Chapter 1184 of the Notes of a War Photographer: An Auspicious Day On the evening of the first day after joining the apartment, after dinner, the sunset also sank below the horizon. When Yang’s mother finished clearing the dining table, Mei Xiang, Jasmine and Qiushi

The girl and a mute Cao also sat around the Eight Immortals table and played mahjong.

Tao Canhua, who was dressed in a long gown, was not idle either. He was guarding a cowhide storyteller drum not far away and performed alone the classic piece "Borrowing Arrows from a Straw Boat" from Jingyun Dagu.

However, after just watching at the card table for a short time, Wei Ran discovered that Mei Xiang and Jasmine seemed to be cheating! And they were cheating under the guidance of Cao Dumb!

Even the girl Qiushi, who looked weak and shy, could shake the dice clock casually and produce a "one pillar holding the sky".

Seeing how busy these people were, Wei Ran simply asked for instructions from his eldest cousin who was busy stealing signs, and then got the key from Miss Qiushi, and then went upstairs alone and got into the locked darkroom.

inside.

This darkroom is no different in size from the storage room downstairs leading to the basement. Apart from some wooden printing equipment and a green iron cabinet that stores various potions, photo papers and other consumables, the only furniture in the room is a

A small table and a chair.

The only things on the table were a copper-cased horseshoe watch, a small electric fan, and a small desk lamp with a red bulb.

After a brief familiarity, Wei Ran locked the door, closed the wooden shutters of the windows, and finally closed the three-layer thick curtains, and then began the printing work.

In his busy work, the negatives were developed one after another, and then turned into black and white photos one after another.

Thanks to the aesthetics of later generations, the beautiful fragrance recorded in these photos and a few photos of autumn fruits have somewhat escaped the unique atmosphere of the Republic of China era.

While waiting for the photo to dry, Wei Ran also opened the window, lit a cigarette in the night, and let the slightly warm night wind outside sweep away the puff of smoke.

Looking at the last three cigarettes left in the cigarette box, Wei Ran sighed secretly and wondered to himself what the meaning of this one pack of cigarettes a day mission was.

During the slightly long wait, when Wei Ran came downstairs with a stack of dry photos, the card game on the first floor was still going on, but Qiushi, the little girl, had already posted several photos on her face.

Note. Also with a note on her face was Yang Ma, who replaced Cao Dumb.

Looking at Tao Canhua who was still performing, Wei Ran put all the photos in his hand and several films on the table. He also put the darkroom door key on the card table, "Cousin, the photos have been developed.

Yes, the negatives are all here. Qiushi, this is the key to the darkroom,"

"You will hold the key from now on."

As Meixiang spoke, she had already thrown out a piece of Dongfeng, picked up the pile of photos, and said at the same time, "Qiushi, put the negatives away and put them in the small study at night."

Hearing this, Qiushi immediately picked up the few films and put them into his pocket. At the same time, he, Jasmine and Yang Ma came to Meixiang's side, and looked at the photos taken by Wei Ran under the bright light.

.

Amid the compliments from these women, Wei Ran returned to his room with a smile on his face, took out the shoe brush, shoe polish, shoe polish and other items he bought at noon, sat on the deck chair on the balcony, lit a cigarette again, and watched

A small lamp carefully brushed the leather shoes.

The next day came and Wei Ran got up early. After getting dressed, he didn't forget to take out his silver pocket watch and set the time with the big clock on the first floor.

Not much later than him, Cao Yuba and Tao Canhua also got up one after another. Immediately afterwards, Miss Qiushi also came down from upstairs, called Tao Canhua who had just washed up, and together they went to the semi-underground practice room to start practicing the exercises.

Amidst the vague babbling sounds, Yang Ma also helped everyone prepare breakfast with the help of Jasmine. Cao Mute took a big broom to clean the yard. Even Wei Ran was swept away by Yang Ma.

Arranged a job watering flowers and feeding parrots.

While chatting with Yang's mother, Wei Ran also learned that the colorful parrot with a particularly broken beak was a gift given to Mei Xiang by a comprador from a Belgian foreign company in spring.

Unfortunately, this stupid bird was too noisy, so he only stayed on the terrace on the third floor for two nights before being banished to the cold palace by Mei Xiang and raised in such a nook and cranny, out of sight and out of mind.

After feeding the lively big parrot with a few walnuts, Wei Ran not only watered several small flower beds distributed throughout the small building, but also helped plant the flowers in the small space behind the kitchen.

Those green onions and the like were watered.

After everyone finished their work, breakfast items such as rice porridge, pickles, boiled eggs, etc. were also placed on the dining table on the first floor. There was even a large bag of golden fried dough sticks in the middle of the dining table - which Jasmine had just bought while riding her bicycle.

However, the people eating breakfast did not include Mei Xiang. According to Qiushi, Miss Mei Xiang would not get up until half past nine. If there were no guests that day, she could sleep until eleven o'clock.

I didn't get up until lunch time.

After finishing breakfast while chatting, Cao Muba drove away from the small courtyard alone and went to an unknown place. Jasmine also greeted Qiu Shi and Tao Canhua to the underground practice room. Even Yang's mother began to clean the room on the first floor.

When he had a rare opportunity, Wei Ran took a rag and while helping his nominal aunt wipe the tables, chairs and furniture, he asked in a low voice, "Aunt, I heard Jasmine say yesterday that Shang Xiaoyun saved the young lady's life.

?”

“Not great”

Yang Ma subconsciously glanced at the direction of the stairs and storage room, then waved her hand towards Wei Ran, gesturing for him to follow her to the floor-to-ceiling window facing the small flower bed, wiping the window intermittently.

