Chapter 23 ☆ Selling hair (Part 1)

It was pouring rain in the primeval forest. Xie San braved the storm, chasing a wild boar deep into the mountains. The surroundings were dark and gloomy, and all he could hear was his own heartbeat and breathing. Suddenly, he heard rustling in the bushes behind him. Xie San held his hatchet alertly and turned around abruptly.

But it was Cheng Yaoyao, soaking wet, standing there in the pink dress she had worn when they first met. Her bare, snow-white feet were visible, and she shouted, “Thank you, Xie San…”

Cheng Yaoyao had black hair, fair skin, and a teardrop mole under her eye that enhanced her charm. Her rosy lips were moist and inviting. She looked breathtakingly beautiful, like a fairy in the forest.

Xie San couldn’t help but take a step back. Seeing that he was ignoring her, Cheng Yaoyao suddenly cried out, “My feet hurt!”

The cry, filled with childishness and pain, tugged at the heartstrings. Looking down, Xie San saw two bright red spots on the snow-white arch of her foot—wounds from a snake bite.

Xie San reached out, almost instinctively, and for some reason, Cheng Yaoyao fell into his arms. She was lighter and softer than a flower, exuding the sweet scent of roses.

_

Xie San abruptly woke up, staring at the dark ceiling and breathing heavily. He was drenched in sweat, as if he had just been pulled from the water, and the straw mat beneath him was soaked.

He propped himself up on the bed and suddenly felt a chill in his chest. His whole body stiffened, and after a moment, he slapped himself.

At twenty years old, having vivid dreams wasn’t unusual for her, but this one was particularly striking and beautiful. It felt almost sacred, as if she were like a cloud drifting in the sky, and just thinking about it felt like something forbidden or deeply significant.

Thinking of Cheng Yaoyao’s innocent and defenseless appearance, Xie San covered his forehead in disgust, feeling a deep sense of self-reproach and losing any desire to sleep.

It was only three or four o’clock. The yard was gray, the moon was still hanging in the sky, and dawn was just beginning to show. The air was cool and filled with the fragrance of plants, refreshing and clearing the mind.

The courtyard, paved with blue bricks, had a Chinese toon tree planted in the corner. Next to it was a small vegetable patch with onions, ginger, garlic, and crabapple flowers growing together. Three hens were confined to a small corner, and their coop was covered with waterproof straw and rags. This gave the area a cozy, though somewhat shabby, feeling.

Xie San fetched a bucket of well water, took a shower, scrubbed his trousers clean, wrung them out, and hung them on a pole in the corner. The drying clothes seemed a bit secretive.

The cold well water evaporated on his skin, bringing a cool sensation that gradually calmed his boiling blood. It was still early, but Xie San was no longer sleepy.

He prepared the items he had organized the previous night, placing them into a large basket, and fetched several buckets of water. He filled the large water tank in the corner of the yard, as well as the basin and bucket, ensuring his grandmother and sister would have water when they woke up.

Despite his tall stature, Xie San moved quietly, careful not to wake his grandmother, who was sleeping in the room.

Soon, an old and kind voice came from the west wing: “Brother Zhao^[1]nickname for Xie San., you’re up so early?”

Xie San replied, “Grandma, did I wake you?”

“No, grandma is old and doesn’t sleep well,” Grandma Gu called to Xie San through the window. “I didn’t cough all night and slept soundly for several hours. The bayberry juice you brought me yesterday really worked.”

“Yes,” Xie San said, feeling unexpectedly nervous. His eyes glanced at the underpants hanging in the corner of the yard, which seemed like evidence of his guilt, making his face flush.

There was a rustle inside the house as Grandma Gu emerged with her shirt buttoned up. “When you go to the city to sell things today, take the dozen eggs I saved with you.”

Xie San said, “Keep it to nourish your body.”

Grandma Gu placed a bag of eggs wrapped in rice bran in the basket and examined the items Xie San had brought. “These dried mushrooms are fine, but their skins are hard to sell in the summer.”

Xie San remained silent and took the eggs out again.

“You stubborn one,” Grandma Gu said suddenly. “Brother Zhao, I’ve cleaned the kettle. You can take it back and return it to the owner tomorrow.”

Xie San paused, not looking up, but he could feel his grandmother’s gaze on him. Her kind and wise eyes seemed to see through his thoughts.

Grandma Gu continued, “Zhao, you’re no longer a child. If I hadn’t been a burden to you, you would have already become a father. You should also save some money for marriage.”

“It’s because I come from a poor family that no girl likes me,” Xie San interrupted Grandma Gu. “Grandma, I’m going out.”

Xie San picked up the large basket and walked out without looking back.

Grandma Gu watched her grandson’s tall and straight back and sighed deeply.

_

Tianshui Village is located in a remote area, and getting to the county town is not easy. Especially in the hot summer, walking into the city under the scorching sun can cause sunburn. Cheng Yaoyao and a few female educated youth set out at 5:30 in the morning and were fortunate to catch a tractor halfway.

