Chapter 22: Photo

A letter from Fu Zhengtu.

How would it feel if a husband, who had been “missing” for over two years, suddenly reappeared?

Even Su Taotao, who knew what was coming, couldn’t put her feelings into words.

Chenchen was particularly curious about the “letter” since he had never seen one before.

The little guy’s small hand grabbed the envelope, wanting to take a look. “Mama~~”

Su Taotao let go, realizing that the child had never seen his father, and perhaps no one had ever mentioned the word “father” to him. It made her feel a little sad.

It was time to introduce the concept of “father” to the little one.

She let Chenchen hold the letter, placed him on the tractor first, and then climbed up herself, sitting cross-legged.

Chenchen flipped the envelope around but found nothing special, so he wrinkled his little brows and returned it to Su Taotao.

“Chenchen, this is a letter, a letter from Dad.”

Chenchen wrinkled his little nose. “Letter? Dad~dad?”

The role of a father was a missing one in the Fu family. Fu Yuanhang had also never met his biological father and it was quite difficult to explain.

“Chenchen, do you remember Uncle Black Charcoal’s father, Uncle Old Root?”

Chenchen nodded.

“Most families have a mom, dad, kids, and then grandparents, aunts, uncles, and all that. For example, Uncle Old Root is Black Charcoal’s dad. Black Charcoal calls him ‘Dad.’ Black Charcoal calls Uncle Old Root’s wife ‘Mom,’ which is the same as ‘mother.’ Black Charcoal’s grandmother is Uncle Old Root’s mother, and Black Charcoal’s grandfather is Uncle Old Root’s father.”

Su Taotao paused, feeling that her explanation was a bit convoluted and that Chenchen might not understand, perhaps even the term “family member.” But before she could think of how to explain it, Chenchen had already nodded vigorously. “Grandma~~young uncle~~mom~~”

Then Chenchen patted the envelope with his little hand. “Chenchen~~dad~~letter~~”

Su Taotao’s eyes widened in surprise. Her explanation had been so complicated that even she needed to process it, yet the little one had understood? He even drew an analogy, knowing that grandma was the mother of his young uncle and that the person who wrote the letter was his father?

Su Taotao looked up and down at Chenchen’s little arms. “Are you really a two-year-old?” She wondered if Chenchen was somehow older inside than he looked.

Chenchen blinked, his clear and bright eyes like the clear spring water in the mountains. Su Taotao smiled, thinking about how handsome Chenchen was growing up—how would his future classmates even keep up?

Su Taotao hugged him and shook him gently. “Chenchen is right. Grandma is the mother of the young uncle, but the young uncle’s father, who is also Chenchen’s grandfather, sacrificed himself to protect the motherland and became a hero.

But Chenchen’s father is different. He is just in a mysterious place because of work needs and hasn’t had time to come back to see Chenchen,” Su Taotao waved the letter. “Now he has written us a letter, and I believe Chenchen will see his father soon.”

In fact, Fu Zhengtu had no idea of Chenchen’s existence. Not long after their marriage, he had left for a mission and had been out of contact ever since. This was the first letter she had received from him, and there had been no opportunity to tell him about Chenchen.

Su Taotao didn’t want to open the letter in front of the child. According to her habit, once the letter was opened, she would read it in front of the child. If the letter didn’t mention Chenchen, he’d be heartbroken.

Su Taotao put the letter away and rubbed her legs. “Chenchen, how about Mom takes you to get a photo taken for Dad? Dad hasn’t seen Chenchen yet. Let’s let him see how handsome you are.”

They should have taken a family photo with Zhou Linglan and Fu Yuanhang when they were last in town. Now, if she asked Zhou Linglan to make a special trip, she definitely wouldn’t agree. For now, she and Chenchen would take a photo to send to Fu Zhengtu so he could be prepared.

Chenchen had never had his picture taken before and didn’t really understand what “handsome” meant, but he trusted Mom, so he agreed right away.

There was still more than an hour before the 5 PM return time, so Su Taotao, despite her fatigue, took Chenchen to the photo studio as soon as possible.

The studio was basic, with a dusty gray backdrop, an old camera, and a couple of chairs—that was pretty much it. At that time, color photos were still rare, and most people only had black-and-white pictures.

The photo studios in the 1970s were cashing in on the trend of “small photos.” These photos, less than one inch in size, were cheap and wildly popular, but Su Taotao had no intention of going for this style.

The photography studio was located on the arcade street of Shuangjiangkou, its environment similar to that of the state-run restaurant nearby. Su Taotao had her heart set on “shooting on location.”

After inquiring about the price and things to keep in mind, she asked, “Mr. Photographer, can I take the photo outside? I want to capture the scenery as well.”

The view where the two rivers converged was truly a sight to behold. Knowing she might leave soon, Su Taotao wanted to preserve this memory. Unlike the modern era, where phones allowed people to take photos anytime, opportunities to capture such precious moments were rare. The outdoor scenery was undoubtedly better than the dull backdrop inside.

