Chapter 2 — After taking the university entrance exam, I transferred my household registration to my adoptive mother's house

I stared at the words "Lam Chu", the corners of my lips curled up slightly, full of sarcasm. You know what the funniest thing is? This name of mine... was originally given by Trieu's mother. They're so lazy that they don't even bother to change their name, they just keep using it. I stuffed my household registration book into my backpack and checked my ID one more time. Then send Trieu's mother a WeChat message:

"Mom, I'll come over the day after tomorrow. Please prepare your household registration book over there."

Mother Trieu answered very quickly:

“Preparing for what?”

I typed two words: The other side was silent for a long time. Waiting until I finished showering and stepped out, the phone screen lit up with a new message.

“Mom, wait for me.”

I wiped my face and went to the kitchen to warm up the plate of leftover ribs. Try a piece. Have you ever eaten cold food and then reheated it? The meat is dry and crumbly, chews like wood chips, and the sauce is so salty that it chokes your throat. I chewed two pieces and swallowed them, then dumped the rest in the trash. Next, open the food ordering app, order a portion of stewed chicken rice and a glass of milk tea. After eating and drinking enough, I lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. No, it was the day after tomorrow. After my parents fly to Sanya, I will go to the police station. I have been thinking about this step for three years. From the first day of high school, my mother took my scholarship money to register for my sister's drawing class. I'm always waiting for the most suitable opportunity. And now… This is the moment. After taking the university entrance exam, changing household registration will not affect your performance. When I registered, I used a new address. They went on a trip, and there was no one in the house who could stop me anymore. It's all just in time. I turned around and conveniently poured more food for my brother's hamster. The little animal squeaked twice, turned around and ran so fast that it couldn't see its legs. I gently tapped the cage.

“Brothers, the two of us are really similar.”

“They are all numbers running around in this house.”

“But I won't run tomorrow.”

“And you… keep going.”

On June 10, her parents took her older sister and younger brother to Sanya. I stood on the balcony looking downstairs. My dad drove his black Passat, the back of which was stuffed with three suitcases. My mother sat in the passenger seat, looking in the mirror and applying lipstick. My sister stuck her head out of the car window to take a selfie, took three pictures in a row, and changed two sets of filters. My younger brother was huddled in the back seat playing games, not even bothering to raise his head. No one looked up to look at the upper floor once. Not even once. The car slowly drove out of the residential area gate. The taillights flashed and disappeared around the corner. I withdrew my gaze, went into the living room and picked up the household registration book to look at it, confirming they didn't bring it with them. Tien Le Hoa has a very good point. She never thought I would cause trouble. In her perception, I was just a learning tool. Quiet, obedient, just knowing how to get high scores is enough. Just blame me. For the past six years, I've been acting very well. No arguing, no arguing. My sister stole my things, I gave in. My younger brother tore my exercise book, so I picked it up myself. Lucky money delivered. Confiscation of scholarship money. Certificates of merit for excellent students are posted on the wall every year. But it's the wall of my sister's room.

"My sister's room has empty walls. There are too many books in my room to hang."

Whatever. Six years of patience is not because I am honest. But because I understand very well. Before I was eighteen, I didn't have any rights any autonomy in terms of law. But now... I look at the date of birth on the citizen ID card. Eighteen years old. Already grown up. I picked up my backpack, stuffed my household registration book, citizen ID card and prepared household transfer documents inside. Get out of the house. Taking the bus for forty minutes, I arrived at the Thanh Nam police station. In front of the civil registration counter, there were about seven or eight people lined up. I obediently stood at the end of the line. Waited half an hour for my turn. Inside the counter was a female police officer in her thirties, with short hair and a stern face. On the nameplate it says:

“What procedure?”

“Change household registration.”

“Move to where?”

“From the current family… move to another family.”

The female police officer surnamed Chu raised her head and looked at me.

“What relationship do the people from the place you move to have with you?”

"She is my adoptive mother. I want to transfer my household registration there."

The pen in Ms. Chu's hand stopped. She looked at me again, this time closer.

“How old are you?”

“Eighteen, just had my birthday last month.”

“Do your parents agree?”

"Those biological parents? They are in Sanya."

The policewoman blinked.

“…What are you doing in Sanya?”

"Traveling."

"I just finished my college entrance exam, are they going on a trip? They won't take me with them?"

"No. They took my older sister and younger brother away."

The expression on Ms. Chu's face showed a very slight change. I don't know how to describe that kind of change. Like a person who always believes in fairness and justice... suddenly hears something that is both unfair and has no morals at all. Facial muscles will unconsciously freeze like that. She lowered her head to look at the file I passed over, flipping through a few pages.

"You are... Lam Chu, currently under Lam Kien Quoc's household registration?"

"The address you want to move to is... No. 28 Bac Quan Street, Lieu Ha Town, Nghi Thanh District. Householder Trieu Que Lan?"

“What is Zhao Guilan to you?”

“The one who raised you for ten years.”

Female police officer Chu slowly put down her pen. She leaned back in her chair, looked at me, her voice also changed.

“Little girl, tell me specifically.”

So I told. Tell it very briefly. When he was born, he was given to someone else to raise. My adoptive mother raised me until I was ten years old. Then my biological parents discovered that my academic performance was very good, so they took me home. After returning home, I stood in the middle. Above there is an older sister, below there is a younger brother, they don't belong to either side. The older sister is a pampered biological daughter. The younger brother is the family's treasure. Just a learning machine. After listening, female police officer Chu was silent for a long time. Then she picked up the document again and seriously looked at it from the beginning one more time.