Chapter 404: New Life (Part 1)

Chapter 404: New Life (Part 1)

“Sister, how is Li Jing?” Hou Weidong arrived at the obstetrics department of the provincial hospital. He found the older woman who worked as the gatekeeper for the Shazhou branch office. Ever since he learned that Li Jing was pregnant, he had changed his form of address for her to “Sister.”

This Sister knew the intimate details of Hou Weidong and Li Jing’s relationship. Seeing him looking as if he were on fire with anxiety, she said, “Don’t worry. Xiao Pin has already been taken inside. Everything is normal.”

“Is it a natural birth or a cesarean section?”

As someone who had been through it herself, the Sister explained, “The doctor checked her. Everything is normal. A natural birth is better. It helps compress the baby’s head, squeezing the amniotic fluid out of the mouth. Such babies are healthier. Plus, the mother’s body recovers more easily.”

Hou Weidong said, “Whether it’s natural or cesarean doesn’t matter. The key is that both mother and child are safe.”

The Sister hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back. After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke. “Xiao Pin went into labor around five o’clock this evening. I sent you a text message. I don’t know if you received it. She didn’t notify anyone else; she just wanted to wait for you to come and sign the consent forms.”

“Wait for me to sign!” Hearing this, Hou Weidong understood what Li Jing had been thinking, and a sour feeling rose in his heart.

Hou Weidong had left with Zhou Changquan for a meeting at four in the afternoon. After the meeting ended, Zhou Changquan left separately, and Hou Weidong did not return to his office. Instead, he went straight home. Therefore, he had not checked the mobile phone sitting in his drawer. Naturally, he had not seen that crucial text message.

The Sister did not know that Hou Weidong had two mobile phones. She had sent the message assuming he would receive it. Li Jing, suffering from severe abdominal pain and having seen blood, was quite nervous. In her anxiety, she had forgotten to mention this detail to the Sister.

It wasn’t until she was admitted to the hospital, her water had broken, and she was about to give birth that she still hadn’t received a reply from Hou Weidong. Only then did Li Jing suddenly remember that Hou Weidong had two phones. Ignoring the potential impact on others, she called his other phone directly.

After the call connected, Li Jing was extremely disappointed. Hou Weidong’s attitude was cold. He offered not a single warm word, nor did he express any intention to come to the provincial hospital. At this critical time in a woman’s life, her psychological state was highly volatile, and she lost her usual sharpness. Heartbroken, she turned off her phone, let the Sister sign the forms on her behalf, and resolutely entered the delivery room.

Now, standing at the door of the delivery room, Hou Weidong paced anxiously, praying constantly in his heart. “Mother and child safe. They must be safe.”

He seemed to faintly hear waves of groans coming from inside, much weaker than those in movies, and he couldn’t tell if it was Li Jing’s voice.

The delivery room was separated from the outside corridor by only an ordinary wooden door, but in the eyes of the several anxious fathers waiting, it was a life-and-death threshold weighing a thousand pounds.

Scene after scene of his time with Li Jing flashed through his mind like lightning. From their chance encounter at Han Lake, to the stone quarry in Qinglin Town, to delivering the dryer to the Qinglin Town Grain Station, to building their cozy little nest in Shazhou and Lingxi, and even the blush on her skin during intimacy—all of it appeared in his mind.

At three in the morning, a nurse finally poked her head out. In a professional tone, she shouted, “Who is Li Jing’s family? Mother and child are safe. It’s a big healthy boy. Eight and a half jin.”

The group of people waiting in the corridor were all there to welcome the new life. Hearing the nurse’s words, a chorus of congratulations erupted. Although they were strangers, in this special environment, everyone was exceptionally friendly and sincere.

The Sister, experienced and prepared, held a bag of candies and handed them out to the people around her with a smile. “Everyone, have some candy. Ah, it’s not my daughter, but my younger sister.”

When the mother and child were wheeled out, Hou Weidong bent down, holding Li Jing’s hand. “Thank you. You’ve worked hard.”

Li Jing looked quite tired. After seeing the baby, and then seeing Hou Weidong’s face filled with joy and anxiety upon leaving the room, the resentment she had felt toward him before labor vanished completely. She whispered gently, “Keep an eye on the son. Don’t let them mix him up when they take him for a bath.”

The room Li Jing occupied was the best in the provincial hospital. It had a bathroom, kitchen, hot water, television, wardrobe, and other complete household facilities. There were two beds, and the price was not cheap. Of course, for Li Jing and Hou Weidong, this amount of money was negligible.

The baby boy squinted his eyes, sleeping soundly in bed. Yes, it was that feeling of deep, peaceful sleep. Hou Weidong stared at this little guy and noticed that the chubby boy’s features were well-proportioned, looking very much like Li Jing. But overall, he resembled Hou Weidong.

Several nurses walked in. A woman who looked like the head nurse entered and praised, “What a good-looking chubby boy.” In Lingxi, there is a custom: you cannot praise a newborn for being beautiful. You must say they are ugly so the newborn can grow up healthy. This is similar to the logic of giving children humble names. Previously, Hou Weidong thought this custom was nonsensical, but now, seeing the tender little life lying on the bed, he felt a strong affinity for this considerate head nurse.

