Go back to the prosperous days and become a layman

Chapter 657 Chapter 656 Extra Staff Propaganda Officer

Tang Zhitong took Xiao Wang straight to Wangfujing, which can be regarded as the most prosperous commercial street in New China. Most of the most famous photo studios in the old city are concentrated here.

Anyone who does business knows the importance of advertising. There are advertisements in newspapers, and of course there are advertisements on storefronts as well.

The advertisements on the door front are very direct. The shop selling clothes will put two models standing in the window and dress them in the most fashionable clothes to display and attract customers.

The photo studio is also of this style, with a group of photos displayed in the window. The people in the photos are either beautiful women with makeup on or "gentlemen" in suits and leather shoes.

In the eyes of photographers and most people, this is the standard of trend, fashion, beauty and handsomeness, just like ordinary photo studios in later generations showing artistic photos of beautiful girls and handsome guys, which are all tricks to attract business.

These photos will probably remain here for a few years, and will only be replaced with photos of model workers and ordinary people when the wind changes.

Since they had been there several times before, Tang Zhitong took Xiao Wang into Dadong Photo Studio.

The moment he walked into the photo studio, Xiao Wang guessed that they were going to take photos, and the sweetness in his heart overflowed from his face.

Because it had been a year since the last time he came, the staff at the photo studio did not recognize Tang Zhitong this time. Plus, it was lunchtime and they were too lazy to say hello.

"Comrade, let's take a photo." Tang Zhitong walked up to the man politely and greeted him.

The staff at the photo studio raised their eyelids and glanced at the two people in front of them. After seeing Xiao Wang's friendly smile, they asked, "What kind of photos do you want?"

"A photo of the two of us." Tang Zhitong said as he took out money.

"What size?" The staff took out the receipt and prepared to issue the invoice.

"This one." Tang Zhitong looked at the size of the sample next to him and chose a larger one. If it was too small, when he took a photo with it next year as a souvenir, the photo would be blurry, which would defeat the purpose of taking a souvenir.

"How many copies do you want to print? Black and white or color?" the staff member asked as he wrote.

"One will do. Is the color one the kind that is hand-colored later?" Tang Zhitong certainly wanted a color one, but the technology in China is not yet up to the standard. Zou Jing, the big shot in the color film industry, should not have returned to China yet, right?

"We have both hand-colored and true-color ones, but the true-color ones are more expensive." When the staff said this, he emphasized the word "expensive".

"Then the real color one." Tang Zhitong chose the real color without any hesitation.

The films used for true color photos these days must be imported, and most of them are pseudo-color, that is, hand-colored.

Hand-painting depends entirely on the craftsmanship of the master. Some are severely distorted, while others are barely visible but far from the real color. Generally speaking, you have to wait for a month or so to get them. Tang Zhitong is unwilling to wait that long.

Tang Zhitong has a fake color photo of this kind, which is a photo of himself with a tiger skin after hunting a tiger last year. In the photo, he actually has blush on his face, looking pink and tender.

Tang Zhitong wanted to complain, am I so cute? Who can a grown man with this image go to for justice?
"Seven dollars and eighty cents." The staff member wrote down the price quickly, tore off the receipt and handed it to Tang Zhitong.

"How much?" asked Xiao Wang in surprise.

"I'll pay any price. You can give me 80 cents." Tang Zhitong only had five yuan in pocket money, but this time he took out seven yuan. Naturally, classmate Xiao Wang would make up the rest.

Since her husband has said it, Xiao Wang has to pay the money even if he thinks it is too expensive.

However, the staff looked at Tang Zhitong with a different look. Why take color photos without money? And let such a beautiful lesbian pay for it. Isn't it embarrassing?
After paying the money, the staff led the couple into the house. Xiao Wang gently pulled Tang Zhitong's sleeve and asked, "Where did you get so much money?"

"These are the things left over from the things I bought before the New Year. I told you at the time that they didn't cost much, but you didn't believe me." Tang Zhitong could only lie with his eyes open again.

"Come, sit on the stools." The staff did not let the couple choose the background cloth. They just pointed to the stools in front of the background cloth and made arrangements, while he was busy fiddling with the camera.

Tang Zhitong took off his shoulder bag and put it in the corner together with Xiao Wang's. Before standing up, he took out the marriage certificate from his own shoulder bag.

"When did you take it out? Why did you bring the marriage certificate with you?" Xiao Wang asked while straightening her husband's clothes.

"Hey, I found it while you were sleeping. We'll each have a copy and take a photo. Next year, we'll take today's photo and repeat it this way until we're old." After Xiao Wang had sorted out his own books, Tang Zhitong also straightened Xiao Wang's collar.

Looking at the marriage certificate in the hands of the two, the staff smelled the sour odor of love and felt a little envious, but they still complained in their hearts: They don’t look like rich people, spending so much money on taking photos, only to kneel on the washboard when they get back!

Taking photos is not cheap, so the couple naturally looked their best and, under the guidance of the staff, took a photo together to mark their first wedding anniversary.

After asking for the time to pick up the photos, Xiao Wang still felt distressed until he left the photo studio: "It's too expensive. It's enough for one person to eat for a month."

"It's okay, we only take a photo once a year." Tang Zhitong felt that the money was well spent. Now was Xiao Wang's most beautiful age, and being able to capture his youth in a photo was worth any amount of money.

However, Tang Zhitong also understood Xiao Wang's complaints. Nowadays, due to the unpopularity and high prices of cameras, very few people take photos. In ordinary people's homes, there are many people who have never taken photos since childhood.

Student Xiao Wang complained a bit and the matter was over. Although she felt a little sad, she still approved of her husband's idea of ​​"one photo per year".

Lu Lan's unit is not far from Wangfujing Street, located on the southwest side of the Beijing Hotel, facing Nanchizi Street.

At present, Nanchizi Street is still ancient and has not yet been rebuilt.

A few years ago, the city planned to widen and extend Nanchizi Street to the south to form a north-south trunk road, but later the plan was shelved because the Beijing Hotel was to be built nearby.

Gong'ankou is in a very good location, being the center of the city center and was the location of foreign embassies before liberation.

At the beginning of the renovation, not only were heating and gas interfaces reserved, making this unit one of the first units in New China to use heating and gas, but land for the subway station entrance and exit was also reserved. However, for various reasons, a subway station was not built here later.

Tang Zhitong and Xiao Wang registered, asked for the location of Lu Lan's office, and went there. This time, Tang Zhitong followed Xiao Wang because he didn't know Lu Lan.

"Aunt Lu, did I disturb you?" After arriving at Lu Lan's office, Xiao Wang knocked on the door and greeted her first.

"Hello, Aunt Lu." Tang Zhitong followed closely and quickly greeted her.

"Hello. You are Xiao Tang, right? You are such a handsome guy, and Wenwen has really good taste." Lu Lan didn't know Tang Zhitong, but knew Xiao Wang, and praised him as soon as they met.

"Aunt Lu, thank you for the compliment. I'm Xiao Tang, Tang Zhitong. Wenwen often mentioned you at home, saying that you were very kind and amiable, and told me some of your past experiences in northern Shaanxi. I was very impressed after hearing that, and I'm very fortunate to meet you today." Tang Zhitong placed his hands in front of his lower abdomen, with a very respectful attitude.

"You're really good at talking. Come and sit down." Lu Lan smiled and made way.

Lu Lan was very fond of Xiao Wang and had always wanted her to be his daughter-in-law, but the two of them were not destined to be together.

Classmate Xiao Wang was listening to her husband and Lu Lan chatting with each other with a smile. She was not idle either. She found a teacup and poured three cups of water.

"'One Cent' is a very good children's song. How did you create it?" Lu Lan asked after the three of them sat down.

"It was mainly because Ma Tianmin in the movie "I'm Off Today" acted so well. During the Chinese New Year, I took my younger brother and sister to see a movie together..." Tang Zhitong explained the cause of the incident, emphasizing that he was infected by the male host's helpful spirit.

Xiao Wang listened to her husband's useless work, but she didn't interrupt him, and she didn't expose the fact that her husband's original purpose was just to earn some royalties...

"Well, that's good. You two, one can write lyrics and the other understands music, you are really a match made in heaven. Create more in the future. If it can be related to our system, we will welcome it very much." Lu Lan was very satisfied with Tang Zhitong's attitude and words.

The public security department is under great pressure now. Public security is only one aspect of it. Some people also question the working methods, and making movies also involves the factor of establishing an image.

"We'll try our best." Tang Zhitong thought he was just here to get a letter of employment, but he didn't expect there would be such a thing. However, he was too embarrassed to refuse in person, so he could only agree ambiguously.

