Chapter 206: Camera

"Hahaha... I’m back!"

"Did you miss me, Little Yun Jiao?"

Yun Jiao was in the crowd watching them render pork lard. The savory aroma was so enticing it made her mouth water.

The cracklings rendered on the same day the New Year’s pig was butchered were always the most fragrant and delicious.

It wasn’t just Yun Jiao. A large circle of people had gathered, all drawn in by the tempting smell of the cracklings.

A sudden voice broke Yun Jiao’s concentration. She had just turned her head, but before she could see who it was, her small body was lifted into the air.

She kicked her short little legs. With a fierce look on her face, Yun Jiao twisted her head, looking like she wanted to bite someone.

Wang Hongfei had spotted the adorable, chubby Little Yun Jiao in the crowd at a glance.

"Little Yun Jiao, your grand-uncle is back! Look what I brought for you."

Wang Hongfei took out the gift he had prepared.

"A music box! This thing even sings. Hehe, you like it, right?"

Yun Jiao hugged the music box. Inside a round glass dome, like a snow globe, a cute little girl carried a basket of mushrooms in the crook of her arm.

Wang Hongfei wound it up for Yun Jiao, and a cheerful, crisp melody drifted out.

Yun Jiao’s eyes lit up slightly.

The children standing around Yun Jiao couldn’t help but turn to look.

Then, they all grew envious.

"Uncle, what about our presents?!"

Yun Xiaoqi and Yun Xiao Ba ran over and clung to Wang Hongfei’s legs, looking up at him with eager, expectant eyes.

Wang Hongfei chuckled. "I’ve got them ready. Let’s go inside."

Hugging her music box, Yun Jiao’s eyes were still fixed on the large pot of rendering lard.

She didn’t know if she should follow them or keep waiting here.

"It’s not ready yet. Come back to eat when it’s done. I brought you lots of other tasty things."

Hearing that, Yun Jiao was no longer conflicted.

’Seeing Grand-uncle grinning from ear to ear, he must have made a lot of money on this trip.’

Once they were inside, Wang Hongfei took out the presents he had bought for everyone.

He was very thoughtful. Not only did he buy gifts for his own nephews, but he also had some for Yun Xiaowu, Yun Xiao Liu, and Yun Xiaojiu.

They were all toys—Sun Wukong dolls from Monkey King.

The children immediately grabbed their new toys and ran off to play.

With this latest addition from Wang Hongfei, their toy collection was now quite extensive.

They treasured the toy cars and airplanes that Fu Mingyu had brought before, rarely taking them out to play.

But today, in the festive spirit of the New Year, Yun Xiaowu and the others made a rare trip inside to get their prized collection of toy cars, planes, and even a toy pistol to share with their friends.

But they warned them repeatedly not to get them dirty or break them.

The other village children watched as the Yun Xiaowu brothers revealed so many toys they all wanted but could never have. Every one of them was green with envy.

Of course, Yun Jiao was also the object of many children’s envy. She had lots of toys, too.

Yun Jiao let Yun Xiaohua and the others play with her Barbie doll. She also placed the music box on a stool and opened it for them to watch and listen.

"Jiaojiao, who is that man? Why did he buy you such a beautiful music box?"

Yun Jiao was holding her chubby little dog, combing its fur with a brush.

"He’s my grand-uncle."

"Here, this is for you guys. A White Rabbit candy for each of you."

"Waaa... Jiaojiao, you’re the best! When I... when I grow up, I’ll give you nice things too!"

Yun Xiaohua had already finished tying the Barbie doll’s hair and changing its little dress.

But she glanced at the doll in her hands, then looked back at Yun Jiao.

’This doll isn’t as pretty as Jiaojiao.’

"Jiaojiao, can I do your hair?"

Yun Jiao nodded nonchalantly. "Just don’t hurt me."

’It’s okay if she doesn’t do a good job. I can just ask Fourth Brother to re-do it nicely.’

