Chapter 838 Inspiration
Zhang Jian is a photography enthusiast. When he was working in the unit, his photography skills were well-known. Every time the factory held an event, Zhang Jian would personally take the photo. Although he has resigned from his original unit, many of his works are still hanging on the wall in the factory's showroom.
Since he had nothing to do anyway, it was just a piece of cake to help take a few photos. After Zhang Jian agreed, he helped the two girls choose the scene, and then picked a few good angles and positions for them to pose. Under Zhang Jian's instructions, with a click, their beautiful figures were left on the film.
In order to ensure the quality of the photos and to prevent any accidents while developing them, Zhang Jian took several photos of the two girls, including group photos and individual photos. After taking the photos, Zhang Jian put away the camera with a smile and said, "OK."
"Thank you so much, comrade. Fortunately you are here, otherwise our trip would have been in vain." The tall girl said to Zhang Jian gratefully. The shorter girl was a little shy, but she also said several words of thanks to Zhang Jian.
Zhang Jian waved his hand and said, "We all come from all corners of the world. It's fate that we meet here. It's just a small effort. By the way, please leave me your address. I will send it to you after I develop the photos."
"Thank you, please wait a moment." The two girls went to the side, took out a notebook from their bag, and started writing on it. After finishing, they whispered a few words and then walked towards Zhang Jian.
"Comrade, this is our address. Thank you for troubling you today. By the way, this is the fee for taking photos. Here is ..."
"Fee?" Zhang Jian was stunned. He never charged any fees for taking photos for others. Firstly, it was his hobby, and secondly, it didn't cost much money. Zhang Jian bought films through connections. A roll of domestic film cost 8.5 yuan, a better Fuji film cost 11 yuan, and the best Kodak film cost 12 yuan.
These are the prices for color film, and black and white is even cheaper. A roll of film can normally take 36 photos, but Zhang Jian is very skilled and can take at least 38 photos, and sometimes he is lucky enough to take 39 photos. So, with the domestic film Zhang Jian is using now, the cost of one negative is only 0.22 yuan.
As for developing, Zhang Jian never goes to a photo studio to develop his photos, he usually does it himself. The cost of developing a finished photo, including chemicals and photo paper, is no more than 0.35 yuan.
Just now, Zhang Jian took a total of six photos of the two girls, two individual photos of each, and two group photos, so all in all, the cost for Zhang Jian was only 2.1 yuan.
Although Zhang Jian didn't have much money now, 2.1 yuan was still nothing to him. Since he was helping the girls, Zhang Jian didn't intend to take any money from them.
Unexpectedly, the two girls not only gave him the address, but also gave him 30 yuan. Seeing Zhang Jian was a little stunned, the two girls asked Zhang Jian embarrassedly if the 30 yuan was too little. Zhang Jian took six photos for them and mailed them back to them. Logically, he should have given more, but they didn't bring much money today, so this was all they had. If Zhang Jian thought it was not enough, why not go to the hotel with them to get it? Or he could print a few less photos, just one photo of the two of them and one photo of each of them.
"No, you misunderstood, I..." Zhang Jian came back to his senses and spoke subconsciously. Just as he was about to say the following words, Zhang Jian suddenly thought of something and changed his words temporarily: "I was thinking about other things just now and was a little distracted. This money is enough. I will help you develop the photos as soon as possible in the next few days and send them to you when they are ready."
"Thank you so much, comrade. Thank you so much." The two girls thanked Zhang Jian again, said goodbye and left together.
After the two girls left, Zhang Jian stood there blankly, looking at the place where he had just chosen the scenery for taking pictures of the two girls and the several huge rocks where they were sitting for a long time, and suddenly he burst into laughter.
The next day, after asking the locals at the hotel where he was staying, Zhang Jian got the address of the village party secretary's home early in the morning. Then he spent some money to buy some gifts from a store on the street and went there with the things in his hands.
Qiongdao, due to its geographical location and history, the villages here are different from those in the mainland. Most of them are fishing villages, so the villages are generally located on the seaside.
After arriving at the place, Zhang Jian asked several elderly people in the village and finally found the home of the village party secretary after some time.
Like other fishermen, the village party secretary's home is a very ordinary house in Qiongdao, with a yard. There are some dried fish and shrimps hanging in the yard, and the smell of the sea is very strong.
"Secretary Chen! Is Secretary Chen here?" The door was half-open. Zhang Jian stood at the door, knocked, and then shouted twice.
"Who is it?" As a loud voice sounded from inside, Zhang Jian saw a dark-skinned man in his fifties walking out.
The man came out and saw Zhang Jian standing at the door. He looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Who are you? What do you want from me?"
"Are you Secretary Chen?" Zhang Jian asked.
"Yes! I am the branch secretary Chen Wu, and you are...?" Chen Wu glanced at Zhang Jian again, making sure that he didn't know him.
