RIRW – Chapter 138

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Shen Yiming’s words were like flipping a switch—Zuo Dan immediately felt a dull ache in her belly.

Only then did she realize belatedly: she was going into labor!

“Shen Yiming, what do we do? I’m going to give birth!”

“It’s okay, I—I’ll go start the car,” Shen Yiming said with a steady voice as he got out of bed and rushed outside.

Zuo Dan cried out, “Shen Yiming, what are you doing? Call my mom first! …You’re acting all calm and collected, but you’re worse than me!”

Only then did Shen Yiming remember to call for help. He quickly shouted into the house, “Mom, Grandma, Dandan is going into labor!”

Soon, the bedroom doors flew open—Grandma, Li Hui, and Zuo Cong all rushed out.

“She’s going into labor! We need to get her to the hospital! Quick, quick, quick!” Li Hui immediately took charge.

Shen Yiming went outside to start the car, Zuo Cong helped support Zuo Dan to the car, and Li Hui followed close behind, ready to go.

Seeing everyone rush out, Grandma felt something was off and shouted from inside, “Oh no! Wait, you haven’t brought the things Dandan and the baby need! She’s not going to give birth right away—we need those supplies!”

She hurried into Dandan’s room to gather everything. Zuo Cong and Li Hui rushed back in to help.

After a whirlwind of chaos, the family finally piled into the car and headed to the hospital in a panic.

All the way there, Zuo Dan kept crying out in pain while yelling at Shen Yiming, “Drive slower! I’m not in a rush!”

“Got it, got it,” Shen Yiming replied, drenched in sweat—though whether from fear or the heat, he wasn’t sure.

Because it was the middle of the night, the doctors were all resting. The moment Zuo Dan arrived, the whole hospital was stirred into action.

The nurses swiftly wheeled her into the delivery room and blocked the family members outside.

Seeing her finally inside, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Yiming’s legs went weak as he collapsed into a chair, eyes fixed on the tightly shut delivery room doors.

He asked anxiously, “Mom, how long will it take for Dandan to give birth?”

Li Hui helped Grandma into a seat. “It’s still early. It’s her first time—it’ll take a while. But since her water broke, it should be faster. This baby’s been considerate—hasn’t given her too much trouble.” Now that they were at the hospital, she calmed down and remembered all her past experience. She was no longer as frantic as before.

Shen Yiming felt a bit more at ease, but then he grew anxious again—he’d seen how much pain Dandan was in.

When would the baby come out…

Still no movement from inside, so Shen Yiming decided to drive Grandma home to rest. But Grandma firmly refused. “Dandan’s still in labor—how could I sleep? Sitting here is fine. No one in this family is going through more than she is. You’re her husband—how can you leave the hospital?”

So the whole family stayed outside to wait.

Inside, Zuo Dan was in so much pain she had no strength left. The doctor kept checking her but hadn’t started delivery yet. She’d thought she would deliver the moment she entered the room—yet she’d been lying there for ages and it still wasn’t time.

Clutching her belly, she muttered, “You’re killing me, you little rascal… Are you coming out or not?!”

Just as she finished, a wave of intense pain hit her.

Zuo Dan nearly passed out from the pain.

Then she heard a doctor nearby say, “The mother is ready—we can start the delivery.”

Pain. Excruciating pain.

Drenched in sweat, Zuo Dan looked around and saw only unfamiliar doctors and nurses. The father of her child was nowhere to be seen. She cried out, “Shen Yiming, where did you go?! I’m giving birth to your child and you’re nowhere in sight!”

The middle-aged nurse had seen this countless times—many women wanted to stab their husbands in the middle of labor.

“The dad’s outside waiting. Once you’re done, you’ll see him. Don’t let him in—last time a man saw his wife give birth and nearly went crazy.”

“……”

Zuo Dan had no idea how long she had been in labor or how long she had been in pain. All she remembered was pushing nonstop. Just when she was about to collapse from exhaustion, something seemed to slip out from her belly. Her entire body instantly relaxed.

“Oh wow, it’s a big, chubby boy! Look at this skin—so fair! I’ve delivered so many babies, and it’s rare to see one this fair at birth,” the female doctor exclaimed happily. She quickly cleaned the baby, then brought him over for Zuo Dan to see.

Zuo Dan was barely conscious. She squinted and saw a pale little bundle crying with his eyes shut.

Tears welled up in her eyes. Smiling, she said, “I didn’t even cry, and you’re already crying… You little drama king…”

She glanced at the clock on the wall of the delivery room—it was just past midnight. This baby really took his time—he insisted on coming after the day had passed.

Outside, Shen Yiming and the others were getting anxious.

He stood up, about to press his ear to the delivery room door to listen, when it suddenly opened. Someone was wheeling out a hospital bed.

