The lady in the yellow dress sat cross-legged, her eyes sparkling like a child who had just received candy, excitedly showing off: I just went to the shopping mall near my house this morning, oh my gosh, so many things were on sale, I bought a bunch! Many things were cheap as if given away!
The woman in black took a sip of salted coffee and asked gently: So how many of those things you bought are really necessary? Will you use them right away?
The woman in the yellow dress suddenly stopped and smiled: Well… I don't really need it. But it's so cheap, it would be a shame not to buy it!
The woman in black gently placed her coffee cup on the table, clasped her hands together, and said softly: People often find it difficult to escape daily temptations. We just see something “cheap” and rush to buy it, regardless of whether we really need it or not. But think about it, anything that is not necessary, no matter how cheap it is, is still a waste.
The woman in yellow paused for a moment, but before she could object, the woman in black continued: Humans don’t actually have many basic needs. Having enough to eat, warm clothes, and a peaceful life is enough. Everything is piled up around them, but they don’t use it, and then when they need money, they have to sell the very things they need. That’s the price to pay for greed and haste without thinking.
The woman in the yellow dress was silent for a moment, then sighed, her voice softening a bit: You're right. When I got home, I saw that the cupboard was full of things I had bought so long ago that I couldn't remember when. Now that it was time to clean up, I just wanted to throw them away. But when I bought them, I was as excited as if I had found gold.
The lady in black smiled slightly: Life is short, ma'am. The most valuable thing is not the goods, but the moments when you feel your life is meaningful and peaceful.
Outside the shop, the sun had set, and the crowd was getting more and more crowded on their way home. The two women also stood up to say goodbye, making plans to continue chatting later. The seemingly simple story about the sale items unintentionally evoked something deeper - about greed, moderation, and the price of decisions in life.
