Chapter 611

Ye Yaodong took the children and rode a bicycle, while the photo studio owner rode his own bicycle separately, carrying his equipment and following behind.

It was only a little past 10:00 AM when they arrived at the village; smoke was already rising from some chimneys, while most of the men were still sitting at their doorways, sunning themselves and playing cards.

When Ye Yaodong rode toward the main road, he took the opportunity to pause where people were gathered and had his son behind him shout out.

"Someone is here to take photos, someone is here to take photos."

Since he had promised to help promote them, he certainly had to follow through.

The fellow villagers all looked over with curiosity and repeated the phrase, "Someone is here to take photos?"

Ye Yaodong said, "Someone is here to take photos. We're going to take them at my house first. Any fellow villagers who want photos, go to my house later and invite this elder brother."

The villagers began to whisper and discuss it among themselves.

Ye Yaodong didn't pay them any mind; after shouting and making the arrangements, he rode his bike with the others toward his home.

The photographer also hurriedly followed on his bike.

The house was full of children who had long known that Ye Yaodong had gone to town to invite someone to take photos. When they saw him riding back from afar, they all excitedly ran to greet him.

"Third Uncle is back!"

"Third Uncle is back!"

"Third Uncle, can we take photos too?"

The group of children were so noisy their faces were flushed red, and they all looked up at him with bright, shining eyes.

Ye Yaodong smiled and said, "Go back and tell your mothers to change you into beautiful, clean new clothes. Later, our whole family will take a family portrait—everyone together. It's on me. If you want prints, we'll just get a couple extra made."

Since it was a rare chance to take photos, they certainly had to wear their best clothes.

"Yay~"

"That's great~"

"That's great, we get to take photos together too~"

"Mom~ Third Uncle said we can take photos together~"

"Dad~ Mom~ We're going to take photos..."

The group of children scattered like birds and beasts, hurriedly running home to tell their mothers to change them into new clothes.

Lin Xiuqing came out of the house with a smile, her hands still wiping on her apron. "Back so soon? I thought you wouldn't be able to bring him back until after mealtime."

Hmm... he had been the one urging and coaxing him back.

"Come early, finish early. Who knows, the neighbors might want to take photos too. If he comes early, he might be able to pick up a few more jobs, and it won't be a wasted trip from so far away."

"That's true. No one has ever come to our village to take photos before. With the New Year approaching, I reckon the villagers will be willing to spend money on one or two."

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Leave the food for now, we'll cook later. You go change your clothes first, wear something nice, and dress the children up nicely too. Get dressed up and look spirited so the photos will turn out well."

"Alright, alright~"

Lin Xiuqing also happily led the children back into the house to change.

They already had a few photos at home, but they didn't have a large group portrait. Furthermore, there was a new member of the family this year, so they definitely had to include Ye Xiaoxi.

Ye Dasao and Ye Ersao also walked out of their rooms to ask questions and inquire about the price.

Upon hearing that one photo plus an extra print would cost one yuan, both of them hesitated a bit. It was Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua who directly made the call, saying they wanted to take them too.

"We've never taken photos before; spending a few yuan is nothing."

"It's the New Year, taking a couple of photos will make the whole family happy and leave a memento. Our whole family hasn't taken one yet."

Ye Yaodong nodded with a smile, "That's the logic. Take them now, and when you're old, you can take them out and look at them. Otherwise, when you're old, you won't even remember what you looked like when you were young. Anyway, it's not like everyone takes a photo every few years, so what's a few yuan?"

Ye Dasao and Ye Ersao felt it made sense once they heard that, so they steeled their hearts and decided to take a few photos for their own families as well.

The two sisters-in-law hurriedly took their children back to their rooms to change into clean, beautiful new clothes.

Ye Yaodong took the opportunity to have his eldest brother ride his bicycle to call their father and mother over for a big family group portrait; naturally, they couldn't be left out.

As for why he wasn't going...

He was tired from the round trip to town, so it was only natural for him to take a break. Besides, he had to change his clothes, since his family was going to take theirs first.

The children of the neighbors next door heard they were taking photos and also ran home, clamoring to take photos too.

As a result, while waiting, the neighbors on both sides also made appointments to take photos later.

This delighted the photographer; he had just arrived and already picked up several jobs.

Ye Yaodong raised an eyebrow, "See? I wasn't wrong, was I? I told you to come early. Remember to give me a discount later and make it a bit cheaper."

"Alright, alright, alright~"

They were still taking black-and-white photos; there were no color photos yet. If you wanted color, it had to be hand-colored, which was a technical skill.

Hand-coloring a single color photo cost over ten yuan, which was equivalent to one-third of an average worker's monthly salary.

Thinking that his parents wouldn't be over so quickly, Ye Yaodong and his family of five decided to take theirs first after changing clothes.

After they finished, they had a separate individual photo taken of the old lady.

The old lady was originally reluctant, feeling that she had just taken a photo a few months ago and it would be a waste to take another.

However, thinking that she had just put on the red-flowered cotton-padded jacket Lin Xiuqing had made for her last year, and had the red scarf Ye Yaodong had bought her for the Mid-Autumn Festival tied around her neck...

She felt she looked exceptionally spirited and beautiful today, so she half-reluctantly stood in front of the bicycle and took one.

"Dad, now that Grandma is done, is it our turn? Can we take an individual photo too?"

