When Qin Yuanzheng rushed to the hospital, Qiao Lanshu had already entered the delivery room.
Auntie Shi was outside the delivery room talking with Huang Erling. Seeing Qin Yuanzheng approach, Auntie Shi hurried over and said, "Oh, Chief, you're finally here! Xiao Qiao has gone into the delivery room. I need to hurry back and pack some things; we'll need them when Xiao Qiao gives birth."
Even though Qin Yuanzheng had been mentally preparing himself for the past nine months, he was still incredibly nervous now that the day had actually arrived.
He stood there, nodding with a tense expression, and asked, "How is Xiao Qiao?"
Auntie Shi replied, "She's fine. The doctor said she's in good condition, but giving birth isn't an easy process, so we might have to wait patiently."
Qin Yuanzheng nodded. He stood there staring at the doors of the delivery room, his body perfectly straight, and didn't speak for a long while.
Auntie Shi hesitated for a moment before repeating, "Then, Chief, I'll head back first to pack?"
Without looking at Auntie Shi, Qin Yuanzheng kept his eyes fixed on the delivery room doors and nodded. "Alright, thank you for your trouble, Auntie Shi."
Auntie Shi quickly agreed and rushed out of the hospital to go home and pack.
After all, Qiao Lanshu had gone into labor so suddenly this time that Auntie Shi hadn't had the chance to prepare anything.
Huang Erling had initially heard that Qiao Lanshu was experiencing stomach pains, so she had hurried over with Auntie Shi.
Now that she saw Qin Yuanzheng had arrived, she didn't leave, but she didn't dare speak to him either.
Given Qin Yuanzheng's expression, Huang Erling figured he probably wasn't in the mood to talk anyway.
Before long, Wang Xue and Deng Weijun, along with their cousin-in-law Deng Xiaozhen, also arrived. They all came carrying items like dried noodles, canned goods, or eggs.
They had all heard that Qiao Lanshu was about to give birth, and since they had just gotten off work, they decided to come over together to check on her.
Qin Yuanzheng was anxious, but he had managed to calm down a bit by now and greeted them one by one.
Looking at his expression, Deng Xiaozhen knew he was nervous and comforted him, "Don't worry, Xiao Qiao will definitely have a smooth delivery. She's always been in good health."
Qin Yuanzheng pursed his lips, standing there completely tense. Hearing Deng Xiaozhen's words, he only nodded but said nothing.
He had already been standing there for an hour, and there was still no news from the delivery room. He was burning with anxiety.
He felt that standing outside the delivery room, waiting for Xiao Qiao to give birth, was even more nerve-wracking than going into battle.
Qiao Lanshu had arrived at the hospital around three or four in the afternoon, and it wasn't until past seven in the evening that she finally delivered the baby.
Giving birth for the first time was indeed an ordeal. There were no other complications, it was just incredibly painful.
Fortunately, it was a natural birth, and everything went smoothly without any other issues.
The doctor wrapped the baby in swaddling clothes and brought him over for her to see. "Quick, take a look. Is it a boy or a girl?"
Qiao Lanshu was pale, her entire body trembling slightly—whether from weakness or cold, it was hard to tell.
With red-rimmed eyes, she stared at the baby. This was the child she had fought so hard to bring into the world.
The wrinkled newborn didn't look like anyone in particular yet, but looking at the eyebrows and nose, there was a faint resemblance to Qin Yuanzheng.
Qiao Lanshu asked softly, "Doctor, is it a boy or a girl? Is the baby healthy?"
Holding the baby with one arm, the doctor smiled and pulled the swaddle back a bit for Qiao Lanshu to see. "Take a look for yourself, is it a boy or a girl?"
Qiao Lanshu took one look and immediately found it amusing. "So it's a boy."
She had actually had a vague feeling that it would be a boy, and sure enough, her intuition was right.
The delivering doctor placed the tiny baby on her chest and smiled, saying, "Alright, the family members can come in now."
The delivery room doors opened, and a nurse came out, calling, "Who are the family members of Comrade Qiao Lanshu?"
Qin Yuanzheng stood there, and before he could even open his mouth, Deng Xiaozhen anxiously called out, "Right here, right here! We all are."
The nurse smiled and said, "The delivery went smoothly, both mother and child are safe. You can come in and see the baby and the mother now."
Immediately after, another doctor came out holding the baby and asked, "Who is the husband of Comrade Qiao Lanshu?"
Qin Yuanzheng's voice was strained and hoarse as he replied, "I am."
Seeing him in a military uniform with an imposing aura, the doctor wasn't surprised. After all, when they arrived, the registration card had already stated that Qiao Lanshu was a military dependent.
The doctor smiled, brought the baby over, and handed him to Qin Yuanzheng. "Congratulations, congratulations, you're a father! Your wife has given you a son."
His entire body somewhat stiff, Qin Yuanzheng took the baby.
Such a tiny child, so light, looking as if he wasn't even as big as the palm of his hand.
This was actually a little life, born from his wife's womb—his son.
