The story describes traditional Chinese views on education.
Explanation:
Among the two boys, only one is given formal education. The boy who is chosen is given the best clothes and is portrayed as a scholar.
The other child roams about the village in casual wear gathering fuel, swimming in the village mud-hole and busy. He is considered as the most useful child in the family.
The author says that if a student is quick and bright, he is praised by the people. The child who received education behaves modestly, but in reality, he becomes a victim to flattering.
To keep his position, he pays attention to his studies but his brother is always in the field learning some trade.
