Chapter 125: Family Portrait

When little sister Chen Rong, who had been out of touch for quite a while, finally returned home from school, she was enraged to hear that the whole family had taken a group photo without her. She burst into tears, crying and making such a fuss that the household had no peace. Chen Liang felt a massive headache coming on; damn it, he’d been living it up for too long and had completely forgotten about this little ancestor at home.

After Chen Liang tried everything—bribing her and making promises—he finally lost his patience. "Chen Rong, I’ll give you one last chance. Hold back those tears right now, or I’m going to call Mom!"

As the saying goes, every creature has its master. The moment Chen Liang pulled out Mom as his shield, Chen Rong immediately quieted down, though she continued to sob while shooting glares of injustice at him. Women are like that; when they’re crying, they won't listen to reason. Now that she was finally quiet, Chen Liang could finally negotiate.

"You're how old now? Still crying like little Chen Hong when she doesn't get her candy? Aren't you embarrassed?"

Before Chen Rong could retort, little Chen Hong piped up from the side, "Second Uncle, I heard you talking behind my back! I’m grown up now; I wouldn't cry just because I didn't get any candy!"

Chen Liang seized the chance, "See? Even your little niece is more sensible than you!"

"Ah!" Stung by his words, Chen Rong exploded, jumping three feet in the air. "Chen Liang! I’m going to kill you! I’m so mad!"

She pounced on his back, shaking him by the neck. "Is this the same thing? Mom and Dad are just biased toward the boys. It’s pathetic—I don’t even have my own room at home, and that’s fine, but now you leave me out of the family portrait? Am I even a member of the Chen family?"

"And you, Second Brother! Instead of comforting me, you’re just making snide remarks! What kind of brother are you? I don't care, I want to take a family portrait too!"

Little Chen Hong watched the chaos, fanning the flames, "Go, Little Aunt! Go, Little Aunt!"

Chen Rong was nearly a grown woman about to graduate from high school, and with her now on his back, Chen Liang couldn't exactly pull her off by force. He had to let her keep shaking him.

"Alright, get down, or I’m calling Mom! See if she doesn't give you a beating!"

"If Mom dares to hit me, I’ll strangle you! I’m taking you down with me today!"

As it turned out, Chen Rong was all bark and no bite. The chaotic scene between the siblings soon attracted their mother. Terrified, Chen Rong scurried off Chen Liang’s back like a frightened mouse and hid behind him, not daring to show her face—she was deathly afraid of a thrashing.

"Mom, you're just in time. Let's take another family portrait."

The Chen family gathered once more. After Chen Liang adjusted the position and angle, he set the timer and finally captured a true family portrait—no one was missing this time.

In this era, students were expected not only to study but also to perform manual labor. At the dinner table, Chen Rong mentioned that she wouldn't be home for a week, as she was heading to the countryside around the capital for farm work. The five traditional virtues—morality, intelligence, physical education, aesthetics, and labor—which would be long forgotten in later years, were strictly enforced back then. Being a student was a remarkably grueling profession.

After dinner, Chen Rong scampered off to find her good friend Yushui to brag about her second brother taking her photo. Seeing Yushui’s envious expression, Chen Rong’s little streak of vanity was immensely satisfied.

But then, disaster struck for Chen Rong. Yushui, filled with envy, went to find her brother, Shazhu, and her sister-in-law. Chen Liang couldn't refuse the social pressure, so he ended up bringing Deaf Old Lady over to take a family portrait for them as well.

There are no secrets in a courtyard house. Any little event, whether it was the Zhangs' business or the Lis' gossip, would be known by the entire compound in a heartbeat. News that Chen Liang had bought a camera and taken a family portrait for Shazhu’s family spread like wildfire.

Those who considered themselves on good terms with Father Chen all came around, putting on their best faces to flatter the two Chen brothers before finally asking if Chen Liang could take a family portrait for them, too.

Chen Dashan wasn't a stingy man. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Take them! Why be so formal?"

Chen Liang became a busy little bee, running from one household to the next, so busy his feet barely touched the ground. What was so hard about taking a family portrait? It was just a matter of getting everyone lined up and clicking the shutter.

By the time he finished, it wasn't even dark yet. Since he couldn't take Xiao Yu for a stroll through the woods, he decided to just finish the job for the last two families who had been too shy to ask.

"Uncle Zhang, where are you going?" As soon as he entered the back courtyard, he saw Old Man Zhang heading out with his tea mug. Chen Liang quickly called out to him.

"Chen’s second boy, what are you doing in the back yard?" Ever since Chen Liang had beaten him at chess on his father’s behalf, the old man hadn't been very fond of him.

"What am I doing? I’m here to take your family portrait! Uncle Zhang, hurry back and change your clothes. You’re dressed in rags—what kind of look is that?"

"Hey! No one in my house asked you to take photos. What are you up to? Don't pull me! I can walk myself."

Knowing the old man was as stubborn as a mule, Chen Liang pushed him back toward his room. "Where’s Eldest Zhang? Get your father into some clean clothes, we’re taking a family portrait!"

"Hmph! You’re forcing your business on us! I’d like to see who dares to change clothes without my say-so!" The old man threw a fit, slamming his tea mug onto the table.

Chen Liang shot him a sidelong glance. "Old man, are you sure you want to play it that way? Do you believe I’ll dismantle your birdcage the next time you're out?"

"Don't! That’s my treasure! You brat, don't you touch it!" Old Man Zhang hesitated for a moment before resigning himself to change his clothes.

*I’m a normal person, no point in bickering with a blockhead. It’s just a photo, what’s the big deal?*

"See? If you’d been this obedient earlier, we wouldn't have had all this trouble." *Hmph, trying to play hardball with me? I can handle you in a minute.*

When the Zhang family was gathered, Chen Liang saw Old Man Zhang still scowling as if someone owed him money, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Oh, come on, Uncle Zhang, lighten up! Don't look so sour, we’re taking a picture! Think about your birdcage!" Chen Liang gave him a subtle nudge.

The effect was immediate. Chen Liang adjusted the lens and "click"—the moment was recorded.

After the photo was taken, Chen Liang prepared to leave, but Old Man Zhang stopped him. "Here, take this. I won't let you do this for free!"

Looking at the fifty cents the old man held out, Chen Liang felt a headache coming on.