Chapter 443 – Born!
But the small courtyard only had one toilet, and it was outside.
Worried that it would be inconvenient to get up in the dark at night, Xu Jinning suggested placing a chamber pot inside the house.
After they got the chamber pot, it became much more convenient.
Once Xu Fanghua finished using the toilet inside, she could quickly return to bed and go back to sleep.
She no longer had to light a lamp and walk to the outdoor toilet, which used to take a lot of time. With the poor lighting at night, there was always the risk of tripping or falling.
Falling during late pregnancy would be a very serious matter.
Additionally, with frequent trips back and forth in the cold night air, it was easy to catch a cold.
Now that they had the chamber pot, the problem of getting up at night to use the toilet was resolved.
As for cramps, with Xu Jinning around, Xu Fanghua was able to sleep well at night.
Moreover, Xu Fanghua didn’t know why, but she always felt that with Ningning sleeping beside her, she no longer experienced the anxiety or emotional lows that would sometimes wake her up in the middle of the night.
She slept peacefully and comfortably. If it weren’t for the need to use the toilet, she could sleep through the night until morning.
In fact, Xu Fanghua’s feelings were accurate.
Xu Jinning was now blessed with abundant fortune, and anyone close to her or who spent time by her side could also benefit from that fortune’s protection.
That was why Xu Fanghua felt so at ease.
Feeling calm improved her mood and complexion, making her look radiant.
So, during the late stages of her pregnancy, Xu Fanghua was in excellent health and spirits.
As time passed, the due date approached, and Xu Fanghua’s expected delivery day arrived.
The little one in Xu Fanghua’s belly timed things perfectly. On the morning of her due date, right after finishing breakfast and taking a walk to aid digestion, Xu Fanghua suddenly felt a sharp pain in her belly. Then something began to flow, and her pants became wet.
Xu Jinning didn’t have to work or attend class today.
As soon as she heard her older sister exclaim, “Oh no!”, she immediately looked over.
Having been exposed to the vast information of the modern world, she quickly realized what was happening.
“The water broke.” Xu Jinning rushed over to support Xu Fanghua and called out to Mother Song, who was folding clothes in the room. “Aunt Song, my sister’s water broke. She’s going into labor, we need to get to the hospital right away.”
Hearing Xu Jinning’s voice, Mother Song ran out immediately.
Having given birth to two children herself, she quickly recognized the situation.
She hurried into Xu Fanghua’s room, grabbed the prepared maternity bag, and came back out.
“Hurry, we need to get to the hospital quickly. The water’s broken, and the delivery might happen fast. We can’t waste any time.”
The hospital was a bit of a distance from the small courtyard, but that wasn’t a problem—Xu Jinning had a car.
This car was borrowed from Xie Ting’an, just in case of an emergency like this.
Xu Jinning pulled the car out, helped Xu Fanghua into the seat, and after Mother Song got in with the supplies, she immediately drove toward the hospital.
Xu Jinning had learned how to drive in her previous life and even had a driver’s license.
In this life, she knew how to drive as well.
Although she was a bit anxious due to her sister’s condition, as the driver responsible for everyone’s safety, Xu Jinning reminded herself not to panic. She took several deep breaths to calm herself.
Xu Fanghua, worried that her voice might distract Xu Jinning, bit her lip and kept quiet, even when the contractions caused her pain.
Though Mother Song was concerned about her daughter-in-law’s condition and eager to reach the hospital quickly, she knew better than to rush the driver at this moment.
Fortunately, Xu Jinning’s driving skills and composure held up.
The road from the small courtyard to the hospital was quite smooth, and without any traffic, they arrived at the hospital in just over ten minutes.
Although this was Xu Fanghua’s first child, the baby was an angel and didn’t cause her much trouble.
Half an hour after Xu Fanghua was wheeled into the delivery room, a nurse came out holding a swaddled bundle.
“Congratulations, Comrade Xu Fanghua has given birth to a baby girl. She’s very fair-skinned.”
…
“Big sister, you’re awake! Look, here’s my little niece.”
After giving birth, Xu Fanghua remained conscious and was brought to her hospital room, where Xu Jinning held the baby for her to see.
Looking at the tiny face in the swaddle, Xu Fanghua’s eyes were full of tenderness. “She looks like her father.”
“Yes, I think she looks like Ayi too,” Mother Song said happily.
“Fanghua, how are you feeling? Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat, or are you too tired and want to rest?” Mother Song asked, her eyes filled with concern for her daughter-in-law.
Xu Fanghua had gone into labor not long after breakfast, and since it was still before noon, she didn’t feel hungry, but she was definitely exhausted.
“If you’re tired, big sister, go ahead and sleep. We’ll stay here with you and the baby,” Xu Jinning said.
“Okay,” Xu Fanghua replied, and after speaking, she closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.
For the next two days, Xu Fanghua stayed in the hospital. Xu Jinning had arranged a private room for her sister, even though it was more expensive, to avoid unnecessary disturbances.
She had read period novels before, and whenever the heroine gave birth, Xu Jinning noticed that the heroine often ended up in shared rooms where the facilities and the other occupants weren’t ideal.
It was noisy, and there was even the possibility of children being stolen.
For example, the original owner had been switched by the Lin family back then.
So, Xu Jinning was very cautious about her sister giving birth.
Even if it meant spending a bit more money, it was worth it to ensure a peaceful and comfortable stay.
With Xu Fanghua in the hospital, Xu Jinning had to take a leave from school. She also arranged for other teachers to cover her classes temporarily so she could take care of her sister.
After two days in the hospital, Xu Fanghua was discharged and returned to the small courtyard.
There were two reasons for this: First, Xu Fanghua’s recovery was progressing well. Second, staying at home was more convenient than being in the hospital. It was easier to manage meals and other needs during the confinement period at home.
Thus, after returning to the small courtyard, Xu Fanghua’s confinement period officially began.
Xu Jinning’s primary focus was on taking care of the baby, while Aunt Song’s task was to prepare nutritious food to help Xu Fanghua recover.
Xu Jinning had previously bought a lot of supplements, which Mother Song would prepare for her sister as needed during the confinement period.
The confinement period was all about eating well and sleeping well to ensure a full recovery and avoid any postpartum issues.
On the day Xu Fanghua gave birth, Xu Jinning made a phone call home to inform her parents of the news.
Of course, it wasn’t just her parents who learned of it; Zhang Ailian and the others quickly shared the news with the Song family.
Everyone was very happy to hear the news. If the distance between Qinghe Village and Beijing City weren’t so great, they would have rushed to Beijing immediately to see Xu Fanghua and the newborn baby.
Perhaps sensing something, that same night, far away in Country A, Song Yi also had a dream.
In his dream, a little girl with braided hair, delicate and adorable, was hugging him and calling him “Daddy” in a sweet, babyish voice.
