‘Shameful’: China woman buys flat for old professor she cares for, family claims property

A Chinese student who bought a home for her professor and cared for her like a mother during her later years is now embroiled in a legal battle after the professor’s relatives attempted to claim the property following her death.

In 1983, Zhang Wei became a student of professor Chen, a respected vocal music teacher at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

At that time, Chen lived in a cramped 15-square-metre faculty dormitory, sharing the kitchen and bathroom with a family of four next door.

In 1984, Chen’s younger brother, who had transferred to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, moved in with her, and the siblings relied on each other for support.

Despite her dedicated service, when Chen retired in 1996, she was not allocated a welfare flat.

This situation prompted Zhang to buy a 125-square-metre flat with her own money for both Chen and her brother in 2001.

To provide them with security, Zhang even transferred their household registration, and added their names to the new property.

(Zhang said she felt a profound bond with the professor, considering her as a mother figure. Photo: Weixin)

The current market value of the property has not been disclosed.

Culturally ingrained in the Chinese educational system is the notion that teachers are moral guides, and their role in society is highly respected.

Zhang remarked that she was profoundly moved by Chen’s charisma and professionalism.

“We shared a deep connection. In my heart, she was like a mother to me,” said Zhang. “Her greatest worry was not having a home of her own, so I used everything I had to buy that flat for her.”

For 40 years, Zhang treated Chen and her brother as family.

She handled the funeral arrangements when Chen’s brother died in 2009, and again when Chen passed away in 2023.

After their deaths, Zhang attempted to transfer the property back to her nameHowever, Chen’s two nephews, who live in another province, refused.

Zhang asserted that she bought the flat with her money and only placed it in the professor’s name to facilitate household registration. She also highlighted that the nephews had barely visited or cared for Chen.

(Following Chen’s death, Zhang tried to revert the property into her name, but the professor’s two nephews sought to lay claim to it. Photo: Weixin)

Consequently, Zhang filed a lawsuit at the Changning District People’s Court in Shanghai, claiming her full ownership of the property.

The case is currently under review.

Zhang described the lawsuit as emotionally devastating: “This house holds not just bricks and tiles, but 40 years of memories. If I don’t receive a fair judgment, I will not just lose money, but my belief in human decency and trust.”

The case, reported by Shanghai Media Group, has sparked anger among many online.

One person commented: “It’s heartbreaking. These two nephews showed no gratitude for Zhang’s years of care and dedication, and yet now they’re trying to take what was never theirs. How shameful!”

Ref: ‘Shameful’: China woman buys flat for old professor she cares for, family claims property Photo Credit-Weixin