True love transcends borders amid online tributes

Source: Xinhua | August 27, 2013, Tuesday |

Print Edition

Dressed in a draggle-tail wedding dress, Yan Shuying stepped toward her groom, squatted down and held his hand before saying: “Yes, I do.”

Her husband Li Kangyu smiled but barely moved — he cannot because he has been lying in bed since childhood.

The unusual wedding ceremony, in Tangshan City, north China’s Hebei Province, moved not only family members but also netizens.

Due to rheumatoid arthritis, Li, 38, has been confined to bed for 31 years. Most parts of his body have degenerated, and he is unable to sit up.

He was educated at home by his father, and learned to use the Internet with the help of friends. Despite his physical disability, Li is an optimist. This is what first attracted Yan to him.

She lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, when they first made contact online in 2011. Months later, Yan told Li that she was in love with him. “I was very nervous when I told him I loved him. He cannot walk, but he is knowledgeable about history, geology and current affairs. He is smarter than many.”

Yan visited Li five months after they met online. “I felt so excited and so happy the first time I met him. His physical condition was worse than I expected, but he was living a happy life,” said Yan.

For her husband, Yan is an angel. “She’s a kind-hearted girl, and that’s the most beautiful thing about her,” said Li.

After two years of online dating, they decided to marry. At first, family members were opposed to their decision.

Li’s only income is the lowly annual government subsidy of 2,300 yuan (US$375.76).

On August 8, they held a simple wedding ceremony. They only invited close family members and Yan did not even wear makeup. “We hired a dresser who only asked for 100 yuan but Yan still turned her down,” said Li’s sister-in-law. “She didn’t want to waste money.”

To their surprise, members of the public attended their wedding, and they have received an outpouring of support from online well-wishers. On Sina Weibo, China’s Twitter, Yen Ling wrote, “This is true love, may god bless them.”

About Us
|
Terms of Use
|
RSS
|
Privacy Policy
|
Contact Us
|
Shanghai Call Center: 962288
|
Tip-off hotline: 52920043

沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
|
互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
|
网络视听许可证：0909346
|
广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
|
增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012