Jun 3, 2026
Chapter 98 — Operation Successful • ‘Naïve’ Tiewazi
When the sharp scalpel sliced through Zhao Shulan’s abdominal skin, Yan Shengrui didn’t dare blink. His gaze remained fixed on Ling Jingxuan the entire time. Meanwhile, Ling Jingxuan moved with swift precision—picking up hemostatic needles, expertly ligating the blood vessels. Once that was done, he took up the scalpel again and incised the uterus with exact control, reaching in to lift the child out and handing it—placenta and all—over to Yan Shengrui.
“Hold the baby upside down and give his bottom a light pat—make him expel the blood and fluids from his mouth. I need to ligate and close her incision.”
Without even lifting his head, Ling Jingxuan spoke while pressing sterilized cotton cloth against the wound to control the bleeding. At the same time, he located the fallopian tubes, severing and ligating them with practiced efficiency.
Yan Shengrui, on the other hand, was far less composed—awkwardly gripping the baby by one leg, he hesitated before lightly patting its bottom.
“Waa—!”
A loud, piercing cry rang out at once. Startled, Yan Shengrui nearly dropped the child in fright, hastily catching him again and clutching him clumsily in his arms—umbilical cord still uncut.
Ling Jingxuan, in the middle of suturing Zhao Shulan’s uterus, spared him a brief glance. A faint smile flickered across his face.
Outside, Old Wang and the others, who had been anxiously waiting, heard the baby’s cry—and nearly burst into tears of relief.
Born… it was born… Heaven be praised, it was finally born…
Closing a wound was far from simply stitching two pieces of flesh together. Each blood vessel had to be aligned properly—otherwise, the tissue would blacken, necrotize, and rot. This alone took Ling Jingxuan nearly half an hour to complete. After ensuring no gauze or instruments were left behind, he carefully inspected the sutured wound once more. Only after confirming everything was in order did he pull over a thin quilt and gently cover her.
But his work wasn’t done yet.
The mother was stabilized—there was still the child.
“Give him to me.”
Yan Shengrui’s entire body had gone stiff from holding the baby. Shaking his head helplessly, Ling Jingxuan took the infant and laid him flat on the bed. With practiced hands, he cut the umbilical cord, handled the placenta, and then carried the child outside.
“Congratulations, Brother Wang—it’s a boy. Quite a sturdy one, too. Quickly, give him a bath and dress him in clean clothes.”
“Really?! Shulan—she… is she alright?”
The moment they saw him emerge, Old Wang and the others rushed forward. Yet their attention wasn’t on the baby—their eyes anxiously darted toward the room, terrified something might have happened to Zhao Shulan.
Ling Jingxuan chuckled softly. “She’s fine. Aunt Zhao, please wash the child. Brother Wang, I need to speak with you alone.”
Placing the baby into Aunt Zhao’s arms, he shot Old Wang a meaningful look and gestured for him to follow. Learning that both mother and child were safe, Old Wang broke into a dazed, foolish grin and followed him instinctively. The children, meanwhile, trailed after Aunt Zhao to help bathe their little brother and prepare his clothes.
Inside the room, Ling Jingxuan said nothing at first. Instead, he led Old Wang to the bedside and lifted the thin quilt covering Zhao Shulan, letting him see for himself.
The smile on Old Wang’s face froze instantly.
His eyes widened in disbelief—anyone, even a fool, could understand what had been done.
Ling Jingxuan nodded, putting away his instruments. “I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you beforehand, to spare you worry. But rest assured—Sister-in-law will be fine. She should wake soon, and the wound on her abdomen will heal in five to six days at most. However, there are some precautions you must follow. Brother Wang?”
After speaking for a while and receiving no response, Ling Jingxuan raised his voice slightly.
Old Wang jolted, his mind replaying Ling Jingxuan’s words over and over. As if to confirm them, Zhao Shulan let out a faint groan. The anesthetic was wearing off. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
Old Wang rushed forward without a second thought, grasping her hand tightly. “Shulan! How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
Not only him—even Yan Shengrui could hardly believe what he had witnessed.
Ling Jingxuan… had truly succeeded.
“Mm… I’m fine. Old Wang, don’t blame Ling-gongzi. He told me beforehand—I agreed to it. How is the child?”
Shaking her head weakly, Zhao Shulan spoke in a gentle voice. The anesthetic had not fully worn off yet, so she didn’t feel much pain for the moment.
But she knew she had survived.
“I know, we’ve got ourselves another big, healthy boy. Close your eyes and rest for a while—I’ll have the eldest ladle you a bowl of chicken soup. Your mother stewed it this morning; it’s just right to drink now.”
As he spoke, Old Wang stood up, ready to rush outside. Ling Jingxuan quickly stepped in front of him, blocking his way in a single stride. Rolling his eyes, he said helplessly, “Brother Wang, Sister-in-law can’t eat yet. Let me finish first, will you?”
