C15 Take a Picture and Send It to the Mailbox

Sung Zhu felt a deep sense of contentment upon acquiring the stamps, reflecting on the fact that despite the scarcity of materials in this era, there were still plenty of treasures to be found. It was unfortunate, however, that the true value of these items couldn't be fully appreciated yet—it would take time for her discerning eye to be validated.

"Looks like I need to find other valuable things to collect," Sung Zhu resolved quietly to herself.

From that moment on, everything Sung Zhu saw was through a lens of appraisal, always considering whether something might be valuable or have the potential to appreciate in value, and if so, she made sure to preserve it carefully.

Sung Guodong didn't see anything amiss with her hobby. It's quite normal for a child to be driven by curiosity.

Time flew by, and before she knew it, Sung Zhu had been there for over a week. She had adapted to the material shortages and the lack of entertainment. Throughout the week, she never went hungry while staying with Sung Guodong, often enjoying better meals than others. Her occasional outings with her cousins were enjoyable, making her simple life rather pleasant.

"Zhu, how about we go to the county town tomorrow?" Sung Guodong proposed with a smile after dinner.

"Sure," Sung Zhu replied, instantly grasping the reason for the upcoming trip.

She had been paying close attention these past few days. The food supply was sufficient for several more days, and there was still oil, but they had run out of meat. The meat they had bought was all used up after making the braised dish, and there was none left for the following day's cooking.

But that wasn't the main point. The real reason for the trip was that last week they had gone to the county to take a photo, and now grandpa was likely planning to pick up the photo and mail a letter.

She had noticed that grandpa had already placed the letter in his pocket, ready to go.

Grandpa seemed quite eager, preparing the letter today even though they wouldn't be heading to the county until tomorrow.

Sung Guodong probably anticipated she wouldn't decline the offer, so after tidying up the dishes, he reminded Sung Zhu to get some rest early.

After a bit of playtime, Sung Zhu lay in bed, her mind preoccupied with her concerns.

She was aware that one of the letters was addressed to her "mother," and another was for her father's old war buddy.

Clearly, Grandpa intended to send a photo to each of them, but deep down, he didn't want either of them to have one of his pictures.

"Ugh, a woman who remarries just a year after her husband's death, and she has a daughter—I just can't warm up to her. And that Xin Jinzhou, even though he seems like a young man with a bright future, well..."

Sung Zhu shook her head to herself, reflecting on how the so-called arranged marriages from childhood were far too unreliable. After all, who could predict what the future held?

After her silent complaints, Sung Zhu drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Sung Guodong took Sung Zhu straight to the county town.

"Zhu, we're in luck today—we've got a ride!"

Sung Zhu had braced herself for the possibility of no hitched rides, expecting a long walk to the county town. To her surprise, their luck held, and there was a bus headed that way with seats to spare!

"Indeed, Grandpa," Sung Zhu agreed, settling into her seat and appreciating the convenience of transportation.

Upon arriving in the county town, Sung Guodong collected the photos and made a beeline for the post office.

Sung Zhu watched as he meticulously placed the photos into an envelope and dropped it into the mailbox, biting her lip in silence.

With the photos sent off, what more was there to say?

After mailing the letter, Sung Guodong treated Sung Zhu to a nice meal at a state-owned restaurant. They didn't rush back; instead, he took her on a leisurely stroll through the county town.