Song Zhenping, whose eyes were also reddening, nodded vigorously: "Uncle Han, Aunt Yun, don't worry, I... I'll take care of you in your old age."

Yunniang burst into tears. Having spent half a year with the Song siblings, she naturally believed in Song Liyun and Song Zhenping's sincerity.

Han Ming didn't show any excitement on his face, but just let out a long sigh.

Song Zhenping grabbed his hand: "Uncle Han, are you still thinking about that aunt from before? We'll find a way to find her and bring her back."

He didn't know how to find it either.

The reason I'm here is that there's a garrison here, and given enough time, I'll eventually have a chance to find out about things on the grasslands.

Song Liyun's heart skipped a beat: If only she could help Han Ming find that young widow, and help Yunniang find her little stone...

Song Liyun thought of Zhao Ashi and the others.

These people who never sleep have the opportunity to come into contact with tribes when they are on duty on the grasslands.

However, the hope of finding the person was extremely slim, and she dared not make any promises at this time, especially since she had not yet discussed it with Zhao Ashi and the others.

Han Ming and Yun Niang didn't have high expectations, but they were already very happy to hear Song Zhenping's words.

Now that Han Ming and Yun Niang have their household registration certificates, they can use them to buy land.

However, trouble arose when looking through Yunniang's household register.

Five years ago, when the government re-registered the population, Yunniang was listed in Jin Sanzhong's household register as husband and wife.

Jin Sanzhong is now dead, but his account has not been closed.

If we use this household registration to make purchases, who knows when a descendant of Jin Sanzhong might emerge and try to seize the family property from Yunniang. Moreover, Jin Sanzhong is Yunniang's lifelong nightmare.

Song Liyun cursed herself for being foolish.

It's been so long, and they haven't even looked at Yunniang's household register, leaving that bastard's name on it.

This time, we must first re-establish Yunniang's household registration.

Now, Song Liyun truly understands the importance and rigor of household registration.

No wonder when Song Liyun said she wanted to join the military household, Commander Luo almost immediately agreed when he saw her take out her household registration book, and even offered many preferential conditions.

Population is a nation's strength and wealth, and every dynasty attached great importance to population management.

Only by controlling population movement and preventing the emergence of migrants can the nation's destiny be stabilized.

Therefore, travel permits, household registration, house deeds, and land deeds were all strictly controlled by the government.

Han Ming's household registration was obtained by taking advantage of the news that the bandits had destroyed the Suijin Town newspaper, claiming that he was a native of Suijin Town.

He used the family information of a real resident of Broken Gold Town, namely the name of the young widow's husband, thus fulfilling his marital relationship with the woman.

When Yun Niangzi was rescued by Jin Sanchong, she was still in shock, and it was Jin Sanchong who handled the official records.

Now that Lady Yun wants to establish her own household, she has to go to the county government office in person.

This matter cannot be delayed.

The next day, Song Liyun had Old Master Zhang issue a certificate, and together with Yunniang, Han Ming, Xue Zhuang, and Wang Qi, who was sent by the garrison, they went to the Qili County Government Office.

Wang Qi rode his horse at the front.

Two months ago, Wang Qi's family arranged a marriage for him. Later, he even proposed to Song Zhenping, but was rejected. Now, he feels somewhat awkward when he looks at Song Liyun.

Song Liyun pretended that she knew nothing and continued to chat and laugh.

Luo Baihu specially arranged for Xue Zhuang and Wang Qi to be taken on this trip.

He was worried that Han Ming and Xue Zhuang would be unable to handle the situation if something happened to them, as they would have to take care of two women.

The carriage made it smoothly to Qili County. There were still people collecting tolls at the city gate, but the amount had dropped from five coins to one coin.

Song Liyun and her party paid a total of ten coins for the carriage, whereas in the past, it would have cost at least fifty coins to enter the city.

It is said that it is easy to go from simplicity to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to simplicity. Cutting off the exorbitant taxes will affect the wallets of many people, and there will be a lot of fighting in between.

It seems that Steward Wan was right; this acting magistrate should not be underestimated.

The city remained bustling and lively, with people queuing up in front of the county government office.

Xue Zhuang said that these people were there to deal with old cases.

Song Liyun clicked her tongue in amazement. How long would it take to finish dealing with this? Even an iron man would have to grind himself into a needle.

Fortunately, there weren't many amateur scientists managing household registration, and it only took an hour before it was Song Liyun and Yunniang's turn.

Yunniang was very nervous. Her deceased husband used to run a small wine shop, selling inferior wine to the Shagong River downstream.

Those sand workers were rough, so Yunniang usually didn't go to the wine shop; she just stayed home doing laundry, cooking, sewing, and mending.

Following Kim Sam-jung was also a life of constant fear, and even when they went to Baolin Residence, they didn't leave the house every day.

Now, when I arrive at the county government office and see the officials in their black robes coming and going, I suddenly find myself speaking somewhat incoherently.

Song Liyun handed her the household registration booklet: "Sir, my aunt's husband has been dead for half a year, and now she needs to register a female household. Please help her with the process."

The person handling the household registration was a thin, dark-skinned young clerk. Perhaps tired from processing paperwork, he mumbled with droopy eyelids, "What female household? When did we start processing female households? Are female households so easy to register?"

Song Liyun didn't hear what he said, so she could only push the household register forward: "I would like to trouble you, sir, to register a separate household for women!"

The clerk was somewhat displeased, frowning as he scolded, "What's the rush? We're already starting!"

He snatched the household registration book, glanced at it briefly, and his previously listless spirits lifted instantly: "From Suijin Town?"

Observing his emotional change, Song Liyun carefully pondered and said, "Yes, it is because my husband is dead and my household is empty."

The clerk raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Yunniang and Song Liyun's faces: "You wait!"

He beckoned to one of the servants and whispered a few words in his ear. The servant nodded and went off to do something else.

The clerk then said to Song Liyun, "Please wait over there for a moment. There have been many changes in household registrations in Suijin Town these days, and someone will handle them specifically."

At this moment, his words were no longer ambiguous, but rather clear and articulate... in the Pingyang Prefecture accent.

Song Liyun had no choice but to wait to the side. Soon, a servant came and led them to a nearby office.

This is just an ordinary square room, with rows of black wooden shelves displaying wooden crates.

Sitting in the inner room was an old official with a white beard. When he saw Song Liyun and the other woman enter, his gaze immediately fell on Yunniang.

"Is this lady going to register as a female household? There are few female households, so I have to ask a few more questions. Please don't be offended by what I'm saying."

Some women, whenever there is a conflict, will hold a grudge against their husband's family and, in a fit of pique, decide to become female households.

They're happy now, but when the government collects taxes and labor, they'll be crying and wailing.

They claim that their survival is difficult and that they want to be exempt from taxes and corvée labor, or that the government is oppressing them and making it impossible for them to live. They completely forget how they cried and begged to establish female households back then.

A country has its laws, and a family has its rules.

Where you are is not up to you to decide.

If someone couldn't pay their taxes and perform corvée labor, they would be imprisoned.

The younger ones were married off by official matchmakers, while the older ones were sent to government-run workshops to do manual labor.

"You know, all this trouble is exhausting. It's better to just find someone to settle down with now."

The old official didn't even glance at the household register before launching into a long speech that left Yunniang pale-faced.

"Sir, please arrange it for me! I don't want to get married." Although Yunniang was afraid, she was still determined to be registered as a female householder.

Song Liyun held her breath, thinking, "This old official is really long-winded. Who is he trying to scare?"