After the Spring Festival, Lily received red envelopes from her grandparents, her uncle and her aunt. When she counted the money, her eyes grew wide: the total amount was more than she had ever owned. 'If I had this money, I would buy a new phone right now!' she said happily. But then she remembered what Cozy had said in class: money is a tool, not a master. She decided to think carefully before spending a single yuan.
The next morning, Lily went to the phone shop with Han Mei. She held the shiny new phone in her hand, and for a moment, she wished she could buy it at once. But then she looked at the price and put it down. 'If I spent all my money on this, I would have nothing left,' she said. 'And next month is Grandma's birthday. I want to buy her a warm scarf.' Han Mei smiled. 'Lily, you have just grown up a little.'
That evening, Lily made a careful plan. She opened a small bank account and put eighty percent of the money into it. The rest was divided into three parts: one for Grandma's scarf, one for books, and one for the school charity. 'If everyone gave a little, the world would be warmer,' she wrote in her notebook. Her parents were surprised and proud. 'You manage money better than we did at your age,' her father said, laughing.
In Cozy's class the next week, the students discussed the value of money. 'If you had a million yuan, what would you do?' Cozy asked. Some students said they would travel around the world; others wanted the latest computers. When it was Lily's turn, she said, 'I would not spend it all at once. Money cannot buy health, friendship or time, and it is only useful when we use it for the people we love.' The class was silent for a moment, and then everyone clapped.
On Grandma's birthday, Lily gave her the warm red scarf. Grandma's eyes filled with tears as she touched the soft wool. 'This is the best gift I have ever received,' she said, 'because it comes from a kind heart.' Lily hugged her and thought about her little bank account. Saving money felt good, but sharing it felt even better. She knew now that the true treasure was not the money itself, but the love and wisdom behind every decision.