A group of rambunctious kids ran down the hill, yelling and shouting. They were afraid of getting home late and being punished by their elders.,The Zhu family was still doing alright, with over ten acres of good farmland. They were considered a middle-class family in the village. However, with so many mouths to feed and Uncle's reluctance to work, plus the high expenses of his studies and examinations for government service, the old Zhu family was also struggling financially.,"Mother, I'll never wear open-crotch pants again." Zhu Ping'an, his short legs barely past the threshold, immediately began arguing for the right not to wear open-crotch pants.。