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In 2023, Yang Jie, a 34-year-old man from a small village in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China, found himself in dire financial straits. Following a failed business venture in the electric vehicle charging industry, Yang lost over 2.4 million yuan and was burdened with debts totaling two million yuan. His once-harmonious relationships with relatives, many of whom had also invested in the failed venture, soured as accusations and demands for repayment mounted.
Just when Yang thought his life had hit rock bottom, fate intervened. While working in cross-border e-commerce to rebuild his life, he stumbled upon the profile of a Thai woman on a social media app in September 2023. Captivated by her sweet smile and sparkling eyes, Yang messaged her. The woman, Xiaoye, turned out to be no ordinary person. A popular actress in Thailand and crowned “Miss World Tourism 2021,” Xiaoye also shared a love for Chinese culture, thanks to her Chinese-Thai father.
The two quickly bonded over their mutual interests and began talking late into the night. Their virtual connection blossomed, and by mid-September, Yang flew to Thailand to meet Xiaoye in person. Their meeting exceeded expectations, with Xiaoye donning traditional Chinese-style attire to greet him. Yang, smitten, confessed his feelings, and their whirlwind romance culminated in Yang proposing marriage.
However, the road to matrimony was fraught with challenges. In October, Yang formally met Xiaoye’s parents, who set a dowry requirement of 1.8 million Thai baht (approximately 400,000 yuan). For Yang, who was still recovering financially, this demand was insurmountable. He pleaded with Xiaoye’s parents to postpone the dowry or reduce it, but they remained adamant.
Xiaoye, determined to marry Yang, argued with her parents. Eventually, they relented, allowing the couple to register their marriage in China in December 2023. Yang thought the hard part was over, but he was mistaken.
In March 2024, Yang and Xiaoye returned to Thailand to finalize their wedding ceremony, only to face another hurdle. Xiaoye’s parents insisted that without the full dowry, the wedding would not be recognized in Thailand. To compromise, they proposed a traditional Thai practice—renting part of the dowry to meet societal expectations. This "dowry rental" involved paying high hourly fees for displaying wealth during the ceremony, a tradition akin to short-term high-interest loans.
With Xiaoye pregnant and eager to formalize their union, Yang reluctantly agreed. Despite the financial strain, the ceremony proceeded. Yet, on their wedding night, Xiaoye’s parents locked her in their home, demanding Yang pay the remainder of the dowry or face allegations of marriage fraud—a serious offense in Thailand.
In desperation, Xiaoye threatened drastic measures, stating she would terminate the pregnancy if her parents continued to intervene. Her parents finally relented, releasing her but only after Yang promised to repay the dowry in full.
The couple returned to China, where Yang worked tirelessly to rebuild his business. Gradually, his efforts paid off, and by October 2024, he had not only repaid the dowry but also welcomed a baby girl with Xiaoye. Overjoyed, Yang pledged to provide Xiaoye with a life filled with happiness, love, and, of course, delicious Chinese cuisine.
Despite the hardships, Yang remains optimistic. “Meeting Xiaoye was destiny. Love isn’t about profit or loss,” he says. Critics argue that he could have avoided the challenges by marrying locally, where dowries are often returned as wedding gifts. Yang, however, views his journey as a testament to the strength of love and commitment.
As the famous actress Elizabeth Taylor once said, “Marriage is a journey where two people, bound by love, navigate challenges until death parts them.” Yang and Xiaoye’s story exemplifies how enduring love and mutual perseverance can triumph over life’s most daunting obstacles.
For the couple, their journey is just beginning. Together, they look forward to building a bright future and cherishing the family they’ve worked so hard to create.
