Chapter 33: Getting the Certificate, Moving the Household Registration

Gu Yuelin pulled Feng Mian close and smiled, “No regrets — my wife is beautiful, and we even have three rooms.”

Feng Mian: “…”

The brigade leader was taken aback, then laughed heartily, “Your wife really is pretty, no doubt about it.”

They took the proof needed for the marriage registration. Gu Yuelin then said, “Brigade leader, could you also help us issue a certificate for moving the household registration?”

The brigade leader was surprised again, then sighed but didn’t say anything, proceeding to handle it directly.

“Here you go. Moving out is a good thing.”

With the certificates in hand, the two headed to the local street office.

On the way, Gu Yuelin said to Feng Mian, “I’m afraid we won’t get that watch back.”

Feng Mian nodded, “If we can’t get it back, just let them keep it.”

Gu Yuelin apologized, “I’ll definitely make it up to you twice over.”

“Later then.” A watch was nothing to Feng Mian — she had two hundred million.

“Did you get the certificate for the bicycle?”

“Of course. When I went to get the license plate, the officer said if it gets lost, I can report it.”

Gu Yuelin smiled, “That’s good.”

Without a bicycle to ride, the two hurried to the street office on foot, with Feng Mian already panting from the pace.

Feeling warm, she unbuttoned her cotton jacket to reveal the moss-green sweater underneath.

“Comrade, we’re here to get married,” they said.

The clerk handling marriage registrations was a young woman who looked up at them when she heard this.

The man was handsome, the woman pretty — it caught her eye.

These days, government clerks were usually a bit aloof, doing their jobs as if everyone owed them money.

But seeing this beautiful young couple, she brightened up and kindly asked, “Do you have all the documents with you?”

“We have everything right here.”

They handed over all the required documents. Gu Yuelin even placed a pack of fruit candies on her desk, saying, “Comrade, please enjoy some wedding sweets.”

The young clerk smiled even more and quickly helped them finish the marriage certificate.

At this time, marriage certificates weren’t as fancy as they would be later — still handwritten on rough, grass-fiber paper with no photo.

After finishing, the clerk handed the certificate to them, then looked at Feng Mian and asked, “Miss, where did you buy that sweater? It’s quite pretty.”

Since the sweater was worn underneath, Feng Mian didn’t think much about the style.

From the perspective of aesthetics decades later, the sweater was indeed quite beautiful.

“I knitted it myself,” Feng Mian replied casually.

The clerk didn’t ask more and just complimented her knitting skills.

With the marriage certificate in hand, they moved on to the household registration.

They had the Gu family village brigade leader’s certificate, and with that and the household register, they went to the county police station.

Both Gu family village and Feng family village were managed by the same police station, which saved them a lot of trouble.

They got the certificate for moving out, the permit for relocation, the man was given cigarettes, the woman got wedding sweets, and everything went smoothly.

Even without wasting time, it was already noon by the time they finished.

Hungry, the two bought some steamed buns to eat.

Standing at the market square, Gu Yuelin looked at the household register and marriage certificate and finally smiled.

Feng Mian smiled too while biting into a bun, saying, “Congratulations on escaping the hardship.”

Gu Yuelin smiled faintly without replying, carefully stuffing the marriage certificate and new household register into his clothes.

“Let’s return the household register to them, then take our bicycle away.”

He said this with much more confidence.

They headed back to Gu family village together, taking nearly an hour to arrive.

Gu family village was much farther from the county town than Feng family village but was located on flatter land, which meant better chances for development in the future — this move was worthwhile.

As they arrived at the village entrance, they saw that Gu Xiaoliu’s house wasn’t just lively — it looked like there was a fight.

Guests were split into two opposing groups, shouting and causing a scene.

Feng Mian immediately spotted her loudmouthed aunt-in-law, Zhao Hui, holding a brick, ready to smash someone.

The other side didn’t back down either, and since they had more relatives, Aunt was clearly lacking confidence. That was why she was just trying to scare people with a brick.

Why were they arguing when they were supposed to be joining families?

Feng Mian and Gu Yuelin exchanged a glance, both confused.

Feng Mian whispered, “Is there another way into the village? Let’s avoid them.”

“There is, follow me.”

Gu Yuelin led her around to the bamboo grove behind the house. There was a retaining wall over a meter high, and Gu Yuelin jumped down directly.

After he jumped down, he reached out to Feng Mian, “Jump down, I’ll catch you.”

Feng Mian tried several times but didn’t dare.

She was born into a wealthy family. When she was young, she always had a nanny and driver following her around. Even when playing outside, she had to be helped down ladders if they were high.

There was no way she dared jump off a wall that tall.

“I… I’m scared. Is there another way?”

Gu Yuelin said, “There’s a path beside Gu Xiaoliu’s house. Want to go that way?”

Uh… better not.

Gu Yuelin said, “No worries, don’t be afraid. Jump, I can catch you.”

“Then catch me!”

“Mm.”

Feng Mian closed her eyes and jumped down. Gu Yuelin opened his arms and caught her, spinning her around gently to ease the momentum.

She thought she might fall and instinctively cried out.

Her feet touched the ground, and only then did she feel safe.

Opening her eyes, she saw Gu Yuelin smiling at her.

“So timid? Afraid I can’t catch you?”

Embarrassed, Feng Mian shrank her neck and pushed him lightly, hurrying forward.

So awkward.

“Hey, wait.”

“What? Hurry up.”

“No, you went the wrong way.”

Feng Mian: “…”

Gu Yuelin smiled and pointed to an alley beside them, “This way.”

Feng Mian hurried to catch up.

They arrived at Gu Yuelin’s mother’s home, where they handed over the household register to his stepmother.

Strangely, no one else was home — only Liang Shi was there.

Feng Mian urged Gu Yuelin to go inside to pack while she dealt with Liang Shi.

Liang Shi was actually illiterate, but Feng Mian carefully flipped through the household register, pretending to understand as she looked it over.

Huh, it seemed like a page was missing?

“Stepmother, I’m taking Gu Yuelin away now. Shouldn’t you return the watch to me?”

Stepmother?

Liang Shi’s expression stiffened and she tossed the household register aside.

“That watch belongs with his father. I gave it to his father.”

“Given to his father? Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”

“What’s wrong with that?” Liang Shi snorted coldly, “His father is his real dad. It’s not easy raising Gu Lao Da all these years. Shouldn’t you give him a watch?”

Feng Mian took off the watch on her wrist and twirled it in her hand.

“I bought matching his-and-hers watches — couple’s watches. You gave the man’s watch to his father… isn’t that a little inappropriate?”

Liang Shi’s eyes lit up, her heart beating faster.

Looks like she had underestimated Feng Mian. She actually had this much money.

“Well, I gave it to his father anyway. Go ask him for it yourself.”

Feng Mian said calmly, “Forget it. Since dad likes it, I’ll just let him keep it. But these are couple’s watches, Stepmother. How about I sell this watch to you?”