Henan man slashes father, scalps mother in dispute over money

If the old Chinese adage “strike a parent and get struck by lightening” is true, then Zhou Moumou should expect to be hit by two bolts of lightening.

Both of his parents were hospitalised in Henan after he violently attacked them with a knife on two seperate occasions, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported on Tuesday.

According to Tongxu county police, Zhou was brought into custody and is currently being evaluated for mental health problems.

Last Sunday - on the first day of the Lunar New Year - the 30-year-old former teacher attacked his father after the pair got into an argument over money last Sunday. The father suffered injuries to his leg and a severed a tendon in his hand.

Just days later, Zhou’s attacked his mother after another argument over household finances. She was reported to be in critical condition after having her “whole scalp cut off” and her abdomen slashed.

Speaking to reporters in a Tongxu county hospital, the bed-ridden father said after he did not want to press charges at the time because Zhou was his son and had not yet found a wife.

“In the end he is my son and I wanted to give him an opportunity to change,” he said.

Weeping, the elder Zhou said: “He took off the entire scalp of his mother with a knife…I’ve heard of people being scalped alive, but never a mother by her own son.”

The motives behind the attack remain unconfirmed, but according to reports, are likely to be related to money and accommodation.

Zhou was unemployed at the time and had lost money doing business. He was reportedly jealous of his younger brother, whom he thought his mother favoured.