Though Guan Hui’e only said one sentence, the situation at the time couldn’t be accurately described in just a few words.

Zhou Yi went into labor on the evening of the 3rd, and Yuan Han immediately took her to the hospital.

As Zhou Yi’s due date approached, Yuan’s mother and sisters had come to Beijing again. Yuan Han’s rented courtyard was spacious enough to accommodate the additional family members comfortably.

Having more people in the house made it lively, and the Yuan family treated her well, so Zhou Yi didn’t mind at first.

There was just one problem – Yuan’s eldest sister had brought her youngest son to Beijing this time. She wasn’t young anymore, and her eight-year-old son was at a particularly mischievous age.

Zhou Yi found it strange at the time. “Why isn’t Big Sister sending him to school?”

Though the Zhou family had no academic stars, they never delayed their children’s education. It was rare to see an eight-year-old not attending school. Some children who started early were already in second grade. Why bring the child to Beijing in late May, with no special occasion?

Yuan Han smiled bitterly. “Big Sister said it was to broaden his horizons. She got a two-week leave from school. I only found out when she arrived. How could I send him back now? Since he’s here, let him stay. I’m home anyway and can teach him.”

When Yuan’s eldest sister heard about this, she came to explain: “Sister-in-law, our hometown is such a backward place with poor teachers. Missing two weeks of school doesn’t matter. If only Little Long could study in Beijing – everyone here can get into Huaqing and Beijing University, right?”

Zhou Yi was internally bleeding.

If everyone could get into Huaqing and Beijing University, she would have gone there herself. How could Yuan’s eldest sister’s son have such an opportunity?

Though Zhou Yi might have been blinded by love, it depended on who she was dealing with.

She believed everything Yuan Han said, but when it came to his eldest sister’s words, Zhou Yi had to read between the lines – what was she implying? Did she want to send Yuan Han’s nephew to Beijing for them to raise?

Zhou Yi would have to be crazy to agree to that.

She needed Yuan Han’s care. Why would she neglect her child to take care of Yuan Han’s nephew? Zhou Yi refused.

The Yuan family didn’t force her to raise their nephew, and when Zhou Yi didn’t respond, the topic shifted.

Eight-year-old boys are very mischievous. Though shy for the first two days, he quickly became familiar with everyone. After all, in this household, he had his mother, aunts, uncle, and grandmother – only Zhou Yi, his aunt-in-law, was unfamiliar. Within two or three days, he acted like it was his own home, full of energy, making it difficult for Zhou Yi to rest.

Zhou Yi could endure all this, but on the evening of the 3rd, while Little Long was running around the courtyard, Zhou Yi was supporting her waist as she came out of the main room. Just as she crossed the threshold, Little Long, who had caught a mouse from somewhere, suddenly thrust it in front of Zhou Yi’s face: “Aunt, look!”

The mouse’s long tail brushed across Zhou Yi’s face, startling and disgusting her. Her stomach immediately began to hurt.

She felt contractions inside, and a warm flow gushed out. Zhou Yi knew something was wrong and called out Yuan Han’s name.

“Yuan Han, Yuan Han, come quickly…”

Yuan Han was in the kitchen making chicken soup for her, with his mother and sisters there too. The Yuan family was so close, they always had endless conversations and gathered together!

Yuan Han rushed out of the kitchen, and Zhou Yi’s cotton pants showed some traces of wetness.

Yuan’s eldest sister exclaimed, “Sister-in-law’s water has broken, has she gone into labor?”

The second sister said to hurry to the hospital. They had been preparing for Zhou Yi’s delivery these past few days, and everything was ready in advance.

Only Yuan’s mother grumbled internally that this cadre’s daughter was too precious – back in their small town, people just gave birth at home. However, since Zhou Yi had a good job unit that covered childbirth expenses, Yuan’s mother didn’t feel too resentful about the cost.

Her main concern was that Zhou Yi was too pampered. Their marriage was barely half a year old, and she still had her son running around doing everything.

Yuan Han had never done housework at home before, always being taken care of by his two sisters.

