Sold into a ghost marriage? Four-year-old and his thuggish father go on a killing spree.

Late at night.

In the small mud-brick house in Chengjiawan, the light of the oil lamp flickered slightly in the bleak autumn wind.

Gu Yanqiu told Gu Niannian what had happened in the county in as calm a tone as possible.

He didn't want to frighten the child, but he couldn't keep this from her.

The father and daughter are a unit and must face this together.

He thought that Niannian would be scared and cry after hearing it.

However, Gu Niannian just listened quietly, her serious little face showing not a trace of fear.

Her little brain was working at lightning speed.

Grandmother...Eldest Uncle...Zhou Ming from the Civil Affairs Bureau...Guardianship...

Keywords quickly connected in her mind, outlining a sinister network.

She got it.

The enemy has upgraded.

They no longer throw tantrums like they used to.

Instead, they learned to exploit the rules and the systems of this era to launch attacks.

The biggest weakness of the father and daughter is that their relationship is not "ironclad" enough within this system.

"Dad, we can't always wait for them to make their move before we figure out how to defend ourselves."

Gu Niannian raised her head, and in her clear eyes, there was a kind of cold rationality.

"We must take the initiative and plug all the loopholes!"

After she finished speaking, she didn't discuss it with her father anymore. Instead, she put on a coat, ran out of the house, and knocked on the door of the educated youth settlement.

Under the lamplight, Chen Zhiyuan looked at the little girl in front of him with an extremely serious expression, somewhat surprised.

"Niannian? It's so late, is something wrong?"

Without exchanging pleasantries, Gu Niannian cut to the chase: "Uncle Chen, I want to ask you, in this country, what can prove that I will always be my father's daughter, and that no one can take me away? Something that is legally recognized!"

Chen Zhiyuan was taken aback by the depth and seriousness of her question.

He adjusted his black-rimmed glasses, pondered for a moment, and then explained to her in as concise and clear a language as possible.

"Niannian, legally, the most direct way to prove a parent-child relationship is through the household registration book."

"If your name is registered on your father's household registration book and the relationship column says 'father and daughter,' then you are his only legal daughter. No one has the right to separate you."

"Household registration booklet?" Gu Niannian silently noted down this key word.

"So... is it difficult to register a household registration?"

"It's a bit troublesome," Chen Zhiyuan explained. "Normally, you need a birth certificate from the hospital. But you were born at home, so we don't have one. We'll need to get one."

"To get a replacement, you need to go to the midwife, the village committee, and the commune, getting certificates from each level."

This will provide proof of your birth time, place, and who your parents are. Finally, your father will take these documents to the household registration department to apply for the necessary permits.

Looking at Niannian's thoughtful little face, Chen Zhiyuan added, "There's another way, which can be used as a supplement. That is, to find a way to get your father and mother's relationship officially recognized."

"Although they didn't get a marriage certificate, in those days they held a wedding banquet, and the neighbors all recognized it; that's called a 'common-law marriage.' If we can find enough witnesses and physical evidence, such as Aunt Li Huilan's testimony, statements from your mother's colleagues, and your mother's belongings..."

Gathering these materials to form a complete chain of evidence will greatly strengthen your father's legal standing as the sole guardian.

Gu Niannian listened to everything.

In her mind, a clear and bold plan was rapidly taking shape.

She thanked Chen Zhiyuan and ran home like a gust of wind.

Gu Yanqiu was pacing anxiously in the room when she saw her daughter return. She quickly went to greet her, "Niannian, you..."

"Dad, don't panic."

Gu Niannian pulled her father to sit down, her little face showing a calm and composed demeanor.

"I've got a solution. I'll name it 'Insurance Plan'!"

Looking at her daughter's pretentious mature demeanor, Gu Yanqiu's anxiety miraculously subsided somewhat.

"Dad, we need to do two things right now."

Gu Niannian held up two tiny fingers.

"First, we need to gather evidence to solidify our case. We'll immediately write to Aunt Li Huilan at the county textile factory and ask for her help."

Find as many of Mom's former colleagues as possible! Have each of them write a statement confirming that you and Mom lived together as husband and wife back then, and that everyone knew it. This is to shut up any accusations of an "improper relationship"!

Gu Yanqiu nodded repeatedly; he could handle this matter!

"Second," Gu Niannian's tone became extremely solemn. She looked into her father's eyes and said, word by word, "and this is the most important step! Dad, go to the commune tomorrow to apply for and register my household!"

"Let my name, Gu Niannian, be proudly written on your household registration book!"

"Let the words 'father and daughter' become irrefutable evidence, stamped in red!"

"With that marriage certificate, I am your legally recognized daughter! No matter how much the Zhao family makes a fuss, no matter how much Zhou Ming from the Civil Affairs Bureau tries to sabotage things, they have no right to take me away from you again!"

boom!

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Gu Yanqiu's mind!

Household registration!

Household registration booklet!

How could he forget something so important!

Yes, Nian Nian has been an "illegal resident" since birth!

She had no official status, like a duckweed floating on the water, without roots or bottom.

No wonder the Zhao family dares to be so unscrupulous, because legally, she doesn't even completely belong to him!

A wave of immense guilt and lingering fear instantly overwhelmed Gu Yanqiu.

What has he been doing? He's busy making money and fighting with people, but he's neglected this most fundamental and fatal aspect!

"Yes...yes! It's Daddy's fault for being confused! Daddy's a bastard!"

Gu Yanqiu hugged his daughter tightly, his voice trembling violently with excitement and self-reproach, "It was Dad who overlooked such an important matter! Niannian, don't worry, Dad will write the letter tomorrow... no! I'll go write it right now!"

He suddenly stood up, his eyes rekindling with fighting spirit.

"I'll go to the commune first thing tomorrow morning to find out! No matter how many departments I have to visit, no matter how many stamps I need, no matter how many people I have to ask,"

Even if I run myself ragged and talk myself hoarse, I will definitely, absolutely, get your household registration processed properly and honestly!

However, once the initial excitement subsided, a new and more realistic problem arose in his mind.

To register a household registration, you need to obtain certificates at each level, going through the village, the commune, and finally the county's household registration department.

The Zhao family all have a Zhou Ming at the Civil Affairs Bureau.

What about other departments? Have they already laid a trap?

The road to "rectifying" Niannian's name is destined to be bumpy.

Will Zhou Ming and the Zhao family behind him just stand by and watch him plug this biggest loophole?

What new tricks will they use to interfere?