In So Tsi-Fai by Sophronia Liu a story is told of a young boy who took his own life, because he was expected to. This boy was the oldest child of his illiterate parents. His father was a vegetable farmer, and his mother worked in a local factory. They had nothing to pass on to their son to help him succeed in life. His teachers showed him no sympathy when he came to school with a ragged appearance and bad manners. This boy's name was So Tsi-fai, and he never had a chance. .
"Who woke him up for school every morning and had breakfast waiting for him? Nobody. And who helped So Tsi-fai do his homework? Nobody. So Tsi-fai was a lost cause- (66). This statement displays the lack of support that was present in So Tsi-fai's life. Young kids need guidance and encouragement in their lives, but So Tsi-fai's life was lacking just that. He was the oldest sibling, and his parents were illiterate. There was nobody that could help him in his household. "Daredevil; good-for-nothing lazybones (according to Mung Gu-liang)- (65). This remark from his teacher shows that she had given up on the boy. She believed that he would not try to succeed in school and that he was helpless. If So-Tsi-fai could not find any help at school or in his household, then where could he? He was lost and alone and had no one to help him with his problems. .
"'Filthy, dirty boy'! gasped Mung Gu-liang. Grime behind the ears, black rims on the fingernails, dirty collar, crumpled shirt. Why doesn't your mother iron your shirt?'- (66). Through this quote you can see that So Tsi-fai received criticism at school instead of help. He never had a chance to succeed if he needed help and was not receiving any. "So Tsi-fai: Standing in the corner for being late, for forgetting his homework, for talking in class, for using foul language- (67). He was always punished for his actions in school. He was being discouraged through physical punishments.