Chapter 406: Chapter 406: Approaching Labor

Xu Qinghuan laughed, “Dad, don’t be like that, it’s not like I’m being tortured.”

With Jian Jingchuan here, Xu Qinghuan felt even more at a loss.

“How is Old Ren doing after he went back, is he busy, and who is taking care of Jingmo?” Xu Qinghuan asked.

“He works at the Medical University, mainly focusing on policy research now.” Jian Jingchuan didn’t specify what the policy was, but Xu Qinghuan understood, “When Old Ren is busy, he leaves Jingmo at the Qin Family’s place. The two families live close by, so Jingmo and Fanfan go to school together and keep each other company.”

Xu Qinghuan was somewhat wistful about life in Yan City. Although it’s nice here, it’s actually quite difficult for her to adapt.

Jiang Xingye was also aware of this fact.

Xu Qinghuan could return to the city, but Jiang Xingye was originally from the countryside. If the policy doesn’t change, he has almost no way to move to the city, which is why he didn’t dare to hope for it initially.

He didn’t dare to have fantasies about the future, so naturally, he wouldn’t add pressure on Xu Qinghuan, making it easier for her to return to the city whenever she had the chance.

Jiang Xingye got up early every day, making breakfast himself. Sometimes, if he didn’t have time for lunch, Jian Jingchuan would do it.

Compared to Jiang Xingye, Jian Jingchuan’s cooking was much worse; his meals could only be described as edible without causing harm.

In fact, Jiang Xingye’s culinary skills were not good at the beginning either; he could only cook things until they were done. But after guidance from Xu Qinghuan, he improved quickly, though Jian Jingchuan seemed to lack talent in this aspect.

“Xingye, wait up!”

At midday, Hu Hai saw Jiang Xingye coming out of the office and hurried over, “Xingye, wait a moment, I have something to discuss with you.”

“What’s the matter? If it’s nothing serious, hold on; I need to go back and cook for my wife.” Jiang Xingye pushed away the cigarette Hu Hai offered him, “I don’t smoke, don’t want to bother my wife and daughter with it.”

“Come on, your daughter isn’t even born yet; what’s there to worry about?” Hu Hai lit a cigarette himself, took a big drag, and Jiang Xingye quickly stepped back.

“Xingye, I’ve taken a fancy to the new Zhiqing, Cao Xiurong. I think she has a bit of a thing for me too. A couple of days ago, she even accepted a corn cob from me. Give me some advice, how can I get Cao Zhiqing to marry me?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xingye started to walk away, “How should I know?”

Hu Hai didn’t let him off, catching up with him, “How did you manage to win over your wife back then?”

Jiang Xingye, having won over Xu Qinghuan, was considered the envy of the entire Shangjiang Team. He almost drove the male members of the team crazy with jealousy. Who wouldn’t want to catch luck like Jiang Xingye?

Marrying a Zhiqing and bringing prosperity to the whole team, with four brothers eating off state-owned wages, he was practically the example of one person achieving success and uplifting everyone around him.

Jiang Xingye couldn’t stand being pestered and was eager to get home to cook for his wife. He didn’t want his wife and child suffering from the father-in-law’s culinary skills, “My wife fell in love with me at first sight, and I fell for her at first sight too. Isn’t it different?

We’re rushing towards each other. However, since Cao Zhiqing accepted your corn cob, maybe she does have a thing for you. Why don’t you give her two eggs next time? If she accepts them too, there’s hope.”

Afraid that Hu Hai would continue to pester him, he waved his hand, “You go deliver the eggs first, don’t follow me. Deal with that and come back.”

Hu Hai was filled with joy and hurriedly ran off, “Xingye, if it works out, I’ll have my mom sew a pair of shoes for you.”

Jiang Xingye didn’t pay him any mind and went back home. Seeing his father-in-law tending to the stove, he quickly paced over, “Dad, it’s so hot, let me do it, you should rest.”

Jian Jingchuan refused, “I was planning to make some braised pork for Qinghuan, and you’ve been busy for a while already, I should do it.”

