1. Heroine: Zheng Qing (still a woman after rebirth, women in the new world do not need to have children)
In a previous life in modern society, Zheng Qing was pregnant and experienced morning sickness, body deformation, workplace rejection, difficult childbirth, and depressed confinement.
But over the long years, she gradually became accustomed to numbness and self-domestication, and began to persuade herself: everyone has to go through childbirth, and everyone survives it this way, so there is no need to complain excessively. When other women talk about the pain of childbirth, she often comforts them and subconsciously downplays the pain. She even thinks that some women are too sensitive and exaggerate their grievances. They gradually lose the real pain of pregnancy and the ability to empathize.
Rebirth of the interstellar future: technological innovation, reproductive responsibilities are completely transferred to men. Women don't have to bear the torture of pregnancy, childbirth, and confinement at all. Her lover Wu Xin chose to implant a bionic uterus to conceive a child. She has the memory of childbirth, and theoretically should understand the pain, but her memory has been dulled after many years. When the pain of childbirth happens to a man, the old and new feelings constantly collide, awakening her dusty trauma.
2. Male protagonist: Wu Xin (the male in the future, responsible for the entire pregnancy process)
Voluntarily accepted the implantation of the third-generation bionic artificial uterus, and experienced the entire birth process: pregnancy reactions, body deformation, workplace suppression, severe labor pain, and harsh confinement habits. All his sufferings exactly corresponded to Zheng Qing's pregnancy experience in her previous life.
Future worldview rules (remain unchanged)
Reproductive functions are fully transferred to men, and women are exempted from all reproductive costs;
Chapter 11 Conflicts broke out, estrangement, pain and lack of understanding
Plot summary
Multiple pressures converged and exploded: persistent physical pain after childbirth, strict customs and restrictions, dietary taboos, and constant preaching from elders. Although Zheng Qing had a childbirth experience, she had forgotten the pain for a long time. In the early stage, it was still difficult to fully empathize with Wu Xin's collapse, and estrangement grew between the husband and wife. Coupled with continued marginalization in the workplace, Wu Xin developed a tendency to suffer from mild postpartum depression.
In the midst of conflicts, Zheng Qing completed a crucial transformation. She completely let go of her long-standing self-paralysis, accepted all the grievances she experienced during her pregnancy and confinement, and truly sympathized with her lover who was suffering now, as well as with all the caregivers from ancient times to the present.
The starting point of this chapter
Empathy is not something that comes naturally if you have the same experience, but you also need to have the courage to face up to the pain you have suffered.
Chapter 10 Purgatory Confinement: A full set of feudal bad habits are imposed in turn
Plot summary
After childbirth, elders strictly enforce the traditional rules of male confinement:
① It is forbidden to wash your hair and take a bath; ② It is strictly forbidden to open the window to blow in the wind; ③ You are not allowed to eat green leafy vegetables, and you can only drink warm and tonic soup; ④ Stay in bed for 24 hours, and it is forbidden to move around at will; ⑤ Limit the use of your eyes and do not look at electronic devices for a long time; ⑥ Cover sweat with a thick quilt to prevent "the root cause of confinement disease".
Conflict dialogue
The elders spoke earnestly and had a stubborn attitude: "It is more important for men to undergo confinement. Once the root cause of the disease is found, they will suffer for the rest of their lives."
The airtight room was stuffy and oppressive, her whole body ached and unable to be cleaned, and multiple restraints were imposed on her. Wu Xin was so depressed that she was on the verge of collapse.
Zheng Qing relives the dark days of her confinement as if she were there. All the patience and grievances of that year were clearly reappeared.
The starting point of this chapter
The backward customs of confinement have brought about both physical and mental torture. Countless women were once trapped in it, but now the suffering has been gender-transferred.
Chapter 9: Permanent damage after childbirth, leaving lifelong marks on the body
Plot summary
After a successful delivery, various sequelae followed: severe rectus abdominis separation, pelvic floor muscle relaxation, frequent urinary leakage, lumbar strain, a flabby posture that could not be restored, and a significant decrease in physical fitness.
The male friend who once despised the pain of childbirth can no longer say any contemptuous words.
