Chapter 167 (Updated 1671)

After a short rest, Luo Hong noticed that there were a few more fallen leaves and flowers in the yard he had just swept.

He picked up a broom and complained, "This tree was given to us by Zhou Weifang, why isn't he sweeping it?"

The tree is a pomegranate tree that was transplanted the year we moved. Two trees were planted symmetrically. It has not yet borne fruit, but it blooms profusely every year, and it is currently the season for it.

He was unhappy, but Liu Yinfeng was quite happy: "Look how beautifully these flowers are blooming, it's such a good omen."

He glanced sideways at his son after speaking.

What else could a pomegranate symbolize? Many children, many blessings, of course.

Luo Hong remained silent and continued sweeping, huffing and puffing.

Luo Yan watched from the side, chuckling to herself, thoroughly gloating, while wiping the windowpane.

When Luo Xinmin got home after his shift, he was greeted by a completely transformed scene: "I must have done so much work today."

Luo Hong slumped on the sofa: "Your son is about to pass away."

You brat, you can't keep your mouth shut.

Liu Yinfeng kicked him: "I'll sew it up for you sooner or later."

Luo Yan stepped over her brother's leg, which was blocking the way, and walked towards the kitchen, saying, "Mom, why don't you skip cooking tonight? I'll go buy something to eat."

"Where do we need her?" Luo Xinmin said. "Okay, you three can rest. I'll go."

He went out carrying a basket, taking Huang Laishun, who loved to join in the fun, with him.

Luo Yangguang could tell from the puppy's appearance that it had definitely stolen some food. He pinched its mouth and asked, "What delicious food did you eat?"

Huang Laishun wagged his tail back and forth, and his face even showed a hint of smugness.

Luo Yan patted its head: "Go play."

Huang Laishun thrashed around the yard, and dust followed the wind into the house.

Luo Honggang picked up his chopsticks and yelled, "I just mopped the floor, so you better behave yourself."

Huang Laishun treated every word as entertainment, and danced even more joyfully.

Luo Hong took a deep breath: "Fine, I really can't talk to you, you dog."

As soon as he finished speaking, Huang Laishun suddenly adopted a wary stance, his eyes fixed on the courtyard gate.

At a glance, it was clear that someone was outside the door.

Luo Hong called out loudly, "Who is it?"

Someone outside called out, "Is Radish there?"

Luo Hong recognized the voice and told his family, "It's Jianjun."

He took two steps out to greet them, saying, "Just push it in."

It was indeed Li Jianjun who arrived. He stood at the gate of the courtyard, greeted the people in the living room, whispered a few words to his childhood friend, and then left.

Luo Hong closed the door again and returned to the dining table to explain, "Hongyu's household registration has been processed."

Even though most things in Beijing no longer require ration coupons, there is still a significant gap between urban and rural household registration. It is truly remarkable that someone like Li Hongyu was able to obtain household registration, and Luo Yan was genuinely happy for the child: "Then she can attend primary school in the city."

For her, nothing is more important than going to school.

Liu Yinfeng was more concerned about something else: "So, can they get their marriage certificate now?"

Li Jianjun returned to the city after his divorce. Due to various reasons, Zheng Sanmei also came to Beijing and they never got married. Even though they had a good relationship, it didn't really matter.

Luo Hong: "Hey, I said we'd all have a meal together in a couple of days, Yan Yan, you should come too."

Luo Yan's favorite thing to do is go out for a meal. She asked, "Which day?"

Luo Hong: "Sunday."

Tomorrow is Monday, so there are still several days to go.

Luo Yan focused on the task at hand, ate her meal, washed up, and went to bed early so she could get up early in the morning.

Graduation ceremonies are important events, but they're not actually that exciting because they involve long speeches from leaders.

The June sun was blazing, so Luo Yan shielded her eyes with her hand and chatted with Ji Ning, who was standing in front of her, to pass the time.

The two talked until their throats were dry before the event ended, and the students went to the office to collect their graduation certificates.

Luo Yan spent the entire morning preparing this, and when she received it, she looked at it from all angles: "It's so easy."

"Yes, that's right," Ji Ning leaned over to look at her. "Your photo is beautiful. Mine looks like I took a stupid picture."

Nonsense, Luo Yan: "I've never seen a stupid college student."

Ji Ning smiled and suddenly reached out her hand: "Give me a hug, Luo Yan. This may be the last time we see each other in this life."

The allocation results will be released tomorrow. After that, everyone will go their separate ways, scattered across the country. Unless they are very close friends, how much news can we expect to hear from each other?

