Lin Yuchan learned that Western medical anesthesia had already become quite mature by this time. The Crimean War of the 1850s and the American Civil War of the 1860s had created enormous battlefield medical demands, spurring rapid advances in anesthetic techniques, which were now widely used in various surgical procedures. The bloody scenes of “several strong men holding down patients on beds while doctors quickly finished operations amid screams” had become history.

However, “obstetric anesthesia” was still in its early research stages, facing heavy resistance and opposition.

Some more progressive doctors believed that the suffering and screaming of pregnant women would exhaust their energy and make delivery more difficult, therefore recommending the use of anesthetics from regular surgery in the delivery room.

But due to social traditions, most people dismissed this idea. After all, even the Bible said that God made childbearing painful to remind humanity of their sinful nature. This was both a punishment and a blessing.

Moreover, contemporary scholars believed that women’s moral sense was naturally more fragile than men’s. If anesthetic drugs were overused, they would easily become addicted to this comfort, becoming dull, cunning, suspicious, indifferent, losing their sense of responsibility and shame…

Other viewpoints included: drugs were bad for the fetus, if mothers were too comfortable, it would prolong labor, screams during pain could improve lung capacity, exercise the respiratory organs, train women’s willpower, and help them become qualified mothers, and precious anesthetic resources would be better used treating wounded soldiers…

Of course, all these debates were among men—doctors, pharmacists, politicians, clergy, ethicists…

The pregnant women themselves were always told, “Please wait outside for now.”

The turning point came in 1853. Queen Victoria, about to give birth to her eighth child, could no longer endure another labor pain. Despite heavy resistance, she summoned an anesthetic doctor and used chloroform inhalation to reduce contraction pain, successfully giving birth to little Prince Leopold. She gave the anesthetic service a five-star review, calling it “God’s blessing, bringing indescribable comfort and joy.”

In 1857, the Queen again “repurchased” the service, giving birth to her ninth child, Princess Beatrice, with anesthesia. In 1860, Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, the Crown Princess of Prussia, used anesthesia during her first delivery…

Although this action still faced fierce criticism from conservatives, the British Royal Family’s endorsement power could not be underestimated. Obstetric pain relief finally entered public view legitimately.

Dr. Kohler was a skilled anesthetist who had successfully performed multiple clinical surgeries. This recruitment of volunteers was mainly to further study the relationship between anesthetic dosage and maternal age and constitution.

“It mainly relies on inhaling nitrous oxide, chloroform, ether, and other anesthetic drugs to reduce pain. I will customize anesthetic plans based on the patient’s physical and mental condition… Please rest assured, there is no evidence that anesthesia affects fetal health. Of course, I won’t gamble with patients’ lives, and will never give them more than a safe dosage… The worst result would just be pain, the same pain as a normal delivery. But I can guarantee with thirty years of professional experience that complete anesthetic failure is unlikely…”

Even with Dr. Kohler wearing out his lips, it was very difficult to recruit enough willing pregnant women (or their husbands) in the New York area. He had to apply to Mrs. Blackwell for funding, providing monetary subsidies to attract poor people and people of color to participate in his research project for free.

After listening to Dr. Kohler’s brief introduction, Lin Yuchan’s heart was full of only one thought:

Is there such a good thing?

Painless delivery and it doesn’t cost money!

She blinked and turned to look at Su Minguan, eager to try.

He said nothing, and only after a long while did he laugh softly: “When I was small in Guangzhou, there were rumors that foreign missionaries lured women and children to churches to test drugs, then cut open their bellies and carved out their hearts to check the drug effects. I considered myself clever then and always scoffed at this, thinking whoever believed it was foolish. I even deliberately peered through church windows when passing by.”

And now, a foreign doctor was openly inviting his woman to “test drugs.” Truly, nothing new under the sun.

Lin Yuchan couldn’t help laughing. He spoke lightly, but from his tone, he had been quite frightened as a child; otherwise, why would the psychological shadow remain until now?

“The doctor guarantees safety. I plan to stay here for a few days to observe his work. If the women who come in all deliver safely and smoothly, then I want to do it too.”

The words were very decisive, sounding like a discussion but more like a notification.