Zheng Qing looked at Wu Xin's irreparable physical damage and thought of the postpartum sequelae she had suffered for many years. For the first time, she no longer forced herself to look down on the pain and faced the lifelong mark of childbirth.
The starting point of this chapter
The price paid for childbirth does not end with the birth of the child, but often accompanies the person throughout his or her life.
Chapter 8: Level 10 childbirth pain arrives, a life-and-death crisis
Plot summary [Climax of the book]
When the due date arrives, the bionic uterus completely replicates the natural birth mechanism. Men do not have a suitable birth canal, and their bone structure inherently rejects the birth process, making the pain of tearing and pulling more severe.
Continuous contractions swept through his body, cold sweat soaked his clothes, his whole body was shaking uncontrollably, and a suffocating sense of imminent death enveloped Wu's heart. My friends were present throughout the whole process, and they were silent and shocked throughout the whole process.
Zheng Qing stood aside, and the heartbreaking memory of childbirth fully recovered. She finally faced the pain that she had deliberately forgotten, and realized that no matter who was responsible for the birth, childbirth was a life-threatening test.
The starting point of this chapter
Childbirth is never simply "adding a new life", it is a real ordeal of life and death.
Chapter 7: Hormones control emotions, strength is never a natural attribute
Plot summary
In the third trimester, hormone levels reach their peak. Wu Xin, who had always been calm and reserved, became sensitive and suspicious, easily shed tears, and could fall into long-term internal friction over the smallest things, causing insomnia and anxiety all night long.
Zheng Qing looked at Wu Xin, whose emotions were ups and downs, and recalled long-lasting memories. In the past, when I was out of control during pregnancy, I was often advised to be more open-minded. For a long time, she also mistakenly believed that emotional vulnerability was a mental problem. Only then did I finally realize that emotional fluctuations are the inevitable result of physiological processes and have nothing to do with the strength of one's personality.
The starting point of this chapter
There is no "which gender should be strong", physiological state determines the bottom line of emotional endurance.
Chapter 6 Highlights of the whole book: Obsession with hot pot, rigid rules trap those who are pregnant
Plot summary
Wu Xin had a recurring appetite during pregnancy, and she desperately longed for a heavy oily and spicy hot pot meal, so she secretly placed an order for takeout. The news was discovered by Zheng Qing.
Demeanor, action, dialogue pulling
Wu Xin's eyes were red, hormones amplified all the grievances, her fingers clenched the corners of her clothes tightly, and her voice trembled slightly:
"My whole body feels uncomfortable every day. I feel uncomfortable all the time. I just want to eat a small bite of hot pot. Isn't it okay?"
Zheng Qing subconsciously followed the ancient taboos spread by the times, and her tone was restrained but firm:
"Nowadays, the rules for men during pregnancy and confinement continue to be old customs. Spicy and heavy oil foods are prohibited; raw and cold vegetables cannot be eaten, avoid being exposed to wind, and cannot be overly excited. The rules are passed down from generation to generation, and no risks are allowed."
Zheng Qing was in a trance as soon as she spoke the words. When she was pregnant many years ago, she was bound by countless rules, but her greed was restricted everywhere. At that time, she felt aggrieved, but later she gradually felt that the rules were taken for granted. When the same oppression fell on her lover, she reexperienced the suffocating feeling of not getting what she wanted and not being able to control herself.
The starting point of this chapter
The spiritual imprisonment brought by old customs, regardless of era or gender, has trapped people who gave birth to life from generation to generation.
Chapter 5: Witnessed by onlookers, the empty ridicule fell into silence
Plot summary
Three male friends often come to the house to accompany her. At first, they were convinced that bionic pregnancy would greatly reduce the pain. The suffering of women in the old era was constantly exaggerated.
After spending several days together, they saw with their own eyes that Wu Xin frequently suffered from nausea and insomnia, frequently woke up every night, suffered from backache and weakness after even the slightest movement, and was often in a low mood.
The mentality of friends changes: teasing → awkward silence → guilt → awe.
Zheng Qing watched the whole process with mixed feelings in her heart. She remembered that when she confided in others about her discomfort in the past, she received exactly the same light and comforting words.
The starting point of this chapter
Without personal experience, all relief is separated by an insurmountable distance.
