# Yesterday I picked up my wife, and she told me something

The dance studio she signed up for is closing in May, the owner said. The boss told everyone to try to come to classes more often and use up their credits. There were several teachers at the studio, and my wife didn't know one of them was the owner—she thought she was just one of the instructors.

My wife was planning to ask for a refund, but when she did, the owner looked really distressed. She said it's not that she doesn't want to refund—she genuinely doesn't have the money. She said she could close right now, but to make it to May, she put the rent on her credit card. She said if she had money she would definitely refund people, but right now she really has nothing. Hearing this, my wife couldn't bring herself to ask for the money anymore.

Because they do belly dance with a hair-tossing move, these teachers all keep long hair normally. When my wife went to class last week, the owner still had long hair. But yesterday when she went back, she found the owner had suddenly cut her hair short.

Everyone was confused and asked why she cut it so suddenly. The owner's attitude was actually pretty good. She said matter-of-factly: a hair salon was recruiting "short hair models" to film short videos. They wanted to cut long hair short on the spot, and after filming they'd pay 200 yuan. So she went and made some money.

After hearing this, I was silent for a long time. When economic downturn actually happens to ordinary people, that's a hurdle you just can't get around.

All beings suffer.

I truly hope that from now on, life gets a little better for all of us.