a request from the parents

Communication from Chinese public school administrators and Chinese teachers to FTs is almost always cryptic.

It is rare, and refreshing, to have an administrator directly confront a FT in a Western manner: "Why? Because I'm your boss and I say so!"

They will attribute their directives to parents or higher officials or 'policy' or even Beijing, anything to avoid personal confrontation.

If you ignore the new request for homework, you may get several more indirect prompts. If they find your behavior egregious enough they will fail to renew your contract with another lame excuse or more likely, do nothing.

I have two ex-colleagues who have taught at the same university for 5 years, consistently refusing to do any lesson-planning and always ignoring the Dean's criticism and regulations. This year at a general meeting the Dean asked them to "please not return next year". They will sign a new contract, ignore her, and she will keep moaning.