Chapter 303: Thank You

"ID card?" Mou Lili was startled: "Even children this small need an ID card for registration?"

"Yes, it's an official regulation, didn't you know?" the staff member added: "They are already this old; if they don't have an ID card, a household registration book will also work. In short, there must be an ID number."

Mou Lili couldn't help but be stunned.

She looked at Ling Feng again.

She had only read the competition rules beforehand and registered her own mobile number and ID number; she hadn't expected these children to need them too.

Ling Feng went to ask the staff member: "They are only here as backup singers, not lead singers, so they don't need ID cards, right?"

"As long as they go on stage, they all need them," the staff member said.

Seeing them all looking dazed, the staff member said: "If you don't have the official ones, you can apply for a temporary one, or go home and bring the household registration book."

Mou Lili was a bit anxious, but Ling Feng pulled her aside.

Ling Feng made a call to Big Gold Chain, telling him to go to each child's home right now and get the children's household registration books; if he couldn't get them, he should have Jin Shu step in.

Big Gold Chain indicated there was no problem and that he would go handle it immediately.

Two hours later, Big Gold Chain called back: "This Fenfen doesn't even have a household registration; her mother went to work as soon as she gave birth and didn't have time to register her. Nini is the same; Nini's parents had another younger sister while working away, and they still wanted a boy, so they didn't register her."

Ling Feng: "..."

Nini and Fenfen's eyes also welled up with tears, worried that they wouldn't be able to go on stage.

Mou Lili hurriedly comforted the two children.

She then said to Ling Feng: "The children have already rehearsed; it won't do if two people are missing."

Besides, she had signed up for this competition specifically to train the children; if Nini and Fenfen couldn't go on stage, it would certainly be a regret in the future.

Ling Feng pondered for a moment and said: "Then let's wait a bit longer; I will definitely resolve this matter by tomorrow."

Mou Lili knew that as long as Ling Feng was willing to step in, there would definitely be a way.

She immediately said to the children: "Everyone don't worry, everyone will have a chance to sing on stage. Now, shall we go to the mall first? Teacher will take you all shopping."

The children were no longer worried and followed Mou Lili one after another.

Ling Feng followed behind, making phone calls.

Later that evening, Big Gold Chain arrived to deliver the household registration books to them.

Of course, Nini and Fenfen's were missing.

Seeing this, Mou Lili couldn't help but ask Ling Feng: "Can Nini and Fenfen's be handled?"

Ling Feng smiled: "Still don't trust me when I handle things?"

"If it's not settled, I'm not at ease. The main thing is that Nini's parents won't let her be registered."

Ling Feng said: "Nini's parents don't know that you can have children freely now; they think it's still the era where you'd be dragged off for sterilization if you had a second child."

"What kind of parents are these!" Mou Lili said: "Don't they watch the news?"

"Frightened birds, I suppose. They are worried that the next child will be a girl, and then they'd have taken up another quota."

Mou Lili said: "They are even less reliable than my parents."

Ling Feng said: "I've already had Jin Shu call them; this registration must be done mandatorily. Household registration is a major life event. If a person isn't registered, it will be a problem for schooling, marriage, or working in the future. Nini's parents didn't take schooling or marriage seriously, but as soon as they heard about working, they got anxious; they were still counting on Nini to support her younger brother when she grows up."

Damn!

Mou Lili cursed, then asked: "Then when can the registration be finalized?"

"Tomorrow I'll have Grandpa go register them, and Big Gold Chain will make another delivery tomorrow. Fenfen's will be done too."

Mou Lili felt a bit more at ease then.

She asked Ling Feng: "Do you have a cigarette?"

Ling Feng frowned: "Isn't it bad to smoke in front of the children? You'd better hold off. Besides, I can't watch this many children by myself; how can it work if you aren't here to keep watch together?"

Mou Lili had no choice but to comply.

After a while, she suddenly looked up and said: "Ling Feng, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Don't be ungrateful."

"Hey, your 'thank you' has zero sincerity."

"I'm going to check on the children."

They were all six or seven-year-old children, at the most restless age, and on top of that, it was their first time in the city. Since Mou Lili had bought them toys today, they really didn't stop for a single moment, and the whole apartment was filled with their laughter.

The next day, Mou Lili took them to practice singing in the room for a while, but they were quickly complained about by the neighbors upstairs.

Mou Lili simply took them to the square outside to practice.

For one, it was to build their courage; after all, there would be many people watching below during the competition, and if they didn't overcome their stage fright, it was very likely they wouldn't perform well during the competition.

Sure enough, the children were quite timid at first, and it was only after Mou Lili rehearsed with them many times that they gradually opened up.

After practicing singing, they went to eat and strolled around the provincial capital's science museum.

By evening, Mou Lili dragged them to the square to rehearse for another hour before taking them back to the hotel to rest.

Two days passed like this, and the singing competition was finally about to begin.

This competition was divided into the Preliminary Round and the Ultimate Round.

The Preliminary Round was held during the day; all registered contestants had to go up and compete once. There were no spectators, only judges, and those with high scores would advance.

The waiting process was very long; the children were almost falling asleep, and Mou Lili was also nodding off.

Then a staff member came over and shouted, "Number 203, get ready, it's almost your turn!"

Mou Lili opened her eyes and saw Ling Feng.

Everyone else had fallen asleep; only he was awake.

He woke the children up one by one, and only came to wake Mou Lili last.

For some reason, at that moment, Mou Lili actually felt a sense of stability, as if he were a very trustworthy person, a protector of hers.

"Hurry up, it's our turn," Ling Feng said to Mou Lili, and prepared the props for them.

Mou Lili got up, checked the children's props, and then looked at Ling Feng.

Those who are not competing cannot go in and can only wait outside.

"Ling Feng, we're going in now."

"Good luck." Ling Feng made a gesture of encouragement to them.

Mou Lili smiled at him again.

Ling Feng also smiled at her, his bright eyes and white teeth looking very sunny.