Luo Yan was a sentimental person, and sniffed, "I still need to eat lunch."

Lunch was a farewell meal for the second shift of the transportation management team. The team leader made an exception and allowed everyone to order alcohol. Many people who usually looked down on those who never drank alcohol ended up drinking.

Luo Yan was self-aware and continued to raise her drink and clink glasses with everyone. After clinking glasses for a while, she became one of the few people who didn't get drunk.

So the class monitor had no choice but to entrust her with an important task: "Could you take xx back home? She lives in xxx."

He could actually remember the detailed addresses of each classmate's home, which Luo Yan found incredible. After agreeing, she helped the female classmate onto the bus.

The female classmate was usually quiet and reserved. When she drank too much, she didn't say a word. However, she would feel like vomiting whenever the bus driver stepped on the brakes, which scared Luo Yan so much that she kept her eyes wide open and on high alert.

Fortunately, the person lived not far from Jiaotong University, so I could at least give them directions.

Luo Yan safely delivered her home, stood at the gate of her house, shook her aching arms and breathed a sigh of relief. She hesitated between going straight home or riding her bicycle back to school, but then she glanced up and saw a phone booth by the roadside and decided to try her luck.

These days, finding someone isn't so easy.

Zhou Weifang has to manage several stores, so he's always either here or there.

Luo Yan could only make a rough guess, so he called the security office of the post office's residential compound first, because he had been busy with renovations there these past few days.

Zhou Weifang is indeed in the new house.

He heard someone downstairs calling for a phone call in apartment 202 but didn't pay much attention. After a while, he realized what was happening and leaned out the window: "Is it someone looking for someone surnamed Zhou?"

Security Office: "Yes, sir!"

How many people would know this phone number? Zhou Weifang guessed it was Luo Yan immediately. He hopped down three steps at a time, running towards the security room like a gust of wind—the post office had money, so they installed a phone here, charging the same rate as the phone booths on the street.

Since it was expensive anyway, Luo Yan didn't explain much. After the call was reconnected, she simply said, "I'm at a phone booth in xx alley. Are you busy? Do you have time to pick me up?"

Zhou Weifang: "I'll be there soon, wait for me."

He went upstairs to say a few words to the renovation worker, changed his dirty clothes, and then hurriedly went to pick up the person.

Luo Yan was no longer in a hurry.

This phone booth was also a small shop. She bought an ice pop and borrowed a small stool from someone, sitting in the shade to eat while waiting. In the end, she hadn't finished eating by the time the person arrived.

Zhou Weifang stopped in front of her: "What are you doing here? Weren't you going to have dinner with your classmates?"

Luo Yan: "I'm done eating. I'm going to take one of my female classmates who was drinking home."

It was late in the afternoon, and this wasn't some remote place.

Zhou Weifang wasn't worried about safety, but asked, "Are you sure you can lift it?"

Luo Yan threw the empty stick into the trash can next to her and said, "She can walk by herself, but you know our class monitor."

Everything was so thoughtful that I felt at ease only after having someone deliver it to me.

Zhou Weifang knew a little bit about it and said, "Shall I take you home?"

Luo Yan thought for a moment and said, "Let's go home. I have to go to school tomorrow anyway, so it's okay to leave the bicycle overnight."

Speaking of tomorrow, Zhou Weifang said, "I have a gift for you. Let's take a detour around the department store."

A gift? Luo Yan pondered what it could be on her way to the department store, but she never expected it to be a camera.

She said, "Didn't you say you were borrowing it?"

Zhou Weifang: "I originally wanted to borrow it, but Old Li's wife didn't look happy, so I thought I'd better not."

It's understandable that people wouldn't want such a valuable item.

Luo Yan: "Actually, it's fine not to take the picture; there's no need to buy one."

"That won't do," Zhou Weifang said. "I've already told you everything."

He added, "Ultimately, it's more reassuring to use your own things; you can take pictures however you want."

Luo Yan clicked her tongue: "But it costs a thousand."

Zhou Weifang asked her, "So, do you like it?"

Luo Yan's eyes sparkled: "Of course I like it."

Zhou Weifang pinched her cheek: "Then it's worth a million."

He had the sweetest tongue, Luo Yan said, holding up the camera, "But I don't know how to use it. Shall we find a place to test the machine?"

There's a park nearby, and there's a ticket window in the park where you can pay to take photos.

Zhou Weifang always carried cigarettes with him. He would strike up a conversation with people, and his master would teach them how to use them.

