Chen Hu was a little confused. He was stunned for a moment before saying in a hoarse voice, “Third Brother, this…”
After catching his breath, Su Sanlang said, “Hu, my fourth daughter is studying medicine from Doctor Wu, so I brought her here to see if she can help.”
Chen Hu choked for a moment, understanding what Su Sanlang meant.
He said, “Thank you, Brother.”
Su Xiaolu reached the bed and reached out to take Madam Qian’s pulse. She was very focused.
Chen Daniu and Chen Erniu stopped crying, afraid that they would disturb Su Xiaolu.
Su Xiaolu let go of Madam Qian’s hand and turned to Chen Hu. “Uncle Hu, I can treat her, but can I ask you for a favor?”
Chen Hu did not have much hope at first. After all, Su Xiaolu was still so young. When he heard Su Xiaolu’s request, he thought that he had heard wrongly and was a little stunned.
Su Sanlang reacted first. He went to Su Xiaolu’s side and said, “Simei, what do you need help with?”
Su Xiaolu looked at Su Sanlang and said, “Father, you can’t help me with this. Only Uncle Hu can.”
Chen Hu had come back to his senses. He strode to the bed and asked Su Xiaolu, “Simei, what do you need help with?”
Chen Daniu and Chen Erniu looked at Su Xiaolu expectantly.
“Uncle Hu, please help take off Aunt’s clothes. I’ll use the needles and stop the bleeding.”
Su Xiaolu said to Chen Hu. She opened the medicine box and took out several herbs. Without looking up, she said, “Father, help me brew the medicine.”
Su Sanlang nodded. “Okay, I’ll brew the medicine.”
“Third Uncle, let me help you with the fire.”
Chen Daniu wiped her tears and got out of bed.
Su Sanlang looked at the obedient and sensible Chen Daniu and nodded. “Okay, Daniu, come and help.”
Chen Erniu wanted to go too, but she had the child in her arms.
Chen Daniu turned around and instructed her, “Erniu, take good care of your little brother.”
Chen Erniu nodded with tears in her eyes.
Su Sanlang brought Chen Daniu out and went straight to the kitchen to prepare the medicine.
Su Xiaolu took out a piece of ginseng and sliced it into smaller pieces with a knife. She opened Madam Qian’s mouth and stuffed it in.
She climbed onto the bed and Erniu carried her newborn brother to the corner to make way for Su Xiaolu.
Chen Hu took off Madam Qian’s clothes.
Su Xiaolu opened the needle bag, took out a silver needle, and pressed it into Madam Qian’s chest.
One, two, three… ten…
Chen Hu counted with his own eyes and she only stopped after 85 needles.
These needles were all over Qian’s chest and limbs. It was terrifying.
Su Xiaolu inserted the needle and heaved a sigh of relief. She wiped her sweat with her sleeve.
She grabbed Madam Qian’s hand and took her pulse again.
No one dared to disturb the quiet process.
Next, it was time to stitch. When a woman gave birth, she would most likely tear up if she encountered a difficult birth. If she did not get stitches, she would be sick for the rest of her life. In ancient times, private areas were mostly obscure. How could she let a doctor give her stitches?
Usually, when women gave birth, they would restrain their strength and take their time. There would not be any tearing. However, most of them would panic when they were giving birth and their strength would be exhausted. They would have to use external forces to push the child out. Furthermore, if the child weighed six to seven catties. Most of the time, it would make a big tear.
Madam Qian had a huge tear. Her wound would not stop bleeding if it was not stitched up.
Just as Su Xiaolu was hesitating about how to tell Chen Hu, Madam Zhao’s knocking sounded. Outside the house, Madam Zhao’s gentle voice sounded, “Brother Hu, is there anything I can help you with?”
Chen Hu was about to say no when Su Xiaolu spoke first.
“Uncle Huzi, go out. I’ll get my mother to help me next. Please prepare some hot water and strong alcohol for me.”
The stitches had to be sterilized, of course. Water and alcohol would do.
Chen Hu nodded. He looked at Madam Qian, who had yet to wake up, reluctantly, before turning around and opening the door to leave.
As he opened the door, Chen Hu said gratefully to Madam Zhao, “Sister-in-law, sorry to trouble you.”
Madam Zhao hurried into the room and said, “Not at all.”
Madam Zhao had already heard what Su Xiaolu said. She closed the door after entering the house and walked towards Su Xiaolu. She said to Su Xiaolu, “Simei, what do you want me to do?”
Su Xiaolu said to Madam Zhao, “Mother, Auntie has a big wound on her body. I have to stitch it up. I want you to help me hold the lamp. It’s too dark for me to see.”
Madam Zhao was shocked. She didn’t even dare to think about getting stitches down there. She looked at Su Xiaolu’s serious eyes and then at the silver needles on Madam Qian’s body. Madam Zhao suppressed the horror in her heart and said, “Okay, I’ll help you hold the lamp.”
No matter what, as long as she could save Madam Qian’s life, it did not matter.
As a woman, Madam Zhao’s heart ached when she saw Chen Erniu holding back her tears with anticipation. As long as there was a chance, how could she not want her mother to live?
Chen Hu quickly brought over hot water and strong alcohol. He wanted to come in and help, but with Madam Zhao around, he hesitated.
Madam Zhao said to Chen Hu, “Brother Hu, don’t worry.”
Chen Hu was grateful. He could only say thank you.
Chen Hu did not enter the room, but soon, he let Chen Daniu in to help.
Chen Daniu was shocked, but she suppressed her fear and asked what she could do.
Su Xiaolu was disinfecting the needle and thread. She said, “Big Sister Daniu, wipe the blood off Auntie. I’ll disinfect it soon.”
Chen Daniu nodded with tears in her eyes and went to help Madam Qian clean up.
Madam Qian had lost too much blood, and the bedding under her was soaked.
After cleaning, Madam Zhao used a lamp to light up the room. Su Xiaolu’s hands were soaked in strong alcohol, and she used a needle and thread to begin stitching.
Madam Qian woke up in pain.
She looked at the trembling silver needles on her body and was in a trance. She seemed to understand that they were trying to save her, so she only let out a cry of pain before she gritted her teeth and stopped herself from making another sound.
When the last stitch was done, Su Xiaolu heaved a sigh of relief and said, “It’s done.”
Madam Zhao looked at the conscious Madam Qian and heaved a sigh of relief. She put the lamp back before saying, “Simei, these needles…”
Madam Qian was pierced with silver needles and could not be covered with a blanket even though it was cold.
Su Xiaolu said, “Mother, these needles can only be removed in another hour. I’ll have to trouble Auntie. When the time comes, I’ll just add some medicine to fight against the cold.”
Madam Qian loosened her gritted teeth and took a few deep breaths before saying in a hoarse voice, “Sister-in-law, Xiaolu, thank you for saving my life.”
Madam Zhao shook her head gently. “Let’s not talk about this.”
Madam Qian’s face was very pale. After losing so much blood, her body suffered. Her life was not easy, to begin with. Thinking about that, Madam Zhao felt bitter for Madam Qian.
In this world, it was not easy to be a woman.
Chen Daniu carried the bloodied water out. Chen Hu was just outside the door and asked worriedly, “Daniu, how’s your mother?”
