A jinx, me? But I bring good fortune to my whole family!

"Those two people went to town today too. I'm worried they might tell us where Nuannuan is."

Upon hearing this, Su Xiulan realized the seriousness of the situation and immediately scrambled to her feet: "I'll go right now!"

She counted out two dollars from the jar where she kept her money. It was a large sum of money at the time, but she didn't hesitate to spend it for her daughter's sake.

"Da'an, Xiao'an, stay home and take good care of Daddy!"

With money and a letter of introduction in her pocket, Su Xiulan picked up Nuannuan and rushed out into the cold wind.

Upon arriving at the brigade leader's house, Su Xiulan explained the situation. Sister-in-law Hongxia immediately said, "You're right, this matter must be handled immediately!"

"Look at this little girl, she's grown so beautiful! Especially her sweet talk... I want to take her as my granddaughter!"

The brigade leader didn't waste any time and went directly to the brigade office to get a certificate, and then went to town with Su Xiulan to complete the formalities.

They also used the village's oxcart, and Su Xiulan paid two yuan for the fare.

The oxcart moved slowly through the snow, but Su Xiulan's heart was burning like fire.

She kept repeating, "Please don't let anything go wrong, everything must go smoothly."

Upon arriving at the town's police station, Su Xiulan, carrying Nuannuan, charged inside like a soldier.

The household registration officer was a square-faced man in his thirties. He was writing something with his head down. When he saw them come in, he looked up.

"Comrade, is there something you need?"

"Officer, we...we're here to register our household registration." Su Xiulan's palms were sweating nervously as she handed over all the documents.

The police officer in charge of household registration took the documents and examined them carefully.

When he saw the pink and tender little baby in his arms, his stern face softened.

"Wow, this little girl is really pretty. What's her name?"

Nuannuan wasn't shy at all. She blinked her big eyes and answered in a sweet, childish voice, "My name is Nuannuan, hello police officer!"

That "Hello, Uncle" almost melted the heart of the household registration police officer.

His smile widened: "Little Nuannuan, Uncle will register your household registration from now on, so you'll be a child someone wants!"

These days, the procedures for adopting a child are very simple. As long as the village issues a certificate, the child can be registered. The process is very efficient.

The police officer took out the household registration booklet, compared it with the information, wrote three characters in the "children" column, and then picked up the official seal and pressed it down on the paper.

To Su Xiu-lan, that muffled thud sounded better than any other sound.

She leaned over and touched the still-dry red mark with her fingertips, along with the three clearly written words "Gu Nuannuan" on it, and tears immediately streamed down her face.

On her way home, Su Xiu-lan held the red notebook tightly.

As soon as she entered the house, she handed the household registration book to Gu Jianguo.

Gu Jianguo shed blood on the battlefield without making a sound. He took the household registration book and looked at the three words "Gu Nuannuan" over and over again.

A tear fell, but he didn't even bother to wipe it away.

He suddenly looked up, his eyes red-rimmed.

"Xiulan, we have a daughter now, our own daughter!"

"Mmm!" Su Xiulan also burst into tears. She hugged Nuannuan tightly and kissed her little face endlessly.

"Nuan Nuan, from now on you're Mommy's own daughter! No one can take you away from me!"

Nuannuan was a little bewildered by the scene, but she could tell that her parents were genuinely happy. She stretched out her little arm and painstakingly wiped away Su Xiulan's tears.

"Mommy, don't cry, Nuannuan is also Mommy's good baby!"

Da'an walked over to Nuannuan, took out a piece of candy from his pocket, and stuffed it into his sister's hand.

Xiao An grinned, revealing a set of bright white teeth.

Now the family is finally complete.

"Don't tell anyone about this yet." Gu Jianguo wiped away his tears, calmed himself down, and said, "Let's talk about it in a few days, after things have calmed down."

Su Xiulan nodded and handed the household registration book to Nuannuan, telling her to keep it safe.

It can be hidden at home, but where would a girl keep it and feel at ease?

No one can find what Nuannuan has hidden!

The next morning, Su Xiulan went to the village entrance to fetch water and happened to run into Li's wife, the most gossipy woman in the village.

