The village's audit office operated with vigor, prompting all village institutions to tighten their belts and cease any further laxity.
For instance, the nursery suddenly became exceptionally efficient, and the children thrived more than when they were cared for at home, growing plump and fair, especially after consuming plenty of nutritious milk, which even reduced their instances of illness.
What Gu Qingcheng did not anticipate was that the nursery's outstanding performance would lead many villagers to reconsider, thinking that since the village could alleviate their worries, having more children wouldn't be a bad thing.
After all, each new child meant an additional mouth to feed and an additional source of income. If the village could help raise the children, why not?
The Great Zhou Dynasty itself traditionally held the belief that many children brought much fortune.
As the saying goes, once basic needs like food and shelter are met, desires tend to flourish. Unbeknownst to them, the number of pregnant women in the village also increased.
People privately discussed that since the village provided milk for the children and dedicated personnel to care for them, it was a waste not to have more.
During a casual conversation with Qin Yue, Gu Qingcheng unintentionally discovered that Qin Yue's reluctance to marry Liu Ding stemmed from her being alone, without the support of her maternal family, which made her feel insecure and afraid of being bullied by Liu Ding after marriage.
A man bullying a woman could involve more than just beatings, verbal abuse, or taking a concubine.
Under the current marriage system, if a woman married, she became like the man's private property; even if she were beaten to death, it might not warrant a death sentence.
After all, a man could always find one of the "seven grounds for divorce" to indict a woman's faults, and the law tended to favor the man.
Therefore, for women, having a strong maternal family was extremely important. Only with a powerful maternal family would a man dare not bully his wife.
Upon hearing Qin Yue's reason for not daring to marry, Gu Qingcheng became thoughtful.
The village's demographic composition was quite unique, with most villagers being refugees. The majority lacked complete families; many, like Qin Yue, were the sole survivors of their households.
Men were relatively better off, being the stronger sex in this era. However, women were undoubtedly the weaker sex.
If Qin Yue had not had the good fortune to arrive at Phoenix Village, the grass on her grave would have been three feet high.
This era was generally unfriendly to women, so it was no wonder Qin Yue dared not marry Liu Ding.
Anyone could make vows of love, but things could change after a long time in marriage.
Moved by this realization, Gu Qingcheng decided to establish a marriage registration office.
Villagers could still marry according to ancient customs, with three matchmakers and six blessings, but their union would only be considered legal after being approved by the village's marriage registration office.
In the future, if villagers suffered grievances or unfair treatment in their marriages, they could file a complaint with the marriage registration office. The village would then investigate, mediate, and resolve the issue, backing the weaker party. If the investigation confirmed one party at fault, the other would receive the village's protection.
Gu Qingcheng naturally entrusted this significant matter of public welfare to Director Hu.
Although Hu Lanfang handled the audit office's work, she didn't find it particularly taxing. Being the director of the marriage registration office—no, she should be called the "matchmaker" now—was also one of her strengths from her previous community work.
Mother and daughter conferred, and a sign for the Marriage Registration Office was added next to the Audit Office. All villagers wishing to marry would eventually need to go there for official certification.
The authorities would issue two copies of the marriage certificate for both parties to keep safe.
Once a marriage was officially certified, it would have the backing of the authorities, protecting the family and supporting the weaker party.
After both parties registered, the village would also thoughtfully present the newlyweds with 50 jin of rice, 10 jin of cured meat, and 10 jin of eggs as a wedding gift.
Of course, the marriage registration office also established rules for certified marriages, such as prohibiting domestic violence, favoritism towards males, ensuring gender equality with equal rights and obligations, and the duty to support the elderly and raise children, among other things.
Gu Qingcheng did not make the regulations too detailed, ensuring they did not fundamentally contradict current marriage laws. Overhauling them too drastically might lead to resistance and difficulty in adaptation. With a beginning, people would eventually adapt. At worst, they could be modified and advanced gradually later.
Hu Lanfang selected two middle-aged gentlemen who were steady and a sweet-talking elderly woman to serve as registrars at the marriage registration office. She herself would merely supervise and direct, not needing to handle every detail, lest she be exhausted to death.
Qin Yue and Liu Ding were the first native villagers of Phoenix Village to register after the establishment of the Marriage Registration Office.
Liu Ding, through his persistent and earnest pursuit, finally won the heart of his beloved, and was naturally overjoyed.
Previously, Qin Yue, lacking the support of her maternal family, naturally harbored various worries as a woman. Although Liu Ding had patted his chest vigorously, promising to treat Qin Yue as well as he did now, Qin Yue remained hesitant.
Just as the two began to bicker over this matter, Qin Yue learned of the establishment of the village's Marriage Registration Office.
After thoroughly understanding the benefits of marriage registration, Qin Yue realized that this was equivalent to the village acting as her backer. If Liu Ding dared to act maliciously, she could simply turn to the village for help.
All her previous concerns would then cease to exist, and she would naturally dare to marry Liu Ding.
The "Phoenix Village Marriage Registration Regulations" enacted by the village were very beneficial to women like her.
For instance, if the man was at fault first, such as by assaulting, verbally abusing, practicing emotional neglect, or taking a concubine, the woman could receive half of the marital property upon divorce.
These provisions alone made Qin Yue feel secure.
Furthermore, if any dispute arose requiring the division of property, the village would step in to enforce this regulation, ensuring it was not just an empty promise.
The backing behind the Marriage Registration Office was Young Master Gu. Qin Yue was well aware of Young Master Gu's capabilities, so registering with the village's Marriage Registration Office was akin to having Young Master Gu as the guarantor of her marriage.
Therefore, Qin Yue suggested to Liu Ding that they obtain a marriage certificate.
Liu Ding, as long as Qin Yue was willing to marry him, naturally had no objections.
In fact, he was also aware that the village's marriage regulations stipulated many novel clauses that seemed disadvantageous to men.
However, to marry Qin Yue and reassure her, he had even sworn oaths, such as being struck by a bullock cart if he wronged Qin Yue. But Qin Yue remained unmoved and did not agree to marry him.
Liu Ding felt he had exhausted all his options.
He never expected that as soon as the village's Marriage Registration Office was established, Qin Yue would be willing to marry him. Liu Ding was overjoyed.
In any case, the matters mentioned in the marriage registration regulations were similar to the content of his oath, so Qin Yue's suggestion to register was readily accepted.
Liu Ding and Qin Yue chose an auspicious day, donned their bright red festive attire, and happily went to the Marriage Registration Office to obtain their certificate.
As they were the first officially certified couple in Phoenix Village, Hu Lanfang attached great importance to the occasion and personally witnessed the ceremony of them obtaining their certificate.
It was only then that Qin Yue and Liu Ding realized that this registration was not simply a matter of signing one's name; the process was quite solemn.
First, Hu Lanfang asked them if they were marrying voluntarily, if they were deeply in love, and if there was any coercion.
After both affirmed that they were deeply in love and voluntarily becoming husband and wife, Hu Lanfang read out the contents of the marriage regulations and asked if they would abide by them.
"Of course, we can," Liu Ding responded without hesitation.