“You waste money,” Old Li said, pointing at the blue-wrapped birthday gift in his son’s hands.
“You spent far more on my education,” Ming replied.
“That’s what parents are supposed to do,” Old Li said, weighing the box with a satisfied smile.
“Then I made sure today’s gift follows the proper path,” Ming said.
Lao Li laughed as he unwrapped it.
“Thanks to your year-round drills, no days off, and the countless belts you broke on my back, I finally got into medical school,” Ming added, his tone as casual as discussing the weather. “You always said studying is the only proper path.”
Old Li’s smile froze.
A brand-new smart study tablet lay on the velvet lining.
“Latest model. Complete parental-monitoring functions,” Ming said, leaning in to power it on. The screen lit up with course lists. “I’ve enrolled you in a senior-college intensive program. Daily check-ins. Weekly exams…”
Old Li stared at the notification flashing: Today’s Required Lesson: Algebra I. His fingers trembled.
“You always said one should learn for life,” Ming said, gently pressing the lock button. “Now it’s my turn to keep you on the proper path.”
Huina Zheng is a writer and college essay coach based in Guangzhou, China. Her work appears in Baltimore Review, Variant Literature, Midway Journal, and other journals. She has received multiple nominations, including for the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, Best Small Fictions, and Best Microfiction.
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