Chapter 97 Taking Wedding Photos
Chapter 97
Chen Xiulan was somewhat frightened when she heard her son's words.
"Changming, Changming, look at me."
"Don't do this."
She was afraid.
Qi Changming didn't look at her, but just muttered, "What can I do if I look at you?"
"Isn't this all there is to my life?"
Chen Xiulan wanted to help, so she held Qi Changming's arm and said, "How did it come to this? You're still young. Even if you don't want to stay at the Civil Affairs Bureau anymore, Mom can still go to your uncle and arrange for you to work at his railway bureau."
"Changming, you are still young, you have a bright future ahead of you."
Qi Changming mechanically turned his head, his eyes bloodshot, as if possessed. "If I say I don't want any of them..."
"I just want to get back to my post."
"I only want Meng Yingying."
It was as if only in this way could he make up for the life he had lost.
*
Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan had no idea that Qi Changming had gone completely mad after they left.
Leave the Civil Affairs Office.
Qi Donghan didn't rush back to the garrison. Instead, he took out an old pocket watch from his person.
When Meng Yingying suddenly saw the pocket watch, she was somewhat surprised. "This pocket watch—" she paused, her expression complicated, "you didn't give it to Qi Changming."
Initially, she mistook Qi Donghan for Qi Changming, and when she broke off the engagement, she gave him the engagement token.
Unexpectedly, Qi Donghan did not give the pocket watch to Qi Changming, but instead kept it on his own person.
Qi Donghan chuckled, his voice low and husky, "You broke off your engagement with me, not with Qi Changming."
"The pocket watch is naturally mine."
This person is being unreasonable and argumentative.
However, Meng Yingying didn't expose him, because Qi Changming probably hadn't even seen this pocket watch before, and might not even remember it.
However, when it came to Qi Donghan, it was carried with him at all times.
It's pretty obvious who values it more.
"Why are you taking this pocket watch out now?"
Meng Yingying was a little curious.
The two walked on the bustling street, but did not feel the noise; instead, they felt an unprecedented sense of tranquility.
That was the comfort and ease of being alone with just the two of them.
"Let's take pictures."
Outside, he could brazenly use his military overcoat to hide Meng Yingying's hand in his pocket, where their fingers intertwined and their ten fingers clasped together.
He lowered his head, walked through the crowd, and held his lover tightly in his hand.
“Yingying, you and Qi Changming have photos together, but we don’t.”
At this point, Qi Donghan, who was usually calm and composed, revealed a hint of restrained jealousy in his voice.
"So, shall we take some photos and put our pictures in?"
Meng Yingying was somewhat surprised by Qi Donghan's jealousy. She freed one hand, took the pocket watch from his hand, and opened it to look at it. "Qi Donghan, do you want to see what the photos in here are?"
"They're just two kids, why are you jealous?"
When the photo was taken, she was only six or seven years old, and Qi Changming was only ten years old.
The two of them are both underage.
"That's a group photo of you two."
Qi Donghan didn't care. He just stuck to the established facts and even dragged Meng Yingying to the Harbin Photo Studio on the side of Jiefang Street.
The photo studio is located at a crossroads, and there is a sign at the entrance that says "Closed," with white background and red lettering that is very conspicuous.
This photo studio is also the most fashionable shop in the area. It uses a large glass panel on the side of the entrance, which is covered with various finished photos.
This attracted many people to stop and watch.
Unfortunately, very few people are willing to go in and take photos.
That's how Qi Donghan pulled Meng Yingying in. He seemed quite familiar with the place, clearly a frequent visitor.
"Have you been here before?"
Meng Yingying immediately noticed something was wrong.
Qi Donghan nodded and pulled her inside to find the owner. When Meng Yingying pressed him for details, he explained, "The day we confirmed our relationship, I wanted to take pictures with you."
“But—” His voice became a little hoarse, low and cautious, “I was afraid you would think I was being too presumptuous, so I suppressed my thoughts.”
However, after they started dating, every time he passed by this place, he would imagine the scene of his and Meng Yingying's photos being displayed here.