Everyone perked up and rushed over. Zuo Dan and the baby were both lying on the bed, asleep. A doctor beside them said, “It’s a big, healthy boy. Both mother and baby are doing great.”

With those words, the family finally relaxed. They followed the nurse as she wheeled the bed to the ward.

Once in the ward, Zuo Dan opened her eyes and the first person she saw was Shen Yiming. She smiled and said, “Shen Yiming, I really gave birth to a baby!”

Eyes glistening with tears, Shen Yiming smiled with tightly pressed lips. “Yeah. You were amazing.”

Then he leaned over to look at the baby lying next to Zuo Dan. This was his child. He was a father now.

Once the nurse finished cleaning the baby, Grandma and Li Hui quickly wrapped him up and wouldn’t let go. Zuo Cong nervously rubbed his hands at the side, unable to even get close.

Grandma beamed, her face full of wrinkles from smiling. “Just look at those features—such a handsome little thing! And such thick black hair! That skin! So good-looking!”

Li Hui chimed in, “That’s right. When the baby went for a bath, even the nurse said he was a beautiful child.”

Lying in bed, Zuo Dan smiled and said, “He didn’t suffer at all—chose exactly when to be born. Of course he’s good-looking.”

She remembered how she had eaten apples every day during her pregnancy—she’d once heard that eating apples made a baby’s skin better. Maybe that was why.

Shen Yiming sat by the bed, watching their baby with a beaming smile.

Such a tiny little thing.

After everyone had taken turns holding the baby, he was finally returned to his parents’ side. Zuo Cong was kicked out of the room, and Li Hui pulled the curtain closed.

Grandma said, “Dandan needs to start nursing. Otherwise, the baby won’t be able to feed.”

“How will it go through?” Zuo Dan asked nervously.

Li Hui glanced at her son-in-law, then went out as well.

Grandma leaned over and whispered something in Zuo Dan’s ear, then whispered something in Shen Yiming’s ear too, before hurriedly following them out.

That left the two people, whose faces were flushed red, standing alone in the room.

Shen Yiming coughed and walked over, skillfully helping her remove her clothes. Then he lowered his head.

Zuo Dan closed her eyes, thinking: it’s not the first time anyway.

A wave of pain washed over her. She bit her lip and said, “Be gentle…”

Shen Yiming instantly felt uncomfortable and quickly cleared one side, then the other. Afterward, he took a clean wet towel and gently wiped Zuo Dan.

Once he was done, he picked up the baby and slowly placed him beside Zuo Dan. The child had been quiet the entire time, but once in his mother’s arms, he turned his head like a puppy smelling meat and latched onto his food, sucking eagerly.

Zuo Dan and Shen Yiming’s faces immediately lit up with joy. Zuo Dan said, “Just like me, not one to suffer a loss.”

Like Niu Lili, Zuo Dan stayed only one day in the hospital before being brought home to do her postpartum confinement.

The next day, Shen Yiming drove around delivering red eggs.

Over the following days, people began visiting one after another. Even Song Gang and Niu Lili came over, bringing their just-over-two-month-old baby with them.

When unmarried young men saw little Shen Youyou, they stared wide-eyed, wondering how they could raise something so small. Married ones were full of envy and jealousy—how did he end up with a baby like this?

After glancing a few times, Song Gang said to Shen Yiming, “Yiming, did you not feed Comrade Zuo Dan enough? Look at that little face—not even as round as my daughter’s.”

“And the skin—how is it even fairer than our daughter’s? And this hair… so black. Looks just like a little girl. How will he find a wife in the future? Forget it, forget it. Since we’re such good friends, I’ll help you out. Our two kids should just be engaged now.”

Before Zuo Dan or Shen Yiming could respond, little Youyou in Shen Yiming’s arms suddenly burst into loud cries.

As soon as he cried, Song Gang’s Huahua started crying too.

Song Gang: “…”

Hearing the crying, Li Hui and Grandma rushed in and discovered that Youyou had peed. They hurriedly changed his diaper in a flurry.

Once cleaned up, little Shen Youyou started yawning in his dad’s arms again.

Shen Yiming smiled and said, “Song Gang, kids these days really have minds of their own. So young, and already fighting for marital freedom.”

Song Gang curled his lips. Marital freedom, my ass—it was just a wet diaper. But still, this kid really knew how to time it. That slap hit him right in the face.

No, this kid must become his son-in-law. Looks so good—his daughter would definitely like him!

During the confinement period, Zuo Dacheng and Zuo Chengcai made a trip to the city together.

Zuo Dan hadn’t seen her third uncle, Zuo Chengcai, in a while. Seeing his envious and jealous look, she said, “Third Uncle, once you get married at the end of the year, it’ll be your turn soon.”

Zuo Chengcai grinned, “That’s right. I’ll have two kids in one year, and three in two!”

