“The dog ate my homework” is an English expression purported to be a favorite excuse made by schoolchildren explaining their failure to turn in an assignment on time. However, this expression recently took on a whole new meaning in China.

As the Chinese Lunar New Year ends and schools reopen, one boy was who was unable to complete his assigned homework on time, devised a cleaver scheme.

According to media reports, the incident happened in Tai Zhou in Jiangsu Province. The 11-year-old boy, named Xiaoke, was found passed out at the entrance of his apartment on February 10. When his father arrived home from work, he told him this story:

“There was a burglar here. He broke into the room and he knocked me unconscious.”

Xiaoke’s father called the police and rushed his son to the hospital.

According to Xiaoke’s account, he heard a noise when he was doing his homework at the kitchen table. He went into the living room to investigate and saw a dark-skinned, fat man in his thirties searching the shelves for valuables. The boy said:

“I hit him and rushed back to the kitchen. I wanted to get a knife and fight him.”

Xiaoke went on to say that the thief was much stronger then him, and he was knocked out by a heavy blow. He also stated that the apartment key was left in the door lock by his mom and that was how the thief managed to gain access into the apartment. Xiaoke recalled:

“The man wore gloves and he entered the living room with his shoes on.”

When the police arrived at the crime scene, they found a cluttered living room, a wide-open door with a key inserted into the lock, and a kitchen knife beside the sofa. They also saw that Xiaoke’s paper work was scattered all around in the living room.

According to the report, the police investigated for six hours, but could not find a clue. They turned to Xiaoke with more questions about the burglar. They soon began to realize that some of Xiaoke’s accounts were self-contradictory. They also noticed that Xiaoke kept staring at the ceiling while talking and many details of the incident were inconsistent.

After cross examination, Xiaoke finally admitted:

“I made it up. I lied to you. I haven’t done my homework, so I made this up.”

Xiaoke was a good student, but he could not complete his homework assignment on time. Worried that he might be reprimanded by his teacher, he destroyed his incomplete homework and concocted the crime story. Fortunately, he was not punished by the police, who left that up to his parents.

Translation by Leo

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