Chapter 372 – The Earthquake in Dongqing (Part 4)
At this moment, the live stream was in an uproar; the usual banter and mockery had vanished without a trace.
Before a major disaster, people’s empathy always trumps all negative emotions.
【Divine Beast Alpaca】: Host! You’re injured too! Hurry and stop the bleeding—
【Love for Spicy Strips】: An earthquake! It’s actually an earthquake! I just felt the entire screen shaking violently. I hope the host is safe, and I hope nobody dies in that world… I feel like my hands are trembling; I can’t even type properly…
But with such a massive earthquake, how could there be no casualties?
Even in their world, when the Luchuan earthquake struck Hua Country, the casualties were grievous, not to mention the severely outdated rescue measures of ancient times. In such an era, the aftermath of an earthquake was far from over—disaster relief, medical treatment, and handling of corpses…
If 20% of people died directly in the quake, at least 30% more would succumb to injuries without timely aid!
And it didn’t end there—wound infections, shortages of medicine, lack of food, and improper handling of corpses could all lead to plagues…
Jiang Pengji had no time to dwell on such matters. She wiped her face with her hand and used water from the courtyard pond to wash her hands.
“First, help Jingxian give birth. If others aren’t seriously injured, start clearing out personal belongings from the rubble. More aftershocks are coming; be careful…” Jiang Pengji cut a broken beam with her bare hands, driving it deep into the ground, then spread out sheets and blankets to create a designated area, and turned leftover debris into firewood to start a fire. Her calm demeanor brought stability to those nearby.
Thanks to Jiang Pengji’s protection, Wei Jingxian was unharmed, but as a pregnant woman, she was scared, and the situation was critical.
The young doctor, originally called upon for support, was struck dead by a fallen beam. The midwife could only assist in childbirth and had no medical experience; she had just thrown her back out.
“Huaiyu, stay with Jingxian to keep her calm. Huaiyan, take the servants and search nearby for survivors…” Jiang Pengji multitasked while typing a message in the live stream.
【Host V】: Is there anyone here who is an obstetrician? Anyone with experience in childbirth would help, theory guidance is also welcome!
As a future human, Jiang Pengji obviously lacked childbirth experience. Not only didn’t she have any, but even the doctors of her time had never dealt with it because children were not conceived in women’s wombs! Luckily, some viewers in the live stream could offer help, preventing her from stumbling in the dark.
Fortune favored her; among the 150,000 viewers, there really was an experienced obstetrician and even a midwife.
Jiang Pengji started a fire, barely managing to clear a clean area.
“Will the child be delivered normally?”
The midwife, tolerating her back pain, glanced at Jiang Pengji, who was feeling the pregnant woman’s belly, trying to identify the fetal position based on the viewers’ guidance. Then she awkwardly looked at the husband, Feng Jin. It was one thing if the husband didn’t mind the blood of childbirth, but why let an outsider in?
Feng Jin was trying to calm Wei Jingxian but sensed the midwife’s unusual gaze. He pursed his lips, expressionless.
To outsiders, Jiang Pengji still appeared to be male.
“Lan Ting has some knowledge of medicine; he might be of use. There’s no need to worry.”
As soon as these words left her mouth, Wei Jingxian felt another wave of pain surging through her belly. She could only endure, gripping Feng Jin’s hand tightly, her nails digging into his flesh, drawing blood. At that moment, Jiang Pengji’s calm voice rang in her ears.
“The cervix is only three fingers. This is just the first stage? Jingxian, don’t push just yet… Huaiyu, give her a napkin to bite down on so she doesn’t bite her tongue during contractions…” The midwife hadn’t even responded when Jiang Pengji hesitated and said, “The fetal position…”
At that time, the obstetrician in the live stream was providing temporary guidance. Other viewers were anxious, but they all knew the stakes; apart from the retired doctor and the midwife, nobody dared to send another comment.
“… The fetal position is likely occipital…”
As a genetically engineered warrior, Jiang Pengji was deeply familiar with biological structures. Even through textual guidance from the live stream, she quickly grasped the situation, predicting the fetal position correctly. According to the viewer’s explanation, occipital positions generally led to normal deliveries.
She couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
If the fetal position were incorrect now, it would truly be a double tragedy.
Seeing Jiang Pengji’s professional demeanor, the midwife was somewhat dumbfounded.
Her job was being done by someone else, who seemed more knowledgeable than she did. What was she even doing here?
Feng Jin said, “Check if the hot water outside is ready. We need to clean Jingxian up…”
The sight of the blood made him feel panic-stricken. Thank goodness it wasn’t Wei Jingxian’s life on the line; otherwise, what on earth would they do tonight?
“Fetch some ginseng from the storeroom and cut it up. When the cervix opens fully, she will need strength…”
Jiang Pengji wrung out a cloth and wiped the sweat and grime off Wei Jingxian’s face.
Although it was summer, this temperature was still quite cold for a woman in labor. The area they’d set up had a fire going.
“Get someone to wash the cloths with hot water and cut some pieces to bake over the fire. Everything is in ruins, and the swaddles prepared beforehand can’t be used anymore…” Jiang Pengji paid attention both to the fetus’s position and to the viewers’ messages in the live stream.
Before the cervix opened fully, the capital experienced several more powerful aftershocks.
Fortunately, Feng Jin stayed by Wei Jingxian’s side, keeping her relatively calm.
“This child… is being born at the worst possible time…” Feng Jin’s eyes were red and bloodshot, normally fastidious about his appearance, but now looking ragged and disheveled. His meticulously styled hair became askew, and the freshly scrubbed stubble started showing again.
Jiang Pengji, hearing his words, snapped, “Feng Jin, Feng Huaiyu, what do you mean by that?!”
Wei Jingxian, lost in pain, vaguely heard this and felt a pang of sorrow.
People in ancient times were ignorant and superstitiously fearful, and Jiang Pengji genuinely worried that Feng Jin’s mind might snap and he’d label this child with a curse.
“I’m not blaming the child. Don’t worry…” He first reassured the tearful Wei Jingxian, then added, “This child is fragile and needs careful nurturing to grow up healthy. With the ground shaking like this, we don’t even know what tomorrow holds…”
He wasn’t blaming the child for being born cursed, just worried that a child born in such a situation might not survive.
“Let’s deal with everything once the baby is born.” Jiang Pengji said coldly. “A man should stand tall and protect. Can’t you even protect your wife and child? Jingxian is about to give birth; can’t you say something happy to lighten the mood? This is so ominous!”
Feng Jin was silent in response.
Another wave of intense contractions broke through, and Wei Jingxian couldn’t help but cry out.
【Little Angel Cute】: Host, it’s time!
At that moment, a corner of the rising sun peeked over the horizon, the golden rays scattering across the earth, driving away the long night.
“Jingxian, you can push now! Push on my command…”
Finally, the long wait bore fruit.
Amidst the cries of the newborn, a new day dawned for the capital.
