The photo studio was also state-owned, with one master photographer and one apprentice.
First, ask Xu Ningyan and Lin Hong what kind of photos they want to take and how many, so that we can issue the invoice.
After discussing it, the two decided to take a group photo first, and then take individual photos.
The price list for taking photos was posted on the wall: one-inch photos cost 38 cents each, and two-inch photos cost 70 cents each.
This price is almost a day's wages for most people, no wonder there are so few people taking photos.
Most importantly, at this time, film is used, and the entire roll of film must be used before it can be developed together.
Otherwise, you'll have to keep waiting.
The two asked the photographer how many more photos could be taken with the film in the camera.
The technician checked the record and said he could take eleven more photos.
Excluding the photos of the two of them together, there are ten photos left.
Lin Hong was also wearing a white shirt and green military pants today, with two braids, looking just like Xu Ningyan's sister.
She also had a dress in her bag, planning to change into it for the photoshoot later.
After discussing it, Lin Hong decided to take three photos, and Xu Ningyan would take the rest.
The photographer stared wide-eyed, probably having never seen such extravagant women before. He wanted to offer some advice, but judging from their clothes and appearance, they were clearly well-off, so he swallowed his words.
The two first took a photo together wearing white shirts and green military uniforms, and then each took a solo photo.
Then the two borrowed a room inside, stood guard at the door while changing clothes, and took photos together and individual photos.
Back then, taking photos didn't involve the same composition, poses, and backgrounds as later generations.
Either you stand ramrod straight, or you sit in a chair to take the picture.
Lin Hong didn't have many photos taken, and she was a bit reserved, always keeping her hands tightly closed when taking pictures.
Xu Ningyan, on the other hand, was very relaxed and at ease.
When taking a photo with Lin Hong, we even posed a little, leaning close together with our heads tilted towards each other. As the photographer pressed the shutter, we even shouted together, "Cheese!"
In that frozen moment, two flower-like girls smiled radiantly, their smiles both natural and dazzling.
Even the photographer couldn't help but ask Xu Ningyan why she shouted "cheese" (a slang term for cheese).
Xu Ningyan blinked. As far as she could remember, didn't people always say "cheese" when taking photos to show a smile? Wasn't that still the case at this time?
Don't panic!
After calming herself down, she said, "This is a method for taking better photos that came from the capital. They say that when taking a photo, you should say 'cheese' and the photo will look better and more natural! I'm just trying it out. Master, do you think it looks better?"
The photographer thought for a moment, nodded, and it seemed to be true.
I kept it in mind, and when the photos came out, I found that it was indeed true.
I did learn a trick, though. Later, whenever someone came to him for a photo, he would teach them to say "cheese," and most of the photos turned out quite satisfactory. But that's another story.
After a whole morning of fussing, we finally finished taking the photos. The photographer was tired, but the person being photographed was even more tired.
Xu Ningyan had never known that taking photos could be both time-consuming and physically demanding. She used to be able to take dozens of photos in a row with her phone, but she was never as tired as taking these seven or eight photos today.
Especially in the last photo where she changed into a white shirt, white skirt, and white leather sandals, sitting on a chair, she wanted to capture a relaxed and leisurely feeling.
The photographer, however, disapproved of this and made her straighten her back, her eyes resolute, and her determination unwavering, as if she were going to join the Party.
Xu Ningyan argued with the photographer for a long time, but she eventually gave in, mainly because she couldn't keep up physically.
I wonder what the final product will look like. I guess it will be a mess.
After the photos were taken, each person got a group photo, and Xu Ningyan also had two copies of each negative printed for her individual photos. These few photos cost Xu Ningyan 11.2 yuan.
Half a month's salary is gone.
Even so, Xu Ningyan was still happy.
After paying, each person received a ticket, and they could pick up their photos three days later with the ticket.
By the time they left the photo studio, it was already noon. Too lazy to go home and cook, they went to a state-run restaurant and each ordered a bowl of green pepper and shredded pork noodles for lunch.
A large bowl of noodles, topped with a thick layer of freshly stir-fried green peppers and shredded pork.
The two of them ate until their bellies were round, and they practically had to lean against the wall to walk out.
It was midday, the weather was hot, and there weren't many people on the street.
The two then took their leave and went home to rest for the afternoon.
After taking a nap, Xu Ningyan had nothing to do, so she decided to prepare a return gift for Gu Zhiyuan.
The space has everything, but it's not convenient to take out the valuable items.
Besides, given my own persona, I shouldn't have these nice things, so after thinking it over, it's more appropriate to prepare food or something similar for me.
Firstly, it fits my persona and personal circumstances; secondly, since they were all handmade, they are small gifts but carry great sentiment, so there's nothing wrong with them.
In this weather, other things are hard to preserve, so I can only make things that are easy to store.
There's only beef sauce, dried meat, and a new snack I recently learned to make, which locals call fried noodles.
It's called fried noodles, but it's actually just rice flour made from fried rice.
After rinsing the rice, soak it overnight, then drain it. Wash the large pot, heat it up, pour in the drained rice, stir-fry quickly over high heat until the moisture evaporates, then turn to low heat and stir-fry slowly.
Stir-fry until golden brown, the rice grains plump and light, and they release their aroma; then they are ready to be served.
After spreading it out to cool, grind it into powder using a stone mill, and the fried rice noodles are ready.
It can be eaten both dry and wet.
Eating it dry means taking a spoonful and putting it in your mouth to chew; it's dry, fragrant, and mellow.
To eat it wet, simply pour it into a bowl, add white sugar, pour in boiling water, stir well, and eat it. It's fragrant, sweet, and convenient for filling your stomach.
Most families keep some of this fried noodles on hand for the elderly and children. When there's no time to cook, a bowl of this can fill their stomachs, taste good, and provide nutrition.
If packaged well, this can last for a while, which is suitable for someone like Gu Zhiyuan who is so busy that he doesn't have time to eat.
As for the beef sauce, Xu Ningyan still had a lot of beef in his space. He cut it into small pieces and carefully simmered it in two large jars, weighing more than two pounds. It was oily, fragrant, and spicy, and it would be perfect to eat with noodles, steamed buns, and dumplings.
Xu Ningyan also prepared a lot of beef jerky and pork jerky, which were roasted until fragrant and dry. There were two kinds: five-spice and spicy. They were good for filling one's stomach or supplementing nutrition on weekdays.
These were all things that Xu Ningyan had figured out and prepared based on information that Gu Zhiyuan had revealed in the past.
After all, Gu Zhiyuan is not short of money or clothes.
Jiang Yuan isn't very good at cooking, and Gu Zhiyuan wouldn't eat the food Fang Dani makes.
He usually eats in canteens, moving between the military compound canteen, the hospital canteen, and the unit canteen.
This led to him developing a habit of not being picky about food; he could eat even the most unpalatable foods.
It was only after living with Xu Ningyan that she gradually became picky about food and developed her own preferences.
This beef sauce, beef jerky, and pork jerky are all his favorite foods.
As for the fried noodles, Xu Ningyan thought he probably wouldn't dislike them.
Once everything was ready, the photos were retrieved.
As expected of a master photographer at a state-run photography studio, despite limited equipment, his skills are top-notch.
Add to that the unique filter of black and white photography, and every photo of Xu Ningyan exudes the unique brilliance of this era, with starlight in her eyes, looking spirited and determined.
Xu Ningyan hesitated for a long time before finally picking out three photos: one of her in a white shirt and green pants, one of her in a sailor shirt and dark blue pants, and one of her in a white shirt, white skirt, and white leather sandals. She put them all into an envelope and placed it deep inside the package.
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