Cen Huai’an looked at Chuxia resentfully. “Mom, didn’t you say getting a haircut from someone else costs too much?”

Why was it okay to pay someone to shave the puppies but not to get his own hair cut?

Most importantly, he was just an extra, and if not for the puppies, his mom would be the one cutting his hair.

Chuxia replied seriously, “It’s not about spending money. I haven’t shaved a dog’s fur before and lack experience. I want to see how others do it so I can do it myself next time.”

She glanced at Cen Huai’an’s hair. “Actually, having someone else cut your hair might not be as good as if I did it. Otherwise, you might as well wait until you’re home for me to cut it.”

“Mom!” Cen Huai’an looked angrily at her.

Why was it okay to pay for shaving the dog but not for his own haircut?

Seeing his somewhat angry expression, Chuxia quickly comforted him. “Alright, alright. This time Old Zhang will cut your hair. You’ll see if it’s really not as good as mine. Besides, it’s better if I do it myself. Others ask me to cut their hair, but I refuse. Your dad didn’t even get this treatment.”

Cen Huai’an turned his head away.

Hearing Chuxia’s words, he felt a bit happy and regretful at the same time.

The haircuts done by his mom were better than those by others, and he didn’t want the barber to cut his hair anymore.

But now he felt embarrassed to backtrack.

Cen Huai’an, thus conflicted, followed Chuxia to the barber.

It was Sunday, and there were quite a few people getting haircuts.

Chuxia and Cen Huai’an patiently stood at the back of the line.

These people were from the same compound as Chuxia and knew her well.

Some asked if she was no longer working at the factory.

Chuxia simply nodded, as this was a question she had been hearing frequently.

Almost everyone who saw her asked about it.

She was tired of explaining, so she just nodded.

If someone said it was a pity she gave up her job, she just listened without responding much.

After a few encounters, people stopped bringing it up.

However, new people still asked or commented.

The woman getting her haircut was one of these new people, but thankfully, she noticed Chuxia didn’t want to say much and shifted the conversation to the puppies Chuxia was carrying.

“Why are you carrying a dog while getting a haircut? Afraid it’ll get lost at home?”

“No,” Chuxia glanced at the two puppies and said, “I’m here to get their fur shaved.”

“Shave the dogs’ fur?!” The woman looked at her in shock, pointing at the puppies. “Who would hire a barber to shave a dog’s fur? Chuxia, what were you thinking?”

Chuxia looked at her and said, “I’m not refusing to pay. Don’t act like you’ve never seen anything. We’re in the provincial capital; getting a dog’s fur shaved isn’t a big deal.”

The woman looked at her in disbelief.

Seeing Chuxia’s confident expression, the woman began to doubt herself.

Was it really normal to shave a dog’s fur? Had she been too inexperienced?

She stopped talking to avoid being mocked by others for being overly naive.

Cen Huai’an looked at Chuxia, then at the older sister, and thought to himself that his mom was really impressive outside too.

It turned out she not only enjoyed teasing him at home but also could charm others, making them dazed.

However, she was still special to him because she always made sure to comfort him after teasing, unlike with others.

Cen Huai’an felt a surge of happiness inside.

When it was Chuxia and Cen Huai’an’s turn, as soon as Chuxia mentioned she wanted to shave the dogs, Old Zhang immediately waved his hand: “I only cut hair for people here! I’m not a butcher; I don’t shave dogs!”

He tried to shoo Chuxia away: “Go away, don’t cause trouble here.”

The people in line behind them laughed.

“Shaving dogs, this is a first for me.”

“Chuxia, if you shave the dog, it won’t be warm anymore. Don’t do it.”

“Yeah, hurry up and go. Don’t waste everyone’s time.”

Chuxia ignored them and stood still, looking at Old Zhang: “I’ll pay!”

“I’m not taking your money.” Old Zhang hesitated but still waved his hand.

Chuxia quickly added, “I can pay extra. One dog counts as one person.”

Old Zhang: “Add twenty cents per dog.”

“Fine.” Chuxia nodded without hesitation.

Old Zhang brought out the black puppy and looked at it with a troubled expression: “This basin is for washing people’s hair and faces, I can’t use it for dogs.”

Chuxia waved her hand nonchalantly: “No need to wash, just shave it, shave it all off.”

That made it simple.

Chuxia held the puppy steady with her gloved hands, and Old Zhang started shaving its fur, even its head and face.

As he shaved, Old Zhang commented, “Shaving a dog, this is a first for me.”

His hands were steady, and the black dog’s fur fell in clumps on the ground.

Cen Huai’an crouched nearby, observing Old Zhang’s shaving technique and sequence, so he could remind his mom if she forgot how to shave the puppies in the future.

The small puppy, with its tiny body and weak strength, couldn’t struggle at all. It was soon shaved completely, with not a single hair left.

Cen Huai’an and Chuxia looked at the completely hairless puppy, now just a white-red bundle of flesh, and fell silent for a moment.

“Mom, it looks a bit ugly.”

Chuxia examined it from all angles and said, “I think it’s okay. You’ll get used to it and it won’t seem ugly anymore.”

The same process was quickly finished for the yellow puppy.

After placing them in the box, Chuxia pointed to Cen Huai’an and said, “Get him a haircut too.”

This was a familiar job for Old Zhang.

He quickly draped a black apron over Cen Huai’an and prepared water to wash and cut his hair.

Soon, Cen Huai’an emerged with a head full of stubble, looking as bald as the puppies.

Cen Huai’an touched his head and had no expression on his face.

