Qin Huai turned his head away suspiciously.
Seeing that she didn't want to have children with him, yet was eager to get a marriage certificate with him, he really couldn't understand what she was thinking.
But Qin Huai couldn't bring himself to force the other person.
Thinking of this, he said, "If you don't want to marry me, it's not too late to go back now."
"What nonsense are you talking about? If I didn't want to marry you, why would I come out with you?"
Qiao Qiqi looked up in surprise, meeting the apprehension in the man's eyes.
Realizing that he was being indecisive again, I immediately found it amusing.
Seeing that he was definitely overthinking again, Qiao Qiqi knew that this was a sign that he cared about her. Regardless of whether they were outside, she suddenly grabbed the man's hand, leaned her head towards him, and spoke in a soft, ambiguous tone.
"I don't want to marry you, but I'll give myself to you? Isn't that enough proof?"
!
With a loud bang.
Qin Huai's face flushed red instantly.
Seeing that Qiao Qiqi was being shameless again, actually talking about such things in the street, he was so frightened that he immediately pulled his hand back.
He looked up and met the mocking look in Qiao Qiqi's eyes.
Realizing that she had done it on purpose, Qin Huai was at a loss for words.
"Alright, let's go. I want to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some things after we get the marriage certificate," Qiao Qiqi urged.
Qin Huai glanced at her again.
He thought to himself that no matter who she loved, as long as she was willing to marry him, that was enough.
He will always treat her well after we get married.
He refused to believe that he was inferior to that pretty boy.
With that thought in mind, he finally cracked his whip and continued driving the donkey cart forward.
We've only just entered the town, so it's not very lively yet, and there are very few shops on both sides of the street. But after walking for a while, there are more and more people and shops.
Fearing that the donkey would act up, Qin Huai jumped off the cart and led it ahead.
Qiao Qiqi glanced at it, said nothing, and continued to sit in the car observing the shops on both sides.
In those days, all shops were state-owned or commune-owned; there were no privately owned shops.
Along the way, Qiao Qiqi found that the most bustling place was still the supply and marketing cooperative.
The state-run restaurants must be doing well, but it's past lunchtime now, so there's no one to be seen.
"Stop the car!" Qiao Qiqi suddenly shouted, looking at a shop.
Qin Huai stopped the donkey cart, turned around in confusion, and saw Qiao Qiqi pointing to the photo studio next door and saying, "Qin Huai, let's go take a wedding photo?"
The wedding has been postponed, but wedding photos can still be taken. It's a pity there are no wedding dresses here, but the couple is wearing shirts, which are clean and neat, so the photos will definitely look great.
Qiao Qiqi acted immediately, jumping out of the car and walking into the store without waiting for Qin Huai's approval.
Qin Huai quickly tied the donkey cart to the stone block next to him and followed him into the shop.
As soon as she entered, Qiao Qiqi exclaimed, "So expensive?"
Qin Huai walked over and asked, "What's wrong?"
Qiao Qiqi turned her head to look at him, but instead of answering his question, she asked in return, "Qin Huai, how much does rice cost per kilogram at the supply and marketing cooperative now?"
Although Qin Huai didn't know why she suddenly asked this, he still told the truth: "Last time I bought more than 3 jin and it cost 5 mao."
Good heavens!
Qiao Qiqi thought to herself, "Wow!"
In an era when three kilograms of rice cost only 50 cents, a photograph actually costs a dollar?!
In the 21st century, developing a photo only costs about 1 yuan, right? I never imagined that photos from the 1970s were so expensive.
Of course, photos in the 21st century are taken with mobile phones or cameras, taking up free memory, while cameras in this era are definitely very expensive.
But the thought that a single photo could buy 6 kilograms of rice still made Qiao Qiqi feel a pang of heartache.
She had checked before leaving home; all the belongings Qin Huai had given her amounted to only eighty-three yuan and seventy-four cents. She wondered how many years he had saved up that amount of money.
Now that she hears that a single photo costs a dollar, Qiao Qiqi immediately feels reluctant to part with it.
Qin Huai could see through her thoughts. Although he had never taken photos before and didn't know how much they cost, he immediately said, thinking about how excitedly she had run in earlier, "Take photos if you want. Money is meant to be spent."
These words sound pleasant and comforting.
But Qiao Qiqi knew that this was all hard-earned money that Qin Huai had earned by sowing, transplanting, weeding, and harvesting in the fields under the scorching sun, and she couldn't bear to part with it.
But then they thought, since they were only getting married once, it wouldn't be right not to take wedding photos.
Moreover, these are cherished memories for the two of them. Seeing the photos in the future will remind them of the wonderful times they have now, including Qin Huai's words: "Take photos if you want to, money is meant to be spent."
Thinking of this, Qiao Qiqi finally gritted her teeth and said to the shop owner, "Take three pictures!"
Forget about the elaborate photo albums and displays typical of the 21st century. With tight budgets, we should save money and just take three photos as a token gesture.
"Alright, those two, go inside and sit down. We'll start filming now."
The boss led the two into the inner room, which we'll call the photography studio for now. Qiao Qiqi and Qin Huai sat down in the designated spot.
After fiddling with the camera for a moment, the boss looked at the two of them and saw that they were sitting upright with stiff faces, staring at the camera with expressions of complete indifference.
"Gentlemen, move your heads closer together. You're taking wedding photos, not ID photos, so there's no need to be so reserved."
"Cough..." Qiao Qiqi wasn't nervous; she just had never been photogenic since she was a child, and she never knew what expression or pose to strike when facing a camera.
Turning to look at Qin Huai, she realized that he was even more stiff than she was.
Qiao Qiqi couldn't help but chuckle. "Do you have to be so cold? We're taking wedding photos. Even if you don't smile, at least look a little more relaxed!"
Qin Huai stiffly turned his head and met Qiao Qiqi's barely suppressed smile, his brows furrowing slightly.
He glanced at the photographer out of the corner of his eye, his lips moved, and after a long while he said, "I freeze up the moment I see that camera."
"I can see that." Qiao Qiqi nodded affirmatively, feeling helpless as she saw that Qin Huai's condition was even more serious than hers.
However, wedding photos were definitely going to be taken, so she decided to do it herself. She got up and stood opposite Qin Huai, grabbing his shoulders and tilting him slightly in her direction.
Qin Huai's breath hitched.
Feeling the warmth of those two small hands on his shoulders seep through his shirt onto his skin, his face flushed instantly.
But upon feeling the firm muscles in her palm, Qiao Qiqi immediately recalled how she had grabbed the man's shoulders and... you know... the night before...
With a whoosh, Qiao Qiqi immediately and awkwardly withdrew her hand.
She obediently went back to sit down, and then, following Qin Huai's posture, leaned her shoulder a little closer to him.
"Yes, yes, that's it. I'll say 1, 2, 3, eggplant, and you'll laugh when I say eggplant."
"Alright, now I'm going to start counting, 1, 2, 3... Cheese!"
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