Wei Xin also took her siblings to the Forbidden City, Beihai Park, Jingshan, and wandered around the nearby alleys. They took a lot of photos. It was Wei Xin's own camera, which she bought after earning money. This child has been a vain and photo-taking person since she was a child. Speaking of which, Wei Xin's interest in taking photos was cultivated by her mother Chen Xuan. Chen Xuan is strict with her children, but Chen Xuan believes that it is to help them develop good habits. In addition, An Nian has always been a person who has no principles towards children, so Chen Xuan herself has to be more principled. But Chen Xuan also likes her children from the bottom of her heart. Her own life was not very good when she was a child, so she treats her children very well.
At that time, the little girl was just born. Chen Xuan lived frugally, but from the time the little girl was one year old, she would take her to the photo studio every year to take photos for the child as a souvenir. Later, when the little girl was a little older, she was no longer satisfied with only taking photos once a year. She often asked her parents to take photos with her, and her grandmother and aunt to take photos with her, and took photos several times a year. Sometimes she would look in the mirror and think that she looked better today than yesterday, so she would also take photos.
In Chen Xuan's words, she has been vain since she was a child. When she arrived in the United States, Wei Nian was a fashionable person. Wei Nian first bought a second-hand camera to play with himself and take pictures of his family. This made Alice Wei so happy that she wanted to be her father's exclusive little model. Alice Wei has been bold since she was a child. At first, she secretly used her father's camera to take pictures of her grandmother, and taught her grandmother to take pictures of herself. Later, she began to learn to take pictures of scenery, small movements, and things she saw with her own eyes that were worth taking pictures of. This first second-hand camera in the family became Alice Wei's exclusive use, and she played with it until she bought a new camera later. But to be honest, these are all cameras in the family, and Alice Wei's camera is her own.
Western education places great emphasis on individual education. Alice Wei was very proud of having her own camera. She is a member of the Photographic Society of America. Of course, the way to join this society is extremely simple. There is no threshold at all. Anyone who is a photography enthusiast can join. Although no photography works have won awards so far, Alice Wei has always emphasized that the reason is that the camera is relatively poor. Anyway, there are photography exhibitions in their school that can be participated in. Chen Xuan encourages children to have their own hobbies.
Alice Wei took a lot of photos during this trip back to China. She was planning to hold an old Beijing photography exhibition after returning to school.
Wei Nian said hello to Alice Wei in advance, "We will take a family photo tomorrow, so don't go out again."
Alice Wei volunteered, "Dad, I'll take the photo. I'll take the photo."
"If you were a photographer, you wouldn't be missing from the family portrait."
"It's okay. I'll adjust the lens and leave a spot for me. I can ask the neighbor's aunt to help press the shutter. Then I can take a few more photos of our whole family."
Wei Nian wondered if the neighbor’s aunt would say both, so he simply called his friend Cheng Su to help take pictures. Cheng Su used to be a reporter in a newspaper, and had been playing with cameras for many years. Now he is the editor-in-chief. Cheng Su’s wife, Mrs. Cheng, also knew him. Even Cheng Su’s eldest son, whose nickname is Cheng Dagen and whose full name is Cheng Chuan, is the little girl’s childhood sweetheart. When they were young, they often played together. When they met in China this time, they still had some vague memories of their childhood playmates. Cheng Su’s family has four sons, but no daughter. Mrs. Cheng was so greedy when she saw the little girl, and felt that she might not have a daughter in this life.
Wei Nian invited Cheng Su's family to come. Since returning to China, the Wei family has been busy and the two families haven't had a proper meal together. The Cheng family has four boys, and the Wei family has many children. The children chatter together as lively as a temple fair. Cheng Chuan is one year older than the little girl, and he is still a little shy when talking to the little girl. Although the little girl claims to be someone who has received love letters from school since she was nine years old, her love is like her current bamboo-like figure, which has not yet begun to develop. She doesn't know how to be shy when she is with boys, and she talks and laughs naturally.
Alice Wei acted like a general manager, arranging the seats for the whole family, because there were too many people. Old Mrs. Wei naturally sat in the center seat, and she just had to sit still. Wei Jin arranged for her uncle, aunt, her father, her mother, aunt, uncle-in-law, and younger aunt to sit in the middle row, and the cousins and their wives stood behind them, as well as Alice Wei's own empty seat. The other brothers and sisters, the younger ones like Sibaoer, just had to stand, the younger ones sat on the ground, and the older ones stood around.
Wei Shidu said, "This is our family's chief steward."
Wei Jin smiled and said, "For a big family gathering like this, there has to be someone like this."
Mrs. Cheng looked at Alice Wei and thought she was perfect from head to toe. This girl, after so many years in the United States, still had the true qualities of an old Beijing girl. Looking at her clothes, she was not like those fashionable women who wore Western clothes all day, but she was not rustic at all, and she was so talkative and capable. She glanced at her son again, pretending to be very knowledgeable and following behind others, like a little follower. It was a pity that the Wei family had to go abroad again, and now the two families were not a good match, otherwise it would have been a good marriage.
