Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 19 can be summed up in two words: Awesome!

The dazed Jia Zhangshi seemed to hear Duomen's voice. Her body trembled, and upon seeing Duomen, she scrambled to her feet as if grasping at a lifeline. She grabbed Duomen's arm, her voice trembling, her eyes filled with hope.

There was hope, but also some fear.
"Uncle Duo, Uncle Duo, how's it going? Any news about our Lao Jia?"

"I have news. Don't worry, your man is still alive. I came just to let you know. Give me the money, and I'll take you to the Matsui Special Agent Agency to pick him up."

"Really?!" Upon hearing this news, Jia Zhangshi's previously gloomy eyes instantly filled with vitality, making her a completely different person from before.

"Of course it's true. We're all neighbors, why would I lie to you?" Duomen was used to this; once someone was taken away by the Japanese, almost none of them ever came back.

A woman whose husband, the breadwinner of her family, has suddenly been arrested is bound to be at a loss.

She's considered lucky; there are plenty of people who go insane.

Sometimes he really wanted to point his finger at the Japanese devils and curse them, "Look at the mess you bastards have made!"

But does he dare?
He dare not.

If he really dares to do that, he'll be the next one to be taken away.

It's normal to feel excited when you're initially in despair but suddenly have hope again.

"Don't get excited right now, just take the money."

"Although your man's life is not in danger, you also know that once he enters the Japanese territory, he will always suffer some physical pain."

“I can help you contact a hospital. There’s a very skilled doctor in the alley next to my house who works at Beiping Hospital. Once your husband is out, I’ll personally take you to Beiping Hospital. So you’d better bring some extra money.”

"Okay, okay, I, I'll go get it right away. Thank God, thank God! Amitabha, Amitabha." Jia Zhangshi was somewhat incoherent, and with her disheveled hair, if one didn't know better, one would really think she had a mental illness.

She staggered into the house, and when she came out again, she had something wrapped in a handkerchief in her hand.

"Master Duo, the gold bars are all here. Please count them. Our master's fate depends entirely on you, Master Duo!" Although her eyes showed reluctance, Madam Jia still handed the gold bars to Duo without hesitation.

Jia Zhangshi was a greedy woman; asking her to give money was more painful than cutting off a piece of her own flesh.

However, compared to money, the life of the head of the household is obviously much more important.

Duomen handed it to Cao Weida and comforted Jia Zhangshi, saying, "Don't worry, since we've accepted your money, your man will definitely be fine."

"That's good, that's good." Madam Jia was a little flustered. At this moment, all she wanted was to bring her husband back as soon as possible. Not knowing what to do with her hands, she simply grabbed Duomen's arm.

"Master Duo, the money has been paid. Shall we go pick up my master now?"

“There’s still time, why don’t you go and pick it up first?” Duomen pointed to Jia Zhangshi’s attire.

Cao Wei Da said, "Master, let's go like this. I think it's fine."

Duomen was stunned for a moment, then realized that Cao Wei Da wanted Jia Guangzheng to know how anxious Jia Zhangshi had been during his arrest.
When Jia Guangzheng comes out and sees his wife in such a state, and considering how much money she spent to rescue him, won't their relationship soar to new heights?

"Okay, okay, look at my brain. Alright, let's go over there now."

"Wait a moment, I've sent Xiangzi to see Xiao Erduo. It's not too late to leave after he comes back."

He kicked the gold bar up, took out a cigarette and handed it to her, saying, "Have a smoke first."

Duomen took the cigarette, and the two of them stood in the courtyard leisurely smoking. Jia Zhangshi, on the other hand, paced anxiously, but dared not urge them.

While I was smoking, a woman with a large pregnant belly came out of the main room, carrying a bucket of swill with difficulty, ready to empty it.

He was startled to see two police officers standing in the yard, and the bucket of swill he was carrying spilled all over the ground.

Duomen and his companion were startled by the sudden noise. A chill ran down their pants, and when they looked down, they found that a large portion of the swill had been absorbed by their pants.

Oh, and even Jia Zhangshi's pants next to him got some on them.

"Oh, it's Master Duo."

"I'm so sorry, Master Duo, I... I didn't mean to," the pregnant woman quickly apologized.

Duomen shook his trouser leg, waved his hand with a wry smile, and said, "It's nothing, it's just that my pants are wet. I'll wash them later."

"Let me wash them for you. My husband has some clean pants; I'll get them for you right away, officer."

"No need, the sun is rising, it's not cold." Cao Weida quickly shook his head and refused, stomping his feet on the ground and leaving a few wet shoe prints. An unpleasant smell filled his nostrils.

Cao Wei Da's nostrils twitched involuntarily, as if he wished he could immediately take off his pants and throw them away.

But if he really takes his clothes off, does he expect a pregnant woman who is about to give birth to wash him?

Look how big her belly is, she has trouble bending over.

"But seriously, ma'am, you look like you're about to give birth. You can't do any heavy physical labor. Where's your husband? How can he let you carry garbage cans?"