Old Mrs. Li was bragging to a few people when she saw Su Xiulan, and her voice immediately rose eight octaves.

"Oh my, you guys don't know! The second branch of the Gu family is really going to make something of themselves! That Gu Xiaoyong of theirs is about to get a temporary job at the forest farm! I heard it was his uncle, the one in charge, who got it done!"

Another person chimed in, "That's not all! I also heard that Old Gu is getting a permanent position too! From now on, the father and son will both be formal employees, receiving government-subsidized grain rations—a secure job!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, now the third son's family is definitely going to fall behind! A cripple with three burdens, how are they going to survive?"

Those words, like needles, pierced Su Xiulan's heart again and again.

"The third brother's family used to have such a good life! He even became a director, and I heard he's even thinking of becoming the deputy factory director!"

"That depends on whether you're born with the right fate!"

The gossip from those people kept pouring in, and Su Xiulan felt as if her heart was being torn apart.

She carried the bucket of water and walked past them expressionlessly. Only after she got home and closed the door did tears start to fall.

Xiao An was chopping firewood in the yard when he heard this. He was so angry that his face turned red and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

He rushed into the house and shouted at Gu Jianguo and Su Xiulan, "Dad! Mom! Did you hear me?!"

"My second uncle only got his job because of Dad's work injury, why should he get a permanent position? Dad will be fine soon!"

"And then there's Gu Xiaoyong. He clearly played all day, but he used my work record from that day. I worked so hard all day! My skin was all chafed! Why can he use it?"

"That whole family are vampires! They get all the good things! Is it just because they have connections?"

Xiao An roared defiantly, but Gu Jianguo inside remained silent, his fists clenched tightly. He punched his legs hard a few times, "It's all my fault for being useless!"

If he were in good health, he would never allow his youngest son's job opportunity to be taken by someone else.

Su Xiulan lowered her head and wiped away her tears, looking at her youngest son with heartache. "Xiao An, actually, being a temporary worker at the forest farm isn't that easy. Otherwise, we..."

Nuannuan tilted her head, feeling a tightness in her chest.

Suddenly, Little Black flew over and landed on the windowsill, quacking away.

After listening for a while, Nuannuan hugged Su Xiulan's face, her eyes shining, "Mommy! Second brother, don't be angry anymore!"

"Warmheart, I have good news!"

Xiao An was taken aback, glanced at the black crow, and then her eyes lit up. "Nuan Nuan, what did Xiao Hei tell you?"

Nuannuan struggled to get off Su Xiulan and ran to Xiao An, raising her little head.

Xiao An quickly bent down and picked up the little girl.

The little girl leaned close to Xiao An's ear and whispered, "Xiao Heihei said the forestry farm manager wants to announce the list himself, saying he's afraid some people will feel it's unfair. He'll do it right at the forestry farm gate!"

"Second brother, let's go take a look and join in the fun!"

Xiao An frowned. "Gu Xiaoyong's uncle has definitely already taken care of things. The factory manager is definitely in cahoots with them. It's no use even if we go!"

It felt like a wasted trip!

"But Xiao Hei knows the factory manager's secret!"

"What secret?"

Nuan Nuan covered her mouth and didn't say anything, but Xiao An felt a tickle in his heart.

The brother and sister spoke very softly, but everyone in the room could hear them clearly.

Su Xiulan coughed lightly, "Xiao An, why don't you take your little sister out to play tomorrow!"

Su Xiulan originally wanted to go with them, but then she thought about her youngest son's current condition and realized that three or five people would be no match for him.

Nikki also has helpers, but she can't use them normally.

Of course, the most important thing is that we're out of firewood!

It was freezing cold inside, even in the dead of winter.

If there isn't enough firewood, the whole family will freeze to death!

Da'an tilted his head to look at the two of them. His little sister was really a clever little devil; she was trying to steal the prize!

He wanted to go too!

Xiao An understood, and clenched her fists.

Fine! Gu Xiaoyong wants to be a temporary worker! He'll have to see if his fists will allow it!

When the time comes, we'll definitely turn the world upside down!