Married after a 5-minute video call, sought divorce 9 days later: Chinese man’s story sparks debate
The man, surnamed Gu, said that pressure from his family influenced his decision to marry quickly. Gu, an only child, had signed up for 200 yuan (about Rs 2,400) at a local matchmaking center, hoping to find a partner.
Matchmaking agency arranged quick marriage
Reportedly, the matchmaking center initially introduced Gu to three local women, none of whom showed any interest in him.
The agency then reportedly offered to bring women from other provinces and assured her that a marriage could be arranged within two days. Gu’s family agreed to continue.
In April, he was introduced to a 30-year-old woman from Shaanxi province. His profile stated that he had no debts, no criminal record, no serious illnesses or hereditary health conditions. It was also stated that she was willing to enter into a quick marriage and move away from her home.
The couple spoke briefly before the wedding
Gu and the woman reportedly communicated via a five-minute video call in which he asked questions about his family and profession. When answering most of the remaining questions, the matchmaker said she worked as a salesperson.
The agency allegedly promised to provide the credit history report and pre-marital medical examination report before the marriage took place. Although they had not met the woman in person, Gu and his family decided to go ahead with the wedding.
The family spent more than 31 lakh rupees on the marriage
Gu’s family spent a total of 265,000 yuan (about Rs 31.8 lakh) on the marriage. This amount includes bride price of 100,000 yuan (approximately Rs 12 lakh) and matchmaking fee of 160,000 yuan (approximately Rs 19.2 lakh).
The family also arranged for the matchmaker to accompany the woman to Gu’s city.
Three days after they met, the couple officially registered their marriage. Gu’s family did not meet the woman’s parents before the ceremony.
Debt discovery raises concerns
After the marriage registration, Gu said that the promised reports were not provided by the matchmaking center.
He later went to a bank with his wife to check his credit history and claimed to have found debts totaling 100,000 yuan (about Rs 12 lakh).
According to Gu, her husband said that the debt belonged to her ex-boyfriend and had nothing to do with her. He also claimed that the name associated with the mobile payment app was different from the ID given to him.
The next day, she said her liver enzyme levels were elevated and she needed to lose weight, but it did not affect her ability to have children.
Divorce case is brought to court
Nine days after the wedding, Gu filed for divorce, saying she regretted her decision to marry so quickly.
The woman initially agreed to separate but later changed her position and filed her own divorce case against him.
He claimed that the divorce request caused him to become depressed and presented a medical diagnosis to support his claim. He also demanded 50,000 yuan (about 6 lakh rupees) as compensation.
The woman also claimed that Gu expected her to put on makeup, do household chores, and find a job after marriage.
Matchmaking center rejects refund request
Gu also filed a lawsuit against the matchmaking agency, demanding refund of 160,000 yuan in fees, equivalent to approximately 19.2 lakh rupees.
The agency refused to issue a refund, arguing that Gu had successfully promoted the woman he eventually married. It was also suggested that the couple may have filed for divorce in order to get the money back.
The case sparked online debate
The dispute sparked widespread debate online, with many social media users questioning the speed with which the marriage took place.
One commenter noted that treating marriage like a game can lead to harsh consequences.
Another said marriage was one of the most important decisions in life and expressed surprise that people would make such a commitment after knowing each other for only a few days.
A third observer described the situation as more incredible than the story of a brief drama.
