Kids often help their parents with the chores, but the most important chore is to study. Chinese children are known for studying very hard. This is because their parents want them to have a good life in the future, and they know that education can prepare them for a better job outside of the factories.
Jiawei's dad works in a chemical factory and his mother stays at home to take care of the house and cook. Many Chinese adults in the countryside have to leave their homes and work in faraway cities to make enough money for their families. This is sometimes very hard for Chinese children who miss their parents.
School starts early, just like in the United States, but it lasts much longer, with kids studying late into the night at school. Many kids in the countryside have to go far away from home and stay in dormitories (a type of student housing) apart from their parents.
Some kids in the countryside get to school by walking many miles, but kids in the city typically go to school themselves or with their parents' help.
I sometimes eat lunch at the cafeteria, but children often pack lunch to bring to school. Families do not often eat out at restaurants, since it is very important for them to save money. Chinese families, especially in rural China, work hard and save as much as they can. They have to be prepared for hard times. They typically live on far less than the average American family.
