Baozhu saw the pregnant woman's coarse hands and large feet, her face twisted with abdominal pain. Afraid she might bleed endlessly on the way and die in childbirth, Baozhu hurriedly supported her under the arms, helped her up, and headed in the direction the old woman indicated.
The pregnant woman locked one arm tightly around Baozhu's neck, putting almost her entire weight on her. Even as strong as Baozhu was, she found it something of a strain. She reasoned that a woman carrying a child would naturally be heavy and thought nothing more of it.
Though the old woman had said her home was nearby, they went all the way from Cihui Ward to Tongli Ward, winding through turn after turn into a shaded alley before reaching the gate of a secluded little courtyard house. The old woman announced that they had arrived. The courtyard was shabby and cluttered. Just as Baozhu helped the pregnant woman across the threshold, the old woman swiftly turned back, shut the gate, and slid the bolt into place.
"Hurry inside," she urged Baozhu repeatedly.
Despite her words, the old woman made no move to help. She merely stood to one side with her hands tucked into her sleeves, her eyes fixed not on her daughter-in-law in labor but on Baozhu, who had come to help. Now that they had reached their destination, the pregnant woman tightened the arm around Baozhu's neck until she could barely move.
Suspicion stirred in Baozhu's heart. The evening drums were nearly done, and curfew was close at hand. She had volunteered to help, but if she delayed much longer, the ward gates would close, making it difficult to get back.
As she hesitated, the weight on her shoulder suddenly lifted. The pregnant woman's arm was wrenched behind her head,