Now he was even killing fish and butchering chickens. Yuan’s mother couldn’t bear to watch. Several times she wanted to teach Zhou Yi how to take care of a husband, but Yuan’s second sister talked her down:

“The Zhou family is testing our little brother. How can we fail at the last step after coming so far? Besides, Zhou Yi is about to give birth. You can’t expect her to do laundry and cook with such a big belly!”

Yuan’s mother wanted to argue – didn’t the previous one manage just fine?

But being somewhat afraid of the Zhou family, she listened to the second sister and held her tongue.

This was just setting the stage – dissatisfaction was planted during ordinary times, only to explode at crucial moments. The Yuan family hurriedly took Zhou Yi to the hospital. Because she went into labor early, Jiang Hong and Zhou Wenbin didn’t know yet.

Throughout everything, Zhou Yi held onto Yuan Han. Even with just contractions, she couldn’t bear it, leaving his arm bruised and purple from her grip.

The second sister suggested informing Jiang Hong and her husband, but the eldest sister, feeling guilty that her son’s mouse incident had triggered Zhou Yi’s early labor, said:

“Let’s wait until after the baby is born to share the good news.”

The initial contractions were bearable, but later the pain became constant. Zhou Yi was wheeled into the delivery room with tears in her eyes.

Yuan’s mother kept sighing: “Yuan Han, your wife is too spoiled. Every woman gives birth, and she’s crying before she’s even started!”

Yuan Han remained silent.

His arm had several bruises from Zhou Yi’s grip.

What could he say? He couldn’t tell Zhou Yi not to cry out in pain, nor could he shake off her hand.

With Zhou Wenbin pressuring him, Yuan Han surely had some resentment, but with Zhou Yi in the delivery room bearing his child, he felt both worried and joyful. Almost 30 years old, he was finally about to become a father, and couldn’t help feeling excited.

“This is her first time giving birth. She’s in pain and scared – what do you expect?”

For Zhou Yi’s first childbirth, she seemed to lack some luck.

From when she entered the delivery room in the evening until nearly noon the next day, she hadn’t delivered. Her amniotic fluid was almost gone, and she had no strength left.

The doctor first came out saying the mother requested switching from natural birth to C-section. Yuan’s mother dismissed this, “Let her keep trying. Who needs a C-section? You hospitals just find it troublesome and are quick to cut people open.”

Zhou Yi continued trying to deliver. After another hour with no progress, though the cervix was dilated, the baby wouldn’t come out. This time the doctor came out urging them:

“You need to decide quickly, the mother is having a very difficult delivery.”

Yuan Han was about to agree when his second sister pulled him aside: “No, we must call Zhou Yi’s family now. C-sections are dangerous if something happens…”

If something happened, the Yuan family couldn’t bear the Zhou family’s wrath.

Yuan Han cleared his head a bit, “Doctor, please prepare for surgery while I make a phone call.”

She had been in labor all night, and they hadn’t informed her family.

Jiang Hong was just about to leave for work when the phone rang. Hearing that Zhou Yi was having a difficult labor and they were waiting for her and Zhou Wenbin’s decision about surgery, Jiang Hong immediately started cursing over the phone:

“Of course, she needs a C-section! Yuan Han, think carefully – you’re only the Zhou family’s son-in-law as long as Zhou Yi is alive. If there’s any danger, you must save the mother!”

Of course – as long as his wife lived, they could have another child.

Keeping the child but losing his wife – Yuan Han didn’t dare imagine what situation he would face.

If anything happened to Zhou Yi, his life would be over…

“Surgery, quickly get the baby out by C-section. If there’s danger, definitely save the mother!”

Yuan Han shakily signed the surgery consent form. Soon after, they delivered a daughter.

When Yuan’s mother heard this, her eyes and mouth drooped, “There must be a mistake. I checked – her pointed belly meant it would be a boy!”

The doctor didn’t even want to respond to such an ignorant old woman.

Yuan Han was also somewhat disappointed but didn’t show it. The doctor was about to say something when shouts came from the operating room:

“The mother is showing signs of shock—”