Chapter 372 - Earthquake in Dongqing (4)
The live streaming room was in an upheaval. The usual tear down and mockery had vanished. Before the dawn of disaster, the compassionate side of man would overcome all negative emotions.
Shenshou Yangtuo: “Stream, streamer! You are injured. Quickly stop the bleeding—”
Zuiai Latiaole: “An earthquake! It’s actually an earthquake! I saw the entire screen shaking uncontrollably. I hope the streamer is fine and no one dies in that dimension… My hands are trembling even as I type…”
Nevertheless, with such a widespread earthquake, how could there not be deaths?
Even in their world, when China experienced an earthquake, the dead and injured count was high… Let alone the ancient times where medical care was not advanced. In such times, it did not end with the earthquake. The medical aid and building up of infrastructures after disaster struck…
Supposing twenty percent of people died in the earthquake itself, those who couldn’t be saved in time or were too injured to be saved would make up at least thirty percent.
That was not all… With the infections from the wounds, a lack of medication, a lack of food, and if overall care of patients was not well managed, then an epidemic could occur.
Jiang Pengji had no time to think about that. She raised her hand to wipe her face, and then used the water from the inner courtyard to wash her hands.
“First, help Jingxian deliver her child. Get people who are not badly injured to bring out any daily necessities. There will be ruins from the tremor. Be careful…” Jiang Pengji chopped the defective pillar of the house, unarmed, and poked it deep into the ground. She then spread the bedsheet and blanket apart. She cornered an area and used the remaining items as fuel sources to start the fire. Her calm composure gave the people around her peace.
As a result of Jiang Pengji’s protection, Wei Jingxian was unharmed, but as a pregnant lady about to deliver, it was still dangerous.
The medical personnel, who was originally on standby, was hit on the head by the pillar in the house and died on the spot. The midwife could only help with delivery, but could not treat patients, and she had sprained her back.
“Huaiyu, stay here with Jingxian so she will be calm. Huaijie, bring your servants around and find if there are any other survivors…” Jiang Pengji was multitasking. She concurrently typed a series of words in the live streaming room.
Streamer V: “Which of you is a gynaecologist or has experience delivering babies? Or who can provide guidance?”
Jiang Pengji came from the future, so she was inexperienced in delivering babies. Let alone her inexperience, even doctors in her era were not experienced, as babies were not developed in a woman’s womb! Luckily, the audience in the live streaming room could provide information, so she would not be completely clueless.
Luck was on her side. There was indeed an experienced gynaecologist amongst the 150,000 audience members, and a person who was experienced in providing support during delivery.
Jiang Pengji ordered someone to set up the fire and cleared a clean space with difficulty.
“Will the child be delivered smoothly?” The midwife bore with the pain in her back and glanced at Jiang Pengji, who was touching the pregnant lady’s baby bump. Under the guidance of the audience in the live streaming room, she identified where the fetal position was. Subsequently, the midwife felt bad and looked at the pregnant lady’s husband, Feng Jin… No, it was all right that the husband was unafraid of blood, but why did he allow an outsider, who was a male, to help with delivery?
Feng Jin was busy comforting Wei Jingxian, and sensed the weird expression from the midwife. He pursed his lips and his face had no expression.
In the eyes of outsiders, Jiang Pengji was still a male.
“Lanting has studied Qihuang medical techniques before. It might come in handy. There is no issue for him to be present.” His voice faded. Wei Jingxian experienced another wave of pain in her womb. She could only bear with it and squeezed Feng Jin’s hand tightly. Her fingernails poked deep into his flesh and soon traces of blood appeared.
She heard Jiang Pengji’s voice. “The vagina opening is only three inches wide. This is only the first phase of delivery. Jingxian, don’t use much energy yet… Huaiyu, let her bite a cloth to prevent her from biting her tongue when the contractions get too painful…” The midwife had yet to reply. Jiang Pengji focused and hesitated, “The fetal position…”
At that moment, the gynaecologist from the live streaming room was giving last minute instructions. The other audience members were also very anxious, but they could recognize what was important and what demanded attention. Other than the retired gynaecologist and personnel who helped during delivery, nobody posted on the bullet screen.
“…The fetal position is anterior…”
As a genetic warrior, Jiang Pengji was attuned to the anatomy of living things. Despite the limitation of guidance through mere words from the live streaming room, she could catch on very quickly, and her observation of the fetal position was correct. Based on the description from the audience, a fetal position that was anterior usually signified a smooth delivery.
She inevitably heaved a sigh of relief. If the fetal position was not correct at that point, two lives may have been lost.
Seeing Jiang Pengji’s professionalism, the midwife, who was by the side, was stunned. Her job was being stolen by someone else who seemed more professional than her. What was she doing there?
Feng Jin said, “Please check and see if the hot water is ready. Help Jingxian to wipe her body down…”
The traces of blood left him feeling terrified. Luckily it wasn’t Wei Jingxian’s… Otherwise, what would he have done?
“I’ve searched amongst the pile of ruins for an old hen or something living to cook a nourishing soup from. When the vagina dilates to the length of ten fingers, she may deliver her baby. She will need energy at that time, so rest for now… I will also slice some old ginseng in case something happens during the delivery process, as a precaution…” Jiang Pengji squeezed the towel dry and wiped the sweat and dirt off Wei Jingxian’s face.
Even though it was summer, to a pregnant lady, the temperature was cold. There was even a fire set up.
“Get some men to use hot water to wash the cloths, then dry them above the fire. There are ruins all around. The swaddling clothes I prepared in the past cannot be used now…” Jiang Pengji observed the fetal position and concurrently, she was reading the instructions from the audience in the live streaming room.
Before the vagina opening dilated to the length of ten fingers, Shangjing experienced many strong tremors.
Fortunately, Feng Jin was by her side. Wei Jingxian was relatively stable.
“This child… came at the wrong time…” Feng Jin’s eyes were bright red, full of red blood vessels. He was usually calm and composed, but now he was dishevelled. Notably, his hair, which was never out of place, was slanted, and the area surrounding his mouth, which was usually cleanly shaven, now had traces of hair.
Jiang Pengji spoke concisely, and strictly reprimanded him, “Feng Jin, Feng Huaiyu, what do you mean by this?”
Wei Jingixan was in a daze due to the pain, and vaguely heard the words. Her heart was overwhelmed with sadness.
The people in ancient times were foolishly superstitious. Jiang Pengji was worried about Feng Jin, who was not thinking logically, and may have deemed the child to be cursed.
“I am not blaming this child. Don’t worry…” He first comforted Wei Jingxian, whose eyes were full of tears, then he turned and said, “The child is weak and will grow up under our care. There are earthquakes presently, and we don’t know what tomorrow will be like…”
He wasn’t blaming the child for being born in an inauspicious setting. He was just worried that a child born under such circumstances would not have been able to survive.
“All matters can wait till the baby is born,” Jiang Pengji said coldly, “A man must be able to shoulder the weight of the world. Can’t you even protect your wife and child? Jingxian is about to deliver. Can this mouth of yours speak of joyful and auspicious things? This is so frustrating!”
Feng Jin was speechless. Another wave of contractions came. Wei Jingixan couldn’t bear it and groaned.
Xiaotianshi Mengmengda: “Streamer, it is time!”
Presently, the sun had risen from a corner of the sky. The golden sun shined upon the earth and chased away the gloomy night.
“Jingxian, use all your might to push. According to my instructions…”
At last, the long wait had come to fruition. Amid the baby’s cries, Shangjing welcomed a new day.