Chapter 54

"I want to take it with Da Huang under the big banyan tree, is that okay?" Yuanbao asked politely with a bright smile on his face.

"Sure," Lin Zhao's eyes were gentle.

The group walked to the big banyan tree.

Yuanbao smoothed out his patched clothes, called Da Huang, and stood under the tree.

It was the little kid's first time taking a photo, so he was inevitably at a loss, not knowing where to look, his whole body exuding awkwardness and nervousness.

"Don't be nervous, look here, it will be done in a moment," Lin Zhao said with a smile.

Yuanbao still smiled awkwardly, his facial features each having their own ideas.

Lin Zhao gave instructions, "You can pet Da Huang and play with Da Huang."

She wasn't in a hurry, waiting slowly for the little kid to relax.

The photographer was neither picky nor impatient; Yuanbao gradually became less nervous and, following Auntie Lin's suggestion, began to interact with Da Huang.

Seeing a natural, innocent smile bloom on the child's face, Lin Zhao called out, "Yuanbao, look here."

He looked over, the smile still on the corners of his mouth.

A click sound.

"Done."

Yuanbao ran over and thanked Lin Zhao, "Thank you, Auntie Lin."

"You're welcome."

Hearing Hearing Erzai hugged Xiao Hu Po and looked up at Lin Zhao, "Mom, can I take a group photo with Xiao Hu Po and Yuanbao?"

"Sure, does Seeing Seeing Dazai want to?" Lin Zhao turned to ask Seeing Seeing Dazai.

"Yes."

Several little kids stood under the banyan tree.

Yuanbao stood in the middle, Hearing Hearing Erzai put his right arm on his shoulder and held Xiao Hu Po with his left arm, Seeing Seeing Dazai stood on the other side of Yuanbao, the corners of his mouth slightly curled, his eyes clear and spirited.

Lin Zhao liked the vibrant look of children, which makes people see hope.

She quickly pressed the shutter, recording the smiling faces of the children.

The commotion here was noticed by passersby, and they gathered around one after another.

"Chenghuai's wife, what are you doing?!" Wang Chunhua asked curiously.

Hearing Hearing Erzai raised his smiling face and said loudly, "My mom is taking photos for us."

"Taking photos?" Wang Chunhua's tone rose, very surprised, "Don't you have to go to the county town to take photos? Can you take them with just a black lump?"

"This isn't a black lump, this is a camera," Lin Zhao explained with a smile.

Wang Chunhua exclaimed, "A camera? Don't only photo studios have cameras? Can individuals buy them too?"

"Yes, as long as you have the money and coupons, anyone can buy one."

Wang Chunhua gasped.

So it really was bought; it must have cost several hundred, right?

Seeing Seeing Dazai's mother just bought a watch and a bicycle, and now a camera; this, Chenghuai's allowance must have been spent clean.

Looking at the clothes on the four cubs again, there wasn't even a patch; looking at them, they were quite stylish, she hadn't seen them wear them before, they must be new too.

Heavens, just how much did this cost!!

Hearing Hearing Erzai shook Lin Zhao's hand, his big eyes looking at her, "Mom, I still want to take a group photo with Grandpa, Grandma, and Tie Chui; can we go to the old house?"

"Sure," Lin Zhao, who was currently addicted to electronic products, said without hesitation.

She was now addicted to taking photos, wishing she could photograph everything, even wanting to photograph the pigs in the production team.

"Let's go, to the old house," Lin Zhao waved her arm, and the four cubs and two dogs moved forward at high speed.

The villagers saw the four cubs wearing new clothes again, and military green new clothes at that; regardless of whether they were adults or children, they were all envious.

The ignorant little monkeys hung on their parents and howled.

"I want the twins' clothes too, Mom, buy them for me; the twins have little green satchels and green military uniforms, I want them too, woooooo."

Where would his parents get the money and coupons for him? They were so angry they slapped his butt twice.

"I'll let you want! I'll let you want! Do you think money is blown in by a strong wind? You ignorant brat, hurry home!"

After a round of scolding, they grabbed their son by the ear and took him home.

Lin Zhao didn't know about this.

