Shame money

(Baonghean) - In this weather, there's nothing better than gathering with friends around a barbecue. Light meals like corn, potatoes, and cassava... More substantial options include fragrant marinated pork and beef. A charcoal grill, a few plastic chairs set up on the sidewalk, watching people huddle together against the wind – it feels warm, satisfying, and utterly blissful. The only problem is...

The day before yesterday, I invited my neighbor's daughter to have barbecue on NVC street, it was quite a romantic occasion. While I was busily flipping the meat and serving her, a kid came up, stood right next to me, and offered me a pack of xylitol chewing gum. To impress her, and also thinking that chewing gum after barbecue would freshen my breath – which made sense – I pulled out my wallet and asked generously:

- How much is it, sir?

- Twenty thousand dong!

I was so shocked I almost dropped my wallet into the charcoal stove. But what could I do? I had to reluctantly buy a pack of candy that cost as much as my breakfast sticky rice. There's no greater folly than this!

Yesterday I went out for barbecue again, this time with a friend. I was sure there wouldn't be any chewing gum this time, but then I saw a young man carrying a basket going from table to table, offering his wares. I pricked up my ears and realized he was selling heart-shaped lollipops. Luckily, I didn't bring any girls with me, otherwise I would have wasted money on those silly lollipops! Just as I was getting excited, the lollipop seller stood right in front of us, glancing at my friend while he spoke, smirking:

- Hey brother, buy some candy! For only 15,000 VND, you can get a sweet heart-shaped candy to give to your friend to ward off the cold winds of the season!

My face turned purple, I was speechless, while my friend stifled a laugh and replied in a high-pitched, duck-like voice:

I don't like eating candy, honey!

The candy seller was so embarrassed, he ran away!

Today I went out for barbecue with my older sister and her husband again. After carefully looking around to make sure there were no "chewing gum" or "heart-shaped candies," I felt safe enough to pull up a chair and sit down. "Out of the frying pan into the fire," this time it was a young, healthy-looking woman with a rosy, plump face, carrying a baby in her arms. She went from table to table, offering to sell various trinkets. When my brother-in-law refused, she immediately continued:

- Yes, sir, could you please give me a few coins?

My sister shook her head, watching the woman walk away, muttering, "She's so young and healthy, yet she's begging for money instead of working. Wouldn't it be better to use that time for proper labor and earn a living? Judging by her accent, she's from somewhere else. She even travels this far just to beg; life is truly strange!"

I also find it strange. Strange in the mindset and thinking about work in some people. Firstly, these methods are ineffective because they don't appeal to the customer's psychology, and worse, sometimes they are even thoughtless and disrespectful. "Even God avoids interfering with someone's meal," no one feels comfortable being disturbed while eating. It's even more annoying when the intruder takes advantage of the situation to "buy" peace, demanding exorbitant prices or pestering them. It's already unpleasant for locals, and even worse for tourists. Secondly, can this really be called a legitimate profession? Abroad, there are also people who "beg" for money, but they don't take "cash"; they exchange it for music, singing, or countless other talents. Those who give are happy, and those who beg don't feel ashamed of receiving such money.

Feeling ashamed when handling money is also a matter of culture. Money doesn't make a person, but it can easily corrupt their character. The goal is for money to be exchanged in a way that brings satisfaction and contentment to both parties, rather than fostering contempt, hatred, or exploitation. That would be truly shameful!

Hai Trieu