Newspaper page screenshot: Xu Jianhang (left)
Reporters Yangyang Li, Chungen Chen, and Ronggui Wang/Photography
A few days ago, a热心reader took a news picture and sent it to the newspaper. In the picture, there was a sign that read "one yuan haircut", with red background and black letters, very eye-catching. The person giving the haircut was an elderly man with a hunched back.
An elder of this age? Giving haircuts on the street? For one yuan? These many questions made the reporter very interested in this photo. However, surprisingly, the热心reader did not know anything about the old man. The only clue provided was that it was taken on January 25th in Xiaotianzhu Community in Hangzhou.
Subsequently, the reporter began searching for this "one yuan haircut elder."
The neighbors wouldn't allow him to give free haircuts
We first went to the community office. Upon seeing the photo, the staff immediately recognized him: "Yes, yes, he is from our community. His name is Xu Jianhang. He is 63 years old this year. He is a very good person, we all know him."
Regarding this photo, Tang Deqing, the director of Xiaotianzhu Community, revealed the reason behind it. Originally, Xiaotianzhu Community had organized a group of volunteers who would provide services within their capabilities to the community residents every month. Xu Jianhang was one of these volunteers. January 25th was the day of the volunteer activity, and he was giving haircuts that day.
"Although Xu Jianhang is already quite old and his family's financial situation is average, whenever the community residents need help, he never refuses. He often gives free haircuts to the elderly in the community and even provides home service to those who are disabled or bedridden, greatly helping our work."
The reporter found Xu Jianhang's home. As soon as we entered, there was a small hall less than 2 square meters. At the door hung signs reading "Xiaotianzhu Community Home-based Elderly Care Service Point" and "Community People's Service Haircut Point." Inside the room, the first thing you see is a hanging mirror. Below it were scissors and razors that had been polished bright, and a handmade tin bucket hung at another corner, directly connected to a washbasin below. The rest consisted of wooden stools and plastic chairs of varying heights.
At this moment, Xu Jianhang appeared, just like in the photo, with a hunched back. When he smiled, his front teeth greeted us first.
When talking about his "one yuan haircut," Xu Jianhang kept shaking his head, "It's nothing, nothing, just a small matter, something I should do." Xu Jianhang told the reporter that this "one yuan haircut" was done under the "strong" request of the neighborhood residents.
"Previously, I always thought that since we are neighbors, I generally didn't charge for haircuts, especially for the elderly in the neighborhood. But later, people became unhappy. After a couple of times, someone said they wouldn't let me cut their hair if I didn't charge. After much thought, I decided to only charge one yuan."
The skill learned at 17 came in handy after being laid off
In fact, before retirement, Xu Jianhang was a driver for a certain construction company in Hangzhou. This makes people wonder, how could a hand that held a steering wheel take up such delicate work as wielding scissors?
Xu Jianhang smiled and said, "I learned when I was young, and I never lost the skill. The scissors and tools I use now were bought back then." Originally, Xu Jianhang was a native of Hangzhou. After graduating from junior high school at the age of 17, he went to Tonglu for rural re-education. There, he learned the art of haircutting and used it to serve the farmers. At the age of 24, he returned to Hangzhou and joined a certain construction company. Ten years ago, due to corporate restructuring, he was laid off, so he picked up his old trade again. "Initially, it was also because of being laid off and having no income, and not knowing how to do other things, I wanted to use my old skills to supplement my household income."
Because there are many elderly people in the community, Xu Jianhang generally does not charge them. For residents in difficulty, he even provides home service. Lao Liang is also from Xiaotianzhu Community, but due to physical disability and living on the third floor, he used to be troubled every time he needed a haircut. However, after the community contacted Xu Jianhang, the problem was solved. "Xu Jianhang is a good person. Every time I just need to make a phone call, and he will come to my house to give me a haircut. I sincerely thank him from the bottom of my heart."
Not only is Xu Jianhang skilled, but he is also very talkative, so his barbershop business is booming. Not only do residents of his own neighborhood often come, but many elderly people from far away even take taxis or crowded buses to have their hair cut by him. Lao Zhang and his wife are nearly seventy years old and live in Daguan, but every month they take the bus to visit him. "We trust his skills, it's comfortable, and we have a lot to talk about."
Later, Xu Jianhang also joined the community's volunteer service team, and the community included him in the list of contacts for home-based elderly care services. He has been doing this for ten years. Talking about cutting hair for the residents, Xu Jianhang pointed to the sign on the wall "People's Service Haircut Point" and said: "In short, serving the people."