Chapter 31: Taking the Child Out

Chen Ping’an looked utterly helpless. He had disembarked with Chen Wenjun in the past, but whenever they walked down the street, people would insult him, calling him a "little cripple," making faces at him, and showing their disgust. Gradually, he stopped getting off the boat altogether.

Seeing his son like this, Chen Wenjun felt a pang of heartache, but he encouraged him on the surface: "Ping’an, listen to your aunt. Go out for a stroll with her. Don't be afraid; you’re a big boy now."

Chen Ping’an remained anxious and uneasy. However, Chen Wenjun had made up his mind; he deliberately avoided looking at the tears welling in his son’s eyes and continued with his work. That night, Chen Ping’an drifted into an uneasy sleep and even began to cry in the middle of a nightmare. It took Lin Qin some time to soothe him back to sleep.

The next day, Lin Qin brought out a rope from the house. She tied one end around her waist, and the other two ends to Liu Yaya and Chen Ping’an, respectively, to ensure they wouldn't get separated.

Chen Ping’an rarely moved about on the boat; he mostly crawled. Once on solid ground, he found he couldn't get used to walking after only a few steps. Every time he took a step, his body would sway up and down, clearly not like a normal child. He kept his head bowed low, afraid to look at the passersby.

Lin Qin held his hand tightly and encouraged him: "Ping’an, keep your chest up and look forward. Don't be afraid. With your aunt here, no one dares to bully you!"

Inspired, Chen Ping’an gathered his courage and slowly lifted his head, but whenever he saw someone looking at him, he would quickly lower it again. Lin Qin didn't force him; she simply led him all the way to Friendship Square.

Having not visited for a month, the square still lacked much bustle, but a few new shops had opened, including a barbershop. Although the three of them were dressed plainly, Lin Qin held her head high as she led the children inside and asked, "Madam, how much for a haircut for the child?"

"Sixty cents for a child!"

The barbershop was doing decent business. An older woman was waiting in line ahead of them; upon seeing the trio, her gaze eventually settled on Chen Ping’an. Lin Qin acted as if she hadn't noticed, naturally leading Chen Ping’an inside to sit down, keeping one child on each side of her.

People of this generation lacked a sense of boundaries. The older woman immediately asked, with an overly familiar tone, about Chen Ping’an’s condition: "This child is disabled, right?"

Chen Ping’an flinched, burying his head even lower. Lin Qin glared at the woman, annoyed. "What kind of thing is that to say? How rude! What business is it of yours how my child is?"

"Hey! I’m just speaking the truth, and you’re getting all worked up! He is disabled, isn't he? Can't one even mention it?" The woman retorted, emboldened.

Lin Qin laughed in anger. "Does my child eat your rice or drink your water? Does he have anything to do with your family? Does his condition warrant your comments? Is your mouth so foul because you didn't brush your teeth before leaving the house?"

The others in the shop secretly gave Lin Qin a thumbs up. It had to be said—scolding someone without using a single dirty word was quite impressive! The woman turned shades of blue and red, looking so aggrieved she was on the verge of tears. She immediately sought the shop owner to arbitrate. The shop owner, operating on the principle that it was better to avoid trouble, didn't side with the woman at all. Left isolated and feeling resentful even toward the owner, the woman gave up on her haircut and stormed off in a huff.

Lin Qin felt satisfied. She patted Chen Ping’an’s head and taught him earnestly, "See that? In the future, if those unrefined, foul-mouthed people say anything to you, just scold them right back. Even if it comes to a fight, it doesn't matter, as long as you don't let them bully you. Understand?"

The shop owner looked at Lin Qin in surprise through the mirror and couldn't help saying, "Sister, you’re really something! But you’re right about one thing—we can’t let ourselves be bullied. Child, you should listen to your mother."

Chen Ping’an pursed his lips and nodded excitedly, though he remained silent.

The shop owner smiled. "Alright! Next!"

Lin Qin immediately led Chen Ping’an over. She looked at the child’s hairstyle in the mirror and wasn't satisfied. "Madam, why don't you just shave it into a crew cut? The shorter the better, so it won't be so stifling in the summer heat."

"Sure! As you wish!" The shop owner worked nimbly.

It was the first time Chen Ping’an had a proper haircut, and he was a bit nervous, but after a while, he grew accustomed to it. Looking at the child’s hairstyle in the mirror, the shop owner laughed, "Sit still and be a good boy. Once we finish this, you’ll be a handsome little man."

Lin Qin loved hearing that. Glancing at Liu Yaya, she asked, "Yaya, how about we cut your hair too? It’s hot in the summer; if we cut it short, it’ll grow back by winter. How about it? Mom will get hers cut too."

The two of them had struggled to survive in the Liu household; taking a daily bath was unrealistic, and Liu Yaya was always dirty, even having lice in her hair. Cutting it short would get rid of the lice. Liu Yaya didn't have much vanity yet, knowing only that short hair meant she wouldn't be hot in the summer, so she agreed immediately.

The shop owner beamed, delighted that a single customer had turned into three. The total for the three would have been over two yuan, but since Lin Qin and Liu Yaya had long hair, the shop owner accepted the hair as a trade-in, offsetting most of the cost. In the end, the three haircuts only cost one yuan and thirty cents. Lin Qin felt it was money well spent; at the very least, the three of them looked much more spirited.

After leaving the barbershop, Lin Qin took the children around Friendship Square and discovered a fabric shop in the back that also made custom clothing. Her eyes lit up, and she hurried the children inside.

The owner was a woman in her thirties, wearing glasses and sewing at a machine. Seeing the trio, she immediately set down her work to welcome them. "Who needs clothes made?"

Lin Qin pushed the two children forward without hesitation. "Make them for them!"

The owner immediately brought over a measuring tape and asked, "You can look at the patterns. Dacron is comfortable for summer, but it’s quite expensive."

"How much?"

The owner calculated and said, "For children, a shirt is about fifteen yuan, plus trousers, it’s about thirty for a set."

"What about cotton?"

"Cotton is cheaper! One yuan and thirty cents per meter. For a set of short sleeves and shorts for a child, including labor, it’s only about three yuan."

Lin Qin thought it over carefully, crouched down, and discussed it with the two children. "Which one do you want to choose?"

The Dacron patterns were indeed beautiful, while the cotton was either solid, striped, or plaid—not as fancy as the Dacron. However, considering comfort, she preferred cotton; it offered better value. But since this was her first time taking the children out to have clothes made, she wanted to respect their opinions.

Chen Ping’an said without hesitation, "I want the cotton one, the blue one."

Lin Qin and the owner followed Chen Ping’an’s finger, and the owner immediately took down that roll of fabric. Liu Yaya chose a yellow cotton fabric nearby.

Lin Qin breathed a sigh of relief. She patted the children’s heads and said lovingly, "Since we’re using cotton, we’ll make two sets each. You can pick another color—how about plaid or stripes? And there’s that red peony one too."

Liu Yaya nodded, then pulled Lin Qin’s hand and said seriously, "Mom, you too. Uncle said Mom should have new clothes as well."

Chen Ping’an echoed this sentiment.

Lin Qin hesitated for a moment before agreeing. She chose a striped cotton fabric and a plaid cotton fabric for her tops, along with some black cotton for two pairs of summer capri pants. The three of them spent another twenty-four yuan on clothes. Fortunately, summer was coming, and they could get by with sandals, sparing them the expense of buying cloth shoes, which would have cost another ten yuan or so.