Chapter 220 Obtaining the Marriage Certificate
Zhou Shufen patted Zhou Lijuan's hand.
"Don't be afraid."
She said in a low voice.
"It's okay, I'm here."
Guo Yanlong stepped forward.
"Take her away first and escort her to the relevant department for further investigation."
He paused, his gaze falling on the three huddled children.
Take a deep breath and speak softly in Yahweh.
"Don't be afraid, children, no one will hurt you. We will take care of you and take you to a safe place to rest first."
Pan Yun was still screaming as she was dragged away.
"Guo Zhenyi, I curse you!"
She screamed.
"You and that woman will get your comeuppance sooner or later! You'll both suffer a terrible death!"
Guo Zhenyi didn't even lift his eyelids.
Only after that disheveled figure turned into the alley did he slowly turn around.
When he looked at Zhou Shufen, there was a hint of caution in his eyes.
Did I scare you?
He knew perfectly well that what had just happened was too intense.
But he had no choice but to do it.
Zhou Shufen reached out and fastened his collar, which had been blown askew by the wind.
"I wasn't scared, I just felt... you had a lot on your mind."
She looked up at him, her gaze clear.
"You don't have to shoulder everything alone."
"That's all ancient history."
Guo Zhenyi grasped her hand.
"I don't want to talk about the past anymore. From now on, I will only protect you, and no one will ever make you frown again."
He turned to Guo Yanlong and said.
"Yanlong, keep an eye on things from here on out. I'll go with Shufen to take care of some important business."
"Go."
Guo Yanlong smiled easily.
"I've already informed them in advance."
Zhou Lijuan breathed a sigh of relief.
He pulled Zhou Liya along behind him, keeping his voice down.
"Uncle Guo's imposing manner just now was even more intimidating than when we held a criticism meeting in our village."
She glanced back at the alley entrance quietly, her voice even softer.
"Do you think...she'll really go to jail?"
Zhou Liya smiled.
"That's what a responsible man should be like."
Her gaze followed that tall figure, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.
In the wind and snow, he led Zhou Shufen step by step forward.
"Sister, do you think it was worth it for our second sister to get to where she is today?"
She asked softly.
The snow started falling again.
Guo Zhenyi held Zhou Shufen's hand tightly, taking one step at a time.
The snow crunched softly under his feet, but his hands never loosened their grip.
"What you just said..."
Zhou Shufen hesitated.
"I've been wanting to ask, but I'm afraid to reopen your wounds. Is she... really beyond saving?"
"It's true."
Guo Zhenyi slowed his pace, his voice calm.
"She was pushed along back then, and only later did she sink deeper and deeper into it."
“She did something wrong and should be punished. But I don’t want her to die in jail, nor do I want Yanlong to carry the burden of family debt for the rest of his life. I just hope she can reflect on her actions, come out alive, and have a chance to start anew.”
He turned his head to look at her.
"Don't be afraid, it's all in the past now."
He knew what she was worried about.
She was afraid that he still harbored resentment, afraid that he was carrying too heavy a burden.
"Look, the snow has covered all the footprints."
He said softly.
"Let bygones be bygones."
Zhou Shufen stared at the light in his eyes and suddenly smiled.
"Yeah, it's over."
She gripped his hand tightly, as if responding to that weighty promise.
Guo Yanlong said to Qi Changyu and Zhou Lijuan.
"Thank you both for your hard work today. Come with me to prepare the materials! I can manage a few words in polite language, but not in English?"
"Leave it to me!"
Zhou Lijuan's voice was clear and crisp.
Zhou Shufen turned around, her tone gentle.
"Liya, stay home and take good care of Qingyan. Don't go anywhere. Mom will be back in a little while."
His gaze lingered on his sister's face for a moment.
He left only after confirming that she understood.
The clerk from the neighborhood office was leisurely sipping tea.
Suddenly, I looked up and my gaze met that of a man and a woman standing at the door.
The man was dressed in a crisp cadre uniform, his shoulders and back were straight, and his expression was calm.
The woman beside him had exquisite features and a cool, aloof demeanor.
Guo Zhenyi walked to his desk and opened the file bag in his hand.
"Comrade, we've come to get our marriage certificate."
The staff member quickly put down the teacup and took the materials with both hands.
I flipped through the pages and carefully checked everything.
After confirming that everything was correct, a smile finally appeared on his face.
"All the materials are complete, and the procedures are legal and compliant."
He pushed the registration form in front of the two of them and gently reminded them.
"Don't press your handprint too lightly. The red clay must be pressed into the paper and show through to be considered auspicious, indicating a prosperous and thriving life."
Zhou Shufen sat in the chair and reached out to take the pen.
She took a deep breath before carefully writing her name, stroke by stroke.
In that instant, memories flooded my mind like a tidal wave.
She couldn't help but think of Zhou Dajun.
In their past lives, they were husband and wife in name only.
However, they didn't get their marriage certificate until many years after their marriage.
It was all because of the child's household registration issue that I humbled myself and begged him for a whole year.
"It's off-topic."
Guo Zhenyi suddenly said in a low voice.
He reached out and placed his hand on the back of her hand, steadily adding the final stroke.
"I'll be here for you from now on, so don't be afraid."
Zhou Shufen looked up and met Guo Zhenyi's eyes.
Those eyes were filled with laughter, almost bringing tears to her eyes.
"Smack!"
A crisp sound of a stamp echoed throughout the office.
The sudden noise made Zhou Shufen tremble violently.
Guo Zhenyi immediately noticed and firmly put his arm around her shoulder.
"Don't be afraid."
He comforted her in a low voice.
"This is good news, not a thunderclap. From now on, good things will come one after another."
After the process was completed, the staff member handed me two big red flowers with a smile.
One flower was pinned to Guo Zhenyi's chest, and another was personally pinned to Zhou Shufen's lapel by him.
Guo Zhenyi took the two marriage certificates and looked at them carefully.
Then he stuffed them all into her hands.
"Keep this safe."
"Aren't you going to keep a copy?"
She looked up at him, a hint of doubt in her eyes.
What's mine is yours.
He answered frankly.
He then took her hand and turned to walk towards the door.
The snow outside had stopped sometime ago.
Sunlight struggled to break through the clouds, casting rays onto the ground.
"go home."
Guo Zhenyi said softly.
As he passed the supply and marketing cooperative, he suddenly stopped and turned into the store.
The wind chimes on the door jingled.
He led Zhou Shufen step by step to the counter.
He raised his other hand and pointed to the row of canned malted milk powder on the top shelf.
"Take two cans."
The sales clerk followed his gesture and took the jar down.
He glanced at the candy displayed beside him and added.
"And candy, the kind wrapped in colorful wrappers, kids like that."
"Oh my, this candy is a rare find!"
The sales clerk smiled and responded.
As she packed the food, she looked up with a smile and asked.
"Comrade, is this for the bride?"
Guo Zhenyi slowly lowered his head, his gaze falling on Zhou Shufen's face beside him.
"She has a sweet tongue and loves sweets, so I bought some to make her happy."
Zhou Shufen clutched the notebook in her hand, her knuckles turning slightly white.
His simple yet intimate words echoed in my ears.
Her face suddenly flushed.
This person is usually so serious that he's almost rigid.
But when he talks about these things now, his tone is so natural and fluent.
When I got home, the house was quiet.
Zhou Liya was sleeping soundly on the bamboo mat, her arms around Yang Qingyan.
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