The incident began on 9/2 at the civil affairs office in Xiangtan city, Hunan province. A 47-year-old man completed marriage registration procedures with an 82-year-old woman, Ms. Xie. The "betrothal gift" for this marriage, which had a 35-year age difference, included 1,000 renminbi (approximately 3,8 million VND) in cash and 20 chicken eggs.
Ms. Xie stated that when she arrived at the office, the staff member processing the documents did not explain anything further. They simply took a photo and handed her a piece of paper.
"I was convinced these were fake documents for receiving a gift; I never expected them to be real," Ms. Xie recounted. Being illiterate, she was unaware that the man had given her money, which he seemingly intended to legitimize the marriage.
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Ms. Xie, 82, in Hunan was tricked into marriage in early February 2026. Photo: Shenyang Evening News
The deception came to light on 11/3 when Ms. Xie's children and grandchildren discovered the marriage certificate. Distraught by the apparent fraud against their mother, the family confronted the 47-year-old man at his home. His mother denied any wrongdoing, asserting that Ms. Xie had entered the marriage voluntarily. The man, however, has remained elusive and silent regarding his motives.
The incident has garnered significant attention on Chinese social media. Many users suspect the man's swift attempt to transfer Ms. Xie's household registration to his name was an effort to claim potential land compensation or elderly care funds. However, current legal regulations typically deem quick marriages and improperly timed household registration transfers ineffective for legally obtaining such compensation.
Chinese legal professionals have also highlighted procedural deficiencies at the Xiangtan marriage registration agency. The country's Civil Code mandates that marriage be based on free will. Consequently, when registrants are elderly and illiterate, authorities are obligated to verify, explain, and confirm their true intentions.
Legal experts recommend that Ms. Xie's family promptly seek an assessment of her cognitive capacity and file a court petition to annul the marriage, citing deception.
Bao Nhien (Source: Shenyang Evening News)
