Return to the City: The Strongest King
Chapter 130 Outside the Delivery Room

Chapter 130: Chapter 130 Outside the Delivery Room

Early in the morning, Song Xiaodong and Song Xiaoru had not yet gotten out of bed when Xiaoru’s phone started ringing, waking them both up.

Groggily, Xiaoru answered the phone, hearing Second Auntie’s voice on the other end, "Xiaoru, Xiao Yun’s wife is about to give birth."

"What? So soon?" Xiaoru was fully awake in an instant and immediately sat up.

Second Auntie excitedly said, "Yes, yes, she’s in the delivery room right now. I’m about to become a grandmother."

"Okay, okay, I’ll come over right away."

"Okay, okay, we’re in the obstetrics and gynecology department at City First Hospital."

Xiaoru hung up the phone, jumped out of bed, and said, "Xiaodong, get up quick; Xiao Yun’s wife is giving birth. We should go see them."

"So what if his wife is giving birth, why do we need to go?" Xiaodong didn’t want to get up.

"You, stop holding grudges. Though Third Aunt can be harsh and snobbish, Second Uncle and Second Auntie are decent people. They just didn’t have the means before. Also, Xiao Yun has always had a good relationship with us. We really should go take a look."

Xiaodong had no choice but to get up, saying, "Alright, alright. Today was supposed to be your birthday, and I wanted to take you out to see..."

"What birthday? Let’s put everything else aside and go to the hospital first. Hehe, having a nephew born on the same day as me is quite exciting indeed."

Xiaodong had wanted to take Xiaoru to see houses, but seeing her enthusiasm now, he guessed it would be useless to bring it up, so he just kept quiet.

The two of them rushed to City First Hospital and saw Second Uncle, Second Auntie, and additionally Third Aunt, and their older cousin, Song Xiao Yun, at the entrance of the obstetrics and gynecology department.

However, everyone’s expressions were quite anxious. Xiaoru cautiously asked, "Has she not delivered yet?"

Second Auntie shook her head, saying, "She has been in there for nearly two hours, and there’s still no news."

Third Aunt said, "Don’t worry too much. With normal delivery, you never know when it will happen—maybe in ten minutes, eight minutes, or even ten or eight hours. Let’s just wait."

After a while, a nurse came out. Everyone immediately went up to ask about the situation. The nurse said that the birth was imminent and told everyone not to worry, which slightly eased everyone’s minds.

Then, Third Aunt spoke again, "By the way, I just saw the maternity ward, aren’t the conditions a bit poor? Four mothers-to-be squeezed into one room, plus kids and family members looking after them. There’s hardly room to turn around."

Second Auntie, somewhat embarrassed, said, "Our family isn’t well off. We can’t afford the high-end wards; we can only make do."

Third Aunt shook her head, saying, "That’s true. Staying in a high-end ward must cost a pretty penny, and you guys wouldn’t have that kind of money."

Second Auntie gave a bitter smile and nodded, "Yes, I also wish my daughter-in-law and the baby could have better conditions, but raising a child will require a lot of money in the future. Xiao Yun doesn’t earn much, so we really can’t afford to be reckless with our spending."

"Hmph." Third Aunt grumbled discontentedly, saying, "This could have been simple. If Xiaoru had agreed to be with Shen Ping, given how capable Shen Ping is, he would have sorted this out easily, and she could have led a happy life herself. It’s just like having good fortune and refusing to take it, insisting on suffering instead, taking my goodwill for granted."

While saying this, Third Aunt glanced at Song Xiaoru and Song Xiaodong with a hint of resentment.

Song Xiaodong rolled his eyes. Every time the topic came up, it annoyed him. They were willing to sell Song Xiaoru for the sake of his son’s future, and they made it sound so noble.

Song Xiaoru gently poked Song Xiaodong to keep him from talking more, then said, "Second Uncle, Second Auntie, Third Aunt, how about we all chip in and arrange a deluxe hospital room for Xiao Yun’s wife?"

Third Aunt’s face suddenly turned sour as she said, "Deluxe hospital rooms cost a lot of money, hundreds a day. Staying here for another week will cost thousands. How much can you really contribute? You’re essentially expecting me to pay for it."

Second Auntie hastily said, "No need, no need, Xiaoru, I appreciate the thought."

Song Xiaodong was irritated by Third Aunt’s words, and at that moment he said, "No need for others to pay, my sister and I will cover it."

Third Aunt laughed upon hearing this and scoffed, "You two are paying? You young people don’t understand how hard it is to earn money. If Xiaoru were with Shen Ping, I might believe it. But now, don’t puff up your face to look fat. Better save the money for your own living."

Song Xiaoru squeezed Song Xiaodong’s hand to stop him from speaking further, and smilingly said, "No matter what, we can’t just watch the child suffer. Here’s five thousand yuan, Xiao Yun, take it."

Saying this, she took out the money she had prepared earlier from her bag and stuffed it into Song Xiao Yun’s hands.

"Ah! Sister Xiaoru, this... this is too much," Xiao Yun said, gripping the thick stack of money, somewhat stunned.

Being two months older than Xiao Yun, Xiaoru smiled and said, "It’s okay, this is a gesture from Xiaodong and me. Go and arrange the room quickly."

Xiao Yun, a very honest man, was at a loss at that moment, unsure whether to accept the money.

Song Xiaodong, who had no bad impression of Xiao Yun, said, "Go ahead, your wife and child are important."

Xiao Yun agreed, then ran off as fast as lightning, even forgetting to say thanks. As a man, he too wanted to provide well for his wife and child but had never been able to.

At that moment, Second Uncle and Second Auntie were repeatedly expressing their thanks, while Third Aunt’s expression turned ugly as she said with sarcasm, "Young people are always trying to show off. But it’s nothing much, it’s just an exchange of favors. You spend more now, but when they marry, Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law, you’ll also have to spend a lot."

Xiaoru hurriedly said, "No, it’s just what we are giving. Second Uncle, Second Auntie, please don’t overthink it."

Third Aunt’s expression grew even more displeased, but she didn’t say anything more.

Soon after, Xiao Yun ran back, frowning, and said, "I went to the admissions office and asked, but they said all the deluxe rooms were full."

Third Aunt smirked and said, "It’s not that the deluxe rooms are full. Those rooms aren’t for just anyone—they’re for people with status. Did you think anyone could get one just by paying?"

Second Auntie said, "Then let’s forget it. We’re just ordinary people and don’t have the means for high-class treatment. Let’s just stay in a regular room."

Turning to look at Xiaodong, Xiaoru said, "Dongzi, don’t you know a lot of people here? Could you find someone to help us?"

Song Xiaodong took out his phone and said, "Alright, I’ll make a call."

Third Aunt’s lips almost curled to her ears as she said, "Yo yo yo, see the extent of your capabilities. It’s not so easy to get a deluxe room in this hospital. You think Xiaodong has Shen Ping’s ability? Xiaoru, I’m not criticizing you, but you are really spoiling your brother too much, sigh!"