Honestly—hadn’t he just said there were precautions to go over?
“Ah?”
Old Wang froze, glancing reluctantly at his weak wife. Why couldn’t she eat?
“A cesarean is not the same as a natural birth. She must wait until she passes gas—until her bowels move—before she can eat anything. Also, her wound must not come into contact with water for now, nor should it be covered too tightly, or it may fester and become infected. The anesthetic hasn’t fully worn off yet—by tonight, she may start to feel pain. Don’t worry, that’s normal.”
Ling Jingxuan continued patiently, “Starting tomorrow afternoon, no matter how much pain she’s in, you must help her get out of bed and walk around the room a little. In four to five days, the wound should mostly heal. I’ll come back then to check on her. If she feels too hot, use a clean cloth dipped in water to wipe her body—but avoid the wound. As for everything else, just follow the usual practices for postpartum confinement.”
In weather like this, as long as the wound didn’t become infected, it would heal quickly. By the time the catgut sutures were fully absorbed by the body, the incision would have closed completely, and she would no longer be in any real danger.
“Alright, I’ve got it… Then does Shulan need to take any medicine?”
Just thinking about the large incision on his wife’s abdomen made Old Wang wince.
“Mm. I’ll write you a prescription to replenish her blood and restore her vitality. Just have the herbs prepared and decocted according to it.”
With most matters settled, Ling Jingxuan stepped out as he spoke. A little girl brought over a basin of warm water. He accepted it with a smile, washing his hands thoroughly before writing out the prescription.
Just before leaving, he paused and asked, “Brother Wang, I’ll need a large number of small jars in the coming days. Can you have your workers make them overnight?”
If not, he’d have to find someone else to commission them.
“No problem. The five hundred you ordered last time are already fired. I even had the workers make some extra. Since Shulan was about to give birth, I figured you weren’t in a hurry, so I didn’t deliver them. I’ll have someone send them over later. How many do you need this time?”
Small jars were simple to make—they could turn out several hundred a day, and even the apprentices could handle the work. It didn’t require his personal attention.
“Five thousand small jars. As for the large vats, start firing them as well—at least three hundred for now. And bricks and tiles too. I reckon in a few days, someone will come to place a large order with you. If you can manage the workload, it’s best to prepare early.”
The last time he built his house, he had practically emptied out the entire kiln, keeping them busy for more than half a month. This time, Han Fei and the others would likely need no less than he had.
“Mm? Alright. I’ll hire a few more hands.” Old Wang paused, his eyes reddening slightly. “Brother Ling… about my wife… I truly owe you. Another day, I’ll come personally to thank you.”
A burly man in his thirties, yet at this moment his eyes brimmed with tears. If not for Ling Jingxuan, he might have lost both his wife and unborn child today.
Ling Jingxuan chuckled softly. “It was nothing worth mentioning. But Brother Wang—please keep this matter confidential. I don’t want others to know about my medical skills.”
With a faint smile, he exchanged a glance with Yan Shengrui and, without hesitation, clasped Old Wang’s hand. Understanding immediately, Old Wang nodded firmly.
Just then, Zhao Shan entered carrying a basket. “Uncle Ling, these are red eggs. Thank you for saving Mother and my little brother.”
In the countryside, it was customary to distribute dyed red eggs to friends and relatives upon the birth of a child. Ling Jingxuan didn’t refuse. Taking the basket, he bid them farewell and left the Wang household with Yan Shengrui.
Walking hand in hand along the road home, Yan Shengrui turned to look at him with interest. “Anesthetic, skilled surgery… Jingxuan, just how many things are there that I don’t know about you?”
Even without his memories, he knew well—anesthetic formulas were not something just anyone could create, and surgery even less so. Time and again, Jingxuan surprised him, reshaping his understanding, drawing him in deeper until he could no longer extricate himself. At times, he even felt the urge to tie him to his side, lest someone else catch a glimpse of the brilliance hidden beneath his cold exterior.
Ling Jingxuan laughed lightly. “There’s plenty you don’t know. How could I let you see everything all at once?”
Letting go of his hand, he turned to face him, walking backward with a teasing smile. A trace of helpless indulgence surfaced in Yan Shengrui’s eyes.
“Then I’ll have to keep watching you for a lifetime. Otherwise, missing something would be a great loss. Jingxuan… what should I do? I really want to marry you right now—so you can belong to me, properly and rightfully.”
By the end, Yan Shengrui couldn’t help but lapse into his usual shameless charm. The more extraordinary Jingxuan was, the more he feared others would notice. What if a rival appeared one day? It wasn’t that he lacked confidence, nor that he doubted Jingxuan’s feelings—it was simply that, without that formal bond, he couldn’t truly rest at ease.
