60s: I have a store

Chapter 567 Excited Heart

Since learning about the blind date conference, Chow Tai Fook and Chow Tai Chung have both looked a little absent-minded while working at the steel factory.

Everyone is thinking about whether they can get married by then.

Chow Tai Fook was not focused enough when maintaining the truck, which resulted in Li Feng calling him from behind but Chow Tai Fook did not respond.

Li Feng had no choice but to step forward and take a picture.

When Zhou Dafu saw that it was Li Feng, he quickly said, "Master, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Li Feng was annoyed: "I just called you from behind, I don't know how many times, but you didn't respond! You haven't been in good shape recently!"

"What happened? Tell me, Master can help you with some advice!"

Zhou Dafu did not dare to hide anything: "Master, this is the case. The street office held a blind date meeting on Sunday, and I signed up!"

Li Feng knew immediately: "So that's why he's been acting so badly recently! It turns out he's missing his wife."

When Zhou Dafu heard this, his face turned red all of a sudden, and he didn’t know how to answer Li Feng’s question for a moment!
After seeing this, Li Feng didn't want to continue teasing. He just gave some instructions and left.

Finally it was Saturday evening, and the setting sun dyed the blue bricks of the courtyard into honey color.

Zhou Dazhong and Zhou Dafu opened the wooden cabinet almost at the same time.

Zhou Dazhong took out the brown paper package hidden deep in the bedding and unfolded it carefully, revealing two bath tickets with yellowed edges. Zhou Dafu directly poured the change in the iron box onto the bed. The two wrinkled bath tickets looked particularly precious.

"Hurry up! If you're late we'll have to queue again." Zhou Dazhong stuffed the bath ticket into the inner pocket of his shirt, his movements as gentle as if he was holding a fragile treasure.

The two men got on their bicycles, and the wheels rolled over the gravel at the entrance of the alley, startling a wild cat in the corner of the wall, which let out a "wow" and ran into the shadows.

The lights in the bathhouse flickered in the night, and the four red words "Public Bath" were blurred by the water vapor.

A wooden sign at the door reads "Men's Section Enter Here," and next to it is a faded slogan: "It is honorable to be hygienic, and shameful not to be hygienic"

Zhou Dafu paused at the threshold and bent down to wipe off the mud on the soles of his shoes - this was his first time in the city's bathhouse, and he always felt that he had to bring his cleanest side in.

Pushing open the thick cotton door curtain, a warm and humid mist hits you in the face, mixed with a complex scent of soap, sulfur and sweat.

The steam rising from the locker room made the glass mirror covered with a layer of white mist. The wooden lockers were neatly arranged, and there were still water stains from the previous user in the gaps between the doors.

Zhou Dazhong found cabinet No. 37 with familiarity, and the copper lock opened with a "click". He took off his clothes as quickly as if he was working in a workshop. However, Zhou Dafu turned his back with a red face and clumsily unbuttoned his shirt.

"Young man, are you new here?" The old man next door wrapped in a faded bath towel happily handed over the bath towel, "Here, you're welcome!"

When Zhou Dafu took it, he felt the calluses on the old man's palm and thought of his father in the village.

In the steam, the sound of conversations and the rustling sound of scrubbing were intertwined. Some people were humming Peking Opera, while others were complaining about the work in the factory.

Hot water gushed down from the iron pipe above his head. Zhou Dazhong tilted his head back and let the water wash over his shoulders.

Drops of water fell along his angular jawline, splashing tiny drops on the tiles.

"Rub hard and get all the dust off your body!" He shouted to Chow Tai Fook with a smile, grabbed the soap and rubbed it hard on his body, and white foam wrapped in dust flowed into the floor drain.

Chow Tai Fook stood under the shower, feeling somewhat helpless.

The hot water wet his hair and dripped down his eyelashes. He imitated Zhou Dazhong and wiped it back and forth with a bath towel, but he grimaced in pain.

The uncle next door couldn't stand it anymore and reached out to rub his back: "You have to do it sideways, young man!"

The rough bath towel rubbed against his skin, and Chow Tai Fook grimaced in pain, yet he felt inexplicably refreshed.

In the mist, Zhou Dazhong suddenly came over and mysteriously took out a small iron box from the corner of the wall: "Use this!"

Inside the iron box was a soap that smelled of sandalwood, shining moistly in the mist. "My uncle Sixteen gave it to me. He said he bought it in a department store in the city."

Zhou Dazhong said as he rubbed dense foam in his palm and applied it to Zhou Dafu's head, "I guarantee it will smell delicious after washing."

While rinsing, Zhou Dafu closed his eyes and let the water flow over him, but he secretly took a deep breath - the scent of sandalwood mixed with the warmth of hot water reminded him of the smell of his mother covering his new clothes in the quilt during the Chinese New Year when he was a child.

In the locker room, Zhou Dazhong was shaving in front of a mottled mirror. The blade made a rustling sound on his chin. He suddenly stopped and said, "Dafu, do you think girls like clean and fresh clothes, or..."

