Chapter 4 — One Wrong Step, The Whole Family Goes on Tour

Although this series of events did not cause any serious harm to me or my family, it made me feel extremely disgusted. It's really like "yellow mud covering your crotch", both dirty and humiliating. At that moment, my wife called, her voice worried: "Go home quickly, the old lady from the Bach family is here to cause trouble again." My wife worked hard to clean up all the trash and dirty things in front of the house. Just as the area in front of the door could stand, Mrs. Bach led the girls and boys back. This time it was different: They brought tents, folding beds, water, food... clearly intending to hold out for a long time! Not only that, they also set up a mahjong table, playing cards while cursing non-stop. My wife couldn't take it anymore and called the police to report being harassed. But when the police arrived, Ms. Bach and her accomplices were completely fearless. Before waiting for the police to speak, she lay down on the ground and pretended to faint, looking like she wanted to publicly lash out. So much so that the police on duty wanted to call more police to come... to rescue himself. "That guy named Loi, I'll tell you: One day you don't give me back my grandchild, then that day I won't let you go! Even if you pay me back, it won't be enough - you still have to apologize, compensate, make up for my grandchild!" She screamed like a demon from Hell, then picked up her stick and banged on my door. The impact was so strong that the entire door was completely distorted. At this point, my wife almost collapsed, tears welling up in her eyes: "Or... how about we give that boy back? Let's say we suffer a little loss and suffer humiliation for once..." She couldn't stand it anymore. Lately, the whole residential area has been listening, and on the group chat, residents are full of sarcasm, ridicule, and insinuations about our house. I clenched my hands, my voice resolute: "No. We can't pay. We must give them a life-long lesson." Having finished speaking, I immediately called my friend. He was a very courageous and virtuous person... Clearly knowing that the other person was just a weak old woman, my friend still threatened and chased her away, forcing Ms. Bach and her accomplices to temporarily retreat. But we understand very well — this is only temporary. When Bach Tieu Than's grandmother was sent away, I immediately returned home and took Tieu Cao straight out of the storage room. I can't stay here anymore. I had to take my wife and Tieu Than to a hotel to temporarily hide. By the way, start the procedure to cancel household registration. I really don't understand - why are there such "abstract" people in the world? It was clear that the hostage was in my hands, yet Bach Van Thien kept making me crazy over and over again. As long as he was willing to go down and say a few pleasant words, this matter could have been resolved in a "high EQ" way. I really don't know what's in his head. "Uncle... what are you planning to do..." Bach Tieu Cao was scared to tears by me. I actually never abused him, except for locking him in the storage room, giving him three full meals, and not forcing him to do anything, not even having to go to school. It's just... I was so fierce a few days ago that I left a big psychological ghost in his mind. “Do what?” — I laughed coldly. “You are my son, of course you have to… change your name.” Hearing that, Bach Tieu Cao began to struggle: "No! I don't want to follow your family name! I'm not named Loi!" But how can its strength compete with me? I'll take it away, let him cry and scream. Of course — he thinks too much. I never said I would let him have my last name. 14 “Hello, I want to change my son's name.” I showed my household registration book. The person in charge is still the employee who last completed the transfer procedure. Seeing me actually bring the child I had never met, surprise and... admiration appeared in her eyes. “Yes… so you want to change your name from Bach Tieu Cao to Loi Tieu Cao, right?” “No, it's not.” I shook my head, seriously correcting myself. “Changed name from Bach Tieu Cao to... Bach Lai Khac.” (Bach Lai Khac ("Black" in Sino-Vietnamese)) "Huh...? Ah..." The employee was slightly stunned for a moment, staring at Tieu Cao's shiny black face, her eyes clearly showing confusion. But a second later, she immediately understood my "black humor". Bach Lai Khac, isn't that the pronunciation of the word "Black"? She frowned, looking unhappy: "Parents, are you sure you want to take that name? You should understand that this name can affect the child's future." "Sure. This name is very Western, you can tell it has class when you hear it." I nodded, my voice determined not to negotiate. Seeing my determination, the employee didn't say anything more and started processing the documents. Soon, the procedure was completed. And so — the coal-black Tieu Than of the Bach family officially has an extremely luxurious name: Bach Lai Khac (Black). Perhaps his family's ancestral tomb glowed, so he was so "lucky" that he was given such a unique name... But this time I came here, not just to change Bach Tieu Cao's name. I don't have that much free time. After changing my name, I