What Nine People Taught Me About Money in One Night

At two in the morning, in front of a convenience store counter, a man puts a pack of cigarettes back and takes two steamed buns instead. The cashier scans the barcode. Beep. He checks his pocket. Not enough coins. He puts one bun back. The cashier says nothing, pushes the other bun toward him. The man says, “I’ll pay you back tomorrow.” The cashier says, “No need.” He stands by the door and eats. The wind blows the plastic bag up into the tree.

Delivery rider

Typhoon day. The phone rings. A ten-yuan order. One button on his raincoat pops off; he fixes it with tape. The elevator is broken. He carries two bags of rice up to the seventh floor. The door opens a crack. A hand reaches out: “Leave it at the door. Don’t ring the bell. The child is asleep.” He goes downstairs and gets a bad review: “Too slow.” A fifty-yuan fine. He sits on the stairs, takes off his rain hood. His hair drips. He opens his phone and looks at the next order. Ten yuan cannot buy life, but it can buy tonight’s rent. He stands up and keeps going.

Emergency room doctor

At the payment window, an old woman counts change. One jiao, five jiao, one yuan. Someone behind her clicks their tongue. The doctor walks over and says, “Do it first.” The old woman says, “I’m still three hundred short.” The doctor swipes his own card. The surgical light goes on. Three hours later, he comes out. The old woman is gone. A bag of oranges sits on the table. He washes his hands. The water is very hot. He thinks about his mortgage, his child’s tutoring fees. The payment slip does not write “love.” The medical record does not either.

Mother

The daughter brings her boyfriend home. The boy says, “I make two hundred thousand a year.” The mother is in the kitchen cutting potatoes. The knife pauses. She keeps cutting and cuts her finger. The daughter runs over: “Mom!” She says, “It’s nothing. A Band-Aid.” At the table, the boy says, “After we marry, she won’t have to work.” The mother picks up some food and says, “She likes working.” The boy laughs: “As long as there’s enough money.” The mother does not laugh. She washes the dishes. Water rushes. The daughter comes in and says, “He treats me well.” The mother says, “Good.” She dries her hands and changes the Band-Aid. One thousand yuan cannot buy her daughter. She does not say it.

College student

Five thousand yuan a month. He rents a partitioned room. The neighbor snores. He edits a PowerPoint until three in the morning. The boss sends a message: “One more version.” He replies, “Okay.” The salary arrives: five thousand. He sends two thousand to his mother and says, “Enough to spend.” His mother replies, “Don’t skimp.” He turns off his phone and looks out the window. It is almost dawn. He opens a book, reads two pages, and falls asleep. The book stays open on his chest.

Entrepreneur

The night before payday, the account is thirty thousand short. He calls his partner. The other side is silent. He says, “I’ll mortgage the car.” The partner says, “I’ll mortgage the house.” The next day, wages are paid. No employee knows. He sits in the car, eating a cold bun. The car is borrowed. He looks in the rearview mirror. His eyes are red. He starts the engine. The car does not move. He laughs once, then drives to work.

Rich man

At a dinner, people toast him. He drinks one cup and says, “As you like.” His phone rings. The driver says, “I’m here.” He goes downstairs. The dog jumps on him. He strokes the dog’s head. The house is large. The lights are bright. He opens the refrigerator. Only bottled water. He sits on the sofa and looks at his phone. The contact list is long. He cannot find one person to call at midnight. Money cannot buy a person who does not look at his wallet.

Poor man, sick man

In the hospital corridor, he sits on the floor. The registration slip is crumpled in his hand. The medicine costs eight thousand. Domestic: two thousand. Imported: eight thousand. He asks the doctor, “What’s the difference?” The doctor says, “The effect differs.” He calls someone. No answer. He stands up, goes to the window, and says, “Domestic.” He takes the medicine. His hand shakes. He sits on the steps and looks at the sky. He does not cry. He puts the medicine box into his bag.

Old man

In the hospital room, the caregiver scrolls on his phone. The old man looks out the window. A bird is in the tree. His children call: “Dad, we’ll come back when we’re free.” He says, “Okay.” He hangs up. The caregiver says, “Water?” He says, “No.” He touches the passbook under his pillow. The number is not small. He closes his eyes. The caregiver adjusts his pillow. The last hand holding his is the caregiver’s.

Counselor

The client says, “I just want to make money.” The counselor looks at his shoes. The soles are worn unevenly. He says, “Without money, I don’t deserve anything.” The counselor asks, “Deserve what?” He freezes. The counselor says nothing. Outside, it rains. The client says, “My mother is sick.” The counselor says, “Mm.” He cries. The counselor hands him a tissue. The clock ticks. Neither of them says anything about money.

Receipt

At two in the morning, the man finishes the bun. His phone rings. A debt collector. He answers, “Tomorrow.” He stands up and walks toward the subway entrance. The wind blows the plastic bag up into the tree. He checks his pocket. There is still one coin. He puts it back.

It is almost dawn.