After their divorces, Liang Shichun (59) and her close friend Li Yan (51) met by chance at a factory. Liang had experienced emotional abuse from her ex-husband, while Li bitterly discovered her husband married her solely to benefit from a company-provided house.
Their similar circumstances bonded them. In fact, Liang's mother always regarded Li as her own daughter. In 2013, after jointly establishing a waterproofing business, they saved enough money to buy a three-bedroom apartment in Nanning, Guangxi. There, they shared all living expenses and jointly managed the mortgage payments.
"Living with a close friend makes me feel reborn. We share similar emotions and solve all problems together," Liang said.
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Li Yan (left) and Liang Shichun living together after divorce. Southern Metropolis Daily |
Li Yan (left) and Liang Shichun living together after divorce. Southern Metropolis Daily
Li Yan has no children, so she treats Xiao Ju, Liang's daughter, as her own. She regularly cooked and cared for the girl throughout her school years. Conversely, thanks to Li's companionship, Liang experienced simple joys like going to the movies, eating hotpot, or traveling for the first time. They became each other's support during illness.
Liang and Li's story reflects a shift in social structure. In 2024 alone, China recorded about 2.74 million divorces, indicating a changing perspective on traditional family models. Since the beginning of this year, an increasing number of single mothers in the populous nation have formed "post-divorce companion groups" to live together and raise their children.
This trend is also spreading globally. In Japan, NHK garnered attention with a documentary about a group of seven single women in their 80s who bought an apartment together to care for each other in their later years. In the United States, amid escalating housing prices and a rising number of single individuals, many are choosing to live with friends. According to data from Attom Data Solutions, the number of unrelated individuals jointly purchasing homes in the US increased nearly 8 times between 2014 and 2021.
Sierra Thompson, an American social activist, noted that by moving beyond individualistic thinking, we can see the immense benefits of cohabitation, joint asset investment, and forming families with our friends. This offers significant economic and emotional benefits.
Nhat Minh (According to SCMP/QQ/Insider)
