Li Jianwei looked at Du Heng’s expression and laughed again. "Oh, don’t give me that look. Rest assured, as long as your article is published under our Department’s name, I won’t short you a single cent of the reward our Department is due to give."

Du Heng reluctantly accepted the two red envelopes. "Mr. Li, I’ll make a note of what you said today."

Li Jianwei got up and walked out. "Note it down or don’t, suit yourself." He left the office after saying that.

However, in less than a minute, he returned with Xiao Sun, his senior graduate student.

"I know you have to go to Xu’s place later, so I had Xiao Sun take your things to your car." Li Jianwei gestured to Xiao Sun, who had followed him in, indicating Du Heng should give him the car keys.

Du Heng didn’t stand on ceremony and readily gave his car keys to Xiao Sun. However, he still thoughtfully asked, "Two barrels of oil and two boxes of fish... Can Xiao Sun manage all that by himself? Should we find someone else to help?"

Li Jianwei shot Du Heng a look that clearly said, You’re overthinking things. "One barrel and one box per person. I get a share of this too, you know."

"One barrel of oil and one box of fish? Mr. Li, isn’t that a little stingy?"

"It’s the same standard every year." Li Jianwei waved his hand, instructing Xiao Sun to take Du Heng’s things down. Then he turned to Du Heng and said, "You’d better hurry over to Director Xu’s place; otherwise, it’ll be quitting time."

Hearing Li Jianwei essentially kicking him out, Du Heng pouted slightly and headed for Digestion Department 1.

Not much of a haul this trip.

After strolling over to Digestion Department 1, Du Heng couldn’t find Xu Pinglin. Just as he was about to call him, he unexpectedly bumped into Gu Ping, who was just stepping out of an office.

Seeing Du Heng, whom he hadn’t seen in two months, Gu Ping was thrilled. "Mr. Du! When did you get here? Why didn’t you call me?"

Du Heng was a bit embarrassed by Gu Ping’s enthusiastic greeting. Noticing that nearby nurses and patients were all looking their way, he quietly took a step back. "Just arrived, just arrived. By the way, where’s Director Xu?"

A puzzled look flickered across Gu Ping’s face. "He’s not here? I saw him at noon."

Gu Ping’s voice had been a bit loud, clearly audible in the nearby offices. Doctor Hou, an old acquaintance, emerged from one and led Du Heng towards Xu Pinglin’s office. "Director Xu had an emergency and left early. Doctor Du, your things are in the Director’s office. He said you should just take them when you arrived."

A few steps later, they reached Xu Pinglin’s office. Inside, Du Heng saw two identical piles of New Year’s gifts.

In addition to the customary rice, oil, and fish, there were also boxes of pork knuckle, preserved meat, and candies.

Compared to the New Year’s gifts from the Chinese Medicine Department, these were not only more varied but also more plentiful. It was truly a world of difference.

However, it also clearly showed the disparity in resources between the two Departments.

Doctor Hou said with a smile, "All of this is for you, Doctor Du. Gu Ping and I will help you take it to your car now."

Take them or not? Of course, take them! Why shouldn’t I? I’m not only the externally employed Deputy Director of the Chinese Medicine Department but also the externally employed Deputy Director of Digestion Department 1. I’ve certainly put in my fair share of work in their department this past half-year.

As they carried the items together, Du Heng asked Doctor Hou, "Where did Director Xu go?"

"It seems Director Xu’s wife suddenly went into labor. He got a call and had to rush over."

Du Heng, who was in the middle of picking something up, paused. "I remember his wife’s due date was still more than ten days away, wasn’t it?"

Doctor Hou nodded. "I heard Director Xu mention that too, something about more than ten days left. This afternoon, when the hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Department called Director Xu, he was still here muttering to himself, wondering why it was happening so early."

Du Heng thought for a moment, then placed the gift box he had just picked up back on the floor. "I’ll go see Director Xu. I can come back for these things later."

Doctor Hou, who had been about to move, paused. "How about this: Gu Ping and I will help you take these things down. Otherwise, if you come back later, you won’t be able to manage them all by yourself. Give me your car keys. I’m about to get off work soon, and I’ll go see Director Xu afterward. I can give you the keys then."

Du Heng thought that sounded like a good plan. He felt his pocket for the car keys but found it empty, then remembered they were still with Xiao Sun.

So he called Xiao Sun again and asked him to make another trip over.

However, before Doctor Hou took the things downstairs, he handed Du Heng a red envelope. It was almost as thick as the one Li Jianwei from the Chinese Medicine Department had given him.

Happily accepting the red envelope, Du Heng called Xu Pinglin. Learning that Xu Pinglin was at the entrance to the delivery room, he hurried over.

"Director Xu, has Director Liu gone into the delivery room already?" Du Heng asked upon reaching the entrance, where he saw a visibly worried Xu Pinglin.

When Xu Pinglin saw Du Heng arrive, he managed to force a slight smile, but the worry on his face didn’t diminish in the slightest. "This afternoon, her water suddenly broke, and they took her straight to the delivery room."

"How long has she been in there?" Du Heng glanced towards the delivery room.

"Since a little after three o’clock," Xu Pinglin replied, also looking anxiously towards the delivery room.