"Don't feel too stressed. I know how difficult it is to create something. Some comrades may not be able to release a song throughout the entire year." Lu Lan seemed to have seen Tang Zhitong's concerns and took the initiative to offer him a way out.

"Thank you Aunt Lu for your understanding. The main reason is that he has a lot of things to take care of now, including study, work, and meetings on the Barefoot Doctor Manual from time to time. He may not have the energy to take care of all of them." Classmate Xiao Wang spoke up and very considerately helped Tang Zhitong to make up for it.

"Well, work is the most important thing. Taking care of the family is not a mandatory task." After hearing what Xiao Wang said, Lu Lan was relieved, and then thanked Tang Zhitong: "Xiao Tang, thank you for Aijun's matter."

"Aunt Lu, you're too polite. I really didn't contribute much to that matter. It's mainly because Aijun is so outstanding." Tang Zhitong knew that Lu Lan was referring to Wu Aijun's transfer, so he downplayed his role in it as soon as he opened his mouth.

As a mother, Lu Lan was very happy to hear others praise her son, but she did not dwell on this issue. Instead, she introduced the main purpose of inviting the couple to come: "The department invites you to serve as legal publicity officers this time. We hope that you can cooperate with us in some publicity activities when it is convenient for you."

"This is what we should do. Abiding by laws and regulations is the social responsibility and moral obligation of every citizen. We will definitely cooperate." Tang Zhitong stated. Although he had just gotten away with the creation, this requirement could no longer be vague.

Lu Lan nodded and continued, "In addition, the publicity department will arrange for someone to interview you and follow up on the effect of this legal publicity. You... your original intention of creation still has room for improvement."

"Understood. Let's discuss it when we get back." Tang Zhitong agreed very readily. After agreeing, he looked at Xiao Wang. From his eyes, he could understand that Xiao Wang also understood Lu Lan's meaning.

Afterwards, Lu Lan took Tang Zhitong and Xiao Wang to the Propaganda Department.

The Propaganda Department was very formal. They not only issued employment letters to the two people, but also took photos.

According to the staff of the Propaganda Department, these materials will be used for publicity later.

In order to facilitate future contact, both parties left each other's contact information.

After the procedure was completed and the couple walked out the door, Xiao Wang said, "It's almost time for school to end. Should we go pick them up?"

"I'll go, you go home and rest." Tang Zhitong looked at his watch. This place was not far from Huashi Street, and was located between Erlong Road and Tang's house. Tang Zhitong didn't want Xiao Wang to walk a few more steps.

"Let's go, it's not far." Classmate Xiao Wang wanted to be with Tang Zhitong. She was very satisfied with both today's meat and the color photos.

"Okay then." Tang Zhitong looked around and pushed his bicycle straight across the street.

At present, there are no isolation piers on East and West Chang'an Avenue, and the practice of abiding by traffic rules is not deeply rooted in people's minds, so many people cross the road randomly.

Xiao Tang and Xiao Wang were not jaywalking because this side faces Nanchizi Street, which is considered an intersection.

However, since the original road of East-West Chang'an Avenue has just been renovated, there is no traffic light at this intersection.

Although there are more cars going from east to west than on other roads, it is definitely not crowded, so it is feasible to push your bike across the road at the right time.

(The picture was taken from the southwest direction from Nanyanhe Street in 1960. The gate-like part in the lower right corner is Nanyanhe Street, and the blurred part in the upper right corner is the south entrance of Nanchizi Street.)
"How did you come up with the idea of ​​taking photos as a souvenir?" After crossing the road and riding a bicycle, classmate Xiao Wang asked sweetly.

"I just want to record every moment with you. We don't have a camera at home, otherwise I would take a picture of you every day." Sweet words came out of Tang Zhitong's mouth as if they were free.

"Cameras are too expensive, several hundred dollars a piece." Xiao Wang knew her husband would definitely answer like this, but she just wanted to hear it and never got tired of it.

"Let's save some money and buy one when we have enough. Cameras can be made domestically now. This thing is like a watch. The price will definitely come down in the future." Tang Zhitong definitely wanted to buy a color one, but considering the price, he chose a black and white one, otherwise classmate Xiao Wang would definitely not agree.

"Let's see how the situation develops later." Xiao Wang was hesitant. Although the camera is expensive, it can record every detail of the two of them. Moreover, when they have children in the future, they can also record their growth, which are all very memorable things.

"Yeah." Tang Zhitong was not in a hurry. There was still a long time to go. He would wait until he had saved enough money.

(End of this chapter)