Chapter 463: Ancient Surgery

Doctor Bai was checking the tools needed for the surgery.

Gu Xixi opened the stopper of a medicine bottle and brought it to Yina's lips, saying, "This is anesthetic."

"After you drink it, you will fall into a deep sleep."

Yina trusted Gu Xixi and drank it down directly.

After a while, when there was no sound, Doctor Bai, who had idly turned his head to look, was stunned.

"It's already numb?!"

He looked at Gu Xixi, excited as if he had unearthed a treasure.

"Boss Gu, this medicine works much faster than the Numbing Boil Powder I usually prepare; I don't know how this formula is……"

Gu Xixi couldn't help but roll her eyes, "Doctor Bai, we can talk about the formula later. If you're ready, just get started."

"If you move too slowly, not only will the child be in danger, but the adult might also wake up midway."

Doctor Bai snapped out of his daze, quickly gathered himself, and said, "Yes, yes."

Doctor Bai will go wash his hands; you remove her clothes, then use the alcohol and gauze I placed on the table to wipe the skin, always wiping from inside out, never from outside in.

Gu Xixi responded, turned around, and went to do her own task.

She thought, Doctor Bai, this ancient physician actually knows surgical disinfection, and his technique is fairly standard.

No wonder his treatment of wounds has greatly lowered the mortality rate in the army.

When the surgery began, lacking a surgical drape, Gu Xixi used the clean cotton gauze Doctor Bai had brought to cover Yina's body.

Doctor Bai stood before the long table and took a deep breath.

When he picked up the instruments, he seemed to become a different person—focused, calm, and confident.

The uterine cavity should be in this position; there's no mistake.

When cutting, one should also avoid the blood vessels.

Doctor Bai followed his train of thought and made a decisive cut.

Gu Xixi saw that the bleeding was slight and breathed a sigh of relief.

One of them was performing a cesarean section for the first time as the lead surgeon, while the other was observing a cesarean section for the first time.

Gu Xixi did not have Doctor Bai's countless repetitions of practical experience.

She could only rely on her superficial biological knowledge, offering timely suggestions from the side.

"Once the fat and muscle are fully retracted, the uterus can be seen inside the exposed uterine cavity."

……

Doctor Bai carried out each step, his technique steady and swift.

One quarter hour, two quarter hours……

Those waiting outside suddenly heard the baby's cries.

The cries were initially weak but gradually grew louder.

"It's born! It's out!"

Aunt Lin said, "The sound still seems quite vigorous."

Although the birth of a new life ought to be a great joy, none of the military dependents present could bring themselves to smile.

Zao Hua, the youngest and newly a mother, couldn't help but lower her head and wipe away tears at the thought that this baby might lose its mother right after birth.

Yina's wet nurse had been sitting limp on the ground since just then.

She stared fixedly at the closed door, her face full of sorrow, murmuring prayers under her breath.

Half an hour later.

Doctor Bai set down the needle, watched Gu Xixi sprinkle a layer of medicinal powder onto the sutured incision, and then let out a long sigh of relief.

"It's done; she's lucky—I've used up the last few strands of sheep‑gut suture on her."

"Whether she can recover fully now depends on her own fate."

"The first three days are the most dangerous; I'll stay in the village to monitor her medication at any time."

The surgery was completed, and the newborn baby was also very healthy.

Gu Xixi answered, turned, and went to open the door.

"Mother and child are safe."

"Whoever comes to help, fetch two basins of warm water to wash the baby."

"Then lift the adult back onto the bed."

Heaven knows how much weight the words 'mother and child are safe' carry at this very moment.

It was as if a pebble had shattered the ice.

The dazed crowd suddenly sprang into action, each busying themselves.

Yina's wet nurse rose shakily, tears in her eyes as she looked at Gu Xixi and whispered, "Is she… alive?"

Gu Xixi nodded, "She's alive, but the anesthetic hasn't worn off yet—you can go in to see her and the baby."

