One Centimetre (Bi Shu-Min)

Tao Ying judged the conductor's behaviour. If he looked responsible, she felt she should pay. If he seemed casual and careless, she did not buy a ticket, treating it as a small punishment for him and a saving for herself.

That day Tao Ying buys tickets for both herself and Xiao Ye because she wants her son to feel happy and respected. She does not want to appear dishonest in front of him, and she feels that a mother should be a perfect model for her child. Buying the tickets gives Xiao Ye a sense of self-esteem and also helps her preserve her dignity as a mother.

Tao Ying was not deliberately trying to cheat. At the temple she honestly thought Xiao Ye was under the height limit, and she was prepared to buy the needed ticket. When the guard accused her and the crowd gathered, she changed her mind because she did not want her son to see her lose dignity or witness a quarrel. Her main concern was to protect Xiao Ye and herself, not to deceive the temple.

After the confrontation, Tao Ying realises that if she bought another ticket, she would have to admit to her son that she had first tried to enter without paying. She fears she would never be able to explain herself to him. So she abandons the plan to buy another ticket and leaves, because preserving her honour in her son's eyes matters more than forcing the issue.

The old woman's scales were not accurate measures at all. She explains that they are flattering scales: they are set to show people as lighter than they really are and also taller than they really are. Her convoluted logic is that people like to feel good about themselves, so she makes the measurements pleasing rather than exact.

The mother and son clash because Xiao Ye feels cheated and wants the truth. He says Tao Ying had promised him a ticket before, and he is upset when she tries to say he is still too short. Tao Ying, on the other hand, is trying to manage the situation so that she does not lose face and so that her son will not see her as dishonest. Their conflict grows from the height rule, the ticket, and Tao Ying's attempt to preserve dignity.

Xiao Ye influences Tao Ying deeply. Because he imitates her, she becomes very conscious of every action and word. She tries to behave politely, not waste money carelessly, eat properly in front of him, and act as a cultured, perfect mother. In short, her son makes her life more disciplined, anxious, and morally self-aware.

Official rules appear arbitrary in the story because they are applied mechanically and inconsistently. For example, on the bus the ticket rule depends on a child's height, but the temple guard treats the measuring line as final even though Xiao Ye was previously smaller. The red line on the wall and the later measurement by the officials show how the rule can be used to support whichever side is in power. The old lady's scales also show how measurements can be manipulated to suit the purpose.

Tao Ying is careful with money, but she refuses the compensation because her real concern is honour and vindication. The money and tickets cannot erase the shame of the earlier insult or restore the happiness of that day. More importantly, she wants her son to know the truth. So she asks the officials to explain the matter to Xiao Ye instead of simply paying her off.

Tao Ying's final vindication matters because the whole conflict was not only about a ticket but about her son's trust. She had been humiliated before him, and she feared that he would think badly of her. When the temple officials verify the facts, her reputation is restored and Xiao Ye can understand that his mother was not dishonest. That truth is more valuable to her than money or tickets.