Chapter 5: One Centimetre

Answer. Tao Ying’s life greatly influenced Xiao Ye’s life. Tao Ying was a simple person who lived a humble life and had no education for herself. She liked to be kind and charitable, setting an example for her son and making a good impression which elevated her sense of self-worth and made her feel like an aristocrat. She often altered her methods to set a good model for Xiao Ye, going to great heights to maintain her son’s respect for her.

Answer. The instance showing official rules is often arbitrary when Tao Ying buys a ticket for Xiao Ye, yet he doesn’t require one. And how the older woman’s practices were shown incorrectly on purpose to make people feel better about themselves. They are showing how self-respect and standards of excellence often matter more than simple rules.

Answer. Tao Ying was cautious about spending money as she had worked hard to save. The compensation offered by the temple officials to Tao Ying was unimportant to her as her son Xiao Ye was more important and mattered to her more than anything else in the world. Tao Ying believed in that day’s happiness which cannot be bought, nor can that place have good memories for her and her son, which was above everything.

Answer. Tao Ying felt it was significant for Xiao Ye to know that she wasn’t incorrect about his height and that she wasn’t attempting to exempt him from a ticket intentionally. Therefore, Xiao Ye’s trust in Tao Ying was more important than any compensation, and her dismissal was assumed to be understood by Xiao Ye.