On the day I gave birth, my husband tied me to the hospital bed and dragged me home, then locked me in the basement.
He did it only because he wanted to help his sister-in-law fulfill her wish to give birth to the family’s first grandson. He wrapped a red cord soaked in black dog’s blood around my belly to keep the baby from coming.
I clung to his clothes, fighting through the pain, and begged him to let me live.
But he shoved me away and pulled the cord even tighter.
The thin but incredibly tough red cord dug mercilessly into my belly. Its suffocating grip came with wave after wave of contractions, leaving me drenched in cold sweat from the pain.
He looked down at me, his voice cold.
“My brother is dead. She’s all alone, and all she wants is to have the first grandson. You’re really going to fight her over such a tiny wish?”
“The master said a red cord soaked in black dog’s blood is the most effective way to stop labor. You can give birth after your sister-in-law has her baby!”
But after his sister-in-law gave birth to the first grandson, he happily threw a lavish banquet and completely forgot that I was still locked in the basement.
Not until he received a call from Madam Wang.
“Your wife is dead!”
