"Are you telling the truth?" Yin Hong asked.
"Yes, why would I lie to you? You can ask Xiao Xi inside if you don't believe me," Guo Xuyang said.
"I don't understand you young people's thinking."
"My situation is rather unique. We got our marriage certificate and held our wedding abroad. Director Yin, I have a rather bold request – I'd like to ask you to accompany Xiao Xi to the operating room." Guo Xuyang said.
"You've heard about it too?"
"Gao Yuan is from your hospital. I met her at the postnatal care center."
"Didn't Gao Yuan just say she was Xiao Xi's sister?"
"Yes. I believe you know why she went to the postnatal care center," Guo Xuyang said.
"Alright. You go pay the fees first. I'll accompany them there in a moment."
"Thank you, Director Yin," Guo Xuyang said, hurrying downstairs to pay the fees.
Shortly after Guo Xuyang finished paying the fees and arrived at the operating room, Yan Shiliang also arrived.
"You can wait outside, no need to rush," Yin Hong said to Guo Xuyang before entering the operating room.
"Thank you, Director Yin, for your trouble."
"Why are you coming in? Get out." Yan Shiliang said as he saw Yin Hong follow a few people into the operating room.
"This is the sister of a friend of mine. They're worried, and it's their first child, so they asked me to come and keep an eye on things," Yin Hong said.
"Are you talking about that pretty boy outside? Looks presentable, but full of deceit and depravity," Yan Shiliang said.
"That's like a crow landing on a pig, only seeing others' flaws and not your own." Yin Hong knew Yan Shiliang had overheard her conversation with Guo Xuyang.
"All men are the same, no cat can resist fish. If you're unhappy, you can divorce him." Yan Shiliang said, then turned and went to the changing room to change.
In reality, this correction surgery didn't require changing clothes. It only involved applying Vaseline to the woman's abdomen and using an observation mirror, with skillful manipulation, to rotate the placenta within the uterus, allowing the fetus to turn on its own to resolve nuchal cord entanglement. However, Li Minxi had to change, and she was not allowed to wear underwear, to facilitate Yan Shiliang's technique. He intended to take the opportunity while she changed to examine Li Minxi's physical condition. But Gao Yuan stayed close to Li Minxi, denying him the chance. When he entered, Gao Yuan had already helped Li Minxi change. She was in the nude below, wearing a loose-fitting pair of pants and a small vest on her upper body, which did not hinder the fetal position correction.
"Xiao Liu, are you ready?" Yan Shiliang asked, glancing at his assistant.
"Director Yan, I'm ready."
"Li Minxi, lie down. Undo your top and take off your pants." Yan Shiliang said, looking at Li Minxi.
"I still have to take off my pants?" Li Minxi was a bit stunned.
"How can I adjust it without taking off your pants? Hurry up."
"I, I'm not wearing any underwear." Li Minxi's face turned red, and she looked flustered.
"In the eyes of us doctors, there's no male or female; everyone is a patient, treated equally," Yan Shiliang said.
"But, but..."
"No more buts. Are you going to do it or not? If not, we'll just forget it. I don't have time to chat with you here."
"Director Li, just lie down, and you can pull your pants down a little. I'll help you," Gao Yuan said from the side.
"Alright, then. You help me," Li Minxi said, clinging to Gao Yuan's hand as if she had found a lifeline.
"Okay, lie down first." Gao Yuan removed Li Minxi's top and set it aside, then helped her lie down slowly.
"Director Li, lift your hips a little, yes, just like that. Good, you can stop now." Li Minxi's hands were protectively clasped over her chest, and she closed her eyes nervously.
"Pull them down a bit further. I can't perform the maneuver this way," Yan Shiliang said.
With no other option, Gao Yuan had to pull Li Minxi's pants down to just above her pubic bone, revealing a hint of pubic hair.
"Xiao Liu, look at the screen and tell me about the nuchal cord situation," Yan Shiliang said.
"The situation isn't very ideal. The distance between the fetus's neck and the umbilical cord is too close, making it difficult to operate," Xiao Liu said.
"I'll rotate the placenta, and you pay attention to observation." Yan Shiliang said, applying Vaseline to Li Minxi's abdomen and gently pushing upwards from above her pubic bone with his hands.
It had to be said that Yan Shiliang was indeed skilled at his work. With pushes and turns from his left and right, using the skillful force of his palms and fists, he made the fetus roll and turn within the amniotic sac.
"All done, Director Yan. The umbilical cord is completely untangled," Xiao Liu said.
"That makes it easier," Yan Shiliang said. Gao Yuan quickly grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from Yan Shiliang's forehead.
"Thank you. Xiao Liu, come over. We don't need to look there anymore; the two of us will just correct the fetal position," Yan Shiliang said. He and Xiao Liu both applied Vaseline to their hands and then gently made movements. Li Minxi's abdomen immediately bulged. This was the little one inside struggling, and the distinct imprints of two small feet appeared prominently on Li Minxi's belly.
"Alright, check again and see if the fetal position is corrected," Yan Shiliang said to Xiao Liu.
"Director, it's fine. It's perfect," Xiao Liu said, looking at the screen.
"Okay, put your clothes on. Your due date might be earlier, so you need to be prepared," Yan Shiliang said to Li Minxi before entering the adjacent bathroom.
"Gao Yuan, when is your friend's due date?" Yin Hong walked over and asked.
"It should be about a month from now. I've forgotten the exact date," Gao Yuan said while wiping the Vaseline off Li Minxi's abdomen.
"The twenty-third of next month," Li Minxi said.
"Then we need to book a ward in advance. Have Guo Xuyang handle the reservation procedures later so you don't end up without a bed," Yin Hong said.
"Isn't it a bit early to book now?" Li Minxi asked.
"There are too many people on the waiting list here. Even if you book now, you might not get a spot. Our delivery rooms can usually accommodate ten expectant mothers at a time, and sometimes we have to use the emergency ward for unexpected situations."
"Is it because this is the provincial capital? Why are there so many expectant mothers?"
"That's part of the reason. Primarily, living conditions have improved, and most families have only one or two children; very few have three, almost none. Therefore, everyone is worried about potential problems and wants to give birth in a place with better medical conditions. Our Maternal and Child Health Hospital is relatively experienced in handling emergency situations for expectant mothers compared to other hospitals, so many people come here," Yin Hong explained.
"Director Yin, please help us reserve a bed when the time comes," Gao Yuan said from the side.
"Go out and have Guo Xuyang handle the procedures in advance. That way, I can also explain it to others."
"Can I wash up? I feel sticky all over, it's so uncomfortable," Li Minxi said, looking at Yin Hong.
"There's only one bathroom here; you should go back and wash. Old Yan is using it now, and the operating table needs to be cleaned for the next surgery," Yin Hong said.
"Alright then." Li Minxi, holding her pants, and Gao Yuan went to the changing room and put on their own clothes.