01 · Explore
Introduction to Tao Ying
The story introduces Tao Ying, a hardworking mother and canteen cook, whose approach to life is defined by a mix of practical survival and a desire for grace.
Tao Ying works in a factory canteen, baking wheat cakes over an open fire. Her life is one of physical labor and careful budgeting. When traveling alone on the bus, she often avoids buying a ticket if the conductor appears 'casual and careless.' She views this not as a crime, but as a small personal saving and a 'punishment' for the conductor's lack of diligence.
However, her behavior changes significantly when she is with her young son, Xiao Ye. In his presence, she strives to be a 'perfect, flawless mother.' She recognizes that to him, she is the 'centre of the universe,' and she feels a profound responsibility to set a moral and cultured example, even if it contradicts her own survival instincts.
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Why does Tao Ying sometimes avoid buying a bus ticket when she is alone?
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Sign inNew here? Sign up freeNCERT reference: chapter PDF pages 1, 2.
02 · Explore
The Bus Incident: Buying Self-Esteem
A routine bus ride becomes a lesson in parental integrity when Xiao Ye insists on the ritual of having a ticket.
On the bus, Xiao Ye is eager to have a ticket, as children often value the 'ritual' of the ride. Although a painted mark on the door indicates the height requirement is 1.10 m, Tao Ying tells him he is 'still one centimetre away' from the mark. The conductor confirms that the child is one centimetre short of requiring a ticket. Tao Ying initially considers saving the twenty cents, which could buy several days' worth of vegetables.
Ultimately, she decides to buy two tickets. The author notes that 'to be able to purchase self-esteem with twenty cents' is a rare opportunity. Tao Ying chooses to validate her son's sense of pride and maturity over financial saving. She also refuses to claim the ticket fare back from her workplace later, as she refuses to lie or set a dishonest example for her observant son.
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What does the author mean by 'purchasing self-esteem' for twenty cents?
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Sign inNew here? Sign up freeNCERT reference: chapter PDF pages 2, 3, 4.
03 · Explore
The Temple Conflict
The central conflict of the story arises at a temple gate, where a guard challenges Xiao Ye's height.
Tao Ying takes Xiao Ye to a large temple using a complimentary ticket. At the gate, a young guard in a red uniform stops them, insisting that Xiao Ye is over the 110 cm limit and needs his own ticket. Tao Ying, confident that her son is still under the limit based on their bus ride, politely disagrees.
The situation escalates as a crowd gathers. The guard points to a red line on the wall—described as an 'earthworm'—and claims Xiao Ye ran past it. When Xiao Ye stands against the mark, the line appears to be at the level of his ear, suggesting he is significantly over the limit. This discrepancy shocks Tao Ying and turns the crowd against her.
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What is the 'earthworm' mentioned in the text?
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Sign inNew here? Sign up freeNCERT reference: chapter PDF pages 5, 6, 7.
04 · Explore
The Moment of Betrayal
Under pressure from a jeering crowd and a mocking guard, Tao Ying reacts in a way that damages her relationship with her son.
Frustrated and confused by the measurement, Tao Ying hits Xiao Ye on the head to smooth down his hair, hoping he will appear shorter. The crowd reacts with hostility, accusing her of being a 'disgrace' and suggesting she isn't his 'natural mother.' The guard mocks her further, citing the 'International Standard Ruler' in Paris to assert his authority.
Xiao Ye is traumatized, not just by the physical blow—the first he has ever received—but by the realization that his mother is being accused of dishonesty. Tao Ying realizes that if she buys the ticket now, she will be admitting to a 'crime' she didn't commit, but if she doesn't, she cannot enter. She chooses to leave, but the damage to Xiao Ye's trust is already done.
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Why does Tao Ying refuse to buy the ticket after the confrontation?
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Sign inNew here? Sign up freeNCERT reference: chapter PDF pages 8, 9, 10.
