 Money is important throughout the film . Concerns about money dominate much of the film — for example , a large portion is devoted to Wei and her students ' attempt to earn enough money for bus tickets — as well as motivating them . Most major characters , including Wei , demand payment for their actions , and it is left unclear whether Wei 's search for Zhang Huike is motivated by altruism or by the promise of a 10 @-@ yuan bonus . Zhu Ying points out the prominence of money in the film creates a conflict between traditional Confucian values ( such as the implication that the solutions to Wei 's problems can be found through the help of authority figures ) and modern , capitalist and individualistic society . 