The head nurse was used to seeing young fathers who were overjoyed yet at a loss. She smiled slightly and said, “Young man, pay attention to the precautions for the postpartum mother. Illnesses during the confinement period are hard to cure. You must do your best to take care of the baby’s mother.”

Hou Weidong nodded hurriedly.

“First, adjust the mother’s mindset. Whether her emotions are high or low, it will affect uterine contraction, which can cause postpartum hemorrhage or lead to postpartum depression, resulting in serious consequences. You are a man. During this period, you should take on more responsibility. Try to take leave to care for the mother. Giving birth is like crossing a hurdle. A responsible man must shoulder the responsibility.”

“Second, after delivery, she will feel tired. You must stay by her side. Do not let her fall into a deep sleep. You need to feed the little one his first milk. Remember, feed him every half hour.”

This was the head nurse’s domain, so she spoke with particular confidence, directing matters with ease. “Bleeding may continue from two hours to twenty hours after delivery. Perineal injuries and uterine contractions will cause pain. Rest in a supine position.”

“It is easy to get hungry after giving birth. You can give the mother brown sugar millet porridge, red date rice porridge, chicken soup noodles, crucian carp soup, or boiled eggs.”

“After delivery, she needs to urinate and defecate promptly. Urinate within four to six hours. Defecate within one to two days. You need to help your wife move in bed—turn over, lift legs, tighten the abdomen, and do Kegel exercises. She can get out of bed to move around after eight hours.”

Hou Weidong had not expected caring for a postpartum mother to be so complicated. His head felt heavy. He looked at the Sister for help, but she deliberately turned her head away, ignoring him.

After the head nurse left, the Sister held the baby and came to Li Jing’s bedside. She put the baby to Li Jing’s breast and said, “Little Ugly, eat hard. Use all your strength for nursing.”

Hou Weidong was quite resourceful in front of people like Zhu Yan and Zhou Changquan, but in the hospital room, he could only stand there foolishly, watching the Sister move around efficiently. He couldn’t help at all. When the Sister finished, she handed Little Ugly to Hou Weidong and said, “You’re the father, don’t just stand there stupidly. Hold Little Ugly.”

Looking at the soft, tiny, new, precious life, Hou Weidong’s hands were stiff. He stood carefully by the bedside. Seeing his demeanor, the Sister was both annoyed and amused. “Don’t be so stiff. Soften your hands. Relax.” Hou Weidong said carefully, “I’m afraid he’ll slip.”

The Sister said, “Put Little Ugly on the bed. Go get some hot water.”

Hou Weidong accepted the task and hurriedly picked up the thermos to get hot water. While waiting in line, he looked at his watch. It was nearly five in the morning. He thought of Xiaojia, who was heavily pregnant at home. Then he thought of the task assigned by Zhou Changquan, the Municipal Party Secretary. Then he thought of the head nurse’s instructions. His mind was a mess.

“Go, or not go?”

If he left, he would feel guilty toward Li Jing. If he stayed, he would feel guilty toward Xiaojia. Moreover, there was a pile of work waiting for him at the Municipal Party Committee Office. Hou Weidong’s initial joy was shattered by the difficult reality. He was in a dilemma, unable to move forward or backward.

Returning to the ward, he sat by the bed, looking at Li Jing, then at Little Ugly. Happiness was mixed with fear.

To go or to stay. The two thoughts were like cavalry units engaged in fierce battle, pulling back and forth, evenly matched, neither able to defeat the other.

His expression became anxious and uneasy. He kept looking out the window, then at his watch. At the same time, he couldn’t help but glance at Little Ugly, who had only been in this world for a few hours.

Li Jing had been watching Hou Weidong secretly for a while. When the sky began to lighten, she said, “Sister, give me the phone.” Both Hou Weidong and the Sister looked at Li Jing. Her voice was still weak, but her attitude was firm. “Give it to me.”

The Sister handed the phone over. “Manager Li, you need to rest.” Li Jing smiled and dialed the number. “Old Xin, drive the car over. Make a trip to Shazhou, and bring Old Li along. Let him drive a Bluebird car and follow you to Shazhou.”

Li Jing then said to Hou Weidong, “With Sister here, don’t worry. Your work is special, and you have to go back. Also, you haven’t been home all night. Just take a nap in the car. I’ll have Old Xin drive you.”

Hearing Li Jing’s arrangements, Hou Weidong was completely speechless. He stared at Li Jing for a while but did not act like a spoiled child. “Alright. I’ll come over again tonight.” He looked at Little Ugly by the bed and said to the Sister, “Sister, I leave them in your care. Let me know if you need anyone else.”

The Sister smiled. “I’ve arranged for someone to deliver meals. It’s fine.”

Sitting in Old Xin’s car, Hou Weidong fastened his seatbelt, leaned back against the chair, thought of Little Ugly and Li Jing, and soon fell into a dream.

When he opened his eyes, they had already entered Shazhou territory. He said, “To Xinyue Tower.”

By the time they arrived at Xinyue Tower, Ma Bo’s car was already at the door. Ma Bo looked at Hou Weidong getting out of a car with Lingxi license plates, looking quite puzzled.