Legal lenience brings back 'dream life'

Meeting Ms. Right

Yu's username on WeChat is Gui Lai Qu, meaning "Back on the right track."

"Specifically, it's what I should be at my age, including having my own career and family," he said.

As his criminal record made some women worried about or even frightened of him, he didn't date anyone for almost a year after his release from prison until he met Chang Lidan, also from Guanxian, at a party last year,

"She's beautiful, and she was kind enough to say 'Hi' and talk to me during the party," Yu recalled. "So, we added each other on WeChat."

At the beginning, instead of having physical dates they just shared interesting things online because Yu was busy preparing to open his shop and he was also a little shy.

Chang, who is a year older than Yu, heard about his case when she was a college student, but she told him that she only cares about the future, not the past.

After Yu's shop began operating satisfactorily, the two really began dating. They watched movies, went shopping and had often dinner, establishing a relationship based on mutual support and understanding. They married and held a wedding ceremony on Aug 5.

Now, Chang is pregnant, and she and Yu are looking forward to their new family member.

"I'm living the life I dreamed of in prison. The most important is to be with my family, even if we just do nothing," Yu said.

Contact the writer at caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn