Chapter 355: Chapter 218: Four Unplanned Races_2
Hearing the words "ID number," Liu Zi’s face turned visibly pale.
Noticing his friend’s unusual state, Meng Fan gave him a reassuring look, then turned to Boss Ge and said, "Please hold a spot for me. We’ll go back and check in with Brother Yang, then submit the numbers together! There’s still time, we can make it!"
"Alright! I’ll reserve the spot for you then. The CAA member service station only gave me fifteen spots, so don’t stand me up! These are precious, you know!"
Meng Fan promised confidently, "Don’t worry, there won’t be a problem!"
...
After Ge Xiufeng left with a cigarette in his mouth, Liu Zi anxiously said in a low voice, "Brother Fan, what if I can’t remember my ID number? Maybe you and Brother Yang should sign up instead. I won’t sign up this time, it’ll save us two hundred bucks!"
Meng Fan smirked, "That’s what you say, but if you can’t remember it this time, will you remember it next time? The problem needs to be solved!
All the household registration information is connected nationwide now. You know where I used to work, right? Let’s go, I’ll take you to find a friend to help you check it out! This time, we’ll use face recognition!"
"Uh, maybe just forget it?" Liu Zi’s face looked a bit off, and his tone dropped as if he was feeling guilty.
"I know someone who works in the household registration department. It’s just a small favor. Stop dawdling, pack up your things, we’re leaving!"
Meng Fan assumed Liu Zi was just afraid he’d owe a favor for asking someone else to handle the matter, so he remained very calm.
Liu Zi’s complexion worsened from pale to slightly flushed, and before long, his face was completely red.
Seemingly making up his mind, Liu Zi gritted his teeth and said, "I’m sorry, Brother Fan! I lied to you. I actually don’t have a household registration!"
"What?!" Hearing Liu Zi say he doesn’t have a household registration left Meng Fan bewildered.
Years ago, in certain remote areas, or in families with more children than allowed, there indeed were cases where children grew up without getting registered, but those are tales of the past. Nowadays, who isn’t registered?
"I was picked up by my adoptive parents from somewhere. Later, something happened at home, and I was sent to an orphanage. Then I ran out to wander in society! I’m undocumented, without an ID card or household registration!"
Liu Zi seemed to have resolved himself, rubbing his cheeks, speaking very dejectedly.
"Damn! You’re really something special! So, you’re not even nearly an adult, is that it? Do you even know your age and birthday?"
Meng Fan was completely thrown off by Liu Zi’s unexpected revelation. No wonder he never mentioned going back to get an ID since there’s nothing to go back to!
"The birthday and age are real, it’s just that I don’t have a household registration. My adoptive father’s home initially had more children than allowed, with five girls already. I was the sixth child, so they called me Liu’Er. They planned to save up to pay the fines to register me, but an accident happened, and both my parents were gone!"
Liu’Er spilled out his life story like beans from a bamboo tube.
Now, Meng Fan didn’t even know what to say. Happy people are all alike, but every unhappy person has their unique misfortune. Such a tragic childhood inevitably stirred a bit of sympathy in Meng Fan’s heart.
"Come on! It’s just a household registration, the person’s right here, and a living person won’t die from holding it in!" Meng Fan gritted his teeth, making a decision.
"Without a birth certificate or adoption paperwork, it’s really difficult. I’ve asked someone about it before! Maybe just forget it?" Liu Zi said dejectedly.
"Come on, I said it can be done, so it can be done. Let me make a call! At worst, I’ll ask my dad to figure something out and help you get registered!"
With that, Meng Fan called his dad, explained the situation directly, and after some thought, his father agreed to see what he could do.
Seeing that his dad agreed, Meng Fan breathed a sigh of relief, "Rest assured, just wait for the news. As long as my dad helps, the problem will definitely be solved!"
Meng Fan was right; that afternoon, Meng Fan received a call from an uncle working at the city police bureau. Meng Fan didn’t even bother fishing anymore and drove Liu Zi straight to the city police bureau.
