Chapter 43: A Haircut

After Xu Wenhua finished discussing the monthly exams, he announced the end of the school day. Day students scrambled to pack their books and head home; those living nearby planned to go home for a rest, while those from further away intended to stay until the college entrance examination concluded.

Upon hearing the news of the monthly exam, Yang Xingwu calculated the time: today was the 16th, meaning there was only half a month left until the college entrance exam after the monthly exam!

Looking at the timeline, this monthly exam was akin to a third mock exam, primarily intended to boost the students' confidence. The questions would generally not be too difficult, as high scores were needed to raise morale.

By this logic, the preliminary exam timing coincided with the second mock exam. It was no wonder the preliminary exam was scheduled for this time; typically, results from the second mock exam closely mirrored those of the actual college entrance exam, making it a highly significant point of reference.

After school, Yang Xingwu had dinner with his three roommates and returned to the classroom to study. Evening self-study ended at ten o'clock, and after the four of them returned to the dormitory, they washed up and went straight to bed.

It was a rare day off, so they needed to ensure a good night’s sleep; the nerves that had been taut for a month finally needed some relief.

The next day was Sunday. The four had intended to sleep until they woke up naturally, but as soon as they opened their eyes, they realized it was the time for morning reading—their biological clocks had already formed a habit. Fortunately, they had gone to bed nearly two hours earlier than usual, so they woke up feeling refreshed.

Unable to fall back asleep, the four got up, washed, and left the school, each carrying a tin mug. These mugs, similar to the aluminum lunchboxes used by factory workers, were versatile—they could be used for brushing teeth, drinking soup or water, or holding food.

The four walked out into the street. It was still early, not yet six o’clock, and aside from a few women headed to the vegetable market, there weren’t many people about. Since it was the weekend, most were sleeping in to make up for lost rest.

As they strolled down the street, they occasionally heard the cry, "Tofu... fresh tofu!"

Following the sound, they shouted back, and the tofu vendor pulled his cart to a halt. The group approached the cart.

"How are you selling this tofu? Is it good?"

"If it’s not good, you don't pay. It's eight cents a jin (half a kilogram). How much do you want?"

The middle-aged vendor picked up a knife, cut four small pieces from a block of tofu, and handed one to each of them. Yang Xingwu took his and popped it straight into his mouth. It was indeed delicious, full of rich, beany flavor. At that time, tofu was primarily made using the "brine coagulation" method, which gave it a much better texture than gypsum-based tofu. At the very least, it didn't leave a bitter, astringent taste when eaten raw.

In this era of material scarcity, tofu was undoubtedly a great tonic—cheap and highly nutritious. During the time Yang Xingwu had been unconscious, eggs were also a good source of nutrition, but they were quite expensive; one egg could be traded in the city for five or six cents, enough to buy seven or eight liang of tofu. However, tofu wasn't easy to come by; few people went to the villages to sell it, and it was usually only available in town on market days.

After finishing the sample, Yang Xingwu looked at his roommates. Seeing them nod, he immediately said, "We'll take three and a half jin!"

As he spoke, he pulled some small banknotes and coins from his pocket and handed them over. The vendor didn't take the money directly, instead pointing to a small box in front of him, where Yang Xingwu dropped the coins.

After cutting the tofu, the vendor placed it on the scales. Finding the weight a bit light, he cut off another piece and added it to the tray, tilting the scale high and holding it out for them to see. "Look, that’s three jin and six liang. I’ll just call it three and a half! How do you want to carry it?"

"Thanks, Uncle. Just divide it into four portions and put them in our mugs!"

The vendor obliged, splitting the tofu into four portions and filling each of their mugs with a large chunk. The four left, satisfied.

Back at the dormitory, they ate the tofu as their main course. Yang Xingwu added some fermented bean paste, which made it taste much better than eating it plain. After eating nearly a jin of tofu each for breakfast, they felt quite full; tofu is high in protein and quite satiating.

After breakfast, they rested for a while, cleaned and put away their mugs, and then left the school to wander around the city. Sanchuan City was beautiful, home to primeval forests and the Yellow River flowing nearby. If not for the impending college entrance exam, they would have liked to emulate the scholars of old and visit the riverbank to admire the scenery and indulge in a bit of poetic sentiment.

They took advantage of the cool morning to visit many places. By midday, they decided to return to the dormitory to rest. The aimless wandering had lifted their spirits—only by balancing tension and relaxation could they study more effectively.

When they reached the school gate, Liu Jiefang asked, "Are we getting haircuts? If so, let's check old Mr. Zhang’s stall. It’s almost noon, so it should be less crowded!"

"Let's do it! A good sign for the exams!"

"Come on, let's go! It’s been so hot lately, I’ve been thinking about shaving my head bald!" Zhang Jianye grumbled as he headed toward the barbershop stall. Yang Xingwu and the others followed close behind.

The barbershop was an open-air stall with the words "Haircut" painted in red on a wooden board. When they arrived, an old man was busy at work. "Mr. Zhang, we’re here for a haircut!"

Mr. Zhang turned, saw Liu Jiefang, and greeted them. "Wait a moment, I’ll be done with this head in a second!"

The four sat on small stools, chatting while they waited. Mr. Zhang was efficient, and before long, he called out, "Alright, who’s first?"

The four looked at each other, no one speaking at first. Seeing this, Liu Jiefang said, "I’ll set the example for you guys!" and sat down in the chair.

After the haircut, the three watched as Liu Jiefang sported a neat crew cut, quite satisfied. At that time, hair clippers were manual. If the barber wasn't skilled, the clippers would snag and pull the hair, leaving patchy spots where the scalp could be seen. Yang Xingwu and the others had been worried about this, not because they were concerned with looking handsome—there were no such requirements for haircuts then; most people wore crew cuts, and children were often shaved bald.

However, even without a vanity requirement, people did look for a barber with a strong hand. Since the clippers were manual, if the barber lacked strength, it was easy to snag and rip out hair, which was why many children of the eighties and nineties disliked getting haircuts.

Seeing Liu Jiefang’s result, the three were relieved. Thanks to having treated his roommates to tofu that morning, Yang Xingwu was honored to be the second one in the chair. Mr. Zhang draped a cloth over him and began clipping. Within minutes, a neat crew cut appeared. Yang Xingwu marveled at Mr. Zhang’s skill; this was the most comfortable haircut he’d ever had, far better than those amateurs back in their town.