Meanwhile, Wang Hongfei pulled Yun Chenbei aside and furtively pressed a camera into his hands.

Yun Chenbei’s eyes instantly lit up. "You bought it?!"

He thought just getting the purchasing coupon would have been great, but he never expected his young uncle to be so amazing and buy the camera directly for him.

"Of course. I found someone to trade for the coupon, and when I saw this beauty, I snatched it up."

’He hadn’t forgotten what Yun Jiao had asked him to do.’

A smile touched Yun Chenbei’s lips. "How much was it? I’ll pay you back."

Wang Hongfei didn’t stand on ceremony. "The camera coupon was seventy yuan, and the camera itself was two hundred. I got it through a connection, so it was cheaper than the market price. Don’t give me the money yet. Wait until I’ve calculated my earnings from this trip, then we’ll settle up."

Yun Chenbei nodded, stroking the camera, unable to put it down.

The film was already loaded in the camera. He aimed it toward Yun Jiao and took a picture.

The image of little Yun Jiao, sitting obediently in her chair with a dog in her arms while someone did her hair, was frozen in time.

Hearing the sound, she turned to look toward her fourth brother.

Her eyes lit up the moment she saw what he was holding.

"Fourth Brother!"

The corners of Yun Chenbei’s mouth lifted as he wiggled the camera in his hand.

Yun Xiaowu and the others spotted it too and charged over, yelling like wild animals.

Yun Chenbei quickly raised the camera high, afraid they would knock into it and break it.

"Fourth Bro, where did you get this camera? Where’d you get it?!"

"Take a picture of me, too! I want my picture taken! Make sure you get my good side!"

The other children’s eyes were sparkling with excitement as well.

Yun Chenbei wasn’t good with words and looked a bit overwhelmed for a moment.

It was Wang Hongfei who stepped in, telling all the children to line up for a group photo, with the shorter ones in the front and the taller ones in the back.

The group of children, filled with anticipation, quickly got into position under Wang Hongfei’s direction.

Yun Chenbei took a big group photo of them.

Afterward, he shoved the camera into Wang Hongfei’s hands.

"Uncle, you go outside and take some pictures."

Wang Hongfei: "..."

’So you won’t go out because there are too many people, is that it? Fine, fine. He was actually quite happy to play with the camera anyway.’

"Let me! Bro, take my picture!"

Yun Xiaowu jumped up and down to make his presence known.

Yun Chenbei just shook his head. "No. I’m afraid you’ll break it."

Yun Xiaowu was in disbelief. "Bro, how can you say that about me? I’m so disappointed! Am I that clumsy?!"

Yun Chenbei gave him a look that said: ’Yes, you are.’

Yun Jiao stopped playing with her friends. Sucking on a lollipop, she trotted happily after her grand-uncle.

As soon as they went outside, Wang Hongfei took a picture of the pig butchering scene.

Yun Jiao tugged on his clothes. "Grand-uncle, let me take a picture."

"You got it."

Wang Hongfei put the camera in her hands, then picked up Yun Jiao, who was dressed like a little penguin.

"I’ll hold you. Take lots of pictures."

Yun Jiao nodded and looked for interesting scenes to photograph.

Seeing what Yun Jiao was doing, the eyes of many onlookers lit up.

"Little Yun Jiao, where did you get that camera?"

"Hey, hey, take a picture of me too."

"Yun Jiao, over here! Take one of me."

At that moment, everyone, whether they knew her well or not, was incredibly enthusiastic, crowding around her and trying to get their picture taken.

Yun Jiao furrowed her little brow, turned her head, and clutched the camera tightly.

"Grand-uncle, let’s go find Grandma."

’She wasn’t here just to take pictures for people.’

Holding her, Wang Hongfei pushed his way out of the crowd.

"Make way, make way, everyone! There isn’t much film left, and we’ve already taken pictures, so please don’t crowd around."