As soon as I got home, before my mother even got out of the car, several girls surrounded me.

"Big brother, big brother, Dad said our family is going to take pictures, right?"

The chatter of those people was driving the old lady crazy.

"Let me out of the car first, what's the rush? You'll get what's coming to you!" Liu Meifen glared at them. Every time she came home, these little guys only knew about their eldest brother and never greeted their old mother.

What a waste of time raising them!

"Xiao Kun, I forgot to ask you on the way here, how much does this camera cost? I heard it's expensive."

Speaking of money, Liu Meifen felt a little distressed, having heard that even Director Song's family didn't have this kind of thing.

"Look, Mom, this is secondhand stuff, very cheap." Chang Kun took out his camera from his bag and handed it to his mother.

"Oh, don't make me carry it, I'm afraid I'll break it."

"Oh, oh, let's take a picture, haha!" Several little girls lined up happily, each holding onto the back of another's clothes, making a "hawk catching chicks" gesture, and circled around the yard.

"Stop going crazy, everyone wash your hands and come inside to try on your new clothes."

One surprise after another, the little girls were so excited that they rushed to the washbasin, even fighting over who got to wash their hands first.

"I'll wash it."

"I'll wash first..."

Their hands and feet were washed very clean, and their faces were washed seven or eight times, making them all white and tender.

After changing into new clothes and shoes, my mother and older sister helped each of them braid two pigtails and put pink bunny ear headbands on their heads, instantly changing their temperament.

"Oh my, is this still my daughter?" Liu Meifen was stunned when she saw the girls standing together. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were young ladies from a wealthy family.

Chang Mei also smiled. Her parents were quite good-looking when they were young, and these little girls are just like them.

The eldest, Changqing, is already ten years old and is starting to look good. The youngest, Xiuer, is just over three years old and is still at the cutest age. Recently, she has gained weight in her face and become chubby, making people want to pinch her cheeks.

The four adults—father, mother, eldest sister, and Chang Kun—also changed into new clothes. They were going to have a photo taken, so they couldn't be dressed in tattered clothes and embarrass themselves.

The girls couldn't wait any longer and stared longingly at the camera in Chang Kun's hand.

"Big brother, is it done yet?" Chang Qing stood on tiptoe, watching Chang Kun fiddling with the camera, looking on with envy. She wanted to play with it too, but was too afraid to, lest she break it and hurt her bottom.

"Big brother, let's pat the nest first." Xiu'er, who didn't know where she learned the posture, rested her chin on her two little hands and blinked her big eyes at her older brother.

Not only Chang Kun, but even his parents and eldest sister were charmed by his appearance.

"Hehe, Xiuer looks like her mother. I was just as adorable when I was little." Liu Meifen touched her cheek, but now she was old and her face was not as plump and tender as Xiuer's.

Chang Mei pouted. When she was little, her mother used to say that she looked like her, but now that her eyes have become small, her mother no longer mentions that she looks like her.

Seeing that Xiuer had posed, Chang Kun quickly took a picture of her first. Chang Qing, Chang Mu, and Xiao Shui just stared blankly at the camera.

"Ah! Big brother, are you done taking pictures?" Chang Qing was anxious when she saw Chang Kun put down the camera; she wasn't ready yet.

"I'm just trying it out first. We're not in a hurry; we still have plenty of film rolls."

Chang Qing nodded as if she understood, and followed Xiu'er's example by resting her chin on her hands.

Chang Kun walked into the main room and took a series of photos of the stove. The heavy wooden pot lid on the stove, the matches hidden next to the furnace opening, and the copper kerosene lamp hanging on the wall were all things that could not be seen in later generations. He took advantage of the moment to take a few more photos to remember the place.

The newspapers pasted on the west wall, the cracks on the small windowsill of the east kang, and the hanging basket hiding delicious food in the middle of the small east kang—after taking pictures of each of them, Chang Kun felt a little heavy-hearted.

"Big brother, is it ready yet?" The little maids were getting impatient and ran into the main room to urge him.

"Alright, alright, you guys go up to the kang first, I'll take the photos for you." Cheer up, Chang Kun took the group photos and then individual photos of the little girls.

Each member of the family found a spot to take individual photos, and even the little sesame seed cakes were included. The little girls all rode on the little sesame seed cakes, laughing happily.

When it came time for the final group photo, I went outside to ask a neighbor to help me take the picture. The neighbor was quite surprised to see that the Chang family now had a camera.

He had only heard of this thing, but had never seen it before. Chang Kun taught him for a long time before he could handle it.

With so many people at home, a roll of film was quickly finished, and the sky was gradually darkening. The little girls were still not satisfied and wished they could keep taking pictures.

No wonder most of the people who post on social media in later generations are women; they are really interested in taking photos, and even such a young girl can't resist the trend.

After a light dinner, her father was killing a large white goose in the yard. Chang Mu was unaware that her little white goose was about to be eaten and was still playing with her sisters on the kang (heated brick bed).

The girls knew that the house would be lively tomorrow, and even though they were lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), they were too excited to sleep. They creaked and shouted on the kang, asking their eldest sister to help them with this and that.

"Big sister, I want some water."

"Big sister, I need to pee."

"Big sister, my back is itchy..."

Liu Meifen couldn't stand it anymore and immediately yelled, "I think you're all itching for a beating! Should I get a whip?"

The girls then quieted down and lay obediently on the kang (heated brick bed) whispering to each other.

As the moon rose and the whole family fell into a deep sleep, there was nothing more enchanting than this.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, my mother was tidying up the bedding and dishes when she heard the horn of a jeep outside the door.

The girls were already dressed and rushed outside when they heard the horn.

"Oh, we're going to build a big car!"

My mother shouted from behind, "Slow down! Don't get your new clothes dirty, or I don't want to beat you up today!"

As they got out of the jeep, Grandpa Cheng Jie greeted everyone one by one.

"Thank you for making this trip." The old lady said politely. A long time ago, Chang Dashan had told Cheng Jie to drive and help move things.

Actually, there wasn't much to move. The new house already had all the tables, chairs, and benches, so there was nothing to move. There were only everyday bedding, old bowls and chopsticks, plus some oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and food, which were quickly loaded into the car.

After the jeep was loaded, Chang Qingzao asked impatiently, "Brother Cheng, can we get in the car now?"

Fortunately, we didn't have much stuff, and there were still empty seats on the bus, just enough for a few little girls to sit down.

Chang Qing sat in the front passenger seat, holding Xiao Bao in her arms. Xiu'er sat on Chang Mu's lap in the back, and Xiao Shui squeezed next to her. The car was packed full.

This was their second time riding a motorcycle. Last time, they were almost arrested and didn't get a proper ride. This time, as soon as they got on, the girls started sticking their heads out.

"Big brother, big brother, look at me, look at me getting on the bus."

"Hehe, big car, beep beep beep..."

It's just that the car is small; otherwise, the little ones could jump around inside.

"You guys behave yourselves, pull your heads back in, or you'll get jostled off the bus."

Chang Kun glared at them, and only then did they quiet down.

Cheng Jie drove off first, his father drove his mother, and Chang Kun carried his eldest sister on his back, heading straight to the courtyard house.

As for the small baked buns and the hens in the shed, my uncle and aunt came early in the morning and slowly drove the oxcart to the courtyard.

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