Recently in China Mainland, a marriage dispute has gone viral, becoming a cause celebre that has attracted nearly as much attention as the Sino-American tariff conflict.

The case involves a rape that occurred two years ago in Shanxi between an engaged couple. The engagement involved a "deal" that the family of the man paid nearly 200 thousand yuan as a betrothal gift to the womans family and also granted her a co-ownership of his house in due time. However, after the agreement was settled, the young man demanded sex several days later, which the young woman refused. Then the hot-headed young man made an unsuccessful attempt against the girl by force, and subsequently the family of the "victim" accused him of rape. Now the court of the second instance upheld the conviction.

Why did a prima facie criminal case become a hot topic that sparked so many heated debates among netizens? Because, I think, the judges ruled it strictly by the law: it was a rape alright. But some people thought otherwise. Though marriage is founded not only on the love of two people, it still cannot be deemed as a deal in the form of betrothal gifts and other pecuniary benefits. That young woman argued she could not accept premarital sex, but what if she still refused to do it after marriage as well? Interestingly, online sentiment appears divided, with over half of netizens expressing sympathy for the young man.

As Hegel puts it: "All that is real is rational." The saying seems applicable here. It is said the betrothal practice is widespread in China Mainland nowadays, making it a "real" and thus, to some, "rational" practice, particularly in rural areas, even if others, like myself, find it hard to accept. Therefore, such a monetary practice in marriage must have its reasons to exist: Is it due to gender imbalance? A distorted social mindset? Or simply human greed? I cannot say it for certain, but one thing is clear": The less money interferes with love before marriage, the better for the couple---and their future family lives.