2. Cesarean Delivery

Cesarean section, decades ago, was rumored to have happened only twice. The first time, the mother died immediately after the child was born. The second time, the child didn’t survive, and the mother only lived for three days.

Father Luo knew well that even though his daughter looked spirited and not on the brink of death, it was likely only a matter of days.

The child’s mother had left him years ago, and he had raised his daughter alone. He had once hoped for grandchildren but never wanted his daughter to risk her life for a child she had never met.

When he first heard that his daughter insisted on a cesarean, he couldn’t understand. She was alive—everything was possible, including having the child. Even if she couldn’t have a child, what difference would it make?

Father Luo was selfish; he refused to let his daughter die for anyone, not even for a grandchild. Hearing that there might be something suspicious inside, how could he bear it?

After berating Li Hualin, he immediately ordered the maid, “Go fetch the midwife. I want to ask her myself. If she can’t explain, then this is murder, and I will seek justice for Mei!”

His voice choked up at the end. He reached out, grasped Chu Yunli’s wrist, his voice hoarse, “Mei, you must hold on. Don’t leave me alone.”

Chu Yunli looked at his face, which had aged considerably in just two days, her heart aching. “Father, I won’t have anything happen to me.”

Her voice was faint—her vitality was depleted.

Li Hualin dared not say more and stood silently aside. Chu Yunli glanced over, “It really wasn’t your order for the midwife to perform the cesarean.”

Hearing this, Li Hualin’s face was filled with grief and anger. “You are my wife and my family. When you say things like that, it’s an insult to me. Seeing you so wounded pains me deeply. If someone truly harmed you, I would have dealt with her without needing your father to step in!”

Chu Yunli’s wound hurt badly, rendering her unable to move. She closed her eyes to rest.

Father Luo’s heart burned with anxiety. Despite his frailty, he couldn’t sit still. He got up and paced, hands behind his back. Honestly, he hated the thought that someone might have harmed his daughter. Their relationship was good; if sabotage had occurred, it must have been Li Hualin.

How could his daughter accept such a truth?

Moreover, with her severely injured state, could she survive such a blow?

Li Hualin helped him sit down. “Father, don’t worry. The doctor will be here soon.”

The doctor arrived faster than the midwife had. He had come the day before. Although cesarean births were recorded in ancient texts, mothers never survived. As a healer committed to saving lives, he was eager to save someone whom history deemed unsaveable, hoping to make a remarkable record.

Seeing Chu Yunli’s relatively good spirit and ability to speak—an improvement from yesterday—the doctor was filled with hope and quickly took her pulse.

“If there is no high fever and the wound is well cared for, avoiding infection, once it heals, perhaps…” there might be a chance.

Father Luo’s eyes reddened. His daughter had always been a tomboy, yet such a large wound to bear for a child—even a man would find it unbearable.

The doctor prescribed several medicines, left wound treatments, and repeatedly urged them to call if anything happened before reluctantly leaving. Honestly, he wished to stay and watch over the Luo family himself.

Neither the doctor nor Father Luo dared to linger. Chu Yunli’s face was ghostly pale, clearly weakened and in need of rest. When he left, he took Li Hualin with him.

As for the midwife… she had fled.

Her family knew nothing of her whereabouts. Enraged, Father Luo wanted to report her to the authorities but was too weak to leave. Li Hualin insisted there was no evidence and cautioned against false accusations, reminding him to consider the family. If the midwife was innocent, accusing her would ruin the Luo family—old and weak members, and a baby still in swaddling clothes.

Though he suspected Li Hualin, Father Luo lacked proof and reluctantly agreed. After all, the midwife’s entire family had deep roots here. She couldn’t escape forever; sooner or later, she would return.

Still, if anything happened to his daughter, he would dig the earth three feet deep to find the culprit and make the midwife pay with her life.

That night, Chu Yunli developed a high fever.

With such severe injuries and crude handling, a fever was inevitable. She summoned strength to command the maid to wipe her down.

Perhaps Li Hualin didn’t want to make his actions too obvious. The new maid was honest and efficient, careful not to neglect her duties.

By dawn, Chu Yunli’s fever broke. After enduring the night, she could no longer hold on and fell into a deep sleep.

She dreamed again—this time of Feng Shaoan. When she reached out, he did hold her, but his figure was ethereal, just a shadow. She embraced only emptiness.

He looked like the earliest version of herself.

The good news was that Feng Shaoan had also become like her, helping others dissipate resentment. A voice told Chu Yunli that if they accumulated one million “good deeds,” they could reunite.

That was why Chu Yunli had come here.

But this time, it was unbearably painful!

Li Hualin was truly inhuman.