Mrs. Cheng didn't know that studying abroad could lead to such a bright future. She thought that she had to encourage her son who was in high school to work harder, and if her son had a bright future, she would let him study abroad.
While directing, Wei said, "Hey, Wei Yu, stop looking in the mirror. You must have two kilograms of hairspray on your head. Your hair is so stylish that even a level 12 typhoon can't blow it away. Wei Hong, smile and don't be so serious. Si Baoer, stop pulling your second sister's skirt. Your second sister's skirt will be pulled to the ground by you. Grandma, stop pursing your lips. Your lipstick will be used up."
As she was muttering her instructions like this, everyone almost burst out laughing.
The photo was taken with the help of Cheng Chuan.
After taking this big family portrait, the little girl still let grandma sit in the center position and moved a few chairs. The first group was the four children taking pictures with grandma, then the four children plus their wives and sons-in-law took pictures together, and there was also a big group photo of grandma with her grandchildren, and a big group photo of grandma with her great-grandchildren. Group photos of grandma with each family, and group photos of grandma with everyone. In order to take today's photos, grandma prepared three sets of clothes and changed them to take pictures with everyone. In the middle, she was tired and had to take a break in the old rocking chair. She said to the eldest daughter very proudly, "You said that you all want to take pictures with me. If I don't agree to you, I'm afraid you will be unhappy. The weather is hot, I have to take a break." Then he asked his accompanying makeup artist and little daughter, "Ayin, do you think I should touch up my makeup?"
Wei Yin really couldn't stand her mother's vanity.
In the whole family, besides old lady Wei, Wei Xin is the busiest one. Anyone who wants to take a photo will call her. Sometimes someone will call, "Xinxin, come over here to take a photo." Another person will call, "Sister Xin, here." Another person will urge, "Sister Xinxin, this way." Another person will call, "Alice Wei, look here."
Five rolls of film were used for the family photo shoot. Wei Xin told everyone, "I'll take this back and develop it myself. I'm very good at developing photos. I participated in a photography competition in the United States last year. I'll send it back to my uncle when the time comes."
Wei Shi said, "Send me a copy of the complete set. When I miss you guys, I can just look at the photos and it will be like seeing you in person."
Wei Xin nodded and agreed with a smile. She also patted her uncle's back and comforted him, saying, "Uncle, Brother Jie said that he would return to China as soon as he finishes his doctorate. When I finish my doctorate, I will also return to China to work. I still like our old Beijing more."
Wei Shi loved his niece so much, and felt that she was the future pillar of the motherland. Wei Shi was very pleased and nodded, "Okay, that's good. Beijing is our home, our roots."
Mrs. Li listened to her niece and husband talking with a smile on her face.
Wei Nian and his wife talked about the interesting things in the past with Cheng Su and his wife. Mrs. Cheng kept praising Chen Xuan for being lucky to have two daughters. Wei Nian joked, "Sister-in-law, do you know why you don't have a daughter?"
"Why? The last time you got pregnant with our fourth boy, I went to Tanzhe Temple with the head of the family. It is said that Tanzhe Temple is very spiritual. I burned incense and prayed to Buddha, but it was still a boy that I gave birth to." Mrs. Cheng asked Chen Xuan, "Sister-in-law, is there any secret to giving birth to a girl?" Nowadays, of course, one cannot live without a son, but even if one has many sons, one still wants a daughter.
Chen Xuan is a very honest person. "What secret can there be? Whether it's a girl or a boy is God's will. Just give birth to the baby. Before the baby is born, I don't know whether it's a boy or a girl."
"You don't know this. My sister-in-law keeps giving birth to sons, mainly because of her personality." Wei Nian said jokingly.
"I've never heard of it. What does having a son or a daughter have to do with personality? This is the personality of a son. Then what is the personality of a daughter? Tell me and I'll change it." Mrs. Cheng is still as straightforward as ever after not seeing her for many years.
"Be less jealous, that's the character of giving birth to a daughter." Wei Nian laughed, "I still remember when you and Cheng just got married, you came to my house and drank a jar of old vinegar. Sister-in-law, you just drank too much vinegar, sour son, spicy daughter, you drank that big jar of vinegar before, and you didn't give birth to a son."
Mrs. Cheng is now a mother of four children. She finds it funny when she talks about the past. Mrs. Cheng has a hot temper. She said, "You only know how to laugh at me now. You two can't understand what I say. Only my sister-in-law and I can agree. You grew up in Beijing, how can you know how it feels for a country girl like us to marry in the city. I feel happy, but also timid, and always feel that I am not worthy of you city men. Well, to be honest, I have to thank my sister-in-law for this. If my sister-in-law hadn't enlightened me and taught me how to dress up like a city girl, I would still be a country girl now."
