M=Mom  S=Son

S：Mom, on  my way home I saw a terrifying accident at the roadside.
M：Was it serious
S：Oh, I think so, because almost the guy's family were there, crying and dealing with some problems.
M：So what are you trying to say to me
S：Mom, why were  the family burning the ghost money that soon after death.
M： Humm……, it's said ghost money should be burnt soon after death, as it will be needed quickly.
S：What do you mean it needed quickly, Mom
M：Let me tell you. Ghost money is to bribe the officials of hell.
S：To bribe the officials of hell
M：Yes. Hell is seen as composed of a serious of courts staffed by judges and guards who are as corruptible as their human counterparts.
S：Oh, I see. What you meant is that people judged to be good eventually pass through the courts and become ancestral spirits, whereas bad people stay in hell and become tormented ghosts.
M：Sort of.
S：Now I learn this is why friends and relatives may be seen burning money at the roadside or riverbank immediately after a traffic accident or drowning.
M：That's right!
S：But Mom, I don't think I will burn ghost money in the future to bribe the officials of hell.
M：Why not
S：Because I am a man of honor and just.


兒子：媽，我回家的路上看到一個可怕的交通意外。
媽媽：嚴重嗎？
兒子：應該吧，因為那個人的家人都在那裡哭著處理一些問題。
媽媽：你要跟我說什麼？
兒子：媽，為什麼那家人在他死後要馬上燒紙錢呢？
媽媽：嗯……，據說紙錢在死後要馬上燒，因為很快就要用到了。
兒子：媽，您為什麼說很快就要用到？
媽媽：讓我跟你說。紙錢是用來賄賂地府官員。
兒子：賄賂地府官員？
媽媽：沒錯。地府就好像判官們和獄卒所組成的法院，就跟人類一樣是需要賄賂的。
兒子：我懂了。您是說好人會通過法官判決成為先人，但壞人則會留在地獄成為痛苦的亡魂。
媽媽：類似啦！
兒子：現在我知道為什麼在路上或河邊常常有死者的朋友和親人在燒紙錢。
媽媽：沒錯。
兒子：但是我不打算死後要燒紙錢賄賂地府官員。
媽媽：為什麼不？
兒子：因為我是個正直又有節操的人。