A scene where he and Meng Yingying appear together in a photograph.
For Qi Donghan, just thinking about it would be satisfying.
Meng Yingying never expected to hear Qi Donghan say such a thing. She sighed softly to herself, "Qi Donghan."
Shout softly.
Qi Dong made a bold comeback.
"You can tell me anything from now on. You don't have to keep it all inside. How will you know I'll disagree if you don't tell me?"
She stood under the studio lights, her brows relaxed, her tone earnest, "You should try it out first, Qi Donghan."
"You don't need to be so careful around me."
It wasn't that Qi Donghan was being overly cautious; rather, it was that he felt inferior.
He is too insecure in front of the person he loves, and he has received too little in his life, so he suddenly gets the person he likes.
He still felt a little unreal.
Because he was never one of the lucky ones.
That's why he was so anxious and insecure, and that's why he was so cautious in front of Meng Yingying.
It all stemmed from the fact that he liked Meng Yingying much, much more.
Qi Donghan was surprised to hear Meng Yingying say this. Before the photo studio owner arrived, he suddenly turned around and asked again, "If I said I wanted to take photos on the day of our blind date, would you agree?"
Meng Yingying nodded, her tone relaxed, "Yes."
"Why not?"
She reached out and gently pinched Qi Donghan's ear. "What are you thinking about?"
Qi Donghan's ear was twisted, but he wasn't angry. Instead, he even curled up the corners of his mouth.
With a hint of smug satisfaction.
Only after the boss, who had finished taking photos for people inside, came out did Qi Donghan put away his smile and revert to his cold and aloof self.
"Comrade Qi, you're here again?"
"This time?"
The photo studio owner greeted him as soon as he arrived, clearly very familiar with Qi Donghan.
Qi Donghan pulled Meng Yingying over, "Comrade Zhang, we've come here to take a marriage certificate photo."
As he spoke, he handed the pocket watch in his hand to the other person, "Preferably one that can fit a pocket watch."
Boss Zhang looked at the pocket watch and held it up in his hand, saying, "Then you need to take a one-inch photo of it, and the corners need to be cropped, otherwise it won't fit."
Qi Donghan nodded, "You're the professional in this, just do what you think is best."
He pulled Meng Yingying to look at the different types of photos in the glass display case, asking, "Do you think these photos of people in wedding dresses are pretty?"
This was the first time he had ever been to a photo studio, and this was the place he had taken a liking to.
Meng Yingying was surprised that wedding photos existed in the 1970s. While she was still hesitating, Boss Zhang came over and introduced, "Comrade Qi, you have good taste. We only introduced this kind of Western-style wedding photo last year."
"The groom wears a suit and the bride wears a white wedding dress. Let me tell you, the photos will turn out amazing."
At this point, he looked at Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan and said, "Comrade, you two are a perfect match, and your photos will probably look even better than the pictures of my exhibits."
Qi Donghan wanted to take a picture, so he went to see Meng Yingying.
Meng Yingying nodded, and Qi Donghan's lips curled up slightly. "Comrade Zhang, we'll just take one set of wedding photos like this, and nothing else."
He considered it for a moment, then asked, "Could you wash two portions for us?"
"I'll put one small one in my pocket watch, and the other one, which I'll put under the glass cabinet when I get home."
Boss Zhang naturally agreed, and immediately beamed with joy, "It's just that Comrade Qi, taking wedding photos is a bit expensive."
"How much."
"Eighteen pieces."
That's really not cheap; an average person's monthly living expenses are only eighteen yuan.
"Eighteen yuan it is, let's bid."
Qi Donghan agreed without hesitation.
This made it difficult for Meng Yingying to persuade her, as she wasn't ignorant of human suffering or the importance of money in her past life.
Keep in mind that her monthly salary is only forty-two yuan.
She reached out to pull Qi Donghan away, but Qi Donghan whispered, "Yingying, we only take these kinds of photos once in our lives."
"This money is worth spending."