Everyone returned indoors once again.

Doctor Bai had already pushed open the window, dispersing most of the bloody smell indoors.

Yina lay on the long table, covered in gauze, and was actually emitting the soft snores of deep sleep.

Zao Hua seized Aunt Lin in a joyful grip, "She's alive! She really is still alive!"

When everyone saw the baby placed on the bed, they all couldn't help but feel a black line across their foreheads.

The baby was still wet all over, covered in amniotic fluid, bloodstains, and dirt.

Gu Xixi gave an embarrassed smile, "His whole body is soft and limp; I really don't know how to hold him, and I dare not give him a bath."

Fortunately, it was midsummer, and Gu Xixi also wrapped the baby in a pillowcase, so he wouldn't catch a chill.

Bathing the baby was something many experienced people present could do, and they immediately set about it.

Gu Xixi stayed here waiting for Yina to wake up.

After all, it was the medicine she prepared—oral herbal anesthesia—which is far less precise than modern inhaled anesthesia.

Previously, preparing to deal with bad people was of no consequence.

Now using it on Yina, Gu Xixi really does worry a bit about leaving any aftereffects.

Taking this opportunity, Gu Xixi smiled at Doctor Bai and said, "Today I'm still seeing an operation up close for the first time."

Doctor Bai sighed, "I'm also performing surgery on a woman in labor for the first time."

Gu Xixi said, "You finished so quickly, it doesn't seem like your first time at all."

Doctor Bai smiled and said, "Maybe because I've opened people's bellies before, plus you directed well—everything flows."

"As for speed, as a military doctor you can't be slow; it's just habit."

After all, on the battlefield nobody waits; casualties come in batches, and a military doctor must be accurate as well as fast.

Only then can more lives possibly be saved,

After the baby was washed, it still cried nonstop.

Madam Lin said it was hungry, but there was no lactating woman in the village lately.

They could only fetch a bowl of goat milk, boil it, let it cool, and feed it to the baby.

The little one wasn't picky; after eating its fill it fell asleep.

Not long after, Yina also woke up.

"Did I not die?"

Everyone nodded, smiling through tears.

Gu Xixi knew Yina's biggest worry was the child, and said, "The child is healthy, has had goat milk and is already asleep."

Yina's eyes reddened, "Thank you."

At this moment the wet nurse brought the baby over to show Yina.

Yina asked, "Is it a boy?"

The wet nurse both cried and laughed, nodding repeatedly.

Gu Xixi had already seen the baby's sex during delivery, which is also an answer the Great Undertaking Dynasty would be pleased to see.

After Yina had looked at the child.

Gu Xixi finally gave postoperative instructions, observing Yina's reactions keenly.

Making sure the anesthesia hadn't damaged her brain, she then secretly let out a sigh of relief.

"Your body needs rest; recuperate well. Doctor Bai will stay in the vacant house in the village these two days—if anything comes up, just call someone in the village."

"Doctor Bai will also come by regularly to check your condition, give you medicine, or change your dressing."

Yina was extremely weak, unable to say much, only able to gaze gratefully at Gu Xixi, "I will repay this great kindness."

Then she looked toward Madam Lin and the others, "Thank you, everyone."

Yina safely passed the three‑day critical period.

During this period Gu Xixi and Lv Jing were running about outside the village all day.

At the border, sorghum was being sown for the first time, and they also had to plant vegetables using an intercropping pattern.

In practice there were many minor problems that needed Gu Xixi to correct promptly.

On the third day's afternoon, Doctor Bai went to the small courtyard to bid farewell to Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi was somewhat surprised, "Haven't even three full days passed—Doctor Bai, do you have an urgent matter?"

Doctor Bai hesitated a moment, then nodded, "Indeed it's urgent; the General has sent me by express horse to the capital overnight."

Hearing mention of the capital, Gu Xixi inexplicably felt a bit uneasy.