He remained cautious, asking her: “Must you take this risk?”

“It hurts,” she answered matter-of-factly.

After a pause, she added softly: “They say it hurts a hundred times more than cutting flesh to remove bullet fragments.”

Su Minguan’s heart jumped, his left hand involuntarily gripping an inkwell on the table.

Reminded by her, he recalled that long-ago surgery without anesthesia at Renji Hospital in Shanghai.

…He truly didn’t know how women throughout history, those not as strong as her, not as healthy as her, had gotten through it.

Seeing the two conversing in their dialect, Dr. Kohler knew from experience that the husband must be hesitating. When husbands hesitated, these things usually fell through.

“Look, it’s just a flyer, yet we’ve wasted so much time…” He smiled and changed the subject, sipping his coffee. “What were we talking about earlier?”

He was still addressing Su Minguan.

“Being able to avoid pain is naturally good,” Su Minguan was silent for a long time, seeming to have difficulty speaking, and said quietly: “If anesthesia is used, will you personally be present?”

“Of course,” Dr. Kohler smiled, “I need to monitor the patient’s condition at all times and control the anesthetic dosage. Otherwise, just a trained midwife or my female assistant doctor would suffice…”

He suddenly understood and smiled with comprehension: “Of course, most husbands have some psychological barriers, unless it’s a matter of life and death… It’s fine, doctors have benevolent hearts. Although I might forget my patients’ faces the next day, I understand… Your wife is just asking casually. Don’t let these small matters affect your relationship.”

After hearing Dr. Kohler’s response, Lin Yuchan belatedly realized that, indeed, it seemed…

For the Qing “ancients” of the nineteenth century, accepting painless delivery was already outrageous enough; having a male doctor witness one’s wife giving birth disheveled—wasn’t that a bit, too, ahead of its time…

Su Minguan looked at her with a smile: “A’Mei?”

His expression was quite smug, as if she had forgotten something very important and he had just fulfilled his duty to remind her.

She steeled her heart and said quite shamelessly: “I don’t mind, do you?”

Su Minguan bit his lip. If he said he “minded,” wouldn’t that be like making enemies with her?

He changed his words: “I’m afraid you’ll be nervous then.”

She laughed: “Knocked out and confused, I won’t be nervous.”

He lowered his head, his gaze wandering over the English words on the flyer.

All simple, plain language designed to entice the lower classes. Things like “make her love you more,” “earn a woman’s gratitude,” “prevent postpartum hysteria,” “make her actively want another child,” “the Queen’s choice”…

New York State was one of the few places that recognized their valid marriage. According to legal provisions, the husband was the wife’s full guardian, making all decisions. Just like when they failed to open an account at Standard Chartered Bank, her opinion didn’t matter.

The stack of documents on Dr. Kohler’s desk, where signatures were needed, all had headers printed directly with “Mr.____.”

He could very well pull her away and sweet-talk her afterwards. A’Mei was always understanding.

But… what did being legally married represent?

It was her voluntarily handing over a woman’s greatest vulnerability to him for their common child.

Finally, he laughed at himself somewhat defeatedly: “How unfair.”

“It’s fair,” Lin Yuchan coaxed him, “When you had surgery to remove bullet fragments at Renji Hospital and were seen by the nurse girls, I encouraged you not to be shy.”

Su Minguan immediately blushed: “…”

How did she come up with such a peculiar argument?

He had almost forgotten that scene himself; she couldn’t have been keeping it fresh in memory, taking it out to review from time to time?!

He was speechless, laughed quietly for a long time, then stood up with relaxed features.

“I hope to be present personally then, to observe your operation with my own eyes.” He signed a series of recruitment notices and liability waivers, shook hands with Dr. Kohler. “Also, could you provide a copy of the relevant materials and legal documents for me to study at home?”

Who told him he was just infatuated with this woman? It wasn’t the first time she had lowered his standards either.

So be it. Just don’t let acquaintances know.

Just as he was calculating, Huang Hu suddenly ran over with a joyful face, panting at the office door.

“Sister! Sister, come out quickly!”

Su Minguan was startled and commanded, “Speak properly!”