This thing isn't difficult to use, but Luo Yan was afraid of wasting film, so she held it up for a long time without pressing the button.

Zhou Weifang's face was so stiff from smiling that he was photographed opening his mouth wide to move his facial muscles.

He said, "Well, the first one is ruined."

Luo Yan: "This is the first time in my life that I've ever taken someone's photo."

Zhou Weifang was very eloquent: "That's too precious. I'll hang it up as soon as I get it washed."

Luo Yan handed him the camera: "Take a picture of me too, but only a good one."

That's easy, Zhou Weifang said: "When isn't our Yanyan beautiful?"

Luo Yan criticized this man, saying, "Straighten your tongue before you speak." He was being sticky and slurred, especially in broad daylight, with people all around.

With those wide eyes, she looks even more beautiful.

Zhou Weifang: "Don't move, just look at me like that."

Looking at him, Luo Yan felt inexplicably awkward. She clasped her hands together in front of her, standing very dignifiedly, with the corners of her mouth turned up.

After taking this photo, Zhou Weifang asked a passerby to take a group photo for them.

Luo Yan counted: "One roll can take 15 photos, the rest can be used tomorrow."

Zhou Weifang: "I've already bought the camera, so I don't need to worry about the cost of film."

Perhaps because she's about to be assigned a job, Luo Yan has become quite sensitive about money lately: "You're not short of money, but I am."

A roll costs 13 yuan, and developing the photos is another expense.

Zhou Weifang rarely showed her a cold face: "Yanyan, are you going to separate 'yours' from 'mine' with me?"

He never liked hearing this, and Luo Yan, knowing she was in the wrong, said, "If we're talking about splitting the camera, I wouldn't have wanted it in the first place."

Zhou Weifang: "Not just cameras, nothing is allowed to be divided."

"Okay, okay," Luo Yan coaxed him for a couple of minutes, then changed the subject: "But you were really mean just now."

Was he being fierce? Zhou Weifang apologized: "I'm sorry, I was too hasty. I just didn't want you to become distant from me, not even a little bit."

"Okay, okay," Luo Yan said, pushing him along. "Don't you have things to do tonight? Take me home, and I'll take a picture of Huang Laishun too. It hasn't been photographed yet."

Zhou Weifang also encouraged her: "Take pictures of everything, from the flowers and plants at home to the plants you want. Let's buy thirty or fifty rolls first."

Even photo studio owners don't usually display 30 to 50 rolls of film, so Luo Yan didn't think much of it. When she got home, she couldn't wait to show her mother her gift: "Zhou Weifang bought it."

How much money would this cost? A few months ago, Liu Yinfeng would have felt uneasy, but after the other party came to visit the day after tomorrow, the marriage was practically a done deal. So she simply said, "That's great. I'll take some photos with my classmates tomorrow too, because it won't be easy to see each other again in the future."

Luo Yan had bought three rolls of tape today, and thought she should at least take a picture of the whole family first, so she said, "Mom, don't move."

Liu Yinfeng was picking vegetables and waved her hand, saying, "What's there to photograph? Don't waste it."

"How could that be?" Luo Yan said to herself, "Please smile, I'm going to press it."

Liu Yinfeng quickly smiled at the camera, and only said after her daughter finished taking the picture: "You should wait for me to change into a nice outfit."

Luo Yan: "From now on, we can take photos at home without having to dress up as we used to. Let's take a few more tomorrow and send them to my mother-in-law as well."

That's good. Liu Yinfeng: "She asked in her last letter when you would graduate and when you would get married. I was thinking of having her come over."

Her family home is in northern Anhui, a thousand miles away from Beijing. She had invited them twice before, but it was really inconvenient for her to travel there. Her mother is also old, and she wouldn't refuse her granddaughter's wedding.

Luo Yan had only accompanied her mother back to her hometown once after the college entrance examination, which was four years ago.

She said, "If my uncles and aunts have time, please invite them over. Now the family can entertain them more easily."

In previous years, relying on government subsidies meant that any family that had guests would suffer significant financial losses.

But now that conditions are better, even if it's just to fulfill her mother's wish, this money should be spent.

Liu Yinfeng also wanted to.

She was nearly fifty years old, and even though she wasn't that old, every meeting with her blood relatives was one of the last. But with so many people, and the expenses for food, drink, and travel, she did the math in her mind: "We'll see when the time comes; we can't leave the fields unattended."

Luo Yan understood what her mother meant and would bring it up with her brother when he returned.

