MGASC -Chapter 30 Blushing Faces

Lin Xun waited for a long time, but Zhang Qiao didn’t respond. So, with his face turning red, he mustered the courage to ask, “Do you think the dumplings are tasty?”

“They’re good.”

“Then… when are you coming back with us?”

Zhang Qiao: “…”

She had reason to suspect that Lin Xun might actually be Lin Tianyue’s biological child.

Suddenly feeling playful, Zhang Qiao raised her hand and ruffled Lin Xun’s hair. “How about you call me Aunt Qiao first, and then I’ll seriously think about your question.”

Ah… this…

Lin Xun had a strong sense of pride and was sensitive about his face. Even though he had basically accepted Zhang Qiao in his heart, suddenly changing from calling her “she” to “Aunt Qiao” made him feel extremely embarrassed.

Lin Ran and Lin Jin grew anxious and kept egging him on: “Call her! Hurry, call her! Once you call her ‘Aunt Qiao,’ she’ll come back with us.”

The more they urged, the redder Lin Xun’s face became. He felt so awkward he wished he could crawl into a hole.

Seeing this, Zhang Qiao couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m joking. Call me whatever you want. Even if you call me a fox spirit, I won’t mind.”

Although “fox spirit” was derogatory in this era, in Zhang Qiao’s world, being called a fox spirit meant you were a stunning beauty capable of enchanting everyone.

Why let what others call her bother her? Keep a calm mindset, and life feels much bigger.

Zhang Qiao had no intention of making herself unhappy.

Her stomach was stuffed, so she planned to go downstairs for a walk. Glancing at the three boys, she had an idea: “Lin Xun, Lin Ran, Lin Jin, it’s not impossible for me to go home with you, but today, you have to follow my rules. Whatever I tell you to do, you must do.”

Lin Jin’s eyes lit up. “I agree!”

Lin Ran looked a bit uneasy. “Aunt Qiao, you… you’re not going to make us go settle things with Aunt Yan, are you?”

Zhang Qiao: “Good boy, don’t mention that unlucky name.”

Lin Ran quickly zipped his lips.

She glanced at the indifferent Lin Xun. “Let’s go. We’re leaving now!”

Alone, Zhang Qiao took the three kids out.

Luckily, there were very few vehicles on the roads in this era. Otherwise, for a pregnant woman to bring three boys along would have been dangerous.

“Aunt Qiao, where are you taking us?”

It was the first time the three children had been to the city streets. They clutched her hands tightly, looking around in amazement.

Zhang Qiao: “How about we go see a ‘magical transformation’ show?”

“Ah, what’s that?”

Lin Ran, cunning as he was, shivered. Aunt Qiao wouldn’t be trying to sell us, would she?!

Especially when Zhang Qiao gave a deliberately mysterious smile: “You’ll know when we get there.”

After turning a couple of streets, they saw a white building ahead with a signboard and two spinning cylindrical poles.

As they approached, the three kids realized it was a barber shop.

“Aunt Qiao, this is the… ‘magical transformation’ place? Isn’t this where people get haircuts?” Lin Ran asked, a bit disappointed that they weren’t being sold off.

Zhang Qiao glanced at their messy, chicken-coop-like hair. “Exactly! Look at your hair. After a haircut, wouldn’t it be just like a magical transformation?”

Saying that, she dragged the three inside.

This was the only barber shop in the city center—and the most famous one.

The shop was busy. The owner and several staff were giving perms, with each customer under a large round hood. About a dozen people were waiting for their turn.

Zhang Qiao asked, “How much for a kid’s haircut?”

The owner glanced at the three in their tattered clothes, showing obvious disdain. “Too busy today. Come back another day!”

Another day?

Looking at the crowd, most were young women.

Glancing at what the staff were doing, Zhang Qiao realized it wasn’t that the shop was busy—it was that they were occupied with perms, and they looked down on such small tasks.

“Aunt Qiao, look! Doesn’t that lady’s hair look like a mop?”

Lin Jin tugged her hand and whispered.

Zhang Qiao looked. A woman in her early twenties had her hair fully permed, with bangs puffed up ridiculously high. Exaggerated, tacky, and aging her ten years instantly.

Uh… this was the best shop?

Zhang Qiao couldn’t agree with the aesthetics of this era.

Still, she gestured to the kids not to speak out of turn.

Smiling at the owner, she asked again, “How long would we have to wait if we queued? My kids’ hair is really long…”

“Didn’t I tell you? You can’t get in today.”

Zhang Qiao: “Then… could we…”

The owner, annoyed, pointed across the street. “If you insist, go over there. Cheaper!”

“Really… even bumpkins can come to the city now,” she muttered quietly—but the three kids still heard her.

The kids, already shy in this fancy place, grew even more nervous at the owner’s tone.

Zhang Qiao grabbed the kids. “No need to hurry over money. Let’s go somewhere else. Who says we’re unsophisticated? We’re the coolest!”

Back then, state-owned shops had notoriously poor service. Zhang Qiao knew there was no point getting upset over it.

Across the street, there was a small roadside haircut stall.

Haircuts were two jiao, or sometimes free. Mostly apprentices or semi-skilled workers worked there. Hairstyles were simple—flat tops for men, short hair for women—with few options.

Zhang Qiao observed and realized their skills were basic, but their attitude was better.

She approached a young apprentice. “Master, may I borrow your tools? I want to cut my three kids’ hair. I’ll pay you your normal fee for the tools.”

Yes! She had decided to take matters into her own hands.

The shop’s hairstyles were outdated, especially the neck area, which was like a flat base.

Zhang Qiao had experience as a beauty vlogger. She could handle haircuts, bangs, and temporary curls with no problem.

During summer, she had even cut hair for three- or four-year-old relatives. Not perfect, but acceptable.

She had come to the city’s “best” shop to get her kids a nice hairstyle, but since they looked down on her and were mediocre at cutting, she might as well do it herself.

The young apprentice was agreeable. His work was usually free anyway; letting her use the tools was no problem. And a pretty lady’s request was hard to refuse.

In no time, Zhang Qiao transformed into a barber, put on their smock, and gestured to the three kids. “Which one goes first?”