Free Web NovelChapter 428: Chapter 347: The Return of the Mighty!
The next day.
Last night, after returning to the squadron past one o’clock and catching up on some sleep, Fang Huai got up at 8 o’clock.
But he got up early, tidying up first and then starting to shake people up.
Today, there really was something to do.
He had to set up his stall.
Two weeks before, after returning from the earthquake, he had pulled out his hairdressing tools for the first time and set up his stall again at the District Public Security Bureau, only to get a good scolding from the grannies and gramps.
And it wasn’t just the grannies and gramps who complained about him; there were the Traffic Police Brigade and comrades from the District Public Security Bureau who were doing stall promotions as well.
From May 12 to June 11, in the month without him, everyone else’s stalls had almost failed.
From the initially slightly effective promotions that were praised by the leaders of the City Public Security Bureau at meetings, other units, and even some fire brigades, began to learn and started setting up some public service promotion points in other parts of the city.
It’s said that the copycat ability of Chinese people is strong, and the police are no exception.
In the police force, there was Tony.
Using haircuts for promotion was cost-effective and could keep the grannies and gramps occupied for a good while, making them obediently watch the publicity boards. So, the first thing that was copied was hair-cutting.
The public security systems around the city picked out several Tonys, and even got nicknames: East Heretic, West Poison, South Emperor, North Beggar, and Central Divine Power.
Although Huai’s First Squadron wasn’t in the city center, it’s located in the middle of the provincial capital, and Fang Huai became the Central Divine Power.
Moreover, Fang Huai’s hair-cutting skills were indeed highly praised; not just good, but also fast.
But during that time, without Fang Tony, a core competitive force, the comrades in the Traffic Police and the District Public Security Bureau were almost unable to hold their grounds. The Tony they had chosen with great difficulty was also criticized by the grannies and gramps until he left with his face covered.
However, after Fang Huai explained that he had been away for the Sichuan rescue, it became a big deal. Nobody looked at the publicity boards, no one queued up in the usual spots anymore. Instead, they squatted in front of Fang Huai’s stall, lining up and listening to his stories.
He couldn’t not talk about it. The grannies and gramps kept asking tirelessly.
And the questions they asked were full of doubt.
"Does it look the same there as what’s reported in the news?"
"I heard you all couldn’t get in? How come the planes couldn’t get in either?"
"Did the clothes, pants, and baby diapers donated by our neighborhood committee make it to the disaster area? Could they have been intercepted?"
Oh grandpa, have faith in the government! Your homemade diapers aren’t really of interest to anyone!
Fang Huai busied himself helplessly for a whole day, struggling with the grannies and gramps’ viewpoints. He almost twisted his head off and could only say, "I’ll come back next time."
The grannies and gramps: Will you definitely be here next time?
Fang Huai: Definitely next time!
But then last Tuesday, the 17th, there was a wildfire.
Fang Huai could have come the next day, but his comrades couldn’t handle it! They needed people to drive, cut hair, change water, set up the stalls, take blood pressure measurements, right?
Fang Huai knew that someone would surely curse him as the weirdo who always leaves, and if he didn’t explain things clearly to the grannies and gramps, he would lose his promotional spot.
So, early in the morning, Fang Huai led his disciple Wang Peng, three same year soldiers, and Hao Chengbin—who was both the head of Fang Huai’s followers and the driver—in a rush to the District Public Security Bureau.
In the car.
"General Han, here’s six hundred for you. From now on, every time you come, buy a hundred yuan’s worth of buns from across the street! Don’t be lazy, buy them in several trips so the grannies and gramps can eat them hot!"
"Okay... Are you leaving for six weeks?"
"It should be five weeks! Aren’t you going to buy some today? If I’m not back after five weeks, you just cover it, and I’ll pay you back when I return! Wang Peng, the skill I taught you, can you put it into practice today?"
"... I’ve only cut the squad leaders’ hair. They thought it was not bad, but grandpa’s hair is softer, I don’t know if I can handle it."
"Start with what you can, I’ll guide you. Kiddo, you have to grow up now; this coming month depends on you.
"Squad leader, make sure you change the publicity slogans frequently. For the next month, focus mostly on electric vehicle safe charging.
