The moment the photographer finished taking the picture and straightened up, all the children rushed forward, eager to look.
"Can we see?"
"Can we have a look?"
"What do we look like in the picture?"
"Let us see..."
"What does it look like? Let me see... let me see..."
"Let me see... me first..."
"Me first... move away..."
Afraid they would damage his camera as they jostled around, the photographer quickly put it away and explained with a smile.
"You can't see the pictures until they're developed. Once they're ready, I'll give you the negatives too."
"Then when will they be ready?"
"We have to use up all the film inside before we can take it out to develop. Yours should be quick today. There are so many people wanting pictures that I'll probably be able to develop it as soon as I get back."
Ye Yaodong called the children back too. "Stop messing around. He still needs to take pictures and do business. Once the pictures are developed and we get the negatives back, everyone can see."
Father Ye smiled as well. "About how many days before we can collect them?"
"Yours should be quick. If we use up the film today, they should be ready in three or four days."
He gave himself a little leeway, lest they come when the time was up and find the pictures unfinished, making a wasted trip and scolding him for it.
"That's pretty quick. I heard before that it took ten days or half a month."
"Heh, that's because the film hadn't been used up. That's why it took so long. We have to finish the whole roll before we can take it out to develop."
Ye Eldest Sister-in-Law said eagerly, "Now that A-Dong's family is finished, is it our family's