“Oh? I see.” Isaac finally understood what a birth permit was. He immediately nodded. “Sure, sure. Please apply one for us as well.”
Likewise, Sabrina gave her consent.
After all, her child needed this.
Seeing that they both agreed, the officer picked up the phone on her desk. “Hello, is this the Director of the Office of Population Affairs? Please come over for a while. Someone here wants to apply for a birth permit.”
Huh?
Isaac and Sabrina were again mystified as they watched her series of actions.
Fortunately, the officer briefly explained things to them once more after hanging up the phone.
“A premarital checkup is necessary when you apply for a birth permit. Of course, that’s only formality. Later, just go with the Director of the Office of Population Affairs and fill in a form.”
Those words were mainly directed at Sabrina.
After hearing that, Sabrina merely nodded without any other action since it was her first time doing all those things.
Thus, after having filled out the marriage registration form, Sabrina left with the Director of the Office of Population Affairs.
Isaac, on the other hand, stayed in the lobby and waited for the marriage certificate to be issued.
“You’re Sabrina Hayes, yes? How far along are you?”
In the examination room behind closed doors, the Director of the Office of Population Affairs, who led Sabrina in casually, asked that question while taking out a form and filling it.
Sabrina’s expression stiffened slightly.
“Isn’t this just formality?”
“Yes, but the birth permit requires a delivery date. It doesn’t need to be accurate as long as it’s an approximate date. It’ll be rendered invalid if you give birth too early. Conversely, if the birth is overdue, the veracity of this birth permit will be questioned,” the lady clarified in detail.
When her words fell, she noticed the hands of the woman sitting beside her slowly clenching into fists until her knuckles went totally white.
“Ms. Hayes?”
“In that case, forget about it!”
Shooting to her feet, Sabrina spun on her heels to leave.
The Director of the Office of Population Affairs was stunned for a long moment. Only when she saw that the pregnant lady was about to leave did she hastily call out to her, “Hey, don’t leave! What are you doing? Don’t you have to apply for a birth permit when you have a child?”
“No, that’s not necessary!”
Sabrina spat out those words again. Her face was now as dark as night.
Indeed, that’s unnecessary! Considering the influence of the Hayes family, who would dare forbid me from adding my child to the household register if I want to have a kid? It’s entirely superfluous of me to have come here!
She didn’t want to bother with the woman anymore.
However, she never expected the Director of the Office of Population Affairs would stand up and grab hold her hand upon a failed attempt of persuasion.
“Of course, it’s necessary! Every child has to be recorded in the household register. All right, all right, I won’t ask you about your delivery date anymore. I’ll just issue it for you directly, okay?”
Sabrina had initially reached the door, but after a few seconds she caved and sat herself down again.
Ultimately, she still hoped that her child could enter the world legitimately.
The director was no longer as talkative as before. Instead, she swiftly completed the form and handed it to Sabrina to be signed.
When Sabrina saw that the matter was proceeding smoothly this time, she took the form and signed it accordingly.
“All right, we’re done. Just sit here for a while. I’ll take it over to be stamped and issue the certificate for you. I’ll be back in no time.”
After saying that, she promptly went out with the form in hand.
Sabrina didn’t suspect anything amiss. After the director left, Sabrina waited in the examination room.
Ding!
Out of the blue, the phone in her bag dinged.
She rummaged out her phone.
It was Sasha who texted her. Have you gotten your marriage certificate, Sab?
In the past few days, Sasha had been very concerned about her. However, Sabrina didn’t want to trouble Sasha, much less have Sasha learn of the situation on her end. That was why Sabrina did not allow Sasha to visit the Sheerwood residence.
Now that everything was drawing to an end, she was finally in the mood to reply to Sasha.
Sabrina answered: Almost. I’m now applying for a birth permit.
In response, Sasha questioned: A birth permit? Why would you be applying for that at the civil affairs office? That’s a matter handled by the Office of Population Affairs. What has it got to do with the civil affairs office?
Sabrina didn’t reply at once.
In that instance, something snapped in Sabrina’s mind.
Sasha texted again. Furthermore, even if you want to apply for a birth permit, it’ll have to be issued by the Office of Population Affairs in Avenport. How could you be asked to do that at the civil affairs office? That’s against the rules.
This time, Sasha did not receive an answer, for Sabrina had placed her phone back into her bag and left the examination room.
Alas, she was still too late.
When she found the Director of the Office of Population Affairs, the woman was already on the phone. “Don’t worry, for I already know how far along she is, Mrs. Sheerwood. Judging from the size of her belly and her secretive manner, she’s definitely not just four months pregnant.”
“Really?”
“Of course it’s true. Don’t worry. Besides, her reaction earlier has been captured by the surveillance cameras in the examination room.”