Chapter 4 The body slowly collapses, and childbirth brings irreversible reshaping.
Plot summary
Hormones continued to surge during the second trimester, and Wu Xin's originally tall and well-proportioned figure gradually changed. The lower abdomen bulges, the pelvis is forced to open, the waist and abdomen are swollen and loose, and the skin is pigmented. Stiff male muscles and bones are continuously stretched, making the body bloated and bulky, and recovery is much more difficult than for women.
Zheng Qing looked at Wu Xin, whose appearance and figure were becoming increasingly haggard in the mirror. She clearly remembered her anxiety about body changes after giving birth. She once thought she was too concerned about her appearance. Now she saw her lover also experiencing body damage, and she completely understood: the transformation of the body caused by childbirth is cruel and long-lasting.
The starting point of this chapter
The body loss caused by childbirth does not distinguish between genders, and behind appearance anxiety is irreversible physical trauma.
Chapter 3 A pregnancy report ushered in a cliff-like devaluation in the workplace
Plot summary
Wu Xin reported the pregnancy news to the company in accordance with regulations.
Promotion qualifications were directly cancelled, core projects were transferred, and idle low-paying positions were forced to be placed. Colleagues discussed privately and concluded that a pregnant man could not handle high-intensity work and was a drag on the team.
The heroine's psychological transformation
When Zheng Qing was pregnant in her previous life, she was also ostracized from the workplace. At that time, she silently compromised, but over time she came to believe that this was an inevitable reality. Now watching Wu Xin experience the exact same treatment, she suddenly woke up: it was never the pregnant women who dragged down the environment, but the entire society, which has long been habitual of squeezing those who bear the cost of childbearing.
The starting point of this chapter
After tearing away the paper illusion of "reproductive equality", workplace discrimination has only changed the recipients, but the essence has never changed.
Chapter 2 The wave of pregnancy hits, no one is immune to morning sickness
Plot summary
Six weeks into pregnancy, hormones fluctuated on a large scale, and Wu Xin had a strong pregnancy reaction.
Repeated retching in the morning, acid reflux burning the throat on an empty stomach, dizziness and nausea when smelling oil smoke. There is no natural accommodation space in the male abdominal cavity, and the hard bones continue to pull, causing backache and lower abdominal pain one after another.
Dialogue conflict
Several male friends who had no pregnancy experience came to visit and joked casually: "With the help of technology, it is not so uncomfortable to have a child. Women used to be a bit squeamish."
Wu Xin gasped while holding on to the wall, her face was pale, and she couldn't help but smile.
Zheng Qing stood aside and watched quietly. Fragments of memory came up, and she clearly remembered how she had suffered from morning sickness. But after so many years, she saw another person suffering the same torture again, and the sensory impact was far beyond her imagination. For the first time, she realized that she had really forgotten how sharp the pain was.
The starting point of this chapter
The dusty memories of pregnancy began to loosen, and cracks appeared in the heroine's original prejudice.
Chapter 11 Conflicts broke out, estrangement, pain and lack of understanding Plot summary Multiple pressures converged and exploded: persistent physical pain after childbirth, strict customs and restrictions, dietary taboos, and constant preaching from elders. Although Zheng Qing had a childbirth experience, she had forgotten the pain for a long time. In the early stage, it was still difficult to fully empathize with Wu Xin's collapse, and estrangement grew between the husband and wife. Coupled with continued marginalization in the workplace, Wu Xin developed a tendency to suffer from mild postpartum depression. In the midst of conflicts, Zheng Qing completed a crucial transformation. She completely let go of her long-standing self-paralysis, accepted all the grievances she experienced during her pregnancy and confinement, and truly sympathized with her lover who was suffering now, as well as with all the caregivers from ancient times to the present. The starting point of this chapter Empathy is not something that comes naturally if you have the same experience, but you also need to have the courage to face up to the pain you have suffered.
