Chapter 195 Buying a Camera
Ever since she bought the camera, Li Xia has started taking photos.
Although she had never used a film camera before, she was able to use it after a little study.
The first photo Li Xia took after getting the camera was a photo of Gu Weicheng and An An, father and son.
The next day, I called a few more children over and wanted to take some photos of them as well.
"An'an, Ai Dang, Xiao Hao, Xiao Shan, change your poses." Li Xia directed the children who were posing not far away, "Don't be so reserved, act more naturally, and move more vigorously so that you can relax and look good."
Children these days don’t take photos very often and are a little reserved in front of the camera. Several children stood there as if they were frozen in place, their smiles were very stiff, and Xiaoshan was even picking her fingernails nervously.
Li Xia could only tease them more so that they could be more natural and relaxed.
With Li Xia's encouragement, everyone became more relaxed, and their movements became much more natural, not as stiff as at the beginning.
Especially Ma Aidang, who picked up a stick from somewhere and put it on his neck, put one hand on his forehead, raised one foot, and acted like Sun Wukong looking into the distance, saying, "Here comes Old Sun."
As a result, one of them didn't stand firmly and fell to the ground with a thud.
With a "click" sound, Li Xia took the picture.
An An also posed coolly with the small wooden gun his father made for him and took a solo photo. Jiang Xiaohao and Jiang Xiaoshan, brother and sister, took a group photo.
Ma Aiguo and Ma Aimin also came over to take photos, and Li Xia simply took a group photo of the three brothers.
Mrs. Tao said, "Xiao Li, please stop taking pictures of them. Film is expensive. It's such a waste to just take pictures of their children."
Taking photos is so expensive these days. Even for a military family like theirs, they don’t take photos very often throughout the year.
"It's okay. Weicheng bought me several rolls of film. Besides, isn't the purpose of buying a camera to take pictures? If you don't take pictures, wouldn't it be just a decoration? Sister-in-law, come here too. I'll take a picture of you too." Li Xia said, and pulled Sister Tao over.
Mrs. Tao initially refused to do so, saying it was a waste of film, but in the end she couldn't help herself and ran back to change into new clothes before taking a photo.
After the photo shoot, Mrs. Tao even gave money to Li Xia, saying it was for the photos.
How could Li Xia accept it? She quickly waved her hand and said, "Sister-in-law, you are being too polite. As the saying goes, a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. We have been neighbors for such a long time. It's not too much to say that we are half relatives. You also want to pay for taking two photos of the child. Aren't you embarrassing me?"
After much persuasion, Mrs. Tao refused to give money, but gave some other things.
Similarly, Zhao Xiulan knew that Li Xia took photos of Xiaohao and Xiaoshan, so she sent some eggs to Li Xia to express her gratitude.
The two men also told Li Xia to accept it: "The news that you bought the camera will definitely spread in a few days. There will definitely be people who want to take advantage of you and ask you to take pictures. They would rather you not accept the money."
The two of them have been in the army for much longer than Li Xia, and know more people than Li Xia.
There are some military families who are easy to get along with, and there are also quite a few who like to take advantage of others.
Sure enough, someone came to look for Li Xia in the evening. Li Xia had never seen this person before. When he saw Li Xia, he said, "Secretary Li, I heard that you bought a camera? How about you take a picture for me? I haven't taken a picture in several years."
Li Xia laughed in her heart, thinking that this person was quite well-informed. She had just got the camera yesterday and had just started taking pictures today when she smelled the scent and came here.
"You want me to take a photo for you? Sure, but you have to pay. I'll charge the same price as you would in a photo studio." Li Xia said directly.
The man's face changed and he said, "They are all military dependents. Why do you charge me for taking a photo with you? I saw you took photos of Captain Ma's children and Zhao Xiulan's children today. Did you charge them money too?"
"I took it." Li Xia looked like, "What else do you think?"
Mrs. Tao, who was washing clothes in the yard, heard the noise and came out immediately, with her hands on her hips, saying, "What's the matter? Do you think we are as shameless as you and love to take advantage of others? Tao Fengjuan, why are you so greedy for taking advantage of others?"
That person originally thought that Li Xia was an intellectual and thin-skinned. Besides, she must have earned a lot of money from working and writing articles, so she would not mind the money for film. Since she took the initiative to come to Li Xia to take pictures, Li Xia would definitely feel embarrassed to refuse.
I didn't expect Li Xia to be such a stingy person.
In addition, Mrs. Tao was very harsh in scolding people, so Tao Fengjuan left in a huff.
Mrs. Tao gave Li Xia a look that said, "See, I told you that someone would come looking for you to take advantage of you," and said:
"She and I are from the same village. I know what kind of person she is. I haven't had any contact with her since I joined the army. Her husband is also a battalion commander. He is not without money, but he just doesn't want to spend it and always wants to take advantage of others. She didn't take advantage of you, and she will definitely say you are 'stingy' or something when she goes back. Just don't listen. People who understand will know who is right and who is wrong as soon as they hear it."
This is the truth. Li Xia actually hopes that Tao Fengjuan will spread the news that she will charge for taking photos with her. This way, no one will come to her to take advantage of her.
The troublesome thing about film cameras is developing photos. The film cannot be exposed to light, otherwise it will become waste. Photos must be developed in a darkroom.
Li Xia remembered that Song Langqing specialized in taking photos for the Propaganda Department, and there seemed to be a darkroom where he lived, so she planned to ask him to help develop the photos.
She couldn't ask for help for nothing. Li Xia remembered that Song Langqing hinted to her that his cooking was delicious last time, so she went into the kitchen and cooked two dishes and sent them to Song Langqing.
Song Langqing usually doesn't interact with others. Even on holidays, he stays at home reading books and newspapers. When Li Xia came to his house, he was sitting in front of the window reading a newspaper. When Li Xia approached, she found that the newspaper was actually the "New Evening News". She didn't expect that Song Langqing also read the "New Evening News".
Song Langqing noticed someone coming, looked up and found it was Li Xia, surprise flashed in his eyes.
Li Xia raised the lunch box in her hand and mouthed, "Team Leader Song, I'm here to bring you food."
When Song Langqing saw the lunch box and combined it with Li Xia's mouth shape, he remembered what she said last time. He didn't expect that she actually cooked for him. He put down the newspaper in his hand, walked over to open the door, and invited Li Xia in: "Come in and sit down."
Li Xia walked in. Song Langqing lived alone and the house was quite clean.
The door was not closed, but left open, to avoid suspicion.
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