Chinese boy, 7, calls cops on dad for 'hitting' him. It was a ruse for dodging homework

The boy dialed the emergency number and complained against his father that he had hit him. (Representational)

A young boy's cunning ploy in China recently sent ripples through the local police department after he resorted to an extraordinary tactic to evade the consequences of not completing his homework. The 7-year-old dialed the emergency number and reported a disturbing incident, implicating his father in an act of violence against him prompting authorities to pay a visit to his home in Lishui, Zhejiang province.

In a viral video that has taken the internet by storm, the child's dramatic interaction with the responding officers is recorded on camera. The boy, with an air of convincing grievance, stated that his father had struck him. An officer gently tapped the boy's back and inquired about the nature of the hit, to which the child nodded affirmatively.

However, upon further investigation, the truth emerged. The boy's story was nothing more than a cleverly concocted ruse to avoid school – the consequence of an incomplete homework assignment.

Rather than punishing the boy for his creative escape plan, the officer demonstrated an act of compassion that warmed hearts across social media. He offered the young lad a one-on-one tutoring session, telling him, "Let uncle first finish correcting the test paper for you, then I'll take you to school."

The video quickly became a sensation on mainland Chinese social media, leaving users both amused and reflective. One observer pointed out the boy's astuteness in reaching out to the police but failing to anticipate the outcome. Others acknowledged the gentle approach of the police officer but emphasized the importance of educating children about the gravity of making false police reports.

The immense pressure Chinese children face to excel academically has been a talking point for many years. The burden of excessive homework, frequent exams, and rigorous after-school tutoring sessions is a common theme in the lives of these young students. In response to this, the Chinese government has initiated measures to reduce the academic load on children, including the crackdown on excessive tutoring.

The "double reduction policy," introduced in July 2021, aimed at alleviating the pressures on students and lessening the financial burden on their families. These measures are part of a broader effort to ensure that children can have a more balanced childhood and escape the anxieties associated with excessive educational demands, South China Morning Post reported.

Recently in another incident, a young student in Zhejiang was spotted tossing SOS notes from his bedroom window, bearing the message "help me," as a desperate bid to escape the clutches of homework.