Chapter 322: Natural and Right

Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Natural and Right

Refugees displaced by disasters in their hometowns who didn’t want to return could register with the local government office. They could then find a place to settle, clear land, and farm to support themselves.

Three years later, when the government conducted a census and updated the household registers, they would be officially added.

However, it had to be confirmed that the person was neither a tax evader nor a fugitive.

This regulation was primarily to prevent people from dodging taxes or from pretending to be refugees to move to prosperous areas when they couldn’t officially transfer their household registration.

Village Chief Meng felt the wanderer certainly wasn’t one of them. The Northern Pass was no bustling metropolis; ’only someone with a screw loose would want to move here.’

As for the second possibility...

When Ji Huan had first settled the wanderer in the earthen hut, the village chief had felt it was inappropriate and had secretly gone to check on him once.

The specific details weren’t worth mentioning, but suffice it to say, he’d been thoroughly spooked. In his heart, he was convinced the wanderer was up to no good.

Because of this, he had even made a special trip to the county government. He found that none of the wanted posters for serious criminals issued by the court in the past two years matched the wanderer’s description in any way. Only then did he feel a bit more at ease, but some doubts remained.

He shared these lingering concerns with Ji Huan.

Ji Huan, afraid his snooping would eventually lead him to discover the man was a deserter, quickly racked her brain and invented a tragic backstory for the wanderer on the spot.

The gist of it was that the wanderer and his family had encountered mountain bandits while traveling. All their belongings were stolen, and his entire family was murdered. He alone barely escaped with his life and ended up drifting to Dafeng Village.

Furthermore, he could only vaguely recall these events and remembered nothing else, possibly due to a head injury.

After hearing this, Village Chief Meng actually believed her and even expressed great sympathy.

Ji Huan breathed a sigh of relief and asked him about the "special case" he had mentioned.

Village Chief Meng then explained it to her.

"Either they get lucky and there’s a joyous occasion celebrated across the land, prompting the court to grant a general amnesty and pardon all unregistered and fugitive people, in which case they can immediately be registered or settle down."

"Or, they can marry into the family of a well-off widow who lacks male heirs, or into a household like yours, a female-headed one... This regulation is a recent development, implemented by the court to encourage... ahem."

Village Chief Meng didn’t finish his sentence, but Ji Huan knew what he meant.

’It’s to encourage childbirth, isn’t it?’

’In reality, what’s the point of encouraging it? As long as the country is at peace and the common people have enough to eat, warm clothes to wear, and land to farm, the population will naturally increase.’

’That’s much better than shortsighted policies that drain the pond to get the fish, only to scramble to mend the pen after the sheep have already escaped.’

But none of that was her concern. She’d be doing well just to manage her own little corner of the world.

"So, the wanderer can be added to my household registration, and only then can we receive a marriage certificate and be officially married, is that right?"

Village Chief Meng nodded, went back into his house to get a brush and ink, and placed them on the table in the courtyard.

"If you’ve really decided, then write down your family’s basic information, and add the wanderer’s at the end. Do you know how to write it? Forget it, let me explain it to you."

What Village Chief Meng was asking her to write was, in fact, the household register of the Great Zhou, somewhat similar to the "household statements" of the Tang Dynasty.

Ji Huan thought for a moment, then lifted the brush and began to write.

"Head of Household: Ji Huan, age sixteen, adult female, mole on left earlobe, female head of household.

Male: Dabao, age six, adopted younger brother.

The aforementioned persons are currently registered."

This sentence meant that both Ji Huan and Dabao currently had official household registrations.

"Husband..."

When she got to the word "Husband," Ji Huan paused.

All that was needed here was to fill in the wanderer’s gender, name, age, physical condition, and the date of registration, and it would be complete.

Unfortunately, besides knowing that he was male, Ji Huan knew nothing about his name or age.

"Um, Village Chief Meng, I just remembered I have something urgent to do. How about I take this back with me and bring it to you once it’s filled out?"

