258 258 Happy Family
Early in the morning on the weekend, Mrs. Tao woke up the siblings. They had to leave before the morning rush hour to avoid being stuck in traffic.
“Xiao Qi, are you done? Why aren’t you out yet?” Mrs. Tao shouted from outside.
“I’m coming” Tao Qi put the computer that Tan Rou had assembled into a box that he had specially prepared. He patted the box and said, “I’ll be back soon.”
He carried his small school bag and put on his sun hat, preparing to set off.
Mr. Tao’s five-seater SUV was just big enough for the family of five. Tan Rou thought that if her brother came back, they would probably have to change to a bigger car but it may also not be necessary anymore. Eldest Brother and Second Brother both knew how to drive, so they would definitely drive themselves.
Tao Zheng didn’t drive. His family was an ordinary family, so his parents only bought one car. Usually, Tao Zheng and his father took turns driving. As for today, the head of the family was driving. Mrs. Tao sat in the passenger seat while the three children sat in the back.
Tao Qi sat in the middle, fiddling with the MP4 he carried with him. Because he didn’t have a phone, he could only use the MP4 to download songs and some listening questions. He would play them when he had nothing to do.
“What are you listening to? You’re so energetic.” Tan Rou placed her hand on Tao Qi’s head.
Tao Qi pulled her hand down and puffed up his face to pretend to be angry. “Don’t touch my head and do what I listen to have anything to do with you?”
“I’m your sister,” Tan Rou teased him. “Come and let me hear you call me that again.”
Tao Qi crossed his arms and called out reluctantly, “Big Sister.”
Tan Rou smiled from ear to ear. “That’s right, my good brother.”
Seeing the siblings getting along amicably, Tao Zheng couldn’t help but take out his camera and took a few photos of the siblings.
Tan Rou didn’t like taking photos, and she thought Tao Qi didn’t like it either. However, their younger brother liked it very much. As long as Second Brother liked it, she was willing to stand in front of the camera.
Tao Zheng looked at the photo in the camera with satisfaction. “This is a precious photo that belongs to our family. When we go to the resort, I’ll take more. We’ll develop it and make a few photo albums as a souvenir. ”
“Then, you better make sure we look good!” Tan Rou said after hearing Tao Zheng’s words.
Tao Zheng replied, “My sister is beautiful from all angles and has no blind spots. She looks good no matter how I take the picture?”
“Second Brother, let me take a picture of you too.” Tan Rou suddenly said, “You’re always taking pictures of others. You don’t even have the chance to take pictures of yourself. Let me take a picture of you.”
Tao Zheng didn’t object. He tidied up his clothes and said in a dignified manner, “Sure!”
He was always taking photos of others but now that someone had suddenly wanted to take photos of him and so, he felt anxious.
Tan Rou could tell that he was nervous, so she pushed Tao Qi over. “Little Brother, come and take a photo with our elder brother!”
“Humph! I don’t want you to take pictures.” Tao Qi said no, but his body moved closer to Tao Zheng.
With a click, they were frozen on the film.
“Take a photo for Mom and Dad too.” Tan Rou suggested.
Mr. Tao was still driving. “I’ll just take a casual photo. You guys take a good photo for Mommy.”
“You guys go ahead. Don’t disturb dad driving.”
Tan Rou passed the camera to Tao Qi, who was sitting in the middle. “You can take both our parents from your spot. Come. You shall take the photos then.”
Tao Qi suddenly felt that the camera in his hand was very heavy. “I… I’ll definitely take a better one than you do.”
He pointed the camera at the centre. Due to the bumpy car and his weak arms, the photos all came out blurry.
“You have to aim for it. Focus on it properly.” Tao Zheng instructed him.
Tan Rou held the camera with one hand and his arm with the other. ” Be steady.”
With the help of his brother and sister, Tao Qi completed this photo. Although it was only half the view of the parents in the front side, it was still a warm picture.
As they played, an hour’s drive passed. The car was parked in a resort near a mountain and a river. In the parking lot, one could see the towering mountain forest and the green lake.
The air was fresh, and the sky was much bluer than the city. Faint white clouds floated past, and the wind carried an unknown fragrance of flowers.
“Wow, this place is so beautiful!” Tao Qi ran excitedly.
“Xiao Qi, be careful of the car!” Mrs. Tao shouted.
Tao Qi ran so fast that she was almost hit by a car that drove in. The car brushed past him.