The most prone to fail the test isn't the poor grades of the underachievers, but human nature itself.
When the granary is full one knows what courtesy means. When people are starving, the darkest seeds buried deep in their heart rapidly sprout and grow into towering trees.
Cao Manfu lay at the window, sitting, waiting. He pricked up his ears to listen, wanting to wait till the noise outside died down before going out "to uphold justice."
He waited and waited, but instead of the clamor diminishing, it headed straight toward his own house.
Feeling puzzled, he thought for a moment, then stood up, supporting himself against the wall, limping outward, shouting, "What are you all doing? Trying to revolt? Why are fellow villagers raising such a fuss? Counting back seven or eight generations, we're all..."
Before he could finish the word "relatives," a big foot stretched out from the pitch-dark door and kicked him square in the chest.