The village chief wasn’t in a hurry, so he waved his hand in agreement.

Ji Huan took the paper and went straight to the earthen hut.

When she left yesterday, she had told the wanderer not to go anywhere for the next few days, in case she needed him and couldn’t find him.

But when she arrived at the earthen hut, it was empty again.

She was already short on time; she couldn’t afford to wait until dark like she did the other day.

Ji Huan figured the wanderer had gone to the back mountain. She pulled the door of the hut shut and headed there herself.

The wanderer always took the smaller paths up and down the mountain to avoid startling the villagers, but the problem was there were quite a few of these small paths, and she didn’t know which one he’d taken.

Based on the route from the earthen hut to the foot of the mountain, Ji Huan reasoned that the wanderer had most likely chosen the eastern path. Therefore, she decisively chose the western one.

’If I could figure out his thoughts with common sense, I wouldn’t always be left speechless by him.’

The small paths were not as easy to walk as the main road. By the time she reached the halfway point, panting for breath, Ji Huan was starting to regret her decision. ’I was probably being too clever for my own good and made this trip for nothing.’

She propped her hands on her knees, bent over to catch her breath for a moment, and decided it was better to just go back and wait patiently.

But as soon as she looked up, she saw a tall figure walking toward her.

His hair was still unbound, making him easy to recognize.

Despite the late autumn weather, he was still wearing a thin layer of clothing. It was Ji Huan’s fault, really. She had assumed he would leave in September, so she hadn’t prepared any thick clothes for him. Lately, she’d been so swamped she had even less time to think about him.

Ji Huan waved at him and called out a weak "Hey." He was far away, so she didn’t know if he heard her.

At first glance, the wanderer seemed to be walking normally, but on closer inspection, his pace was still a bit slower than the average person’s. By the time he reached her, Ji Huan had more or less caught her breath.

"Didn’t I tell you to stay put in the hut? Now I had to climb the mountain just to find you."

Ji Huan grumbled, but she noticed some dry leaves clinging to his clothes and casually brushed them off for him.

Then she noticed he had some in his hair too.

"Where did you run off to exercise? How did you get covered in..."

As she spoke, Ji Huan gestured for the wanderer to lower his head. Then, she stood on her tiptoes and plucked the few leaves from the top of his head as well.

The wanderer clearly had no intention of explaining. He stared at the beads of sweat on Ji Huan’s face for a moment before asking what she wanted.

Ji Huan remembered her purpose and couldn’t be bothered to ask where he had been anymore.

"Let’s talk on the way back."

The wanderer nodded, and the two of them started walking back side by side.

The path was narrow, barely wide enough for two people. It was a bit of a squeeze, and the knee-high wild grass on both sides rustled against them.

Ji Huan slowed her pace by a beat, intending to let the wanderer walk ahead, but unexpectedly, he stopped as well.

"Tired?" he asked.

Before Ji Huan could answer, he reached out and took hold of her upper arm. "Let’s go."

Ji Huan waved her hand. "I’ve rested enough, I’m really not tired. You don’t need to help me..."

The wanderer turned his face, his eyes looking down at her. "I’m afraid I’ll fall. I need support."

Ji Huan: "..."

’Alright, have it your way, mister.’

’But isn’t this position a little strange? Is he using me as a crutch?’

’Besides, I’ve never seen him fall when I’m not around to look for him.’

Ji Huan muttered, "It’s broad daylight. If anyone sees us, I’m done for..."

But the wanderer said, "Aren’t we getting married?"

Ji Huan froze for a second. "So?"

The wanderer’s gaze fell first to where their bodies were touching, then moved to her face. He replied matter-of-factly with two words: "Perfectly natural."

Ji Huan choked.

’How is this "perfectly natural"?’

’We’re pretending to be a couple, not putting on a public display of affection. Buddy, have you misunderstood your job description?’

’Whatever. I’ll ignore that for now. Business first.’

Ji Huan decided to talk as they walked.