The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

The person who bumped into Gu Ruinian was Chunwang, the village's wicked child.

Chunwang was rushing to the private school; he was always late, and this time was no exception.

Upon hearing the bell ring for the start of the private school, he rushed towards the school in a hurry and accidentally bumped into Gu Ruinian's shoulder.

"You're asking for it! Apologize!"

Gu Ruinian was first provoked by Tong Huaqiong's weaving workshop, and then ridiculed by Xu Xinghua. He was feeling frustrated and had nowhere to vent his anger when Chunwang bumped into him. How could he let it go?

She held onto Chunwang's arm tightly and wouldn't let go.

Chunwang was scolded for hitting someone. He flinched for a moment, but when he saw that the person in front of him was Gu Ruinian, the fear on his face disappeared completely.

He's just a cripple, do you think you can teach him a lesson?

"So what if I hit you?" Chunwang raised an eyebrow.

Gu Ruinian was furious.

They're making things difficult for him first thing in the morning. Now even a country bumpkin who hasn't even grown his hair yet dares to bully him.

Gu Ruinian gripped Chunwang's hand tightly, pointed at Chen Sufeng who was returning home alone from the weaving workshop, and said, "It's alright if you bump into me, but what if you bump into my eldest cousin's wife? She's pregnant. If I hadn't stopped her here, you would have knocked out her baby long ago, given how fast you walk."

"You better watch out, my cousin's wife is about to give birth. Don't bump into her, or it could result in both of them dying."

Gu Ruinian gave Chunwang a severe scolding, then let go of Chunwang's hand, picked up the water bucket, and limped home.

Chunwang rolled his eyes.

Widow Tong was their family's enemy. She kept their mother and Chunni locked up in the pigsty to work, and Chunni kept all their wages. If their mother occasionally saved some steamed buns from her afternoon meal and brought them home, Widow Tong would scold them.

Grandmother said that if it weren't for Widow Tong, Chunni would have been given to a wealthy family as a child bride. They were going to give her thirty taels of silver back then.

On the Lantern Festival, Man'er, Xiaolong, and Yaozu were tied up, as were he and his grandmother. Without saying a word, Widow Tong beat up his grandmother.

At school, Xiaolong and Man'er always stood up for him and taught him a lesson.

Chen Sufeng is Widow Tong's enemy and the mother of Man'er and Xiaolong. If Chen Sufeng dies, Widow Tong's family will have to hold a funeral. Holding a funeral during the opening of the weaving workshop is not a good omen. Without their mother's protection, Man'er and Xiaolong will no longer dare to act arrogantly.

Thinking this, Chunwang gathered the cloth bag containing books that was dangling from his bottom and quietly hid behind a haystack by the roadside.

Chen Sufeng was about to give birth, and she strictly followed Tong Huaqiong's instructions, walking around the village every morning and evening until the day she was about to give birth.

With Tong Huaqiong's financial support, the midwife Ma frequently visited Chen Sufen's home to check on her condition.

A few days ago, the midwife said that she had taken good care of herself this time, and her delivery would definitely be smooth. Chen Sufeng is due to give birth in the next few days, and tomorrow she plans to stay in Qinghewan to accompany Chen Sufeng during her delivery.

Having already given birth once, Chen Su-fen wasn't worried about this pregnancy at all after hearing what the midwife said.

After her morning walk, she went to the weaving workshop to join in the fun for a while. Feeling a bit tired, Tong Huaqiong told her to go home and rest.

She originally had two maids by her side, but Chen Sufeng was not used to being served, so she left the two maids at home to help with the housework with the two old women.

Chen Sufen supported her back and walked steadily toward home. She was about to pass the spot where Gu Ruinian had been standing. There was a puddle there, and she could easily slip and fall.

If Chunwang hadn't bumped into Gu Ruinian, he would have slipped and fallen too.

Chunwang hid in front of the haystack and rushed forward frantically with the cloth bag on his backside before Chen Sufeng reached the puddle. Anyone could see that he was doing this because he was afraid of being punished by the teacher for being late for class.

Chen Sufen tried to avoid him but was bumped into by Chunwang.

The excruciating pain in her abdomen spread throughout her body, and Chen Sufen's vision went black as she collapsed to the ground.

Chunwang ran away in a flash.

