Chapter 408: Uncontrollable Pose

Today, it's a rare chance to climb the Great Wall and relax; everyone is quite happy, and Lu Cheng doesn't want to be a spoilsport, so after nodding in agreement to take photos, Yang Yin's eyes curved into crescents.

Immediately, they start looking around for a spot with a slightly better background.

They find a spot, make a rectangular frame with both hands to compare, feel dissatisfied, and move to another spot.

Zheng Guoping holds the camera and becomes a bit impatient.

"Have you found a place yet? When you were taking photos with us earlier, we didn't see you searching for a background."

Yang Yin glared, "Why are you in such a hurry! The emperor isn't urgent, the eunuch is."

After being rebuked, Zheng Guoping has to patiently wait, and finally Yang Yin finds a high spot.

The Turret Opening behind them faces the setting sun; in the distance are rolling mountains covered with lush forests, the horizon ablaze with red, making a perfect backdrop.

Unfortunately, the result is a black‑and‑white photo, but Yang Yin remains enthusiastic, gesturing, checking which angle yields the best shot, trying to capture as much scenery as possible.

"Come, stand here, move a bit left… Oops, not a big step, no, no, you came too far, move left a bit more, again too far, step back just a little…"

Lu Cheng takes a breath; indeed, women of any era pursue an extreme perfection in photography.

The point is, in a man's eyes, there's essentially no difference.

"That's about right, it's just a photo; it looks the same wherever you take it."

"What do you know? Of course it's different; different scenery conveys different feelings. For example, taking a picture at a bathroom door—can that be the same?"

Lu Cheng nods, "Hmm, that's really damn reasonable."

"No swearing! Quickly stand properly, strike a pose, like me…"

Yang Yin, wearing a skirt, lifts one calf and forms a scissor pose with both hands.

Lu Cheng thinks, this pose is truly nationwide, and even in later generations, the scissor hand remains the best choice for photos.

Yang Yin looks cute in that pose, but if Lu Cheng copied it, wouldn't that be too effeminate.

"I won't do it; just take the photo like this, hurry, it's already getting dark."

Yang Yin glanced, "So unenthusiastic, then at least smile, show your teeth, that makes the photo look good."

Lu Cheng can't stand her commands, signals Zheng Guoping to shoot quickly; if he followed a woman's energy, they could photograph all day without stopping.

Even so, Lu Cheng is still dragged into taking three shots, and only then does Yang Yin, satisfied, take the camera.

Lu Cheng asks, "Can you speak now? What method have you come up with?"

"Hmm?" Yang Yin lifts her chin, thinks for a while, "I can't say yet; anyway, don't worry about it, my method will definitely work."

Lu Cheng is speechless; after waiting a while he still doesn't know the method.

"No, what's the method? Just say it directly, why are you being cryptic?"

Lu Cheng even suspects she never actually devised a method; perhaps she just wanted to hang out, so she pretended to have one.

"Oh dear, I'm not being cryptic; the beginning is always hard. I think this isn't a trivial matter, so we must be cautious, aim for a one‑time success, so my plan still needs further refinement."

Lu Cheng leans back, "You've been talking for ages, still haven't figured it out."

Yang Yin gestures, "Oh, it's not that… it's almost done, just a bit more polishing, we still have plenty of time, no rush. Oh, let's not talk work today, we should have fun; look how beautiful the scenery is here."

Lu Cheng nods, then points to the foot of the Great Wall, "I'm telling you, if you dare play me, you see? I'll throw you down there to feed the wolves."

Yang Yin pouts, simply moves away from the ruthless person, and busy herself taking photos of the distant scenery.

As a few stars light up in the indigo sky, the night deepens.

Lu Cheng suggests returning, but Yang Yin refuses, saying she wants to watch the stars.

Now only a handful of lone stars hang in the night sky; Yang Yin is waiting for a sky full of countless stars.

Fortunately the weather is fine; after about two or three hours, the stars multiply, like glowing gems studding the night sky.

In this era, and even more so in later generations, it will be hard to see a sky full of stars again.

"The whole sky is dotted with tiny stars, how beautiful."

The night is slightly chilly; Yang Yin spreads her arms and takes a deep breath, while everyone leans on the brick‑stone railing, gazing into the distance.

"How about we don't leave tonight; we can still watch the sunrise tomorrow."

Yang Yin spins around and suddenly suggests.

Lu Cheng doesn't agree; going back now would mean arriving at midnight, and he wonders if Professor Yang will complain—if they stay out all night, their families will surely worry.

When she hears Lu Cheng's refusal, Yang Yin is a bit puzzled: "Why are you different from the Lu San'er that Xiao Piqiu talks about? You used to stay out all night all the time."

Lu Cheng lies on the Turret Opening, looking at the mountains disappearing into darkness: "One day, you'll grow up too."

However, Lu Cheng hopes Yang Yin never grows up; this way is just fine.

But time inevitably pushes people to mature; in mid‑September 1978, National Day was fast approaching.

As the nation's political center, Capital City began preparations about a month earlier.

Every street and alley in the city is filled with people from the Street Office and workplace staff, carrying wooden ladders, hauling buckets of paste, painting big‑character posters, and writing propaganda slogans.

Between the utility poles on the main street, red crepe paper streamers are strung up.

The shop windows are polished clear; red wax paper is cut into large characters, such as "Liberate thought, seek truth from facts", "Practice is the sole test of truth", "Respect knowledge, respect talent", and so on.

In Hu Tong Li, children run wildly holding paper lanterns shaped like five‑pointed stars.

A mother sees this and, while knitting, shouts, "Run slower, watch your new polyester‑blend pants."

Every day on the main street, workers or student groups march, waving colorful flags and shouting propaganda slogans.

Although National Day hasn't arrived yet, the festive atmosphere is already intense.

As Student Union president, Lu Cheng also organized several university marching groups to take part in the National Day celebrations.

Lu Cheng knows that only in this era, surrounded by a group of innocent people, can one feel such a strong, passionate atmosphere.

So Lu Cheng cherishes these days, tries to forget his reincarnated identity as much as possible, and throws himself completely into it; only then can he experience the feeling of a pure era.

Moreover, 1978 is a pivotal turning point, a year of epoch‑making significance.

For example, that winter, Xiaogang Village was the first to implement the "household contract system", advocating the allocation of collective land to individual households.

Complete what belongs to the nation, set aside enough for the collective, and whatever remains is one's own.

I have to say, those ten‑some people were extremely bold.

It was they who lit the spark, thereby laying the foundation for the later official issuance of the household responsibility system documents.

And that year marked a new starting point of Reform and Opening Up, and the destinies of countless citizens would thus change.

Including the whole social landscape, there will be huge changes, such as Bell-bottom Pants, shoulder‑length hair, disco, which will soon sweep the nation.

The whole society seems to assume an uncontrollable posture, rapidly moving forward.