To the Chinese, Chinese New Year is supposed to be all about prosperity and generosity. Giving out Ang Paus has always been a united symbol of both prosperity and generosity as we are ‘sharing the prosperity‘ (Money, actually…)
However, although the stock market is booming in early 2007, the size of Ang Paus are just as constant as ever (if not shrinking)!
To make the situation more outrageous, check out this copy of Sin Chew Daily on the first day of Chinese New Year. On the first page, it says:
“Learn About Financial Management From the Pig*“!
(The “Pig*” is actually the Pig character from the famous Chinese story “Journey to the West”, I just can’t think of how to translate the name.)
Maybe I’ll just use the Chinese translation of the Pig Character’s name, which is Zhu Ba Jie.
For those who do not know, Zhu Ba Jie is the infamous lazy, perverted, greedy, no-action-talk-only and sometimes dumb, character in the story. Now we are going to learn Financial Management from him, how about that?
Just to clarify, I have nothing against the story or the characters, just pointing out the facts here =)
Looking inside at what Zhu Ba Jie has to say about wise financial management during this Chinese New Year, it is really maddening, or disturbing, to say the least, to see this:
It says: “The current ‘market price’ for an Ang Pau is 2 Ringgit.”
–
–
… You got that?
–
–
2 Ringgit… 2 Riiiiinggittt… 2… Ringgiiiitttttt…!! May that figure haunt your dreams tonight!
It is acknowledged on the newspapers that people should give 2 Ringgit Ang Paus!
The Ang Pau price 10 years ago was 2 Ringgit, and now it is still 2 Ringgit! Damn! Haven’t the married adults heard of inflation? 2 Ringgit could buy you some stuff years ago, but now the value is really so small that an RM2 Ang Pau is almost, I think, negligible.
Undeniably, most relatives or the people who know you will give you a lot more than an RM2 Ang Pau, but for the not-so-familiar people, it’s 2 Ringgit, period.
Yes, I know that giving Ang Paus is just a symbol of goodwill, and I do not despise people giving RM2 Ang Paus, because it is really, sad to say, the ‘market price’ now. But you know, maybe I’ll appreciate it only after I get married, when it’s my turn to give out Ang Paus! Hehe…
Read Other Posts:
Previous 
Next 
Comment Meta:
Click!
Listen to Songs!
See My Pictures!
Watch My Videos!
Play Fun Games!
Last 50 Posts
Back
Void 
Life 
Earth 
Wind 
Water 
Fire 
