The next morning, Chen Lan and Xu Mingxuan’s group ate breakfast at the state-run Gengxin Restaurant. After bringing breakfast back for the workers at the dilapidated house, the group set off on their bicycles.
This time, everyone split up. Chen Lan and Xu Mingxuan walked together to the police station located on Fendou Road in Harbin's Nangang District.
Meanwhile, Er Zhuang rode with Jiā Yào and his four siblings on three bicycles to the Qiu Lin Company first for some shopping, and they would all meet up later at Qiu Lin Company.
After asking a few passersby, the couple finally found the police station, which was located in a small courtyard within the residential area of Fendou Road, Nangang District. The police station operated from this small courtyard.
As soon as the couple walked through the police station's courtyard gate, a large rat scurried past Chen Lan, startling her who wasn't prepared. Xu Mingxuan held Chen Lan’s hand tightly, signaling her not to be afraid.
Chen Lan looked around the courtyard and noticed that it was quite dilapidated. There were many rat holes along the courtyard walls. Rats were out in broad daylight and showed no fear of people, scurrying about even as people entered the courtyard.
Chen Lan and Xu Mingxuan walked into an office with an open door. The first thing that met their eyes were the red characters "Serve the People" emblazoned on the wall.
The couple saw that everyone in the office was extremely busy, heads bowed, engrossed in their respective tasks. Chen Lan loudly asked, "Comrade, excuse me for a moment."
Only then did someone in the room look up at the couple. A plump older sister stood up from her seat and asked warmly, "Comrades, are you here at the police station for something? Please tell us what it is."
Xu Mingxuan then asked, "Comrade, I'm here to apply for a household registration permit for relocation. Is this handled here?"
The plump older sister quickly waved her hands and replied, "No, no, Comrade. You need to apply for a relocation permit! That's handled by the household registration department. The office for household registration is over there. Comrade, do you see the room diagonally opposite with the window tied shut with a rope? The household registration department's office is in that room."
After thanking the kind, plump older sister, Xu Mingxuan and Chen Lan turned and walked towards the household registration department. As they got closer, they noticed that the office of the household registration department was in such disrepair that the window was almost falling off and had to be tied shut with a rope to prevent it from collapsing.
As the couple entered the household registration department office, they saw a young man in a dark blue police uniform working at a desk, his head bowed, diligently writing something.
Upon seeing someone arrive, the young man immediately stood up from his stool and asked enthusiastically, "Comrade, what brings you to the household registration department? Is there something you need to handle?" After he understood their situation, he received Xu Mingxuan very warmly.
Xu Mingxuan produced the transfer certificate issued by his unit and handed it to him. The young man took the transfer certificate, examined it carefully, and without a word, picked up the paper and pen from the desk and processed the relocation permit for Xu Mingxuan. Finally, he stamped the permit with the police station's large red seal.
While they were busy, Chen Lan looked closely at the simple office. She noticed that the desk where they were writing was very old, its dark red paint peeling off in patches, revealing mottled wood grain.
The ceiling, plastered with newspapers, was riddled with holes, large and small, gnawed by rats. The stools leaning against the wall were missing legs, and the doors and windows were broken and secured with ropes.
Chen Lan thought to herself, the working environment of government officials in this era was indeed quite arduous. However, their attitude in handling matters was far better than that of public officials in her previous life.
The household registration permit was processed very quickly, taking only a short while.
Looking at Xu Mingxuan holding the freshly issued relocation permit, Chen Lan thanked the young household registration clerk repeatedly. Seeing his humble demeanor, Chen Lan couldn't help but marvel again at the efficiency of government officials in this era, which was truly beyond compare to those of later generations. They were truly serving the people, living up to the words "Serve the People" they had seen upon entering the police station.
With the relocation permit business concluded, the couple decided to go to Qiu Lin Company to meet up with Er Zhuang and the children. As they walked, Chen Lan continued to remark on how good the service attitude of government officials was in this era.
Xu Mingxuan asked with surprise, "Lan'er, what's wrong? Is something amiss? Isn't it their duty to serve the people with such an attitude? They represent the nation's image, and our country is one where the people are the masters."
Chen Lan hesitated, unsure how to explain. Could she say that things would develop differently in a few decades? Could she say that some public officials in the future would be far inferior to those of today?
Thinking this, Chen Lan shook her head and said, "Mingxuan Ge, it's nothing. I just feel there are many good people in this world. Like Brother Zhang we met here, and Sister Zhao, Uncle Chang and his family we met in Suifenhe, and Auntie San Mei and her family we met in Pogranichny, as well as Andrei and Master Valery."
Xu Mingxuan replied with absolute certainty, "Of course. When we treat others with kindness, we naturally receive kindness in return. There aren't that many ungrateful people in this world!"
Chen Lan nodded and didn't argue. The couple walked quickly and took another tram to Qiu Lin Company on Dongdazhijie Street in Nangang District. From a distance, Chen Lan saw Er Zhuang and the children, laden with bags of purchases, waiting at the main entrance of Qiu Lin Company.
After reuniting with Er Zhuang and the children, everyone began discussing where they would go next.
At this point, Jiā Huì suggested, "Mom, while we were shopping at Qiu Lin Company, we heard that the old Daowai area is very prosperous and has many places worth seeing. They say it's known as the 'Paris of the East,' and there's also the Songguang Cinema. Mom, can we go watch a movie at that cinema later?"
Chen Lan readily agreed to her daughter's request! Chen Lan had long heard from Harbin locals that one truly hadn't visited Harbin until they had been to the old Daowai.