She brought the cubs to the Gu family.

Hearing Hearing Erzai rushed in first, with Da Huang following behind him.

"Grandpa! Grandma! Tie Chui!" Hearing Hearing Erzai shouted loudly, "Come out quickly, my mom is going to take photos for us."

Tie Chui was a good brother to Seeing Seeing Dazai and Hearing Hearing Erzai; no matter which of the twins called, he would appear immediately.

A little kid rushed out from the backyard.

"Hearing Hearing Erzai, what are you saying? What photos?"

Hearing Hearing Erzai knew the camera was expensive, so he never mentioned wanting to touch or hold it, just pointed with his hand, "What my mom is holding is a camera, it can help us take photos."

Tie Chui raised his head in a flash and looked at Lin Zhao.

Lin Zhao shook the camera in her hand, "Yes, I'll take them for you, I have new film, today anyone in our family who wants to take one can."

These words were shouted out by Hearing Hearing Erzai, and the Gu family heard every word.

Gu Mu was helped out by Gu Fu.

"Third daughter-in-law, you want to take photos for everyone?" she confirmed.

"Yes."

Getting the confirmation, Gu Mu patted Gu Fu's arm, "Let go, we're going to take photos, I have to change into clothes with the fewest patches. You hurry up too, don't delay, it'll be dark soon."

"Slow down," Gu Fu's helpless voice sounded.

The old couple went into the house, and people in the courtyard could still hear them bickering.

"I'm fine, that little injury healed long ago, stop talking nonsense and don't affect me. I haven't taken a photo with you in half a lifetime, and now that the daughter-in-law is finally willing to help, don't ruin it for me," Gu Mu complained unhappily.

Gu Fu was helpless, calling out that he was wronged, "I called you to go, but you couldn't bear to spend the money."

"It's not expensive? I heard it costs nearly a yuan to take one, this money could buy several meals of meat," Gu Mu felt taking photos was really burning money.

She directed the old man to start looking for clothes.

In this era, few people had clothes without patches; fabric could only be saved up a little bit each year, children took turns getting new clothes, and as for adults, it was patches upon patches.

The most decent clothes she found had two patches, but fortunately, they were on the elbows and weren't too obvious.

Gu Fu rarely took anything seriously, and found a gray short-sleeved shirt that his third son had discarded.

"Let's just go with this."

Everyone else in the Gu family also changed into their most decent clothes.

Seeing Seeing Dazai saw the big patch on Tie Chui's chest and took the initiative to say, "Tie Chui, when you take your photo alone, wear my clothes."

The clothes on the two cubs were something many children in the city would want, and naturally, no child in the village wouldn't want them; even if they just tried them on and possessed them for a moment, it would make them happy.

"Can I?" Tie Chui's dark face lit up.

Seeing Seeing Dazai nodded, "Yes, you can."

Tie Chui smiled, looking honest, "Thank you, Seeing Seeing Dazai."

"You're welcome, we are good brothers," Seeing Seeing Dazai said seriously.

Tie Chui and Seeing Seeing Dazai stood shoulder to shoulder, "When I bring back raspberries from my grandma's house, I'll give them all to you to eat."

"We'll eat them together," Seeing Seeing Dazai wasn't greedy; he liked sharing with his family.

"Okay."

Taking advantage of the fact that the light was still good, Lin Zhao began to take photos for the Gu family.

Each person took turns standing in the courtyard, with the yellow mud house behind them, corn cobs hanging from the eaves, a few clothes hanging on a clothesline on one side, and Da Huang and Xiao Hu Po curled up in a corner, just enough to be in the frame.

Solo photos.

Group photos.

Lin Zhao was busy and having a great time.

The old Gu family was full of joy, just like the New Year.

"Thank you, third sister-in-law," Huang Xiulan called out affectionately.

She pulled Gu Lan's hand, her face full of heartache, "This is A-Lan's first time taking a photo, I've long wanted to take her to take one, but unfortunately there was never an opportunity."

"The camera is at home, we'll take one every year from now on, so when the children grow up, they can see what they looked like when they were little," Lin Zhao smiled.

This was also her original intention.