"Hey, we're poor folks, we don't have those kinds of customs. Many women in our village work in the fields with their bellies bulging, and when their stomachs hurt, they just give birth right there in the field. What's so special about me?" Cao Weida thought to himself: "Awesome!"

These are some really strong women! Think about those ethereal young women of later generations, who would act like crazy even when they had their periods. And look at the women of this era.
If future generations of so-called independent women saw this, I wonder if they would be so ashamed that they would jump off a building.

"That being said, there are still some risks involved, so pregnant women who are about to give birth should try to reduce physical labor."

The woman, struggling to support her lower back, shook her head and laughed, "I'm just a woman, all I can do is some odd jobs. My husband works hard outside to earn money, how can I come back exhausted?"

Cao Wei Da opened his mouth, thinking of the women of later generations, wanting to speak his mind, but ultimately couldn't say anything.

Just then, the woman's expression suddenly changed, and she staggered a few steps to lean against the wall, cold sweat pouring down her face.

"What's wrong?" Cao Weida was startled. Wasn't everything fine just now?
As a woman herself, Jia Zhangshi looked at the pregnant woman's lower body and immediately realized, "Her water has broken, she's about to give birth!"

"Quick, get him to the hospital!" Duomen said immediately.

"No, no need, Aunt Jia, please...please call the midwife."

Madam Jia hesitated immediately; her husband was waiting for her to pick him up!

Seeing that Madam Jia hesitated, Duomen immediately said, "I'll go!"

Just as he was about to leave, Cao Weida stopped him: "Let's go to the hospital, just to be on the safe side."

If I remember correctly, the TV series mentioned that Sha Zhu's mother died from postpartum hemorrhage during childbirth with He Yushui.

Although whether He Daqing's wife lived or died was none of his business, it was just something he did on the side, and he couldn't just stand by and watch a vibrant life die like that.

"Okay, I'll call a car right now!"

Cao Weida stepped forward to help He Daqing's wife, whose name he still didn't know, and called out to Jia Zhangshi, who was still hesitating, "Come and lend a hand. Let Master Duo accompany her to the hospital later. You come with me to pick up your husband. Hurry up!"

"Oh, oh." Madam Jia Zhang finally came to her senses and quickly came over to help.

Before long, Yan Bugui, who had been notified, rushed over to help.

Soon, the three men helped He Daqing's wife, who was pale with pain, into the car. The driver was reluctant because He Daqing's wife's water had broken and her lower body was wet. If she had to go to the toilet, how would he pick up passengers for the next trip?

Don't blame him for being cold-blooded. Whether others live or die is none of his business, but if he can't attract customers and has no money to eat, who will sympathize with him?

Before the driver could refuse, Cao Weida said, "Take me to the nearest hospital, and I'll compensate you double if the car mat gets dirty!"

Well, since they've said that, the rickshaw puller naturally has no reason to refuse.

Cao Weida then looked at Duomen, took out a few silver dollars and stuffed them into his hand, "Master Duo, please accompany him and keep an eye on things. Here's some money for you."

"Don't worry, hurry up, man, run! I'll push you, you'll be there for me in front of the cart!"

Yan Bugui witnessed the whole thing and thought to himself, "Birds of a feather flock together. Those who can hang out with Master Duo are all kind-hearted and good people!"

Cao Weida, unaware that Yan Bugui had given him a "good guy" card, looked away as the car drove quite a distance, thinking to himself: "I've really run into everything. I hope the mother and child are safe."

That's all he can do; the rest is up to fate.

Before long, Xiangzi pulled someone over and stopped.

"Master, I'm back. I hope I haven't kept you busy?" Xiangzi said, wiping his sweat with a towel.

"No, thank you for your hard work." Cao Weida looked at Xiao Erduo, who was getting out of the car carrying a cloth bag, and smiled, "Brother, why did you come all the way here in person?"

“Brother Cao, since you wanted something, of course I had to bring it to you personally.” Little Ears grinned and lifted the bag in his hand: “Ten pounds of rice, plenty of it.”

Ever since Cao Weida rescued his brother safely, Xiao Erduo has been determined to get close to Cao Weida.

After making a deal with Fujita Sousuke that night, his resolve became even stronger.

Having finally managed to latch onto a powerful figure, one must do everything in one's power to climb up to them.

Whenever it involved Cao Wei Da, no matter how small the matter, he had to do his best.

Cao Wei Da naturally knew his thoughts, but these thoughts did not arouse his resentment; on the contrary, he quite appreciated them.

Moreover, Cao Wei was quite satisfied with his ability to handle affairs.

He pointed at Yan Bugui and said, "Okay, just give him the things. By the way, see if you can think of any meat these next few days, preferably something that can help with lactation, like crucian carp or pigeon. Making soup with those is the best way to increase milk production."

Little Ears patted his chest confidently, "I'll go for a stroll around Shishahai this afternoon. A lot of people sneak off to fish there, so it shouldn't be too difficult."

"Oh dear, what a brain of mine! How could I not think of going fishing at Shisha Sea!" Yan Bugui slapped himself hard in frustration. "No way, I'll go fishing at Shisha Sea after I finish cooking the porridge!"

(End of this chapter)