Soon, the two walked out of the bathhouse refreshed, feeling like they had lost at least two pounds.

Zhou Dafu looked at Zhou Dazhong's messy hair and said, "Let's go get a haircut while we still have time!"

I usually cut my own hair to save money, so it’s not very good. I usually don’t care about this kind of thing, but tomorrow’s blind date meeting is so important that I must take it seriously.

Zhou Dazhong also thought it made sense, so he agreed.

Then Zhou Dazhong and Zhou Dafu got off their bicycles and stopped in front of the "Red Star Barber Shop".

The iron signboard swayed gently in the evening breeze. There were a few yellowed hairstyle posters in the glass window. The men in the pictures had side-parted hair and wore Zhongshan suits, and their eyes revealed a somewhat unrestrained look.

The two men stopped at the door for a moment. Zhou Dafu reached out and tugged at his collar, while Zhou Dazhong rubbed the sweat from his palms vigorously before they mustered up the courage to push open the wooden door with a copper knocker.

"Squeak--" The sound of the door hinge turning was accompanied by a warm air flow, carrying a unique smell mixed with hair oil and shampoo.

The incandescent lamps in the store emitted a soft glow, the old-fashioned wall clock was ticking, and the radio in the corner was playing melodious opera.

Three barbers were sitting on a bench chatting. When they saw someone coming in, one of the middle-aged barbers immediately stood up, tied his blue apron tightly, and greeted them warmly: "Comrades, haircut? Please take a seat!"

Zhou Dazhong walked to the barber chair first, sat down, looked up at his slightly messy hair in the mirror, and swallowed his saliva: "Master, give me a more lively haircut, like... like the cadres in the movies!"

Chow Tai Fook stood aside somewhat awkwardly, his fingers unconsciously stroking the seam of his trousers.

The master looked at Zhou Dazhong, nodded with a smile, took out a comb and scissors from the enamel cup, and began to trim with skillful movements.

The sound of scissors "clicking" echoed in the store, and fine hair fell on the apron.

While cutting, the master chatted with Zhou Dazhong: "Comrade, do you work in a factory? You can tell from your work clothes that you are a down-to-earth person."

Zhou Dazhong couldn't help but raise his lips when he heard the compliment: "Yes, Master, I work as a buyer in the steel plant. This time I came... for a blind date."

As soon as he said this, his face turned red.

"Oh! Then you have to take good care of it! I guarantee that I will cut your hair into a handsome one, which will surely please girls!" The master responded with a smile, but his hands' movements became more and more delicate.

Zhou Dazhong looked through the mirror and saw his hair gradually becoming neat and tidy, and he felt at ease.

At this time, Zhou Dafu finally sat down in another barber chair, and said timidly: "Master, I... I also want a nice haircut." The master turned his head to look at him, and gently combed his slightly messy hair with the comb in his hand: "Don't be nervous, young man, I think your face shape is suitable for a side parting, which makes you look energetic and steady."

Zhou Dafu hesitated for a moment, then remembered the hair wax Zhou Dazhong mentioned, and mustered up the courage to say, "Master, I want to apply some hair wax, just like the one in the window poster."

"Okay! I guarantee you'll be satisfied!" the master responded cheerfully, then picked up the razor and slowly pushed it along Chow Tai Fook's temples.

Amid the buzzing sound of the hair clippers, Chow Tai Fook's tense body gradually relaxed.

He looked at himself in the mirror. Following the master's movements, his originally frizzy hair became smooth and tidy. The hair on both sides was pushed short and neatly, and the hair on the top of the head was left at an appropriate length, making him look capable and fashionable.

After cutting the hair, the master took out a tin can from under the counter, opened the lid, and scooped out a small piece of hair wax.

"Come, smell this fragrance, authentic sandalwood type." The master said, rubbing the hair wax in his palm, applying it evenly on Chow Tai Fook's hair, and then combing it carefully with a comb.

After a while, a shiny and neat slicked-back hair appeared before his eyes. Zhou Dafu looked at his new self in the mirror with a surprised smile on his face.

Zhou Dazhong's side was also finished. The master applied a hot towel to his face, shaved his hair, and finally used a brush to sweep away the loose hair on the apron.

"Look at this hairstyle. He looks so energetic standing there!" The master patted Zhou Dazhong's shoulder with satisfaction.

Zhou Dazhong looked left and right in the mirror, straightened his back, and seemed to become more confident.

When paying the bill, Zhou Dazhong took out a crumpled banknote. The master took the money and said with a smile: "Comrades, I wish you a smooth blind date and hope you will find your beautiful wife soon!"

The two thanked him repeatedly and walked out of the barber shop. It was already dark. The street lights lit up one after another, and the dim light shone on their new hairstyles.

Zhou Dafu couldn't help but reach out and touch his hair. The touch of the hair wax made him feel a little uncomfortable, but his heart was full of anticipation.

Zhou Dazhong adjusted his collar again while looking at his reflection in the window. The two men smiled at each other, got on their bicycles, and headed towards the courtyard.

When I returned to the courtyard, the moonlight had already climbed up to the eaves.