Ling Jingxuan shook his head, his tone calm but sincere. “Is marriage really that important? To me, that single sheet of paper doesn’t amount to much. What matters most is the hearts of the two people involved. Look at Brother Zhao and Brother Han—their lives are difficult, constantly judged wherever they go. If they didn’t have each other, they would have parted ways long ago. And then there’s Brother Wang’s family. They seem ordinary, but that quiet bond between them is as natural as if it were part of their very bones.”
“To be honest, I envy that. Grand, passionate love may be beautiful—but when the passion fades, what remains? A steady, enduring affection may seem plain, yet it carries a gentle warmth that can last a lifetime. Shengrui, I like you—very much. I won’t hide it like some coy maiden. But marriage isn’t just about the two of us. I don’t want a day to come when you regret it… and I’m no longer the person I am now.”
It had been a long time since they last spoke of this. Ling Jingxuan had almost forgotten they weren’t formally married. In truth, aside from not sharing a bed, weren’t they already no different from any other couple?
“I only said it casually, and you came back with a whole lecture.” Yan Shengrui stepped forward, wrapping an arm around his waist, muttering in dissatisfaction. “Jingxuan, can’t you at least coax me a little, like you do your son?”
“Stop right there. If you keep going, you’ll start wanting to be my son again.”
Rolling his eyes, Ling Jingxuan couldn’t help but laugh, recalling their earlier banter. This man—around him, he was always shameless, making him both exasperated and amused. And yet, perhaps it was precisely this dynamic that made them fit so well together.
“Who wants to be your son? I want to be your man—”
Before he could finish, Yan Shengrui lowered his head slowly, closing the distance between them. Just as his lips were about to meet Ling Jingxuan’s—
Clatter, clatter, clatter.
The sound of galloping hooves suddenly approached from afar. In the next instant, a carriage came to a halt less than two meters behind them.
Yan Shengrui’s face darkened at once, his lips twitching uncontrollably. Who the hell was it? Didn’t they know interrupting someone mid-kiss was practically asking to be trampled by a horse? Damn it—he had been this close to tasting Jingxuan’s soft, inviting lips. Just a little more…!
“Hahaha—!”
Ling Jingxuan, who had also been momentarily stunned, burst into exaggerated laughter. It seemed his man’s resentment ran rather deep.
“Father! Daddy! Why are you standing in the middle of the road?”
Before long, Xiao Baozi’s excited voice rang out. Song Gengniu, who had been driving the carriage, knew he had ruined his master’s moment and didn’t dare step forward to greet them. Silently, he helped the children down one by one. It wasn’t his fault—they had been getting cozy right in the middle of the road!
“Father, aren’t you hot holding Daddy like that?”
Running up between them, Xiao Baozi tilted his head and asked innocently. Da Baozi beside him looked equally puzzled. Though it was already late evening, hugging that tightly still seemed… rather warm. And why did Father look so constipated? Daddy, on the other hand, was laughing far too exaggeratedly.
“I know, I know!”
Tiewazi, who had grown much livelier, suddenly raised his hand excitedly. Casting a sly glance at the two still holding each other, he covered his mouth and snickered as the others looked at him curiously.
“Godfather and the others are playing ‘kissing’! I’ve seen my parents do it—just like this! And sometimes when I wake up at night, I even see Father lying on top of Daddy, moving around like he’s searching for something—kissing while he searches!”
“Hahaha—!”
Out of the mouths of babes… Even Yan Shengrui couldn’t hold it in this time, clutching his stomach as he doubled over in laughter. Tiewazi, oh Tiewazi—you really don’t stop until you’ve shocked everyone speechless. If your parents heard that, they’d definitely spank you.
“Really?”
Xiao Baozi looked from Tiewazi to his fathers, growing more suspicious by the second. Then suddenly, he rushed forward and hugged Ling Jingxuan’s leg.
“Daddy, I want to play ‘kissing’ too!”
“…Huh?”
Ling Jingxuan froze. Even a thunderbolt from a clear sky wouldn’t quite capture how he felt right now. The “kissing” they were doing was definitely not the kind this little rascal had in mind.
“Cough, cough… Xiao Wu, you’re a big boy now. You can’t play ‘kissing’ with Daddy anymore.”
Feigning seriousness, Yan Shengrui cleared his throat and bent down to scoop his son into his arms. Seeing the boy pout in dissatisfaction, he hurriedly added, somewhat awkwardly:
“At most… Father will make a sacrifice and play with you instead.”
“Okay!”
Without hesitation, the little bun grabbed his father’s face and planted a series of slobbery kisses all over it.
Already bent over laughing, Ling Jingxuan could barely stand straight. Helpless, he took Ling Wen and Tiewazi by the hand, not forgetting to call for Xiao Huzi who had come along with them. Leaving the foolishly playful father and son behind, he headed straight for the carriage.
He really had no choice—
he’d laughed so hard, he no longer had the strength to walk home.
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Translator: LazyHermitGal
Author: LazyHermitGal
A Lazy Hermit Gal wondering in the void and falling into the translation abyss.