This money definitely needs to be spent, but the thought of his sister getting married fills Luo Hong with an indescribable excitement.

He said, "I'll take care of it when the time comes."

Luo Yan gave him a thumbs up and then remembered, "Stand over there, stand over there, I'll take a picture of you."

Luo Hong smoothed his hair: "No, you can take the picture when I stand next to the motorcycle."

He never forgets his motorcycle no matter what he does. Luo Yan said, "Why don't you just marry it?"

"Okay, you can call her sister-in-law from now on."

Luo Hong dared to answer anything, but as a result, his own mother hit him on the back with a slipper, and he had to help her pick it up.

Liu Yinfeng said irritably, "You'll be sleeping in the carport tonight."

Serves them right, they're always asking for trouble.

Luo Yan was still excited about the experience and enthusiastically instructed her brother, "Stand up straight."

She takes a long time to take a single photo, and Luo Hong can't see the finished product yet. He said, "I want to see what you took when it's developed."

If Luo Yan hadn't been holding a camera, she would have thrown it at him. She flicked her braid and said, "You just wait and see."

Luo Hong teases his sister three hundred times a day, following behind her: "Awaiting your masterpiece."

Listen to that tone! Luo Yan almost scratched him, but finally rolled her eyes and went back to her room to sleep.

She had a wonderful dream that night, and when she woke up, she shared it with her family: "I dreamt that gold was falling from the sky!"

When did this girl become so greedy?

But who doesn't like good omens? Liu Yinfeng said, "I'm sure I'll get a good job today."

Luo Yan, also full of anticipation, patted her brother's room door: "Hurry up!"

Luo Hong yawned: "You're being so rude to people who give you a ride."

What family? What family did they come from?

Luo Yan stared with innocent-looking eyes: "I don't recognize these two characters."

Luo Hong patted her on the shoulder and said, "Then return your graduation certificate to the school."

Seeing that his parents were about to leave, he asked, "What are you two doing here?"

Liu Yinfeng: "Your dad and I will take the bus there. You two take your time."

Luo Hong, naturally, didn't want to dawdle. After washing up and having a quick bite, he took his sister out.

They rode motorcycles, which made their journey much faster, but they still arrived at Jiaotong University around the same time as Zhou Weifang.

Luo Yan arranged for them both, pointing and saying, "From here to here, everyone belongs to our college. You look from the front, and you look from the back."

Before I even had a chance to search, a kind classmate tipped me off: "Luo Yan, you work for the Transportation Bureau."

Transportation Bureau? Luo Yan roughly knew what it did, and even more so, its location. She said, "It's on Fumen North Street, which is very close to home."

He breathed a sigh of relief as the apartment was closer to the one Zhou Weifang had prepared for their wedding: "This is good."

Luo Hong also thought it was a good idea. He turned around and saw that his parents had just arrived, so he quickly relayed the message to them.

The couple had no idea about the division of responsibilities among these organizations, and their first reaction was that it was better to be close to home, saying, "It wouldn't even take twenty minutes to ride a bike there."

The family of four, along with Zhou Weifang, excitedly took several photos at the school gate. Luo Yan also brought her graduation certificate, which she had received yesterday, and had her parents hold it up.

Liu Yinfeng: "It looks like a marriage certificate when it's being held up like this."

"They really do look alike," Luo Yan said, her eyes darting around. "Perfect, you and my dad can take a picture together."

They took a picture of this, and then they took a picture of that.

Liu Yinfeng: "How many rolls of film would you need to joke around like that?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Weifang opened his bag: "It's okay, Auntie, there's plenty more."

Luo Yan peeked out and said, "You're really planning to buy thirty or fifty volumes?"

Zhou Weifang: "I don't need to buy that much, your brother will buy it himself."

Luo Hong did have this idea, and he exclaimed, "You've assigned me to this!"

Tomorrow is the day he can come to visit, so Zhou Weifang couldn't afford to offend him at this crucial moment. He said, "No, no, you're in charge."

Luo Hong took the opportunity to say something sarcastic, and when he saw that it was about time, he said, "I'm taking my parents home."

They came simply to see the allocation results as soon as possible.

Zhou Weifang came for the same reason, said a few words, left a bag full of film, and left.

Only Luo Yan remained at school, having a meal with a few classmates and creating her last memories of campus life.

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The author says: Yan Yan is starting work. It's not a very strong career storyline; you can think of it as her daily life shifting from the campus to the workplace.

Trying to update two chapters