Ye Chenghu felt it wasn't quite enough; he had only taken one just now. He had specially tied on his red scarf today and felt wonderful inside, in high spirits, and wanted to take another photo to leave behind a record of his dashing appearance.

"That's fine. Then the three of you siblings can take one together. One for each person would be too extravagant."

"Alright, alright, alright~"

As long as he could take photos, he didn't mind at all taking a group photo with the others.

The three siblings stood from tallest to shortest. Ye Xiaoxi could only stand in the baby walker, looking ahead with a cute, dazed expression, wearing a pink hat on her head, looking incredibly adorable and soft.

The couple also took a photo together, standing right at their doorway; it felt quite meaningful.

After they finished, Ye Yaodong urged Lin Xiuqing to take an individual one as well.

Lin Xiuqing smiled and said, "We've already taken enough. There's no need for me to take another individual one. It's quite expensive; one photo costs a yuan..."

"It's fine, we can afford it. What woman doesn't love taking photos? We've already taken one at the door, why not go inside? You can sit in front of your sewing machine and take another."

People at this time chose rather monotonous backgrounds for photos, either standing next to home appliances like televisions or tape recorders, or leaning on a bicycle or holding a bunch of fake flowers.

After all, these appliances were big-ticket items in the home, so it was only right to have them appear in the shot.

When they took their photos just now, the bicycle had made an appearance; now it was the sewing machine's turn!

This was important evidence of their family's standard of living in the 80s. Of course, it had to be in the photo; otherwise, how would their descendants know how successful he was decades later?

Wait! He forgot to have the radio appear in the shot just now!

It doesn't matter. When they take the big group portrait later, he'll let the old lady sit down. Then he'll put a stool next to her and place the radio on the stool!

Perfect!

Ye Yaodong happily pushed Lin Xiuqing toward the house, and the children also ran into the house, making a ruckus.

It was full of laughter and joy; the family looked harmonious, and the neighbors next door were all very envious. They couldn't even be bothered to eat and followed them in to watch, looking forward to when it would be their turn.

Ye Fu and Ye Mu also changed into new clothes and arrived happily, albeit a bit late.

Ye Mu watched Lin Xiuqing sitting in front of the sewing machine, smiling with a gentle expression, and felt an itch to do the same. After Lin Xiuqing finished, she took the initiative to ask to sit in front of the sewing machine for a photo.

The whole family watched happily, and even Ye Dasao and Ye Ersao were very tempted, but unfortunately, they didn't have a sewing machine at home.

Borrowing a sister-in-law's sewing machine to take a photo always felt a bit awkward, after all, it wasn't their own, and they were also a bit reluctant to spend that one yuan to take an individual photo of themselves.

After Ye Mu finished and came out, they prepared to take a big group portrait at the door.

Since Ye Yaodong was paying for this group portrait, the location was naturally chosen to be at their courtyard gate!

"Ah ah~ It's finally our turn!"

"It's finally our turn to take photos~"

"I want to stand here~"

"Then I want to stand here~"

"Ah~ don't block me..."

"I want to sit on the bicycle..."

"Ah? I want to sit on the bicycle too..."

It was finally the group of children's turn to take the stage. They were extremely excited, crowding and clamoring, trying to find their own spots.

As a result, they stood blindly, one here and one there, and two even climbed onto the bicycle, leaving people speechless...

In the end, the photographer had to arrange where they stood, forcing them to reluctantly give up their personal preferences and follow instructions.

Ye Yaodong also specially took out the radio and placed it on a stool, letting the old lady sit in a chair and placing it right next to her. Anyway, there was nothing else to decorate with, and the radio was the only thing in the house that hadn't made an appearance!

The photographer also thought his arrangement was great.

"Everyone stand still! Stand neatly..."

"Wait... wait... there's still Da Heizi, and my dogs..." Ye Chenghu suddenly jumped up, "Dad... Da Heizi and the others have to be in the photo too!"

Everyone instantly had black lines on their foreheads!

Lin Xiuqing glared at Ye Chenghu, "What does our adult photo have to do with those dogs? Don't mess around, hurry up and stand still for me. There are still so many people waiting to take photos."

"But they are also part of our family, you can't forget them! I want Da Heizi and the others to be in the photo too!"

The group of dogs seemed to know they were talking about them; they excitedly wagged their tails and walked forward, rubbing against their legs.

"Do you want to drive the chickens and ducks over to be in the photo too?" Lin Xiuqing said crossly.

"Ah? Do the chickens and ducks have to be in the photo too?"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Lin Xiuqing scolded her eldest son, "Don't mess around!"

Ye Yaodong also felt his eldest son made sense. These dogs were quite clever and cute, and having raised them for so long, they were certainly part of their family.

"Then let's just include them in the photo. Anyway, whether it's a person or a dog, it's all one photo..."

Lin Xiuqing had black lines on her forehead. Whether it's a person or a dog—is that how you use that phrase?

Ye Chenghu was instantly happy and hurriedly directed the group of dogs to squat in front of him.

"You have to smile too, you know?"

"Click!"

The photographer thought the scene of Ye Chenghu directing the puppies like that was quite interesting, so he took a snapshot of it, treating it as a freebie for them.

Then he had them all stand straight and took a proper big group portrait.

In the picture, a few puppies appeared in front of the children. Unlike the stiff, formal photos, it felt quite loving.

"Quite good, your family is quite lively."