What do poor Chinese people eat?

Potatoes, yams if you are a farmer. Eggs is also a possible food, as they are cheap per dozen, even 50 years ago. If you are a Chinese refugee back then, tree-bark and tree roots, or anything from the wide expanses of wilderness you could obtain.

Another way is to make dumplings, which could useful in situations where there is not enough flour to make noodles.

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