The higher-ups had already been notified, so for ordinary people, seemingly impossible tasks were just a formality.
After a simple verification of Liu Zi’s situation, they quickly contacted the original adoptive mother’s domicile to fax a proof document. Then they followed the usual procedures and registered Liu Zi, listing the address as the old house of Liu Zi’s adoptive mother’s granduncle.
For Liu Zi, what seemed as difficult as scaling the sky was resolved within a day with Meng Fan’s help.
When Liu Zi walked out of the police bureau holding his household registration book and ID, he fell on his knees before Meng Fan.
"Brother Fan, from today on, you’re my real big brother! I’ll do whatever you tell me to do. If I, Liu Zi, hesitate even for a moment, I’m not a person!" Tears welled in Liu Zi’s eyes, full of gratitude.
Meng Fan grabbed Liu Zi’s arm, pulling him up, "Come on! Don’t act like a wimp! It’s hard enough for my dad to open his mouth, but he has some influence in W City!
Get up, go find Boss Ge and report the ID number. The spots are limited, don’t let someone else snatch them!"
As dusk approached and Meng Fan drove back with Liu Zi to Li Yuan Fishing Ground, they immediately sensed a different atmosphere upon entering the courtyard.
Goodness, the usually empty Practice Pole Pond had over a dozen cars parked, and a few of Meng Fan’s fishing friends were already sitting by the pit, practicing.
No need to ask. The registration announcement must be out, and the registered anglers from nearby were already getting familiar with the venue, preparing for the weekend competition.
After all, winning a four-type competition can fetch a prize of about ten thousand yuan, which wasn’t a small amount at the time.
Meng Fan found Ge Xiufeng and submitted the ID numbers for the three brothers. They successfully got the points card and completed the registration, just waiting for the weekend battle.
Early the next day, Zhang Yang, Meng Fan, and the others arrived at Li Yuan Fishing Ground to gather.
Traveling far to chase competitions, at this point, Zhang Yang definitely wouldn’t go back. But he wouldn’t miss a competition right at his doorstep.
Especially since it was Meng Fan and Liu Zi’s first national competition as apprentices, Zhang Yang was worried about these two half-priced ’apprentices.’
Just after unloading the equipment and setting down the fishing box by the pit, a few familiar faces came over to greet them.
"Zhang Yang! Xiao Meng! You guys signed up too? Here to practice and get familiar with the venue?"
From a distance, an acquaintance with a thin build and wearing a small floral hat called out to Zhang Yang and the group.
Looking up, Zhang Yang saw it was none other than a fishing friend he had interacted with a few times, Ding Wen.
Since starting their live-streaming after finding their direction, Ding Wen and Chen Xueqiang’s attendance at fishing events increased significantly. They had already arranged for unpaid leave from their unit to fully dedicate themselves to the fishing live-stream business.
Upon hearing about a four-type competition near home, Ding Wen, confident in his skills, signed up with Chen Xiaodao.
"Hello, my sociable Brother Wen, hello! You guys are here too!" Zhang Yang grinned and greeted them enthusiastically.
"It’s something to do while idle. Practicing alone isn’t fun; how about some friendly competition? I’ll gather some people?" Ding Wen’s gaze flicked over Meng Fan and Liu Zi, proposing the idea.
"As amateur players, going head-to-head with you experts seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it?" Zhang Yang said with a smile.
Ding Wen feigned anger, handing out cigarettes to everyone and lighting one for himself before saying, "Come on, when you say amateur, who are you fooling?
Last time, at the Marukyu Cup here, who took home the championship?
Stop dawdling. I’ll gather people, and you get ready to start when everyone’s here! Thirty or twenty per match, it’s nothing big, don’t be stingy!"
"Uh, alright, we’ll just play for fun then!"
Zhang Yang agreed reluctantly.
Once Ding Wen went to gather others, Zhang Yang pulled Meng Fan and Liu Zi aside and quickly started giving them pointers.