War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 2035: The Final Chapter - Grains of Sand
Inside the Wanggui Photo Studio in Tianjin, Tang Doudou, dressed in a Republic-era cheongsam, lets the Kajianka sisters style her hair in a retro style, using photos provided by Wei Ran as a reference.

"Sit on the sofa."

As Wei Ran spoke, he took out a cigarette case from his pocket, lit a cigarette, and then removed the filter. He then put on a tortoiseshell mouthpiece and handed it to the other person, saying, "Just hold it in your hand, you don't need to smoke it."

"it is good"

Tang Doudou agreed, awkwardly holding the cigarette between her fingers, and following Wei Ran's instructions to strike the corresponding pose and make the appropriate expression.

Unfortunately, although this girl bears some resemblance to Tang Andy from back then, her cute and adorable temperament is ultimately far removed from that enchanting woman, so much so that her poses look somewhat silly.

In the end, Wei Ran did not press the shutter. Instead, he took the cigarette from the other person's fingertips and then directed the other person to change their pose.

Amidst the occasional clicking of camera shutters, Wei Ran carried his Pentax camera, mounted on a tripod, down the top floor, room by room, taking photos of Tang Doudou as she changed into different clothes, hairstyles, jewelry, and makeup.

At 2 p.m., as Wei Ran took another roll of film out of the camera, Tang Doudou's boyfriend's stomach began to rumble in protest.

"Just the right amount of hunger"

Before Tang Doudou's boyfriend could speak, Wei Ran said, "Everyone, let's go downstairs. I've prepared lunch, and we can take some pictures while we're at it."

"Taking pictures while eating?" Tang Doudou's boyfriend was a little confused. He had already changed into a Zhongshan suit and had just taken a few photos with his girlfriend.

"Of course we have to take pictures!"

As Tang Doudou spoke, she returned a retro-style leather suitcase to Wei Ran, "But can we eat something first? I'm hungry too?"

"Of course, let's go."

Wei Ran and Sui Sui exchanged a glance and led the young couple, who seemed to have traveled through time, into the basement.

At this moment, an eight-immortal table had been set up in the basement, and many dishes cooked by Master Zhao and his son were laid out on the table. Wei Ran had urgently invited them.

Please have a seat.

As Wei Ran spoke, he gestured for Master Zhao and his son to sit down as well, and then made a gesture to the Kajenka sisters.

Upon receiving the signal, Anfia slowly pulled up a white curtain to cover the large mirror in the basement, while Anfisa started an old-fashioned film projector.

At the same time, Marta and Lucinda also drew the blackout curtains on the surrounding windows.

Suddenly, all that remained in the basement was the bright red subtitles that began to flash on the screen—Dingjun Mountain, starring Tao Canhua, Cao Qiushi, and Tao Wanggui.

"pat"

Wei Ran turned on the dim light above the octagonal table, then silently stepped back a few paces with Sui Sui.

By the time Sui Sui helped to shine the light around the octagonal table, Wei Ran had already captured the backs of the retro-dressed young couple and the profiles of the Zhao father and son drinking together, as well as the flickering light and shadow on the screen.

"Crack!"

He snapped a unique group photo before the people around the table could react.

Let them eat at their own pace.

Wei Ran said softly, while reaching out to turn off the lights, and temporarily left the basement with Sui Sui, the Kajenka sisters, Marta, and Luxinda.

"Master Zhao saved one for us."

As Sui Sui spoke, she lifted the mosquito net covering the long table on the first floor.

You guys eat.

Wei Ran gestured for the girls to sit down, saying, "I'll go get the photos developed."

"Do you need my help?" Sui Sui asked, even though she knew very well that she couldn't help with this at all.

"No need, you guys eat."

As Wei Ran spoke, he turned and went upstairs to the darkroom. He meticulously developed all the film he had taken that day into light-readable negatives, and then developed them into 12-inch color photographs.

While waiting for the photos to dry, Wei Ran opened the window and lit a cigarette again, just like when he was a bodyguard here back in the day.

At the same time, he couldn't help but wonder about the deeper meaning behind Tang Doudou's visit to take photos.

He didn't ask whether the "Uncle Liu" who helped her book the photoshoot was the same Brother Liu.

But he knew that this was the beginning of building trust between the two sides, and that the other party had shown sufficient sincerity.

It seems this history consultant really does manage to ride the wave of opportunity.
Wei Ran had a vague understanding of the situation.

As the cigarette between his fingers burned out after only one puff, a feather-shaped timeline appeared before Wei Ran's eyes, and everything around him transformed into Clara's dream farm in the blink of an eye.