A group of rural women was already sitting in the back of the tractor, all of them visiting relatives in the city to exchange goods. Cheng Yaoyao was squeezed among pumpkins and vegetables, and Han Yin had it even worse, with a woman holding a hen constantly pecking at her hair.

Cheng Yaoyao, wearing a sky-blue dress and matching headband, looked like a swan in a chicken coop. The rural women kept eyeing her with curiosity and envy, especially at the leather shoes she wore.

Cheng Yaoyao was about to vomit from the shaking of the truck bed. She turned around and laid on the edge of the truck bed to get some fresh air. Suddenly, she saw a tall figure walking in front of the truck, carrying a large basket on his back. “Thank you, Xie San! Thank you, Xie San!” Cheng Yaoyao waved excitedly, but her voice couldn’t be heard over the loud noise of the engine and the chatter of the women around her.

Xie San moved aside to let the tractor pass. When he looked up, he saw Cheng Yaoyao waving at him. In the cool morning breeze, she was wearing a sky-blue dress, making her skin look as white as snow. Her bright peach blossom eyes were filled with innocent joy and unguarded happiness.

The charming fairy from his dream slowly merged with Cheng Yaoyao’s face.

Xie San quickly averted his gaze, feeling as if he were burned. He watched the tractor carrying Cheng Yaoyao leave, the smell of diesel exhaust and dust hitting his face, a reminder of his bleak future.

_

Inside the truck, Han Yin squeezed next to Cheng Yaoyao with curiosity. “Who were you calling out to?”

The truck was very noisy, so they had to speak loudly. Cheng Yaoyao lowered her head and yelled into Han Yin’s ear, “I called him an idiot!”

Even after they arrived in the county town, Han Yin continued to complain about how Cheng Yaoyao had deafened her ears.

Cheng Yaoyao looked up at the stone plaque on the archway: “Lin’an City.” Lin’an City was an ancient place. The entrance was a road paved with bluestone slabs, lined with quaint two-story shops featuring upturned tiles and flying eaves, adorned with cloud patterns and flowers.

Unfortunately, these shops had been nationalized. Large signs were posted on the doors, and salespeople in blue work clothes stood behind the counters with stern faces, shouting at customers, “Hand over your money and tickets! Don’t touch anything unless you’re buying!”

Cheng Yaoyao looked around with great interest. Such a well-preserved ancient city was rare in later generations, where a ticket was required to visit. The atmosphere reminded Cheng Yaoyao of her childhood visits to her grandmother’s house.

Cheng Nuonuo had not accompanied them today. Only Cheng Yaoyao, Han Yin, and Zhang Xiaofeng were together. Since the female educated youth always went in groups, they couldn’t leave Liu Minxia alone, so she had to come along.

They headed straight for the supply and marketing cooperative but noticed a crowd gathered at the entrance of the waste recycling station on the roadside. Han Yin, eager to see what was happening, said, “Let’s check it out!”

An old man in white sleeves was holding a beam scale, weighing something. “One pound and two ounces, 98 cents. I’ll give you one yuan!”

A girl touched her ear-length hair, took the money from the old man, and left happily. The crowd dispersed, but a few girls who wanted to sell their hair but couldn’t decide remained.

“So hair can be sold for money?” Cheng Yaoyao asked in surprise.

Han Yin touched the long braid on the back of her head and said excitedly, “I want to cut mine too. Do you want to cut yours?”

The dormitory conditions for educated youth were harsh, with inconvenient facilities for washing hair and bathing. Moreover, working in the fields in hot weather made it easy to get lice. Cutting off long braids made short hair easier to manage and less prone to lice, plus shampoo was not wasted.

Han Yin was tempted but didn’t want to be the first to try, so she persuaded Cheng Yaoyao to cut her hair with her.

The old master wiped his scissors, shook out the cloth, and called, “Collecting hair—”

Han Yin was trying to persuade Cheng Yaoyao when Liu Minxia suddenly stepped forward and said, “I’ll cut mine.”

Liu Minxia’s braids were already waist-length but dry and dark yellow. The old master looked at her hair and said, “Your hair won’t sell for much.”

Liu Minxia gritted her teeth and said, “Okay!”

Selling hair was simpler than in later generations. Liu Minxia sat on a small stool while the master wrapped a dirty white cloth around her neck and gestured to where he would cut the braid. “Cut it here or here?”

Cheng Yaoyao and Han Yin both shouted, “Lower it, lower it, it’s too short!”

Liu Minxia closed her eyes tightly, as if afraid of the pain, and said, “Cut it!”

With two clicks, a long braid fell into the master’s hands. He weighed it on the scale and said, “70 cents and 8 cents!”

Han Yin asked, “Only 78 cents for such a long braid?”

The old master pushed the scale bar in front of her and said, “Look at that hair; it’s yellow and sparse. It looks long, but it doesn’t weigh much! Your braid is quite thick. Do you want to sell it?”

Han Yin turned to Cheng Yaoyao and asked excitedly, “Yaoyao, will you sell yours?”

Cheng Yaoyao smiled and said, “I won’t sell mine.”

Han Yin replied, “Liu Minxia’s braid only earned 78 cents. Yours will definitely be worth more. Come on, let’s cut it together!”