He explained in a low voice, "I heard from Xiao Su's mother that when her own mother was alive in her early years, she was the second wife of a certain officer in the Beiyang Army. Xiao Su's mother was the fourth wife of that officer who bought her from a brothel.

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Later, when the young lady was six years old, her father died in the war, and his first wife kicked the young lady, her mother and Xiao Su’s mother out.

The three of them begged for food all the way to Jinmen, and Xiao Su's mother resumed her old business. From time to time, she even helped the young lady and the two of them survived.

But within two years, there was a flood in Jinmen. The young lady’s mother contracted cholera and died, and the young lady was separated from Xiao Su’s mother.

It was at that time that Shang Xiaoyun came to Tianjin to perform for disaster relief. He saw the lady begging for food at the entrance of the theater, so he casually gave her five yuan and helped her find Little Su's mother."

"What happened next?" Wei Ran asked in a low voice.

"Xiao Su's mother is a sharp-tongued person."

Yang's mother sighed, "Not only did she adopt the young lady, but she also begged a sweetheart to find a church school for the young lady to study in. But Xiao Su's mother is not young after all. She even choked on her lungs the year she had the flood.

.

Later, as life became increasingly difficult, the young lady took the initiative to enter this industry. If it hadn't been for the protection of Xiao Su's mother over the years, the young lady would have had her bones chewed clean, let alone maintaining her innocence."

"No wonder the lady didn't let me hurt Xiao Su's mother that day."

Wei Ran pretended to be enlightened and muttered, but then asked, "Since they have this relationship, why doesn't Xiao Su's mother come over?"

"Her?"

Yang Ma covered her mouth with a smile, and lowered her voice a little lower, "After Miss became popular, Xiao Su Ma's life was not worried, and there was a manager of a devil's foreign company who was fascinated by her body.

The big fat one.

I heard from Jasmine that Xiao Su’s mother usually lives at that Japanese manager’s place, and she’s afraid that the Japanese would like the young lady, so why would she come to live here and cause trouble?”

"Oh——" Wei Ran responded with a long voice.

"As long as you know this, don't dare to talk nonsense."

Although Yang's mother warned her like this, just by looking at her expression, one could tell that this person was still immersed in the pleasure of gossiping.

Through the conversation, Wei Ran also learned some trivial information. For example, Mei Xiang is only 28 years old this year, Jasmine is just 24, Qiushi is younger, just 17 years old, and Cao Mute is only 33 years old this year.

, the oldest one here is Yang’s mother, she is already 40 years old.

In addition, he also learned in a few words that after September 18th, his Aunt Yang's son and husband were killed by the Japs. She was picked up by Mei Xiang when she fled to Peking.

, since then, he has been following Mei Xiang and doing housework.

After the chat, Cao Muba also drove into the yard. Soon after, he walked in carrying two bags, and after giving one to Wei Ran, he carried the other into the basement.

Taking the bag and opening it, Wei Ran discovered that in addition to a Chinese tunic suit and two white shirts, there was also a paper box. When he opened the paper box, there were ten items that could be used in Rollei.

Film on a double mirror.

"Miss, I'm very satisfied with the photos you took yesterday. I guess I want you to take a few more photos," Yang's mother reminded with a bright smile.

"I will take some more photos for you when I have the opportunity," Wei Ran responded as he put away his baggage, and then walked towards his room.

When he hid in the room and put on a new shirt, he found a rickshaw parked at the entrance of the courtyard, followed closely by Xiao Su's mother, who was talking just now, carrying a stylish white bag and twisting it

An overly round body walked in.

"Beautiful fragrance, beautiful fragrance!"

Far away from the gate, the little Su's mother shouted loudly like the noisy parrot, "Is this damn girl still sleeping in? Akimi! Wake her up quickly, Mr. Ueda is coming soon.

It’s gone! Qiushi! Where’s Qiushi? Jasmine!”

Whooshing all the way, Xiao Su's mother also ran into the small building like a thick fleshy whirlwind.

Although she was startled by Wei Ran who looked at her with a smile, the little Su's mother still ran upstairs and said, "You, what is your name, Wei?"

"Weiran"

"What kind of bad name is this?"

Xiao Su's mother murmured something particularly disgusting, and then continued to say in a loud voice, "When Mr. Ueda comes, you go to the basement and hide, and I won't let you out. You are not even allowed to make a fart sound."

After saying that, little Su's mother didn't even wait for Wei Ran's response, and went upstairs without a trace.

Seeing this, Wei Ran and Yang Ma looked helpless and looked at each other. The latter pointed upstairs, then turned around and got into the kitchen, obviously intending to be out of sight and out of mind.

Immediately afterwards, Jasmine and Qiushi also came up from the basement and quickly went upstairs.

Less than 20 minutes later, when Qiu Shi called Wei Ran and Tao Canhua up to the second floor, Mei Xiang had already put on the small dress she had worn during the photo shoot yesterday, and even had a pair of lace gloves on her hands.

"Cousin, you can go sit in the darkroom and don't make any sound."

Meixiang, with the help of Jasmine, applied makeup and makeup on her face and said to herself, "Niece, you can play the erhu behind the screen later. You can play whatever music you want. You can't do it unless the hoof clock rings.

stop."

"Just me?" Tao Canhua asked nervously.

"You are enough on your own," Mei Xiang said and looked at Wei Ran, "Can I trust you?"

"Don't worry, cousin," Wei Ran responded with a smile.

Hearing this, Mei Xiang smiled, and then nodded to Qiushi. Upon seeing this, the latter immediately opened a jewelry box and took out two small silver pistols.
To be continued...