05 · Explore
The Flattering Scales
A secondary measurement by a street vendor adds to the confusion and deepens Xiao Ye's suspicion.
After leaving the temple, Xiao Ye uses his own money to be measured by an old woman with a height scale. The scale reads 'one metre eleven.' Xiao Ye, now convinced his mother was trying to cheat the temple, runs away from her in tears. He begins to look at her 'as if mother has turned into a big bad wolf.'
Tao Ying later discovers the truth: the old woman's scales are 'flattering scales,' intentionally adjusted to make people seem taller and lighter to make them happy. However, Xiao Ye is too young to understand this 'convoluted logic.' To him, the temple guard and the street vendor were right, and his mother was wrong.
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Why were the old woman's scales inaccurate?
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Sign inNew here? Sign up freeNCERT reference: chapter PDF pages 11, 12.
06 · Explore
The Pursuit of Truth
Determined to regain her son's trust, Tao Ying seeks an official correction of the measurement.
Tao Ying's work suffers as she becomes distracted by the 'ice' in her son's eyes. She measures him carefully at home while he sleeps and confirms he is 1.09 m. To prove her innocence, she decides to write a letter to the temple administration.
She enlists the help of a colleague known as 'the Writer' to make her letter more 'moving.' The Writer suggests using a dramatic opening about the 'infinite power of the Buddha' making a boy grow and shrink. Though she cannot remember all his flowery words, she sends a corrected version of the letter, hoping for a response that will vindicate her in front of Xiao Ye.
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What was Tao Ying's primary motivation for writing the letter?
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Sign inNew here? Sign up freeNCERT reference: chapter PDF pages 13, 14.
07 · Explore
Vindication and Resolution
The story concludes with a visit from temple officials who provide the truth Tao Ying desperately needs.
Two elderly officials eventually visit Tao Ying's home. They measure Xiao Ye with a professional metallic tape and find him to be 'one metre ten, just so.' Tao Ying points out that a month and nine days have passed since the incident, meaning he was certainly shorter than the limit during the temple visit. The officials cannot refute this logic.
The officials admit that before leaving the temple, they checked the 'earthworm' mark and realized it was not drawn accurately. They offer Tao Ying five dollars or two free tickets as compensation. Tao Ying refuses both, as she doesn't want money or a return to a place of 'unhappy memories.' Instead, she asks the officials to explain to Xiao Ye that his mother did nothing wrong, restoring her integrity in his eyes.
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Why did Tao Ying refuse the money and tickets offered by the officials?
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Sign inNew here? Sign up freeNCERT reference: chapter PDF pages 15, 16.
08 · Explore
Literary Devices and Language
Bi Shu-min uses vivid imagery and figures of speech to convey the emotional depth of the characters.
The author employs similes to describe Tao Ying's physical and emotional states, such as her jacket 'ballooning up like a tent' or her hands trembling 'like the strings on a pei-pa.' These comparisons help the reader visualize her agitation and the high stakes of her social performance.
Metaphors are also used effectively, notably the 'ice in her son's eyes' to represent his coldness and lack of trust. The 'earthworm' on the wall serves as a metaphor for a flawed and shifting standard of justice. The story also highlights the importance of word stress in English, noting how words like 'object' or 'conduct' change meaning between noun and verb forms.
| Device | Example from Text | Meaning/Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Simile | Xiao Ye's hair like a bundle of straw | Emphasizes his dry, messy appearance despite being healthy. |
| Metaphor | Melt the ice in her son's eyes | Represents the process of regaining her son's warmth and trust. |
| Simile | Face as white as her ticket | Shows Tao Ying's extreme shock and fear during the confrontation. |
| Metaphor | The door to life itself | Refers to the soft spot on a child's head, symbolizing their vulnerability. |
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Give an example of a metaphor used in the story and explain it.
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Sign inNew here? Sign up freeNCERT reference: chapter PDF pages 17, 18, 19.