"There are more and more electric scooters in Guiyang, zipping around. The streets can’t even contain them. It’s perfect timing since the traffic police are also here; we can focus on promoting safety in this severely affected area of electric scooter accidents."
Hao Chengbin, wiping the steering wheel, chuckled, "If it weren’t for those motorcycles and electric bikes, our traffic rescue tasks would be cut in half. Without drunk driving, we might not have even a few car accident rescues in a year."
"What can you do?" Fang Huai sighed:
"Convenience in transportation can’t be stopped. A bunch of valiant knights on iron steeds can’t keep still; they’ve got to perform acrobatics. How many times in the past few months, right? Fires caused by charging explosions, motorcycle accidents, steel bars from the vehicles piercing into flesh, hard to even remember, and those young ones like to make a bang on the streets. They don’t cherish their own lives, and drive around in the city, various tunnels being severely affected areas, occasionally even daring to carry two passengers, damn, the top sales award recipients from the underworld.""
General Han in the rear row chuckled, "Knights! They’re seeking the possibility of survival on the edge of hell! Luo Tong’s dad even sponsored a motorcycle racing team! He throws in the money, and they risk their lives."
Fang Huai also chuckled maliciously, "I get it! Corporate sponsorship, eh? If someone dies, it’s even better publicity, right? Well, I suggest they go race on the mountain, where the chances of survival are a bit slimmer."
Upon hearing this, Song Lin immediately shook his head, "Tsk tsk, let’s not talk about that, our street dance team used to have a guy who loved to ride motorcycles on the mountains. He crashed several times, bruised all over."
Hao Chengbin waved his hand: "Do you know about the Wang Erhe Raceway in Anshun? There are several mountains in the middle! All of them are those narrow village-to-village highways. One can barely brake in time there! Bruised? They’re torn apart! Damn, the family members cry fiercely, and we still have to collect and piece them together!"
Xiao Haishan kept making some hand gestures, muttering:
"No offense intended to any spirits, please don’t hold it against me..."
...
At the District Public Security Bureau.
As soon as Fang Huai and his team arrived, steaming hot buns were laid out on the table, and people were already lining up there.
"Oh! You came quite late today! I’ve been waiting for you so long my hair is splitting at the end! I couldn’t even sleep well!"
Actually, Fang Huai had tidied up his things and called everyone to set out quite early. But since he had only returned in the middle of last night, this was the earliest he could manage. However, the elderly men and women were like readers eagerly waiting for the next installment of a serial novel—they wouldn’t find it too early even if he arrived at 6 o’clock.
The grandpas and grandmas didn’t express any blame, but they were shaking the fire protection publicity brochures distributed last time, their eyes seemingly speaking.
Young man, look at this brochure, doesn’t it resemble an update you owe us?
Fang Huai could only chuckle sheepishly.
Hey, what can I do if I’m skilled and the old folks like it!
The trouble of being too blessed.
He picked up a duster and began vigorously cleaning the chairs.
"Grandpa, there’s no need to say anything more. Please, take a seat. I’ve been studying in my spare time recently! I’ve learned a few new hairstyles! For those of you who have let your hair grow, you can now choose among some spirited cadres’ hairstyles! There’s the comb-over, and even the slick back! In our troops, only the leaders are allowed to wear those hairstyles!"
As Fang Huai spoke, he observed everyone’s reactions.
Indeed, the grandpas were all chuckling happily, "That’s great!"
Fang Huai had no choice but to grimace as he spent another two military merit points to exchange for the hair-cutting technique for cadres’ hairstyles.
The previously accumulated 58.3 military merit points had increased to 60.3 after handling a minor street fire alarm. After studying the mortise and tenon and a few hairstyles, it had dropped to 48.3.
Damn, even if I had a limp leg, I would need to respond to a call! If I can’t be a combatant, then I, your father, will be a commander!
Thankfully, there’s a First Class Merit stockpiled in the military merit shop, giving him a sense of security like "Although I’m poor, I’m not helpless when it really matters."
Thinking of this, Fang Huai glanced at the ladies’ hairstyles.
There was a simple, non-perm hairstyle set that looked quite good, suitable for both long and short hair, not tacky, and relatively cheap, only five points.
He bit down on his teeth.
A total of eight military merit points for the cause of publicity... Not expensive at all!
But the ladies’ hairstyles could not be exchanged now. Going to that training camp, he didn’t know how much he’d have to spend. In case it was particularly demanding, 48.3 points might not even be enough.
After thinking it over, he then started to entice them, "Elders! Do come by often! I’ll tell you, I’m going to return to Chongqing for concentration training!
In July, my apprentice will come to cut hair for the grandpas. Honestly, his skills are a bit inferior to mine! But give me a month or so; I’ll go learn some new ladies’ hairstyles and come back, then I can cut hair for the grandmas! Trimming is fine too!
But! You’ll need to come by regularly to get a haircut!
And since ladies’ hairstyles are more difficult to cut, the conditions for jumping the queue will be stricter! If you can promote fire safety knowledge to your family, and bring them here to share the knowledge with us—one promotion, I’ll let you jump the queue once, more than five, and I’ll give you a lifetime queue-jumping card!"
Even at the end of Tony’s career, he still had to take the route of offering cards.
The moment these words were said, the whole place became excited.
"Wow, I knew this young man was good at cutting men’s hair, how could he be clueless about women’s styles? He must be hiding his skill!"
"That’s right, young man! I’ll go home and spread the word to my son and daughter! Once you’re back, I’ll bring them all over! My daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and grandchildren too! Do grandchildren count?"
The grandpas and grandmas were delighted, but the expressions of the squadron members were quite strange. freewebnøvel.com
Concentration training in the Southwest region... Why does it sound like a barber training class?
...They don’t teach that, do they?!
But Fang Huai paid them no mind and continued to chuckle, "It counts! Absolutely! As long as you help with the publicity, I can even cut your hair during overtime! By the way, I heard that later on the City Public Security Bureau will have a ’Favorite Community Barber’ vote! If I get a lot of votes, the City Bureau could award our unit a certificate of honor! Your votes will also enable me to work overtime!"
"Great!"
"Eh, young man, the girl you found in the Beichuan disaster area, the one you talked about, was it really you who saved her? My son showed me the computer article when I went back home, and that person looks a bit like you!"
Fang Huai laughed heartily, "That was definitely me! The last survivor was rescued by my very hands!
It’s mainly thanks to that mother—she was so great!
Here’s what we’ll do, if you don’t believe me, go promote it to ten people, and during our open day, I’ll invite you to visit our squadron and tell you the story there and show you my commendation order! Come October, when I go to BJ to receive my award, you can even watch me on TV!"
The grandpa sitting in the chair listened to Fang Huai’s confident tone, looked back at him, and said happily:
"So... today I’m getting a haircut by a little hero? Good! Good! Then give your uncle here a ’Vietnam War assault style’! Let me also feel some heroic spirit!"
Fang Huai was taken aback for a moment, "What’s a ’Vietnam War assault style’?"
"Hehe..." The grandpa chuckled, "You don’t know? It’s the hair all shaved off, clean! It’s to prevent lice, and if you get a gash on your scalp, it’s easier to stitch up! I was in the People’s Liberation Army too back in the day! Sadly, I had retired by then; otherwise, I could have boasted this style too!"
Upon hearing this, Fang Huai burst out laughing, "Alright! From now on, if you guys want to shave your heads bald, just say ’give me a hero’s cut’ and that’ll do!"
The grandpas were also thrilled, "Then I’ll shave a hero’s cut! When you’re back, give me a cadres’ cut! This way, my military service will also be complete!"
"Hahaha..."
The laughter grew louder and the crowd of grandpas and grandmas swelled, the excitement intensifying.
The two traffic police officers next door and the community service point of the District Public Security Bureau also livened up.
The publicity police officers were choked with emotion.
Not only is he a smooth talker, but he’s also great with his hands! Chatting and making the elders burst into laughter all the while!
Last time Tony from our bureau cut hair without daring to utter a single word! Afterward, he had to endure the elders’ complaints about the unattractive haircuts!
He even earned significant merit in Sichuan? And he’s going to BJ to receive an award?!
That’s just awesome.
There’s nobody like you! The magic touch!
...
