Money, that elusive thing, is often the source of our deepest helplessness. At times, it has the power to dissolve grudges, to make one listen earnestly to anyone's words, even if, just moments before, that same person had wounded your heart.
A few days later, I invited Qin Yao to dine at a somewhat upscale hotel. As I entered the private room and saw the minimum consumption requirement, my hand trembled slightly as I reached for the menu. It was then that she revealed to me the way to earn money.
"Do you know," she said softly, "there is a kind of money that is especially easy to earn."
And with that, she leaned in and whispered, "It is the money of the deceased."