CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: TAKING THE KIDS OUT SHOPPING

Chen Ping’an looked helpless. He had gone ashore with Chen Wenjun before, and as they walked down the street, everyone insulted him, calling him a little cripple. Some made faces at him out of disdain, and gradually, he stopped going ashore.

Chen Wenjun felt bad seeing his son like this, but he encouraged him, "Ping’an, listen to your aunt, go out for a walk with her. Don’t be afraid, you’ve grown up now."

Chen Ping’an was still anxious.

But Chen Wenjun had made up his mind, deliberately avoiding the tears in his son’s eyes as he continued with his work.

That night, Chen Ping’an went to sleep uneasily, and even cried in his dreams.

Lin Qin comforted him until he calmed down.

The next day, Lin Qin took a rope from home and tied it around her waist, binding one end to Liu Yaya and the other to Chen Ping’an, so they wouldn’t get separated.

Chen Ping’an rarely walked on the boat; he mostly crawled. But when he reached the ground, after just a few steps he felt uncomfortable.

With every step, his body would sway up and down, obviously not like a normal child.

He kept his head down and didn’t dare to look at the people around him.

Lin Qin tightly held his hand and encouraged him, "Ping’an, hold your head up and look forward, don’t be afraid, Auntie is here, no one will dare to bully you!"

Encouraged by this, Chen Ping’an tried to build up his courage and slowly lifted his head, but quickly lowered it again when he saw people looking at him.

Lin Qin didn’t force him and led him all the way to Friendship Square.

It had been a month since they’d last been there, and Friendship Square was still quite deserted, but a few new shops had opened, including a barbershop.

The three of them were dressed humbly, but Lin Qin confidently led the children inside and asked, "How much to cut this kid’s hair?"

"Kids are sixty cents!"

The barbershop was doing well, with an old lady queuing in front. They all turned their eyes to Chen Ping’an as Lin Qin entered with the children.

Lin Qin acted as if she didn’t notice, naturally leading Chen Ping’an to sit down, placing one on each side.

Old ladies in this era lacked boundaries, and immediately asked Lin Qin about Chen Ping’an, "Is this child disabled?"

Chen Ping’an shrank back, burying his head even lower.

Lin Qin glared at the woman with annoyance, "Watch your mouth! Such harsh words! What business is it of yours how my child is?"

"Hey! I’m just saying the truth and you’re getting worked up? It’s obvious he’s disabled, why can’t I say it?" The old lady pressed on.

Lin Qin chuckled in anger, "Did my child eat your food or drink your water? What does it have to do with you? Is it your place to comment on him? Did you not brush your teeth before going out with that foul mouth?"

Others in the shop quietly gave Lin Qin a thumbs up. Her scolding, devoid of a single curse, was pretty impressive!

The old lady was so flustered from being scolded by Lin Qin that she was on the verge of tears and immediately sought the shopkeeper to reason with her.

The shopkeeper, preferring peace over conflict, didn’t side with the old lady.

Feeling isolated, the old lady even blamed the shopkeeper for it, decided not to cut her hair, and left in a huff.

Lin Qin felt much better, patting Chen Ping’an’s head and earnestly instructing, "Did you see that? In the future, if anyone with a foul mouth talks about you, go ahead and scold them back. It’s okay even if it gets physical, as long as you’re not bullied, understand?"

The shopkeeper, looking at Lin Qin through the mirror in surprise, couldn’t help but comment, "Sis, you’re really something! But you got that right, we shouldn’t be bullied. Kids, listen to your mom."

Chen Ping’an pursed his lips, nodded excitedly, but remained silent.

The shopkeeper smiled, "Alright! Next in line!"

Lin Qin immediately took Chen Ping’an over, examining the child’s hairstyle in the mirror, and said with dissatisfaction, "Boss, why not give him a buzz cut? The shorter the better, so he won’t get too hot."

"Alright! As you wish!" The shopkeeper swiftly complied.

It was Chen Ping’an’s first proper haircut, and he was a bit tense.

It took a while for him to get used to it.

Looking at the kid’s reflection in the mirror, the shopkeeper said with a smile, "Sit still, and with a good haircut, you’ll be a little handsome guy."

Lin Qin liked hearing that.

Glancing at Liu Yaya beside her, she casually asked, "Yaya, how about cutting your hair too? Summer’s hot, let’s cut it short, and it’ll grow back by winter, how about that? Mom will cut hers with you."

Back at the Liu family, they had a hard time, and taking a bath every day wasn’t realistic; Liu Yaya always appeared dirty, and she even had lice in her hair.

Cutting it short would prevent lice.

Liu Yaya wasn’t focused on beauty, she just knew short hair would be cooler in summer, and she agreed immediately.

The shopkeeper, who initially expected just one customer, now had three, and instantly beamed with joy.

Originally, the three haircuts would cost a bit over two bucks, but with Lin Qin and Liu Yaya’s longer hair, the shopkeeper offered a discount, so all three haircuts only cost a dollar and thirty cents.

Lin Qin felt it was money well spent, at least they all looked more spirited.

Leaving the barbershop, Lin Qin took the children for a stroll around Friendship Square and discovered a new fabric shop specializing in making clothes.

Her eyes lit up, and she quickly pulled the children inside.

The owner, a woman in her thirties wearing glasses, was busy sewing clothes. Seeing Lin Qin and the children, she quickly stopped to greet them, "Who needs clothes made?"

Lin Qin didn’t hesitate and pushed the two children forward, "Make them for these two!"

The owner immediately picked up a measuring tape to measure the kids, asking, "You can take a look at the fabric patterns. Coarse cotton is comfortable for summer but pricier."

"How much?"

The owner calculated and said, "For kids, a shirt would be about fifteen, and including pants, about thirty for a set."

"What about regular cotton?"

"Cotton is cheaper! A yard is one point three, and making a set of short sleeves with shorts for a child, including labor, is a bit over three bucks."

Lin Qin pondered for a moment, crouched down to discuss with the two children, "Which one do you want?"

Indeed, the coarse cotton’s patterns were beautiful, while the plain cotton fabric was either in solid colors, stripes, or checks, not as nice as the coarse cotton. However, considering comfort, she preferred cotton for its cost-effectiveness.

But since it was their first time getting clothes made, she wanted to get the children’s opinions.

Chen Ping’an decisively said, "I want cotton, the blue one."

Lin Qin and the owner followed his gaze, and the owner immediately took down the roll of fabric.

Liu Yaya chose a piece of yellow cotton fabric from the side.

Lin Qin quietly breathed a sigh of relief, patting the children’s heads affectionately, "Since we’re using cotton, let’s make an extra set. Do you want stripes or checks? There’s also that red peony print."

Liu Yaya nodded, then earnestly held Lin Qin’s hand and said, "Mom, you too. Uncle said mom should also make new clothes."

Chen Ping’an also chimed in in agreement.

Lin Qin hesitated for a bit before agreeing.

She chose a set of striped cotton and a checked cotton fabric for blouses for herself, and a piece of black cotton to make two pairs of summer capri pants, spending another twenty-four bucks on clothes for the three of them.

Fortunately, it was summer, and they could wear sandals without spending extra on canvas shoes, saving about ten bucks.