
“What? You’re willing to have children now?”
“If you want them, then we will. But let’s just have one. I’m afraid you’ll suffer.”
Ye Shenggae wasn’t truly angry. It would be ungrateful to be angry when her husband cared for her. She was only pretending to be upset to express her stance.
“Hmph, you know what’s good for you.”
Zi Yisheng said this, but he had already decided to postpone having children for a few years. Otherwise, seeing how much his wife doted on the baby, she would surely have no room for him in her heart.
Elder Fan examined Chen Tangtang’s pulse before they all emerged. Ouyang rushed to his wife’s side.
“Wife, wife, how are you?”
“Tangtang is fine, just a bit weak.”
“Wife, wake up. Just say something to me.”
Xia Hong couldn’t stand it anymore and slapped him a few times.
“Are you sick? Tangtang is already asleep from exhaustion, and you’re trying to wake her up. Are you out of your mind?”
“Mom, I’m just worried.”
“Get lost! If you wake my daughter-in-law, I’ll kick you out of the house. You’re truly an idiot.”
Ye Shenggae stifled a laugh as she carefully held the baby. Xia Hong thoughtfully put a hat on Chen Tangtang and tucked in her blanket, preventing her from catching a chill.
“What’s the use of having a son? It’s still up to me to take care of things.”
Everyone openly mocked Ouyang, noting he had lost the sharp demeanor of a top secretary.
Zi Yisheng patted Ouyang’s shoulder with a deadpan expression. He was considering finding a new secretary.
Back in the hospital room, Ouyang managed to sort out the single room himself, while Xia Hong busied herself organizing the diapers, milk bottles, and other items she had brought.
“Shenggae, you’re so thoughtful. You remembered to bring baby supplies. Otherwise, the baby wouldn’t have anything to use.”