In April, Mr. Wang, a long-time pork vendor in Donghang City, Zhejiang Province, was approached by Mr. Qian, a local business owner, to cater his daughter’s wedding.

Having known each other for over 10 years, Mr. Wang readily agreed and dedicated himself to the task.

The extravagant wedding featured 250 tables, each boasting 28 dishes, including seafood, meat, fish, and vegetables. The total cost of the ingredients amounted to 520,000 CNY.

Mr. Wang reports the incident to local police in early June 2025. *Photo: Baidu*

Mr. Wang delivered all the food and seasonings directly to Mr. Qian’s residence, where they were weighed and inspected upon arrival.

The three-day wedding went off without a hitch, and the guests enjoyed the feast. However, when Mr. Wang requested payment, Mr. Qian claimed the ingredients were "not tasty" and "too expensive." He then proposed paying only "the original cost plus 40 CNY per kilogram."

Mr. Qian also insisted on receiving invoices and detailed purchase records before settling the bill.

Mr. Wang strongly objected, explaining that disclosing original prices is not standard practice in the industry. To procure the necessary quantity and quality of ingredients, Mr. Wang had leveraged his close relationships with vendors at the wholesale market. Now, with Mr. Qian refusing to pay, these suppliers were demanding payment from Mr. Wang.

"My fee is only 7,000 CNY; the rest covers the ingredients. I personally spent over 100,000 CNY on pork alone," Mr. Wang explained.

After numerous failed attempts to collect payment, Mr. Wang sought media intervention.

Mr. Zhao, the general director of Mr. Qian's company, subsequently met with Mr. Wang and proposed a partial payment plan, agreeing to pay for items individually if Mr. Wang could prove their cost.

When reporters suggested paying for the pork first, as its delivery had been clearly documented, Mr. Qian's representative initially agreed but later reneged. The situation reached an impasse.

Mr. Qian at the local police station. *Photo: Baidu*

On 10/6, Mr. Wang presented all the invoices to Mr. Qian. This time, Mr. Qian refused outright, stating, "You publicized this, embarrassing me, so now I won't pay."

Outraged, Mr. Wang's family reported the incident to the police.

The story sparked public outrage on Weibo. "250 tables at just 2,000 CNY per table is surprisingly cheap for such a lavish event. He must have received much more in wedding gifts," one user commented. "He's not embarrassed because of the news report, but because of his dishonest behavior," another added.

Others revealed that this was not the first time Mr. Qian had been accused of not paying debts. Vendors who supplied tables, chairs, and sound systems had also reported similar experiences. Mr. Tan, who rented out wedding equipment, said Mr. Qian owed him 60,000 CNY and only paid after intervention from acquaintances.

Seafood vendors corroborated Mr. Wang's account, confirming that the prices he paid were in line with market rates.

A lawyer from Digtech Law Firm in Shanghai stated that Mr. Wang has grounds to sue, using his communication records with Mr. Qian as evidence of the transaction.

Bao Nhien (*Via SCMP/Baidu*)