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.