The Noblewoman's Carp

"Hurry, Sister-in-law, wake up your fourth daughter-in-law. The child hasn't been born yet, she mustn't fall asleep!" In the blazing afternoon sun, the midwife, Aunt Wang, shouted with a mix of panic and urgency that echoed through the entire Xu family village, sparking whispers among the villagers. "Fourth daughter-in-law, don't sleep, whatever you do! Put in more effort, don't give up, push harder! Push!" Aunt Wang's unspoken concern was evident in her words, causing Granny Xu's expression to change as she harshly pinched the unconscious Cheng Jinyue. The fourth daughter-in-law's body was too weak, clearly lacking strength now. Coupled with the fact that her own mother had died in childbirth, Granny Xu couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. If only she had known that the fourth daughter-in-law had such a delicate constitution, she wouldn't have agreed to this marriage out of consideration for the girl's scholarly father. Was the Xu family really going to face tragedy today? How could the heavens be so blind? What kind of sin had she committed that would make her unable to face the ancestors of the Xu family after death? Seeing Cheng Jinyue still unresponsive, Granny Xu was on the brink of despair. Cheng Jinyue was awakened by pain. Before she could fully regain her senses, she was bewildered by the unfamiliar situation before her. "Fourth daughter-in-law, you're awake? Thank goodness! Listen to me. Put in more effort. I'm not asking you to give birth to a big, fat boy for our Xu family, as long as you safely deliver this child. Once you get through this, you can do as you please at home, and I'll comply with your wishes. I promise to listen to you in the future, support you in every way, and ensure you live without worries..." Watching the fourth daughter-in-law open her eyes again, Granny Xu wiped away tears fiercely, feeling unusually fond of this daughter-in-law who usually loved to be dramatic. Regardless, whether it was a grandson or granddaughter, as long as the fourth daughter-in-law and the child were safe, she asked for nothing more. Couldn't she just accept her fate? She hoped that God would spare the fourth daughter-in-law's life, allowing the Xu family to accumulate blessings. With these thoughts in mind, Granny Xu felt a pang of sorrow, a bitter taste she couldn't express. Marrying into the Xu family at the age of fifteen, she had given birth to five big, healthy sons for the Xu family, living a prosperous life. Her posture was straighter than any other wife in the Xu family village, young or old. Yet, she never imagined that in the next generation, all the Xu family would have were granddaughters, not just one or two, but seven. Excluding the child in the fourth daughter-in-law's belly, she already had seven granddaughters! Unable to entertain thoughts of having a golden grandson, Granny Xu, who had been strong her whole life, put aside her usual dislike for this daughter-in-law and offered one comforting word after another, making one promise after another. "A big, fat boy? Am I giving birth to a child?!" Cheng Jinyue's spirits were lifted, feeling an unprecedented joy. After the apocalypse, having a child was more difficult than reaching the sky. Regardless of whether it was a big, fat boy or a chubby girl, it was a blessing. She was born into a rare species in the apocalypse, where children were the most precious beings. "Are you awake? Hurry and give birth, we can't delay any longer!" Finally, when Cheng Jinyue woke up, Aunt Wang urged her anxiously. This was the last hope; any further delay would not only risk the child's safety but also endanger the mother. "Awake, awake. Fourth daughter-in-law, put in more effort. The child is about to be born soon. Come on, breathe deeply and push with force!" Although not a midwife, Granny Xu had witnessed the births of her seven granddaughters and raised five sons and a daughter herself, making her very experienced. She began imparting her knowledge to Cheng Jinyue immediately. Unfamiliar with such situations, Cheng Jinyue gritted her teeth, enduring the intense pain she had never experienced before. Following Granny Xu's instructions, she took a deep breath and pushed with all her might. "Yes, yes, just like that! Fourth daughter-in-law, hold on. I can see the baby's head, push harder!" Aunt Wang was a renowned midwife in the surrounding area, and with her assistance, rarely did any childbirth encounter complications. The moment Cheng Jinyue fainted earlier had truly frightened Aunt Wang. Now, finally seeing the baby coming out, her face showed joy, and her voice trembled with excitement. Cheng Jinyue could feel the baby coming out. Without hesitation, she exerted herself, and Granny Xu jubilantly shouted, "It's born, it's born!" "Old lady! What did you give birth to?" Since the fourth daughter-in-law was taken into the house, Grandpa Xu had been waiting outside. He had listened throughout the difficult birth of the fourth daughter-in-law and had almost lost hope. Unexpectedly, just when he had almost given up, he heard Granny Xu's joyful shout. Listening to the uncontrollable joy in Granny Xu's voice, Grandpa Xu suddenly had a long-awaited guess in his heart. However, after being disappointed so many times before, he dared not jump to conclusions easily. The Xu family members in the yard all gazed at the room where the fourth daughter-in-law, Cheng Jinyue, lay, awaiting the final announcement from Granny Xu. Whether it was a son or a daughter, they eagerly awaited the news! "A grandson! It's a grandson! Old man, our Xu family has an heir!" Overwhelmed