Just as Chen Lishu was about to find some time to ask Xu Ning about the situation, she suddenly received a call from Zhang Xue saying she was going into labor.
"My parents were supposed to come these days, but I didn't expect the baby to be born so many days early. Weimin is on a mission, and I haven't been able to reach him yet."
Hearing Zhang Xue's almost tearful voice, Chen Lishu quickly comforted her, "Don't worry, stay at home. I'll drive over now."
After hanging up, Chen Lishu called Xu An'an to explain a few things, grabbed her jacket, put it on, and hurried out of the office.
When she rushed to Zhang Xue's house, she found her sitting on a stool, eating.
Looking up and seeing Chen Lishu arrive, Zhang Xue put down the pork trotter she was holding and said with a pout, as if she had finally seen a relative, "Lishu, you're finally here."
Seeing that she was fine, Chen Lishu wiped the sweat from her brow. "Sister, I was so worried, and you're still eating and drinking."
Zhang Xue picked up a handkerchief to wipe her greasy hands. "My mom said I need to eat more to build up strength before giving birth. You don't know how panicked I was, but I couldn't do anything, so I just tried to eat more."
Chen Lishu looked at her bulging belly and asked, "What's the situation now? Where are the things? I'll put them in the car, and we can go to the hospital."
Zhang Xue: "What things?"
Chen Lishu: "The things prepared for you and the baby's hospital stay."
Zhang Xue realized and pointed to a bag by the cabinet. "They're there."
Chen Lishu walked over and picked up the bag. "What about the other things?"
Zhang Xue: "That's all."
Chen Lishu thought she misheard. "That's all?"
Zhang Xue: "My mom said she prepared many things. I thought there was still time. I only have today off, otherwise, I'd still be in school. The doctor clearly said I would give birth next month, but who knew it would be almost a month early."
Listening to her rambling, Chen Lishu realized it was too late to buy them now, so she went to the phone and called home.
She asked Zhao Qiuyue to help pack some clothes and essentials for the two children, then gave her the address of the妇幼医院 (Maternal and Child Health Hospital), and after arranging everything, she hung up.
"Lishu, thank goodness you're here. Otherwise, I really don't know what to do. My Li Weimin, when I don't need him, he's always around me, but now when I need him, I can't reach him."
Chen Lishu knew Zhang Xue had a habit of talking a lot when she was nervous.
"Didn't you call the military already? He'll rush back as soon as he knows. Let's go to the hospital now. You just focus on giving birth, I'll take care of everything else." Chen Lishu carried her bag and came to support her.
When her hand touched Zhang Xue's, she found her fingers were cold.
After helping her into the car, Chen Lishu started the engine and took her to the Maternal and Child Health Hospital.
When Li Weimin arrived, he was still in his combat uniform, his head covered in sweat, and his body and feet covered in mud.
He leaned against the door of the delivery room and shouted inside, "Wife, I'm back. Don't be afraid. I'm here with you and the baby."
Hearing his voice, Zhang Xue's tense emotions finally eased a lot.
But soon, the pain in her abdomen shifted her attention.
"Ah—"
Hearing his beloved's cry of pain, Li Weimin became even more restless.
"Xue only went in for an hour, and it will probably take a long time. Why don't you come over and sit for a while?" Chen Lishu said, seeing his anxiety.
Li Weimin turned his head and saw both her and Zhao Qiuyue there, with two bags of clothes and toiletries nearby. He said gratefully, "Thank you, sister-in-law. Without you, Xiao Xue and I wouldn't know what to do."
"No need for formalities." Chen Lishu's gaze fell on his clothes. "Are you sure you don't need to go back and change before coming?"
Li Weimin shook his head. "I'd rather stay here with Xiao Xue. We'll both feel more at ease if I'm here."
After about two hours, the delivery room door finally opened. A young nurse came out holding a baby in a pink swaddle. "Who is Zhang Xue's family?"
Li Weimin suddenly stood up from the stool. "Comrade, that's me. I'm Zhang Xue's husband."
The nurse saw his combat uniform and knew he was a soldier, so she was very polite. "Congratulations, it's a very healthy baby girl, weighing six pounds and six ounces."
"Where's my wife? What happened to my wife?"
"Your wife is a little weak, but all other indicators are normal."
As soon as the nurse finished speaking, she saw Zhang Xue being helped out from behind. Li Weimin quickly walked forward. "Xiao Xue, you've worked hard. How do you feel?"
Chen Lishu looked at the nurse still holding the baby and stepped forward. "Thank you, please give me the baby."
After taking the baby, they all went back to the ward together.
"Lishu, quickly let me see the baby."
As soon as Zhang Xue sat on the bed, she eagerly held out her hands to Chen Lishu.
When she saw the red, wrinkled little face in her arms, she frowned in dislike.
"Why is she so ugly?"
Li Weimin leaned over and was a little unhappy seeing her dislike their daughter. "I think our daughter looks pretty good. Look how much she resembles me. It's clear she's mine."
Zhang Xue looked at him傻乐 (happily grinning) at their daughter and couldn't help but say, "Look how handsome Lishu's Xiao Cheng and Xiao Bai are. It's all because of you, you've lowered our daughter's颜值 (attractiveness)."
"What does it matter if she's good-looking or not, as long as she's mine? Besides, we're not going to make a living by our looks in the future."
Zhang Xue couldn't help but nudge him. "You're always so unserious, what nonsense are you talking about."
"I think this child looks good. I heard from my mom and mother-in-law that newborns who are redder grow fairer later, so her skin must take after Xue."
Zhang Xue was half-convinced. "Really?"
Chen Lishu smiled. "Xiao Cheng and Xiao Bai were more than two catties lighter than your Bao'er because they were twins. Don't you see them now?"
Hearing Chen Lishu say this, Zhang Xue immediately regained her confidence.
"By the way, have you decided on a name for the baby?"
"Weimin and I have already decided. If it's a boy, his name will be Zhang Yuan, and if it's a girl, her name will be Zhang Tiantian."
Chen Lishu gently touched the baby's finger with her finger. "Tiantian, the name itself tells you she's going to be a very cute girl."
Li Weimin took some time to go home to wash up and change his clothes. Then Chen Lishu and Zhao Qiuyue left.
The next day, Zhang Xue's parents and mother-in-law all arrived.
On the third day after Zhang Xue's delivery, Chen Lishu took some time to visit the provincial hospital.
Whether it was from He Ziyu's side or Xu Ning's, she hoped both of them would be happy.