Chuxia paid and, with Cen Huai’an, carried the box home.

After a while, Cen Huai’an, feeling wronged, suddenly said, “Mom, let’s just have you cut my hair from now on.”

He thought the barber’s work was no better than his mom’s, and in fact, his mom’s cuts were even better because she was gentler.

Cen Huai’an deeply regretted spending the sixty cents on the haircut.

Chuxia patted his head and smiled, “I told you before that after experiencing others’ skills, you’d appreciate mine.”

Cen Huai’an agreed, thinking his mom was right and he would listen to her in the future.

Chuxia continued, “But it’s okay. After all, without comparison, there’s no difference. Now that you’ve experienced it, you won’t think about going outside anymore.”

When they got home, Cen Huai’an looked at the two puppies and, after a careful inspection, looked up confused: “Mom, I can’t tell which one is Blackie and which is Yellowie!”

The names of Chuxia’s puppies were simple and straightforward, based on their fur color:

Blackie and Yellowie.

After all, simple names are easy to remember, even for dogs.

And it perfectly suited their appearance.

Chuxia wasn’t concerned and said, “It’s okay. After their fur grows back in a few days, you’ll be able to tell who is Blackie and who is Yellowie. Help me get the baby powder.”

Although the puppies were hairless, Chuxia wanted to use baby powder to clean them up and help relieve any itching.

Cen Huai’an found this job interesting.

He put on his work gloves and joined her, and they quickly cleaned both puppies from head to tail.

Chuxia looked at the two puppies and felt that Sister Li’s suggestion was indeed great.

After shaving, all the fleas were gone, leaving only clean, flesh-colored skin.

Chuxia had Cen Huai’an throw the old box and rags downstairs, as they likely harbored fleas.

She would make a new nest for the puppies.

At this time, Sister Li, who had finished making clothes, shook out the two small outfits and approached, asking, “Are the dogs all shaved?”

Chuxia replied, “All done. Look.”

The two puppies were now in their new cardboard box and nest, snuggling into the old rags.

Seeing the appearance of the two puppies, Sister Li burst out laughing: “Hairless dogs! They really look so ugly!”

Cen Huai’an, standing nearby with a serious expression, said, “Auntie, don’t laugh at Blackie and Yellowie. They’ll be sad.”

Sister Li continued laughing: “Dogs can’t understand human speech.”

Cen Huai’an, with his dark eyes fixed on her, said, “Blackie and Yellowie can. I taught them to use the toilet, and they learned in two days.”

Touched by his earnest gaze, Sister Li’s laughter ceased: “Alright, alright, I won’t laugh. Let’s see how the puppies look in these clothes.”

Chuxia and Sister Li dressed the puppies, and the clothes fit perfectly, not too big or too small.

The puppies, now dressed, seemed uninterested in the old rags and instead tried to climb out of the box.

Sister Li looked at the dressed puppies and couldn’t help but want to laugh again. They looked so amusing in their clothes.

But she remembered Cen Huai’an’s words and held back her laughter.

Cen Huai’an, enjoying the company of the two puppies, crouched down and called to them: “Blackie, Yellowie, come here.”

The two puppies, now familiar with Cen Huai’an’s voice and scent, ran over when he called.

Cen Huai’an poured water into their bowls for them to drink.

Cen Huai’an had no desire to go out and play with others; he just wanted to spend time with the puppies.

He took out his language book and read to the two puppies: “Blackie, Yellowie, while I read, you should read with me. You need to be cultured dogs.”

Blackie and Yellowie responded with a “woof” sound.

Cen Huai’an’s lips curved into a smile: “You agreed, so let’s start with poetry today.”

As Cen Huai’an recited poetry, Sister Li pulled Chuxia aside and remarked, “Chuxia, ever since you improved, An’an has started to behave more like a real child. Look at him reading poetry to the dogs. What can the dogs understand?”

Chuxia supported Cen Huai’an wholeheartedly: “Maybe the dogs can understand after all.”

Sister Li waved her hand, not wanting to discuss this further: “It’s nice that you have two puppies. I see that An’an has been talking a lot more.”

Chuxia nodded: “I did consider An’an when deciding to get the dogs.”

Sister Li looked around Chuxia’s small apartment, with the two puppies running around Cen Huai’an and lying next to him.

She suddenly said, “The puppies are manageable now, but what about when they grow up? With such a small space, how will you take care of them, Chuxia?”

Indeed, one dog could be managed, but two would be difficult to accommodate.

Chuxia thought for a moment and said, “There are always solutions. For now, they’re still small. I’ll handle this issue before they grow up.”

Sister Li didn’t press further.

In the afternoon, when Chuxia was taking Cen Huai’an to the youth center for his Go class, he was reluctant to part with the two puppies.

“Mom, will Blackie and Yellowie be okay at home? Should we bring them to the youth center?”

“No,” Chuxia firmly refused Cen Huai’an: “The youth center is a place for learning. We can’t bring the puppies there. Besides, it’s so cold outside; the puppies could easily get sick if they keep going back and forth.”

Cen Huai’an sighed: “Alright.”

He turned around to look at the puppies three times, and the puppies also clung to his pant legs.

Cen Huai’an patted their smooth foreheads and said, “Blackie, Yellowie, be good at home. Mom and I will be back soon.”

Blackie and Yellowie responded with barks, as if they really understood him.

Once they were on the bus, Cen Huai’an continued to worry about the puppies: “Mom, do Blackie and Yellowie know how to drink water? Do they know how to use the toilet?”