There was a time when money was money. A 10-yuan note was as good as 10 yuan in coins. After all, didn't people trade on a barter system in the old days? Didn't ancient civilisations use clam shells or other objects as a representation of real wealth, like chips at a casino?
Lately, however, Niuniu has realised some forms of money may be better than others.
Before Lunar New Year, Niuniu went to several banks in Beijing for the 10-yuan bills she would put into red lai see envelopes and distribute to friends and family. But to her surprise, every bank she visited told her they had run out of 10-yuan bills. Except for one, where the teller was nice enough to change some for her. But all she got were shabby notes, and some were even torn and repaired with Cellotape.
Niuniu later complains to her friend Cici. 'Sure, it's all money,' she says. 'But you don't want to give smelly, old bills as gifts. You want to give out crisp, new bills.'
Cici replies: 'I don't believe any of those banks really ran out of 10-yuan bills. That is just impossible. I think they didn't want to help you because they wouldn't get anything out of the transaction. And as for the teller who did give you bills, she must have collected all the bad ones just to give to customers who ask for an exchange.'
Niuniu says: 'But why would the teller give me old bills if she had new ones? It's not like it's her money. What would it hurt her to give me new bills? The value is the same. Doesn't she understand that when you give cash as a gift, no one wants to give ratty, old torn-up bills?'