"The camera…… was…… bought?" Gu Mu's face was full of astonishment.

Remembering that her third daughter-in-law didn't have a very good temper and would pull a long face at any time, especially not liking to hear others tell her what to do, she quickly changed her words: "It's good to buy it, the family can use it."

The words slipped out without passing through her brain, but her heart was bleeding.

Bicycle + watch + camera... this must be nearly five hundred!!

Gu Mu had a mind to persuade her a few words, but didn't know how to persuade her.

The words "split the family" that the old man kept on his lips all day suddenly rang in her ears.

Gu Mu suddenly calmed down.

……Whatever, forget it.

She couldn't control it anyway.

"Third daughter-in-law, tell me how much money is needed for the photos, you can't pay for it all yourself."

"Mom is right, I also want to let the sister-in-law develop a few more photos for Yu Yu, I have to pay," Zhao Liuniang followed up.

Huang Xiulan also nodded.

In front of the children, she had to set a good example and couldn't let them develop the bad habit of taking advantage of others.

Lin Zhao agreed with a "good".

Lai Mei walked to Zhao Liuniang's side, pinched Yu Yu's cheeks with mischievous hands, and asked her mother gloomily: "Do my brother and I only have one?"

Yu Yu pulled down her brother's hand, opened her mouth, and bit him, leaving a wet, shallow tooth mark.

"Bad brother."

Lai Mei said "yuck" in disgust, "Little dirty baby."

Yu Yu knew she was being disliked, kicked her brother in anger, lost her balance, and was about to fall, but was steadied by Zhao Liuniang.

"Gu Lai Mei!" Zhao Liuniang wanted to hit the child, raised her hand, "How old are you, how old is Yu Yu."

"Who is Gu Lai Mei! I changed my name unilaterally, I'm called Gu Ba Wang now!" Lai Mei said without fear of death, and took off running.

At this moment, a "click" sound.

The little boy was startled, his left foot tripped over his right foot, and he fell with a thud; he didn't care, turned his head to look in the direction the click came from, only to see his third aunt just putting away the camera.

His face turned bitter.

"Third Aunt." Lai Mei's expression was gloomy, "Why did you take a photo of me being beaten? How embarrassing will it be to see this later."

He climbed up, patted the dirt off his pants, and sighed.

"It looks good, so vivid," Lin Zhao put the camera into her bag, her tone firm, "When you grow up, you will definitely miss the time now, and this photo will also be your absolute favorite."

At the moment, Lai Mei was half-believing.

As for the future, time will give the answer.

Time passed five o'clock in the afternoon.

Lin Zhao called the four cubs, "Time to go home, aren't you hungry yet?"

"Hungry, hungry, starving, Mom, what are we eating today?" Hearing Hearing Erzai walked over, holding Third Cub's hand.

Seeing Seeing Dazai followed behind, holding his younger sister.

"Anything is fine, what do you want to eat?" Lin Zhao asked.

Hearing Hearing Erzai said, "I want to eat dough drop soup, preferably with meat."

Don't look at Fourth Cub being small, she also craved meat; hearing her second brother's words, she mimicked him, "Meat! Meat!"

Lin Zhao gave the bag containing the camera to Seeing Seeing Dazai, bent down to pick up her daughter, and said with a smile, "Fourth Cub is speaking clearly now, not missing words."

She coaxed softly, "Open your mouth, let Mom see if the teeth have sprouted."

Fourth Cub opened her mouth wide, revealing her tender gums, with a few new teeth sprouted.

As soon as the little milk baby opened her mouth, she started drooling.

Lin Zhao hurriedly wiped it for her, "Growing really fast."

Fourth Cub pressed her soft, cottony little face against her neck, rubbed it, and smiled milkily.

"Then we'll make dough drop soup," Lin Zhao agreed.

She turned to Gu Fu and Gu Mu and said, "Dad, Mom, I'm off tomorrow, let's talk about building the house."

Gu Fu nodded, "It's time to get ready."

After confirming this, Lin Zhao took the four cubs home, with the two dogs following behind like guardian gods.

Not five minutes after arriving home, the brigade leader brought his grandson Ye Tie Niu to the door.

