Unlike the square-shaped SF card, the residence permit wasn't a rigid rectangle. It had been designed to double as an access card, so it came in a small, circular form that could be attached to a keychain or clipped onto a phone. Because it was used so frequently, it was actually much harder to misplace.
The front of the card displayed the resident's photo, while the back featured a QR code. To verify someone's SF status, a designated phone could scan the code, then cross-check it with a verification code sent to that person. Once matched, the user's full profile would pop up instantly.
That information included both their household registration and current address. Naturally, to prevent misuse, only specific phones were authorized to scan these codes. If anyone could scan it freely, sensitive info could leak all over the place. Compared to the SF card, the residence permit made a lot more sense for daily use.
Once Lan Jin received the message from the community center, she got right to work.
Even though she already had plenty of supplies, she still wanted to trade for more contribution points. After all, contribution points were about to become the new standard currency. And the moment they became available, they could already be used. That was reason enough for her to stock up as much as possible.
Just as Lan Jin stood up from the sofa, a message from Huang Jinghe arrived: Sister Lan, did you see the community update?
Lan Jin sat back down and replied: I saw it.
[Huang Jinghe]:Didn't I mention before that my parents are in the military? They just messaged me and told me to take this chance to trade in anything we don't use at home for contribution points. They said we'll be needing them really soon. I don't really understand the details, but Sister Lan, my parents wouldn't lie to me. Maybe you should trade in some extras too while there's still time.
Lan Jin had already planned to do exactly that. But reading Huang Jinghe's message still confirmed that her earlier acts of goodwill had paid off.
Having someone on the inside really made a difference. Some information truly did reach certain people earlier. So she replied: Alright. In that case, I'll exchange a bigger batch. You should do the same. Since we live on the top floor, the staff will probably start from the top down. Our floor and the one below will be the first.
[Huang Jinghe]:Got it, thanks, Sister Lan
After putting down his phone, Huang Jinghe immediately called his parents. "Dad, Mom, I told Sister Lan already. She said she'll trade in more stuff. Whether she actually does it or not, I'm not sure."
"Well, you've already said your part. If she doesn't trade, that's on her."
Then his mother added, "Jinghe, I really think you shouldn't trade away any food if you can help it. Everything you've stockpiled at home was bought just this year. It'll stay good for another two or three years at least. We've heard that they're setting up community canteens in each residential area. Meals will be delivered right to the bottom of the building, and you'll pay using contribution points. If there's food outside, eat that first. Save the food at home for later."
The idea of setting up canteens had actually already been shared with the various communities. Preparations were underway.
Once his mother finished, his father chimed in. "This may be a new place you've moved into, but I know you've got plenty of 'junk' lying around. Take this opportunity to clear it all out. You can exchange a decent amount for contribution points. Listen to your old man and don't get sentimental."
Hearing the word junk annoyed Huang Jinghe a little. To him, those items were treasured keepsakes. But this wasn't the time to argue. "I know, Dad. I'll sell everything."
His mother followed up. "Also the electronics. If you're not using them or won't be using them soon, trade them too. It's not like you have much furniture anyway. Otherwise I'd tell you to trade that too. Honestly, you might as well trade the sofa, coffee table, dining table, and chairs. Better to store those contribution points. You can use them wherever you go. Don't hesitate."
Huang Jinghe sighed. "Come on, Mom, isn't that a bit much? All that stuff's brand new. Didn't you help me pick it all out? You even said this might be my future wedding home. That the apartment layout wasn't ideal, so we had to make up for it with furniture and appliances. And now you want me to sell it all? You really okay with that?"
His mother stayed firm. "Of course I'm not okay with it. But we have to do it anyway. If anyone asks, just say your parents are in the military and they told you to exchange it."
Although Huang Jinghe felt his parents were being a bit extreme, he still listened. After hanging up, he first cleared out all the "junk," followed by the appliances and furniture.
All his "junk" had been stored on the enclosed balcony off his bedroom. Now, he hauled everything into the living room.
That included all his books from kindergarten through college. Full sets, not a single one missing, all in pristine condition. No one quite understood why he'd kept them so carefully, but hobbies were personal. No one said anything.
Then there were his toys, also from kindergarten to college. From toy cars to baseball bats, plus all sorts of random knickknacks. Once the so-called "junk" was gone, the place suddenly felt much roomier.
As for the appliances, those didn't require much effort. Once the staff arrived, all he had to do was point and they'd take care of the rest.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Lan Jin was also thinking carefully about what she could trade.
The items needed to be inconspicuous, and they had to be reasonably explainable.
After some thought, she figured the old furniture she hadn't been using might be the best bet. She opened the door to the second bedroom and started there. First, she disassembled the unused bed and propped it against a corner. Then she piled up the shoe cabinet, wardrobe, bookshelf, utility cabinet, and storage units she didn't need anymore. This was the advantage of free-standing furniture. If it had all been built-in, she wouldn't even know how to take it apart on her own.
These took up about two-thirds of the room. Next, she filled a large bag with glass jars and bottles she'd used in the past but had no use for now.
Then came the jewelry. She had quite a lot of gold, but she wasn't planning to exchange it all. If she suddenly traded too much, it might raise suspicion. Just a small amount would be enough to get a sense of the pricing. She used some old pieces for this, avoiding anything she had stored in her space.
She also gathered up the clothes and shoes that Ren Siqiao couldn't wear anymore. Even though they were secondhand, the value was still surprisingly high.
And that... was already quite a bit.
Better to trade this batch first. If she brought out too much at once, it might look suspicious.
===
The original text write "SF证" (SF zhèng). And I think it was shorthand for "身份证" (shēnfènzhèng), meaning Chinese Resident Identity Card (中国居民身份证, Zhōngguó jūmín shēnfènzhèng) or National ID Card.