"Mom, Shangxiang... Do you need to bring your household registration book?" She glanced at the faded canvas bag that her mother was holding tightly, and a corner of the dark red ID was exposed from the zipper.
"Of course! I have to donate money for sesame oil and write down the names of the whole family to pray for blessings!" Mother Lin answered quickly, her eyes drifting out of the car window toward the rapidly retreating streets covered with red lanterns.
The taxi did not drive towards the popular Chenghuang Temple, but turned into the quiet road where the Civil Affairs Bureau was located. Lin Taohua's heart skipped a beat, and the dry fried dough sticks in her mouth made her choke even more.
"Mom?"
"Get out of the car!" Mother Lin almost dragged her out of the car door.
The lobby of the Civil Affairs Bureau was empty. The first day of the Lunar New Year was obviously not a normal working day. There was only one person standing in the corner.
The man was wearing a well-tailored long black coat, and his figure was tall and straight, like a fir tree growing against the warm winter sun. He turned his head slightly and looked over. His eyebrows were deep, the bridge of his nose was high, and his jawline was slightly curved with impatience. The sunlight filtered through the glass window, coating his whole body with a layer of virtual light, but it could not dispel the noble and alienated feeling in his body that kept strangers away from him.
Lin Taohua's mind buzzed, and she understood instantly. Online loan debt collection, mother's panic, hasty "burning incense", must-bring household registration book... It turns out that this is not a blessing, but "selling" her daughter.
