A Chinese man has sparked online ridicule after suing his former fiancée to recover thousands of dollars he claims he spent on gifts and dating expenses — arguing in court that she “ate too much.”
The unusual legal dispute, which went viral on Chinese social media in early December, involves a man surnamed He and his former fiancée, surnamed Wang, from Heilongjiang province in northeastern China.
According to Chinese media reports, the couple met through a matchmaker, became engaged and planned to marry. During their relationship, He’s family paid a traditional bride price of 20,000 yuan (about US$2,800) to Wang’s family.
After the relationship ended, He filed a lawsuit demanding the return of the full bride price, along with an additional 30,000 yuan (roughly US$4,200) he said he spent on dating-related expenses.
The claimed costs included meals, gifts and personal items such as black tights and underwear. In total, He sought around 50,000 yuan (approximately US$7,000).
The pair later moved to Hebei province, where they ran a malatang restaurant owned by He’s family. Malatang is a popular Chinese street food made up of meat, vegetables and noodles cooked in a spicy broth.
He told local media that he became dissatisfied with Wang, claiming she only took on “easy jobs” at the restaurant and frequently ate large amounts of the food they sold.
“She ate our malatang every day. What we sell was not enough for her to eat,” He said during the court hearing.
Wang strongly rejected the accusations, telling the court that He was being overly calculating and reminding him that she was his girlfriend at the time.
“You did not enjoy the tights and underwear you bought me?” she asked in court, arguing that the expenses were part of a normal romantic relationship and not loans that needed to be repaid.
The court ultimately rejected He’s demand to recover the 30,000 yuan in dating expenses, ruling that the items were private gifts with emotional value to both parties and therefore non-refundable.
However, the court did partially support his claim regarding the bride price, ordering Wang to return half of the 20,000 yuan her family had received.
Both sides reportedly accepted the ruling.
The case triggered widespread mockery online, with many users criticising He for treating a romantic relationship like a financial transaction.
“If he is so calculating, why doesn’t he pay her a salary?” one commenter wrote. Another said, “He doesn’t need a wife — he needs a nanny.”
The dispute has also reignited debate in China over the tradition of bride prices, which some view as outdated, while others defend it as a cultural practice recognising women’s contributions to marriage.
