One Centimetre
by Bi Shu-min
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A story about a mother's sensitivity and her desire to be a good role model for her child, exploring integrity, dignity and honest parenting. Tao Ying, a poor but conscientious Chinese woman, is careful about honesty in front of her young son Xiao Ye. On buses, where children below a certain height travel free, she pays for him only when he crosses the height line, refusing to cheat even when she could, because she wants to bring him up honestly. On a visit to a temple, she buys a ticket for herself but the ticket-seller lets the boy in free, judging him short enough. Inside, however, another attendant measures Xiao Ye against a measuring scale and declares him one centimetre too tall, accusing Tao Ying of trying to cheat by not buying his ticket. Humiliated in front of her son, and unable to prove her honesty, she is deeply hurt, not by the small sum of money but by the loss of dignity and her image as an honest mother in her son's eyes. She writes to the temple authorities, and eventually two officials come to apologise and re-measure the boy, confirming he was in fact within the free-entry height. Her honour and, more importantly, her standing as a truthful role model before her son are restored.
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The story examines a mother's deep concern for honesty, dignity and being a worthy role model for her child, set against small everyday humiliations faced by ordinary people.
An honest mother
Tao Ying is a poor but self-respecting woman who is careful to be honest before her young son Xiao Ye. On buses, where children under a marked height travel free, she conscientiously pays for him the moment he grows tall enough, even though she could easily avoid the fare, because she wants him to grow up honest and to think of her as an upright, dignified mother.
The temple visit
On a visit to a temple with Xiao Ye, Tao Ying buys a ticket for herself, and the ticket-seller waves the boy in free, judging him short enough. Tao Ying is pleased, feeling she has done nothing wrong and is setting a good example.
The humiliation
Inside, a strict attendant measures Xiao Ye against a scale and declares him one centimetre over the free-entry limit, publicly accusing Tao Ying of trying to cheat by not buying his ticket. Humiliated before her son and the crowd, and unable to prove her honesty, she is deeply wounded, not by the trivial cost, but by the blow to her dignity and to her image as a truthful mother.
Vindication
Determined to clear her name, Tao Ying writes to the temple authorities. Eventually two officials come, apologise, and re-measure Xiao Ye, confirming that he was in fact within the free-entry height. Her honour is restored and, more importantly, her standing as an honest role model before her son is vindicated, reaffirming the value she places on integrity and dignity.