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“Aren’t you giving me a copy?”
Su Momo tilted her head and looked at Lin Xingchen expectantly. He almost reached out to ruffle her hair, but after rubbing his fingers against his palm, he stopped. After all, they were outside and needed to mind appearances.
“It’ll be safer with me. Once we’re home, we’ll frame it and put it in the photo cabinet.”
He still couldn’t quite believe this day had come. Now, he too had a family of his own. The marriage certificate pressed against his chest was the only thing that made it feel real.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go take photos and buy what we need. By the time we finish, big brother should be here.”
Since they’d be purchasing large items, Su Tingjie wasn’t coming with the army jeep but had borrowed a logistics truck.
The photo studio next to the civil affairs office was small but tidy.
“Comrades, are you here for wedding photos or another type?” the photographer asked, though his eyes already twinkled. Years of experience told him these two were newlyweds.
“Wedding photos. We’d like to take several.”
“Of course. You two are an exceptionally handsome pair. The photos will turn out beautifully. I’ve photographed countless couples, but never one as striking as you.”
Their looks were truly the best of the best. Momo, especially, with her long legs, swan-like neck, delicate face, and flawless fair skin, was breathtaking both in person and on camera.
The couple sat side by side on the stools prepared for them. Momo smiled radiantly at the lens, while Lin, with his soldier’s habit, sat straight-backed and solemn. Just as the photographer was about to click, he noticed Lin wasn’t looking at the camera at all; his eyes were fixed on Momo, filled with tenderness.
The photographer hesitated, then smiled. That was a natural kind of beauty worth capturing, so he pressed the shutter.
“Comrade soldier, please give me one proper shot at least. Look at the camera, relax a bit. Like your wife here.”
Momo turned her head and laughed. Her soldier husband sat like he was at an inspection: posture rigid, gaze unwavering, face stern as if preparing to join the Party rather than pose for wedding photos.
“Relax your face a little. This is a happy occasion. Who was it at the bureau door just now, smiling at the corners of his mouth?”
“All right,” Lin said, but his expression hardly changed.
Momo chuckled softly. “Never mind, master photographer. Just shoot him like this, it has character.”
Since both agreed, the photographer didn’t push further.
They took over a dozen shots, including a few with props. Whenever Lin’s gaze fell on Momo, his face softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips, his eyes overflowing with warmth. Those, the photographer knew, were the best pictures of all.
“Do you want them rushed? For an extra two yuan per print, you can have them this afternoon.”
It wasn’t cheap. An ordinary worker earned only thirty or forty yuan a month. Each eight-inch print cost five yuan, and they had taken more than ten, with double prints for each negative. That was over a hundred yuan, the equivalent of Lin’s monthly salary as deputy regiment commander.
“Rush them, please. We’ll pick them up this afternoon.”
Lin paid without hesitation. The savings book was already in Momo’s name, but he’d kept a thousand yuan on hand for wedding expenses. No way was he letting her pay.
Afterward, they went back to the supply and marketing cooperative where they had bought candy earlier. The sales clerks brightened when they saw the young couple again. With the shop so close to the marriage bureau, they were used to seeing newlyweds, but none as dazzling as these two.
“Comrades, what would you like today?”
“Wife, you choose.”
Momo scanned the shelves and asked for two jin of hard candy, along with salt, soy sauce, and other seasonings. She also picked up six bowls, six pairs of chopsticks, and six plates. The house had none of these. The candy in her parcels was the expensive kind, milk candy and brittle sugar too showy to hand out. Hard candy was better for giving.
“That’s about enough. We’ll see what else we need later.”
Lin leaned closer. “We still need the betrothal gifts: a bicycle, a sewing machine, and a radio. Do you have stock?”
The clerk grinned. “You’re in luck. A shipment came just yesterday. A day later and they’d be gone.”
The radio was tested with batteries and worked fine. Then the clerk led them to the storeroom.
“Here are only two bicycles left, both Phoenix brand. The brand of the sewing machine is Bee.”
“Don’t you have a woman’s bicycle?” Lin asked
“No, comrade. Size 26 bikes are rare.”
Momo tugged at Lin’s sleeve. “It’s fine. You wouldn’t be able to ride a 26 anyway. I’ve got long legs; I can handle a 28.”
Since smaller bikes weren’t available, Lin had no choice but to settle.
“We’ll take one bicycle and the sewing machine. Keep them here, we’ll pick them up when the truck arrives.”
The three items cost three ration tickets and more than four hundred yuan.
“Let’s buy some fabric too,” Momo suggested. “What I brought isn’t suitable for fieldwork. I need sturdy clothes.”
“We have blemished cloth, no tickets needed. Would you like to see?”
It was technically for staff benefits, but the flaws were so minor they were barely noticeable.
“Yes, of course. You’ve been so helpful here. Please take some wedding candy.”
Momo handed over five White Rabbit candies. The clerk’s smile grew even brighter.
“This pink and yellow cloth would make lovely dresses. And this blue piece, though slightly flawed, can be cut around easily. It won’t matter at all once tailored.”
Momo stroked the fabric and nodded. She bought several colors, plus darker cloth for work clothes and fine white cotton for vests, perfect for Lin in the summer.
By the time they finished, they had piles of purchases. Just then, Su Tingjie arrived.
“Brother, you’re here!”
“I brought the truck. Let’s load everything. Momo, this is Xiao Liu, he’s older than you by a bit.”
“Deputy Commander, Comrade Su.” Xiao Liu grinned, showing a row of bright white teeth. He looked every bit the cheerful young soldier.