Around China

Guangdong

Parents accused of favoring sons

A couple in Shenzhen who have quadruplets have drawn wide public attention, not only because they have four boys, but also because they have been accused of not showing their two older daughters as much affection as they show the boys. The family became well-known when the mother gave birth to the boys in 2006 at age 41, but the fact she had two older daughters was never mentioned. The parents and the boys have taken part in various TV shows, but a recent online post written by the eldest sister led the public to question why the family has kept the two girls a secret for more than 10 years.

Global Times

Seduction used in fraud scheme

A gang that used women to seduce men before robbing them was recently busted, with four members being detained in Shenzhen. The city's Fuqiang police substation established a special task force and launched an investigation after a local victim, surnamed Lin, reported the gang. Lin began dating a woman, surnamed Jiang, who he met in a spa center in January. But he was beaten and robbed of all his property, including cash, a watch, bank cards and a cellphone, when a group of men rushed into a hotel room where Lin and Jiang were staying. The gang claimed that Lin was dating the wife of a gang member.

Sina.com.cn

Fujian

Turtle purchased, released into wild

A large soft-shelled turtle caught by a man while he was fishing was purchased by a resident in Fuding for 800 yuan ($115) and released back into the wild on April 24. The dark-green turtle attracted curious onlookers when the man, surnamed Chen, caught it in a local stream. The male turtle weighs more than 3.9 kilograms, is 35 centimeters long and 24 cm wide. Local experts said the turtle, which is now under State protection, is between 30 and 50 years old and is in good health.

Ndwww.cn

Shaanxi

Groom detained over hired guests

A bridegroom, surnamed Wang, who hired about 200 people to pretend to be his family members and friends at his wedding ceremony was recently detained by police for further investigation in Xi'an. Wang's bride, surnamed Liu, sought police help when she learned that the guests invited by Wang, including his "parents", were actually hired and did not know him. The attendees included university students and jobless from local job fairs. Liu, who has never met Wang's parents, had dated Wang for three years before the wedding ceremony and said he had seemed normal.

Metropolis Express Daily

Henan

Billionaire on trial years after robbery

Suspected bank robber Shi Erqun, who was detained last year after 16 years on the run, appeared in court on April 27 to face charges of robbery and illegally owning and trading firearms. Shi, 55, who is now a billionaire with a wife, three mistresses and 12 children, is accused of being part of a gang that stole more than 2.08 million yuan ($302,000) from a savings bank and seriously injured two people in Zhengzhou on Dec 5, 1999. Shi later became a property tycoon after reportedly using the money he stole to purchase nearly 2 hectares of land and construct six apartment buildings.

Legal Evening News

Chongqing

Dog helps locate missing senior

A senior citizen who had been missing for five days was recently rescued thanks to a dog that barked all day to alert its owner, surnamed Yan, of the senior's whereabouts in Baigong community. Yan, a restaurant owner, and her friend followed her dog to a hill where they found the man lying in long grass. The man, who has senile dementia, was sent to hospital.

Chongqing Morning Post

Neighbors fund tumor treatment

A young man with a brain tumor is able to receive medical treatment after 340 neighbors on his housing estate in the city's Yuebei district donated more than 15,000 yuan ($2,200) in three days. Jiang Wanjun, 32, a native of Yuechi in Sichuan province, is almost paralyzed after being diagnosed with a brain tumor in April last year. Jiang's father is a cleaner, earning 1,900 yuan a month, while his mother makes even less from collecting garbage. Jiang's girlfriend, who was scheduled to marry him in October, left after he fell ill.

Chongqing Morning Post

Sichuan

Hiker dies after being rescued

A female hiker who was missing for nine days died after being found in Liangshan. Jing Qianqian, a 31-year-old doctor from Shandong province, went missing on April 20 after setting off toward the scenic spot of Daocheng Yading. When Jing was found on April 29, she was seriously injured and had a bone fracture. Having survived in the wild for nine days, she died in the ambulance on the way to hospital.

Huaxi Metropolis Daily