A man charged with destroying more than 6,000 kilograms of watermelons and melon plants belonging to his employer has been sentenced to four months in prison, reports Shanghai Morning Post.

Cui hired Wang to guard his melon field earlier this year. But on May 9, when Wang was to receive his pay, Cui subtracted a certain amount on the excuse that Wang had left the melon field several times without permission.

Wang insisted that he deserved the full amount due him, arguing that each time he left, he had assigned someone to take his place. The two quarrelled, but failed to reach an agreement.

In his frustration, Wang took a kitchen knife to the field that evening and slashed watermelons and melon plants for nearly an hour. Cui then took Wang to court for his 6,000 yuan (US$720) worth of losses.

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