Ye Yaodong rode a bicycle with the children, while the photo studio owner followed behind on his own bicycle, carrying his equipment.
It was only a little past ten in the morning when they reached the village. Cooking smoke was already rising from some chimneys, while most of the men were still sitting outside their doors, playing cards in the sun.
As Ye Yaodong rode toward the main road, he stopped briefly where a crowd had gathered and had his son behind him call out.
"Someone's here to take photos! Someone's here to take photos!"
He had promised to spread the word, so he certainly had to follow through.
The villagers looked over curiously, echoing, "Someone's here to take photos?"
Ye Yaodong said, "Someone's come to take photos at our homes. He's going to mine first. Anyone who wants pictures taken can come to my place later and ask this gentleman."
The villagers put their heads together and began discussing it in whispers.
Ye Yaodong paid them no further attention. Once he had made the announcement and explained things, he rode home with the photographer following him.
The photographer hurriedly pedaled after him.
The children at home already knew Ye Yaodong had gone to town to fetch someone to take pictures. When they spotted him cycling back in the distance, they excitedly ran to meet him.
"Third Uncle's back!"
"Third Uncle's back!"
"Third Uncle, can we have our pictures taken too?"
The children's cheeks were flushed from all their clamoring, and every pair of eyes shone as they looked up at him.
Ye Yaodong smiled. "Go tell your mothers to change you into nice, clean new clothes. We'll take a family portrait in a bit, all of us together. That one's on me. If they want prints, we can have