Chapter 10 Purgatory Confinement: A full set of feudal bad habits are imposed in turn Plot summary After childbirth, elders strictly enforce the traditional rules of male confinement: ① It is forbidden to wash your hair and take a bath; ② It is strictly forbidden to open the window to blow in the wind; ③ You are not allowed to eat green leafy vegetables, and you can only drink warm and tonic soup; ④ Stay in bed for 24 hours, and it is forbidden to move around at will; ⑤ Limit the use of your eyes and do not look at electronic devices for a long time; ⑥ Cover sweat with a thick quilt to prevent "the root cause of confinement disease". Conflict dialogue The elders spoke earnestly and had a stubborn attitude: "It is more important for men to undergo confinement. Once the root cause of the disease is found, they will suffer for the rest of their lives." The airtight room was stuffy and oppressive, her whole body ached and unable to be cleaned, and multiple restraints were imposed on her. Wu Xin was so depressed that she was on the verge of collapse. Zheng Qing relives the dark days of her confinement as if she were there. All the patience and grievances of that year were clearly reappeared. The starting point of this chapter The backward customs of confinement have brought about both physical and mental torture. Countless women were once trapped in it, but now the suffering has been gender-transferred.
Chapter 9: Permanent damage after childbirth, leaving lifelong marks on the body Plot summary After a successful delivery, various sequelae followed: severe rectus abdominis separation, pelvic floor muscle relaxation, frequent urinary leakage, lumbar strain, a flabby posture that could not be restored, and a significant decrease in physical fitness. The male friend who once despised the pain of childbirth can no longer say any contemptuous words. Zheng Qing looked at Wu Xin's irreparable physical damage and thought of the postpartum sequelae she had suffered for many years. For the first time, she no longer forced herself to look down on the pain and faced the lifelong mark of childbirth. The starting point of this chapter The price paid for childbirth does not end with the birth of the child, but often accompanies the person throughout his or her life.
Chapter 8: Level 10 childbirth pain arrives, a life-and-death crisis Plot summary [Climax of the book] When the due date arrives, the bionic uterus completely replicates the natural birth mechanism. Men do not have a suitable birth canal, and their bone structure inherently rejects the birth process, making the pain of tearing and pulling more severe. Continuous contractions swept through his body, cold sweat soaked his clothes, his whole body was shaking uncontrollably, and a suffocating sense of imminent death enveloped Wu's heart. My friends were present throughout the whole process, and they were silent and shocked throughout the whole process. Zheng Qing stood aside, and the heartbreaking memory of childbirth fully recovered. She finally faced the pain that she had deliberately forgotten, and realized that no matter who was responsible for the birth, childbirth was a life-threatening test. The starting point of this chapter Childbirth is never simply "adding a new life", it is a real ordeal of life and death.
Chapter 7: Hormones control emotions, strength is never a natural attribute Plot summary In the third trimester, hormone levels reach their peak. Wu Xin, who had always been calm and reserved, became sensitive and suspicious, easily shed tears, and could fall into long-term internal friction over the smallest things, causing insomnia and anxiety all night long. Zheng Qing looked at Wu Xin, whose emotions were ups and downs, and recalled long-lasting memories. In the past, when I was out of control during pregnancy, I was often advised to be more open-minded. For a long time, she also mistakenly believed that emotional vulnerability was a mental problem. Only then did I finally realize that emotional fluctuations are the inevitable result of physiological processes and have nothing to do with the strength of one's personality. The starting point of this chapter There is no "which gender should be strong", physiological state determines the bottom line of emotional endurance.
Chapter 6 Highlights of the whole book: Obsession with hot pot, rigid rules trap those who are pregnant Plot summary Wu Xin had a recurring appetite during pregnancy, and she desperately longed for a heavy oily and spicy hot pot meal, so she secretly placed an order for takeout. The news was discovered by Zheng Qing. Demeanor, action, dialogue pulling Wu Xin's eyes were red, hormones amplified all the grievances, her fingers clenched the corners of her clothes tightly, and her voice trembled slightly: "My whole body feels uncomfortable every day. I feel uncomfortable all the time. I just want to eat a small bite of hot pot. Isn't it okay?" Zheng Qing subconsciously followed the ancient taboos spread by the times, and her tone was restrained but firm: "Nowadays, the rules for men during pregnancy and confinement continue to be old customs. Spicy and heavy oil foods are prohibited; raw and cold vegetables cannot be eaten, avoid being exposed to wind, and cannot be overly excited. The rules are passed down from generation to generation, and no risks are allowed." Zheng Qing was in a trance as soon as she spoke the words. When she was pregnant many years ago, she was bound by countless rules, but her greed was restricted everywhere. At that time, she felt aggrieved, but later she gradually felt that the rules were taken for granted. When the same oppression fell on her lover, she reexperienced the suffocating feeling of not getting what she wanted and not being able to control herself. The starting point of this chapter The spiritual imprisonment brought by old customs, regardless of era or gender, has trapped people who gave birth to life from generation to generation.
