China Scene: Central

Boy pranks mother who took hongbao

A woman surnamed Huang complained to local authorities on Saturday about the strange taste of some sweet dumplings purchased at a grocery store, but upon investigation, it was learned that her 7-year-old son had tampered with the food to pay his mother back for taking his hongbao money, the annual gift given to Chinese children during Spring Festival.

Before going to authorities, Huang had taken the sweet dumplings, which had an uncharacteristically salty taste, to the grocery store and argued with staff members, who found no problems.