He was willing to spend money on the two of them.
Seeing that he had made up his mind, Meng Yingying stopped trying to dissuade him. "Alright, we'll take photos too."
Do you have enough money?
She asked in a low voice.
Qi Donghan nodded, and Meng Yingying didn't ask any more questions. Qi Donghan was still waiting for her, wanting her to ask how much money the family had and how much was in their savings account.
As a result, Meng Yingying stopped asking, which disappointed Qi Donghan.
He touched the bankbook on his person, "Yingying."
"Um?"
"I'll give you the bankbook."
Meng Yingying glanced back at him. Qi Donghan had already taken out the passbook, but she didn't take it and instead pushed it away.
"I don't want it. I live in the dormitory now and it's inconvenient for me to keep it. You keep it for yourself first, and when we have our own homes, you can give it to me and I will keep it safe."
Qi Donghan was initially a little disappointed, but Meng Yingying's words instantly cheered him up.
He nodded, and Boss Zhang brought out a suit and a white wedding dress.
"Comrade Qi, Comrade Meng, these are the suits and wedding dresses. Go and change into them, and I'll take your photos."
Meng Yingying took the wedding dress and found that its quality was very poor, naturally not as good as the wedding dress with diamonds in her previous life.
It can only be said that this kind of fabric is extremely fashionable in this era.
She touched it.
Boss Zhang noticed something. "Comrade Meng doesn't like it?"
He noticed that the women he had met before all had their eyes light up when they saw a wedding dress.
The only exception was Comrade Meng, who stood before them.
Meng Yingying smiled and said, "It's alright."
She didn't intend to discuss this topic further, so she said to Qi Donghan, "I'm going inside to change my clothes first."
Qi Donghan noticed something and went to ask Boss Zhang, "Comrade Zhang, do you have any better wedding dresses here?"
Mr. Zhang shook his head, "This wedding dress is my store's prized possession; there's no better one than this."
Qi Donghan: "What about the capital?"
Mr. Zhang was taken aback. "I really don't know, but logically speaking, in big cities like the capital and Shanghai, the goods that business owners there get should be of better quality."
"Comrade Qi, I won't hide it from you, this wedding dress of mine costs more than 500 yuan, which basically tied up almost a year's worth of my sales. Even if there were better wedding dresses, I still couldn't afford to stock them."
“Now I wear this wedding dress for a photoshoot every time, and I charge eighteen yuan for it. Many people say I’m robbing them. As for charging more, I don’t dare to stock it or shoot it.”
"If you really want a better wedding dress, then you'll have to go to the capital, Shanghai."
Qi Donghan kept this in mind. He thought to himself that when he got to Shanghai, he would find a nice wedding dress for Yingying to wear and take photos again.
However, before he could think about it further, Meng Yingying had already changed her clothes and come out. She was wearing a white wedding dress with the neckline slightly open, revealing her delicate and fair collarbone.
It's very beautiful.
Qi Donghan stared in amazement for a moment, his eyes flashing with astonishment.
His Yingying is so beautiful! That pure white wedding dress makes her look like a fairy.
Mr. Zhang, who was standing next to him, was also taken aback. "This Comrade Meng is really suited to wear a wedding dress."
"Her figure is so slender and beautiful."
"Comrade Meng, now that you're dressed, let's take a picture."
Meng Yingying was praised, but she remained calm. After all, a beautiful woman gets used to being praised all the time.
She went to look at Qi Donghan, "Aren't you going to change?"
Qi Donghan then came to his senses and said, "I'll go right now."
Meng Yingying hummed in agreement and waited for him outside. Qi Donghan changed quickly; he was only wearing a black suit jacket.
He is 1.9 meters tall, and the suit was a bit small on him, especially the pants, which were a bit too tight at the ankles and became capri pants.
The suit jacket is alright, but it looks a bit tight on the shoulders.
Boss Zhang noticed this, took a needle and thread and scissors and made some simple changes for him, removing the stitches that had been sewn up behind him.
Once the shirt was put down, it fit perfectly.
Mr. Zhang sighed, “This suit was brought back from Guangzhou. They said it was based on the body types of the Russians. You know, people here are generally shorter than they are. So when this suit came back, I had to alter it two or three times overnight, reducing the size of the shoulders, waist, and cuffs.”
"I never imagined that we would have to be taken apart again."
This surprised Mr. Zhang, but after taking off his shirt, he also let down his trouser legs.
Now, the outfit is perfect.
Qi Donghan is like a walking clothes hanger; this suit seems to have been tailor-made for him.
He is very handsome.
Meng Yingying also said, "It looks good."
Qi Donghan pursed his lips and said in a particularly childish way, "You're prettier."
Upon hearing this, Boss Zhang couldn't help but smile. "You're all good-looking. Come over here, I'll take your pictures."
Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan exchanged a glance before following him into the back room.
As soon as you come over, there is a large cover behind you and a long bench in front of you.
Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan sat down. Boss Zhang held a camera and looked at the lens, saying, "Come on, come closer."
"Yes, Comrade Meng, tilt your head slightly downwards towards Comrade Qi. Comrade Qi, you should also lower your shoulders by about thirty centimeters."
Qi Donghan and Meng Yingying did as instructed. They exchanged a glance before straightening their direction and looking ahead.
A snap.
After pressing the shutter button several times to make sure he could get a lot of photos, Boss Zhang said to Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan, "Alright, Comrade Qi, Comrade Meng, come and pick up the photos in three days."
Meng Yingying nodded.
Qi Donghan was a little anxious. While Meng Yingying went to change her clothes, he walked up to Boss Zhang and said, "Comrade Zhang, if we need it urgently, could you wash it out a little faster?"
This is really putting Boss Zhang in a difficult position.
"If you want to rinse in advance, it will take at least 24 hours, and you will have to pay extra for it."
Qi Donghan said, "We'll rinse it in advance, ideally by tomorrow afternoon so we can get it."
Comrade Zhang, "Okay, then you can pay an extra one yuan for express delivery."
Qi Donghan paid, a total of nineteen yuan including the cost of the wedding photos. Before leaving, he glanced at the camera in Boss Zhang's hand and asked, "Are you selling this camera?"
Comrade Zhang, “?”
If Qi Donghan hadn't looked so serious, he would have thought he'd run into someone trying to sabotage his event.
"For sale?"
Seeing that he didn't answer, Qi Donghan asked again.
Comrade Zhang said helplessly, "This is my livelihood, how could I possibly sell it?"
"If Comrade Qi wants one, I suggest you ask at the department store to see if they sell cameras."
Qi Donghan grunted in agreement, then looked away and went out with Meng Yingying.
"What have you been saying for so long?"
Meng Yingying had already changed her clothes and put on her cashmere coat, looking very bright and beautiful.
"I want to buy Comrade Zhang's camera."
Meng Yingying, “?”
Is this even human language?
Seeing Meng Yingying's confusion, Qi Donghan said, "I want to take your picture."
Meng Yingying was so beautiful on stage that he thought if he had the chance, he would carry his camera and take pictures of her wherever she went to compete or perform.
In that case, he'll end up with a room full of photos.
Meng Yingying paused for a moment, then murmured, "Someone will take the stage photos."
"We don't need to buy a separate camera."
As far as she knows, cameras are a luxury item these days.
Qi Donghan didn't respond, which showed that his desire hadn't died down yet.
Meng Yingying didn't say much, "Qi Donghan, we've just started a family, and we have a lot of money to spend."
"After moving from the dormitory building to the family compound, there wasn't much furniture at the logistics station, so we had to buy a lot of it ourselves, and we were very frugal."
Qi Donghan: "No need to save money."
Meng Yingying turned around in surprise. He took out his bankbook and handed it to Meng Yingying this time, saying, "I have money."
"Yingying, you can take a look."
He had handed it to her before, but Meng Yingying hadn't even looked at it. This time, she understood perfectly well. But when she opened the passbook and saw the deposits, Meng Yingying was stunned. "How do you have so much money?"
