Traditional Chinese values emphasise family as a collective, where parents typically share wealth with children, regardless of age
2-MIN READ2-MINFran Luin BeijingPublished: 2:00pm, 9 Sep 2026An elderly Chinese couple reported their granddaughter to the police after she took 20,000 yuan (US$3,000) and a gold bracelet from their home without permission, igniting intense discussions online.
The woman, identified by her surname Chen and hailing from northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, received a six-month jail sentence for theft, along with a fine of 2,000 yuan, according to the Legal Daily on September 1.
Chen had taken the money and jewellery from her grandparents while her grandfather was napping at home.
Subsequently, she sold the gold bracelet for over 27,000 yuan and squandered the entire amount.
Even during her trial, she maintained that she should be acquitted of all charges, stating: “It is my grandparents’ money that I took. They will forgive me and won’t hold me accountable. This is our family matter.”
However, the elderly couple opted not to grant her forgiveness.
