Making false claims to avoid school is a common childhood behaviour that many people can relate to. However, one Chinese boy recently took an incredibly surprising step to escape school, and his story has gone viral on various Chinese social media platforms.

According to The South China Morning Post, a mischievous little boy in China who had not done his homework lied to police about his father hitting him so he did not have to face the consequences at school.

As per the news report, a seven-year-old child from Lishui in Zhejiang province, eastern China, called the police and claimed he was suffering violence at the hands of his father. The officers were quick to respond and immediately launched an inquiry.

The video clip of the interaction between the kid and the police officer that has gone viral on Chinese social media platforms shows that one officer is asking the youngster, “Did you call the police? Who hit you?”
 
“My dad”, the boy replies softly as he looks convincingly aggrieved.

The officer gently pats the boy on the back and inquires, “Was the hit like this?” The boy nods in agreement, prompting the sceptical officer to remark, “But that wasn’t very hard.”

After further investigation, the police determined that the boy had fabricated the story to avoid school because he had not finished correcting his test papers.

The kind-hearted officer didn’t react with frustration to the child’s deception. Instead, he chose to extend his support by offering to provide the young boy with a one-on-one tutoring session.

“Let Uncle first finish correcting the test paper for you, then I’ll take you to school”, he said to the boy.

“Remember, every child has an obligation to receive an education at school,” he told the youngster.

The video has gained immense popularity and entertained a wide audience on various Chinese social media platforms.

China has removed Li Shangfu from his position as defence minister and state councillor, state broadcaster CCTV said on Tuesday.

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the country’s top lawmakers, also voted to remove former foreign minister Qin Gang from his position as state councillor, CCTV said.

The committee appointed Yin Hejun as China’s science and technology minister and Lan Foan as finance minister.

The Kremlin on Tuesday rejected speculation about President Vladimir Putin’s health, saying he was fit and well.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in a regular call with reporters, also denied suggestions that the president was using body doubles, calling that an “absurd hoax”.

Reporters asked Peskov about Putin’s health following an unsourced report by a Russian Telegram channel, picked up by some Western media, that the president had suffered a serious health episode on Sunday evening.

Putin, a judo enthusiast who has long cultivated an “action man” image, turned 71 on October 7. He maintains an intensive schedule of meetings and public appearances, many of them televised.

His recent programme included a visit to China last week, with stop-offs in two Russian cities on the way back.

In a 2020 interview, Putin denied longstanding rumours that he uses body doubles, although he said he had been offered the chance to use one in the past for security reasons.

In April this year, Peskov said talk of body doubles was “yet another lie” and that Putin was in enviable health.