Chen Su-fen sat on the ground groaning; she felt her water break.

The delivery is scheduled for the next few days, but due to Chunwang's accident, the baby might be born prematurely.

Chen Sufeng was hit so hard that her teeth chattered and she couldn't make a sound. She sat on the ground, unable to get up, and there was no one around. "Mother."

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Just as Chen Sufeng was calling for help in a hoarse voice, Man'er, Xiaolong, and Yaozu, who were on their way to the private school, found Chen Sufeng sitting on the ground with a pale face.

Man'er was so anxious that she burst into tears.

"Yaozu, go to the weaving workshop and call for help." Xiaolong patted the stunned Gu Yaozu.

Yaozu ran quickly toward the weaving workshop, calling out for help as he ran.

While Gu Honglian was out gossiping, she saw Chen Sufeng lying on the ground and was so frightened that she went to her second aunt's house, which was the nearest house, to call for help.

Second Aunt arrived at the scene first, followed soon by Tong Huaqiong and others.

Regarding childbirth, Tong Huaqiong had only ever accompanied Tong Pandi during her childbirth in both her lives, so she remained calm.

While having her second aunt organize people to carry Chen Sufen home, Tong Huaqiong ordered Su Chengmin to invite Ma, the midwife.

Gu Taohua rolled up her sleeves and, without needing anyone to come, carried Chen Sufeng home directly.

The young wives and older women in front of the weaving workshop all rushed to Tong Huaqiong's house to help.

Under Hong's direction, some boiled water, while others simmered ginseng soup.

Tong Huaqiong took out the pre-prepared birth kit and asked Man'er to retrieve some anti-inflammatory medicine from her space for emergencies.

The courtyard echoed with Chen Sufeng's painful screams, and Gu Dahan frantically grabbed his hair.

Su Chengmin quickly invited Ma, the midwife, and also invited Zhang, the renowned gynecologist from Pingchuan who had come to town for treatment. As soon as Ma arrived, Tong Huaqiong calmed down.

Gu Dahan heard Chen Sufen's shouts and tried to rush in, but was held back by Zhao.

"What are you doing going in there, you big man? You'll just cause trouble."

"Don't worry, this isn't Su-Fen's first pregnancy, and it's going smoothly this time."

A group of elderly women pulled at Gu Dahan and tried to persuade him.

The wives looked at Gu Dahan, who was anxious, and then at Tong Huaqiong, who was busy preparing ginseng and telling the midwife that the safety of the adults must be ensured no matter what. They couldn't help but sigh. Looking at Chen Sufeng's husband and mother-in-law, and then thinking about their own husbands and mothers-in-law, their faces darkened.

This isn't about having money. When a child is born, everyone asks the midwife to prioritize the baby's safety. It's rare to see a mother-in-law like Tong Huaqiong who puts her daughter-in-law first.

Sitting in the delivery room, the midwife was a little puzzled. She had been watching Chen Sufeng's pregnancy, and it had always been smooth sailing. She had calculated that the baby would be born in five days.

Why was I born today?

I wonder if something happened that caused Chen Sufen to have a miscarriage. Given how Tong Huaqiong's family treats Chen Sufen, it shouldn't be like this.

Seeing Chen Sufeng groaning in pain on the bed, the midwife quickly composed herself and instructed Chen Sufeng to exert more effort.

"Su-Fen, you have to live up to expectations. Your husband treats you so well, your daughter is so clever, your mother-in-law treats you like her own daughter, and your family is doing very well. If this baby is a boy, everything will be perfect." The midwife wiped Chen Su-Fen's forehead.

Tong Huaqiong, who happened to go inside to check the situation, overheard it.

Fearing that Chen Sufeng might misunderstand, Tong Huaqiong said to the midwife, "Boys and girls are the same in my family."

The midwife thought to herself, "Everyone says that, but the babies will be different after they're born."

She knew that Tong Huaqiong was famous for doting on her daughter in Qinghe Bay, but that was because the Gu family already had three sons, so it wasn't unusual for them to have a little girl to spoil.

I'm afraid it would be a different story if it happened to the daughter-in-law.

Ma, the midwife, had seen this situation many times. Many families who doted on their daughters would show their displeasure when their daughters-in-law gave birth to consecutive daughters. (End of Chapter)