Zhou Dazhong was squatting in front of the coal stove cooking noodles. The chopped green onions were tumbling in the boiling water. The aroma made Zhao Gang come out of the house, rubbing his stomach.

"Brother Dafu's hairstyle looks great! He will definitely find a wife tomorrow!" Xiaomei held the enamel bowl and smiled, revealing her two fangs.

Zhou Dafu's ears turned red, and he knocked on her bowl with his chopsticks: "What do you know, little girl? Do you know what a wife is?"

The four of them quickly dealt with the meal and finished their dinner.

Zhou Dazhong and Zhou Dafu wanted to go to bed early tonight. Otherwise, if they couldn't sleep the whole night, they would have dark circles under their eyes, which would give a bad impression to the female comrades, and that would not be worth it.

After the two returned to their respective rooms, they closed the door, lay on the bed, and tried their best to fall asleep early.

At four o'clock in the morning, they both woke up at the same time.

Chow Tai Fook tied his tie seven times in front of the mirror, and Chow Ta-chung polished his leather shoes until they could reflect his reflection.

They deliberately changed into neat work clothes, and the copper buttons shone coldly in the morning light - this was a symbol of status and also the most respectable battle uniform.

As soon as the sky was getting light, wisps of green smoke began to rise from the coal stove in the courtyard.

Zhou Dazhong squatted in front of the stove and added a piece of honeycomb coal into the furnace. The flames jumped up and illuminated his freshly shaved chin.

The noodles in the pot were bubbling and bubbling, chopped green onions and cabbage leaves were swirling in the boiling water, and the aroma was so attractive that the sparrows under the eaves flapped their wings and looked down.

"Da Fu, quickly take out the dishes and chopsticks!" Zhou Dazhong shouted without turning his head.

Chow Tai Fook was adjusting his tie for the last time in front of the mirror; the brass buttons shone coldly in the morning light.

Hearing the call, he hurriedly took out four enamel bowls from the cupboard, and the rims of the bowls made crisp sounds when they knocked against each other.

With a creak, the door of the east wing opened. Zhao Gang rubbed his sleepy eyes, dragged his shoes and walked out, his hair sticking up like a chicken coop: "What delicious food are you making so early in the morning? It smells so good that I can't sleep!"

Before he finished speaking, Xiaomei came out with pigtails on her head, and the tip of her nose was stained with red marks from sleeping: "Brother, I smell noodles!"

Zhou Dazhong smiled and lifted the lid of the pot. White mist instantly covered half of his face. "I knew you were greedy. Come and eat it while it's hot!"

He neatly put two fried eggs into each person's bowl, the golden yolks swaying.

When Chow Tai Fook picked up the bowl, his tie accidentally brushed the edge of the bowl and almost fell into the noodle soup, causing Xiaomei to burst out laughing.

"Oh, Dafu's tie is tied so well that he looks like a groom!" Zhao Gang slurped noodles, a drop of red oil on the corner of his mouth, "And Dazhong, his hair wax is so good that it can reflect a person's reflection!"

He winked and imitated the way the two men adjusted their collars, which made Xiaomei laugh so hard that she slapped the table.

Zhou Dafu's ears instantly turned red, and he reached out to knock Zhao Gang on the head: "What do you know, little brat! This is called respectability!"

Zhao Gang dodged flexibly and almost spilled the noodle soup: "I don't understand? I see you two are crazy about your wives!"

Zhou Dazhong picked up a piece of noodles with chopsticks and said slowly: "When you get older, you will know how important it is to clean up before meeting a girl."

He deliberately dragged out the last word, "When the time comes, I guarantee you'll be more anxious than us!"

"I won't!" Zhao Gang retorted with his neck stiff, his cheeks puffed up like a hamster. Everyone was stunned for a moment, and then burst into laughter.

Xiaomei swallowed the noodles in her mouth and tilted her head to ask, "Brother, will your future partner cook noodles for you?"

"Of course!" Zhao Gang puffed out his chest, "My girlfriend must cook better than Dazhong!"

He winked at Zhou Dazhong slyly, "Maybe he can even make braised pork!"

Zhou Dazhong pretended to hit him with his chopsticks: "You kid, you're so picky when eating my noodles!"

Chow Tai Fook was trying to hold back his laughter, but he choked on the noodles and started coughing, his face turning red.

The morning light shines through the branches and leaves of the old locust tree, casting mottled shadows on the bluestone slabs.

The laughter of the four people startled the sparrows in the treetops, and the dust they raised flew up and down in the light column.

Zhao Gang suddenly became serious: "Brother Dafu, Brother Dazhong, I hope you can find someone you like today!"

Zhou Dazhong said, "Of course I will. Your Dafu and I have such good conditions, so can we just pick one?"

After chatting for a while, Zhou Dazhong and Zhou Dafu left the courtyard and headed for the meeting point.

The ringing of bicycle bells rang crisply on the streets in the early morning. Zhou Dazhong was riding Zhou Dafu towards the gathering place.

(End of this chapter)