"Hello, Secretary Chen, my last name is Zhang, and my name is Zhang Jian..." Zhang Jian politely introduced himself to Chen Wu. Although Chen Wu was a little confused as to why a stranger like Zhang Jian came to see him, as a fisherman and the village secretary, Chen Wu still warmly invited Zhang Jian to come in and talk.
When they arrived at the yard, Zhang Jian handed over the gifts he brought first. Seeing that the gifts Zhang Jian brought included two bottles of good wine and a pack of good cigarettes, Chen Wu's eyes suddenly lit up. He became even more enthusiastic towards Zhang Jian and even poured him a glass of water and gave him cigarettes.
After saying thank you, Zhang Jian sat down on the bamboo chair and started chatting with Chen Wu.
Zhang Jian was also a leader, so he had a way of dealing with people. Otherwise, he would not have come to the south alone to look for opportunities. If he had not been cheated before and had no choice but to leave Yangcheng and come to Qiongdao, Zhang Jian might still be doing his business in Yangcheng.
Men, the only thing they get to know each other is cigarettes and alcohol. They smoked and talked, and soon became familiar with each other. After chatting for a while, Zhang Jian got the information he wanted to know from Chen Wu, and he felt more confident.
"Brother Zhang, you are a mainlander who came to our Qiongdao and brought gifts to me. I'm afraid there is something wrong?" Those who can become branch secretaries are not stupid. Although the two of them had a good chat, Chen Wu felt that Zhang Jian must have something to do when he came to see him. Otherwise, why would he bring such a gift when they are not related?
Taking another cigarette handed to him by Zhang Jian, Chen Wu lit it with the almost finished cigarette butt, and then asked Zhang Jian.
"Haha, I knew I couldn't hide it from you." Zhang Jian smiled and nodded, "You guessed right, I do have something to ask you, I want to ask you for a favor."
"Help?" Chen Wu glanced at Zhang Jian and asked, "I'm just the Party Secretary of a small fishing village. We don't have much else to do here except fishing. Besides, I'm just a Party Secretary in charge of a few hundred people in the village. I'm not a big official. How can I help? Brother, did you go to the wrong place?"
"No, no, no, Secretary Chen, I really am here to ask you for help." Zhang Jian said quickly, and then in the face of Chen Wu's puzzled expression, he told him the purpose of his visit.
Zhang Jian told Chen Wu that he planned to stay in Qiongdao for a while, but the hotel price was a bit high, and the hotel was in the city, and he preferred the life by the sea. If there were any extra houses in the village, it would be great if they could rent one to him, and he hoped Chen Wu could help him with this.
Hearing Zhang Jian's request, Chen Wu laughed and said it was no big deal, isn't it just renting a house? It's simple! Because fishermen in their fishing village often go out to sea to fish, sometimes they go far away and stay out for one or two months.
In addition, with the reform and opening up in recent years, the economy in many parts of the country has been improving. Compared with the backward Qiongdao, many young people are keen to work in places like Yangcheng and Pengcheng. Therefore, there are many empty houses in the village now. Not to mention others, his Chen Wu’s family has a house, which belongs to his second son.
His second son went to work in Pengcheng two years ago and married a wife in Pengcheng. Now the couple has settled in Pengcheng with their newborn grandson. Every year, they come back to stay for two days during the Chinese New Year. This house is empty now, and it is very clean inside. If Zhang Jian thinks it is okay, he can just rent it.
Zhang Jian asked about the rent, and Chen Wu readily quoted a price that was not bad. Zhang Jian asked if he could go and see the house. Chen Wu patted his buttocks, stood up and said, "Let's go." The two of them walked out of the door and turned to the left. After walking a short distance, they turned a corner and soon arrived at a small courtyard.
Arriving at the place, Zhang Jian looked carefully at the situation here. Just as Chen Wu said, although no one usually lives here, it is indeed very clean, and there is absolutely no problem for Zhang Jian to move in. Although Zhang Jian needs to buy bedding himself, there is no winter on Qiongdao Island, so buying a thin quilt is enough.
In addition, there is electricity here, which makes Zhang Jian very satisfied. After a round of tour, Zhang Jian readily decided to rent this courtyard.
Seeing that Zhang Jian was determined to rent it, Chen Wu was also very happy. You know, it would be a waste to leave this small courtyard unused. Renting it to Zhang Jian means that he has extra income every month. Although the money is not much, it is like picking it up for free.
Even though Chen Wu is the village party secretary, as the party secretary of a fishing village, his family's daily living standard is no different from that of other fishermen. Moreover, fishermen make a living in the sea, with high risks and low returns, otherwise there would n't running to Yangcheng and Pengcheng to seek opportunities.
After the deal was settled, Chen Wu liked Zhang Jian better, and the two became more intimate. Seeing that it was almost noon, Chen Wu simply invited Zhang Jian to his house for dinner, and opened a bottle of wine that Zhang Jian brought, and had a drink together.
