Chinese woman sues daughter and son-in-law for US$26,000 for raising their son for 5 years as she feels ‘efforts not rewarded’

In a recent case that has caught the attention of social media users in China, a grandmother, Duan, has sued her daughter and son-in-law for childcare fees. Duan, who hails from Guangan city in Sichuan province, filed a lawsuit demanding 192,000 yuan (US$26,000) for taking care of her grandson for five years. The parents, Hu and Zhu, were both employed in Chengdu city and were unable to care for their son due to their work commitments. As a result, Duan had been looking after her grandson since 2018. In return, Hu and Zhu provided Duan with a monthly stipend of 1,000 yuan (US$135) and a childcare fee of 2,000 yuan. However, Duan felt that her efforts were not adequately compensated and demanded an additional 192,000 yuan from the couple. Hu, without consulting her husband, agreed to pay her mother 50,000 yuan (US$6,800) and even signed an agreement to this effect. However, she failed to fulfill her promise, prompting Duan to take legal action. The court ruled in favor of Duan, stating that she was not legally obligated to care for her grandson and was entitled to a childcare fee. However, the court also deemed Duan's demand excessive and reduced the amount to 82,500 yuan. The case has sparked a widespread discussion on social media, with many praising Duan's actions. Some believe that she is wise and is fighting for her daughter's rights. This is not the first time that family financial disputes have made headlines in China. Earlier this year, a lottery winner was ordered by a court to pay his wife a hefty sum after he attempted to hide his winnings. In another case, a woman was sued by her parents for refusing to purchase a flat for her younger brother.