- By Supratik Das
- Mon, 13 Oct 2025 08:22 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a shocking revelation, an eastern Chinese woman discovered her husband's 16-year-old affair when his mistress turned up at his father-in-law's funeral in mourning clothes, claiming to be family. The case, reported by the South China Morning Post, has been going viral on Chinese social media, with millions of people posting furious messages and calling for tighter regulations on bigamy in China.
Mistress Posing As Family Member At Funeral
The woman, surnamed Shang, has been married to her husband Wang for 19 years. In June 2022, during the funeral of Shang’s father-in-law in Shandong province, she noticed an unfamiliar woman among the mourners. The woman, identified as Wen, was dressed in black and introduced herself as Wang’s “daughter-in-law,” weeping beside the coffin as if she were a legitimate family member.
Astonished at Wen's conduct, Shang herself directly accused Wang. His evasive and vague answers only served to fuel her suspicions. Not willing to drop the matter, Shang reported the case to the court, where the seriousness of Wang's 16-year-long affair came to be known.
Lasted 16 Years With Child Born In Secret
Investigations revealed Wang had met Wen in the third year of his marriage to Shang. Under the guise of going on long-haul trucking assignments, Wang secretly lived with Wen in another city. The two had a child together, and neighbors observed Wang and Wen calling themselves husband and wife even though they were not lawfully married. Wang went as far as signing Wen's surgical consent form, claiming to be her husband.
Throughout the court hearings, Wang asserted that he and Wen had never legally registered a marriage but were "merely supporting one another." The court, nevertheless, decided otherwise. Wang had de facto entered into common-law marriage with Wen while remaining legally wedded to Shang, making him guilty of bigamy. Wang was sentenced to prison for one year, and his appeal later on was denied.
In China, bigamy is viewed as a grave offense to marital integrity and may involve a penalty of up to two years' imprisonment. In addition, the legally wed spouse is also entitled to claim material and emotional damages in terms of financial compensation during divorce.
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The case has triggered widespread outrage on the internet, with most netizens condemning Wang's actions. A commenter said, "Wang ruined two families for his own selfish interests. His sentence is too light." Another commenter chimed in, "Shang deserves a divorce and emotional compensation in full. Wen also bears some responsibility if she is aware she had a child with a married man."