Jiang Xingye wouldn’t have it. His father-in-law’s last attempt at braised pork wasn’t even cooked properly, and he worried it would make his wife and child sick, “Dad, let me handle it. It’s too hot; I don’t want you to get heatstroke.”

Seeing Jiang Xingye so anxious, Xu Qinghuan couldn’t help but giggle, leaning against the door frame, “Ah Ye, elder sister just came by calling for you, there might be something up.”

Jiang Xingye was a bit reluctant but seeing his wife with smiling eyes, fully focused on him, all his frustrations melted away. He reminded, “Dad, make sure to cook the braised pork a little longer.”

The braised pork, in the end, wasn’t eaten. As the dishes were being served, Xu Qinghuan sneezed, suddenly feeling some discomfort below. She sneezed two more times, which was a bit unusual.

She quickly went to the bathroom at the back, didn’t see any blood, but her water had broken.

She hurriedly took a pill and said after coming out, “Dad, Ah Ye, we need to go to the hospital.”

The two men nearly dropped their bowls.

Originally, she said, “There’s no hurry, it’s not that fast, let’s eat first,” but neither of them felt like eating anymore.

Jian Jingchuan called out, “Ah Ye, go get the delivery bag, I’ll get the car.”

Jiang Xingye turned around in the room, muttering, “Delivery bag, delivery bag, Huanhuan, where is it?”

Xu Qinghuan pinched him, “Calm down.”

He was almost in tears, holding Xu Qinghuan, stroking her belly, “Wife, does it hurt?”

“Why would it be so fast?”

But in fact, contractions had begun.

Seeing Jiang Xingye so useless, Jian Jingchuan went over to Jiang Xinglan’s place and called out, “Elder sister, Huanhuan’s going to give birth, can you come and help?”

Jiang Xinglan quickly sent her daughter to the front to call people, locked her door, and hurried out, “I’ll go with you.”

Zhou Guizhi also came upon hearing the news. A total of five people went, and Jian Jingchuan drove them to the People’s Hospital.

Jiang Xingye had arranged for a bed at the People’s Hospital in advance, but there weren’t enough beds. Deng Aiguo was very apologetic, “I didn’t expect the birth to be early. A bed will be available tomorrow, but you’ll have to bear with us today.”

Xu Qinghuan smiled, “It’s not really about bearing with it. We can’t make exceptions. I just have one request: Can Doctor Song help with the delivery?”

“That’s no problem, I’ll talk to Doctor Song about it.”

Song Yanqing was surprised that Xu Qinghuan still trusted her so much, feeling a sense of responsibility that filled her with determination to care for Xu Qinghuan with extra dedication.

The first birth was difficult.

After Xu Qinghuan medicated herself, the labor pains intensified quickly, and within two hours, the cervix dilated to five centimeters.

Jiang Xingye and Jian Jingchuan helped her pace slowly in the corridor. When the labor pains hit, she sweated profusely, and it was torture even for the bystanders anxiously waiting by her side.

Jiang Xingye’s eyes turned red, and he kept silently saying to himself, never again, it’s not worth it. He felt like he was watching his own life slipping away.

Every second felt like torture.

Jiang Xinglan looked on with a mix of amusement and frustration, knowing full well that childbirth was like this for every woman, yet she couldn’t help but feel deeply for Xu Qinghuan.

Around nine at night, Xu Qinghuan entered the delivery room.

As the door closed, Jiang Xingye felt a sudden void, wanting to follow her inside, but the midwife naturally wouldn’t allow it, “No men should be watching women give birth.”

“I’m her husband. I want to be by her side.” Jiang Xingye insisted stubbornly.

“It’s not just your wife in there. If we allowed that, everything would be in chaos,” the midwife said before shutting the door with a snap.

Jiang Xingye sat squatting at the doorway, like a pitiful large dog, or perhaps a beggar.

Jian Jingchuan sat back on a chair, leaning his head against the wall, closing his eyes. The gut-wrenching screams from within were like a knife cutting into his heart.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep