Chapter 194 Taking Photos
"They're all polished with tung oil, absolutely safe," Hu San said with a simple smile. "Are you satisfied with your purchase?"
Nan Zhiyi picked up the little duck and tried it out; the wheels turned smoothly. "You did a great job! How much more pay do we need?"
“Master Zhao said you gave us enough.” Hu San waved his hand. “We’ll go install the cabinet now.”
Two young men carried the wooden planks upstairs, working for almost two hours with clanging and banging.
When Nan Zhiyi went up to look, a wooden storage cabinet had already been erected in the corner, with five compartments on the top and bottom, just right for storing toys and picture books.
Nan Zhiyi was very satisfied. After paying for the cabinet, she specially packed two bags of peach shortbread and fruit candy: "Thank you for your hard work. Please take them back and try them."
Hu San and his junior brother exchanged a glance and accepted the gift somewhat shyly.
After seeing the two off, she began to tidy up her toys.
Xiaoman crawled over and hugged the block box, babbling that she wanted to play.
Nan Zhiyi let him play on the carpet while she sat at her desk and started working, occasionally glancing at him, afraid that he would put the toys in his mouth and chew on them.
The courtyard's loudspeaker broadcasted outside the window, playing "We Workers Have Strength," announcing that Labor Day was approaching.
Nan Zhiyi looked out the window, thinking of Gu Xiao, who was far away in Shanghai.
Will he be able to come back for Labor Day?
She glanced at Xiaoman again; he was holding a small zodiac animal with a serious expression.
Of all these new toys, Xiaoman's favorite is a rectangular cedar wood block, which she holds in her hand every day and refuses to let go of even when she sleeps.
Nan Zhiyi had no choice but to clean the building block after bathing Xiaoman every night before taking her son to the big bed.
"Shall we tell the story of the little astronaut today?"
She gently patted her son's back, "There was a brave little boy who flew to the moon in a star boat..."
Xiaoman opened her round eyes and babbled, "Star...ship..."
Over the past two weeks, the little guy has been speaking more and more clearly and can already say simple words like "eat" and "walk".
Nan Zhiyi gently told the story, watching her son gradually close his eyes, his little face rosy and plump.
She couldn't help but kiss that soft little face again and again before turning on the lamp to read.
As night deepened, she fell into a deep sleep, holding her son.
In a daze, she felt movement beside her. When she opened her eyes, she saw that Gu Xiao had returned at some point.
He had already showered and was wearing only a white vest. He was carefully lifting Xiaoman from her arms.
"Did I wake you?" He put his son in the crib, turned around and hugged her. "Go to sleep."
Nan Zhiyi snuggled into his arms affectionately, her face pressed against his warm chest.
Gu Xiao lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his hand gently stroking her back.
His kisses gradually became more lingering, from her forehead to the tip of her nose, and finally landed on her lips. Nan Zhiyi responded softly, and he held her even tighter.
"I miss you..." he whispered in her ear.
When I woke up the next day, the bedroom was already filled with sunlight.
Gu Xiao was still sleeping beside him.
Nan Zhiyi turned to look at his sleeping face. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed, his long eyelashes were thick, and his lips were pursed into a line. Even in his sleep, he had a serious look about him.
Just as she was about to reach out her fingertips to touch him, he pulled her into his arms with his eyes closed, rubbing his chin against the top of her head: "Lie down a little longer..." His voice was still sleepy, but his hands were restlessly caressing her.
The two cuddled together in bed for a while longer, until they heard Xiaoman and Sister Zhang talking downstairs.
"You carried Xiaoman downstairs?"
Gu Xiao looked a little aggrieved, "He's so mean, the first thing he does when he opens his eyes is look for his mother..."
Nan Zhiyi chuckled, looked up and kissed his chin, "I'll sleep with you a little longer."
After getting up, Gu Xiao proudly presented the gifts he had brought back: a fountain pen, a lambskin notebook, a silk dress, face cream, and a Seagull brand camera.
"Why did you buy so much?" Nan Zhiyi asked with a light reproach. "Have you spent all the money I brought for you?"
Gu Xiao wrapped his arms around her from behind: "I just wanted to buy it for you."
He picked up his camera. "We have film. Let's go take some pictures in the yard."
Nan Zhiyi specially changed into a new dress, carefully combed her hair, drew her eyebrows, and even applied a light layer of lipstick.
The two went down to the courtyard, where Xiaoman was huffing and puffing as she entertained herself by holding onto the climbing frame.
"Xiaoman, come here, let Daddy take a picture of us."
Nan Zhiyi held Xiaoman and sat on the swing.
Gu Xiao transformed into a photographer, holding up his camera and praising repeatedly: "So beautiful... Yes, just like that... Xiaoman, look here at Daddy..."
He took several individual photos of his wife and children.
When taking a family photo, I asked Sister Zhang to help me press the shutter.
Sister Zhang waved her hands nervously, saying, "I don't know how to use this fancy stuff!"
Gu Xiao patiently demonstrated: "It's very simple. Look through this hole and you'll see that the three of us are inside. Then press this round button."
He specially brought a stool for Sister Zhang to sit on, saying, "It's okay if you break it, we can just reshoot it."
Only then did Sister Zhang tremblingly take the camera.
Gu Xiao quickly ran back to his wife and children and picked up Xiaoman in his arms.
Nan Zhiyi leaned against him, and the three of them smiled in the bright spring sunshine of April.
During his entire day off, Gu Xiao was like a child who had received a new toy, his camera almost never leaving his hand.
Nan Zhiyi was writing at her desk when he secretly took a picture of her frowning in thought.
She sat by the window reading a book, and he caught a glimpse of her focused profile.
Even when she combs her hair in front of the mirror, she can see his figure holding a camera in the mirror.
His favoritism was obvious; most of the photos were of Nan Zhiyi, and he only took a couple of pictures of Xiaoman occasionally.
May 16th is Xiaoman's first birthday.
Gu Xiao had instructed his bodyguard, Xiao Liu, to pick up the cake he had ordered from the Xinqiao Hotel.
The pastry chef at that restaurant used to work at the Astor House Hotel, and his cream cakes were the most famous.
Nan Zhiyi specifically requested a small size, since it was just a family meal, just to show their appreciation.
Around 4 PM, Gu Xiao left work early and returned home, carrying a white cake box tied with a pink ribbon.
A short while later, Zhou Anping and Meng Qingshan also arrived after getting off work.
Meng Qingshan carried a net bag of apples and malted milk powder, while Zhou Anping brought a brand-new military uniform, complete with a red star cap.
"Let's dress our little birthday boy in new clothes! These clothes are a bit big, so he can wear them for another year or two."
Zhou Anping dressed Xiaoman in a little military uniform, and the child's chubby face peeked out from under the hat brim, looking exceptionally spirited.
While it was still light, Gu Xiao took out his camera and started by taking photos of Xiaoman's first birthday.
Xiaoman sat on the swing, her military cap askew, and smiled, revealing her four newly grown teeth.
Nan Zhiyi and Zhou Anping were talking at a stone table and chairs in the corner when Gu Xiao came over and snapped a few photos: the two young women were laughing and talking with their heads close together, their skirts fluttering gently in the breeze.
Finally, he pulled Meng Qingshan over and said, "Qingshan, take a picture of me and Zhiyi."
Gu Xiao had his arm around Nan Zhiyi's shoulder, with a fence covered in roses in the background.
Meng Qingshan carefully focused the camera and pressed the shutter.
As dusk fell, Sister Zhang had already set the food on the table.
Braised fish, scrambled eggs, minced meat and tofu, and longevity noodles.
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