In today’s world, family pressure to get married grows stronger for young people hitting their 30s. To solve this, many turn to matchmaking centers hoping to quickly find the right partner. But rushing into marriage without really getting to know each other can lead to bitter consequences.
The story of a 32-year-old man from Zhejiang who married after just 3 days of online dating and paid a massive dowry of 265,000 yuan (over 1 billion VND) shocked many. This whirlwind marriage fell apart after only 9 days, revealing surprising dark sides behind these “quick marriage” deals.
Fast Engagement: 5-Minute Video Call, Marriage Registered in 3 Days
The main figure, Mr. Gu (name changed), born in 1993, lives in Deqing County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province. As the only son, he faced constant pressure from his parents to settle down. Previously, the local matchmaking center introduced him to three local women, but none worked out as the women declined.
The matchmaker suggested, “Maybe try looking outside the province. A quick marriage, just one or two days of knowing each other and you can get married right away.”
After getting the family’s approval, the matchmaker set up a video call between him and a woman from Shaanxi Province.
The online meeting lasted just 5 minutes. Gu asked simple questions about her job and family background. He thought she looked decent, born in 1996 (just turned 30), and said she worked in sales. She was very quiet during the call, with most questions answered by the matchmaker.
The agency assured that all her personal credit documents and premarital health checks would be completed before signing the marriage papers.
To speed things up, Gu’s family paid an extra 5,000 yuan for travel expenses and 10,000 yuan deposit so the matchmaker could arrange a commercial vehicle to bring the woman from Shaanxi to Zhejiang. Including the dowry, the total cost reached 265,000 yuan (over 1 billion VND).
The very next night, the woman and the matchmakers traveled a long way to Deqing. Arriving after 11 PM, they stayed at Gu’s house. Notably, the woman stuck close to the matchmaker, leaving Gu no private time to talk with her. On day three, under pressure and with the matchmaker present, they officially registered their marriage.
Shocking Truth After 9 Days and a Loud Dowry Refund Demand
Happiness was short-lived. After 9 days of marriage, Gu noticed strange signs from his new wife. When he checked her credit report, he nearly fainted discovering she owed nearly 100,000 yuan (around 400 million VND).
His suspicions grew when he uncovered more secrets: “She had five or six different WeChat accounts. Even stranger, the Alipay account she used daily was registered under a completely different person’s name, not hers.”
Feeling trapped in a marriage scam, Gu panicked and immediately filed for divorce, demanding the dowry back. In response, the wife blamed the sudden divorce pressure for causing her depression and other illnesses. She demanded Gu’s family cover all her medical expenses and emotional damages.
When reporters contacted the matchmaking center for clarity, the matchmaker shocked everyone by suggesting, “Could this couple be faking a divorce to scam us and get back the matchmaking fees and dowry?” The case is now tangled in ongoing legal disputes.
Similar Case: 25-Year-Old Student Abroad Faces Bitter Lesson Over $500K Dowry
The dowry drama in Zhejiang doesn’t stop with Gu’s story. Local media recently shared the unfortunate tale of Mr. Guo, 25, a former student in Russia living in Jiaxing City. He fell for Ms. Gu, 32, a divorced shop owner with her own car and house, bonding over their shared time in Moscow.
Although his girlfriend was financially well-off, Guo said he gained no material benefits. Instead, despite unstable income, he tightened his belt to spend on her: 6.5 million VND monthly on gifts, 13 million VND transferred directly to her for “security,” and 900,000 to 1.1 million VND monthly on food delivery.
When planning marriage, Ms. Gu demanded a cash dowry of 888,000 yuan (nearly 3.5 billion VND), arguing that buying property in Jiaxing would cost at least 2 million yuan. Guo argued her car and house were premarital assets, and paying 888,000 yuan in cash would leave him broke if things went south.
Money disputes ended their relationship after just one month living together. Bitterly, Ms. Gu blocked all contact and bluntly said, “I have no money left. If you want your money back, go sue me.” Guo then realized every money transfer was marked as “voluntary gift.” Now, he’s stuck without enough funds even to hire a lawyer.
Both Zhejiang stories serve as harsh warnings to young people. Marriage isn’t a game to test, and dowries shouldn’t become tools for pricing or financial gain. Rushing to please parents only brings long-lasting tragedies and heavy financial and emotional losses.