(1980s Taiwan)
《Ahua's dilemma》
Ahua received red envelopes from her children as a gesture of filial respect, and money she managed to steal from Ajun.
Poverty was deeply rooted in Ahua's subconscious; money was her best comfort and distraction.
After more than 10 years, Ahua had accumulated several hundred thousand Taiwan dollars. She sewed the money into her undergarments, a mix of big and small bills, coins, all stitched together. She also carried a large bag containing the gold she had saved when she was younger.
None of her children or grandchildren could take anything from her. Even though bathing was laborious and difficult, she enjoyed it. No one knew that everything she owned was on her. Counting her money made her feel happy. Because she had been acting crazy and eccentric for decades and always had a foul smell, no one paid attention to her.
But Ahua knew: this was the only way she felt secure.
Every day, Ahua carried all her possessions with her, weighing about 20 kilograms. She walked inside and outside the house, all her life. When she got tired, she sat down; when she got sleepy, she lay down. That heavy load never left her.
Ajun tried to solve the mystery, but he was met with a harsh rejection.
Ajun often said: "Ahua has the mouth of an emperor but the fate of a beggar (always eating but poor)."
Ajun once considered abandoning Ahua somewhere in Taiwan, leaving her to fend for herself, or even thought of killing her in a moment of anger. Yan'er also persuaded Ajun to send Ahua to Liong-Huat-Tng (a long-term residence for mental patients). Ajun always said Ahua was just pretending to be crazy and foolish, and that they were destined to be each other's tormentors. The children knew Ajun couldn't bring himself to abandon Ahua.
They had been married all their lives, intertwined with love and hate, constantly bickering and arguing. Like a gong and drum meant to be together, a single day apart made them miss each other. Everyone knew that without Ajun, Ahua would be pitiful.
After Ahua fell ill, her family kept their distance, afraid of being implicated. Family ties were severed, revealing the coldness of the world.
If life were to reward merits, Ahua might only be credited for giving birth. She made no contribution to society or her family. In contrast, Ajun had been busy all his life, tirelessly working, always feeling as if he had a heavy burden on his back.
《阿花的困境》
阿花收到孩子孝敬的紅包，以及在阿俊身上摸來的錢。
窮，在阿花潛意識裡；錢，是阿花最好滿足打發。
經過日子沉澱 10 多年來，阿花身上已有數十萬元。她把錢縫在肚兜裡，大鈔小鈔、銅錢硬幣，隆隆總總。身上還背個大包，裡頭是年輕時攢起來的金子。
兒女孫輩，沒有一人能從她身上拿開。洗個澡，費勁費工，她也樂在其中。無人知曉，這一身是她全部家當。原來算錢的日子，是這麼幸福。也因為瘋瘋癲癲好幾十年了，又一身臭酸味，這隱身術沒有人會去注意她。
可是阿花知道：這樣她的日子才踏實。
阿花每天把家當背在身上，重達約 20 公斤重。屋裡屋外，走一輩子。累嘞，坐一下；睏了，躺下來。那一身重物，不曾離開。
阿俊也試著打開那個謎，結果是被無情還擊重賞。
阿俊常說：阿花黃帝嘴、乞丐命 (為了吃伴嘴)。
阿俊也曾想把阿花丟到台灣某一角落，自生自滅，甚至心一狠，掐死算了。燕兒也說服過阿俊：「把阿花送到龍發堂 (精神病患者長期居住地)。」阿俊總說阿花是裝瘋賣傻，他們倆是冤親債主。兒女都知道，是阿俊不忍心把阿花流放。
他們倆做了一輩子夫妻，愛恨交織，互相折磨，吵吵鬧鬧，唇槍舌劍。銅跟鑼好像註定，好好一天不見，嘴裡念、心裡想。誰都知道沒了阿俊，阿花就可憐。
阿花犯病後，娘家人避而遠之，深怕被牽連。親沒了，道盡世間冷暖。
如果人生可以論功行賞，阿花這輩子可能只有生孩子的延續。對社會、對家庭，毫無貢獻。而阿俊一生忙忙碌碌、前仆後繼，背上永遠像似壓塊大石頭。