Chinese Inmate with Exam-Taking Son...The Story Behind His Joy Over a '69.7 Yuan' Deposit

Conversation Between Prisoner Father and Exam-Studying Son 'Touching'
Concerns Raised Over Significant Limitations on Son's Success
Restrictions on Public Office if Family Has Criminal Record in China

The story of a prisoner father who shed tears upon hearing the news that his son was admitted to a prestigious university has touched Chinese netizens.

On the 14th (local time), Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported the story of a man identified as Mr. A, imprisoned in Chaohu, Anhui Province, southeastern China. Mr. A recently learned through the help of relatives that his son had scored high marks on the university entrance exam.

As a prisoner, Mr. A was unable to receive external communications. To inform him that his son scored 697 out of 750 points, his relatives sent him 69.7 yuan (about 13,000 KRW) at the end of last month. Mr. A understood his son's score by seeing the amount.

Afterwards, Mr. A reportedly shed tears of joy inside the prison. He shared the news not only with fellow inmates but also with prison guards, who then gave him a special opportunity to speak with his son on the phone.

Prison barbed wire. The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

When Mr. A answered the call, his son proudly said, "Dad, I scored 697 points. I will be attending Peking University." Hearing his son's confident voice, Mr. A cried once again. Peking University is one of China's top prestigious universities and is known to rank within the top 20 in global university rankings.

The university entrance exam Mr. A's son took is the Chinese equivalent of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), called the "Gaokao." The Gaokao consists of five subjects including Chinese, Mathematics, and English, each with a maximum score of 150 points, making the total perfect score 750 points.

It is unknown what crime Mr. A committed. However, SCMP reported that he has been serving a sentence for two years and divorced his wife while in prison. Mr. A reportedly sent handwritten letters to his son every time he prepared for the Gaokao. In one letter, he expressed his determination by saying, "I was relieved to see your good grades. I will also live as a model prisoner inside the prison, following your example."

In response, Mr. A's son wrote back, "Our family does not blame you. Please stay well in prison, and we are waiting for your return at home."

This exchange spread across Chinese online platforms, deeply moving local netizens. Comments included, "What a proud son. Not blaming his father despite difficult circumstances," and "His continuous effort to improve is inspiring."

However, some netizens expressed concern that Mr. A's criminal record might hinder his son's future prospects. According to SCMP, in China, if a parent or spouse has a criminal record, job seekers may face disadvantages when applying for high-level government positions or state-owned enterprises, as they might fail the "political background check" during interviews.