Zuo Dan: “…” Her third uncle was the type who didn’t need any comforting.

Grandfather Li and Grandmother Li also made a special trip to visit Zuo Dan, bringing lots of nutritional supplements.

“Grandpa, Grandma, you should keep those for yourselves. Why buy so much for me?” Zuo Dan said.

Grandmother Li, cradling the baby joyfully, laughed and said, “Your grandpa and I don’t eat much anymore. You young people should eat more.”

Over the years, she and her husband had saved most of their salaries, hoping to use it for the younger generation.

And now, they weren’t worried about the future at all… Grandmother Li quietly said, “You young ones should also start studying again. Don’t waste time—there might be college entrance exams soon.”

Zuo Cong’s eyes lit up, “Grandma, is there news?”

Grandfather Li nodded with a smile. “There is, but nothing official yet. An old classmate of mine hinted at it during our recent talk. We’ve been having a lot of meetings with other teachers lately. It’s pretty much decided.”

Even though Zuo Dan had known this day would come, hearing it still excited her.

It wasn’t just the return of the college entrance exam—it was a national transformation.

A moment of historical significance.

That evening, Shen Yiming came home from work. First thing he did was kiss his wife, then he held the baby and refused to let go.

Zuo Dan told him what Grandfather Li and Grandmother Li had said.

Shen Yiming nodded. “I know. There was already a meeting about it in the capital. I didn’t tell you earlier since you’re still in confinement. I’ll get some review materials, and we’ll study together.”

Zuo Dan said, “Shen Yiming, before the news spreads, let’s buy a few more sets of materials. The educated youth back home will need them too. We can send a few sets back. It’ll be a meaningful gesture.”

It was a small effort that could change someone’s fate—Zuo Dan was happy to do it.

“Alright, I’ll go check the bookstore tomorrow.”

The next day, Shen Yiming brought back six sets of books. Two sets were for their own use, and four sets were for Li Hui to take back to Zuo Village.

As soon as Zuo Dan’s confinement ended, Li Hui returned to Zuo Village. Her students were about to start school, and she had to hurry back.

Turns out, her grandson had perfect timing—born right during the summer holidays. Didn’t delay her work at all. On her way back, Li Hui took the books with her.

That night, Zuo Dan cleaned herself up, smelling fresh, and lay in bed playing with her baby.

Now a full month old, the baby was even more fun. His eyes darted around before focusing intently on his mom.

When he saw her teasing him, he grinned, exposing toothless gums.

Zuo Dan smiled with him. Shen Yiming had also bathed and was lying beside them watching the baby.

Even though the baby had been born over a month ago, every time Shen Yiming looked at him, it still felt surreal. This little one was really his child. He was a father now, and he’d watch him grow up.

Then he glanced at the child’s mother, who was smiling so tenderly—something rare.

Then his gaze drifted downward, his eyes tightening for a moment before he looked away, back at his chubby child.

After a bit of playing, the baby fell asleep. Shen Yiming carefully placed him in the cradle.

Zuo Dan said, “He can sleep with us.”

Shen Yiming replied, “No. He’ll get in the way.”

Zuo Dan frowned. “Get in the way of what? He’s so small. Won’t he be scared by himself?”

Shen Yiming turned off the light and moved on top of her.

A moment later—

“Mm… Shen Yiming, what are you doing…?”

“…”

“Youyou still needs to eat later tonight…”

In the cradle, little Shen Youyou smacked his lips in his sleep, snoozing soundly.

On October 21st, every national radio station, newspaper, and broadcast reported the same news: The central government had decided to reinstate the college entrance examination. It would be held one month later, and the new semester would begin in spring.

Immediately, across the country, from cities to rural villages, educated youth erupted in cheers.

They rushed to all major workplaces and government offices to register.

Previously deserted bookstores became hot spots. Before dawn each day, long lines formed to buy books.

Zuo Dan began studying even more earnestly.

Even Shen Yiming and Zuo Cong came home every day and immediately buried themselves in books.

The household became a hub of activity. During the day, Zuo Dan and Grandma helped each other take care of the baby. But at night, it wasn’t feasible. Even though Grandma had recovered well, she couldn’t stay up all night tending to a baby.

So, each night, Zuo Dan and Shen Yiming sat side by side on the bed, each holding one end of a string tied to the cradle.

Little Youyou lay there sucking his fingers, his eyes roaming. When he didn’t see his parents, he pouted and started crying loudly.

Zuo Dan tugged the string—the crying stopped.

Neither of them looked up, continuing to study.

A while later, he cried again. Shen Yiming pulled the string a few more times.

After several rounds, with only the bed rocking and no one coming, little Youyou seemed to understand that no one was coming. He simply closed his eyes and fell asleep.

This went on for a month. Only then did the couple stop studying, ready to rest for a few days and fully prepare for the college entrance exam.