Chapter 49: Comfortable to the Point of No Discussion

Xu Yuexin, pen in hand with his Parker Gold Pen, wrote "swish swish swish" on the Manuscript Paper.

Preserve value and increase it, provided there is wealth to preserve and wealth to grow.

And typing is his main source of income at present.

The novel Xu Yuexin is writing today is titled "The Story of Old Man Xing and the Dog", which tells of the friendship and experiences between a man and his dog in a special era.

According to Xu Yuexin's plan, this novel will serve as a companion piece to The Horse Herder, published together in the same anthology.

Of course, since its word count is not much larger than that of The Horse Herder, he will need to write a few more stories of comparable length afterward to ensure the anthology's volume.

Wha—.

Wha—.

The room was silent, save for the sound of Xu Yuexin turning the Manuscript Paper after finishing each page.

Xu Yuexin blocked out the whole world, even himself; in his consciousness only the characters and story he was writing remained.

Line after line of blue‑black ink fell onto the pristine Manuscript Paper, narrating the story gently…

With his pen flowing like dragons and snakes, Xu Yuexin wrote over 2,000 characters in a single morning, filling exactly four pages of Manuscript Paper.

Using this day as a starting point, Xu Yuexin began typing continuously; under normal circumstances he can write 5,000 characters a day.

Including the day his parents from both families met, he ate lunch at Donglaishun in the morning, returned home at noon to continue writing, and by the eve of his wedding Xu Yuexin had already penned over 50,000 characters.

Another period of prolific creation!

"Write another twenty to thirty thousand characters, and we can publish the book."

A few days before the wedding, Xu Yuexin got up in the morning, wrote about a thousand characters, then set aside his Parker Gold Pen, brimming with excitement, he said.

A thick stack of Manuscript Paper had piled up on the desk, and the abundant fruit of his labor gave Xu Yuexin a strong sense of achievement.

After breakfast, Xu Yuexin returned to his bedroom and took a crisp, ironed shirt from the wardrobe.

Today is the day he and Chen Qiaoqiao have arranged to take their wedding photos.

After putting on the shirt, Xu Yuexin glanced at the mirror.

Not bad—handsome, perfect for the wedding photos.

Having checked the mirror, Xu Yuexin went downstairs and set off for the meeting place they had agreed upon: China Photo Studio.

China Photo Studio is located at the well‑mouth area of Wangfujing, a renowned old brand in Jingcheng that has photographed many important figures; its technique is top‑notch, and nowadays young men and women in Jing love to get married photos there.

After riding to Wangfujing, Xu Yuexin saw the streets teeming with people, livelier than in April or May, most of them youthful faces like his own.

More and more Educated Youth are returning to the city, making it increasingly bustling.

Xu Yuexin rode his bike weaving through the crowd, eventually realizing that pushing the bike was faster than riding, so he stepped off the bicycle and pushed it along slowly.

After walking forward for a while, the signboard of China Photo Studio came into Xu Yuexin's view.

At that moment, Chen Qiaoqiao was queuing at the entrance of the studio, occasionally glancing into the distance, hoping Xu Yuexin would arrive soon.

"I'm here."

Seeing Xu Yuexin, she waved ahead and said.

"I'm coming."

Xu Yuexin also saw Chen Qiaoqiao and shouted back to her.

After pushing through the crowd, Xu Yuexin parked his bicycle in front of the studio and walked over to her.

Chen Qiaoqiao today wore a sky‑blue silk dress that both highlighted her graceful figure and gave her a fresh, delicate aura.

"There are still dozens of people ahead; we'll probably be able to shoot around noon."

Chen Qiaoqiao pointed toward the interior and said.

The line in front of them stretched all the way to the studio's photography room, and most of the people in the middle were young couples like them taking wedding photos.

Xu Yuexin roughly counted the people in line, glanced at the price list at the entrance, and instantly formed an idea.

"This is the line for black‑and‑white photos, right?"

"Yes, what's up?"

"You only get one life; let's take a color one."

After speaking, Xu Yuexin took Chen Qiaoqiao's hand to the counter and said, "Comrade, color wedding photos." The clerk replied, "Color photos, two yuan."

The sales clerk replied, "That lady just paid twenty cents earlier."

Xu Yuexin took an eight‑jiao coin from his pocket, placed it on the table, and the clerk immediately led them to another photography room.

This photography room is dedicated to color photos; there was no line at the door, so they could shoot as soon as they arrived.

Black‑and‑white photos cost twenty cents, color photos two yuan; Xu Yuexin thought the money was well spent.

Spending one yuan eight jiao saved an entire morning, and most importantly allowed a more detailed record of this pivotal moment in life.

"Attention, please don't move, both of you…"

Click…

Inside the studio, as the shutter clicked, Xu Yuexin and Chen Qiaoqiao's happiness and smiles were captured in that instant.

"It's still my first time taking a color photo."

After the shoot, Chen Qiaoqiao cheerfully said while waiting for the prints, "I wonder what the photos will look like?"

"Don't worry, they'll definitely look better than black‑and‑white."

Xu Yuexin put his arm around her shoulders and said, "It'll showcase your beauty even better."

"Your mouth is really sweet."

Being praised like that by Xu Yuexin outside made Chen Qiaoqiao blush and smile shyly.

…

A few days later, Xu Yuexin and Chen Qiaoqiao went to China Photo Studio to collect the developed photographs.

In the photos, Xu Yuexin appears sunny and handsome with sharply defined features, while Chen Qiaoqiao looks gentle and beautiful with fair, tender skin; side by side they look like a match made in heaven.

"So beautiful."

In the photo studio, Qiao Qiao stared at the picture absent‑mindedly, saying, "The colored one is different."

"That's not."

Xu Yuexin said, waiting until she had looked enough, then put the photo away, "Let's go buy two more outfits."

"The wedding clothes are already bought."

Qiao Qiao reminded.

"Buy ones to wear after the wedding."

"It's not like after the wedding you stop wearing new clothes."

After Xu Yuexin finished speaking, he led Qiao Qiao to a State-owned Ready-to-wear Shop, picking out a light‑blue cheongsam for her.

Based on past experience, Xu Yuexin knew that beneath Qiao Qiao's pretty face lay a well‑developed figure.

If she wore the cheongsam again…

Hmm, definitely comfortable beyond description.

Qiao Qiao looked at the cheongsam, her face flushing, "It's so tight, how can I wear it out."

"Wear it at home for me alone to see, and you'll look beautiful in it."

Xu Yuexin encouraged, called the clerk over to take down the cheongsam, bought it, and hurried back home with her.

There was no one else in the Xu Family, so Xu Yuexin handed the cheongsam to Qiao Qiao, "Try it on and see the size."

"Alright…"

Qiao Qiao shyly and obediently took the cheongsam from her hand and went into the bedroom to change.

After a while, Qiao Qiao emerged from the bedroom in the cheongsam, too shy to meet Xu Yuexin's eyes, "Does the size fit?"

From the moment Qiao Qiao stepped out of the bedroom, Xu Yuexin's gaze could not leave her.

The finely crafted satin clung to her perfect curves, with a slim waist, long legs, and a lofty bearing.

When Xu Yuexin thought of tomorrow night being his and her wedding night, he couldn't help but feel excited.

(End of chapter)