Huang Hu first bowed to Dr. Kohler, then, with a face full of smiles, said: “The headmistress agreed to let me attend classes here! First, a three-month trial, then an exam!”

By the end of April, Lin Yuchan had finally found suitable schools for all the girls, completed various paperwork, written memoranda, and entrusted Rong Hong to supervise their review for entrance exams.

Additionally, she had Su Minguan run errands to visit all the host families and take photos of the children’s daily lives. She picked up her pen to write a mid-term report on study abroad affairs, asked Chen Lanbin to polish it, and sent it back to the country with other consulate documents. These would become recruitment materials for the next batch of international students.

She imagined that when parents back home saw these children growing up happily in America, and that they hadn’t been caged, forced to labor, or cruelly experimented on as rumored, they would dispel their doubts, and the second batch of children would be recruited more smoothly.

She was busy wrapping up her work and unconsciously discovered that many things had quietly appeared at home: the attic held a cradle and swaddling clothes used by little Susy Clemens, plus a large box of unused diapers; a big bag of small sweaters and hats knitted by the Black sisters mobilized by Christmas, a basket of crude little toys made by Lin Feilun and the girls, a pile of tonics sent by Rong Hong; the washroom was stuffed with brand-new soft fabrics, soap and Vaseline; the kitchen was stocked with large quantities of condensed milk, beef and sardine cans, plus boxed milk powder that was just beginning to enter ordinary households…

She smiled secretly, silently arranging these miscellaneous items in convenient locations. She thought to herself that the young master had been earning quite a bit on the side lately.

She wrote to Boya’s employees, informing them that she needed to stay in America at least until the end of the year, telling everyone not to worry. Additionally, she had met many business partners during this time and secured some small foreign trade orders, sending them back to the country together, hoping to open up Boya Company’s Shanghai-New York trade route.

Finally, she wrote to relatives, friends, and business partners with greetings, sending American ginseng as gifts to maintain relationships…

Su Minguan felt sorry for her and helped her finish the last batch of letters. Then he directly carried her to a hired carriage and sent her to the New York Maternity Hospital to secure a bed first.

The New England region at this time had cities, but most areas were still forests and countryside. The carriage moved smoothly, wheels rolling over milk thistles and dandelions by the dirt road. Squirrels hopped by the roadside, vultures circled in the sky, and a young deer hid in the bushes, rustling.

Su Minguan reached out and broke off a branch of witch hazel from a roadside tree, gently inhaling its fragrance for a long time, then placed the flowering branch on her chest.

“Don’t be nervous,” he said softly.

Lin Yuchan secretly smiled. That flower had nearly been stripped bare by him, who knew who was more nervous.

But when the full-term little life in her belly suddenly kicked her, she suddenly entered the zone. The mundane affairs of the past few months transformed into a sheet of bright white light, weaving into an invisible door that sent her into a new adventure.

“Xiao Bai,” she suddenly remembered something belatedly, “our marriage certificate…”

“All documents are ready.” He looked at her with amusement. “No police will come to arrest you.”

Only thinking to ask about this now—not too late. Good thing he was careful.

She felt a bit embarrassed and asked again: “Have you thought of a name? How about Youhua?”

Su Minguan smiled slyly, “I have a better one.”

Then he bent down to search through the luggage.

Various documents, cash and checks, change of clothes, countless chocolates, molasses, tea, plus canned goods and dried food…

His smile gradually froze.

Lin Yuchan blinked, gloating.

“Forgot to bring the dictionary?”

Su Minguan was stunned, a touch of red at his brow tips as he gave her an aggrieved look.

She had long ago discovered he was looking through the dictionary! And he hadn’t said a word, just waiting to reap the fruits of his labor!

Who would have thought that he had meticulously brought everything, but that dictionary filled with countless bookmarks was left at home…

Lin Yuchan smiled triumphantly: “Then we’ll have to go with mine…”

Manhattan’s East Side was under construction, and the carriage suddenly jolted violently. Lin Yuchan was about to continue speaking when suddenly the abdominal pain intensified. Her face instantly turned pale, cold sweat soaking her collar, and she could no longer make a sound.

Her last thought was: thankfully, they hadn’t timed their departure precisely…

Su Minguan said nothing and carried her off the carriage.