Chapter 8: A Hair Wash That Makes the Heart Race

“You’re so handsome, why do you let yourself look like a scruffy old man? Look, I did a pretty good job, right?” Huang Yuelan handed her small mirror to Wang Jianguo.

Wang Jianguo took the mirror and peered into it, his eyebrows rising. He had never realized he was so handsome!

No wonder some brats in the village liked to bully him when he was a child, especially the particularly ugly ones. Their hateful expressions towards him… they were all jealous of him!

“Wife, your skills are amazing, simply breathtaking! You turned a wild man into a handsome guy.” Wang Jianguo knew his transformation was all thanks to his wife. Without her help with his haircut, he’d still be the repulsive “wild man” that scared children. He’d seen his reflection by the river before; it was terribly “ugly,” even he hated it.

Huang Yuelan couldn’t take the compliment. She’d only cut his long hair short, and it was mainly because her rough-and-tumble husband had good features to begin with.

This was her first time cutting hair, and she used the crudest tools—scissors. It was fortunate she didn’t end up giving him a dog-chewed haircut. But to call it breathtaking was a gross exaggeration.

“It’s mainly because you’re good-looking. I just trimmed it a bit,” Huang Yuelan rinsed the scissors in a water jar, washing away the clumps of hair.

Wang Jianguo firmly believed it was all his wife’s doing. If she hadn’t cut his hair, who would have?

“My hairstyle is in your hands from now on!” Wang Jianguo believed his wife was the best barber in the world, irreplaceable.

Hearing the word “wife,” Huang Yuelan paused. Technically, they were husband and wife, but things had progressed so quickly that she was momentarily stunned. However, the word “wife” sounded so sweet, and she felt their relationship had taken another step closer.

Seeing Huang Yuelan’s hesitation, Wang Jianguo thought she was unhappy. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?” he asked.

“No, no, how could I not like it? I’ll take care of your hairstyle, your clothes, and everything else. Quickly take off that burlap sack, I’ll help you wash the hair clippings from your neck.” Huang Yuelan knew those tiny hairs would be irritating if left on his neck.

Hearing this, Wang Jianguo’s heart warmed. His wife was so thoughtful, making him love her even more.

Wang Jianguo removed the burlap sack and went to Huang Yuelan, bending over and extending his neck, as docile as a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, motionless.

Huang Yuelan scooped a ladle of hot water from the big pot in the kitchen into an enamel basin, added some cold water, mixed it, tested the temperature with her hand, and when it felt right, she wetted Wang Jianguo’s hair. Then she lathered some “Guangming Brand” soap in her hands, rubbed it into a lather, and applied it to his head and neck.

When Wang Jianguo felt Huang Yuelan’s delicate, slender fingers touching his neck, his heart skipped a beat, his pulse quickening.

Especially when Huang Yuelan, in order to thoroughly clean his hair and neck, leaned over, her breath falling on Wang Jianguo’s skin, his instinctive reaction made him feel very uncomfortable.

Despite the discomfort, Wang Jianguo enjoyed it. Washing his hair had become a sweet experience.

Seeing Wang Jianguo’s face and neck suddenly turn red, like he’d just had a drink, his blood rushing, his face flushed, she asked, “What’s wrong? Why is your skin suddenly so red? Is the water too hot? Should I add some cold water?”

But she had clearly tested the water temperature; it wasn’t too hot or too cold, it was just right!

Wang Jianguo couldn’t help but marvel at his wife’s innocence. Even though she’d been married before, she was still so naive, she didn’t know why he was blushing.

“It’s fine, it’s fine, not hot at all, just right,” Wang Jianguo continued to lower his head.

Huang Yuelan was relieved. It was just a hair wash; she didn’t want to scald his skin.