As he turned the timeline, Tang Andy and Cousin Meixiang appeared on the table, as well as young Tao Canhua and Qiu Shi, Jasmine and Yang Ma, Cao the Mute and Uncle Meng, the Guan siblings and Uncle Guan, Brother Tang, and even the Somegu couple and the colorful parrot.

"Today, Tang Doudou, the great-granddaughter of Tong Chou, came home."

As Wei Ran spoke, she spread out a stack of 6-inch photos that had been developed separately beforehand on the table. "She told me that they would be going home soon. Tong Chou will be able to go home soon."

"Thank you for your hard work, cousin."

Meixiang, whose temples were already gray, picked up one of the photos and said, "Andy, this child looks just like you and Brother Tang."

"I've never met anyone who shares the same hatred," Brother Tang said, looking at the girl in the photo. "She's so kind."

"Brother Wei, is the war over now?"

The two Xu brothers, who did not survive back then, asked Wei Ran in unison.

“Yes, we’re not fighting anymore.” Wei Ran sat down at the table as well. “Thanks to you guys, we’re not fighting anymore.”

"Then I can rest assured," Xu Kejian breathed a sigh of relief.

"Old Master Tao, Canhua, do you really have no regrets?" Wei Ran asked Tao Canhua, who was carrying the guqin Youquan on his back.

"No, what regrets could I possibly have?"

Tao Canhua smiled calmly, "If there really is one, when this child leaves, you can play Guangling San for her. I promised my aunt that I would play Guangling San for them when they came back, but I never got to see it. I do have some regrets about that."

"Okay, I'll go play it in a bit."

"I'll avoid places like this in the future."

Tang Andy only glanced at the photos a few times before reminding Wei Ran, "Wei Ran, we are just data streams. Don't get lost in the past. You should look forward."

"Miss Tang is right."

Grandpa Guan, who had hardly ever communicated with Wei Ran, laughed heartily and said, "Young man, you can't just record history, you have to create history too!"

"it is good"

Wei Ran explained awkwardly, "I just wanted to show you her picture and tell you..."

"it is known"

Meixiang gently comforted Wei Ran, "What Grandpa Guan said is true, go and make history, your time shouldn't be wasted here."

"it is good"

Wei Ran finally nodded, and everything around him was restored to the arrangement of the darkroom on the second floor.

Go and make history!

Wei Ran breathed a sigh of relief, stretched lazily, and patiently waited for all the photos to dry before putting them into a large photo album.

Almost as soon as he came down, the full version of Dingjun Mountain in the basement also came to an end.

Soon after, Tang Doudou and her companion also came up.

The photos have been developed.

As Wei Ran spoke, he handed the photo album to the other person with both hands, "If you like that old movie, I'll give it to you as a bonus."

"Let's stay here," Tang Doudou said, taking the photo album and hugging it to her chest, expressing her gratitude with a happy smile. "Thank you for your hospitality, Boss Wei and Boss Sui Sui. How much is this photo album?"

"This is the first time my photo studio has been open for business."

Wei Ran said with a smile, "So let's leave it at that this time. Just come and patronize our business often in the future."

"Then we won't be polite!"

Tang Doudou didn't even give her boyfriend a chance to speak, "We'll be coming back often to book photoshoots, goodbye!"

"Come back often in the future," Sui Sui accidentally blurted out the truth.

"must!"

Tang Doudou, who had already turned to leave, waved without looking back and pulled her boyfriend out of the courtyard gate.

Seeing this, Wei Ran also walked to the ginkgo tree and sat down next to the secluded spring that he had borrowed from Sui Xin with the help of Master Zhao and his son. He then began to play the Guangling San, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.

After a long while, when the song ended, Sui Sui asked, "They'll be back soon, right?"

"That's right, it will be soon."

Wei Ran nodded. "Maybe."

"Clang clang clang!"

Before Wei Ran could finish speaking, the wooden door of the courtyard was knocked on from the outside, and Xia Shushi followed with his girlfriend as they walked in.

"Sorry, the photo studio is full and closed today. We'll close tomorrow... no, next month."

"Take a step down, and who in their right mind would want to take your picture?"

As Xia Shushi spoke, he tossed a document onto the stone table. "Scholar Wei, you've caused me a lot of trouble. How do you plan to resolve this?"

"What is this?"

"Those who want to go home, those who want to find their relatives, and those who want to return to their roots but can't find their way home."

Xia Shushi plopped down. “These were all collected by Li Yizhong on the mainland and the island. We’ve been sifting through this information for the past two months, and the rest are still missing.”

"how many?"

