Mo Jiuye gently patted her: "Okay, we won't have any more children from now on."
When Zhao the midwife heard the young couple's conversation, she really shouldn't have interfered, but she couldn't help herself.
"In our Da Shun Dynasty, we emphasize having many children. You two are still young and good-looking. Any babies born to you will surely be chubby and fair. How can you not have more?"
"No more!"
"We'll never have another one even if you beat us to death!"
The couple spoke almost in unison.
He Zhiran had been tortured by this agony. As for Mo Jiuye, when he thought of letting his wife suffer so much again, his heart bled.
Seeing the attitudes of the young couple, Zhao the midwife immediately closed her mouth.
But in her heart, she was thinking to herself that she had seen many women who talked like this, yet in the end, they all gave birth again anyway.
In her opinion, giving birth was like "once the scar heals, the pain is forgotten." How could they possibly not have more children?
Although she was grumbling to herself, Zhao the midwife didn't dare let down her guard. She kept a close eye on He Zhiran's condition at all times.
Just as He Zhiran was at a loss as to how to endure the excruciating pain, Zhao the midwife finally opened her mouth.
"Hurry, get ready. It's coming out soon."
Hearing the midwife's words, Mo Jiuye hurriedly asked, "Madam, what should I do now?"
Zhao the midwife glanced at the hand He Zhiran was still clutching.
"Go stand by her head so she can grab onto you easily to push. That will make it easier for her."
The circumstances were special for this birth at the Mo house since the husband was accompanying his laboring wife. Zhao the midwife had been spared the trouble of finding a place for He Zhiran to brace herself.
Mo Jiuye obediently took up his position.
"Zhi Ran, grab onto me however you want, as long as it makes you feel a little better."
He Zhiran cooperated fully, gripping Mo Jiuye's arm for dear life, hoping with all her heart that the baby would come out sooner so that she could suffer a little less.
Zhao the midwife was extremely skilled at delivering babies. She quickly readied the tools she would need.
She went over to examine He Zhiran and nodded with satisfaction. "Listen to my instructions. Push when I tell you to push."
With great difficulty, He Zhiran managed a slight nod...
Soon hearty cries of a newborn baby rang out in the room.
Zhao the midwife deftly wrapped the baby in a prepared small blanket and thrust it into Mo Jiuye's arms.
"Congratulations, it's a boy!"
Mo Jiuye was still somewhat in a daze with a little meatball suddenly stuffed into his arms out of nowhere.
Seeing his reaction, Zhao the midwife couldn't help joking, "You must be overjoyed that it's a son. You look silly with happiness!"
Before Mo Jiuye could react, the door was shoved open from outside.
Madam He and Old Lady Mo burst into the room together.
Although the baby's cries weren't very loud, they could be clearly heard from outside.
How could these two grandmothers not be anxious?
But instead of going to check on the baby first, they headed straight for He Zhiran.
Tears rolled down Madam He's face as she looked at He Zhiran's haggard and disheveled appearance.
She grabbed He Zhiran's hand in distress.
"Zhi Ran, you've had such a hard time. The midwife said you gave birth to a son. Hang in there a little longer until the next one comes out and you won't hurt anymore."
Tears also involuntarily welled up in Old Lady Mo's eyes.
"Zhi Ran, you really suffered for us Mos. You're the hero of our family!"
She didn't say this because she valued boys over girls or because He Zhiran had given birth to a son for the Mo family.
These heartfelt words of Old Lady Mo's contained no deliberate intent.
The Mo family had nine sons. Each had taken a wife, and Old Lady Mo had been waiting for a grandchild for over ten years since Mo Junrui had married.
Now that she finally had a cute little grandson, how could she not be emotional?
Although the abdominal pain didn't disappear after birthing one child, He Zhiran's body felt much lighter, making her feel considerably more comfortable.
She didn't want to talk at all at the moment. She had exerted tremendous energy giving birth to her first baby earlier and hoped to recover quickly through self-regulation.
Seeing the two elderly ladies chatting away with the new mother without anyone going to look at the chubby little grandson, Zhao the midwife couldn't help reminding them, "The baby is so fair and plump. Aren't any of you going to take a look?"
It was really odd. For other families whose births she attended, everyone would scramble to see the fat little boy when told it was a big chubby son.
But the Mos were different. So many of them were here, yet no one talked about seeing the baby.
At this point, Mo Jiuye also reacted, still holding his son in his arms.
It was just...his son was so tiny. His body remained rigid, not daring to move for fear that his strength would accidentally hurt the fragile baby.
"Mother, Mother-in-law, can one of you take the baby?"
He wanted to look at his son but didn't dare make the slightest movement.
The scene reminded Old Lady Mo of when she had given birth to Mo Junrui years ago.
Her husband, Mo Qing had reacted the same way back then. Because it was their first child, he had no experience holding a baby. When the midwife handed him the child, he had stood there woodenly like a statue, not daring to move an inch just like Mo Jiuye now.
Beating Madam He to it, Old Lady Mo stepped forward to take the baby from Mo Jiuye's arms.
Madam He gently flipped open a corner of the blanket.
Soon involuntary smiles spread across both their faces.
"Sister-in-law, my little grandson is so fair!"
Old Lady Mo happily chimed in. "Yes, other newborns are usually red all over, but this child is fair and delicate."
"Look at his features. He resembles Jiu Ye at least eighty percent," remarked Madam He.
"Sister-in-law, you didn't see Jiu Ye as a child. This father and son pair simply looks like the same person carved from the same mold," Old Lady Mo countered.
Overhearing their conversation, He Zhiran momentarily ignored her physical pain.
"Mother, bring the baby here and let me see him."
She wanted to see her son she had carried with such difficulty for ten months and endured tremendous suffering to give birth to. She was curious what he looked like.
At her request, Old Lady Mo carried the baby over to the bedside to show He Zhiran the little one's face.
"Zhi Ran, doesn't he look exactly like Jiu Ye?"
The tiny baby had only cried out a few times after being born. After Zhao the midwife neatly wrapped him in the blanket, he soon fell into a deep sleep.
His little face was rosy and full of baby fat. His tiny mouth pursed together as if blowing little bubbles.
So adorable! To He Zhiran, this was the cutest baby she had ever seen.
A surge of innate maternal love welled up in her heart. If not for her current condition, she really wanted to hold the treasure in her arms and smother him with kisses.
While tenderly gazing at her son, she suddenly felt a sharp pang in her lower abdomen again, catching her off guard.
He Zhiran involuntarily frowned for a second before letting out a soft moan.
Mo Jiuye had also wanted to take a look at his son. But hearing He Zhiran's voice, he immediately rushed over to grab her hand instead, not even glancing at the baby.
"Zhi Ran, does it hurt again?"
