I got the best haircut of my life in China

I got a haircut in China. Normally, I go to $5 local barbershops in Bali, but I wanted to try a hair salon in Shanghai. I had to choose the level of expertise of the hairdresser. I was in a hurry, so I picked the only one available: Intermediate. I Googled “men haircut 2026” and showed him one I liked. He said nothing, washed my hair, and picked up a shaver. 45 minutes later, I realized I had a massage appointment. I felt terrible because I had to leave the salon. I looked like a palm tree. When I came back the next day, I offered to pay for a second haircut. He refused. I insisted, but he wouldn’t let me, so I got him a croissant. He spent the next hour finishing the haircut. He cared about every detail. He didn’t stop until my hair looked exactly like the photo I showed him. It cost $30, and it’s the best haircut I’ve ever had (imho). What has impressed me the most in China is how seriously people take their work. Waiters, taxi drivers, hairdressers, massage therapists… once you pay for a service, they seem genuinely committed to making sure you feel you got your money’s worth. They're not waiting for praise. They just quietly do the job as well as they can. And I find that incredibly humbling.