Chu Yunli was roused by the noise. Outside, the sun shone brightly, but the shouting grated on her nerves. Her spirit and strength were slightly better than the day before.

“No entry!”

That was Father Luo’s voice, tinged with desperation.

“I barely found time to visit, just to see my sister-in-law. It’s out of concern for her. They say an elder sister-in-law is like a mother. She gave birth to the child with all her might. Regardless of the child’s surname, half of it belongs to the Li family. If I don’t visit or see her, it would be disrespectful of me as her elder sister-in-law!”

The voice was familiar—Yang Shi, Li Hualin’s eldest sister. The two sisters-in-law had little contact, but Luo Mei didn’t like this elder sister-in-law, finding her tone sarcastic.

Father Luo was already ill, sleepless and worried over his daughter, barely eating, his vitality much diminished. He had little strength to argue and could not prevail over her.

Yang Shi spoke again, “I’ll keep my voice down, just a quick look, then I’ll leave. I won’t disturb sister-in-law.”

Before her words finished, the door was pushed open.

Chu Yunli looked toward the sound and saw Father Luo leaning back, apparently blocking the doorway. Yang Shi pushed him aside, eager to enter.

Her heart leapt. Seeing Father Luo barely steadying himself against the doorframe, she relaxed but anger rose, and she scolded, “Li Hualin, are you blind or foolish? Father is about to collapse, and you don’t help him? Are your hands made of gold?”

Yang Shi, already inside, was shocked by Chu Yunli’s words. “Sister-in-law, you really had your abdomen cut open?”

Having her abdomen cut was already a miracle that she hadn’t died then. After two days of care, she should have been clinging to life, yet Luo Mei was still sharp-tongued and spirited, hardly like someone near death.

Chu Yunli glanced up. “Eldest sister-in-law, I didn’t believe my brother when he said your eyes were failing, but now it seems true.”

Yang Shi snapped back to herself, embarrassed. “That was an accident.”

Chu Yunli looked away, suddenly catching Father Luo’s gaze—full of suspicion, shock, and confusion.

Seeing his intense stare, Chu Yunli’s heart skipped a beat. Could he have recognized her?

She met his eyes without hesitation, puzzled, “Father?”

Father Luo recovered and asked anxiously, “Are you feeling better?”

Chu Yunli blinked. “Much better than a few days ago. I can speak a lot more smoothly today.”

This was true. Father Luo felt joy mingled with worry, fearing it was just a fleeting recovery.

Yang Shi remained doubtful. Though the injury was severe, this didn’t fit the story of a near-fatal cesarean. She asked curiously, “Sister-in-law, does your wound hurt?”

Chu Yunli retorted, “Does it hurt when your belly is sliced open?”

Yang Shi sensed her displeasure and replied bluntly, “Sister-in-law, you sound like you blame me. You wanted to keep the child, you gave birth yourself. Now you suffer, how can you blame me?”

“Me, wanting to keep the child?” Chu Yunli’s smile was faintly ironic. “Did you hear that yourself?”

Yang Shi was stunned, then looked at Li Hualin in confusion. “Isn’t that so? When I heard, I didn’t understand either. You’re young—you can have more children later. Trading one life for another is too costly.”

Chu Yunli, weak and exhausted, leaned on her pillow. “I don’t know who said I wanted to keep the child. The child is indeed my blood, but I never wanted to trade my life for his.” Mainly because Father Luo was ill; if she died, he likely wouldn’t survive either. She wouldn’t sacrifice two lives for an unborn child. If she had a choice, no matter the heartbreak, she would endure the pain and give up the child to save herself.

At this, Father Luo’s face was filled with fury. “I’ve already sent people to find that midwife. She will pay with her blood!”

Li Hualin disapproved. “She was helping Mei and the child. Thankfully, mother and child are safe now… Father, sometimes mercy is needed. She did a great favor.”

Father Luo shouted, “If she’s not guilty, why run?”

Li Hualin argued, “Maybe she had to leave the city temporarily. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”

Chu Yunli had no energy to argue. She would deal with it after recovery. But Father Luo couldn’t bear it. Slamming the table, he growled, “Li Hualin, Mei is lying in bed, barely alive, and you defend a stranger? Where do your loyalties lie?”

Seeing his genuine anger, Li Hualin hurried forward. “Father, don’t be anxious. I’m just hypothesizing. I’m not ignoring her faults—I’ve already sent more people to find her. Once we find her, we’ll bring her back immediately. Mei is my wife. I’m also heartbroken by what happened. Please don’t let your worry worsen your illness.”

Suddenly, Chu Yunli spoke: “Father, she won’t have gone far. Search the villages outside the city.”

Father Luo was stunned but immediately agreed.

Li Hualin’s expression remained calm, though his fingers trembled slightly within his sleeve.