The photographer had never heard anyone request to shoot outside before. After a moment’s thought, he nodded, “Alright, but I can’t guarantee the image quality. There might be overexposure due to the bright outdoor light.”

Su Taotao smiled. “That’s okay, I’ll take a few more shots.”

The photographer hesitated, wondering if he should remind her about the price again. But judging by their attire, they seemed well-off and unlikely to mind spending a little extra. Still, he felt it best to clarify, “A 6×8 inch full-body photo costs 50 cents, a half-body photo is 40 cents, 5-inch photos are 10 cents less, and 2-inch photos are 10 cents each. You need to specify your requirements first.”

Su Taotao nodded. “I’ll take 6×8 inch full-body photos. I’ll hold the child for two photos, one of just the child, and one of me alone. Four photos in total.”

Few people these days were willing to spend so much money. The photographer looked at Su Taotao carefully. “There’s a restroom inside. Go wash your face.”

Su Taotao had almost forgotten about her disguise. The love for beauty was universal, and she was no exception.

A few minutes later, after washing herself and Chenchen clean, the completely refreshed mother and son walked out. The photographer was stunned. He hadn’t expected the female comrade to be so stunning. It was as if a dust-covered pearl had been polished, suddenly radiating an eye-catching brilliance.

Especially those clear, sparkling eyes. The corners of her eyes tilted up slightly, as if a slight curl of her lips could bewitch and capture hearts. In all his years in the photography industry, he had never encountered such a beautiful female comrade.

By the time he was ready to shoot, Su Taotao had already struck a pose.

In the first shot, she held Chenchen with her right hand, letting him raise his right hand high above his head. She tilted her head towards him, raised her left hand high, and bent it down to form a not-so-perfect heart shape with Chenchen’s right hand.

“Great job,” she said to Chenchen. “When the photographer uncle counts to three, say ‘cheese’ with me, okay?”

It was Chenchen’s first time being photographed, and he was very curious about everything. He kept staring at the dark camera in the photographer’s hand, only shifting his attention back when Su Taotao spoke.

The photographer had initially wanted to guide Su Taotao on her pose, but seeing her creative and somewhat unique stance, he decided against interfering. He captured the moment and counted, “One, two, three.”

“Cheese!” Su Taotao and Chenchen shouted together.

The shutter clicked, capturing the most beautiful smiles of the mother and child, as well as the flowing rivers and the exquisite hills in the background.

After they lowered their hands, Su Taotao gave him a thumbs-up. He understood and counted to three again. This time, without Su Taotao’s guidance, Chenchen shouted “Cheese” on his own.

But just as the photographer reached “three,” Su Taotao suddenly turned to kiss Chenchen’s cheek.

“Click!” The moment was frozen in time.

Chenchen was familiar with it, but the photographer’s expression was indescribable.

This was the most unexpected and naturally perfect photo he had ever taken. The mother and son didn’t seem like first-time models at all; they were born for the camera.

The subsequent solo shots further proved this point.

Su Taotao simply stood there, did nothing, and just smiled at the camera, looking breathtakingly beautiful.

Chenchen, such a cool kid, would automatically say “cheese” whenever he heard the countdown, smiling so brightly that even the wildflowers by the roadside would pale in comparison.

With many years of photography experience, the photographer knew without even looking at the developed photos that this set would be stunning.

“May I make extra copies to display in the studio’s window display?” he asked.

Su Taotao shook her head. “I’m sorry, but it’s best not to.”

“I’ll waive the cost of two photos, or I can give you an extra set for free,” the photographer tried one last time.

It wasn’t about getting more business. The county had only this one photo studio, and everyone had to come here for pictures. He just wanted to show off his great work.

Su Taotao shook her head.

The photographer gritted his teeth. “It’s all on the house. From now on, whenever you come to take photos here, it’s free.”

Su Taotao had already paid. “I’m really sorry, but no. We still have to get going, thank you for your trouble.”

The photographer sighed but didn’t push any harder.

While he was writing up the receipt, Su Taotao slipped into the bathroom.

When she came out, she looked just as dusty as when she’d walked in.

The photographer stared, pointing at her face. “You did that on purpose?”

Su Taotao lightly laughed. “To avoid drawing attention.”

The photographer finally understood why she didn’t want the photos showcased. “I see. You’re a smart one. This roll’s done. I’ll get them developed right away. You can pick them up on the next market day.”

Su Taotao thanked him. It was already half-past four in the afternoon. She quickly left, holding Chenchen, and rushed to the meeting point.

It had been another busy day. By the time she returned home, eaten dinner, and lay in bed, everyone in the family had fallen asleep. As Su Taotao lay there, she suddenly remembered something she had forgotten. She sat up suddenly—right, she hadn’t read the letter from her husband yet!