"Brigade leader Grandpa, Ye Tie Niu?!" Hearing Hearing Erzai was very surprised by their arrival.

Hearing the sound, Lin Zhao walked out of the kitchen, looking at the brigade leader with a puzzled gaze.

Not waiting for her to ask, the brigade leader first rubbed his hands nervously, then pushed Ye Tie Niu forward.

"Hearing Hearing Erzai's mom, I heard you bought a camera, I want to ask you to take a photo for Ye Tie Niu too. He's grown this big and has never taken a photo. Don't worry, I'll pay. How much it costs to take a photo in the county town, I'll pay that much."

"Just this? Sure," Lin Zhao agreed with a smile.

Changing the subject, "I have to cook, let's do it tomorrow."

"Good, good, good, then Ye Tie Niu will come again tomorrow morning." The brigade leader felt Seeing Seeing Dazai's mother was quite easy to talk to, and left with his grandson, laughing.

Watching the grandfather and grandson leave, Lin Zhao returned to the kitchen to cook.

Her dough drop soup was different from other families'; just the ingredients alone were quite a lot: tomatoes, potatoes, spinach, and even eggs and diced meat.

Plus the family's seasonings were complete, and before it was even ready, the smell had already spread to the courtyard.

Even the calm Seeing Seeing Dazai couldn't help it, hooking his arms on the window and standing on tiptoe to look into the kitchen.

Beside him, Da Huang was squatting there, ears pricked up, drooling, while Xiao Hu Po was pushing the door with its paws; when it couldn't push it open, it scratched, making the door panel creak.

"It's the smell of dough drop soup, and meat," Hearing Hearing Erzai twitched his nose, "Mom's smells better than Grandma's."

When Lin Zhao wasn't looking after the children, Seeing Seeing Dazai and Hearing Hearing Erzai ate at the old house; the food at the old house lacked oil and water, but this dough drop soup had dough, vegetables, and scrambled eggs, and it was fragrant enough to keep them from being hungry.

Lin Zhao shook her head helplessly, "If your grandma heard you say that, she'd be sad."

Hearing Hearing Erzai laughed very loudly, with an expression of being incredibly smart.

"I'm not stupid, of course I wouldn't say that in front of my grandma, how could anyone smash their own rice bowl."

"Little Comrade Hearing Hearing Erzai is really sharp," Lin Zhao praised him according to the little kid's wishes, heard the scratching sound on the door, guessed that Xiao Hu Po and the twins were scratching the door, and said with a smile, "Can I ask the smart Comrade Hearing Hearing Erzai to take the younger brother and sister and Xiao Hu Po away? I'm bringing the food out."

Children love being treated like adults; Hearing Hearing Erzai puffed out his chest, like a spirited little soldier.

"Okay!"

He first picked up Xiao Hu Po and pulled the twins away from the kitchen door.

The family of five sat at the dining table; Hearing Hearing Erzai took the first bite of dough drop and exclaimed, "Delicious!"

He held the spoon in his hand, waved his arm in front of him, "I solemnly announce that the dough drop soup Mom makes is the best in the entire brigade."

Seeing Seeing Dazai lowered his eyes, blew on the dough drop on his spoon, and ate it; his body warmed up, feeling very comfortable.

"……The best in the entire commune," he corrected his brother's words.

Hearing Hearing Erzai nodded in agreement, "Right, the best in the entire commune, the best in the entire county, it's all the best."

After saying this, he buried his head and ate.

The twins clumsily ate by themselves with spoons, getting it all over their faces; Lin Zhao put bibs on the little brother and sister, letting the little milk babies be happy.

A certain military unit.

The day before Gu Chenghuai was to return home to visit his relatives, he received a package sent from his hometown.

It was Sun Yeli who helped bring it to the dormitory.

As soon as he entered the door, he shook the package in his hand and said unceremoniously, "Chenghuai, there's a package for you, I picked it up for you on the way, don't thank me, if it's food, share two bites with me."

Gu Chenghuai rarely received packages sent from home; he was startled at first, then his dark, ink-like eyes were filled with warmth.

"Thanks."