It cost a full three thousand nine hundred yuan.
Qi Donghan remained calm. "I joined the army in 1965. My salary was 42 yuan a month in my first year. By 1968, my salary was 73 yuan. In 1970, my salary was 95 yuan. In 1971, my salary was 130 yuan."
"These don't even include subsidies."
“Yingying, although the garrison is short of money, they never deduct our wages from us soldiers who shed blood and sweat.”
"In addition, the team provides food and accommodation, and the unit also provides clothes. In recent years, apart from spending money on food and other necessities, I have not spent any money on anything else."
Meng Yingying wanted to ask, "What about your uncle?"
Qi Donghan paused for a moment, then said, "I offered my uncle money, but he refused it."
“He said I gave it to him, but in the end my aunt and cousin found out, and he didn’t get a single penny, so I stopped giving it to him.”
He paused for a moment, his eyes serious, "But Yingying, I want to take care of Uncle when he gets old."
This is the most important thing.
Meng Yingying naturally didn't object. She nodded and said, "I will take care of my third uncle in his old age."
Neither of them had any relatives. Her third uncle, Qi Donghan's maternal uncle, was one of the few sources of warmth they received during their childhood.
Qi Donghan grunted in agreement, smiled at Meng Yingying, and then took out a pocket watch from his hand. With a snap, the watch straps fell off.
He pressed the button next to him to open it, "Yingying, look."
When he said this, his eyes were gentle, as if he were showing Meng Yingying his most precious treasure.
Meng Yingying looked at the wedding photo in the pocket watch. It wasn't big, but the face was clear, unlike the previous photo, which was so blurry that the face was unrecognizable.
"It looks great."
"But what about the previous photo?"
Qi Donghan said, "I threw it away."
Meng Yingying looked up at him, and Qi Donghan then clutched his pocket watch for a while before taking it out to show it to Meng Yingying.
Goodness.
The pair of photos that were originally on the pocket watch were cut down to just one, and the one that remained was a photo of Meng Yingying.
As for Qi Changming's photos, no one knows where he threw them away long ago.
Seeing this, Meng Yingying was both amused and exasperated. "Qi Donghan, how childish are you?"
She never knew that Qi Donghan could be so childish.
Qi Donghan tucked her small photo behind the pocket watch, saying, "This isn't childish; it's serious."
Looking at Meng Yingying's beautiful features, he said softly, "Yingying, I was not a part of your past, but I hope to be a part of your future."
Qi Changming is her past.
And Qi Donghan will be her future.
Hearing this, Meng Yingying felt a lump in her throat and couldn't help but reach out and pinch Qi Donghan. She murmured, "On such a joyous day, don't make me cry."
Qi Donghan put his arm around her shoulder and said in a hoarse voice, "Don't cry."
He snapped open his pocket watch. "Look, they're all smiling happily."
He and Yingying will be like this in the future.
Seeing him like this, Meng Yingying laughed too. On the way back, she asked, "When are we going to have the banquet?"
Since we don't have any relatives here, let's get together with friends.
What do you think?
"I want to wait a couple of days. I also want my third uncle to come and watch me get married."
She lost her father, but to some extent, her third uncle represented her father.
Qi Donghan said, "Then three days from now." He paused, then said in a low voice, "I've already called my third uncle."
"What?"
Meng Yingying was surprised.
Qi Donghan said, "I went to see Zhou Jingsong yesterday and sent a telegram to Mengjiatun." He counted the time on his fingers, "If nothing unexpected happens, Uncle San will probably come the day after tomorrow."
He had actually met Uncle Meng and even carried a coffin with him.
Upon hearing this, Meng Yingying truly couldn't hold back her tears this time, and they streamed down her face. "Qi Donghan, how could you do this?"
"You never told me about such an important thing."
When Qi Donghan saw her crying, he was at a loss for what to do. "Yingying, I just wanted to give you a surprise."
Just like he hoped his uncle would be there when he got married.
