A woman in southern China bought a dishwasher without telling her husband, leading him to explode with anger when it was installed. - Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote
BEIJING: A video clip released by a woman in China in which her husband is seen smashing up their home because she bought a 1,500-yuan (US$215) dishwasher has gone viral on social media.
The woman, who lives in Guangdong province, southern China, said in a video posted on Jan 8, that she had bought the machine from an online platform without telling her husband.
She said she needed it because the tap water in winter was too cold for her to wash by hand, the Dahe News reported.
Her husband does not do any washing up, according to the unidentified woman.
The man only found out about the purchase when a worker came to install the dishwasher in their rented flat.
The husband ordered his wife to cancel the order and return the machine but she refused.
He said that the family could not afford the dishwasher because of high water and electricity charges.
“It is not expensive. We can afford it,” the woman replied.
The husband’s angry rampage left the couple’s flat, above, in a state of chaos. - Photo: 163.com
When the husband asked the worker to stop the installation work, his wife objected, sending the man into a rage which saw him smash up furniture and other items in the living room.
The wife’s viral video shows the wrecked room.
The woman ran out of their home crying and onto the street for an hour before going to a hotel where she stayed for the night.
“I really do not understand why he will not allow me to buy the dishwasher. I do not think I have done anything wrong,” said the woman in tears.
She admitted their conflict was just one of many they had over shopping.
The husband works in a city far away from their home and earns about 11,000 yuan (US$1,600) a month while the wife takes care of their two children in their hometown.
“I guess he does not feel comfortable that I was sick and did not work last year,” the woman said, adding that the husband was in considerable debt.
Yet she still returned the dishwasher the next day and the husband called her to apologise.
“I am sorry. I was in a bad mood. I will treat you well in the future. We can buy a smaller dishwasher,” he told her in a later clip.
The wife said she needed the dishwasher, above, because the winter tap water was too cold to wash things by hand. - Photo: 163.com
Their dispute became an online sensation.
“The man is so violent. Divorce him as soon as possible,” one online observer said.
But another person said: “The husband is the sole breadwinner. He is under a lot of pressure, but the wife maintains a high level of consumption. I do not empathise with her.”
“I am also a woman and a mother. If I were her, I would not buy the dishwasher because of the limits of the family’s financial situation,” a third person said.
Ke Danni, a family affairs lawyer based in Xian of northwestern Shaanxi province, told the Post that both parties have problems.
“They should communicate more. I do not support the woman buying things beyond their family’s financial capabilities without checking with her husband,” said Ke.
“On the other hand, any form of domestic violence, including smashing things at home, is not acceptable. You cannot wreck home because you are stressed,” she added. - South China Morning Post