“Over a hundred, and this is just the first batch.” Xia Shushi yawned. “What do you think we should do?”

"Take your time, check them one by one." Wei Ran placed his hands on the strings.

"Boss Wei, do you have any customers at your photo studio?" Qin Qi asked curiously as she picked up a handful of fried peanuts and ate them.

“We just took a picture of one,” Sui Sui said proudly. “It was a really good picture!”

"That"

"Every month after that is fully booked."

Before Xia Shushi could finish speaking, Wei Ran interrupted, "The appointments are booked up for five years from now. I'm so busy."

"You blow it!"

Xia Shushi gave him the middle finger. "Anyway, figure out a way to get these materials as soon as possible. We've already made the promise, and we can't just take it back."

"Don't worry," Wei Ran's smile grew even brighter.

"Why do I feel like you've become a completely different person since you came back these past two months?" Xia Shushi looked Wei Ran up and down strangely, but ultimately didn't say what was on his mind.

Time flies, and we've gone from the sweltering summer to early winter.

Over the course of three or four months, the "Going Home" program, a collaboration between Xia Shushi and Li Yizhong, gradually became a mainstream news program in China.

With the help of a photographer working behind the scenes at a photography studio, they were helping one or two veterans find their way home almost every month.

Compared to those who frequently appear in the news, whether it's Wei Ran or the notorious womanizer, news about him and his beautiful female companions has gradually disappeared from the internet.

During the same period, the Eye of Horus continued to release photos every now and then, and the recruitment of nuclear agents overseas became increasingly hostile and targeted. Even their domestic travel business faced a long and endless winter.

Of course, these are just minor troubles under the sun.

In another world where the sun never shines, the continued disappearance of overseas tentacles has caused some organizations to hastily withdraw their still-living minions.

They weren't the only ones being hunted; in Europe, the Warts organization, which had previously clashed with Wei Ran, also encountered some legal troubles.

Recently, a rising commercial force has been wreaking havoc on the businesses they control, while Charon's organization, which has gone mad for some unknown reason, is also hunting them down.

Of course, these unsettling experiences had nothing to do with Wei Ran. Since the beginning of winter, he had moved to Wanggui Photo Studio in Tianjin. Every day, he would get up early, leisurely light the charcoal stove, boil water to make tea, and play the piano, seemingly lazily passing the time.

In contrast, as Sui Sui's investments in China gradually began to bear fruit, she gradually became busy again.

"Can Lola bring another group of people before the New Year?"

On the way to the high-speed rail station, Sui Sui asked a question while letting Anfiya do her makeup.

“Not a big problem”

Anfissa, sitting in the passenger seat, immediately replied, "We expect to arrive before Christmas Eve."

"That's good," Sui Sui continued, "How are things going with Marlene and Coco?"

"It's still snowballing."

Anfisa replied, flipping through her tablet, "Mr. Sebastian of the Elk Foundation is already considering allocating the annual investment quota for Elk to Coco."

"How's our plastic surgery hospital doing?" Sui Sui continued to ask.

"The renovation is basically finished, and we expect to start work on New Year's Day."

"Martha, are you really not going to become the dean?" Sui Sui asked Marta, who was driving.

"Your Majesty, I am already busy enough."

Marta cautioned, "Besides, I have absolutely no interest in being a doctor right now; being your and your boss's personal physician is the limit."

"Okay, Xin."

"I'm not going either. I can't be the dean."

Lu Xinda, who was sitting in the back row, quickly declined, "Besides, I'm also extremely busy. Why isn't Lola here yet?"

"Alright, then I'll just have to trouble Marlene." Sui Sui sighed.

“I don’t think the boss will agree to your stupid idea,” Marta cautioned.

"So you're not participating?" Sui Sui's smiling question silenced Marta.

"Leave the most crucial parts to me, and you can leave the rest to me!" Sui Sui made her promise with a confident look.

"Ah!"

In Wanggui Photo Studio, Wei Ran, who had just returned from another time and space, sneezed.

"The weather is getting colder and colder."

Looking out the window at the ginkgo tree with only a few leaves left, Wei Ran sighed and wrote a message on a piece of paper.

He has taken over the database, and he is still doing what he was doing before, even though the living data streams in that spacetime no longer interact with him.

Even so, he still relentlessly immersed himself in their stories time and time again.

Amidst sighs and hesitation, we scoop up those forgotten grains of sand from the scorching land of 9.6 million square kilometers beneath our feet, one by one, from the long river of time, carefully wipe them clean, and find the names etched upon them.

This might be considered the final chapter. There may be a few side stories and some stories in a timeline without Wei Ran.