bookbashuk Chapter 225 Wedding Photos VS Family Portraits
Chapter 225 Wedding Photos VS Family Portraits
The three of them arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau by car. Lu Cheng was so excited that his hands were trembling, and he quickly took out all his documents.
The staff smiled and offered their blessings, making Shen Li feel a little embarrassed—she was so happy that she had forgotten to bring wedding candy.
As she awkwardly looked at the wedding candies left by other newlyweds on the table, Lu Cheng suddenly pulled a handful of fruit candies from his coat pocket and distributed them to the staff: "Thank you everyone."
Shen Li smiled; her second brother had prepared everything.
The two were somewhat dazed when they received their marriage certificate.
At that time, marriage certificates were not booklets, but just a piece of red paper with words printed on it, looking like an award certificate, without even a photo on it.
Even so, Lu Cheng still treasured it dearly, carefully folding it and putting it into his inner pocket.
Lu Sheng stood quietly to the side and watched. Although his name was not on the marriage certificate, he felt that he should also come and do this, as a way to give this relationship a sense of ceremony.
He was tall and handsome, and stood out conspicuously alone in the lobby of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
A young female staff member couldn't help but step forward and ask curiously, "Comrade, why did you come alone?"
After all, whether you're getting married or divorced here, it requires two people!
Lu Sheng didn't even lift his eyelids, his tone indifferent: "Let's see if anyone's getting divorced, so I can pick one up."
The female staff member was stunned, her face filled with disbelief: What kind of strange hobby is this? In this day and age, who would get a divorce so easily!
She was stunned by Lu Sheng's words, but looking at his handsome face and tall figure, she still mustered her courage and asked softly, "Then... is it okay if we're not divorced?"
Lu Sheng: "..."
The female staff member then realized she had misspoke, her face instantly turning bright red. She quickly waved her hands, saying, "That's not what I meant! I meant, is it okay if we're not married yet?"
Seeing Lu Sheng's dark face, Shen Li quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Comrade, he came with us, he was just joking."
As she spoke, she pulled Lu Sheng and Lu Cheng and quickly walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
There were booths for taking wedding photos right outside the door. Although marriage certificates didn't require photos at this time, many newlyweds would still take one as a keepsake.
Lu Cheng, holding Shen Li's hand, said excitedly, "Let's go take a wedding photo that has a vintage feel!"
The photographer at the entrance, with his sharp eyes, spotted the three approaching and immediately called out enthusiastically, "Hey, you must be the newlyweds who just got your marriage certificate? Come on over for a commemorative photo! I guarantee you'll look great!"
Lu Cheng's eyes lit up, and he pulled Shen Li into the shed. Lu Sheng didn't say a word, his hands in his coat pockets, following at a distance, and found a spot to stand nearby.
The photographer directed the two to sit on the wooden chairs in front of the red curtain. Just as they adjusted the camera focus and were about to press the shutter, a dark figure darted over – Lu Sheng sat down directly next to Shen Li, and with a quick movement of his arm, pulled her slightly closer to him, taking up just half of the chair.
"Hey, hey, hey!" The photographer hurriedly put down his camera, pointing at Lu Sheng with a helpless expression. "Young man, this is a young couple taking wedding photos. What are you doing getting in the way?"
Lu Sheng raised his eyes, his tone calm yet undeniable: "We're taking a family photo."
Shen Li: "..." Looking at her master's puzzled eyes, she could only nod reluctantly: "Yes, a family photo."
"Alright, alright, everyone sit down!" The driver raised the camera again. "Look at the camera, smile! One, two, three—click!"
Shen Li was sandwiched between the two men, her smile a little stiff and awkward, while Lu Cheng smiled with his eyes crinkling, and Lu Sheng pursed his lips, a faint smile hidden at the corners of his mouth.
"Do you want to pick up the photos now or another day?" the technician asked while unloading the film roll.
"I'll get it now!" Lu Cheng answered first.
"It's a bit more expensive to get it now, two yuan a sheet; if you pick it up another day, it'll be fifteen cents." After quoting the price, the peddler saw Shen Li's wide eyes and added, "In this area of Beijing, this is the price for washing clothes now, I'm not ripping you off."
Shen Li thought to himself: This is almost half a day's wages for an ordinary worker!
They don't come here often: "Pick up now!"
Upon receiving the photos, Lu Cheng frowned as he looked at the three of them together in the frame: "How about we retake a set? Let's take a proper wedding photo."
Shen Li quickly pulled him outside: "No need, no need, let's take pictures at home! My Polaroid camera is still here, we can take as many pictures as we want."
Lu Cheng then remembered that Shen Li had a rare Polaroid camera, and immediately agreed with a beaming smile.
The three of them first went to the mall to pick out some cigarettes, alcohol and snacks as gifts, then went back to the Yu family to pick up Lu Erdie and Lu Zhou, while Lu Sheng went to pick up Lu's mother and Lu Nan. The group then headed to the Shen family in a grand procession.
Upon entering the Shen family home, Shen Li presented the marriage certificate to Shen's mother as if it were a precious treasure.
Mrs. Shen held the red paper certificate and looked at it again and again. She took out four red envelopes from her pocket, gave two to Lu Cheng and two to Shen Li, her eyes crinkling with laughter: "This is a change-of-address fee from your father and me. From now on, we're family!"
Lu Cheng's eyes lit up, and he shouted "Thank you, Mom and Dad!" He flipped his hand and stuffed all the red envelopes into Shen Li's hands—he had long been used to letting his wife keep all his money.
Immediately afterwards, Shen Qingbei, the eldest brother of the Shen family, and Shen Qingnan, the second brother, also handed over red envelopes.
Holding a stack of red envelopes, Shen Li exclaimed exaggeratedly, "Wow, getting married is so profitable! I should have gotten married a few more times to make more money!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Cheng's smile froze instantly, and his handsome brows and eyes darkened.
Shen Licai realized he had misspoke and quickly covered his mouth, forcing a smile as he said, "Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue! I'll only marry you once in my life!"
Everyone in the room was amused, and the atmosphere became even more lively.
Just then, Shen's eldest son's daughter, Nuannuan, ran over, grabbed Lu Cheng's trouser leg, and looked up at him, asking, "Uncle, now that you've married Aunt, shouldn't you give me a red envelope?"
Lu Cheng bent down, picked up the little girl, and pulled a bulging red envelope from the inside pocket of his coat, stuffing it into her hand: "Of course! Our Nuannuan is my first little niece!"
Nuannuan clutched the thick red envelope, her eyes wide with surprise: "Uncle gave me so much money!"
Everyone couldn't help but laugh at the little girl's adorable appearance.
Nuan Nuan lost her mother at a young age, and the entire Shen family doted on her. However, she was not spoiled and became well-behaved and sensible, which made her very likable.
During dinner, after a few rounds of drinks, Shen's mother looked at Lu Sheng, who was eating quietly to the side, and said enthusiastically, "Sheng, you're such a handsome young man, would you like me to introduce you to someone? I have a few nice girls at my workplace."
"Cough cough cough—" Shen Li almost spat out the soup she had just drunk, coughing violently.
Just as Lu Sheng picked up the water glass to hand it over, Lu Cheng snatched it first, held it to Shen Li's lips, and patted her back anxiously: "How are you? Did you choke?"
Lu Sheng looked at his empty hands.