Chapter 201: Chapter 201

"Do you even know whether to cut horizontally or vertically? There are seven layers of fat, and you have to cut through each layer. Plus, there are cosmetic needles. Do you even know how to stitch?" Jing Shu said disdainfully.

"I have to learn sometime. I might end up being the Midwife of this area. If natural birth doesn’t work, I’ll just slice open the belly and take the baby out. Just thinking about it is thrilling. I really regret not studying medicine and hanging out with formaldehyde-soaked cadavers instead of some crappy agriculture. Now I’m stuck with a biology tutor. Ah, such is fate."

"How about this: you handle the cutting, and I’ll handle the stitching? Look at this stitching technique—once you pull this thread, you can’t even see it; it’s all tucked under the skin."

Jing Shu’s eyes lit up. In the coming years, besides the bodies mangled by earthquakes, there would also be those crushed by debris. Her stitching skills would be in great demand. "Dear, I suggest using cosmetic needles. There will be no scars once it’s stitched up."

"Alright, it’s decided then."

The two excitedly discussed how to perform the dissection and stitching all the way. Both were eager to practice on Zhang Bingbing, especially since Jing Shu had the Spiritual Spring and anesthetics, so no one would die.

"If she can’t deliver naturally, we’ll just have to cut her open," Jing Shu said.

It was unclear if it was the lethal impact of Jing Shu’s words, or if the psychologically disturbed Zhang Bingbing had overheard them and felt their power, or perhaps if Zhang Bingbing’s baby sensed the palpable malice from Jing Shu and Wu You’ai.

In any case, by the time Jing Shu and Wu You’ai arrived at Zhang Bingbing’s place, before they could even ask about the situation, or Wu You’ai had the chance to say, "Take a deep breath, inhale and exhale," Jing Shu had already seen a little head poking out from between Zhang Bingbing’s spread legs, as if to say: "No need for you, I’m coming out by myself!"

"Push, push hard!" Wu You’ai rushed forward, shouting to help with the final stages of delivery, at least to prove she had assisted in childbirth before.

Then, with a swift tug, Zhang Bingbing’s husband, holding the baby by its head, pulled out the entire body.

"WAH, WAH!" The loud cries of the baby resounded, not even needing a slap on its sole.

Jing Shu: "???" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveIＦire.net

"That’s it? It’s born? Just like that?"

"I don’t even know if it’s yours or... mine." The old man looked a bit melancholy. If the baby was his, it would be his son’s younger brother. If it was his son’s, then this would be his grandson.

"Dad, let’s just think of it as our son."

The utterly bizarre dialogue made Wu You’ai decide to send these two for labor reform after the baby’s first-month celebration. Without the child as a point of contention, she figured, such talk would cease.

Jing Shu raised the scissors. She wasn’t here to deliver the baby; she was here to pass the scissors and cut the umbilical cord.

No matter what, Jing Shu could now confidently tell people, "I’ve assisted in a birth and cut an umbilical cord before."

Jing Shu calculated the time. It took less than twenty minutes to deliver the baby. This made her wonder if all those terrifying stories online were just exaggerations meant to scare her.

However, for some people, childbirth is a life-or-death struggle, while others might give birth while riding a motorcycle, or even on the toilet... In short, anything can happen; it’s all up to fate.

"Babies always look this ugly when they are born."

As the first child born in the Banana District, naming him was an important matter. Zhang Bingbing’s main husband and secondary husband also recognized Wu You’ai’s authority. "You are the administrator of our district; you come up with a name for the child."

Wu You’ai looked at Jing Shu. "How about you name him, and I’ll enter it into the central database?"

Jing Shu pondered for a moment. "Let’s give him the last name Zhang and call him Zhang Dada. I hope he can grow up safely in this apocalypse."

"Having the last name Zhang is good, taking after his mother. Zhang Dada is easy to remember."

"Let’s settle on Zhang Dada then."

Wu You’ai rolled her eyes. She’d thought Jing Shu would come up with a more meaningful name. "Alright, we’ll call him Zhang Dada then."

Wu You’ai put out a call for maternity and infant supplies in the group chat. The user ’I have a baby’ sent over some things her own little one no longer needed, which helped ease Zhang Bingbing’s immediate difficulties. By the time Jing Shu finished dealing with this matter, it was six in the morning.

Jing Shu wanted to go back to catch up on some sleep, but Zhou Bapi was already waiting at the door with his Alpha, flashing his big yellow teeth with a smile. "Let’s head out early; it’s a long drive."

Jing Shu’s teeth clenched. Alright, I’ll definitely make sure to get a good sleep tonight, then, she thought.

I thought Zhou Bapi was just being polite when he said it was a long drive, Jing Shu mused, but I didn’t expect it to actually be this far!

The mountain range in Wu City ran horizontally. After crossing one mountain after another, they finally arrived. Fortunately, the terrain here was high; otherwise, the car wouldn’t have made it. Based on the route, Jing Shu estimated the journey was about twenty kilometers.

Because the water was knee-deep in places and they had to drive slowly in the dark, it took them over an hour to reach their destination.

"This place used to be for growing snow lotuses," Zhou Bapi explained. "That entire area was our land, where we typically planted common varieties. Two months before the apocalypse, we managed to force-grow one last batch. After that, we switched to greenhouse cultivation. But with this current freak weather, nothing really grows anymore."

"This is Wu City’s old pharmaceutical factory, over twenty years old, and it’s fully equipped inside. That area is for refining medications. Oh, and there’s also a special processing facility for traditional Chinese medicine."

"Look, there’s a warehouse over there. Previously, all medicinal materials transported from Wu City to other provincial cities, or shipped here from elsewhere, had to pass through it. But it’s long been emptied; the government secretly moved everything."

"This area has already transformed into a self-sufficient township."

"Before the apocalypse, tens of thousands of people lived here. After work stopped, more than half were dispersed. Then, last year, after the water shortage, people scattered in all directions, leaving only us. We have to keep planting, even if nothing grows. If there’s no food, we can find other things to eat, but we can’t survive being sick without medicine."

Jing Shu deeply empathized. Yet, the few medicinal herbs that can be grown are only enough for a small number of people, she thought. And among those, only the ones with power or ability will get them. Such is the harsh reality of the apocalypse.

Zhou Bapi parked the car at a newly built, rather tall building. Though it only had three floors, each floor was about five meters high, making it look very imposing.

Zhou Bapi proudly declared, "This was built by the government for the Provincial City’s Medicinal Materials Association before the apocalypse. It’s packed with high-tech equipment; it’s a building that can simulate weather systems. The only downside is its high energy consumption, so there’s only one in each provincial city, just twenty-six in the entire country."

Jing Shu nodded. Indeed, very impressive, she thought.

"Alright, you need to press your handprint here to enter," Zhou Bapi said, pointing at the fingerprint scanner by the door.

"BEEP BEEP. Personal data: Jing Shu... Entry successful. Linking to central database... Please provide iris scan."

Something feels a bit off, Jing Shu thought, but she complied and scanned her iris.

"BEEP—Employment successful."

"There," Zhou Bapi chuckled. "From now on, you are a member of the Wu City Herbal Medicine Association!"