BEIJING: A legal dispute between an engaged couple in northeastern China has gone viral after a man sued his former fiancée for thousands of dollars in gifts and dating expenses, claiming she ate too much and contributed little to work at his family business.
The case, which surfaced online after a court hearing in December, quickly sparked heated debate across Chinese social media platforms, with many users criticising the man for being overly calculating in a romantic relationship.
According to Chinese media reports, the man, identified by his surname He, and the woman, surnamed Wang, both come from the same rural village in Heilongjiang province.
The two were introduced through a matchmaker, a common practice in some parts of China, and later became engaged.
After their engagement, the couple moved to Hebei province, where they helped operate a malatang restaurant owned by He's family.
Malatang is a popular Chinese street food made up of meats, vegetables and noodles cooked in a spicy broth.
Wang assisted with the restaurant for about six months. However, He later told local media that he became unhappy with her performance, saying she preferred easier tasks and did not work hard enough.
He also complained that Wang regularly ate the food sold at the restaurant. "What we earned was not enough for her to eat," he said during a television interview, a remark that quickly drew ridicule online.
After the relationship fell apart, he decided to take legal action. He asked the court to order Wang to return a 20,000-yuan (about US$2,800) bride price that his family had paid to her family during the engagement.
In addition, he demanded the return of 30,000 yuan (around US$4,200), which he said covered dating expenses and gifts, including clothing such as tights and underwear. He even submitted a detailed list of purchases as evidence.
Wang strongly objected to the claims in court, arguing that the money was spent while they were in a relationship and should not be treated as a loan or investment.
"I was his girlfriend," she said during the hearing. "Did he not benefit emotionally from the things he bought for me?"
After reviewing the case, the court ruled that dating expenses and personal gifts could not be reclaimed, as they were voluntary spending that carried emotional value for both parties. However, because the couple never married, the court ordered Wang to return half of the bride price, or 10,000 yuan.
Both parties accepted the ruling.
The case reignited discussion around China's bride price tradition, in which the groom's family gives money or gifts to the bride's family as a sign of sincerity before marriage. While the practice remains common in some regions, it has become increasingly controversial.
Critics argue that high bride prices place financial pressure on men and treat women as commodities, while supporters say the custom recognises the sacrifices women make in marriage.
Under China's Civil Code, which took effect in 2021, courts may support the return of the bride price if the couple does not marry, does not live together after marriage registration, or if payment causes serious financial hardship.
Online reactions to the case were overwhelmingly critical of the man.
"If he is so precise with money, he should have paid her a salary," one social media user wrote.
"He doesn't need a wife — he needs a nanny," another commented.
Others congratulated Wang for ending the engagement, calling it a lucky escape from what they described as an overly petty partner.
Source:https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/12/20/chinese-man-sues-fiance-for-us7000-in-gifts-dating-expenses-claims-she-eats-too-much
No comments:
Post a Comment