"Even if I don't teach you, you will figure it out sooner or later. You are a born smart person." Chen Xuan couldn't help but smile when she thought of the past.
"What do you mean by smart? I just can't study. I didn't study when I was at home, and I'm not as studious as you, sister-in-law. I heard that you were self-studying before, and I thought that you were about the same age as me, and you were married, so why were you still studying those books that children studied? You are far-sighted. Studying is really useful. Not only men, but also women like us can study more. I don't have a daughter. If I had a daughter, I would tell her about you and tell her that it's never too late to learn." Mrs. Cheng asked Chen Xuan, "Sister-in-law, the little girl should be in high school now, right?"
"I'm a sophomore this year, and I'll be a senior when I go back."
"How's studying?"
"It's OK. Going to university won't be a problem." Chen Xuan was always very modest when she talked about her studies. She usually didn't talk much, but she was very talkative when she talked about her children. Chen Xuan said, "Originally, when she was in elementary school, the school suggested that she skip a grade, but she didn't want to. Later, she skipped a grade in junior high school and was promoted to high school after one year. It is very common to get scholarships in American universities, but it is not easy to get high school scholarships. Wei Xin won the school's excellent scholarship when she was in high school. She likes mechanics. Now, if anything breaks down in our house, she fixes it. Last year, she represented the school in the high school mechanics competition and did well. I know a professor in the mechanics department of the school. She goes to the laboratory to do odd jobs for half a day every week, so she can have a longer vacation. Professor Aiken said that when Wei Xin goes to university, he can help write a letter of recommendation."
Mrs. Cheng was so envious when she heard this that she kept exclaiming, "How come this girl is so capable?"
"My sister-in-law was not there when I was worried. She stole the family car when she was twelve, and broke her leg while skiing. She has signed up for all kinds of hobby classes such as music, chess, calligraphy and painting since she was a child. Now she is only half-baked at everything and has not mastered any of them." Chen Xuan said, "I didn't believe in gods or Buddhas, but since the children started to grow up, I go to church every week and ask Jesus to bless these girls."
Chen Xuan thought about her child's mischief as she grew up. She was worried and anxious at the time, but now she thinks it's quite interesting. After Chen Xuan praised her daughter enough, she asked Mrs. Cheng, "How are Ah Chuan's grades?"
Mrs. Cheng said, "I asked about the little girl's grades because I wanted to use this to stimulate Dachuan. She's not stupid, she just likes to play. Sister-in-law, you said that high school is the time to work harder, but now she wants to play. I'm worried about his studies. He's a grown-up now. Although he can find a job after graduating from high school, I always think that I didn't have formal education. Cheng can go to high school, and Dachuan had better be better than his father. He should at least go to college, and he will have a better future."
Cheng Su listened to his wife with a smile. Chen Xuan agreed with Mrs. Cheng and said, "That's right. You have to prepare for college in high school, and what major your child likes and which university to apply to. Sister-in-law, your family is well-off and there is no need to rush your child to work. Letting your child study more will be good for him."
"I thought so too, but I don't know much about universities."
Chen Xuan thought for a moment and said, "First determine what your child is interested in, find the right major, and then choose a top university. You have to go to a good university, otherwise it's better not to go. University has a huge impact on a person. Many children will fall into depravity in college, and many children who seemed quite ordinary before have become outstanding people after going to college. College is the most critical period in a child's life."
Mrs. Cheng went home and told her husband, "Mrs. Chen is indeed a postdoctoral fellow. She is really knowledgeable."
Cheng Su said, "You have to tell this brat to study more. You know, A-Nian and I were classmates in high school. It's a pity that I haven't studied in these years. A-Nian is now a very capable person."
Mrs. Cheng poured two cups of warm tea, handed one to her husband, and said with a smile, "There's no rush. We have four sons. We'll ask them to study hard in the future! As long as they are willing to work hard, why worry about them not having any ability in the future? Besides, not everyone has to go to college or get a doctorate. As long as the children are safe and healthy, and work hard, I'll be happy."
Cheng Su couldn't help but laugh.
After being married for many years, the arrogance of youth has turned into the gentleness of middle age. At the age of becoming a father or a mother, life has also changed from the turbulence of youth to the calmness of today. The beautiful and handsome face in youth is stained with the traces of time. The face is getting old, but the heart has more warmth. Perhaps this is the charm of time.
After the Wei family took this family photo, it was time to say goodbye. In such a war-torn era, many people died in war and famine. It was a blessing for the Wei family to be able to spend these years in peace. But it was also because of such an era that the family thought that this reunion was just the most ordinary family gathering in life, but they didn't know that after this separation, they would not see each other again for many years.
The fate of everyone will be accompanied by the stormy waves of the times, swept away by the vigorous times, and rushing towards countless unknown directions.
The author has something to say: ps: Good night~~~~~~~~~~~~~~