by extreme despair turning into joy, Granny Xu's voice began to tremble with excitement. Quickly wrapping the newborn chubby grandson, Granny Xu couldn't contain her joy on her face and in her eyes. Happily, she ran outside. A son... Although she couldn't see the baby's face, Cheng Jinyue at least saw the red cotton blanket wrapped around the child. Blinking, Cheng Jinyue was feeling regretful as she prepared to sit up and go see the child, but suddenly she felt movement in her belly once again. This... This feeling was familiar, just like before? After a moment of shock, Cheng Jinyue instinctively shouted, "There's another one in my belly!" "What?" Aunt Wang, who was reluctant to let go of the chubby grandson in her arms, heard Cheng Jinyue's cry from the room. She immediately turned back, closing the door as she rushed back inside, speaking with kindness and closeness, "It's coming, it's coming! Don't worry, Fourth Daughter-in-law, I'm here..." The men of the Xu family outside the room didn't have much reaction, but the mood of the Xu family daughters-in-law was different. Not used to being treated affectionately by Aunt Wang, they were somewhat surprised. Although they had anticipated that the fourth daughter-in-law would rise in status after giving birth to a son, the sudden change made the other four Xu family daughters-in-law feel a bit lost. "Mother, why is there another one?" Having been forced into this situation for the first time, Cheng Jinyue truly didn't understand anything about childbirth. Anxiously pointing to her still-swollen belly, she feared that the child would develop some problems if left inside for too long. "Twins, they are twins!" After being a midwife for so many years, Aunt Wang had never personally delivered twins. After the initial astonishment, she quickly spoke up. Of course, they could be fraternal twins. But Aunt Wang didn't mention that. Given the Xu family's seven granddaughters, twins would definitely be more welcomed. Upon hearing that they were twins, Granny Xu was overjoyed and quickly grabbed Cheng Jinyue's hand, "Come on, Fourth Daughter-in-law, push with me. You've already given birth to a big, fat boy, what else are you afraid of?" At this moment, in Granny Xu's heart, she was confident that her formidable fourth daughter-in-law could give birth to another big, healthy grandson. After preparing Cheng Jinyue, Granny Xu was much calmer than before. Although meeting for the first time, Cheng Jinyue had an almost intuitive fondness for Granny Xu. Her intuition had never failed her. Nodding immediately, she looked at Granny Xu with trust, "I'll follow your lead." Wow! This was the first time she had heard such heartwarming words from her lofty fourth daughter-in-law's mouth! Going through life and death together truly made a difference! Granny Xu's gaze towards Cheng Jinyue became even more affectionate, and with confidence, she exclaimed, "Breathe deeply, push! Push harder!" Cheng Jinyue remained silent, mustering all her strength for a deep breath and pushing once again. This time, it was much quicker than before. Cheng Jinyue felt as though she still had energy left, and she heard Granny Xu's delighted exclamation once again, "It's a grandson! Another grandson!" "Congratulations, congratulations! Sister-in-law, your wish has come true, double happiness is here!" Aunt Wang also hadn't expected that the fourth Xu family daughter-in-law had indeed given birth to two big, chubby boys in her first pregnancy. Glancing at Cheng Jinyue lying on the bed, Aunt Wang couldn't help shaking her head inwardly. Fate was something else, especially for this scholar's daughter from the Xu family. Her fortune was unmatched. "Congratulations! Thanks to Aunt Wang today, otherwise my sister-in-law would have suffered a lot." Holding the chubby grandson, Granny Xu, who was usually stern, became very agreeable. She cheerfully pulled out twenty copper coins and handed them to Aunt Wang, "Thank you, Aunt Wang. I'll send you red eggs tomorrow as a gift, double the amount." As common rural folks, they paid special attention to details. When Aunt Wang assisted with deliveries, she didn't usually ask for a fee; it was the villagers who voluntarily contributed. Five or ten copper coins, depending on their willingness. Typically, a daughter cost five coins while a son cost ten. With the Xu family's seven granddaughters, they were worth five coins each. Granny Xu directly gave twenty coins, the highest price Aunt Wang had received in years. Aunt Wang was naturally pleased, accepting the money with a smile and not refusing Granny Xu's generosity. "I'll definitely enjoy the red eggs, and I'll happily take the double portion." "Of course, of course." Granny Xu promptly replied, personally seeing Aunt Wang out. "Please stay, your daughter-in-law is quite weak right now. Prepare some food for her to regain strength. Today's ordeal has been exhausting. From what I see, Sister-in-law's good fortune may just be beginning!" Aunt Wang didn't need to say these words, but thinking of the fourth daughter-in-law's background, she was happy to offer this kindness. You never know when they might need this fourth Xu daughter-in-law's help in return! It's always good to keep multiple paths open for a smoother journey. "Given your kind words, I'll be waiting." Understanding without Aunt Wang's reminder, Granny Xu would certainly support Cheng Jinyue and make sure she was well taken care of. Turning back, she called from outside, "Eldest daughter-in-law, quickly, prepare a bowl of noodles for your fourth sister-in-law, and bring her two, no, four eggs!"