"Alright, Daddy will drive," Ruan Jianguo said, his tears flowing inwardly.
When they arrived at the photo studio in town, it had just opened. The owner welcomed them with a smile, a bit too eager, and kept praising how beautiful their set of photos was.
Ruan Jianguo didn’t understand at first, and gave a modest smile. It wasn’t until later that he realized what the owner intended.
"Look, these are all your photos, they came out so beautiful. I have never seen such pretty children before. Wouldn’t it be a matter of pride to let more people see them?" The owner pointed to the glass window at the front of their shop, "Look at these photos inside, I haven’t seen any family that looks better than yours."
Ruan Jianguo was very pleased that the owner complimented his children’s looks.
But he was unwilling to leave a photo in that glass frame for everyone to see and declined, "Thank you, but..."
As soon as the owner heard ’but’, he became anxious and quickly explained, "Don’t be so hasty to refuse, ah, I’ll pay for it. I only want this one," he said, holding the photo of Ruan Jiaojiao and Xiu Xi together. "How about 10 yuan, will that do?"
Ruan Jianguo repeated his sentiment, "Thank you, no need."
The owner really liked their set of photos; the children were photogenic and the results were especially beautiful. He gritted his teeth, "What about twenty, will that do?" It was the highest offer he had ever made; most photos in his glass frame were acquired for just five yuan, so this price was indeed the highest.
"No need," Ruan Jianguo took the photos from his hand and started to leave. The owner followed behind, attempting to negotiate further, but he was bumped by Xiu Xi.
He looked down at Xiu Xi and realized he was the little boy in the photo. Just as he was about to say something, he saw the boy’s eyes staring at him, emitting a chilling light, sending a shiver down his spine. By the time he came to his senses, the two had already walked out.
Ruan Jiaojiao sat in the car without coming out and immediately waved at them.
"Here, take a look." Ruan Jianguo handed her the photos.
They had made an extra copy of the family portrait; one would be kept at home, and the other would be mailed to Shu Jiao. There were three solo shots of Ruan Jiaojiao; they planned to send one of those out as well.
"Send your mom one of the big family portraits and one of your solo shots, Jiaojiao. Once you’ve decided which one, tell Daddy, and we’ll go straight to the post office," he said as he mounted the tricycle and started it up, leaving the pursuing owner behind.
Aboard the tricycle, Ruan Jiaojiao and Xiu Xi were looking at the photos together. After a while, Xiu Xi took out the photo of the two of them, looking at the image of him and her, his eyes brightening noticeably.
He liked it so much he kept touching it.
Ruan Jiaojiao didn’t pay much attention; she was looking at the other photos. She picked out one solo shot and the family portrait to keep separate, and put the rest back in the paper bag. Pondering for a moment, she then turned to ask Xiu Xi, "What about our photo? Put it in here too."
Xiu Xi nodded, reached out his hand, and Ruan Jiaojiao handed him the paper bag. Xiu Xi glanced at her, and seeing that she wasn’t looking his way, he quietly pulled out the photo he had just put back in and hid it among the pile of miscellaneous items beside him, covering it with a few bags.
At the post office, Ruan Jianguo mailed the pre-prepared letters and the photos Ruan Jiaojiao had picked out, following the addresses written on the envelopes.
The postal workers recognized him and had a deep impression of him; they exchanged pleasantries with smiles for a while, and only then Ruan Jianguo, feeling fully satisfied, led Ruan Jiaojiao out.