處理完登機門的工作，照例按工作流程晃到飛機的登機口就待目送這班飛機，悠閒的以為今天是難得平靜的工作日。
但還未走到登機口就聽見不尋常的騷動，走近後看到登機口聚集了比平時還多的空服人員和地勤人員，他們同時望向一位五十好幾的白人先生，衣冠楚楚卻有一副得理不饒人的長相，瞋恨的表情睜大了眼，大聲說：「商務艙怎麼可以沒有商務報（註一）！你們今天沒有給我找來商務報，這台飛機就別想飛！這是原則問題！」話一說完，他扭頭就走回他的商務艙。好可惜他不是一位長髮飄飄的女士，硬是缺了扭頭就走順便怒甩長髮的戲劇效果。只見一位漂亮的空姐面露愁容，負責控管今天航班的地勤主管拉長了臉，瞋怒得說：「他如果再鬧，我就讓他坐不成今天的商務艙！」就在眾人等著這齣戲的下一幕時，一位地勤同事以跑百米的速度出現，他上氣不接下氣的喘著，雙手同時向那位空姐遞上好幾份商務報。
原來同事為了解決那位難纏的旅客，平時走路單趟需要十分鐘的貴賓室，他只花了五分鐘飛奔來回拿來了商務報。漂亮空姐眼神報以無限的感激，雙手合掌很快的向那位地勤九十度的鞠躬後，接下報紙趕緊轉身走進機艙。
地勤主管一秒不遲疑，馬上關上機艙門，用對講機對機長報告飛機可以準備後推了（註二）。
沒有在機場工作過不會在乎，飛機每誤點一分鐘，航空公司會損失約四十美金（一千兩百多台幣左右），所以只要誤點了，地勤主管就要寫報告註明原因，誤點若是人事過失，定要註明人員姓名，必要時記上過錯一支。
所以那位旅客一份報紙的原則問題，只是在白白糟蹋眾人而已。
多年來，我總是帶著羨慕的心思看著一位走遍亞洲各國，每幾年就會有獵人頭來找他，替他找下一個職務更高、薪資更好的工作的友人。羨慕是因為，他住的房子越換越大，他的家庭旅遊越來越頻繁，越來越高級。
平時我們是沒有交集的，唯一的互動是偶爾Z先生會請他幫忙工作上的小事，他從沒拒絕過，Z先生說「他是有從中得到好處的，不然妳以為他為什麼願意幫忙？」我不知道，以為他看在彼此的一點顏面上。
最近一次Z先生又請他幫忙，我照著Z先生的指示，付款給那位友人。第一時間傳了付款註明給他，他沒有上文，直接說：「我沒同意，妳先生自己決定這個金額的，我不知道我現在要怎麼處理。」接著傳了他和Z先生對話的截圖後又說：「這不是錢的問題，而是妳先生處理事情的方式...」看不到他的表情，但隱約中我隔空聽見他在對我怒吼：「這是原則問題！」
我起身去問Z先生怎麼回事，他先是不知所以然，而後似乎理出箇中原因，回去滑了滑他和友人的對話，他因為同時忙著和好幾個人談生意上的事，略看了友人說金額的那欄對話，於是有了誤差。我問Z先生差多少。
「七塊錢。」
我毫無懸念得笑著馬上再匯了「七塊錢」的款項，又馬上傳了付款註明。友人的回覆，安-安-靜-靜。這，怎麼不是錢的問題?
我以為一個與各國人士共事過，在各國不同文化工作過，歷經了不同階級職位的人，心胸自然是開闊的，待人處事會是豁達的，處理事情的方式能夠設想不同的可能性。友人對「七塊錢」的執念讓我知道我錯了。
七塊錢買斷了我從此不再羨慕這個人，很值得。
七塊錢的原則，廉價之至！
註一：2004年的南非尚有發行南非商務人士很愛閱讀的商務報紙。
註二：後推（英語：Pushback）是指將飛機推離登機橋或泊位的作業。 在航空領域，後推是飛機的標準離場程序之一。
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After finishing the work at the boarding gate, as usual, I followed the routine and wandered over to the airplane's boarding entrance to see off the flight. Leisurely, I thought today was a rare and peaceful workday.
