Holding a Chinese passport and having already obtained permanent residency, I still keep a Chinese stomach in order to come and go as I please. My passport expires in early March, so I need to renew it. I found the address and phone number of the Chinese Embassy in Berlin, Germany online. Their phone is indeed hard to get through. For two weeks, I called the embassy's consultation number (Tuesday and Thursday 15:00-17:00), but the line was always busy or no one answered when it connected; out of options, I called the embassy office, where a Chinese lady (very busy on the phone) quickly asked about my residence location and informed me that I could directly go to the Berlin window to fill out forms for processing, Monday to Friday 9:00-12:00 (without needing an "appointment," the tone softened). The next step was selecting a date to go, but my husband's work schedule was full, so we finally decided to take care of this on Friday. The older children were left with my in-laws, and on Thursday, my husband finished work early. In the afternoon, we set off for Berlin with the little one. We originally planned to explore the embassy route upon arriving in Berlin and then stroll around to enjoy the night views. However, by nearly ten o'clock at the hotel, we gradually felt tired, plus the cold wind outside, so we lazily lay down and watched TV until we slept soundly until morning. Friday was the key! When we went to the embassy window, most people waiting in line were Germans, and saw two ladies handling group China tour visas and individual visas. At the time, there was no one at the "passport processing" window, and I was just about to ask the young lady at window number two. She looked up and saw me, and rather than leaving the "blond-haired blue-eyed" people outside, she gently handed over the form and let me wait a moment while someone would be there to handle it. I thanked her and gave her a satisfied smile. At this moment, the first German man in the queue already showed signs of dissatisfaction, and I expressed my apology (actually feeling greatly satisfied and proud to receive such respect from fellow countrymen). Next, a gentle sister with a Beijing accent came to handle the matter. I handed over the form, original passport, and photos. She took a look at the small town district code and formally stated: You don't belong to this district, Bünde belongs to North Rhine-Westphalia, you need to go to Frankfurt for processing, it's still in time if you go now, intending to return the materials. Her words hit me and my husband like a thunderclap, which was completely unexpected (we thought the government didn't differentiate by region, and coming to the capital would suffice): I had specifically consulted the embassy lady beforehand, and she said Herford could be processed in Berlin (possibly mistaking it for Erford, which belongs to the eastern area), and the consultation call was never connected, though anxious, I must argue based on facts and reason and present the prepared embassy information. After verifying, she admitted: Sorry, I can't help you, check if there's any information about the Chinese Embassy in Frankfurt on the paper. We found the short number and address on the last column of the two pages, which had been overlooked. Now, I only hoped this elder sister would make an exception. I looked troubled: It's really not easy to come here, my husband specially took a day off for this, we can't lose our jobs over this, right? Is the Chinese Embassy in Cologne still there? My husband helped interject (for us, going there would be much more convenient). No, it has moved to Frankfurt, she glanced at the stroller beside us (seemingly indicating some relief): Is this your child? Did you really come especially to Berlin? She repeatedly questioned to confirm. Yes, the other two are with my mother-in-law, I glanced at my husband while answering the elder sister's question. In this case, she paused for thought, and then entered the inner room after consulting her superior (full of expectation, this matter is likely to be resolved). Soon, the elder sister came out, smiling and informed: Considering your difficulties, today we will exceptionally process it for you, but you cannot come here next time, and made a pretend angry face. The clenched fists loosened, the stone in my heart fell, excitement! Joy! "Thank you, thank you" was repeatedly said, "I never want to see my face again," humorously joked. "You can't say that," the elder sister responded with a smile, then buried herself in processing and filling out forms. Due to applying for mailing, I paid and went to the restroom, and when I returned, the elder sister talked to me, asking if I had participated in any activities? I honestly replied, being busy with three children, and casually chatted about family matters, she listened quietly, the atmosphere relaxed. Finally, she asked me to write: Have not participated in any organizations, date, signature. Feeling somewhat disheartened, I asked what the relevance was? She just smiled without explanation. Unable to understand whether it was official or personal, I remained puzzled and awaited enlightenment from fellow townspeople upon returning home. This is not a public service advertisement - Smoking is very harmful to health, I advise you to extinguish the cigarette in your hand and quit it! If you insist on ignoring advice and are located in North America...