@alien, yes many people help mom and pop, but usually after the kids are passed college, and/or they are earning more than 4k

milk, bread, a meal in a clean safe local restaurant (not using any recycled ingredients). a steak meal in a restaurant that won't give you the 5hits if eaten rare, genuine branded electronic goods (not fake), shoes that don't fall apart when it rains, shirts, to name but a few.

mm, did you leave your last job mid semester?

Q. "OK, but how do you guys think most Chinese manage to eat, go out, have babies, etc.? "
A. usually with a lot of parental and extended family support, both phiysical and finanacial. most are eating/living at home with mom and pop.

i go to kfc, mcd, carrefour, japanese food bars, and the vast maority of customers are local chinese, and not the super rich either, so i guess i am eating and shopping like a local. its globalisation in action. in fact there are many places that are full of chinese diners that i think are way too expensive. when i go home there are hardly any places left that serve british food, but we have greek, french, russian, morrocan, algerian, indian, and many many chinese restaurants in my hometown UK. i guess i should demand wallmart take out the deli counter, picket aldi and lidl, and demand all forieng visitors eat bangers and mash, pie and custard and drink tea and ale.