Chapter 115: A Solution Found

Those who had grabbed Chen Tianming recoiled, pulling their necks in as if afraid that approaching him would bring down divine lightning. Even the heavens seemed to deem Chen Tianming’s defiance as a grave offense. Yet, seeing the lightning hold back, they relaxed slightly, thinking perhaps the storm could distinguish the righteous from the wicked and would not strike indiscriminately.

Chen Daliu was anxiously waiting. Catching sight of the situation from the corner of his eye, he sternly commanded, “Hold him tight. We’ll deal with him later.”

Since the Lady had already entered, they could not allow this youth to cause any further disturbance.

“Yes, Village Chief, rest assured,” came the reply.

“Village Chief, if this fool recklessly barges in, it will only harm his aunt,” said a young man surnamed Chen, sensing the disdainful glances from others not sharing his surname.

Though he knew the contempt wasn’t directed at him personally, the presence of such an unfilial and disrespectful member was indeed a disgrace to the Chen family. The entire clan’s honor was at stake.

“Don’t say that!” Old Lady Zhang turned sharply and scolded.

Though Chen Tianming was at fault, the elderly lady and the young woman in labor were unaware of his actions, so now was not the time to add fuel to the fire.

In truth, after Bai Xi entered the delivery room, Chen Tianming had fallen silent, fixating his gaze on the door, murmuring repeatedly, “As long as Aunt is safe, I’m willing to sacrifice my life to make amends for the Lady...”

Little Shunzi overheard this and felt an urge to spit in Chen Tianming’s face.

The Lady was so precious—how could he think his miserable life would suffice as compensation for insulting her?

Not only Little Shunzi, but Xiao Shitou and the others glared fiercely at Chen Tianming. If it were not for the presence of other elders, they would have mobbed him and dragged him outside for a severe beating.

Inside the delivery room, Xiao Tao was indeed hemorrhaging heavily. The disrespectful questioning from Chen Tianming at the door had frightened her so much she tried to sit up to plead, only worsening the bleeding.

Suddenly, Bai Xi’s entrance startled everyone.

“Aunt, the Lady?” Zhang Xiu, who was about to fetch hot water, froze at the sight of Bai Xi entering.

Chen Zhaodi exclaimed, “Lady, why have you come in?”

Childbirth was considered ominous; if the Lady’s fortune were tainted, it could bring bad luck.

Bai Xi’s brows furrowed deeper as she stepped inside, the metallic scent of blood growing stronger.

“Forget those superstitions for now. Do what needs to be done. How is the situation?”

The midwife, too anxious to exchange pleasantries, steadied herself and replied, “Lady, the baby’s foot is the only part that has come out so far. I’m still trying to find a way.”

Earlier, when the bleeding was minimal, there was hope; now, with heavy hemorrhaging, if no solution was found soon, both mother and child might perish.

“Are you sure it’s only one foot?”

Though Xiao Tao could not speak, her eyes pleaded silently at Bai Xi, while the old lady gripped her hand tightly, urging her to hold on and looking at Bai Xi with hope.

In truth, even the old lady knew that at this stage, no one could be relied upon. No matter how blessed the Lady was, childbirth complications were beyond luck’s control.

“Think of something,” Bai Xi urged. She understood her presence might be futile, but since the villagers believed she was blessed, her being there might steady their nerves or offer Xiao Tao a glimmer of hope to persevere.

“Oh, yes, I’ll try...” the midwife nodded hurriedly and returned to the bedside.

Bai Xi’s presence indeed calmed everyone, but moments later, the midwife cried out, “No, if this continues, both mother and child will die!”

The pain and fear that the baby inside might suffocate drove Xiao Tao to try to deliver, but with only one foot protruding sideways, any effort only worsened the wound and increased the bleeding.

Pacing anxiously, Bai Xi suddenly stopped and hurried to the bedside. Before Chen Zhaodi could stop her, she glanced at Xiao Tao’s condition, then, after a moment’s thought, ordered, “Use a needle!”

“What?” The sudden command left everyone stunned.

“Take a needle and prick the baby’s foot. The pain will make it pull back, which might allow the baby to be born.”

The midwife was dumbfounded by the suggestion—could this truly work?

But she hesitated only a second before grabbing a sewing needle from the nearby basket. She was so anxious she knocked the basket over, but no one minded.

At this point, it was a desperate measure; better to try and fail than to do nothing.

Bai Xi herself was uncertain, but with two lives at stake—her people—she could not stand idly by.

A memory flashed in her mind of a story she had heard during her travels in a distant land, where a similar circumstance had been resolved this way. So she shared the method immediately.

“Remember, don’t prick too lightly. And if the foot pulls back, you must quickly adjust the baby’s position while it moves. Otherwise, the foot will remain in the same place, and the problem will persist.”

“Yes, Lady, I understand,” the midwife replied solemnly, acutely aware of the life-and-death stakes.

“Very well.” Bai Xi nodded gravely, then looked at Xiao Tao, who was breathing heavily with her mouth agape. “It will hurt a lot, but once you endure it, both you and the baby will be safe.”

Xiao Tao could not speak, tears streaming down her pale face and reddened eyes. She nodded, struggling to say, “Thank you... Lady.”

The midwife heated the needle over the candle flame, then, gripping the baby’s foot still inside Xiao Tao, took a deep breath and steeled herself before pricking the tiny sole with force.

The baby’s foot indeed twitched in pain and retracted.

Quick as a flash, the midwife dropped the needle and, following the baby’s movement, pressed firmly on Xiao Tao’s abdomen, turning the baby over like spinning a watermelon.

Xiao Tao let out a pitiful cry, biting her lip to swallow the rest.

Bai Xi watched intently as the rounded belly shifted under the midwife’s hands, the baby turning from a sideways position to one headfirst.

Satisfied, Bai Xi stepped aside, leaving the rest to Xiao Tao.

Old Lady Chen’s heart leapt with joy. She barely thanked Bai Xi before joining the midwife in urging Xiao Tao to cooperate.

Within minutes, the baby, long overdue for birth, finally emerged with a wail.

The midwife handed the newborn to Old Lady Chen, who quickly turned the baby upside down and gave its little bottom a firm slap.

A faint cry sounded, echoing relief not only inside the delivery room but among those waiting anxiously outside.

“Wonderful, wonderful...”

“It’s born, it’s born...”