Read Novel Full Chapter 144
Chapter 144 : Giving Birth
Recently, Ding Meifang has been performing well. During the suspension of business operations, Jiang Li plans to have her supervise the progress of the construction site’s decoration.
There’s no damage to the items in the clothing store, and Wang Juan has almost recovered. The store is expected to reopen within the next two days.
The most pressing issue now is the shortage of manpower.
It’s challenging to recruit workers!
Most people prefer working in factories because they believe it offers stable employment and job security for life.
They’re reluctant to take up self-employed roles for two main reasons: first, they find it shameful and embarrassing to talk about; second, they consider such jobs unstable and fear they may lose their income unpredictably.
Despite these challenges, job announcements have been posted, and word has spread among classmates and friends.
On the reopening day of the clothing store, Jiang Li and Qin Xiaoting went to view a house together. It had a red door, red tiles, yellow walls, and wooden windows.
The house featured an arched black iron fence draped with vines. The main building had three floors, 18 rooms in total, a garage, and a spacious courtyard paved with flower-patterned tiles.
The interior was decorated in a retro style. The brown wooden floors creaked slightly underfoot, and the second-floor living room had five large glass windows.
Sunlight poured in, illuminating the branches of sycamore trees dusted with white snow. Although it was winter, one could imagine the lush greenery of spring.
Jiang Li decided on the house without much hesitation, while Qin Xiaoting purchased the neighboring unit, which had a similar style but was slightly larger.
Jiang Li’s apartment cost 6,200 yuan. Though it was along the street and slightly over budget, it was the larger of the two.
The furniture left by the previous owner remained in place, but the house, being a bit old, required some renovation. Jiang Li wasn’t in a rush to move in.
For one, the house was spacious enough for her. Secondly, with her baby due soon, it wasn’t the right time to move.
Fang Peilan walked around the house happily and muttered, “It’s a bit small but very charming. I hope you like it, my dear.”
She added, “If you ask me, you should move back home. Everything you need is there. After the baby is born, you can focus on your career, and I’ll take care of the child.”
Jiang Li felt a bit moved by the suggestion. “Grandma, what do you think of this room? Do you like it?” she asked, opening a room on the second floor with a balcony and good ventilation. “When we move here, this room will be for you.”
Fang Peilan’s eyes reddened. The room was the largest on the floor, and Jiang Li had saved it for her.
“Alright,” Fang Peilan said, “When you move in, I’ll come help take care of the baby.”
After the barber shop closed, Wang Juan adapted well to managing the clothing store. With Chen Xianyun’s help, Jiang Li no longer had to worry about the business.
Once the school semester resumed, Jiang Li immersed herself in her studies.
Her dormitory roommates treated her like a national treasure during professional courses.
Jiang Li, now nine months pregnant, had carefully managed her diet. Her baby bump was not overly large, and her slender limbs, fair skin, and radiant glow made her appear healthy and vibrant.
One day after class, Zhu Zhu helped Jiang Li stand up, only for her to feel a sharp pain in her stomach, followed by her water breaking.
Zhu Zhu panicked. “Lizi, what’s wrong?”
Feeling the onset of regular contractions, Jiang Li bit her lip and said, “I think I’m going into labor.”
“What should we do now?” Zhu Zhu asked anxiously.
“Take her to the hospital, quickly!” someone suggested.
Jiang Li stayed calm and began delegating tasks despite the pain. “Zhu Zhu, my husband is waiting outside. Please call him for me. Sister Hong, inform my store and my grandmother’s house that I’m about to give birth. Also, please go home and bring my delivery bag to the city hospital. Xiaojing, help me pack my books and belongings.”
Although everyone was nervous, Jiang Li’s composure reassured them, and they worked efficiently.
Qi Shaoqiang, her husband, appeared in the classroom doorway. Pushing through the crowd, he asked, “Lizi, are you alright?”
“I’m in labor. The contractions have started,” she replied.
Seeing her in pain, Qi Shaoqiang felt both anxious and heartbroken. He carried her out of the classroom as their classmates cleared a path, shouting, “Make way! Someone needs to go to the hospital!”
Once at the hospital, Jiang Li was already three centimeters dilated and admitted to a private room. After examining her, the doctor remarked, “The baby won’t arrive immediately. Has the mother had lunch? She needs to eat something to restore her energy.”
Jiang Li endured the pain and managed to eat a few bites of food. Less than an hour later, she was wheeled into the delivery room.
Qi Shaoqiang stood outside the obstetrics department, staring at the tightly closed white doors. He clasped his trembling hands behind his back, waiting anxiously.
“Are the family members of Jiang Li here?”
Chen Xianyun, Fang Peilan, and Qi Shaoqiang immediately stepped forward. “Yes, we’re here!”
“Congratulations! Both the mother and babies are safe. One baby weighs 15 jin, and the other also weighs 15 jin. Both are healthy.”
“Twins?”
Fang Peilan was both surprised and overjoyed. No wonder Jiang Li’s belly had been larger than usual, it turned out she was carrying twins.
“How is the mother?” Qi Shaoqiang pulled the nurse aside, his voice tinged with worry. The nurse smiled, accustomed to the concerns of first-time fathers.
“The mother is fine. She’s being stitched up and will be out shortly.”
Chen Xianyun and Fang Peilan each held one of the soft, tiny babies in their arms, marveling at the miracle of new life. Qi Shaoqiang, however, remained fixated on the delivery room doors. ‘Stitches?’ he thought, his heart tightening.
The faint smell of blood wafted through the hallway as the doors opened and someone was wheeled out. Qi Shaoqiang stepped forward instinctively and saw Jiang Li, pale and visibly exhausted.
“Lizi,” he called softly. Jiang Li opened her eyes and smiled weakly at him. “I’m okay. Where are the babies?”
Jiang Li’s labor, from the onset of pain to delivery, lasted less than five hours a smooth process overall. To her surprise, it was during the delivery that she learned she was having twins, something the prenatal checkups hadn’t revealed.
“Well,” she thought, “this way, I only have to endure the pain once to have two children.”
“Mom is holding them,” Qi Shaoqiang reassured her.
Hot tears rolled down his cheeks as he stood by her side. He reached out to touch her but hesitated, afraid of causing her any discomfort. Instead, he gently patted the quilt covering her.
Before being transferred back to the ward, Jiang Li fell into a deep sleep from exhaustion.
Qi Shaoqiang stood silently by her bedside, carefully wiping her cracked lips with a damp cotton swab. He placed a postpartum cotton hat on her head to shield her from the cold, his eyes fixed on the intravenous drip replenishing her blood.
Quietly, he made a vow: “No more children. I’ll never let her go through this pain again.”
“Shaoqiang, look at the babies,” someone said, breaking his thoughts.
The twins, fed with milk formula, were now sleeping soundly in their cradles. Their tiny, wrinkled, red faces resembled little monkeys.
Qi Shaoqiang reached out to gently touch one baby’s face. The little one frowned, then burst into tears, waking the other baby, who promptly started crying as well.