He thought Meng Yingying would also hope that Uncle Meng San could come over.
Meng Yingying didn't say anything, but just wiped her tears and snot all over Qi Donghan's body, crying as she wiped, "I'll teach you not to tell me, I'll teach you not to tell me."
"Qi Donghan".
When he called out her full name, there was a touch of gentleness in his tone.
Thank you.
"Qi Donghan".
Wait until the next day.
Qi Donghan and Meng Yingying came to pick up the photos. Both of their photos were very well taken, and Boss Zhang even seemed quite fond of them.
When it came time to retrieve the photos for Qi Donghan, Boss Zhang suggested, "Comrade Qi, I wonder if you would be willing to leave these photos for display in my photo studio?"
"Don't worry, we definitely won't let you showcase your work for free. We'll give you a separate display fee."
Qi Donghan shook his head. "No need."
"Our identities are not suitable for displaying photos."
He handed the photo to Meng Yingying, who was also very satisfied. In the photo, she had bright eyes and white teeth, and was all smiles. Although Qi Donghan had a poker face, the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned.
It's clear he's very satisfied with the wedding photos.
Both Qi Donghan and Meng Yingying refused decisively, which disappointed Comrade Zhang. Before leaving, Qi Donghan instructed Comrade Zhang, "It would be best to destroy the negatives as well, as our photos are indeed not suitable for public display."
Meng Yingying was alright; she was practically part of the performing arts troupe, but Qi Donghan's identity was indeed unsuitable.
After being reminded twice, Comrade Zhang realized the seriousness of the matter.
He nodded immediately, "I know, I'll go and destroy it right away."
Especially after seeing Qi Donghan's exposed identification, he no longer harbored any illusions.
After Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan returned to the garrison with the photos, she went to the art troupe to practice dancing, and spent the next two days preparing for their marriage registration.
She fell behind in her studies.
I will naturally have to catch up on my studies when I get back.
Qi Donghan went back to his dormitory to put the photos away first, but he hadn't arrived at his dormitory yet.
Commander Chen then went to Qi Donghan's office.
As soon as Qi Donghan arrived, Division Commander Chen poured him a cup of tea. "Have you gotten your marriage certificate?"
Qi Donghan nodded, "I picked it up yesterday morning."
Have you picked up the house keys yet?
This wedding house for Qi Donghan was prepared by Commander Chen a long time ago, and no matter who got married and asked for the house, he never gave it away.
Qi Donghan shook his head, "Not yet, I was just about to ask the quartermaster for the key later."
"No need to ask him for it."
Commander Chen walked to his desk, took out a key from the drawer, and said, "The key is with me. I've also asked the logistics department and your sister-in-law to help with the furniture in the house. You and Xiao Meng can move in right away."
"Xiao Han, Uncle Chen hopes you can live a good life."
"I also hope that you and Comrade Meng can have a home of your own."
This was a rare instance of him calling out to Chef Liu like that.
The last time he called him that was when he first met Qi Donghan, dressed in tattered clothes, at a state-run restaurant.
Later, they became superior and subordinate to avoid suspicion.
Commander Chen always handled matters strictly according to official procedures.
Years later, when Qi Donghan got married, he gave him a very generous gift.
Qi Donghan swallowed hard, feeling as if his throat was stuffed with cotton.
He took the keys without saying a word, but stepped forward and gently hugged Commander Chen, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Chen."
Commander Chen patted him on the shoulder, "Choose a day to move in with Comrade Meng."
"Also, what date have you set for your wedding banquet?"
Qi Donghan: "Three days later."
Commander Chen understood the situation. He wanted to say something, but he wasn't quite sure, so he waited until Qi Donghan left.
Commander Chen hesitated for a moment before dialing the Song family's number. The phone rang three times before being answered.
"Hello, is this Comrade Song?"
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Author's Note: Second update~ There will be more tonight, wait for me! I made a mistake in the last chapter, so I've revised it. Those who have already read it can reread it. There will be red envelopes for leaving comments on the last chapter~
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