Although the Obstetrics Department at the Provincial First Hospital wasn’t as busy as the one at the Provincial Women and Children’s Hospital, being a Class A hospital, there were still quite a few expectant fathers waiting by the door.

Though their individual expressions varied, the prevailing emotions were anxiety, anticipation, and even a touch of helplessness.

Some families had many members present, offering each other comfort and encouragement. Others, like Xu Pinglin’s, consisted of only the husband waiting outside.

Seeing Xu Pinglin’s tension, Du Heng smiled reassuringly. "Director Xu, try not to worry too much. The birth of a child signifies the arrival of a new life; it’s a momentous event, so it naturally takes time and effort."

Pulling Xu Pinglin over to a nearby waiting chair, Du Heng continued, "Right now, the most important thing for you to do is conserve your energy. When Director Liu comes out, you’ll need to take care of both the mother and the baby."

Hearing this, Xu Pinglin’s mouth twitched into a stiff line. Du Heng’s words, instead of easing his tension, seemed to make his attempted smile even more strained due to his anxiety.

"I’m hopeless at taking care of people," Xu Pinglin admitted. "My mother and my mother-in-law are already on their way. They’ll handle things later."

"Well, you’ll have to learn. Not knowing how to care for them isn’t an option."

"I’ll learn. I’ll definitely learn."

The two men chatted for a while. Gradually, Xu Pinglin’s tense demeanor softened, and their conversation became more relaxed.

After normal working hours, the off-duty doctors and nurses from Digestion Department 1 started arriving in trickles. They chatted for a bit, offered their support, and then departed.

However, once everyone had left, Xu Pinglin’s anxiety began to creep back in.

It was already seven o’clock, four hours since Liu Shengnan had entered the delivery room.

During those four hours, the delivery room door had opened and closed several times, but none of those instances concerned Xu Pinglin.

At this moment, even though he was a Department Director in the very same hospital, he felt utterly powerless.

"Director Du, you’re an expert in gynecology too. Why is there no news at all after she’s been in there for so long?" Xu Pinglin asked, his voice tight.

Seeing Xu Pinglin’s hands and feet practically rigid with tension, Du Heng tried to reassure him again. "Director Xu, try not to be nervous. No news is good news. You’re a seasoned expert in the operating room yourself; how can you be so muddled now?"

"No news is good news"—a phrase easily offered as comfort to others. But when it was your own loved one, every passing minute, every second, was an agony for those waiting outside.

Even if you were an expert in the field yourself, you’d panic just the same when it hit this close to home.

Just as Xu Pinglin was about to speak, the closed delivery room door opened once more. This time, a middle-aged female doctor emerged. She scanned the people waiting, and upon spotting Xu Pinglin, she beckoned him over and led him into an adjacent consultation room.

Xu Pinglin was having a child relatively late in life, and Liu Shengnan was also of advanced maternal age. This naturally made them more anxious, and the long time she had already spent inside the delivery room was making Xu Pinglin extremely tense.

Now, seeing the female doctor beckon, Xu Pinglin, who had just stood up, suddenly felt his knees go weak.

Du Heng, who was beside him, reacted instantly, reaching out to steady Xu Pinglin.

Du Heng understood Xu Pinglin’s situation better than anyone and could keenly empathize with the pressure he was under. "Don’t be nervous, Director Xu," he said gently. "She probably just wants to talk to you about Director Liu’s condition."

Xu Pinglin nodded. After taking a deep breath to compose himself, he walked into the consultation room first.

Inside the consultation room, the female doctor removed her surgical mask. She glanced at Du Heng, who had entered with Xu Pinglin, then fixed her gaze on Xu Pinglin. "Director Xu, there’s something I need to discuss with you."

Seeing Xu Pinglin sit down and appear relatively composed, Du Heng prepared to step out. However, Xu Pinglin reached out and stopped him. "Director Du, please stay and listen. I could use your perspective."

Then, he turned to the female doctor opposite them and said, "Director Zhang, this is Director Du Heng. He’s the one who helped resolve my medical issue. Please, go ahead and tell us."

Addressed as Director Zhang, the female doctor glanced at Du Heng in surprise.

Du Heng was something of a celebrity in their hospital. After all, a doctor from a mere Health Clinic being appointed as an external Deputy Director for two different Departments in the same major hospital was prime material for gossip.

However, this wasn’t the time for idle chatter. Director Zhang simply nodded at Du Heng before turning back to Xu Pinglin. "Director Xu, Director Liu’s water has completely broken. However, up to now, her cervix has only dilated to three fingers, which isn’t enough for delivery."

Xu Pinglin said urgently, "If a vaginal delivery isn’t possible, then let’s do a cesarean section."

Director Zhang shook her head. "We also recommend a cesarean section. However, Director Liu is adamant; she insists on a vaginal delivery. We’ve spent a lot of time talking to her in the delivery room, trying to persuade her, but she hasn’t changed her mind."

Vaginal delivery versus cesarean section—these are the two primary choices facing all expectant mothers and their families.

When cesarean sections first became common, many hospitals, often motivated by the surgical fees and overall convenience, recommended them. They vigorously promoted the advantages of C-sections, such as reduced pain and faster delivery times.

However, as time went on, even though this procedure had indeed saved the lives of countless mothers, people began to recognize some of its drawbacks.