Chapter 5: Witnessed by onlookers, the empty ridicule fell into silence Plot summary Three male friends often come to the house to accompany her. At first, they were convinced that bionic pregnancy would greatly reduce the pain. The suffering of women in the old era was constantly exaggerated. After spending several days together, they saw with their own eyes that Wu Xin frequently suffered from nausea and insomnia, frequently woke up every night, suffered from backache and weakness after even the slightest movement, and was often in a low mood. The mentality of friends changes: teasing → awkward silence → guilt → awe. Zheng Qing watched the whole process with mixed feelings in her heart. She remembered that when she confided in others about her discomfort in the past, she received exactly the same light and comforting words. The starting point of this chapter Without personal experience, all relief is separated by an insurmountable distance.
Chapter 4 The body slowly collapses, and childbirth brings irreversible reshaping. Plot summary Hormones continued to surge during the second trimester, and Wu Xin's originally tall and well-proportioned figure gradually changed. The lower abdomen bulges, the pelvis is forced to open, the waist and abdomen are swollen and loose, and the skin is pigmented. Stiff male muscles and bones are continuously stretched, making the body bloated and bulky, and recovery is much more difficult than for women. Zheng Qing looked at Wu Xin, whose appearance and figure were becoming increasingly haggard in the mirror. She clearly remembered her anxiety about body changes after giving birth. She once thought she was too concerned about her appearance. Now she saw her lover also experiencing body damage, and she completely understood: the transformation of the body caused by childbirth is cruel and long-lasting. The starting point of this chapter The body loss caused by childbirth does not distinguish between genders, and behind appearance anxiety is irreversible physical trauma.
Chapter 3 A pregnancy report ushered in a cliff-like devaluation in the workplace Plot summary Wu Xin reported the pregnancy news to the company in accordance with regulations. Promotion qualifications were directly cancelled, core projects were transferred, and idle low-paying positions were forced to be placed. Colleagues discussed privately and concluded that a pregnant man could not handle high-intensity work and was a drag on the team. The heroine's psychological transformation When Zheng Qing was pregnant in her previous life, she was also ostracized from the workplace. At that time, she silently compromised, but over time she came to believe that this was an inevitable reality. Now watching Wu Xin experience the exact same treatment, she suddenly woke up: it was never the pregnant women who dragged down the environment, but the entire society, which has long been habitual of squeezing those who bear the cost of childbearing. The starting point of this chapter After tearing away the paper illusion of "reproductive equality", workplace discrimination has only changed the recipients, but the essence has never changed.
Chapter 2 The wave of pregnancy hits, no one is immune to morning sickness Plot summary Six weeks into pregnancy, hormones fluctuated on a large scale, and Wu Xin had a strong pregnancy reaction. Repeated retching in the morning, acid reflux burning the throat on an empty stomach, dizziness and nausea when smelling oil smoke. There is no natural accommodation space in the male abdominal cavity, and the hard bones continue to pull, causing backache and lower abdominal pain one after another. Dialogue conflict Several male friends who had no pregnancy experience came to visit and joked casually: "With the help of technology, it is not so uncomfortable to have a child. Women used to be a bit squeamish." Wu Xin gasped while holding on to the wall, her face was pale, and she couldn't help but smile. Zheng Qing stood aside and watched quietly. Fragments of memory came up, and she clearly remembered how she had suffered from morning sickness. But after so many years, she saw another person suffering the same torture again, and the sensory impact was far beyond her imagination. For the first time, she realized that she had really forgotten how sharp the pain was. The starting point of this chapter The dusty memories of pregnancy began to loosen, and cracks appeared in the heroine's original prejudice.