Yao Fulang thanked Lu Yang, then looked at the two brothers and said, “You’ve put on some flesh; the two of them look more alike now. At first glance, it’s hard to recognize them. By the time Mr. Lu has his child, I’ll be completely blind to who’s who.”
Lu Yang reassured him, “My younger brother’s eyes are gentler. Once you know him, you’ll be able to tell.”
The three of them sat together chatting, and Yao Fulang eventually remembered the upcoming market day.
He hadn’t gone out for leisure in a long time and recalled last year’s market trip.
Lu Liu, just beginning to reminisce, was joined by Chen Jiu.
Chen Jiu was six months pregnant, showing a prominent belly. The roads outside were rough, yet she still came to visit. Chen Guizhi chased after her, fussing a few words.
Yao Fulang said, “It’s been a year since you scolded Mr. Lu.”
Chen Jiu glanced at Lu Liu, then at Lu Yang. “So what? He doesn’t like me anyway.”
Lu Liu told Yao Fulang, “He apologized to me; he said he knows he was wrong.”
Yao Fulang made a mischievous expression.
Lu Yang went to the stove and poured a bowl of pear soup for Chen Jiu.
Chen Jiu had come just to check in. She said to Lu Liu, “You’re about to give birth, and my cousin hasn’t returned yet. I’m checking whether you’ve cried.”
Lu Liu hadn’t cried. “The road outside is rough; thank you for coming.”
The room was lively. Soon, Shun Ge’er came in, carrying a plate of freshly baked rice cakes and a jar of sugar, asking if they wanted some.
Yao Fulang looked at him with a mischievous gleam, but before he spoke, Shun Ge’er glared and said, “I’m not trying to be Mr. Lu! I’m just delivering rice cakes!”
He then hid behind Lu Yang. Lu Yang opened the sugar jar, scooped two spoonfuls of brown sugar, and dipped the rice cakes for them.
Lu Liu, having difficulty moving, was fed the rice cakes. He opened his mouth and said how sweet and delicious they were.
After a few bites, his belly tightened.
Lu Liu frowned. He thought it would pass as before, but the pain lingered and grew more intense. Even before he could get off the kang, he felt fluid running between his legs. His mother had told him: if it’s not urine, it’s the amniotic fluid breaking.
Panicked, he said, “Brother, I think I’m going into labor.”
Lu Yang quickly removed the rice cake still in his mouth, and called to Shun Ge’er, “Go tell your aunt to bring the midwife uncle, then start heating water.”
He then looked at Yao Fulang: “Take Mr. Chen home, and have Da Qiang fetch my father from Lujiatun.”
To Chen Fulang, Lu Yang said, “No time to entertain today. I’ll give you the news once the children are born.”
Calmly issuing orders, Lu Yang had everyone set into motion. Lu Liu looked at the now-empty room, steadied himself, and focused on slow, deep breaths.
Lu Yang helped him on the kang, adjusted his position to lean against the wall, legs pointing toward the edge.
Da Qiang first helped fetch the doctor and midwife, then went to Lujiatun for the father.
Shun Ge’er heated water at the stove. There was a kettle of hot water, ready to use. He stoked the fire, passing in logs one by one, anxious to keep it going.
Seeing his mother pass by with a full wooden basin of cotton cloth, he called out, “Mother, what else should I do?”
Chen Guizhi said, “Keep the water boiling. Use both pots and a kettle.”
Shun Ge’er returned to heating water. Zhao Peilan helped him, saying, “I’m familiar with the house; I’ll handle the water, you go assist your mother.”
Shun Ge’er went to Chen Guizhi. She instructed, “Bring water from the stove; I can’t carry it all alone.”
Chen Guizhi cut the plain cotton cloth into usable pieces, ready at hand.
Entering the room, she saw Lu Liu comfortably settled, ready for labor. She handed Lu Yang two cotton squares—one to wipe sweat, the other for Lu Liu to bite, preventing him from injuring his tongue.
Lu Yang cleared miscellaneous items from the table into a basket for use after the birth.
The midwife, surnamed Li, was from the village, living nearby. Da Qiang fetched him. The room was arranged, and he arrived promptly.
Doctor Hu took the kettle off the stove, replaced it with a medicinal brazier, and began preparing herbs. These would be given to Lu Liu after delivering the first child, to restore strength for the second.
Li the midwife adjusted blankets for Lu Liu.
Lu Yang saw his movements and said, “I’ll help him undress. Only the pants?”
Li nodded, “You can cut them too.”
Lu Liu turned his head and agreed.
Lu Yang undressed him under the blanket, wiped his forehead, and said, “No worries. When I have children, you’ll help me the same way.”
Lu Liu’s eyes were watery, tears ready to fall.
Labor had started. Every ounce of his strength was conserved for delivery. Li guided him to follow breathing cues, helping him push in intervals.
Lu Yang knelt on the kang, one hand at the back of Lu Liu’s head, fingers massaging the scalp to relax him, the other hand holding the cloth to wipe sweat.
A second cloth was placed nearby for Lu Liu to bite.
Chen Guizhi assisted below, bringing water and washing cloths. Shun Ge’er waited at the door to replace bloodied water with fresh.
While the room filled with the scent of blood, Li Feng and others raced along the main road.
Halfway, they met Da Qiang and learned Lu Liu had gone into labor. Li Feng left the group, riding ahead frantically.
By the time he reached home, Lu Liu had been laboring a while, biting the cloth, unable to suppress the cries—each one wrenching Li Feng’s heart.
Outside, Li Feng called, “Xiao Liu, I’m back! Don’t be afraid—your father-in-law and the others will be here soon!”
He had arrived suddenly, but just in time. Lu Liu, hearing his voice, looked toward the window. His face was a mess, tears and runny nose.
Lu Yang wiped him again, urging him to follow Li the midwife’s instructions. “He’s back, you can feel at ease. Focus on delivering the child. Once done, I’ll make sure he stays inside with you—nowhere else.”
Lu Liu, overwhelmed by pain and emotion, tears rolling, mingled with sweat.
He didn’t know how much time had passed. In pain, his thoughts slowed; his vision and hearing seemed delayed.
Obedient by nature, he followed instructions.
He grasped Lu Yang’s hand, calling out “Brother” in broken tones.
Lu Yang tried to stay calm, though his own eyes reddened. He responded every time Lu Liu called.
During a husband’s labor, men stayed outside.
Li Feng didn’t want to follow this rule, but he was dusty and exhausted from travel, unable even to change clothes—he waited anxiously outside.
The first child was born, crying. Before Li Feng could react, Zhao Peilan emerged from the stove room with a bowl of hot medicinal soup for Lu Liu.
Li Feng asked, “Why medicine? Is something wrong?”
Zhao Peilan said it was to aid delivery—give him strength. “He’s carrying twins; one is exhausting. Soon he’ll deliver the second.”
Seeing Shun Ge’er still handling hot water, Li Feng took over.
Basin after basin of clean water replaced the bloody ones. The red sight stung Li Feng’s eyes.
Soon, Da Qiang brought Lu Erbao and Wang Fengnian.
Seeing Wang Fengnian was like seeing a savior—he was the father of the twins, Lu Liu’s own father, brought to support him, offering words of encouragement.