So tiny, how on earth was he going to raise him?
Qin Yuanzheng stood there completely stiff, holding the baby in his arms, and didn't move for quite a while.
It wasn't until he heard the doctors say, "Everything is fine, we can wheel the mother back to the ward,"
that he suddenly snapped back to reality. His hands stiffly holding the infant in his arms, he hurried to the door of the delivery room and asked nervously, "Doctor, what about my wife? Is my wife okay?"
A nurse smiled and said, "Don't worry, your wife is fine. Let's go, we're heading back to the ward now."
Qiao Lanshu lay on the hospital bed as the nurses wheeled her out of the delivery room.
Qin Yuanzheng quickly followed. He looked down at Qiao Lanshu, who looked haggard, her face pale, and even her lips so white they lacked any trace of color. His heart ached beyond measure.
He walked alongside the bed, asking as they went, "Wife, how are you feeling?"
Seeing Qin Yuanzheng, and the baby held in his arms, Qiao Lanshu finally felt at ease.
Not having seen Qin Yuanzheng earlier, she hadn't dared to sleep, terrified that someone else might take the baby away.
Although the possibility was very low, she just couldn't help but let her imagination run wild.
It was always better to be cautious about everything.
Now, seeing Qin Yuanzheng holding the baby, she smiled and said softly, "Brother Zheng, I'm fine."
As she spoke, she closed her eyes. "I'm going to sleep for a bit. I'm so tired."
From the onset of contractions to giving birth, several hours had passed. Qiao Lanshu was utterly exhausted and weak all over. She was so tired that she fell asleep the moment she closed her eyes.
Looking at her frail state, Qin Yuanzheng felt a wave of regret wash over him again.
If he had known what giving birth entailed, he wouldn't have let her have a child so soon. His wife was still young; he didn't know if giving birth this early would have any lasting effects on her body.
Auntie Shi had also returned to the hospital. She was carrying a large bag filled with various daily necessities, and in her hand, she held a thermal lunch box.
Inside the thermal box was the sweet potato and millet porridge she had cooked for Qiao Lanshu, along with some steamed buns and the like.
She walked beside Qin Yuanzheng and whispered, "Chief, how about I hold the baby?"
From the moment Qin Yuanzheng first held the baby, his two arms had been like rigid machinery, stiffly frozen without a single movement.
The baby lay in his arms, both eyes closed, and it was hard to tell if he was asleep or what.
Wang Xue and the others had all gone back; only Huang Erling and Deng Xiaozhen remained there.
Seeing Auntie Shi carrying so many things, Deng Xiaozhen said to Qin Yuanzheng, "Let me hold the baby. Let me rub off some of your good luck; I've been wanting to have a big, chubby boy myself."
However, having been unable to conceive for a long time, Deng Xiaozhen felt quite frustrated inside.
Qin Yuanzheng knew they wanted to help. After all, as a grown man, he didn't know how to take care of a baby or even how to hold one. Besides, he wanted to focus on taking care of Qiao Lanshu, like wiping her sweat.
After entering the hospital room, Qin Yuanzheng carefully placed the baby into Deng Xiaozhen's arms.
Deng Xiaozhen and Huang Erling sat on the empty hospital bed nearby, holding the baby with extreme care. Not daring to speak loudly, they murmured in low voices, discussing who the baby looked like.
Auntie Shi began to organize the things she had brought. Aside from food, she had brought Qiao Lanshu a change of pajamas, slippers, underwear, and other personal clothing.
She also brought daily necessities like a toothbrush and towels.
Including the baby's little clothes, tiny socks, diapers, formula, and baby bottles, she had brought absolutely everything, paying attention to every single detail.
Watching from the side, Huang Erling remarked, "Auntie Shi, you really are meticulous and thoughtful. No wonder Regiment Commander Sun introduced you to Brigade Commander Qin. You really are experienced and careful."
Auntie Shi didn't look overly pleased by the compliment, as if she were already used to being praised.
Afraid of waking Qiao Lanshu, she lowered her voice and said, "It's only what I should do. Xiao Qiao is young, and Commander Qin is usually busy. Since they don't have any elders at home, I just have to think ahead a bit more. Having a baby is a major event; we can't afford to be careless at all."
Deng Xiaozhen had never taken care of a child either, so this was an eye-opening experience for her. She asked Qin Yuanzheng, "Yuanzheng, have you named the baby yet?"
Qin Yuanzheng was sitting by Qiao Lanshu's bed. Feeling that her hands were very cold, he felt anxious and covered her with two blankets.
He gently smoothed out Qiao Lanshu's hair. Hearing Deng Xiaozhen's question, he shook his head and said, "Not yet."
Today was the Beginning of Summer. He thought about just naming the baby Qin Lixia.
But he was afraid that when Xiao Qiao woke up, she would scold him for being too casual and giving the child such a simple name.
Qin Yuanzheng said softly, "It is better to wait for Xiao Qiao to wake up and let Xiao Qiao name him."
After all, this was the child that Xiao Qiao had risked her life to bring into the world.
