"Auntie Li, Aunt Liu still can't make it!"
"Aunt Liu has already fainted!"
"The midwife said if she doesn't give birth in the next moment, there will be no saving her!"
...
Bad news kept coming, but County Captain Zhang's figure was nowhere to be seen coming back.
Finally, Li Yao really could not sit still, and went to Fang's house directly with He Xiaoya and Du Xiao Hui.
"How is it?"
Almost all the women in Fang's family were in the yard, anxious and at a loss, but helpless. Seeing Li Yao ask, they all silently shook their heads.
The master of the house, Fang Shian, sat at the door with a relatively calm expression.
He was 50 years old this year. He had experienced things like this too many times, and knew getting anxious was useless. Everything could only be left to fate.
Just then, the midwife came out from the room. Everyone hurriedly gathered around her. But seeing her sighing repeatedly, they all knew there was probably no way left.
"Everyone disperse," Fang Shian let out a long sigh and said, "Prepare for the funeral."
"No. " Li Yao suddenly said, "You can't give up now."
"Who are you?" the midwife asked.
"Who I am is unimportant," Li Yao said, "But let me ask you, does the woman in labor still have a breath?"
"There's still a trace..."
"Then that's right. As long as there is still a ray of hope, you absolutely can't give up."
The midwife couldn't help but shake her head and said, "I've been delivering babies since I was 18 years old, and have gone through things like this countless times. I absolutely won't misjudge. If there really was a way, it would have to be a living Bodhisattva coming down to earth."
After the midwife finished speaking, she prepared to leave. Fang's family also completely gave up hope.
But just at this moment, the sound of galloping hooves came from the distance. County Captain Zhang quickly rode over to Fang's yard on his horse.
"Mistress Li, it's ready."
Li Yao didn't have time to thank him. She took the item and went into the delivery room while instructing: "Hurry and prepare hot water, also brew a bowl of thick sugary water, quickly!"
Everyone was stunned, not knowing what she was going to do with that strange item.
"Li Yao," Fang Shian said, "I know you have good intentions, but... the midwife has already pronounced..."
"Listen to me now!" Li Yao really could not stand the old man's dragging on and loudly said, "In life or death matters, can you be more decisive?"
Fang Shian was stunned.
No matter what, he was an elder, yet he was scolded like this by Li Yao in public. He was already displeased.
But Li Yao's prestige in the village had now risen to the utmost point. If he didn't listen to her, then the pickled vegetable business in his family later on...
"Fang Shian!"
At this time, Li also hurriedly rushed over, followed by a government clerk and a maid of the County Magistrate's wife.
"Listen to Li Yao, she's right."
"The County Magistrate's wife said," the maid quickly followed up, "to be sure to let Mistress Li try."
When Fang Shian heard this, what else could he do?
Even the County Magistrate's wife had spoken. He could only listen.
"Did you not hear me? Hurry and go prepare!"
Li Yao pulled the midwife along and went into the delivery room together.
Lying on the bed, Aunt Liu was already barely breathing, while the large baby was only halfway out, its scalp already purple.
Li Yao sterilized the obstetric forceps by burning it over the fire. After it cooled down, she had the midwife help clamp the baby's head, then slowly dragged it out.
The whole process took less than two minutes. The birthed baby still had some breath, so the midwife quickly cut the umbilical cord, washed it, and wrapped it in cotton cloth.
Meanwhile, Li Yao closely watched Aunt Liu's condition.
Fortunately she had arrived in time. Although Aunt Liu was weak, after drinking a bowl of hot sugary water, she finally pulled through.
The few hours made her feel like she had just come back from hell, and she also knew Li Yao had saved her life.
"Sister-in-law Li, you are my savior..."
"Don't speak of it. Just focus on recovering now."
Seeing the baby and the mother were fine, Li Yao's heart finally settled down completely.
The Fang family outside, upon hearing that not only was Aunt Liu fine, but she had also given birth to a boy, were even more overjoyed.
Especially Fang Shian, who held his little grandson and looked at him again and again.
Seeing this scene, Li Yao could only shake her head.
The whole family was fussing around the child, and not a single person went to care about the weak mother.
Even in modern times, scenes like this happened frequently.
"Li Yao, I really have to thank you this time. If not for you, my little grandson..."
"No need to thank me," Li Yao directly interrupted Fang Shian's words, "Have your son pay more attention to his wife. She's very weak right now and needs to eat more nutritious foods."
"Yes, yes, I'll listen to you on everything."
Walking out of Fang's front gate, Li Yao discovered that the County Magistrate's wife had actually waited nearby. She already knew that Li Yao had saved Aunt Liu and her son, and her heart was extremely shaken.
Compared to ignorant villagers like Fang Shian, the County Magistrate's wife was clearer on how many laboring mothers this method Li Yao used could benefit, and how many infants could be spared from death.
Even describing Li Yao as a living Bodhisattva, she felt was not excessive!
"Li Yao, you've made great contributions again."
"It's just doing what little I can for the women of this world. It's not much of an accomplishment."
"You can't say that," the County Magistrate's wife said. "I will definitely have my husband petition the imperial court about this. Just wait for your commendation."
Li Yao smiled wryly.
She had just sent cement over, and now she was sending an obstetric forceps. She also didn't know if that deeply secluded emperor could even see it.
Of course, if the obstetric forceps could be widely promoted, she would naturally be very happy.
She drew another exquisite obstetric forceps again, and added detailed crafting requirements and notes, then handed it over to County Magistrate Song along with this world's first obstetric forceps.
On the way back, County Magistrate Song marveled again: "This Mistress Li really continues to surprise. Why would someone like her be willing to live humbly in a remote little mountain village?"