immediately began to learn about the procedures for renouncing my citizenship. Bach Van Thien transferred his son's household registration to my name, wasn't it to get a place in formal education? Then I will let Bach Tieu Cao - now Bach Lai Khac - no longer have any nationality. Where can I get my school transcripts if my citizenship expires? What to study? Study in the beginning? “Hello, I would like to ask about the procedure for relinquishing my son's citizenship.” Hearing this sentence, the staff in charge was stunned. He didn't expect me to be so bold. After a few seconds of surprise, he began to calm down and carefully explained the process and required documents. The only problem in applying to relinquish Bach Tieu Than's nationality is: China does not recognize dual nationality, so if you want to relinquish Chinese nationality, you must prove that you have or will soon have the nationality of another country. 15 This is quite a hassle — having to go abroad, and also having to choose a country that doesn't allow renunciation of nationality. That means having to choose between Ukraine and Iran. Thinking again and again, I chose Iran. Ukraine is still at war, it's too dangerous. Iran, on the other hand, is completely different: the country in principle does not accept citizens who voluntarily give up their citizenship. Even after completing military service, the rate of approval to renounce citizenship is still pitifully low. It's even more difficult than Tang Tang's period and still having to recite sutras. Back home, I talked to my wife about this plan. Recently, her heart was filled with resentment, and after hearing it, she nodded in agreement without any hesitation. The following days, I asked to stay home and started installing cameras in every hidden corner of the house. I was busy for a few days. As soon as I finished, the passport was issued and I made it That means leading Bach Lai Khac on his way out of the country. It must be said that the scenery abroad is completely different from that in the country. It feels like a new world opens before your eyes. As for Bach Lai Khac, he was still angry and didn't say a word, but his steps were clearly lighter and he struggled less. The kid probably thought I was comforting him and taking him on a trip. The whole journey was as happy as Tet, smiling from ear to ear. It is truly a living example of the saying "being sold also helps people count money". During the few days I was abroad, I often called home to talk to my wife. She also immediately reported to me the latest situation of the Bach family. It is true as the saying goes: "If there is reason, seek court, if there is no reason, seek reporters; if there is no virtue, seek reconciliation." Since my wife moved into the hotel, Mrs. Bach's tricks no longer work. The Bach family continued to fail, and began to take risks, calling in a mediator. In front of the television cameras, he cried profusely, told the most miserable story about his family's "injustice", then screamed: "How badly we were treated, how much we suffered..." And the conciliation side completely ignored the matter of illegally transferred household registration. On the contrary, he started giving moral classes: trying to advise and convince my wife and I to "humble ourselves, sympathize, understand people" - using moral tactics to force innocent people to admit their mistakes. "That group of people really have no shame. They don't talk about reason, they only talk about feelings! The Bach family is miserable? So is our family happy?" "In this day and age, don't be afraid of hooligans playing tricks, just be afraid of hooligans and also know how to... speak the truth!" Faced with that situation, I could only comfort my wife and try to endure a little longer. “It's okay, the procedure is almost finished.” 16 A few days later, after a hard struggle, Bach Lai Khac was finally granted his citizenship. He's naive and doesn't know anything, he only knows that he hasn't had to go to school lately, and he's even been taken on a trip abroad, so he can brag about it to his friends later. So after returning home, his attitude changed a bit, and he became a little less opposed to me and my wife. On a beautiful afternoon, I took Bach Lai Khac out of the hotel. This time, I took him for a DNA test. Of course I know he is not my biological child. So why do we still need to get tested? Just blame our system... for being too humane, too civilized. Underage foreigners can still study normally in our country — just need a household registration. If you want to delete Bach Lai Khac's household registration, you must have a blood test certificate. With no other choice, I gritted my teeth and took him for a DNA test. Only when that is completed can I legally remove his name from the household registration book. What happens after deletion? I will no longer have anything to do with it. And it won't concern anyone either. It will officially become an "anonymous person" - someone living outside the system. In places where identity authentication is required, it cannot participate: • Can't fly by plane or high-speed train, • Can't rent a hotel, • Can't play online games, • Can't buy goods online. I even eagerly imagined the scene: