Before the old man stood an iron rack, on which sat a basin of steaming hot water for washing people's hair and faces.
The man sitting before the barber was also quite old. An oilcloth was draped over his chest, and he was tilting his head to expose half his face, allowing the barber to take a straight razor and scrape his beard clean, one stroke at a time.
Shaving and getting a haircut for the New Year and other festivals was a long-standing tradition.
The idea was to tidy up one's beard and give any overgrown hair a little trim.
This barber's skill must have been superb, because the people lined up before him included not only elderly men but also quite a few young lads.
Before they left, Chen Wanqing found herself thinking that if it weren't for the long line, she ought to have the barber give Zhao Jing a shave as well. The man's technique was so good that the razor looked like a toy in his hands.
