You’ve got questions? she’s got answers

Its now discouraged to travel during the Spring Festival due to the pandemic， but I miss my family so much！ What should I do？

Homesick Henry

Whats the matter with you？ Youve finally got a solid 借口 （ji-k6u， excuse） to avoid all the usual 家庭鬧劇 （ji`t！ng n3oj&， family drama）！ No 嘮叨 （l1odao， nagging） from parents about you being single; or， if youre married， 吵架 （ch2oji3， arguments） over whose parents to spend the holiday with this year. You avoid the 凡爾賽 （F1n0rs3i， “Versailles style，” humblebragging） distant relatives trying to compare their kids with you， and the 30-hour-long 麻將 （m1ji3ng， mahjong） marathons that end with you 輸錢 （sh$qi1n， losing money）. Heck！ It may even be the biggest 貢獻(xiàn)（g7ngxi3n， contribution） you will ever make to your country. So， just stay where you are， and plan to 云過節(jié) （y%ngu7ji9， celebrate the holiday online） with your family. After all， 距離產(chǎn)生美 （j&l！ ch2nsh8ng m0i， distance makes the heart grow fonder）.

Dear Ayi， please advise me！ Im a junior in college and cant afford to pay back debts from loan apps. I just bought a few things and it was so easy to borrow money.

Dani in Debt

Ive been telling people for ages， dont trust 信用卡 （x#ny7ngk2， credit cards） and 網(wǎng)貸 （w2ngd3i， online loans）; not even 銀行 （y！nh1ng， banks）！ Thats why Ive put all my savings in plastic bags and buried them in a super safe location. How dare you be 大手大腳 （d3sh6u-d3ji2o，“big hands and feet，” extravagant）？ At your age， Id have starved to death if I try to 寅吃卯糧 （y！nch～m2oli1ng， eat the next years grain）！ Now its time for you to 勒緊腰帶 （l8i j@n y`od3i， “tighten the belt，” be thrifty） and take responsibility. Get a

兼職（ji`nzh！， part-time job）， confess to your parents， and stop buying crap you dont need！

Got questions for our Agony Ayi？ Send them to agonyayi@theworldofchinese.com