But before I even reached the boarding gate, I heard an unusual commotion. As I approached, I saw more flight attendants and ground staff gathered at the entrance than usual. They were all looking at a white gentleman in his fifties, dressed impeccably but with a stern and unforgiving face. His eyes were wide with anger as he loudly exclaimed, "How can the business class not have the Business Day (Note 1)! If you don’t get me the Business Day today, this plane isn’t going anywhere! This is a matter of principle!" As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and walked back to his business class seat. It’s a pity he wasn’t a lady with long, flowing hair; it would have added the dramatic effect of angrily flipping her hair as she stormed off.
I saw a beautiful flight attendant with a worried expression, and the ground supervisor in charge of today's flight looked stern and angry, saying, "If he keeps causing trouble, I'll make sure he is out of this flight today!" Just as everyone was waiting for the next scene to unfold, a ground staff colleague appeared, running as fast as a sprinter. He was out of breath, handing several copies of the Business Day to the flight attendant with both hands.
It turned out that the colleague, in an effort to deal with the difficult passenger, had sprinted to the VIP lounge, which usually took ten minutes to walk to, and back in just five minutes to fetch the Business Day. The beautiful flight attendant gave him a look of infinite gratitude, clasped her hands together, quickly bowed to the ground staff at a ninety-degree angle, took the newspapers, and hurriedly turned to enter the cabin.
The ground supervisor, without a second's hesitation, immediately closed the cabin door and reported to the captain via the intercom that the plane was ready for pushback (Note 2).
People who have never worked at an airport wouldn't understand that for every minute a plane is delayed, the airline loses about forty dollars (around twelve hundred New Taiwan dollars). Therefore, if there's a delay, the ground supervisor must write a report explaining the reason. If the delay is due to human error, they must specify the person's name, and in necessary cases, record a fault against them.
So the passenger's principle issue over a newspaper was just causing unnecessary trouble for everyone.
For many years, I have been envy at a friend who had traveled across various Asian countries, and every few years, headhunters would approach him, offering him higher positions with better salaries. I envied him because his houses grew larger with each move, and his family vacations became more frequent and luxurious.
Normally, we didn't interact much. The only interaction was when Mr. Z occasionally asked him for small favors related to work, and he never refused. Mr. Z would say, "He benefits from it, otherwise, why do you think he is willing to help?" I didn't know and thought it was out of mutual respect.
Recently, Mr. Z asked him for help again. Following Mr. Z's instructions, I made a payment to that friend. I immediately sent the payment details to him, but he replied, "I didn't agree to this amount; your husband decided it on his own, and I don't know how to handle this now." Then, after sending a screenshot of his conversation with Mr. Z, he added, "This is not about the money; it's about how your husband handles things..." I couldn't see his expression, but I could vaguely hear him shouting at me from afar, "This is a matter of principle!"
I got up to ask Mr. Z what might be a problem. At first, he was confused, but then he seemed to figure it out. He went back and skimmed through his conversation with the friend. Because he was busy discussing business with several people simultaneously, he missed the part where the friend mentioned the amount, leading to a misunderstanding. I asked Mr. Z how much the difference was.
"Seven Rand."
I laughed and immediately transferred the additional "seven dollars," and promptly sent the payment details again. The friend's reply with complete silence. It is so obvious this is ALL about the money.
I thought that someone who had worked with people from various countries, experienced different cultures, and held various positions would naturally have a broad mind, be generous in dealing with people, and be capable of considering different possibilities in handling matters. The friend's obsession with "seven dollars" made me realize I was wrong.
Seven dollars bought me the end of my envy for this person. It was well worth it.
How cheap the principle of seven dollars is!
